 “The purpose of the referee is to present obstacles for players to overcome as they go about seeking their goals, not to constantly make trouble for them. This is a subtle distinction, and one that many beginners have trouble with.”- Marc W. Miller Newaygo (1-3, 1-4) at Grant (2-2, 2-3) In the 71 games on record this classic rivalry game one win separates the two teams with the Lions holding a 36-35 edge. There are rivalries and there are rivalries. My high school Caledonia had a decades long athletic feud with Middleville just 5 miles away on M-37 and yet oceans of distance between them when it came to competition. The series ran for over 6 decades before the burgeoning size of old Donie elevated their team to a conference with equally sized schools. The Grant/Newaygo M-37 (also 5 miles apart) showdown had a sabbatical a few years back when the Lions left the Lakes 8 for the CSAA. The first year apart they met in the tourney then missed a year before Grant joined the party in the Gold Division. But enough ancient history. Let’s focus on recent history. The Lions are an enigmatic team. They have played well and lost a couple games they could have won with a few more breaks and a lot less turnovers. They got beat up pretty bad last week with injuries taking their toll but they have some electric receivers and a QB who is pretty adept at getting them the ball. The Tigers offense got going in the win over Fremont but the Packer defense has been getting scored on pretty regularly. The Tigers are at home and are coming off their first win on the field. Jacobs is a player. A good player. The Lions have more weapons on offense and a couple of defensive stalwarts in Long and Bazzette But toss any speculation out the window, After a couple of decades of covering this game there is only one guarantee… It’s anyone’s game. Fremont (0-4, 0-5) at Tri County (3-1, 4-1) The Vikings are really good and their running game can pound defenses into submission with Lovell Behrenwald and Tompkins providing a triple threat corps in the backfield. And Tompkins can toss it as well. The Packers are having a tough year in more ways than one. Dirheimer is a bull out of the backfield but the offense could use more firepower and penalties and turnovers are killing drives. The Vikes are at home and still have their eye on a piece of the conference crown and want to move close to that coveted playoff berth. A lot would have to go Fremont’s way to make it a happy bus ride home Morley Stanwood (3-0, 3-2) at Hesperia (0-2, 0-4) COVID caused cancellation of the Panther Kent City game last week (Not a forfeit). Before that Hesperia gave up 7 TDs to a Lakeview team that totaled 2 scores in their previous 3 games. It would be refreshing to see the Panthers knock the ‘Hawks back into a tie in the race for the crown but they likely don’t have the horses on hand to deliver the upset. Holton (2-1, 3-2) at Kent City (1-1, 2-2) This should be a good one. The Devils have gotten better as the season has progressed and QB Fowler has a talented corps of receivers. This hasn’t been the season the Eagles were anticipating. Both teams need this to keep playoff hopes and Kent City will probably need to run the table to get in...starting with this one. The Red Devils are home and they have a ready and raucous fan base. Let’s see who blinks first. Lakeview (1-2, 1-4) at White Cloud (1-2, 3-2) The Wildcats pounded Hesperia and battled a good Holton team the past 2 weeks. The Cloud has lost a pair of tough ones in a row to good teams. They have the talent to win this one but they better find a way to minimize the damage done by Evans or he will run wild and find the endzone. Big Rapids (3-1, 3-2) at Chippewa Hills (0-4, 0-5) Strickler will have a field day for the Cards Central Montcalm (3-1, 4-1) at Reed City (4-0, 4-1) A Hornet win would scramble the conference race,
