There are only two weeks remaining in the 2024 regular season, and in week 8 we will officially crown champions in the final week of play in many of the OK-Conference divisions across west Michigan and also decide some critical playoff positioning as the push to Ford Field and the state title games begins!
GRANDVILLE (3-4) vs WEST OTTAWA (1-6)
After a tough 35-16 loss to Hudsonville that has all-but handed the OK-Red title to the Eagles, Grandville now returns home for the first of two straight at Bulldog Stadium to end their season. The Bulldogs will need one more win to get to the four win threshold, that with their tough D1 schedule will be enough to earn them a playoff spot. The ‘Dawgs will look to get that win and claw back to .500 on the year as they welcome in 1-6 West Ottawa.
This game will feature some big names going head to head – namely at the running back position. WO senior Kayden Forbes has 16 TDs on the season and is one of the most underrated players in the area – a 4-year starter, Forbes has a unique power/speed combo that can take over a game out of the Panthers pistol/spread offense. Grandville’s Jayden Terry has 19 TDs this year and 6+ D1 offers, he’ll look to lead a Grandville offense coming off by far their worst performance of the season last week and get back on track with a unit that is scoring nearly 40 points per game.
WO has not beten Grandville since they did so twice in the 2017 campaign, they’ll look to pull an upset in a game that could feature quite a few points with a couple of defenses that have struggled at times and offenses with good weapons all around. Look out for an X-Factor in QB play as Ethan Newville for Grandville has been a threat with his arm out of the T this year and Makai Campos for WO is a very quick QB with his legs and arm in the RPO and quick-hit pass game.
COOPERSVILLE (5-2) vs BIG RAPIDS (6-1)
Coopersville suffered a surprising week 7 loss at the hands of coach Don Fellows and Kenowa Hills, as the Knights made a big 43-41 statement in their first year of the new coaching regime vs. the former favorite and outright leader in he R.C.A title chase. Now, The Broncos will take a week off off conference play before they will play Cedar Springs in what could be a winner-takes-all type of week 9 clash in the Rivers Cities.
The Broncos this week travel to Big Rapids, who just clinched the CSAA-Red title with a big 41-20 win over Newaygo last Friday night. After a week one loss to Paw Paw, the Cardinals have rattled off six wins in a row and will provide a good test for the Broncos in their tune-up before their big league class with coach Kapolka and the Cedar Springs T in week 8.
FREELAND (7-0) vs FRANKENMUTH (7-0)
Coming into week seven, Freeland had given up a total of 12 points all year, Bay City John Glenn was able to hang 27 points on the Falcons in a strong losing effort, 54-27. And off that test, Freeland will now have their toughest game of the regular season by far on deck, as they see fellow unbeaten Frankenmuth.
The Eagles are one of the top-ranked favorites to compete for another D5 state title this year and have proven to be just as elite on both sides of the ball as the Falcons. Last year, Frankemuth defeated previously-unbeaten Freeland in week 6 38-13 before the Eagles would make it all the way to the state semis. Looking at recent common opponents for clues, Frankenmuth defeated John Glenn 41-13 the week prior to Freeland’s 54-27 win over the Bobcats – So, not a ton to draw from there, with close margins of victory for each in back-to-back weeks – This game should be a classic.
CENTRAL MONTCALM (6-1) vs WHITE CLOUD (1-6)
Central Montcalm remains red-hot this year, ratting off a sixth win in-a-row last Friday over Lakeview in dominant fashion, 54-6. The Hornets remain a game up over everyone else in the CSAA-White and control their own destiny heading into the final two week of the conference season. The will host White Cloud, who have been on the other side of the spectrum down the stretch, losing four straight and currently sitting without a win in the league.
This is a great chance for a veteran Hornets team under coach Scott Cripe, as a win here on the team’s senior night over the 1-6 Indians will equal an outright conference championship for Central Montcalm.
