What an opening week it was in High School football on MSR, as we brought live coverage of 14 games – featuring big-time west-side matchups, cross-state duels, and even cross-border contests – with Grandville making the trip down to outside of Columbus, Ohio.
Week two won’t slow down at all, in fact the games that we are going to have live, may actually be even better than the two-night season-opening ‘extravaganza’ last week. Let’s get in to all of the games that you can find LIVE on MSR Friday night:
ROCKFORD (1-0) vs MUSKEGON (0-1)
There’s really not too much that has to be said with this one, maybe the west-side’s two most prolific programs and plenty of stories around each. For the Rams, they get to host the matchup this year after winning at Hackley a season ago, the Rams are also coming off of a statement win over Cass Tech to begin their season on their home turf last Thursday night. Rockford has around 120 players on their roster this year and will continue to figure things out, the defense already has looked title-ready – but as the Rams continue to work in new pieces around new junior QB Bayden Daniels, we could see OC Jason VanderLaan’s offense become deadly – and this will be a good test of just that.
The reigning D2 state champion Big Reds come in 0-1 after a loss to former conference rival Zeeland West to begin the season, Muskegon had pieces to replace all around the field this year, especially on offense. It will be week two for transfer QB James Young at the controls of the usually run-heavy pistol option BiG Reds attack. Rockford may be the most stout defense they face all season, so it will be interesting to see if Young and the ‘Reds go to the air early and often, or if Muskegon gets back to their bread and butter on the ground Friday night.
GRANDVILLE (0-1) vs DAVISON (0-1)
After falling on a ‘buzzer-beater’, ‘walk-off’ field goal against Ohio state power Pickerington North last Friday, the Grandville Bulldogs are back in Michigan, and playing their first game on a new turf surface at Bulldog Stadium. The ‘Dawgs now begin a stretch of back-to-back Michigan state title frontrunners (after seeing one from Ohio last week) as Davison comes to town, after they defeated the Bulldogs in week 2 at Davison last year.
Grandville all-state Junior RB Jayden Terry ran for 206 yards and five touchdowns in the 53-51 shootout heartbreaker last week, as the ‘Dawgs piled up over 530 total yards of offense in the contest to erase what was as much of a three-score second half deficit. The Bulldogs high-powered T offense is rolling, will they be able to keep it up in week two, and settle in more defensively this time around?
It won’t be easy to settle in on D for the Bulldogs, as Davison will be hungry after they lost 21-3 in week 1 to reigning state runner-up De La Salle. The Cardinals may wind up with one of the state’s most dynamic offenses when it is all said and done, especially on the ground where one of the state’s other top running backs, A.J. Hill will provide a dynamic element as a runner and pass catcher for junior QB Jaxson Dosh – who is a true definition of a dual threat, powering the run game with his legs along with pushing the ball down the field with his arm.
This will be a physical game, don’t be surprised to see both teams (of course Grandville) to use multiple TE/FBs on most plays and try to control the game up-front.
COOPERSVILLE (1-0) vs WEST CATHOLIC (0-1)
Former conference foes, still on the schedule for this year, in what could be one of the best games of the week and a true battle of wills up front.
Coopersville blew out Otsego in their season opener, as the Broncos wore throwback jerseys and celebrated the program’s 100th anniversary last Thursday night. This is a throwback team on the whole, led by future WMU Bronco JJ Hirdes on the offensive line – they can run the ball and physically protect their QB and weapons as well as any team in the area and are looking for revenge from last year’s 17-14 loss to the Falcons.
West Catholic similarly will be led up front this season, and are coming off a tough defense-first loss against Cincinnati Elder on the road last week. Grady Augustine got the start at QB last game coming out of a camp-long QB battle, it will be a tough test again for the new junior QB, stepping in against a physical and smart defense from Coopersville. If you like defensive affairs and team’s looking to control the clock and control the football, this was one last year – and you can fully expect to see that again this year.
