High school gridders take to the field Friday
4 of the 6 teams in our coverage area have new coaches. The other 2 began their program last year amidst the cancelled, then moved to spring, then moved back to fall, numerous forfeits, cancellations and everyone's in the playoffs but some can’t play due to quarantine 2020 season. This is likely the swan song in the CSAA for Fremont, Holton and Hesperia who seem to be on target to join what will be a 2 division West Michigan Conference next season. But that’s next year. This year everyone is still ensconced in the CSAA and everyone is starting the season 0-0. Check back next week. How about the rest of the CSAA members? In the Gold Reed City is always tough having won or shared the title 9 of the past 10 seasons. The lone crownless season was 2019 (the last non COVID season) when the Hornets of CM shook off the previous year’s 0-9 mark to claim the top spot. Big Rapids finished strong last season Chip Hills won a couple of late season games and Tri County took a 3 game losing streak into the postseason then advanced twice before being knocked out by the Oakridge team that previously eliminated both BR and CH. The Eagles then lost to GRCC who won their 4th state title in the last 5 years. The Silver has been a 2 team race for most of the recent seasons as Kent City and Morley Stanwood have battled for the top spot. Lakeview is coming off a rough year going 0-5 on the field and 0-2 in forfeits. This week’s games: Newaygo at Kent City The Lions open the season on the road with a new coach in Mike Allison who arrives from Alma College where he coached tight ends and the O-line. Last season Newaygo finished 2-5 with one of those victories courtesy of a forfeit by Grant, only the second time since 1950 the M-37 rivals failed to meet on the field. Conference play begins the following week with a home opener against Central Montcalm Kent City finished 5-2 running off 5 straight wins before bowing to Orchard View in their regular season finale and falling to Clare in the tourney. They won’t get a chance to avenge the loss to the Cards on the field in week 2. OV has dropped football due to lack of numbers and will forfeit the contest. Ludington at Fremont Year 2 for Coach Jason Carpenter as the Pack will welcome the Orioles to their newly refurbished athletic complex. Fremont went 2-5 including putting on an offensive explosion in their victory over Chip Hills and taking a forfeit win over Big Rapids. They will host the Cardinals on the field in week 2 in the conference opener. The O’s posted a 5-3 mark including a 41-22 win in Fremont. Comstock Park at Grant Another first year coach, Michael Stephan, arrives from the Hope College staff to take the reins of the football program in Grant. The Tigers finished 3-4 last year but one loss was a forfeit to Newaygo. The Panthers went 1-6 in the bruising OK Blue under a new coach last season. The following week the Tigers open their conference schedule against Reed City at home. The Coyote program has won 72 of their last 75 conference contests. One of those 3 losses was to Grant. Just saying. Shelby at White Cloud The Cloud returned to the gridiron last season after cancelling in 2019 due to a lack of players. They won 2 games by forfeit last year but haven’t had a victory on the field since 2017. Coach Joe Gorman is in his second year at the helm and will face a Tiger program that has won just twice in their last 55 games. After another non-con game against Lee the Cloud will open the Silver season on the road in Hesperia September 10th. Hart at Holton The Red Devils finished 3-5 last season including a tourney win. They also will be seeing a new coach on the sidelines as Alex Smith takes over the program after serving as defensive coordinator at Spring Lake and GR Christian. Hart ended the season at 1-6 and in 2 games against WMC rival Montague were outscored 130-0, The Devs will host Coleman the following week before starting conference play against Morley Stanwood on the road. Hesperia at Manton Dave Smith who spent 8 years on the sidelines at Ravenna brings his playoff experience to Hesperia. The Panthers, who finished 4-3 after losing to perennial powerhouse Pewamo Westphalia in the playoffs, begin the season on the road with a trip to Manton to face the Rangers of the Highland Conference. The Ranger program has won just once in their last 20 games. After a trip to St. Louis to swim with the Sharks in week 2 the Panthers will open Silver play at home when the Cloud comes to town.
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