ROCKFORD (5-2) vs GRAND HAVEN (2-5)
Rockford was able to get the offense rolling last week in a 47-15 win over West Ottawa, as the team particularly was able to ride the run game and the strength of their great offensive line and stand-out running back Isaac Poot in the contest – maybe a peak at what this team’s cold/bad weather playoff offense could look like. This was, surprisingly though, the first time all year that Rams scored more than 40 points in a game – something they did seven times in 12 games last season.
Grand Haven have now dropped four-straight and sit tied with West Ottawa (Who GH got their lone win against) at 1-4 in the OK-Red. The offense has struggled for Grand Haven doing this losing streak, as they scored 14 or less in their last three losses during a four-game losing streak. The Bucs do have some good weapons, namely GVSU-committed WR Will Korenstra, who is a weapon that can take the top off of mot defenses. We’ll see if the Rams can keep their offense rolling in this one, and what the Bucs can do to try to match the potent Rams if they do.
ZEELAND EAST (4-3) vs UNITY CHRISTIAN (7-0)
Zeeland East will host Unity Christian Friday, as the ‘Saders will look to lock up a solo Ok-gold title on the final night of play in the Gold. Zeeland East will look to play spoiler for U.C. and help out their neighbor Dux, who sit at 3-1 and the only team with a chance to grab a piece of the league. The Chix have been one of the pleasant suppress in the area, picking up some solid wins and great performances led by a great LB core on defense and mix of talent out wide and in the run game in a balance offense.
Unity Christian, however, may be the area’s best team and a current stand-out favorite to win the division four state title. The ‘Safer are fresh off thrashing South Christian in impressive fashion 50-21 last week, making a real statement behind and RB and LB core of Vis, VanKoevering, and Stienstra that may be one of the best they’ve had under coach Tibbe – which is a BIG statement.
Zeeland East was able to slow the Zeeland West Power T offense to just 28 points and limited almost all explosive plays in a grinder in the ‘Bird Bowl’ earlier this year – So this could be a good test to see how much the ‘Saders can continue to roll vs. a team that is well-built to stop their unique attack.
JENISON (3-4) vs EAST KENTWOOD (4-3)
Jenison earned another big statement win for first year head coach Josh Lucas last week as they picked up a homecoming win 33-20 over Caledonia to move to 3-4 on the season. The win also puts the Wildcats in good position to make a push for the postseason in Lucas’s first season – a year after the ‘Cats won only one game in 2023.
East Kentwood is in a similar playoff push scenario, the Falcons are already at four wins and may find themselves likely being safe, but certainly pushing for a fifth win that would push them over the edge to being a virtual postseason lock in Ty Spencer’s first season. That game will be a great litmus test for the pair of former state champion first-year coaches who each have already picked up big wins on the season and could add a playoff berth to their first-season resume.
Jenison will close the year with Grand Haven and East Kentwood will play Rockford, so this game may prove critical for each’s chances to get to five wins, which could prove to be an important mark to achieve with teams like Grandville and their tough strength of schedule also looking at a four or five win season around them.
GR CATHOLIC CENTRAL (5-2) vs EGR (4-3)
Northview sent a big message last week as they shut down the Catholic Central offense in a 12-3 win to stay unbeaten and alone at the top of the OK-Black, which now enters the final week of league play. The Cougars will look to win and give them a chance to keep a share of the conference title off HC can defeat Northview Friday night.
EGR was able to get their fourth win of the season over Ottawa Hills last week and will now continue to be in a spot where they are jockeying for tennis playoff position. The Pioneers will have a tough stretch hosting this game over the Cougars and traveling to reigning D3 champs FHC to close the season. East GR may very likely need to get a fifth win in one of these two remaining games to get to play into ‘week 10’ and beyond.
