Football Preview Week II

Mystery Ref amazed at the number of flags that feel in Fremont Friday

By Ken De Laat

White Cloud (1-0) at Hart (1-0)
Wow, that was a wild one up in the Cloud last week. The team came up big a number of times to get Head Coach Trice victory #1 in what we hope will be a long career guiding the Orange & Black. 
This week they travel to Hart to take on the Pirates who squeaked out a win over Fremont in a mistake and penalty filled contest.
Coach Trice: “We need to execute better in the red zone and stay calm. Hart is a fiery bunch and well coached, they are fast and ate us up on the outside last year.”
The last time WC beat Hart was the season finale in 2016. It won’t be easy to snap that string Thursday but, like last year, this Indian team has acres of heart and win or lose when the clock runs out the Pirates are going to know they’ve been in a game.

Newaygo (0-1)  at Big Rapids (0-1)
The Cardinals got eaten up by a solid Red Wolves team from Paw Paw (home of Charley Maxwell for other aged Tiger fans). The Lions fell a point short at Kent City but showed some serious grit against what looks to be a pretty good Eagle team.
Both teams need a win. BR has Central Montcalm next week then the rivalry game with Reed City coming up the following Friday. The Lions would love to get one under their belt before their home opener next week.
Should be a game that tells us a lot about both teams. If the Lions can win one on the road against an opponent who is pretty good at holding home field advantage it could be a fun year for Lion fans.

Fremont (0-1) at Beaverton (1-0)
Well, last week is in the books and week two generally means fewer mistakes, fewer penalties and hopefully more points.
The Packers underwhelmed home fans last week and they go on the road to face a Beaver team that knocked off Evart. Either the Wildcats were decimated by graduation or the Beav’s have found some talent at the skilled positions or both. Will be an interesting game and the Pack would greatly prefer not to start the WMC-L season coming in at 0-2. 

Grant (1-0) at Chippewa Hills (1-0)
We haven’t seen the Tigers and while we have tried, we have gotten little info on them.  The Tigers are in the second of four away games to start the season and face a Warrior team that won their opener over Olivet by the baseball score of 6-2. One of those schools who seems to just keep reloading every year, the Eagles haven’t missed the playoffs since 2007 so we’re assuming CH might be in for a good year…at least defensively. 
And if you’re a Tiger fan who goes to the away games and would like to help out an understaffed sports department let us know. We would value your contribution.

Hesperia (1-0)  at St Louis (0-1)
The Panthers put up a W in just one half. Their opponents, the Heights, didn’t have the numbers to complete the game and  are unlikely to finish the season unless they get a significant influx of bodies on the field. Thus, the trip to St Louis is really the Black Cats  first matchup with true competition. Hespo would relish heading into their home opener against the Cloud with a 2-0 mark and the game with the Sharks will at least allow them to see what they can do against a team that can field players over four full quarters.

Holton (0-1) at Perry (0-1)
You gotta love the Devs. They have see-sawed up years and down years with a magical run in ‘18 and a playoff spot in ‘21 with the ‘19 and ‘22 seasons that saw 1 win and 17 losses.
Last week they got whipped by an OV team that has forfeited more games than they have played the last two years. Well, good for the Cards. Nice to see teams bounce back like that. Let’s hope the Red Devils do the same. This is a town that turns out for their team big time.

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