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 Photos by Brent Foondle WC Coach Strait: Last night the Lady Indians opened up the second half of our season with a home match against Hesperia. The first set we took a demanding lead with a score of 25-13. The second set we struggled serving and returning serves. After losing the second set, 20-25, we were able to close out the match with a win with scores of 25-16, 25-14. Carsyn Scarlavai and Jaden Gomez led the night with 5 aces. Aby Derks had a huge night at the net with 16 kills. Carsyn led our offense with 27 assists. The back row was led by Jaden and Elizabeth Compeau with 18 digs each. Hesperia Coach Grimard: We’re still running on a skeleton crew without our full squad and full time setter due to covid quarantines, yet, we were able to pull out a win in game 2 against the Indians. The offense was led by Alex Glenn with 4 kills and a group effort from Caity Frees, Elli McAree, Emma Joppich, and Kayla Rumsey all with 3 kills for the Panthers. Emmet Tinkham had 6 assists and Ali Townsend served a couple aces. Defensively, Joppich had 13 digs along with 12 digs each from Tinkham and Glenn. McAree and Tinkham led with 2 blocks with help from 1 block each from Frees, Glenn, and Joppich. The Panthers are off for the Homecoming weekend and will continue with league play on Wednesday, October 6th at Lakeview.    Photos by Cassie Rickert Morley Stanwood 20 White Cloud 10 White Cloud got on the board early when Morley turned the ball over on their first play and Mason Reuther found an open Traveon Brunson to connect for a 40 yard score. After a Jared Watson conversion WC held a 7-0 lead. The Hawks came back to threaten with a drive into Cloud territory the WC defense stiffened and took over deep in MS territory. Watson added to the score when he capped off a stalled WC drive by booting a 37 yard field goal and the visitors were up 10-0 entering the 4th. Morley struck back with Aaron Moore hitting Crue Woolworth to put the Hawks on the board. Later in the quarter the hosts took the lead helped by an untimely penalty on WC and drove down to the 1 yard line before Moore took it in on a sneak. After a second failed conversion the hosts held the lead in the closing minutes at 12-10. With time winding down the Cloud tried to fight their way out of a deep hole in MS territory but an interception led to another Hawk score and White Cloud dropped their second game of the season. Coach Gorman: The varsity football team lost a tough game Friday night. White Cloud was ahead for the first 45 minutes of play until a couple of ill timed plays went Morley's way. Leading the way rushing was Jace Silverthorn with 61 yards and Landyn McGowen adding 23. Over half the team contributed defensively; leading the way was Jace Silverthorn with 14 tackles, Austin Cook had 11, Carlos Brown added 9, while Mason Ruether, Traveon Brunson, Alex Cruzan, Taylor Bode, Landyn McGowen, Nik Parks-Josephson, Joel Bradley, Wes Penland, and Ayden Kailing all had multiple tackles to contribute. Ayden Kailing also had a fumble recovery in one of his best games to date.     Photos by Alexis Mercer Story by Ken DeLaat Tri County 22 Newaygo 14 The Vikings were looking to keep pace with the league leaders and inch a bit closer to a playoff invite. The Lions were hoping to build on last week’s win over Fremont that snapped their 3 game skid.  What ensued was a physical, hard fought contest between a pair of teams who battled to the final gun. The Vikings emerged victorious but not before they delivered several opportunities to their hosts in the 2nd half via turnovers. The game was marked by a pair of injuries to Lions Mallaci Mayle and Aaron Garza who were taken off the field halfway through the second quarter. Players from both sides were respectfully somber for the injured Lions. The tone after the injuries was muted and concerned on the field as well as in the stands. No one ever wants to see injuries, let alone those of such severity.  The Lions struck first on their first possession marching down the field in chunks before Remy Wells made an acrobatic catch and scored on a pass from Grant Harkness. Josiah Long converted and it was 7-0 for the hosts. The teams exchanged turnovers as Long recovered a Tyler Tompkins fumble deep in his own territory to halt a Viking drive but Landen Grabinski picked off a Harkness pass and on the next play Trent Behrenwald got the Vikes on the board with a 17 yard run. After Tompkins took it in for the 2 pointer it was 8-7 TC. TC had another drive that saw them reach the 9 yard line first and goal. 3 runs later they were on the 4 yard line and tossed a short pass that was picked off by Long. The Lions could not move the ball and their punt gave the Vikings the ball on the Lion 30. This time the visitors would not be denied, keeping it on the ground with Nate Lovell, Behrenwald and Tompkins grinding it out capped by Tomkins sliding off left tackle for the score and Stuart Gould finding paydirt for another 2 pt conversion. The half ended with TC leading 16-7.  