Watch the GRCC offense vs EGR defense, GRCC has struggled to find it’s groove at times breaking in freshman QB Odin Spencer including last week’s 3 points scored and a shutout loss to Notre Dame Prep. EGR’s defense has been one of their calling cards in past seasons, and again this year, they have allowed 14 or less in 4 games this year and finding a way to slow the CC attack would be a must for the ‘Neers to a big fifth win on the year.
FOREST HILLS NORTHERN (3-4) vs GR UNION (0-7)
FHN will travel to Houseman Field for a critical game in coach Ostipow’s Huskies chances to make the postseason this season, as Northern currently sits at 3-4 and may wi d up being in need of two more wins to make the postseason this year based on how the other dominos fall.
GR Union is still looking for their first win of the year and have struggled in their move to the elite OK-Green conference this year, they’ve been shut out back-to-back weeks by the Muskegon and Mona Shores duo and will be looking to find more of a groove vs. the Huskies who are on a two-game slide of their own (Byron Center and Mona Shores).
FHN will close the year by hosting Northview, so a fifth win will be a tough test even if they are able to get the win this weekend – But making the playoffs will definitely hinge first on getting to at least four wins and they need to avoid a slip-up vs. a Union team looking to play spoiler and make an upset statement.
ZEELAND WEST (6-1) vs SOUTH CHRISTIAN (4-3)
South Christian’s 50-21 loss to Unity Christian last weekend marked a surprise fourth loss in-a-row for the Sailors, who are looking to make their third trip back to Ford Field this season. Four wins will likely be enough for them to make the D4 playoffs, where another date with the ‘Saders could be looming – But, another win in their final two games would certainly help their position seeding and safety. The Sailors will finish with an incredibly tough stretch, seeing Zeeland West this week and Catholic Central next – so, both games will be a test to get that firth win.
Zeeland West’s lone loss remains their loss to Unity Christian, a win here tonight can keep them alive for a share of the league IF Zeeland East is able to do their neighbors a favor and upset the Crusaders the way the Chix did the same to South Christian earlier in the year. The West defense has locked in the last two weeks, allowing only seven points in each of their two games following the 20-8 loss to Unity in week 5 – We’ll see if they will be able to slow Carson Vis and the Sailors offense, who have scored only an average of 16 points per game in their last three loses and need to find some of their first four week groove with the ball.
On the other side of the ball, it will be another good test against a T offense for South, who would possibly have to see multiple T’s during a D4 playoff run this year with how things are lining up, so they will need to find some improvements for their surprising 50 points surrendered to Unity Christian’s Power T last week.
MANTON (2-5) vs BEAL CITY (6-1)
Manton was able to win another thriller last week over Roscommon, 44-41 for their second win of the season. They now will have one of their strongest test’s of the season in line for what is set to be the Rangers’ senior night and final game at home this season, as they welcome 6-1 Beal City to town.
The Aggies have been a team that have not been strangers to deep playoff runs and even a 2021 trip to Ford Field in the past few seasons, and with a 4-game win streak and 6-1 record, this year’s team could be ready to make a march deep at the D8 crown again – Their lone loss coming to unbeaten D7 McBain.
REED CITY (5-2) vs TRI COUNTY (5-2)
Tri County and Reed City will match up in Howard City Friday night in an interesting battle of 5-2 teams that are each still fighting for the second spot within the CSAA-Red, behind the already-crowned champion Big Rapids Cardinals.
Reed City have played one of the toughest all-around schedules you can find for a D6 team – their losses coming to league champion Big Rapids (D4) and unbeaten and title favorite Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (D5). Try County suffered losses also to Big Rapids as well as to rival Newaygo within the conference slate this season. This should be a close test between a couple of teams that are looking at possible tough playoff draws (especially Tri County in D5) and will be looking for a good momentum-earning win.
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What a week of action we have on deck – and remember to check back in Saturday afternoon as well as we’ll have Calvin vs Adrian in DIII NCAA action – Along with plenty of recap articles and scores/standings from whatever you might have missed Friday night!