FREELAND (1-0) vs BRIDGEPORT (0-1)
The Freeland Falcons look like they’ve fully reloaded again for coach Kevin Townsend in 2024, as they started their season by rolling Saginaw United in the first ever game for the new United school 54-6 in week one. The Falcons now go on the road for the first time this season, as they travel to Bridgeport to take on a Bearcats team looking to rebound from a tough defensive loss in their first game of the year to Gwinn, 14-6.
Jake Metiva returned this year as a leader on both sides of the ball at DB and QB and had a big week running the Falcons high-powered run game on offense and helping shut down the Trojans offense. He’ll look to put together another big performance on the road in this one, as the Falcons will take on a Bearcats team that already has proven their ability to play in low-scoring, tight contests.
NEWAYGO (1-0) vs CENTRAL MONTCALM (1-0)
Newaygo and Central Montcalm, each team that we see every week on MSR that could set up to be two of the better teams from the CSAA this season – with each starting the year off with a win week on. Neywaygo and coach Ralph Munger defeated Kent City 27-18 and Central Montcalm came up big over Houghton Lake, 55-26.
This will be a game won on the ground, as the experienced front line from Central Montcalm helped pave the way on the ground for the traditionally powerful Hornet offense, and Newaygo will look to control the ball and the field with their triple option flexbone attack.
GR CATHOLIC CENTRAL (1-0) vs ST. THOMAS MORE (1-0)
GR Catholic Central again plays an out-of-state (this time out-of-country) foe, after the Cougars took down Lake Central (IN) 17-10 in week one. Lake Central was a school nearly five times the size of C.C. and proved to be a good starting point for a new-look Catholic Central team plugging in new playmakers around the field, including QB and RB.
If the game is close, like in week one, look to Catholic Central’s special teams to make a difference. Last week Kamall Hillard took back a kickoff 95 yards for what was ultimately the game-deciding touchdown in the fourth quarter. St Thomas More will pose another tough test, as the Ontario prep school is an elite program that draws talent from around the country and world to play for the program.
TRI-COUNTY (1-0) vs GRANT (1-0)
Tri-County earned a very impressive win for themselves and the CSAA conference last week, coming down to Comstock Park and beating OK-Conference Panthers big, 42-24, in week one. A good sign for a Vikings team that needed to replace a lot of key pieces, including a three-year starter at QB in Owen Behrenwald. They now again go on the road in week two to take on the Grant Tigers.
Grant won the first week of the year, also against an OK-Silver team – Kelloggsville. The Tigers took their opener 38-22 and did so by flexing their muscle on the ground, racking up nearly 270 yards rushing on over 50 attempts. Both of these teams can be very physical and want to control the line of scrimmage, again look to the ground game to be a key in this one.
BYRON CENTER (1-0) vs EAST KENTWOOD (1-0)
This will be a very fun rivalry game, and the first big test for the new-look Falcons, and not-new-look experienced Bulldogs. After a lot of talk about an explosive new offense led by junior QB Kayd Coffman, it was the defense that led the way of EK the first week of the year, as they shut out Hartland 21-0. Byron Center put together a similar performance on defense, while also putting up some points vs Battle Creek Central – winning 42-6.
This game at Byron Center may feature the best QB battle in the area Friday night, with multi-year senior starter Landon Tungate bringing his experience and athleticism in to match the D1 recruit Coffman. Both of these teams can have multi-faceted attacks, Byron Center is especially comfortable pounding the football with RB Luke Laska (and Tungate) – But, this game could be really fun if it turns into a back-and-forth QB duel through the air.
EAST LANSING (1-0) vs HUDSONVILLE (0-1)
East Lansing was the team that defeated the aforementioned Byron Center Bulldogs in the D2 playoffs last fall, and after a 31-7 win the first game of the year, legendary coach Bill Feraco’s team seems ready to make a deep run again this year. Meanwhile Hudsonville is looking to rebound off a week one 20-17 loss vs Howell and their unique Flexbone-based ‘spread’ offense.
