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Colleagues Connect in Classroom, Coaching

By Pam Shebest
Special for MHSAA.com

September 17, 2019

MATTAWAN — When students enter one of the social studies rooms at Mattawan High School, they should not be surprised to see a white board full of Xs and Os.

It is not a game of tic-tac-toe, just a series of football plays.

With three head football coaches teaching in the same wing, there is plenty of pigskin conversation being tossed around before and after school.

Ryan Brown, who teaches social studies and power training, is in his fifth year coaching Mattawan. Wade Waldrup, who teaches social studies and English, is the first-year head coach for Lawton. And Matt Stephens, a social studies teacher, is in his fourth year guiding the program at Paw Paw.

The coaches, who are also friends, do not have to worry about going head-to-head at any time.

“There’s no chance we’ll play against each other, not in the playoffs or anything,” Waldrup said.

That is because the schools vary in enrollment enough that, should they qualify, they will end up in different MHSAA playoff divisions when those are determined after Week 9. The three schools also play in different conferences, with Mattawan in the Southwest Michigan Athletic Conference West, Lawton in the Southwestern Athletic Conference and Paw Paw in the Wolverine.

“I’m glad we don’t play each other because for me, I take my competition very personally and I think they’re both the same way,” Brown said. “It wouldn’t cause issues, certainly not professionally, but personally you’re not as close. You can’t share, and I would miss that.”

Added Stephens: “I appreciate the fact that I coach at a school where I come to work every day and don’t have to look at the athletes from Mattawan and know that I’m going to have to play against them.

“I think that allows me to have some comfort in that I can root for Mattawan and I can root for Lawton because I’m at a different level.”

Sharing is what the three often do, and all agree that they tap into each other’s strengths.

“Matt is more of an offensive guy,” Waldrup said. “I’m more of a defensive guy. Matt’s probably the more creative one and I think Ryan is really good at fundamentals and technique.”

Stephens said another advantage is understanding the ups and downs of the season.

“We’ve known each other for so long, honestly when one of us is down and one of us is up, it’s ‘We feel your pain,’” he said.

“It’s not this issue of we won and you didn’t. It’s more like, ‘We’ve been there before.’”

Although Lawton is 3-0 on the young season, “Matt is probably the top dog because Paw Paw (3-0) is ranked No. 1 in the state,” Waldrup said.

Mattawan is 1-2, but like Paw Paw made the playoffs last season and opened this fall with an impressive win over Kalamazoo Central.

“Honestly, rankings are just media’s way of trying to keep people interested,” Stephens said. “We’re talking to our kids about what they’re going to do to earn it. Being No. 1 is great, but Plainwell doesn’t care if we’re No. 1 and neither do any of our other opponents.

“If you get a No. 1 ranking, that just fuels the fire for other teams. We feel fortunate, blessed to be given that credit, and it’s nice for the kids. But at the end of the day, it all boils down to how you perform.”

The trio’s coaching connection goes way beyond this season.

“There’s a little bit of a coaching tree with Ryan, myself and Wade and I guess it all filters under me, but not necessarily intentionally,” Stephens said.

“I was head coach at Mattawan, so Ryan worked under me quite a while and Wade worked under me for one year before going to Constantine.”

In addition, both Stephens and Brown played football at Vicksburg High School.

Stephens was an assistant under then-coach Denny Patzer while Brown was a player there.

Brown connected with Waldrup after starting his teaching career at Mattawan 19 years ago.

“Many moons ago, Wade was my student teacher,” Brown said. “That was a fantastic experience.

“He left and went to Constantine, then came back this way.”

Waldrup said he came late to education, joining the U.S. Marine Corps after graduating from Clawson High School near Detroit.

He spent nine years as a Marine, then decided to go into education after returning from three years in Okinawa during Desert Storm.

Before taking the job at Lawton this year, Waldrup was Brown’s defensive coordinator at Mattawan, making a splash at the first game last season.

“Our first game last year, I always get coaches the pullovers, shorts, polos and hats, and Wade shows up wearing this gold hat and gold shirt and bright pants, and I was like ‘Where’s that from?’ Brown said, laughing.

