Pigskin Preview: HS Football Week V

Lions ,Tigers, Vikings search for big 3rd win while Devils go for #4. Pack, Panthers look for two in a row.

By Ken DeLaat

Newaygo at Fremont
Nice win Packers.
Snapping a 30 game losing streak is no easy feat when you start your season 0-3. Football is a game that requires a great deal of emotional investment and try as you may it can be an arduous task to generate that level of passion for the game when you keep getting beat week after week and struggle with believing whether or not you can win.
This might sound strange to say but It is an enormously difficult thing to win a football game. I know, I know  every game has one winner but unless there’s a total unequivocal imbalance of personnel power, winning is hard.
If you have some significant talent you can get out-coached or have a few bad breaks or injuries  or calls go against you and when you don’t have a lot of talent you are hoping for your team to play at a near perfect level so you have a shot at winning.
And when a lengthy streak takes hold it’s not the easiest thing in the world to draw kids who want to play.
Well, now the streak is halted at 30 and I’d like to offer this to current Packer players who might have endured some disparaging talk about your team.
If guys around your Dad’s age remind you of how good the team was back in the day?
Remind them of the mid to late 80’s teams.
Their streak extended to 34.
And if they are around the age of your grandpa?.
Mid 70’s FHS went 28 games without a win though there was a tie tossed in there along the way.
Be proud. You broke the streak and that is certainly worth a little praise.
But back to the game this week.
Newaygo needs this one to keep their playoff hopes alive. A loss would force them to run the table and it is a very steep table. They are heading into a rugged second half schedule and though there are some big games looming they won’t look past the Packers.
After all it’s Fremont/Newaygo, two schools that  truly enjoy claiming bragging rights over each other regardless of which sport is being played.
The Lion offense while at times inconsistent looks  really good when they’re clicking and the Packer defense will likely offer Mr. Swinehart and Co. ample opportunities to  show what they can do.

​Tri County at Grant
The Tigers have perhaps one of the most musical press boxes to be found anywhere around these parts with oldies being crooned a capella by long time announcer and consummate pressbox host Dwayne Bonter.
During my visits to Tiger Country Dwayne and I generally manage to pull a few classic one hit wonders  out of the basements of our collective memory bank for a duet or two but his renditions of the 1969 Mel & Tim hit “Backfield in Motion” during procedure calls are pure artistry what with the accompanying dance moves.
And as for the game.....
​The Tigers have some really gritty players who ran out of clock last week. Given enough time they would have likely won this game because they are capable of taking big punches and bouncing back with a vengeance. The team is fun to watch and capable of big plays.
The Vikings have done well this season outplaying the expectations of everyone but themselves. Last week they were beaten badly but it was Reed City and they have rolled over everyone thus far. TC has to shake that one off and be ready to face a tough Tiger team and if the hosts go in front early the Vikes could be in for a long night.

Lakeview at Hesperia
The Panther offense got stretched out a bit last week as they put up twice the number of points they tallied in the first three games of the season.
This week they face a Wildcat team that might have an identical record (1-3) but it is also a team that nearly took down Morley and beat a good Tri County  squad. Their other 2 losses? 4th ranked Lake City (D6) and Silver powerhouse Kent City.
The Panthers will have to be effective on offense since the Lakeview defense can be tough to penetrate. Line play will be huge. Hesperia is playing at home and the crowd (especially those along the fence) should be a little less restless after the win.

White Cloud at Holton
The Cloud is struggling with numbers and injuries and teams that just have more weapons than they hold.
The Red Devils wanted that game last week to get number 4. They will be looking to get it done Friday. Should they be successful Holton would need 2 wins in their final four to secure their first postseason game  since 2007.

Other CSAA Games

Kent City at Morley
For the Mohawks it has been their dynamic defense that has held sway in their first 3 games. Now they host a team that is known to pile up the points behind a lethal running attack.
Irresistible force meets immovable object time?
Something will have to give here and the Eagles seem  to be a bit deeper on both ends while MS can struggle a bit on offense. Nonetheless a Mohawk win should surprise few.

Reed City at Chippewa Hills'
The Coyotes have beaten the Warriors 9 times in 7 years. Two of those were playoff games. They have a team that is not just winning they are grinding down defenses with a relentless attack and smothering the running game of opponents.
Chip Hills and their dual quarterbacks can mix things up and play well on offense and are pretty fair on defense but they make mistakes and they certainly can get flags tossed in their direction at untimely moments.
The ‘Yotes will likely make this #10

Central Montcalm at Big Rapids
The Cardinals need to win 4 of the next 5 to get into post season action and this should get them down to 3. The Bees don’t score enough to keep up with a BR team that can pile up yards when given the kind of opportunities they’re likely to see Friday.