Week four signals the start of conference play everywhere in the OK Conference in divisions that did not begin play last week – And MSR will be there with double digit live broadcasts from across West Michigan – and the state.
Here’s a quick preview of all of the matchups you can find LIVE on MSR!
ZEELAND EAST (2-1) vs. ZEELAND WEST (3-0)
The 2024 version of the Bird Bowl brings what should be a competitive rivalry opener in the OK-Gold – which is proving to be one of the toughest conferences in the state. Zeeland West ranks second in our week 3 RE/MAX United Power Poll and looks like a true state title threat for coach John Shillito. They have a couple of injuries to watch headed into this one, including QB/S Trey Sloothaak (who missed the second half last week), but this is a deep team that is fresh off scoring 60 points against Whitehall, even with the injury.
Zeeland East is a physical team for coach Joe Woodruff, who’s only loss came on a hail-mary heartbreaker vs. Flushing, they bounced back in week 3 with a dominant 68-0 win over Alpena. The Chix will lean on the legs of senior RB Eli Walcott, who has been a multi-TD threat every week running behind a powerful offensive line that employs at least two extra lead blockers with TEs and H-Backs on most plays.
ROCKFORD (3-0) vs HUDSONVILLE (2-1)
The consensus number one team in our power poll for week three, Rockford, and a team that has been as good as anyone in the west Michigan area in weeks two and three, Hudsonville, meet at Hudsonville for a chance for each to move to 2-0 in the OK-Red.
The Rams were able to overcome a halftime deficit to defeat Grandville by multiple scores last week, 37-20. Hudsonville was able to follow up a win over reigning D2 state semifinalist East Lansing in week two with a win over Jenison to move to 2-1 headed into this game.
Rockford’s Isaac Poot will be a factor all over the field, he made big plays in the kick and punt return game last week to go along with his standout play at safety and finding the endzone on the ground as a running back. The Eagles will have to find a way to limit his impact on the margins of what could be a close and physical game, if the Eagles can follow the Bulldogs first half blueprint from last week.
NEWAYGO (3-0) vs TRI-COUNTY (3-0)
A great, can’t miss, game in the CSAA is at Tri-County Friday night, as the unbeaten Newaygo Lions will travel to take on the controlling team within the conference over the past several seasons. Newaygo and legendary former Rockford coach Ralph Munger took down Grant 40-0 last week to move to 3-0 and match last season’s win total heading into this one.
Tri-County rolled again last week, this time against Morley-Stanwood 48-14. The Vikings have scored 42 or more points in every game so far this year and have proven to be a physical and dynamic team, which will be interesting as they take on the physical Lions’ flexbone offense.
COOPERSVILLE (2-1) vs. SPARTA (1-2)
The second week of play in the new Rivers Cities Alliance brings together two teams that have each seen a fair amount of success in recent years and are looking to build momentum after very different results in week three.
Coopersville, fresh off a tough loss to West Catholic in week two went to 1-0 in conference play gutted out a tough 35-27 win at Lowell in the annual ‘Pink Arrow Game’. The Broncos will again look to the exploits of senior QB Beau Harris in this game against a Spartans squad that will come out hungry and trying to show off the type of offense they displayed in week one.
That week, Sparta piled up 48 points in a win over Wyoming, the following two weeks, the spread Spartans offense has only scored a total of 27 points across two weeks in a pair of losses. We’ll see if the Broncos will be able to control this game, or if the home-standing Spartans can play spoiler.
FREELAND (3-0) vs FLINT POWERS CATHOLIC (2-1)
Two of the top traditional mid-size school powers from the Tri-Cities and Flint area will play in a really interesting matchup in week four at Flint Powers Catholic, as 3-0 Freeland comes in to take on the 2-1 Chargers.
Freeland has simply been one of the most dominant teams in the state through three weeks, and added a 34-0 win over Swan Valley last week. With that win the Falcons have now scored a total of 132 points and have only given up 6 (all in week one).
Powers Catholic has a new coach in Jeremy Ferman in 2024, looking to rebound from a tough stretch for the program, as they haven’t won more than three games since the 2019 season – when they reached the state semis. The Chargers have strung together two wins in a row after a week one defeat against Ovid-Elsie, 49-7. Powers put up the points, scoring 56 in their win last week, so they will try to do that again against a Freeland defense that simply doesn’t allow offenses to move against them, especially in their back-to-back shutouts.
