The Michigan Sports Radio team has you covered with plenty of exciting previews of this week’s action. All of the games below will be a part of our recap coverage on Friday night, when we have over 40 area game summaries. Many will also be live on our network.
LIVE ON MSR
Caledonia v Rockford (Preview by Randy Gregory):
Perhaps THE game of the week in the state! Caledonia and Rockford, two of the top teams in Division 1, will square off at Ralph E Meyers Memorial Stadium in Caledonia. On the line will be the OK Red title, an undefeated regular season, and home-field advantage in the playoffs. A full preview is available by MSR’s Randy Gregory.
Muskegon v Mona Shores (Preview by Michael Markoch):
This is it. The big one. A winner-take-all rivalry matchup in Muskegon this weekend, it quite possibly does not get better than that when it comes to high school football. The Sailors are on an absolute tear. After an uncharacteristic showing in a win over Reeths-Puffer last week, the Sailors are one win away from a perfect conference slate and an outright OK Green title. Mona Shores has not won the conference since the 2020 season, a year in which the Sailors went on to win the state championship. The Sailors are looking to recreate some of that magic this year.
To do that, they must go through the reigning OK Green champions and their archrivals, the Muskegon Big Reds. Now, this is not the same Big Reds team we saw a year ago that made it to the second round of the playoffs, as there have been a lot of changes throughout the roster and new players trying to find their footing as the season progresses. However, the Big Reds come into this matchup on a three-game winning streak, and they are very rested after having a week off last week due to their schedule. Muskegon has had a full two weeks to prepare for this game and that is usually leads to a slight advantage. If Muskegon wins, they will win a share of the conference championship.
In rivalry games, you can throw records out the window and expect both teams to come out on fire. It should be a good one for four quarters and come down to the wire. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday night.
West Catholic v Unity Christian (Preview by Lien Veldboom):
The game of the season in the OK Blue is set to take place this Friday, as the regular season finale pits the Crusaders and Falcons. They were both projected to have strong seasons and that’s exactly what has happened. West Catholic and Unity Christian enter the week with a 5-1 record in league play after both experiencing upset losses late in the season. This game will decide who will be crowned champion of the OK Blue, as the winner will clinch at least a share of the title with Fruitport also in the mix.
Zeeland West v Union (Preview by Michael Markoch):
The rebuild of the Union Red Hawks may still not be done quite yet. After a promising 3-0 start, Don Fellows’ squad has lost 4 games in a row, including a heartbreaking defeat to Zeeland East last week. Union would need a miracle to find their way into the postseason, but boy do they have an opportunity to start that process this week against Zeeland West.
The Dux are currently sitting in a tie for second in the conference after a thumping of Wyoming last week. They trail Mona Shores by a game in the standings, but with a Muskegon victory, this victory would give them a share of the league title. The Dux and their “Wing-T” offense have been pretty much unstoppable to this point, only faltering once, which was in the loss to the Sailors.
Zeeland West still has everything to play for and need a win to have any chance at a share of the conference crown. Union, on the other hand, is looking to send their seniors out with a bang and play spoiler. It’s a difficult ask for the Red Hawks, but with Tommy Stevens at quarterback, the Red Hawks have proven that truly anything is possible, and with a bright future ahead of this program, don’t count them out this weekend.
Coopersville v Spring Lake (Preview by Lien Veldboom):
This will be a big game for Coopersville as they currently sit at 5-3 on the year. Though they sit comfortably in the playoff picture, they could secure a home game in the first round with a victory. This week, they will face the Lakers who are 3-5 and done for the season after this Friday night. Spring Lake could play spoilers if they pull off the upset and hand Coopersville their final and fourth loss of the season.
Lakeview v Central Montcalm (Preview by Hudson Harkness):
Central Montcalm hosts Lakeview in this week nine CSAA crossover matchup. Lakeview is coming off a 37-32 loss to White Cloud in week eight. The Wildcat offense was able to keep pace with the electric offense that White Cloud brings to the table. This week the Wildcats have the chance to do the same thing on the offensive side of the ball. They will be facing off against a Central Montcalm defense that has struggled as season but last week played with a new sense of energy. Lakeview still has a shot at sneaking into the playoffs if they pick up a win this week, so I expect the Wildcats to come out and to play with a ton of liveliness.
