We are now past the halfway point of the regular season already, and week 5 provided us with plenty to talk about – ion fact – this was one of the tougher weeks to choose just 4 topics that stood out from everything that happened in west Michigan and beyond last weekend.
Let’s just get into the four biggest stories from week 5 of the season…
1st DOWN: THE CATS’ HAVE ARRIVED
Well, we’re talking about a Rockford game again, and again it’s not for the reason any of us thought we would be. Jenison went into Rockford and handed the Rams their first back-to-back loss since 2018 and new coach Josh Lucas did it in gutsy fashion, scoring with seconds to go and then going for two and getting it to earn a 15-14 win.
Both coaches had a couple of gutsy calls that went for and against them, a missed 4th and goal conversion for Rockford paired with a missed FG looms large. But the Wildcats also were stopped after some gutsy play calls to go for it at points as well.
But on the whole, a few weeks ago here I talked about the quick turnaround for EK and Jenison with new coaches, followed that up by saying to give these teams time after they each suffered big week two losses, then EK made some statement wins – now Jenison has done the same. There has been a ton of excitement around coach Lucas and this program – in the preseason I did some interviews at media day with 6-7 different coaches from around the area, the Jenison faithful shared and posted about the interview with their new coach with more excitement than any other fanbase and this win proves why.
The Wildcats gave Grandville a full run for their money in a shootout last week, this week the ‘Cats looked more like how they typically have in defense-first battles where they look to win on the margins. Rockford is not a team that many teams beat on the margins, the Rams typically don’t make mistakes and have skill and size all over the field. Jenison clearly wasn’t afraid at all, they have found a tough team-wide identity that is going to have a ton of talent from a deep program being added to it in the coming years.
Josh Lucas is already a state champion coach, Jenison seemed like a tough place from the outside to rebuild, but clearly this program with a ton of community and school support was a sleeping giant that already has knocked off the Rams – and the rest of the OK-Red should take notice.
2nd DOWN: PARTY LIKE IT’S ’21?
I don’t think there was a bigger statement made maybe all year than the one that was made at the game CT and I were at on the GAME NIGHT on MSR broadcast Friday night at Hudsonville. On their homecoming Unity Christian took on fellow unbeaten power T masters Zeeland West. The D3 Dux were favored by most over the D4 ‘Saders – even coach Tibbe in our pre-game conversation with him sung the praises of and openly listed his concerns and ‘nervousness’ of taking on the stout Dux.
Unity Christian Dominated. Their defense got an early stop, they marched down a short field and scored. They got another stop, they marched and scored again. Minus being stopped one time on offense and allowing a dying-seconds TD at the end of the first half on a pass play, Unity played a perfect T vs. T game and won in the trenches in a way that I think maybe surprised every person in the building.
In 2021 U.C. made their last trip to Ford Field where they lost in a heartbreaker (to Josh Lucas’s Chelsea team) powered by the highest scoring offense in the history of the state. This year, the ‘Saders could be on the same track – Minus this 21-8 limited possessions game, they have scored 37+ in every game. But, it might be the defense that stands out more, Nolan Vis and Max VanKoevering are among the best LB duos you’ll find at any level in this state and the power of their offense can grind out opponents and kill clock in a way that 2021 quick-strike team did not do as much of. RB Isaac Stienstra scored 3 times and powered the offense Friday, and he along with Vis and VanKoevering make up one of the post powerful T backfields I’ve seen in a long time – that all have some burst to their game as well.
It’s a long road that will include having to see a lot of elite teams during the regular season and along a possible playoff journey, but this complimentary football team could be ready to make another march to Ford Field…
3rd DOWN: NO LIGHTS, NO PROBLEM
Mona Shores had not beaten Muskegon since 2020, and including a tough playoff loss last year to the eventual state champs. The Sailors have certainly found themselves snakebitten by their closest rival. But, after taking down Byron Center with a gritty win last week, they found themselves a Muskegon win away from getting one hand on the OK-Green crown, taking down both of the pre-season co-favorites.
The Sailors led by a score in a game they have been up the whole way with a little over 2:00 on the clock at historic Hackley Stadium Friday. Then, the lights went out with Muskegon driving only down a TD. It seemed like the kind of moment that Muskegon has rallied around so many times to win so many games over the years. Instead Mona Shores came up with a big stop after a nearly 30 minute stoppage while the stadium lights were restored. Then, star senior QB Jonathan Pittman plunged his way into the end zone after a quick drive down to the goalline – to put away a 42-27 win for the Sailors.
Another statement win for a second week in a row, Coach Koziak’s team will now be favored from here on out, and can find themselves as underdog (I did pick them outright to win the conference – just to note – not to brag, of course…) conference champions in one of the OK’s toughest divisions. They likely will have to see Muskegon and Byron Center again – plus add in Caledonia, East Lansing and other tough teams they’ll likely see on a playoff journey – But Shores are veteran, tested and ready to deliver another deep playoff run on the strength of their great regular season start.
4th DOWN: RIVERS CITIES ALIGNING
The first year of the Rivers Cities Alliance conference has delivered some classic games already and some back-and-forth movement in the conference standings – minus one team. Coopersville came in the favorite and they have delivered the second they got into conference play. First, they won a spirited 35-27 game in the conference opener vs. Lowell. Then Coops has rattled off back to back 3+ score wins scoring while scoring six TDs in back-to-back games vs. Sparta and Greenville.
This has aligned our expected playoff picture after Lowell battled to defeated previously-unbeaten Cedar Springs last Friday. The Red Hawks will see Coopersville the final week of the year with a last chance to take down the Broncos, but Cooeprsville – after a tough loss vs. former Ok-Blue rival West Catholic in week two have fully settled in looking like themselves.
Behind an identity led by physical defense and a dominating offensive line, the Broncos can grind out a game when the script asks for a physical win on the tough margins. But senior QB Beau Harris and a great assortment of weapons (led by Brooks Hidden – who caught 4 TDs last Friday vs. Greenville) have also added a stout air attack this year that he’s helped their offense chug along to nearly 38 points per game on the season, with the team putting up five or more touch downs in all but one of their games.
The Broncos were the favorite to take the first R.C.A. crown – and the rivers cities have begun to align for them, let’s see of Coopersville can win what would be a very meaningful conference crown for this football-crazy community, or if Cedar Springs or someone else for this very competitive league can trip them up.
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Week 6 is now here – You know the drill: Previews, podcasts, polls, shows, and more all coming your way before we get to another great week of LIVE games Friday night on MSR. Among some of our best matches featured will be: East Kentwood vs. Grandville, Rockford vs Caledonia, Zeeland West vs FHC, GRCC vs unbeaten Holland Christian – and a ton more!