“And he said ‘I’ve got my own stuff.’ I always tease him that he had to stand out. He was the golden child. He said he wanted the defensive guys to see him, which makes perfect sense. But at first it was like this bright yellow and I was like, ‘Whoa.’”

Stephens and Waldrup keep their teaching and coaching lives separate.

“When we’re here during the school day, we try very rarely to talk about the other schools that we coach at so we can be a fan of our kids,” said Waldrup, adding that they never wear gear from their football schools while teaching at Mattawan.

When Friday nights roll around, the three are rooting for each other, and they dissect the games on Monday.

“We throw ideas off each other absolutely all the time,” Stephens said.

Brown said there is a definite coaching connection between the three.

“There are some things only they get, only they understand,” he said. “They talk about the Presidents Club, the ex-presidents and how they’re so close after they leave office.

“That’s how I feel like with those guys. I can look at them and give them a look and they’re like, ‘Yeah, I know.’

“I always say I would want my kids to play for either one of those guys, to have that experience. They’re good men, and that’s the first mark of a good coach, I think.”

Pam Shebest served as a sportswriter at the Kalamazoo Gazette from 1985-2009 after 11 years part-time with the Gazette while teaching French and English at White Pigeon High School. She can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Calhoun, Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties.

PHOTOS: (Top) Clockwise from left, Paw Paw’s Matt Stephens, Mattawan’s Ryan Brown and Lawton’s Wade Waldrup all teach at Mattawan during the day and coach local varsities after class is done. (Middle) From left, Brown, Stephens and Waldrup. (Middle below) Brown prepares to talk to his team during a break. (Below) Stephens sends players back onto the field during the team’s 3-0 start. (Mattawan photos by Haley Hagen/Paw Paw Courier-Leader. Paw Paw photos by Matthew Day/Hot Shotz Photography. Lawton photo courtesy of Wade Waldrup. Head shots by Pam Shebest.)

Fowler's Jacob Halfmann pulls away from a Pewamo-Westphalia defender Friday.

1st & Goal: 2024 Week 6 Review

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

October 7, 2024

We don’t track margin of victory week to week during the Michigan high school football season. So only anecdotally we will say that Week 6 felt like it was filled with several more close games than usual across the state.

MI Student AidTotal, 57 games were decided by eight points or fewer – in essence, a touchdown and 2-point conversion, or less – and those 57 games including 113 Michigan teams (with River Rouge playing an Ohio opponent).

In other words, 19 percent of our varsity teams were part of games decided by such a slim margin – including many of the results of intriguing matchups we highlight below.

Bay & Thumb

HEADLINER Almont 29, Armada 28 Almont’s last-minute go-ahead score may end up deciding the Blue Water Area Conference championship as the Raiders (6-0) held on to win this matchup of undefeated teams. They can clinch a share of the title this week against Richmond, while Armada (5-1) fell into a second-place tie with North Branch – but with some hope as North Branch plays Almont in Week 8. Click for more from the Port Huron Times Herald.

Watch list Marysville 39, Marine City 20 Marysville (5-1) rebounded from a 35-0 opening-night loss to Almont to win five straight and clinch a share of the Macomb Area Conference Silver title – with an opportunity to win it outright this week against second-place St. Clair.

On the move Davison 35, East Lansing 10 Davison (5-1) built a strong nonleague schedule again for this season, and this final nonconference win bumped the Cardinals up to No. 9 in Division 1 playoff-point average while keeping East Lansing (3-3) still firmly in the Division 2 mix. Grand Blanc 35, Lapeer 21 The undefeated atop the Saginaw Valley League Red standings are down to Grand Blanc (5-1) and Davison, with Lapeer (4-2) holding on to a sliver of title share hope after taking its second league loss. Fenton 24, Linden 21 Fenton (6-0) took a field goal lead during the first quarter and continued to maintain that advantage to the end to clinch a share of the Flint Metro League Stripes title and send Linden to 3-3 – but with some title share hope as Fenton faces the other second-place team, Flushing, this week.