The Hornets are coming off a win against Newaygo, to give Central Montcalm their first and only conference win of the season. The Hornets showed resilience during the game. They were down in the closing seconds of the game and had to drive the length of the field and were able to power their way into the endzone. This week, I expect for Central Montcalm to play like they have nothing to lose, because they don’t. Central Montcalm isn’t going to reach the playoffs, even with a win, and they will be returning a majority of their player’s next season. This is a great opportunity for the Hornets to go out and play free and have fun.
This game is very interesting, Lakeview is coming off a loss but is fighting for a playoff berth and Central Montcalm is coming off a win, but it is a meaningless game for them. I think this will be a shootout that will be close until the end. I believe Lakeview will be able to pull the win out and hope to hear their name on Selection Sunday.
Freeland v Croswell-Lexington (Preview by Josh Longstreth):
The Freeland Falcons have their mojo back after their only loss on the year in week 5. You wouldn’t expect much less from a program that is on the verge of their 16th playoff appearance in a row. The Falcons have won their last three, two of which came against .500 teams. They would cruise in a week 8 matchup with Birch Run, beating the Panthers 40-6. In a game where Freeland controlled the time of possession, the Falcon offense was methodical going on to rack up 335 yards on the ground. That would include scores on their first five possessions of the game. Ty Fournier would have a monster night for Freeland piling up 205 yards on the night to go with 3 TD’s on 13 carries. The Falcons sit at #10 in Division 4 heading into the final week of regular season play. They post a 7-1 overall record on the year, and finished 6-1 in TVC play. They’ll head into the playoffs but before that they have a big road test in week 9.
This will have a different feel for the Cros-Lex Pioneers. Head Coach Mike LeGrow will welcome in his alma mater in week 9. LeGrow played for the green and white Falcons, so it hits on a different level although both teams have already clinched a playoff berth on the year. What might be even bigger for coach and team is heading into the playoffs with some momentum back. The Pioneers have lost two of their last three, the latest being a tough loss to North Branch, 21-35. A team that is banged up as well, they’ll hope to stay healthy but bounce back with what would be an impressive win over a quality opponent. Cros-Lex sits at #4 heading into the playoff tune up. They come into this one sporting a 6-2 overall record and finished at 4-2 in conference play.
This will be a great game for both teams in preparing for what they both hope to be a long playoff run. Cros-Lex will look to see if they can get things rolling again and cool off the Falcons. Freeland soars into Pioneer country for a 7:00 showdown with Cros-Lex this Friday night.
Grand Rapids Catholic Central v Middleville (Preview by Nick Tuori):
The Cougars got their second straight win last week, easily disposing of Wayland. This week, the 7-1 Cougars will conclude their regular season against Middleville. The Trojans have struggled this fall, posting a 2-6 mark. They have lost four consecutive contests. GRCC has dominated this series, capturing 9 of 10 meetings. The lone Middleville win came back in 2010.
Muskegon Catholic Central v Tri-County (Preview by Hudson Harkness):
Muskegon Catholic Central travels to Tri-County to face the Vikings in this week nine matchup. The Crusaders come into this matchup coming off an important win over Centreville, 14-6. All season MCC has been able to compete with some of the top teams in the area like Centreville, Oakridge, and North Muskegon. The Crusaders bring a strong offense to the table that can move the rock down the field. MCC’s defense can hang with some of the strongest offenses in West Michigan, and that is what Tri-County is. The Vikings will use their speed to get outside. If the Crusaders are able to contain the run game to make them keep inside the tackle box, they can keep the scoring low.
Tri-County picked up a big win against Chippewa Hills last week, 52-14, that secured them a share of the conference title for the first time since 2004. Tri-County got back to their run game that they got away from against Big Rapids. The Vikings moved the ball down the field in chunk plays and then broke off long runs. The Viking defense disrupted Chippewa Hills in the backfield and created turnovers. This game is another big game for the Vikings to help determine seeding in the playoffs. Tri-County must get the ball outside and use their speed, if they make the Crusaders chase their ball carriers it can be a long night for MCC.
Both of these teams will hear their names called on Selection Sunday, so this is a game that will help determine seeding each District. I think this game will be won by the team that has the ability to move the ball consistently on offense.
Jenison v West Ottawa (Preview by Nick Tuori):
This game may be the most intriguing to fans of Caledonia, East Kentwood, Grandville and Rockford. According to Snooze2You’s latest projections, a Panthers win may earn them a spot, shuffling the playoff bracket and send Caledonia east and out of the “OK Red” district. A loss by West Ottawa would likely keep that loaded district intact. Coach Pat Collins’ program has embarked on a remarkable turnaround season, and this week they look to cap that off with their first winning season since 2018.