The Vikes began with possession and were moving the ball before Kody Bazzett who provided a strong defensive showing all night, jumped on a fumble and the lions had the ball near mid field. Dylan Bazzett pulled in a pair of Harkness passes to help move the Lions inside the red zone. On 4th and goal from the 5 Harkness and Bazzett connected again but this time it put points on the board and Long’s PAT boot made it 16-14. Lovell and co. were pounding their way downfield in what looked to be another scoring drive late in the third but inside the 5 a bad snap gave the Lions another key turnover. Unfortunately for the Lions they quickly returned the favor via an interception and soon after Lovell took it home for a 22-14 TC lead after a failed conversion. The next few minutes saw a sea of turnovers as the Vikings were stopped twice from putting the game on ice by fumbles and the Lions handing it back over via the air. When the clock ran out the Vikes were happy to escape with a win having dodged the effects of their turnover issues. Tri County (3-1, 4-1) will continue their playoff quest with a home game against Fremont next week while Newaygo (1-3, 1-4) will try for win #2 when they visit Grant in the traditional rivalry game.  Photo by Stephanie Karnes Ciolk, Feldpausch pace teams
Coach Atwood: White Cloud Cross Country travelled to Cadillac this morning for the inaugural Cadillac Invitation at Veterans Serving Veterans Park. The weather was cool, but the performances were sizzling! The first race of the day was the Varsity Girls. Annie Feldpausch finished 14th, earning a plaque and setting a season best time of 22: 50. Kiara Edwards was 23rd, Courtney LaClair 29th, Jolena Deaton 35th, Ryleigh Balke 37th, Cecelia Rodriguez 41st, and Alexandria Rodriguez 42nd. The girls finished in 5th place. Competing in the JV race, Sydnee Ochs finished 33rd. Annie, Courtney, Jolena and Cecelia all set season best times, while Sydnee, Alexandria, Ryleigh, and Kiara ran their best times, ever. The Boys Varsity finished with a win over second place Manton, and third place Leroy Pine River. Finishing first for the Indians and 2nd overall was Nate Ciolk with a season best time of 17:43. He was followed by Kobe Canning, 10th, Coleson Cruzan 11th, Carson Foondle 18th, Malachi Graves 21st, Kaleb Canning 22nd, and Christian Ringler 23rd. Nathan, Kobe, and Coleson received awards for their finish place. In the JV race, the boys team missed a victory by three points. The JV crew was led by Ashton Byle in 8th place, Keagan Kailing 15th, Nikolas Antone Parks 17th, Avery Bowman 20th, Wyatt Karnes 23rd, Jarrett Warlick 37th, and Zane Keith 38th. Earning place awards were Ashton, Avery, Keagan and Nik. Boys that ran season best times were Nate, Kobe, Christian, Ashton, and Keagan. Posting personal best records were Coleson, Carson, Malachi, Kaleb, Wyatt, Jarrett, and Zane. Good job to all the runners! Our next meet is Saturday, October 2 in Shepherd.  Jacobs scores three times, posts key interception
Grant 20 Fremont 14 The Packers took the opening drive and scored first when Justin Dirheimer plowed his way in from three yards out and after David Wachter’s conversion the hosts took a 7-0 lead. The Tigers responded with a long time consuming drive of their own, scoring on a 2 yard touchdown run by senior Brady Jacobs in the closing seconds of the first quarter. The PAT failed and with a second quarter dominated by defense the teams hit intermission with Fremont holding a 7-6 lead. Early in the third Owen Hertel took in a 6 yard run and after Wachter once again split the uprights the Pack was up 14-6. Fremont had an opportunity to put some distance between the teams when they recovered a fumble deep in Tiger territory but the visitors responded with a strong defensive stand forcing Fremont to go for a field goal that missed. The Tigers took over and Jacobs broke off a 49 yard touchdown run to cut the Packers lead to 14-12 with 2:14 left in the 3rd. After a defense stop, the Tigers drove down and Brady Jacobs scored on a 7 yard