Greater Detroit

HEADLINER Trenton 28, Gibraltar Carlson 14 Trenton (4-2) has strung together a nice comeback over the last month, with this win the necessary first step toward a possible – and what not long ago probably seemed improbable – opportunity to claim a share of the Downriver League title. The Trojans started this fall 0-2 with both losses in the league, but handed Carlson (5-1) its first. This week Trenton faces Downriver leader Allen Park – and with Allen Park and Carlson still to play as well. Click for more from the Southgate News-Herald.

Watch list Clawson 27, Clinton Township Clintondale 14 Reigning MAC Bronze champion Clawson (4-2) broke this season’s league standings open again, denying Clintondale (4-2) the opportunity to clinch a share of the title and setting up the possibility of three winners this season with Hazel Park also tied for first, one league game left for all three, and none of those three playing each other.

On the move Detroit Lincoln-King 50, Mount Clemens 0 Lincoln-King (6-0) posted its third straight shutout on the field (with a forfeit win during that run as well) and can clinch the Charter School Conference Silver title this week after sending Mount Clemens (4-2) into a tie for third place. Clinton Township Chippewa Valley 34, Utica Eisenhower 31 (2 OT) All of a sudden the Big Reds (2-4) are only five spots out of making the Division 1 playoff field after stunning Eisenhower (5-1), which can still claim a share of the MAC Red title by defeating first-place Macomb Dakota this week. Oxford 18, Rochester Adams 17 After opening Oakland Activities Association Red play with an eight-point loss to Clarkston, Oxford has pushed back into a tie for first with a chance to clinch a share of the title this week against West Bloomfield. Oddly enough, Adams – with two league losses by a combined four points – could be part of a five-team title share if all five in the division finish 2-2 in league play.

Mid-Michigan

HEADLINER Fowler 14, Pewamo-Westphalia 11 Fowler (6-0) pulled into first place in the Central Michigan Athletic Conference and nearly pulled even with P-W (5-1) in their longstanding series. This was the Eagles’ second win in their last 10 meetings with the Pirates, but pulled Fowler to within one of tying P-W for wins in the 59-year rivalry. Click for more from the Lansing State Journal.

Watch list Leslie 36, Napoleon 28 With this win over reigning Cascades Conference East champion Napoleon (3-3), Leslie pulled within one more of clinching a share of this year’s title and with winless East Jackson up next. The Blackhawks (6-0) also have their most victories in a season since 2012, the last time they finished with a winning record.

On the move Ionia 21, Lansing Sexton 20 After this second-straight one-point win, Ionia (4-2) has avenged three of its losses from a year ago and needs two more victories to guarantee its best finish since 2013. Lansing Everett 35, Grand Ledge 12 Everett (5-1) bounced back from its loss to Grand Blanc with its first win over Grand Ledge (4-2) since 2019 – and with one more victory, would have its best finish since 2014. Mason 40, St. Johns 10 Mason (5-1) clinched a share of a sixth-straight Capital Area Activities Conference Red title by winning this matchup of league leaders, and also delivered St. Johns (5-1) its lone loss during what has been the Redwings’ best season since 2019.

Chesaning's Brayden Florian (11) finds a seam during his team's 50-0 win over Montrose.

Northern Lower Peninsula

HEADLINER Petoskey 42, Cadillac 18 The Northmen played themselves into a championship matchup in the Big North Conference this week, as they’ll face co-leader Marquette with two leagues games remaining for both. Petoskey also is 6-0 for the first time since 2011, tied last season’s win total with this one, and remains seventh in Division 3 playoff-point average while Cadillac (3-3) fell only one spot to No. 29. Click for more from the Petoskey News-Review.

Watch list Boyne City 21, Grayling 18 Boyne City (4-2) kept its destiny in its own hands, and it will face first-place Traverse City St. Francis in Week 9 with a chance to earn a share of the Northern Michigan Football League Legends championship.