Grand Rapids Christian v Byron Center (Preview by Nick Tuori):
The Grand Rapids Christian Eagles currently sit at #30 in the playoff field in Division 4. They will be dialed in, looking to clinch a playoff berth with a victory over Byron Center on Friday. The Bulldogs, 6-2 on the season, are looking to finish the regular season on a strong note as they embark on a Division 2 playoff excursion. This is only the fourth all-time meeting with Byron Center holding a 2-1 edge.
Newaygo v Comstock Park (Preview by Hudson Harkness):
Newaygo hosts Comstock Park for a nonconference matchup in week nine. Last week, the Lions had a close loss to Central Montcalm, 21-17. Newaygo held a lead late in the game but folded in the closing seconds to allow the Hornets to score and eventually get the win. The Lions offense played with a renewed senses of energy and were able to move the ball in the 2nd half in the air and on the ground. Their defense had trouble with the run as they have had all season and that showed in the final 2-minutes. This week against the Panthers, Newaygo has to play with the same energy they did in the 2nd half of the Central Montcalm game. On the defensive side of the ball, the Lions must be able to slow the run down. All season they have had troubles to stopping the run and it showed last Friday.
Comstock Park comes into this game coming off a win against Kelloggsville, 37-8. That win was the Panthers 1st win since week two and their third overall. This hasn’t been the season the Panthers were expecting. Their offense hasn’t been able produce as expected and their defense has had trouble against offenses that are able to spread the ball out around the field. This game for Comstock Park is against another struggling team in Newaygo. The Panthers do have a slight advantage in the fact that they do play in a more difficult conference, but they haven’t look great. Comstock Park must be able to set the tone up front with their offensive and defensive line early. If they can win in the trenches, they have a good shot at coming out on top.
BEST OF THE REST
Wayland vs Cedar Springs (Preview by Nick Tuori):
Two teams on the playoff fringe are setting up to play in an epic battle on Friday. Cedar Springs (#27 in Division 3) and Wayland (#32 in Division 4) would secure a spot in the postseason with a victory. The first eight weeks could not have been more polar opposite for these two teams. Cedar Springs started 0-4 before ripping off four straight wins. Wayland, meanwhile, has alternated wins and losses in pairs throughout the fall. The loser of this game will be scoreboard watching late on Friday night to see if they did enough in the previous 8 weeks to clinch a spot in the playoffs.
Reeths-Puffer at Lansing Everett (Preview by Michael Markoch):
The Reeths-Puffer Rockets are in good position to make the postseason for the first time since the 2020 season. Based on the new point system for the playoffs, the Rockets might still have enough points for qualification despite not having a true signature win, but a win this week would help solidify the Rockets’ standing.
Reeths-Puffer is looking to bounce back after a tough 15-0 loss last week to conference-leader, Mona Shores. However, even in defeat, the Rockets were able to learn that they can compete with the best of the best. That will only help them as they prepare for a potential playoff run. In their final tune-up of the year, the Rockets will be on the road against Lansing Everett. The Vikings are only 2-6 but have a lot of youth on their roster and explosiveness in their offense. The Rockets may have to lean on their offense once again in the case that this game becomes a high-scoring affair.
Zeeland East at Wyoming (Preview by Michael Markoch):
Zeeland East picked up their first legitimate victory this season when they defeated Union 25-21 last week. Chix’ quarterback Austin Keur threw for three touchdowns, including the game winner to Ethan Rosenberg with 42 seconds left, in the win. The Chix had a disappointing season and currently sit at 2-6. They are far out of the playoff picture, but can end the year on a high note with back-to-back wins.
Wyoming lost to Zeeland West last week, 42-14, and the Wolves will have one last opportunity to avoid a winless season at home against the Chix. In what will be the final game for each team, it should be an emotional night in Wyoming.
Fruitport v Holland Christian (Preview by Lien Veldboom)
In week 9, the Trojans and Maroons are set to square off for their final regular season contest. The Maroons looked to have improved from a year ago, however they enter this week out of playoff contention after losing last week. Fruitport is currently 5-1 in the OK Blue, and can capture a share of the league title with a victory. This would be the Trojans’ first conference title since capturing the 2012 Lakes 8 crown.