touchdown run. Chase Kazemier scored the two point try to give the Tigers a 20-14 lead with 9:04 left in the 4th quarter. Both teams turned the ball over on downs, before Fremont drove the ball to the Tigers 20 yards line in the closing minutes.. Once again it was Jacobs taking center stage as he intercepted a pass in the end zone with 20 seconds left and allowed Coach Mike Stephan to get his first on field victory leading the Grant Tigers. Brady Jacobs led the offense with 177 yards rushing , 3 touchdowns on 24 carries. Zachary Barnhart had 2 receptions for 42 yards. The defense was led by senior Sawyer Carr with 8 tackles, including 2 tackles for loss. Gage Scholtens had 7 tackles, including a pass break up. Nolan Corvers also had 7 tackles. Angel Tello and Treyton Railling each had 6 tackles, followed by Colin Millet with 3 tackles, and Brady Jacobs with 3 tackles, a pass breakup and an interception. Dirheimer pounded out 102 yards on the ground for the Pack while the Freemont passing game was held to just 29 yards. Hayden Threatt, Garret Hanshue Owen VandenBerg and Alex Gleason led the Packer defense in tackles. Grant (2-2, 2-3) will host Newaygo in the traditional rivalry game next week while Fremont (0-4, 0-5) travels to Tri County to face the Vikings.  By Joseph Mclean Holton 44 Lakeview 28 A big night with the Lakeview homecoming atmosphere set the stage for a battle between two CSAA Silver foes going head to head. Lakeview was looking to build on a very good performance last week against Hesperia, and the Devs were hoping to get on the fast track to a playoff spot with back to back wins. After a botched onside kick try to start the game, the Wildcats got the ball with good field position. Cat running back David Evans showed why he’s one of the best players on the field after a big time score to open the game. The PAT gets tipped by the Devs, and it slides left and the hosts grabbed a 6-0 lead. Kevin Erickson received the ensuing kickoff taking it deep into Wildcat territory to the 20.A couple run plays were stuffed by the Wildcats, but then the pass game that came alive last week returned with Fowler getting it to Hosmer who became shifty and scored. The 2 point try failed and the score was knotted at 6. Lakeview got it back, but a good defensive stand with help from a holding penalty stopped the Wildcats. A muffed punt from Robins almost gives the Wildcats the ball back with very good field position. Both teams turned it over on downs. The 1st quarter ended with the Devils passing attack again getting them down the field, and closing in on the score. The 2nd quarter opened up with Fowler getting brought down in the backfield, but he quickly avenged that on the next play when he hit Cameron Edgerton for his 2nd TD pass of the night. Erickson added the 2 PT and Holton was up 14-6. Evans took the pitch to the right and broke through for a tough run, and a facemask penalty on the Devs put the Wildcats in the redzone. The Wildcats looked to pass, but were picked off by the captain Fowler in the back of the endzone. The Devils moved the chains on 3rd down due to the Fowler to Hosmer connection. On the very next play Fowler took it to the right and was held up, with the ball getting punched out with the Wildcats recovering. The Wildcats try to run on the back of the premierrunner Evans, but they got stopped and had to punt. A big throw from Fowler to Robins, and a roughing the passer penalty on the same play gave the Devs good field position in Lakeview territory with just under 2 mins to play. A pass intended for Hosmer fell out of his reach on 4th down and the hosts took over Evans took it on the right side and made them miss with his cutback for a first down. The Cats ran an option play but the Devs read it well with Robins coming out with the ball after making the play that sets the Devs up for possibly a half ending score. With 30 seconds on the clock Fowler hit on his 3rd passing TD of the night, adding the 2 PT himself to make the score 22-6 with 26 seconds till halftime. Lakeview finally makes the pass game pay off as Evans snared a TD pass with 17.4 left on the clock and the teams went to the break with the Devs leading the Wildcats 22-12. Coming out of the break Holton needed to prove they can finish a game strong. The Devs ran the ball on the backs of