On the move East Jordan 43, Mancelona 28 The Red Devils (4-2) bounced back from two-straight one-score losses to solidly reassert themselves in the middle of the potential Division 8 playoff field, with Mancelona (3-3) remaining in that mix as well. Traverse City St. Francis 55, Cheboygan 6 The Gladiators (5-1) won their third straight to clinch a share of the NMFL Legends title and send Cheboygan to 3-3. Charlevoix 28, Elk Rapids 0 The Rayders (4-2) are league champions as well with this clinching a share in the NMFL Leaders.

Southeast & Border

HEADLINER Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central 34, Riverview 15 Two straight power-packed weeks in the Huron League have left Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central in first place and Riverview and Flat Rock both a game back, with SMCC facing Flat Rock this week with at least a share of the league title on the line. This was billed as Riverview’s powerful offense against the Falcons’ unyielding defense, and the latter won out to give SMCC its first victory over the Pirates since 2019. Click for more from the Monroe News.

Watch list Dexter 42, Ann Arbor Pioneer 6 Dexter (6-0) clinched the Southeastern Conference Red championship, in part by sending Pioneer (4-2) into a tie for second place. The Dreadnaughts can claim the title outright this week at Monroe.

On the move Jackson Lumen Christi 63, Toledo St. Francis de Sales 35 In a winner-take-all for the Catholic High School League AA championship, Lumen Christi (5-1) clinched it and has won all six of its CHSL games since entering the league last fall. Ottawa Lake Whiteford 65, Erie Mason 8 Petersburg Summerfield clinched a share of the Tri-County Conference title by way of this Whiteford win, but the Bobcats (5-1) no doubt will be cheering for Mason next week to defeat Summerfield, which would create a shared title among all three. Chelsea 38, Tecumseh 14 Chelsea has strung together five straight wins after losing its season opener, and this one, combined with Adrian’s 17-14 victory over Jackson, gave the Bulldogs (5-1) the outright SEC White title.

Southwest Corridor

HEADLINER Kalamazoo United 33, Constantine 21 United’s first win over Constantine since 2018 ended the Falcons’ 23-game winning streak in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Lakeshore and put the Titans (5-1) in position to clinch a share of the league title this week if Constantine (5-1) defeats co-leader Parchment. United faces Parchment in Week 8. Click for more from the Kalamazoo Gazette.

Watch list Schoolcraft 17, Lawton 3 Schoolcraft (5-1) will face Saugatuck this week for a share of the SAC Valley title after sending Lawton (4-2) into third place by ending a five-game losing streak against the Blue Devils. Lawton had defeated the Eagles in both the regular season and playoffs the last two years.

On the move Battle Creek Harper Creek 32, Parma Western 13 Harper Creek (5-1) has played itself into a similar spot as last season – set to face Hastings with major Interstate 8 Athletic Conference implications. But this time, the Beavers have a win over Parma Western out of the way as they avenged last year’s loss to the third-place Panthers. Paw Paw 21, Edwardsburg 7 The Wolverine Conference race is likely to go to the end of the regular season, but this was a major obstacle to overcome as Paw Paw (6-0) moved closer to a Week 9 matchup with current co-leader and reigning champion Niles – which faces Edwardsburg (4-2) this week. Berrien Springs 31, Buchanan 6 Berrien Springs (3-3) won its second straight over the Bucks (3-3) and will face Dowagiac this week for a share of the Lakeland Conference championship.

Negaunee's Hank Tincknell (35) gets read to take on an Ishpeming Westwood defender.Negaunee's Hank Tincknell (35) gets read to take on an Ishpeming Westwood defender.

Upper Peninsula

HEADLINER Marquette 28, Escanaba 7 As Petoskey accomplished against Cadillac (noted above), Marquette (5-1) did its work to set up this weekend’s Big North Conference matchup of coleaders. The seven points scored by Escanaba (3-3) were the first given up by the Sentinels in BNC play – impressive again versus an offense that was averaging 31 per game. Click for more from the Marquette Mining Journal.

Watch list Bark River-Harris 54, L’Anse 0 After opening with losses to Ishpeming Westwood and Iron Mountain, Bark River-Harris (4-2) has won four straight and its last three games by shutout. The 54 points scored were a season high.