Hamilton v Allendale (Preview by Lien Veldboom)
The Hamilton Hawkeyes and Allendale Falcons both currently sit at the bottom of the OK Blue. They were eliminated from playoff contention weeks ago. Both teams will look to end the season with a high note to enter the off season, and to build momentum for next year. The Hawkeyes look for their first win in OK Blue play, while the Falcons will look for their third. Even though both teams aren’t fighting for a spot in the playoffs, they will still put a fight for the win Friday night.
Big Rapids @ Alma (Preview by Hudson Harkness)
Big Rapids travels to Alma for the final game of the regular season. The Cardinals did not play last week, but they did pick up a forfeit win to improve to 6-2. In week seven, Big Rapids got a big win over Tri-County secure a share of the CSAA Gold title. In that game, they were able to move the ball in the air and on the ground. Their defense stepped up big to keep the Tri-County offense in check. This week will be an important game for Big Rapids. Coming into this matchup after a week off, it is imperative that the Cardinals come out firing and don’t look rusty. I would expect for their offense to pick up where they left off in week seven. If their defense looked anything like they did against Tri-County, Alma is going to have a hard time running the ball and must rely on the ball in the air.
This game could be considered a ‘tune up game’ for the Cardinals. Big Rapids will most likely get a playoff berth and with Alma only having 2 wins, the Panthers will miss out on week ten. This should be a win for the Cardinals. They cannot come out slow and look rusty, especially with having the week off.
Chippewa Hills @ LeRoy Pine River (Preview by Hudson Harkness):
Chippewa Hills travels north to face off against LeRoy Pine River in an important week nine for the Warriors. The Warriors are coming off a big loss to Tri-County, where Chippewa Hills defense had no answer to the outside run. The Vikings were able to use their speed to get outside the tackle box, and it then quickly became a track meet. The Warriors offense was not able to get rolling. Their run game, that they so heavily relied on against Newaygo, was shut down. This week, Chippewa Hills must get back to the ground. Their offense must establish their run game early in this matchup against Pine River. The Bucks have had little success this season and if Chippewa Hills can set the tone early on the ground, I see the Warriors picking up a 4th win.
This game is a must win for Chippewa Hills, if they want a shot at hearing their name called on Selection Sunday. I do think the Warriors pull this game off. They have played well as of recent, not including last week, and have showed that they can run the ball and connect on the short passes. Pine River is going to try and pick up their first win of the season, but I don’t see it happening this week.
Grant @ Kent City (Preview by Hudson Harkness)
Kent City will host Grant in this CSAA interleague matchup in week nine. Last week, Grant lost to Reed City in blowout fashion, 62-8. Reed City has the highest scoring offense in the state and has put up this type of scores all season. However, Grant had no success at even slowing down the run game a bit. Their offense could not handle the pressure that the Coyotes bring. This game against Kent City is going to be just as difficult. The Eagles will run the ball right into the heart of the defense and their defense will be bring the pressure similar to Reed City. If Grant wants any shot at winning this game, they must get the ball out kick on offense and hope they can make some plays.
The Eagles are coming off their 2nd consecutive loss but are still sitting in the playoffs. Kent City fell to White Pigeon in week eight, 44-19. In the Eagles two losses, they were shut down on offense. They could not get their run game established and they had to rely on the pass, which they can be dangerous in, but it is not their forte. This week, Kent City should be able to get their run game started early. Grant has struggled on defense all season with the pass and the run. The Eagles should be able to put up a big number on the scoreboard this week.
I think Kent City comes out with the big win to rebound from their two big losses. The Eagles will hear their name called on Sunday win or lose, but a win might let Kent City host a week ten game. Grant has nothing to lose, so they may come out and pull some trick plays out of their sleeve.
Morley-Stanwood @ Beaverton (Preview by Hudson Harkness):
Beaverton hosts Morley-Stanwood for what may be the last game of the season for both teams. Morley-Stanwood had to forfeit in week eight to Big Rapids because of the number of healthy players available for the Mohawks. This game is still up in the air if Morley-Stanwood will be able to play. Morley-Stanwood has had no success this season on offense or defense, and having no game last week could create more problems for the Mohawks. Beaverton, meanwhile, is fighting for a playoff berth and while this game still in the air if they will play, I think the Beavers pull this game off if they do kickoff. Morley-Stanwood has had troubles all season and with limited players this week, I don’t see them succeeding this week.