Fowler, Nichols, and Erickson. Evans sacked Fowler on a pass attempt, but on the next play Fowler threw his 4th TD pass to Robins to make it 30-12 right out of the gates. The Wildcats were looking like they were going to stall out, but on 4th and 2 Delamater faked a throw and scrambled for a first down. He then tossed a pass to Bunker who was stopped at the 1 yard line where Evans ran it in easily. After some controversy on the 2 PT because of a fumble into the endzone recovered by the Wildcats it was a30-20 in a game that could come down to the wire. The Devs started their next drive running behind Nichols, Erickson, and Fowler at the end to get into scoring position to end the quarter. Erickson punched it in to start the final frame. Fowler ran the 2 pt across the line but a penalty on Holton that backed them up and the next try is no good. Wildcat qb Delamater showed off his arm on the drive hitting his main target Bunker for big plays, and capped it off with an Evans rushing TD and 2 point conversion to put the hosts within a score. The Devils drive got to about mid field, and on 4th down the Wildcats make the stop that could potentially save the game for them. Delamater couldn’t connect with anyone and on 4th down Evans took a pitch to the right, and ran straight into the Devs setting the edge for the tackle for loss. The Devs took over and gave it to Erickson around the right side for a big gainer. After a third down throw from Fowler to Hosmer that’s dropped at the endzone, Fowler shows he has silver bullets and throws another passing touchdown to Cameron Edgerton. Erickson hits the right edge to make it 44-28. On the last drive of the night Delamter tried to carry his team, but the Devs brought the pressure and made the final stand. This game was an exciting back and forth game, and even though there were a lot of points, the defense for both teams played well and came up with big plays. The Devils finish the game strong like Coach Smith has been wanting, and get back to back CSAA wins. The Red Devils move up to 3-2 (2-1) and Lakeview falls to 1-4 (1-2). The Wildcats will go on the road to take on White Cloud next week. The Red Devils welcome the Kent City Eagles to Red Devil Stadium off the covid break for what should be a really big game. Fowler had a big passing game again going 18/24, 267 yds, 5 TD, 0 INT with 4 tackles and a pick on the defensive end. All of the receivers got involved tonight as they go Rice Robins - 2 Rec 38 yds 1 TD, Bret Hosmer - 5 Rec 90 yds 1 TD, Kevin Erickson - 7 Rec 58 yds 1 TD, Cameron Edgerton - 3 Rec 48 yds 2 TD, Kaleb Nichols- 1 Rec 33 yds Waterman, Robins, and Cartwright led in tackles for the Devs.   Coach Strait: Thursday night, the Lady Indians traveled to Hart to play the second of back to back matches. At the end of the night, we couldn't match Hart's offense. Leaders on the night were Carsyn Scarlavai with 10 points and 3 aces, followed by Jaden Gomez with 9 points and 4 aces. Aby Derks led in kills with 8 and Carsyn dished out 11 assists. Our back row was led by Elizabeth Compeau with 9 digs and Carsyn with 5. We open our home game streak on Wednesday, when we host Hesperia. Coach Grimard: Wednesday night, the Panthers played the Holton Red Devils at home with just enough players, playing in new positions, due to quarantine restrictions that have taken out 5 from the Panther Team. The Panthers held their own against the Red Devils regardless of the fact they were without their setter, back-up setter, and libero. The Panthers lost game 1, after leading most of the game, 25-27. Game 2 was 22-25 and Game 3 was much like game one with a 24-26 battle to the end. The Panthers loss puts them at 2-3 for the league standings going into the second half of the season. The Panthers are set to play White Cloud on Wednesday, September 29th, on the road with the hopes that they will have some of their team back and healthy. The Panthers were led offensively by Emma Joppich with 11 kills, followed by 4 from sophomore Kayla Rumsey. Senior Caity Frees and sophomore Abby Joppich stepped up to help with the setting duties on the floor and came up with 7 and 6 assists respectively. Abby served up 3 aces, while Rumsey, Frees, and Elli McAree each had 2 aces for the Panther offense. Frees and Ali Townsend both had 15 digs on the night. Mystery