On the move Calumet 29, Houghton 0 The Copper Kings (3-3) broke a three-game losing streak and in doing so bumped up from No. 40 in Division 6 playoff-point average to No. 32. Manistique 33, West Iron County 0 The Emeralds will finish off the regular season with a pair of still-undefeated opponents and will get a nice bump from those matchups win or lose, but this one paid off big as well as they jumped six spots to No. 30 in Division 8 playoff-point average. Negaunee 42, Ishpeming Westwood 6 With a Week 4 loss to co-leader Kingsford, but co-leader Menominee coming up this week, Negaunee still has some hope for a share of the title in Western Peninsula Athletic Conference Copper – and if that doesn’t work out, wins like this one over Westwood (2-4) will continue to boost the Miners in Division 6. They currently rank No. 12 on that playoff-point average list, up two spots from last week.

West Michigan

HEADLINER Grand Rapids Catholic Central 42, Holland Christian 18 The Cougars may have made the Ottawa-Kent Conference Black title pursuit a two-team race by sending Holland Christian out of a tie for first and with co-leader Grand Rapids Northview up next for the Cougars (5-1). Holland Christian (5-1) also will see Northview, in Week 8, as it continues building its guaranteed best season since 2018. Click for more from the Grand Rapids Press.

Watch list Zeeland East 22, Grand Rapids South Christian 15 The O-K Green is loaded and several other contenders have received a lot of the attention this fall. But the Chix (4-2) are right there as well, with this easily their most impressive win of the fall and a great way to push into the final two league games against Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central and leader Hudsonville Unity Christian. South Christian (4-2) has lost two straight after a strong start.

On the move Zeeland West 28, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central 7 The Dux (5-1) bounced back after losing to Unity Christian in Week 5 and remain one game back in the Green with two league games to play. Rockford 34, Caledonia 14 Rockford (4-2) bounced back from its first back-to-back losses since 2018 by downing the Fighting Scots (4-2) to move back up to No. 15 in Division 1 playoff-point average. Grandville 33, East Kentwood 25 After opening with three losses, Grandville has three wins and the No. 22 spot in Division 1 playoff-point average thanks to a jump of 10 spots. East Kentwood (3-3) would be part of the field as well if the season ended today.

8-Player

HEADLINER Norway 40, Munising 28 The Great Lakes Eight Conference East has plenty of power with four of six teams .500 or better, and at the top are Norway and Pickford with the Knights (5-1) handing Munising (5-1) the latter’s first loss of the season. Circle Norway vs. Pickford in Week 8 as one of the biggest 8-player regular-season games of this fall. Click for more from the Iron Mountain Daily News.

Watch list Grand Rapids Sacred Heart 28, St. Joseph Our Lake of the Lake Catholic 20 Sacred Heart (6-0) emerged from one of its toughest tests of this program-defining season, the Falcons’ second overall and first playing a full varsity schedule. Our Lady (4-2) is one of five Sacred Heart opponents so far that sits at .500 or better.

On the move Mendon 66, Bellevue 42 Two strong offensive teams not surprisingly combined to score a lot of points, with Owen Gorham totaling 256 yards and six touchdowns rushing for Mendon (6-0) and Seth Keson running for two touchdowns, scoring a third on a kick return and throwing for two more for Bellevue (4-2). Fulton 60, Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart 33 The Pirates (5-1) have finished with winning seasons three of their four in 8-player football, and this has been their best start with this victory avenging a seven-point loss to the Irish (4-2) from a year ago. Marion 48, Suttons Bay 0 Marion (6-0) has won its games by an average of 38 points per, and this first shutout of the season came against one of its most successful opponents so far in the Norsemen (4-2).

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PHOTOS (Top) Fowler's Jacob Halfmann pulls away from a Pewamo-Westphalia defender Friday. (Middle) Chesaning's Brayden Florian (11) finds a seam during his team's 50-0 win over Montrose. (Below) c (Top photo by Jim Pivarnik. Chesaning/Montrose photo by Terry Lyons. Negaunee/Westwood photo by Cara Kamps.)