HS Football Preview: Week V

Mystery Ref pondering the possibility of seeing the obscure Fair Catch Kick rule come into play

By Ken DeLaat

Newaygo at Reed City
The roots of this rivalry came in 2012 when, after Reed City put a pasting on the Lions during the regular season, Newaygo  went to the ‘Yotes house 7 weeks later in the  District Finals and knocked them out of the dance.  Two years later the Reed City squad did the same, losing their regular session matchup and sending the Lions home in the post season opener. In recent years it has been all Reed City who have beaten the Lions by an average of 37 points the last 4 games, but this is a Lion team on a mission. Newaygo sits atop Division 6 in playoff points, having slapped the lone loss on three teams who are probably headed to the  postseason. 
Reed City is a tough place to play and the Coyotes have a large and loud following. The Lions are having a magical season and a win here makes believers out of all of us. It would also add to the makings of a title game with Big Rapids in 2 weeks. The key will be not letting the hosts jump out early and forcing the Lions to play catch up.

Fremont at Oakridge
The  Eagles have a pretty fair program with 19 straight playoff appearances. This year they are 2-2 and with 4 tough opponents coming up they will need this one to help keep that streak alive. The Packers beat up on a struggling Grant team last week to post their first victory. They will probably add to the win column this season  but it’s not likely to happen this Friday at Oakridge.

Chippewa Hills at White Cloud
Which defense will rise to the occasion in this matchup? Both teams know how to score but  the Cloud has yielded 175 points and the Warriors have seen 222 points on their opponents side of the scoreboard.  Chip Hills hasn’t won a game yet but they have faced a much tougher schedule than WC with each of the 4 teams that bested them likely to play at least 10 games.
If the hosts fall short CH will be the third team to record their lone win (so far) against the Cloud. I don’t doubt that Jayden Robinson and Co. will put some numbers on the scoreboard. It remains to be seen if they can put up enough to make up for a rather porous defense

Shelby at Hesperia
The Panthers were pummeled by North Muskegon last week but the Norse are the cream of the Rivers Division of the WMC. The Tigers are not. They haven’t won since a season opening rout of White Cloud, the team that ran away from Hesperia a couple of weeks ago.
The Panthers possess some talent particularly with the elusive Blake Sayer and 2 way standout Skyler Stalbaum, but they don’t seem to be able to stop teams from scoring the past 2 weeks. This may be the best shot the Panthers have at another  win with 4 formidable opponents looming after this one, but they will need to stop making huge mistakes on defense if they are to stay in this one.

Grant at Big Rapids
Injuries and low numbers led to the Tigers forfeiting this one, but chances are pretty solid  that they would have lost this one. The Cardinals are cruising since an opening loss to highly rated Paw Paw, the home of Charley Maxwell who, to people as old as I am, remember him for his proclivity to hit homers on Sunday and the ‘Paw Paw’ nickname Ernie Harwell bestowed on him.