Ref wearing much needed glasses Pandemically influenced standings? Should COVID related forfeits even count? If a school is closed due to the virus concerns and is scheduled to play a school equally hit with COVID but one team decides that despite the school closure they’re going to play football… Can you call that a win? As we enter the halfway point of the season it is hoped no conference crown ends up being decided by such circumstances. Just saying… And what’s up with the rumors of a bit of a player rebellion within one of our local teams after a member of the coaching staff got sacked the day before last Friday’s game? Word has it the players weren’t thrilled with the decision and less thrilled about how it was handled. Coincidentally the team’s defense yielded a boatload of points in the first half. This week’s games Tri County (2-1, 3-1) at Newaygo (1-2, 1-3) The Lions ran up a 28 point lead over the Packers then, as they have been prone to do, let the Packers back in the game in the second half. They held on for the win last week but if the Lions are to hold home court they can’t afford to not have four well played quarters. TC’s offense can light up the scoreboard quickly and combined with their rather stingy defense the Vikings are going to be a tough opponent. Fremont (0-3, 0-4) at Grant (1-2, 1-3) Neither team has won on the field though the Tigers are in the W column courtesy of a forfeit. The Pack showed some life in the second half last week. While the comeback was a total team effort we were impressed by the way Dirheimer seemed to will his team back into the game on both sides of the line. The Tigers have struggled on defense and if the Packer offense gets into the rhythm they found in the second half last week the hosts could be in trouble. Holton (1-1, 2-2) at Lakeview (1-1, 1-3) The Red Devils knocked White Cloud from the unbeatens on the road last week. Fowler will be getting a lot of attention from the Wildcat defense but he has some soft handed receivers to toss to and with a bit of o-line protection could do some damage. The Cats went on a scoring spree against Hesperia last week. They likely won’t pile up those numbers against the RD’s but Holton doesn’t want to fall behind early here. A win would be a big step toward a possible trip to the dance. White Cloud (1-1, 3-1) at Morley Stanwood (2-0, 2-2) Can the Cloud shake off that loss to the Red Devils and pull off a road win against Morley? It would surely be a sweet one since the last time a White Cloud team defeated MS most of the current players were just learning to walk. It would keep playoff hopes going with some tough games ahead on the schedule while certainly scrambling the race to the top in the Silver. Silverthorn has done well in guiding the Cloud offense and the Morley D has given up plentiful points, but the visitors can’t afford a slow start and will need to win the turnover battle to pluck this victory from the ‘Hawks. Reed City (3-0, 3-1) at Big Rapids (3-0, 3-1) The battle for the top spot in the Gold features Strickler to Strickland vs. the vaunted Coyote defense. It’s on BR’s new field where they are undefeated thus far. Well, 1-0 but undefeated nonetheless. This is a rivalry game, albeit a one sided rivalry in the past decade-plus. The Cards haven’t beaten RC since 2009 and haven’t come within 4 touchdowns since 2015. Tough game. Edge to the hosts to snap the string and bring a bit of parity to the rivalry. Chippewa Hills (0-3, 0-4) at Central Montcalm (2-1, 3-1) Hornets have been mad as...well...Hornets since their narrow loss to BR last week. They should buzz through a rather porous CH defense. Kent City (1-1, 2-2) vs. Hesperia (0-2. 0-4) Cancelled, not forfeited. -By Ken DeLaat  Photo by Brent Foondle Coach Strait:
Last night the Lady Indians dropped a conference match to a tough Kent City team with scores of 12-25, 4-25, 20-25. We had a hard time getting momentum. Leaders on the night were Abby Derks with 6 points and 1 ace. Abby also contributed with 6 kills, assisted by Carsyn Scarlavai, who led with 11 assists. Defensively, Kiara Edwards and Ceara Bode each had 2 blocks. Elizabeth Compeau earned 5 digs, while Krystianna Faltinowski, Kiara, and Jaden Gomez each had 4. We continue play tonight Thursday) in Hart. |
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