Cadillac @ Reed City (Preview by Hudson Harkness):
Reed City hosts Cadillac in a week nine showdown. The Coyotes come into the game after taking down Grant, 62-8. This was expected for the state’s highest average scoring offense. The Coyotes did their usual thing, as they ran the ball down the throat of the defense and their defense created pressure in the backfield to create turnovers. The Coyotes will look to do more of that this week against the Vikings. Cadillac has scored in bunches this season and their defense has faced very difficult offenses. Reed City must come out like they have all season and play hard-nosed football because Cadillac is not a pushover team.
This game should be a hard-fought game between two teams that will hear their names called on Selection Sunday. I expect it to be a high scoring game that will rely on both teams having to score on nearly every possession. It will be difficult for these defenses to stop such high-powered offenses.
White Cloud @ White Pigeon (Preview by Hudson Harkness):
White Cloud takes the 3-hour bus ride south to face off with White Pigeon. The Indians are coming off a narrow win against Lakeview, 37-32, that secured them 2nd place in the CSAA Silver. White Cloud was able to get the ball to their playmakers in every way possible in the air and on the ground. That really has been the story of the Indians season, get the ball to the players that can score at any moment and see what they can do, and it has worked a majority of the time. This week, White Cloud is facing a team that put the hammer down on Kent City last Friday, 44-19. The Chiefs can put points up on the board and stop the run, so the Indians must find a way to involve everyone on the offense and get it to them in the air. Their defense has to stop that power Wing T offense that the Chiefs run.
White Pigeon brings their strong offense to this matchup, and it could end up helping them in the end. If White Cloud can contain the run offense, they are set up for success because the Indians can also put-up points. I do think the Chiefs come out on top just based on their performance last week against a common opponent.
Frankenmuth vs Flint Powers Catholic (Preview by Josh Longstreth)
It was another dominant performance for the Frankenmuth Eagles in week 8, and this time Garber would be the prey. The Dukes are no pushover themselves, in fact it would be just a 20-7 game at the half in favor of Frankenmuth. The Eagles were just too much to handle in the 2nd half, winning 40-7. Frankenmuth continues to be perfect on the year, sitting at 8-0 overall and finish 7-0 in TVC play completing another conference title. It was just another business trip as they would handle another team that could be on the verge of the playoffs. The Eagles are battle tested. In 5 of the 8 games Frankenmuth has played, each team has at least a .500 record on the year. The Eagles will head into this week sitting at #2 in Division 5 as they hope to continue their dominant season to make a deep run in the state playoffs.
It hasn’t been the season that the Flint Powers Chargers have hoped for. When up to par, they’ve been able to play with anyone. When they have gotten off to slow starts it has been the complete opposite. In three wins, Powers has outscored opponents, 136-7. In five losses, the Chargers have been outscored 209-66. Powers will have a chance to head into the off-season with some big momentum if they can notch a win over one of the best in the state. Frankenmuth will look to see if they can head into the playoffs on a high. The Chargers will make the trip over to Frankenmuth for a 7:00 showdown with the Eagles.
St. Louis vs Houghton Lake (Preview by Josh Longstreth)
A young St. Louis team is flying high after two weeks of play. The Sharks have put together back-to-back wins for the first time since early 2021. It would be another tight one, but they would come back from being down early to hold on against Hemlock, 12-10. It would be a much needed one after taking it on the chin from the Huskies for a few years. St. Louis has a chance to really build some momentum heading into the off-season, something that would have a young squad chomping at the bit heading into 2023.
It’s been a tough go of it in 2022 for the Houghton Lake Bobcats, but it’s a team that finally has some positives going their way after a 34-12 win over Pine River last week. After being outscored 63 to 367 through seven weeks of play, the Bobcats were finally able to get it going on both sides of the ball. They’ll have a shot to grab their 2nd win in a row and head into the off-season rejuvenated.
St. Louis will make the long trek up to Houghton Lake for this one. Both teams look to keep building momentum in the regular season finale. In what could be a tight battle, the Bobcats cats will welcome in the visiting Sharks for a Saturday afternoon tilt.
Clare vs Gaylord (Preview by Josh Longstreth)
Last week was not the week that the Clare Pioneers were hoping for. Upon Shepherd joining the Jack Pine Conference in 2018, Clare has had their way with the Bluejays, with the closest scoring margin being 35 points. That would change last week, as Shepherd would finally knock off the Pioneers. Clare would get back in the game after being down big early, but it just wasn’t enough. With a chance at securing a playoff spot last week, the Pioneers will now have to try and do it in week 9. Costly turnovers really hurt the Pioneers in week 8, they would turn the ball over six times and their only scores came from the defensive side with Ritchie Montgomery having a scoop and score from 19-yards out. The other would be a Westyn Bryant 29-yard interception return. With just the 2nd year of the MHSAA using a playoff points model, each team will have to make the top 32 of their division to get in. According to Goosepoop, which is a playoff prediction tool for Michigan High School Football, they have Clare in the playoffs regardless of the outcome. Clare would just as soon grab a win on Friday night to ensure their fate as you never want to let the outcome be in another’s hands. They’ll look to clean up their mistakes in week 9 to take on another quality opponent, one in which has a lot on the line.
