Nine weeks have flown by – as always – and we now sit on the precipice of what I think could be one of the biggest playoff years for west Michigan in recent history. Divisions 1-5 all have a GR and/or lakeshore team that have legitimate state title hopes (and in many cases more than one per division). So, in today’s version of four downs – we’ll take a look back at some of the teams and individuals that stood out, and give a little bit of a first look in terms of some of my thoughts as we head into the playoffs.
1st DOWN – ‘SADER REVENGE TOUR 2.0
In 2021 Unity Christian had a senior-laden group spurred on by a COVID-shortened playoff run the year before that ended a perfect season for the ‘Saders that year that very likely would have led them to Ford Field. In 2021 coach Tibbe’s team put together the greatest offensive season in the history of the state – breaking that record at Ford Field and checking off every possible item on their revenge checklist – except one.
The Crusaders would fall in shocking and thrilling fashion in the D4 title game that year to Chelsea in walk-off field goal fashion. And after retooling in 2022, the would fall to South Christian in the district final. The. in 2023 a young team riddled by injuries suffered a surprising 3-6 season, ending with a 49-20 defeat to Holland Christian in a win-to-get-in week 9 game for the playoffs.
Unity Christian has concluded another Crusade through the regular season this year in perfect fashion, a statement 42-28 win over D5 favorite Notre Dame Prep has firmly planted that flag. The ‘Saders are different than that ’21 group, the offense is not the same the of up-tempo T attack that drops 50+ points on their opponent every week. This team still absolutely can put up big points, but they also are led by a terrific defense and multi-tempo offense that should suit them perfectly for grinding playoff football in the weeks ahead.
And a fun note – Guess who one of the favorites from the other side of the bracket is to meet U.C. if the Revenge Tour makes it back to Detroit… Chelsea (and their new coach – Noel Dean).
2nd DOWN: BULLDOGS’ ANCHOR
Anyone that works in covering sports, racing, etc. as I have been fortunate to do for long enough will tell you that it’s the under-the-radar stories and people that often make up the most successful teams and also tell some of the best stories. In our time covering the Grandville Bulldogs with GAME NIGHT, that certainly has been the case but this year we got to see in action on and off the field one of those true ‘unsung’ heroes to the outside and their impact on the team.
Grandville’s big senior right tackle Jay Weiss is a third-year standout on the varsity squad for coach Stiegel and has settled himself in as the true anchor on the right side of the OL that RB Tank Terry is typically running behind. Jay’s highly anticipated senior season has been one that has had it’s share of ups and downs, as after a big week one he suffered a non-contact injury during practice that sidelined him for the bulk of the season.
Hearing the stories about a kid in Jay (that is at the top of his class and likely to one day be a student at a school the likes of M.I.T. or Michigan) that followed as he helped educate and prep his backup Matt Key and the rest of the team off the field and transition into a different kind of intellectual leader was fascinating. Then, he got fully back on the field last Friday as Grandville ran over a stout Caledonia defensive front, especially running right – As Terry picked up nearly 200 yards rushing and a pair of TDs running behind big #78. With the health of Jay (and other pieces on the OL) this Grandville team is fully back to looking like the team that can score at will and is a different threat the second time around when they look for some revenge of thrown on Rockford and Hudsonville.
It’s a tough decision to make with Jay only being able to see action starting two regular season games- and I wish I had more of a say in it. But when coaches make their vote this year for the all-conference teams and beyond, I hope that Weiss still gets some consideration for the clear impact that he has when he was on the field, his contributions off it it and his track record.
We had a chance on our ‘Dawg Pod Podcast to catch up with Jay a few weeks ago while he was still working on coming back from injury – Check out that interview Here!
3rd DOWN: INAUGURAL CHAMPS
Regardless how the year finished, we were going to have a big story to tell out of the new Rivers Cities Alliance, as there was going to be a first-ever champion in this newly formed league that shook up much of the fabric of schedules and play in West Michigan football this year.
The results of the league were not surprising, as pre-season favorite Coopersville came out winners over Cedar Springs in what turned out to be a week 9 conference championship game 35-21 last week. But, the resilience of coach Kaman’s group is what was impressive to see in the season’s closing weeks – as Coopersville dropped a pair of tough games in week 7 and 8, putting them in a must-win situation week 9 to be able to capture the league.
And Coopersville – in a fashion. you would expect out of such a senior-laden and tough group were able to match their earlier Lowell win with a win over the Red Hawks to capture the league and now look to carry that momentum into the post season. For the Broncos, they first will be set to get a chance to revenge their earlier upset loss to Kenowa Hills before a date with either EGR or FHC – all tough opponents (no duh), but all ones that this battle tested Coopersville team will surely be ready to face down, as they look for a district title.
4th DOWN: PLAYOFF PREVIEW THOUGHTS
I’ll get more of a chance to dive into all of the games that we have coming up round one on MSR in a few days on our preview article for the week – But, first I want to go through some of the major games and districts that stand out.
Here’s the link to the MHSAA site with all of the brackets.
D1 – Once again, the ‘OK-Red District’ is the story as Hudsonville will be hosting EK and Grandville travels to Rockford. The Bulldogs and Rams matchup is fascinating, as Grandville controlled the first half in their first matchup before a big 3rd quarter carried the day for the Rams – Both teams have deal with some injuries throughout the year and this could be a true rivalry dog fight for either. And the winner of this game will likely get a chance to enact some revenge on Hudsonville, who each lost to this season.
D2 – Two questions primarily jump to mind for me. First, can the underdog yet unbeaten year for Northview roll on. After a perfect 9-0 regular season, they land as a 3 seed behind one-loss Mona Shores and Byron Center. They first will get a chance to prove themselves and send a message vs. Byron Center’s veteran group. And then, we’ll be set for an unreal district final, I’d put my money on Byron Center vs. Mona Shores here as the matchup and rematch in what would maybe be the game of the year.
D3 – A great draw for Zeeland West (as a 2 seed in St. Joe’s district) opens them vs. Zeeland East in ‘Bird Bowl Part 2’, and they will be able to avoid the FHC/EGR and Coopersville/Kenowa Hills gauntlet district. The question is who will be able to survive that district and if it will be the rolling Dux that survive their own district run to meet in a regional clash – possibly in FHC/ZW playoff rematch fashion.
D4 -Unity Christian I think is a heavy favorite at this point to win it all (despite Freeland, Chelsea, Harper Woods, Goodrich, etc. on the other side of the bracket certainly being a factor). They’ll need to get by Hamilton and then the winner of HC/South Christian in their own district. These two games could really help highlight to us how good UC is playing as the playoff run begins. But, if you made me pick one team from West Michigan that I feel the most confident about winning it all, I think it is Unity Christian in D4…
D5 – …Or West Catholic in D5. The main thing that will be standing in the Falcons way of reaching the finals will be their likely annual battle with Catholic Central, this time in a hypothetical district final.
Other Notes – In terms of MSR viewers, D6 will provide some intrigue in district one, as Central Montcalm and Newaygo as the top two seeds and likely on a collision course for a district championship battle.
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It’s the best time of the year – And there are state title threats ready for deep runs across west Michigan – We can’t wait to help tell all of those stories live over the next five weeks! As always, check in for previews, poll, and a ton more content to help get you ready for the coming games on MSR this weekend as the postseason kicks off!
