The fifth segment of our 2025 MSR football preview spotlights the OK Green. This league has three teams that have played at Ford Field in the past three seasons, and all of these teams are poised for strong years once again.

OK Green

  1. Mona Shores
  2. Muskegon
  3. Byron Center
  4. Forest Hills Northern
  5. Reeths-Puffer
  6. GR Union

Byron Center (12-2 in 2024)

Last season, Byron Center had the best season in its program’s history, reaching the State Championship and holding an early lead before falling to Orchard Lake St Mary’s. They were anchored by several seniors, most notably quarterback Landon Tungate and running back/linebacker Kellen Payne. This year, they will replace Tungate with Easton Wychers, who got the benefit of playing in several one-sided games last fall. His best weapon will be Cam Payne, the junior who reeled off a remarkable touchdown run in the state finals, one of his eight touchdowns. Payne has been garnering a lot of Division 1 attention, including already earning a scholarship offer from Toledo.

Payne will be a strong contributor at linebacker, and Byron Center has Tate Bainbridge anchoring the secondary. These two will need to set an example for several young Bulldogs looking to emerge as key players on the defensive end. It is a challenging schedule for the Bulldogs, starting with two road games against Hudsonville and East Kentwood, followed by tough conference games with Muskegon and Mona Shores in the first five weeks. If they can navigate this schedule to get to the postseason, Byron Center should be a formidable foe once again.

Forest Hills Northern (4-5 in 2024)

The Huskies were 4-5 last season, and they were a few plays away from being a 6-3 team that comfortably was within the playoff picture. Instead, they were on the outside looking in, and this group in 2025 will look to return to the postseason.

FHN is an experienced bunch, with several key starters returning with a chip on their shoulder. Eli Macauley is the name to know here, as the All-State lineman will anchor both sides of the trenches. Macauley has received scholarship offers from GVSU and Ferris State, and has received attention from Division 1 programs. Quarterback Owen Ostipow is back, and he has Colton Sawyer and Levi Silvernale back as versatile offensive weapons. If the Huskies can take care of business in the early portion of this schedule, they will find themselves playing football when the playoff picture begins.

Grand Rapids Union (1-8 in 2024)

Grand Rapids Union struggled last season, falling in their first eight games by a combined total of 377-44. Finally, in the season’s final game, they bested Detroit Loyola to earn their first win, marking the second straight season the Red Hawks ended the year victorious.

This year, the schedule is once again difficult for Union, as they play Zeeland East and Hamilton as two of their non-conference foes. There are two big opportunities for victories on this schedule, starting with Week 2 against Okemos. The Wolves had lost 40 straight games before taking down both Clio and Coldwater last season. The best opportunity likely comes in the season finale against Wyoming Lee. The Legends make a return to 11-man football for the first time since 2020. They were a strong 8-man program, with nine wins over the past two years, but Lee often doubled or tripled the enrollment of some of their opponents. The season finale could be a great chance for both clubs to seek out their first victory of the year.

Mona Shores (9-2 in 2024)

The Sailors were conference champions once again last fall, but they suffered an early playoff exit once again. After winning the 2020 State Championship, they have been knocked out of the postseason in four straight District Finals.

As has been the case over the past decade, there are college players all across the gridiron for Mona Shores. Ike Steward, an All-State tailback, is back after committing to Miami OH. He is joined by Joe Thole, a commit to Ave Maria who is transferring in from Portage Northern. Vine Coleman is the opposite of the 80’s baseball star, instead of a speedster, he is a physical lineman that poses a strong presence and is receiving several Division 2 offers. Finally, there is Dom Piggue, who has already committed to Northwood, and he will anchor the secondary.

This team has an extremely difficult schedule, as they face Grand Blanc, River Rouge and Toledo Central Catholic in non-league play. Add in Byron Center and Muskegon, and this Sailors team will be well-tested. By the time October comes around, we will know if this bunch has the horses to return to Ford Field.

Muskegon (3-5 in 2024)

The Big Reds missed the postseason last year for the first time since 1999. A perennial powerhouse, the playoffs felt a little different without the Big Reds lurking in the bracket. This year, Shane Fairfield’s Muskegon bunch will look a little different as they try to return to the postseason.

It all starts in the trenches for Muskegon, who two players who will play Division 1 football kin the coming seasons. Recarder Kitchen, a rising junior, has received heavy interest from several Power 4 schools, such as Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, USC and Notre Dame. The consensus 4-star recruit anchors the defensive line. On the other side of the ball, Ernesto Botello, who is a senior with an offer from Toledo, should lead the way up front. He will look to protect quarterback Lamar Bradford, and pave lanes for running back Keshawn Drummer to spark this offense.

The Big Reds have talent, they always do. But with Grandville, Rockford, Byron Center, Mona Shores, Cincinnati Moeller and Garfield Heights (OH) on the schedule, they will need to beat some strong teams to return to the postseason once again. When they get there, they are a squad that regardless of record, nobody wants to see on the other sideline.

Reeths Puffer (2-7 in 2024)

The Rockets and head coach Cody Kater have a few returners, but several question marks following their 2-7 season. Cal Millis, an honorable mention All-Conference selection, will be back to anchor the defense at linebacker. There is some experience in the receiving corps with Connor McManus and Mason Darke. But there are lots of battles in camp for playing time at several key positions, including quarterback and a majority of the interior line.

This is an extremely challenging schedule for Puffer, as they face FHC, Caledonia, Spring Lake and Forest Hills Eastern out of league play. Toss in the league heavyweights, and they will be facing an uphill battle to get to the postseason.