Football Preview; Week IV

Mystery Ref has been on the field for decades.

​By Ken DeLaat

Holton (1-2,0-1) at White Cloud (3-0, 1-0)
Whaddya got, White Cloud? 
The last team in school history to go 4-0?
1972. Nixon was about to be elected president for a second term that would end, uh, badly for him.
And the last WC team to beat the RD’s?
2003, also the last team to earn a playoff berth  since everyone got in last year.
The Devs have shown they can put up the points having tallied 76 points in their 3 games.
They have also yielded 88 points hence the 1-2 mark thus far. 
The Holton team put on an impressive showing last week that nearly saw them snatch  one from Morley on the ‘Hawks home turf.
The Cloud is  feeling pretty good these days with a team that is off to the best start of any squad  since back in the late 80’s. The early traction has energized a fan base that will be turning out in droves Friday to see how good their current cadre might be.
This will be the toughest game yet for Coach Gorman’s team. The Red Devils can be explosive and their early schedule has been tougher than the teams faced by the Cloud who are winless thus far.
There was some serious momentum resulting from that OT win last week, but the hosts will need to find a way to keep that rolling against the visitors from Holton.
As we said this one will test the home team, but they showed a lot of grit last week and if their offense can keep pace with the scoring capabilities of this RD squad there should be plenty of action on both sides of the scoreboard.

Fremont (0-3, 0-2) at Newaygo (0-3, 0-2)
Who is going to make the fewest mistakes?
Both teams are looking for win number 1 on the season and what better way to savor that first win than to have it come against a cross county rival in what could be their last conference tilt on the gridiron?
The Lions and Packers each lost games to Big Rapids and Central Montcalm by eerily similar scores. Both teams possess pretty good passing games and combined with a pair of strong receiving corps they each have the ability to strike quickly. Interceptions, the fly in the ointment when it comes to high school passing games, have brought drives to a halt for these teams as have the type of penalties that make coaches testy and prematurely grey.
It’s on Newaygo’s home turf and Friday marks one year since  the last win notched by the Lions on the field.The chaotic season that was 2020 made this matchup the season opener last year and the Lions went into Fremont and posted a 42-14 win  providing a rude welcome to Coach Carpenter.The Packers left from that squad would like to return the favor over in Lion country.
This one is likely to be a close one and, as we said, whoever minimizes mistakes by paring down penalties and turnovers should emerge with that elusive #1.

Grant (1-2, 1-1) at Tri County (2-1, 1-1)
The Tigers opened with a pair of losses then missed a game last week when COVID issues forced Chip Hills to forfeit.
Those losses came against a CP team that puts up and gives up a lot of points and a Reed City squad anchored by their always rugged defensive play. The Tigers managed just 6 points against Park and were held scoreless by the Coyotes. 
The Vikings were stung by that close loss to Reed City last week but the game showed that they are indeed one of the better teams to inhabit the Gold Division. And while the offense has been a lively watch the Viking defense has sparkled in the early season as well.
Game is at TC and Grant will need to find some ways to get on the board because their hosts will likely be putting up some points
Possibly a lot of them.

Hesperia (0-3, 0-1)  at Lakeview (0-3, 0-1)
The Panthers lost a heartbreaker to the Cloud last week at home. An emotional overtime game between two Silver rivals fell to the visitors and win #1 eluded Hesperia and their new Head Coach Dave Smith.
This one’s on the road but I like Hesperia’s chances here. The Wildcats can’t score and they haven’t been able to stop other teams from getting into the endzone. Granted their schedule hasn’t been the easiest and they are a scrappy group who will play until the final gun so this won’t be easy for the Panthers. The Hespo team seems to have improved each week and grabbing this road win would be a big step forward.

Other games:

Morley Stanwood (1-2, 1-0)  at Kent City (2-1, 1-0)
The “Hawks got beat up by a couple of undefeated teams in their first 2 games then pulled out a squeaker against the Red Devils.
The Eagles shookoff an unexpected loss to Hart to ramble past an outmanned Wildcat team.
Eagles at home gives them an edge but this one could be closer than some might expect.

Chip Hills at Reed City
With all due respect to the Warrior squad, if the Coyotes don’t win this one, bet on the Lions making the Super Bowl because it will be that kind of year.

Big Rapids at Central Montcalm
Two of the top tier teams in the Gold go at it. 
Kaelb Crooks to Fisher Wells and Jamal Strickler to Wil Strickland.
Four names worth the price of admission.