Once again the season has flown by – and we have reached the end of the road, and the final three football broadcasts of the season on MSR this week – all live from Ford Field, as three west Michigan teams look to capture state titles. In the coming four downs, let’s take a look at the matchups to come and how each of those teams got there in the semis and lastly take a quick look back and thank your to everyone that supported MSR for another incredible season.
1st DOWN: Eagles Still Soarin’
A dark horse from the outside that believed within the team fully in what they had, the Hudsonville Eagles were coming off a 5-5 2023 season and then lost to open the year against Howell and certainly did not at that time look (from the outside) like a team that would be playing on to Ford Field.
But, when you look at the all of the pieces there – one of the state’s top offensive and defensive lines, a multi-year starting QB, a dynamic duo of RBs and plenty of other weapons to boot, and a new attitude built around leaning into their physical advantages and it was clear to see that the Hudsonville team that would show up this season week after week was one that is among the greatest we’ve seen in the GR area in recent years – proved simply in the fact that they are now one win away from the D1 state title.
They will now draw Cass Tech, a team littered with more recruiting stars across their lineup than maybe any other team in the state, but one that has had a bit of an up-and-down path to get here as they have broken in a future 5-star type recruit superstar freshman QB, but after winning a ninth straight game and taking down the state’s top ranked Shamrocks of DCC, Cass Tech is more than ready to add another title to one of the state’s richest histories
Our radio coverage from Ford Field will be on Saturday night for this one, in the final game of the 2024 season with kickoff scheduled for 7:00pm.
2nd DOWN: Bulldogs Make History
For the first time in school history this year, the Byron Center Bulldogs won a regional championship – But, that wasn’t enough history as the Bulldogs were able to ride SIX rushing TDs from senior QB Landon Tungate to a dominant 41-14 win over East Lansing in the semis on Saturday at Greenville and now find themselves in the first-ever football title game in the history of their school.
Coach Marc Cisco’s team is among the most physical in the state with a run-heavy power spread attack and will have to beat a very similar version on the other side of what they are. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s and coach Jeremaine Gonzales (an OLSM and Michigan football alum) are in the title game for the first time since 2016 – that was the final year of a three-peat of title game wins for the Eaglets. OLSM is also a highly talented team, notably led by MSU-committed 3 star WR Bryson Williams, who carried the day with his receiving and running skills, including the game-winner on the ground to carry St. Mary’s past Birmingham Groves by a single point last Saturday.
Chandler and myself with GAME NIGHT on MSR will be at Ford Field for our only game on MSR Friday, as our coverage is scheduled to begin at 6:30pm with 7:00 kickoff from this thrilling title game.
3rd DOWN: The Dux Return to Detroit
John Shillito is the only coach in the history of the Zeeland West Program, and has led the Dux to four state title wins in his time there, but none have come since 2015 – which was also the team’s last appearance in the title game. After losing in heartbreaking fashion a year ago in the semis, they drew the team’s top-ranked team in division three, DeWitt last Saturday at FHE and came away with a statement win. The Dux were able to ride their powerful T attack to a 32-20 win over the Panthers and now have a chance to deliver another title to their HOF coach and storied program.
They will meet another one of the state’s most storied programs, Detroit MLK in the final. The Crusaders got a new coach in 2024 as Ty Spencer made his debut at EK after winning numerous titles with the King program over the past decade. MLK lost their last two games of the regular season to D1 semifinalists Cass Tech and Detroit Catholic Central before they have gone on a tear throughout the playoffs, putting up 34+ points in every game and winning all of their matchups by at least three scores.
It will be a true battle of opposites too, as King and their dangerous weapons and spread attack will match up with the famous Power T from coach Shillito and the Dux. Kickoff for this clash of state powers for all the marbles will be Saturday afternoon at 12:30 (the biggest game of that time slot going on anywhere in the country…)
4th DOWN: A List of ‘Thank Yous’
Lastly, I want to on behalf of MSR as well as GAME NIGHT give a huge thank you to everyone that watched, listened, read, and followed along this football season.It was a record-breaking year for listenership again and we are proud of what MSR has been able to built in serving all of you with the most comprehensive coverage of football in West Michigan and beyond!
The same can be said for all of our sponsors that help keep this thing going, and all of our broadcasters, writers, and behind-the-scenes workers that put in so much effort and passion to keep the wheels turning in the right direction.
Also, a huge thank you to the guy behind it all – who typically likes to stay a little under-the-radar himself in terms of getting praise – Brock Konkle. Brock’s vision and work every week to help build the brand and also facilitate everything that you see here is a herculean task, and it’s a please to be able to work with him and everyone else here at MSR – and we’re proud to be able to associate or GAME NIGHT and MichiganGameNight.com brand with Michigan Sports Radio.
Enjoy the games this weekend – and then we’ll see you all for basketball season, which starts right away next Tuesday!