Guess what? The run game will be huge in this one again – power 4 prospect Jace Clarizio for East Lansing may be the best RB in the state and the Trojans will use a variety of formations in their multiple offense to find room for the senior to run. While Bryce Fox and the Eagles also have shown a willingness to stack multiple TEs and run the football out of a power-spread attack.
COMSTOCK PARK (0-1) vs HOLLAND CHRISTIAN (1-0)
Following a big loss on their home field week one vs. Tri-County, Comstock Park will look to bounce back in week two. They take on Holland Christian, who earned a hard-fought win over Allendale ,17-12, last week. Holland Christian under coach Dave Abberger is typically a team that has been more associated with offense and some higher scoring games led by their potent pass game, but the grinding week one win showed that the 2024 version of the Maroons may be built to win some tight games in defensive struggles.
Comstock Park was able to return several key players on their offensive and defensive line, so even while they look to replace several key skilled positions from the last few seasons, Comstock Park may be well served in looking to control the ball on offense and lean on their experienced DL to get pressure on Evan Abberger and the Maroons passing attack, before they can find their dangerous targets down field.
EAST GRAND RAPIDS (1-0) vs SOUTH CHRISTIAN (1-0)
EGR and one of the best atmospheres in all of Michigan HS football will host one of the most interesting games of the week. South Christian and East GR were each winners in week one, with EGR taking down old OK-White rival Lowell 33-14, while South Christian took down rival GR Christian 42-17, after trailing in the first half.
Another great QB game here, Carson Vis broke records last year with his performance at the D4 state championship game, and the multi-talented senior has the ability to create a big play almost every time he takes a snap. Carson Thornton split time in a two-QB system, but now fully gets the reins of the EGR offense in 2024 – and is off to a great start, he and the Pioneers can make a big statement vs. the reigning state runners-up.
ZEELAND EAST (1-0) vs FLUSHING (1-0)
Zeeland Stadium hosts a pair of teams that put together big wins in week one. The Chix defeated Grand Rapids Union, 36-6. Flushing blanked Bay City Central while also piling up the points of their own, 55-0.
The Zeeland East run game was crucial in their controlling victory over GR Union last week and likely will be again this week, Eli Walcott ran for nearly 140 yards and 3 touchdowns – that type of performance could lead Zeeland East to their second-straight 2-0 start to a season.
FOREST HILLS NORTHERN (1-0) vs JENISON (1-0)
The Josh Lucas era at Jenison got off to a great start, pitching a 14-0 shutout over Kalamazoo Central on the road last weekend. FHN also jumped out to a 1-0 start with a solid win over new-look Kenowa Hills in the first week of the season. The Huskies go on the road again this week as Jenison plays their first home game under Lucas.
Both teams shut down offenses that had some explosive playmakers last week, so look to defenses to be key here. Forest Hills Northern have a lot of talent up front and at the skilled pistons on offense and are looking to break out on offense with a new QB. The Wildcats will continue to work in coach Lucas’s new systems this week, his RPO spread offense was dangerous at Chelsea and QB ELi Zeitman could have them ready to break out of a possible stalemate in this one.
MANTON (0-1) vs. McBAIN (1-0)
Up north, there could not be a game with two twos coming off more opposite results the first week of the year as Manton makes the 30 minute trip down to McBain. The McBain Ramblers opened the year with a big 37-0 shutout win over lakeview.
On the other hand, Manton fell 55-0 in their season opener on their home field against Maple City Glen Lake. It will be a tough test for the Rangers, we’ll see if they can compete and try for the upset in this one.
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What a week two it’s going to be, all of the games move to Friday night this week – SO be sure to be tuned in on time as the games kick off at 7:00pm and we are going to learn a lot about where teams all sit as we head into the start of OK-Conference play next week!
