Once again, finding four stories was an impossible task, after one of the most wild weeks I can remember seeing in a while. Upsets, last-second wins, conference champions crowned, surprising blowouts, and a little bit of everything else… Let’s get into it!

 

1st DOWN: WILDCATS’ WAY

The Northview Wildcats and coach Ryan Oshnock have been, somehow, a bit of an under-the-radar story for many this year – they had impressively run the table going into week seven. But, in that process they had not played an overly difficult schedule (minus what has become a very impressive week one win vs. otherwise-unbeaten Chelsea and their new coach – some guy named Noel Dean (you may have heard of him)).

The Wildcats got their chance to make a real statement this past week in their hunt for the OK-Black crown, as they would travel to ‘The CAT’ to take on Catholic Central – the winner would stay unbeaten in the black and control their own destiny in week eight to win the conference.

We previewed last week the great QB battle and the possibility of points in this game, but it was the defenses that would come to the forefront throughout this battle. CC would strike first with their lone points of the night early in the second with a 32 yard field goal. Northview would respond with what would be the winning points, as they ground out a physical drive ending in the night’s lone TD, via the legs of tailback Jalen Gant. Northview would convert two 2nd half FGs with kicker Oscar Sanchez while the defense pitched a second half shutout to win 12-3.

The Wildcats now draw Holland Christian, coming off a thrilling 2-point conversion at the buzzer win over Thornapple Kellogg to win the conference outright. The impressive build for coach Oshnock with his senior QB Armaan Irving has been impressive. We’ll see if the ‘Cats can put together a conference win and postseason run now to rival the performance of some of Oshnock’s great West Ottawa teams. The Cougars will have a tough finish against EGR and South Christian, as they look to build some momentum and find their offensive groove once again before the playoffs.

 

2nd DOWN: EAGLES SOAR

Hudsonville was not a team picked by many to be a one that would compete at the top of the OK-Red this season, but they did bring back a veteran group that had lost several close games while fighting some injuries last year and have put all the pieces together this season. After a week one loss to unbeaten Howell (currently also the number one playoff seed in the entire state) the Eagles have now won six-straight and have a complete stranglehold on the OK-Red.

Friday was maybe the Eagles most impressive game of the year, as they rode a huge performance on the ground from the offense and particularly senior RB Bryce Fox (2 TDs) along with a stifling defense to dominate Grandville 35-16.

The defense especially was the statement that stood out to me, Grandville was averaging around 40 points per game going into this one and had put together several of their best offensive games of the year the past few weeks. The ‘Dawgs would only find pay-dirt twice, once on an 81 yard Jayden Terry run and another long TD pass, besides that the Bulldogs and their vaunted T offense failed to move the ball against one of the state’s best linebacking cores and run defenses.

Hudsonville remains unbeaten in the Red and now has a two-game lead over all others in the league, they finish with Caledonia and the West Ottawa – a win over either will crown the Eagles champs of the OK-Red. Also, keep in mind the importance for them in playoff position g racking up regular season wins, they will likely wind up seeing one or both of Grandville and Rockford (plus EK) again and now are a near-lock to be able to play all of those games (and maybe even a regional to follow) on their home turf.

 

3rd DOWN: ANOTHER ‘SADER STATEMENT

Unity Christian will be a team that certainly deserves consideration for our top spot in this coming week’s RE/MAX United Power Poll after spending the last several weeks at number two behind Mona Shores. Coach Tibbe’s team put together quite arguably their best performance of the 2024 season against fellow d4 state title rival South Christian Friday night.

UC lit up the scoreboard in a 50-21 thrashing of the Sailors, FB Max VanKoevering found the end zone three times, Isaac Stienstra joined him in the end zone once as well and the defense held Carson Vis to only 212 yards passing and 21 points – which s a very solid performance given the amount of possessions in this game.

UC controls their own destiny for an outright league win next week in the final week of OK-Gold play as they will see Zeeland East. They then will finish with Pontiac Notre Dame Prep – who is 7-0 and a favorite to win the D5 crown this year. Those final tests will help set ups. ‘Saders team that surely is ready to make a run back to Ford Field for the first time since 2021, after they get through what could be a unique playoff schedule. Current projections courtesy of Snooze2You.com have UC playing more northern teams like Whitehall, Ludington, and Big Rapids in the district and central and eastern powers like unbeaten Freeland or unbeaten Portland in the regionals.

 

4th DOWN: BIRDS OF PREY

The battle of the OK-White has required one thing to be able to compete, a bird of prey mascot – oh and a physical and tough football team capable of fighting every week in a rough-and-tumble league. Heading into the final week of play in the conference, West Catholic has now put themselves in the lead of the formation at 4-0 in the White, with the Falcons being chased down by the Hawks of FHE and the Hawkeyes of Hamilton – each one game back and hoping for a possible two or three way tie in the final week.

West Catholic and Forest Hills Eastern played on of the best games of the year last week to help set us up in this spot, as FHE would swap the lead all game long before FHE would take a 23-21 lead with 48 seconds to go – the Hawks would critically go for two and fail to convert. The Falcons were undaunted now facing a 2-point deficit as junior QB Grady Augustyn drove the Falcons down the field before Landon Smith drilled a 38-yard field goal at the gun to give the Falcons a 24-23 win.

At the same time, Hamilton handled business against Spring Lake 24-14 on Friday to keep their position as the league’s surprising third element still very alive in the conference race. After a 4-5 season last year the Hawkeyes and coach Phil Koops have a dynamic and tough team that features an interesting Flexbone and Spread Option multiple offense that attacks in a variety of ways – all of them physical – and a tough defense to match.

Hamilton will play West Catholic in the final week of White play next Friday – if the Falcons win they will be outright champs, Hamilton can make it a two or three way tie at the top to finish the conference if they take the win vs. West. FHE will be in action against Wayland, and checking in to see if they will be able to share a piece of the league if they and the Hawkeyes handle business, or if the Falcons will take another league title.

 

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The final week for many of the OK conference races is here in week eight and we have have previews and live coverage of the bulk of the biggest games this week. As always keep an eye out for our Power Poll, Previews, and more all before the live action of another 13+ games Friday night!