Football Preview Week IX

Channeling his inner zebra

By Ken DeLaat N3 Sports

It’s the final week of regular season football and with few local teams likely to get a game 10 we salute the many seniors who will be putting on the pads for their school one last time.
Whether a starter or a member of the team who not only helps prepare the starters but stands ready to enter the game on a moment’s notice, these student athletes put in a lot of hard work during the season. Whether basking in a win or feeling the sense of exhaustion that accompanies a loss they leave it all on the field and play for the love of the game.

Manistee (2-3, 4-4) at Fremont (1-4, 5-3) 
A win over the Chips isn't likely to earn the Packers a playoff ticket with 8 teams standing between them and the final slot, but it would put an exclamation point on the success of their first winning season since 2013. ‘13 was also the last time Fremont earned a postseason game  since all schools participated after the discombobulating 2020 season.
But back to the present.
Both of these teams lost to Whitehall. Oakridge and Ludington (as did many others). Both defeated OV and both won a couple of non league matchups. The biggest difference would be their matchups with Montague. The week after the Packer offense got stymied in a 20-0 loss to the Wildcats the Chips lit the scoreboard up, slapping down 50 points in a decisive win over the visiting Montague squad.
Fremont’s defense won’t give up 50, but the offense will need to stay on the field as long as possible and halt their recent turnover tendency. The Packer backfield has a lot of talent but their success is dependent on an o-line that has taken some lumps the past couple games.
Still, it’s homecoming in Packerville and the fans will be pumped to see their team finish with a win. I like their chances.

Comstock Park (1-5, 3-5) at Newaygo (1-5, 2-6)
Between these two teams they have 5 wins. The 4 teams they beat  (both were victorious over Grant) have a combined record of 2-29.
The Lions lost a heartbreaker to CM last week and handed Chip Hills a win on turnovers and penalties the week before. They have played well in spots but putting it all together for a full game has been elusive. They don’t need to play a great game to beat the Panthers but they have to tone down the mistakes to finish on a high note.

White Cloud (2-1, 6-2) at White Pigeon (2-2, 5-3)
Our favorite D8 team is likely to be in the playoffs. They currently sit 23rd in the payoff point average rankings (the top 32 get in) and a win over the Chiefs would improve their seeding and open the remote possibility of a home game. Going into last week’s game WP ( like WC) had not beaten a team with a winning record
Then they took apart Kent City 44-19. 
In Kent City.
Coach Gorman’s team will have to come up big on the road and that potent offense will need to shine if they are to  outscore a White Pigeon team that puts up points in bunches.
Go Cloud!

Muskegon Catholic (6-2) at Tri County (5-1, 7-1)
A good postseason prep game for both teams. The rugged Crusader defense facing the point- a-minute offense of the Vikes. Both teams can use a win to help their seeding. The game is in TC and it will be a boisterous crowd (who are also prepping for the playoffs) supporting their Vikings. But MCC travels well going 4-0 on the road and 3 of those teams are also playoff bound. 

Grant (1-5, 1-7) at Kent City (3-0, 6-2)
For whatever reason the Tigers don’t seem to have progressed as the season has moved forward. They cannot keep defenders from setting up shop in their backfield and the defense has yielded 162 points in the last 3 games, an average of 54 per game. The Eagles have been knocked around 2 weeks in a row after 6 straight wins. They need this one to improve their playoff spot and hopefully avoid a first round rematch with the Reed City team that trounced them 2 weeks ago.

Holton (0-5, 0-8)  at Hesperia (0-5, 1-7)
When these teams began their gridiron rivalry back in the 50’s the Red Devils won the first four games.
Then the Panthers won 24 of the next 26.
In recent years the rivalry game  has been more of a back and forth affair with the Golden Football changing hands frequently.
Hesperia is playing at home for the first time since losing the game and their starting QB a month ago. The Devils are low in numbers and can’t seem to find the endzone having visited it but 3 times all season.
Last season Hesperia brought the Golden Football to the home of the Red Devils and had to leave it behind. This year Holton will be bringing the traveling trophy up Maple Island and into Panther territory.
They aren’t likely to be bringing it home.