The Gaylord Blue Devils will have a ‘chance to dance’ in the final week as well. They too lost a tough one last week and put their backs up against it when they take on the Pioneers. Gaylord lost a close one to Gladstone, 22-14. Having a chance to control their fate in week 8, they’ll leave it up to task to see if they can grab a huge week 9 win. The final week will be even bigger for them, as the prediction tool has them getting in the playoffs with a win and coming up just short with a loss. In three losses on the year, the Blue Devils have lost by just a total of 21 points. Gaylord, too, would have trouble with turnovers that would ultimately cost them in week 8 as they would turn the ball over three times to Gladstone. They’ll look to see if they can clean up on the offensive side en route to securing a playoff spot.
There’s no denying it, there’s a lot riding on this one. Win, and basically, you’re in. A loss could end either team’s 2022 season. Both teams will look to see if they can grab the momentum early when the action begins at 7:00 this Friday night.
Gladwin vs Standish Sterling (Preview by Josh Longstreth)
What a year it has been for the royal blue and white Gladwin Flying G’s. Coming off a monster win against Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, Gladwin would have to face another posing challenge in week 8. Week 8 the threat would be in the Beaverton Beavers, the rival of Gladwin. The teams face off with the “Battle for Butch” trophy game each time they take the field. And as they say, throw the records out the window whenever you have a rivalry game. The threat, however, would be for not in week 8 as the G’s took care of business early and often against the Beavers. With the win, Gladwin would wrap up their 2nd straight JPC title. Even with another big win on the year and y doing so, grabbing the conference title again, it’s a team that still is all business. As Head Coach Marc Jarstfer puts it, “We got off to a really uncharacteristic start in this one, but we were much more focused and energized in the 2nd half. We’ll enjoy the JPC Championship for a day, and then it’s on to Standish”. Jhace Massey would rack up 119 yards on the ground to go with 3 TD’s in week 8. Lucas Mead and Kaden McDonald were both able grab some big yards through the air against the Beavers. Mead would finish with 3 catches for 87 yards. McDonald would add 71 yards receiving on just 2 receptions. Braden Ritchie would add a rushing TD. The Gladwin defense was dominant again and especially on the ground holding the Beavers ground game to just 21 yards. Earl Esiline would grab 1 INT in this one for the G’s defense. Gladwin sits at 8-0 overall and 6-0 in conference play. They remain #3 in the Division 5 rankings.
It’s hard to have a great season after a deep semi-final run in the state playoffs but it’s clear that the Standish Sterling Panthers have their eyes on making another deep run in 2022. A gritty comeback win over Ithaca, another one against Millington late, and having their way with a solid Nouvel Catholic Central team has given the Panthers another flawless season to this point. Standish sits at 7-0 overall and 4-0 in conference play after a bye week in week 8. They’re outscoring opponents at a total of 333-71, even better than a 10-win team last year. They may now be faced with their toughest test to date. It’s a team that does not turn the ball over led by QB Truman King. Through six weeks of the season, King threw for 112 yards per game to go with 9 TD’s and 1 INT. King has added 4 TD’s on the ground. He also leads the Panther defense with 3 INT’s on the year. Brayden Sullivan has been his favorite target, the speedy wideout had averaged 57.7 yards receiving to go with 6 TD’s through six weeks of play. Jacob Bartlett is the workhorse out of the backfield. The Junior RB leads the Panthers with 108 rushing yards per game, and 12 TD’s. He’s added 3 sacks for the Standish defense. Nick Niernberg has pitched in with 7 rushing TD’s on the year and adds 5.3 tackles per game. Sophomore Parker Masch has led the defense with 6.5 tackles per game.
There’s no doubt about this one, it will have a playoff flare in week 9. Both teams have been battle tested in 2022 and have high hopes of deep playoff runs. It’ll be a game of much importance for both in playoff preparation. Gladwin will hop on M-61 heading East for a monster week 9 matchup. The Panthers will await them when they square off for a 7:00 showdown this Friday night.