CENTRAL MONTCALM (2-1) vs MORLEY-STANWOOD (1-2)
Central Montcalm bounced back from a week two Newaygo loss in a big way last week, taking down Chippewa Valley 59-15 last Friday Night. The veteran Hornets will now travel to Morley-Stanwood for a CSAA-White opener for both teams.
The Mohawks were the latest team to lose to the buzzsaw that has been Tri-County so far in 2024, 48-14 last week and are now on a two-game losing streak adding in a week two defeat vs. Kalkaska. We’ll see if they can get back to .500 with a home upset win over the Hornets.
GR CATHOLIC CENTRAL (2-1) vs. THORNAPPLE KELLOGG (1-2)
GRCC and TK had opposite results last week, and GRCC came out on the worse end of that trade, as the Cougars lost a shocker – 42-0 at Pontiac Notre Dame Prep that followed a pair of really impressive out-of-state wins the first two weeks of the year.
The Trojans handed Wayland their first loss of the season last week, 28-22. They now travel to the CAT looking to pull the upset against an unusually reeling Cougars team, who will look to rally the troops around freshman stand-out QB Odin Spencer. We’ll see if TK flexbone attack can find a way to upset the ‘Cougs on the road, or if GRCC gets back on the right track in this first game for each in the newly re-formed OK-Black.
NORTHVIEW (3-0) vs. EGR (2-1)
Northview has been one of the best teams in the area so far in 2024 for head coach Ryan Oshnock, who may be looking at this Wildcats team to be one that can lead him back on a playoff run reminiscent of his time at West Ottawa. The ‘Cats are averaging over 43 points per game and have given up 14 or less in their first three games – dominant on both sides of the ball.
A hard-nosed EGR team led by QB Carson Thornton will look to defend home turf on the shores of Reeds Lake in this OK-Black Opener after they comfortably defeated GR Christian 42-6 last Friday night.
This game will be a clash of styles, as EGR has shown to be more of a run-first and defense-led team over the past two seasons, while this Northview team will look to score points, especially via the pass game from dynamic senior QB Armaan Irving.
FOREST HILLS NORTHERN (2-1) vs MUSKEGON (0-2)
Muskegon had an extra week to lick their wounds in preparation for the start of the OK-Green schedule this year with a week three bye and only eight games built into their schedule. The Big Reds are the reigning champions of D2, but also find themselves trying to find some answers by breaking in a lot of new pieces, including transfer QB James Young – leading to losses to the top 2 teams in our current power poll (ZW and Rockford).
Forest Hills Northern picked up their first loss of the season last week against rival Forest Hills Central. But they delivered on the run-and-defense-first, low-scoring matchup we thought they could deliver vs. the reigning D3 champs. FHN’s game plan is simple, as they look to physically control the game (often on the ground) – We’ll see if Muskegon continues to be a team looking to add in more passing and balance out of their break, or if the Big Reds run-first style returns this week.
SOUTH CHRISTIAN (3-0) vs WYOMING (1-2)
South Christian has answered any questions about how they were going to reload the loss of players like star WR Jake VerMaas from last year’s state runner-up squad. The Sailors now sit at 3-0 and QB Carson Vis has looked like maybe the best player in the area – and the state – through the first few weeks of the season. They have scored 41 or more points every week and have been able to survive some shootouts with the best teams in the area, notably over West Catholic 41-38 last week.
Wyoming has some momentum going into this game being play at East Kentwood’s Falcon Stadium, a 32-16 win over Ottawa Hills was the first of the season for the Wolves who have drawn a really difficult task of playing in the stacked OK-Gold, and starting that task with a team that is looking for a third-straight trip to Ford Field this year.
Wyoming’s offense struggled the first two weeks of the year, we’ll see how a South Christian defense that has allowed 28-plus and been their only sign of weakness can step up and maybe ‘get right’ vs. a Wolves team that will be looking to play spoiler vs. the rolling Sailors.
MANTON (0-3) vs LAKE CITY (1-2)
After a pair of 50+ point losses, where they were shutout in each, Manton flipped the script entirely last week on the offensive side of the Ball. The Rangers would fall in a tough 3OT game to Houghton Lake, 54-46. Manton will now look to keep the offense rolling and get a few more stops to pick up their first win of the year in a road trip to lake City.
The Trojans are looking to rebound off of a 21-6 loss last week to LeRoy Pine River, it’s also homecoming at Lake City this week, so look for a bit of extra energy from the Trojans side.
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That’s a quick look at all you can expect to see live on MSR this week. Be sure, as always , to check in for recaps, columns, standings, previews, podcasts, rankings, and more throughout the week!
