Constantine Comeback Gets Running Start
By
Wes Morgan
Special for MHSAA.com
September 6, 2018
Shawn Griffith is fully aware of the fact he’s now coached fathers and sons, uncles and nephews during his tenure at Constantine High School.
That doesn’t make him old, he says; it just means he’s “seasoned.”
It also means he’s now been around long enough to experience both the highs and lows of coaching. Traditionally one of the state’s small-school powerhouses, Constantine lost its way in 2017 with a 3-6 record — Griffith’s first losing season since taking over the program in 2007 and the school’s first sub-.500 season in 26 years.
With a pair of Division 6 championship game appearances (2011 and 2012) and a 114-36 overall record to his credit, last autumn’s fall from grace, though somewhat expected, he said, was a reminder that high school sports still have a cyclical nature.
Attrition, inexperience, lower participation numbers, defensive struggles and fractured team chemistry all attributed to the disappointing season. Still, the Falcons were four points away from five wins, which likely would have been enough to qualify for the playoffs. With a 5-4 regular-season record back in 2013, Constantine went on to advance to the Regional Finals, underscoring Griffith’s mantra of improving each week and what can be accomplished by doing so.
“We knew last year we were going to go through some growing pains,” Griffith said. “I think the 3-6 thing really helped these guys focus in the offseason, and they have done a great job coming together.”
Now the Falcons, 2-0 this year after blowout victories against Gobles (56-0) and Quincy (42-7), are out to reclaim their seat at the table, with expectations just as high as they’ve always been. A few players only need to look at their family trees to be reminded of what’s possible.
Senior fullback Brendon Schragg in particular has a bloodline that traces back to the most memorable year in Constantine football history, as his uncles literally carried the Falcons to their only MHSAA football championship.
With Griffith then serving as offensive coordinator in 2004 — just the second season after he transitioned the offense from an I-Formation to the Wing-T — senior twins Jim and Mike Schragg lined up in the backfield for the Falcons and combined for nearly 3,800 rushing yards, fueling the team’s title run and 13-1 record.
Mike Schragg, a tailback, rushed for more than 100 yards in the championship game against Suttons Bay, a 34-13 Constantine victory. But it was fullback Jim Schragg’s legendary effort that put him atop the MHSAA record book list for yards in a Final after he went for 307, including an 89-yard run.
“We were loaded with backs,” Jim Schragg said. “It’s a fun offense to run. Some parents get ticked off that we don’t throw it enough, but you have three bad things that can happen with a pass and not too many bad things can happen with a run.
“It’s cool to have your name there with the record and all that. But the state championship is more important to me than the record and running for over 300 yards. The state finals was the whole goal for our senior class. It was state championship or bust. That was what every single kid played for on that team.”
Some things haven’t changed. Though going from a three-win season to a state title is extremely unlikely, Brendon Schragg and his teammates believe they can put together a pretty special year.
“They were superstars to me,” Schragg, who rushed for 575 yards and five touchdowns as a junior, said of his uncles. “I always had the dream that if you go to state, I want to go to state. That’s been a goal since I was 4 years old.
“In my opinion, come Week 5 when we start our (Southwestern Athletic Conference) games, I think we are going to come out and compete. There isn’t a doubt in my mind we can’t win a league title. I ask myself a question every day, ‘Why not us?’”
Brendon Schragg is a three-year starter and one of three returning backs this season. The Falcons haven’t needed complete games out of the trio in the victories so far this year, but Schragg has 145 yards and two TDs on 14 carries. He and teammates Hunter Lindbert and Josh Lawson will probably split the load the rest of the season. Lindbert has compiled 188 yards and 4 TDs on 14 carries, and Lawson has 235 yards and two TDs on 18 carries.
Of course, none of it would be possible without the big guys up front.
“We’re just more physical in the trenches this year,” Schragg said of linemen such as Trenton Stears, Marquise Wykle, Matt Hutton and Austin Loose. “Hutton, our center, both his uncles played on the state championship team, believe it or not.”
Part of Griffith’s job is to both encourage his players to shoot for the moon and to make sure they also have their feet firmly planted on the ground. He certainly understands there are challenges ahead with teams like Kalamazoo United, Watervliet and Schoolcraft.
“We look a lot better,” he said. “But we’re certainly not naïve; we see some pretty darn good football teams on our schedule here coming up. I think our guys have done a real good job of not blowing this out of proportion. It is what it is; it’s a good start. They have done a good job of concentrating and preparing week to week.”
Wes Morgan has reported for the Kalamazoo Gazette, ESPN and ESPNChicago.com, 247Sports and Blue & Gold Illustrated over the last 12 years and is the publisher of JoeInsider.com. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Berrien, Cass, St. Joseph and Branch counties.
PHOTOS: (Top) Constantine defensive players motion for a turnover during their win over Gobles in Week 1. (Middle) Brendon Schragg, far left, breaks through the Gobles defense. (Photos courtesy of JoeInsider.com.)
A Game for Every Fan: 11-Player Finals
November 25, 2014
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
This weekend, the MHSAA 11-player Football Finals will celebrate a decade of calling Detroit's Ford Field home.
And these eight games over two days should provide a draw for every fan as we wave good-bye to another memorable season.
Like a favorite? Clarkston (Division 1), Grand Rapids West Catholic (5), Ithaca (6), Ishpeming (7) and Muskegon Catholic Central (8) are all reigning champions playing to repeat.
Intrigued by history? Ithaca is going for its 70th straight win and an opportunity to challenge the MHSAA record of 72 next fall.
Hungry for a rematch? Ishpeming and Detroit Loyola will meet in the Division 7 Final for the third straight season. The Hematites won the first two meetings.
Ready to root on a rookie? Saline, Muskegon Mona Shores and Lansing Sexton will all make their championship game debuts.
The Division 8, 2, 6 and 4 games are Friday, with the odd-numbered divisions playing Saturday. Tickets cost $10 and are good for all four games on one day. Click for a full schedule.
The first two Friday games will be broadcast live on Fox Sports Detroit’s primary channel (check cable/satellite box listings for your specific channel) with the Division 6 game on FSD’s Plus channel and the Division 4 game tape delayed at 10:30 p.m. on FSD primary. Both will be available live on FoxSportsDetroit.com. Saturday's games are all live on Fox Sports Detroit's main station. Audio broadcasts will be available on the MHSAA Network website.
Here’s a look at all 16 finalists. (Rankings were voted upon by The Associated Press’ media panel. Statistics are current unless noted.)
Division 1
CLARKSTON
Record/rank: 13-0, No. 1
Coach: Kurt Richardson, 28th season (217-77)
League finish: First in Oakland Activities Association Red
Finals history: Division 1 champion 2013.
Best wins: 24-21 over No. 8 Macomb Dakota, 55-41 over No. 5 West Bloomfield, 23-20 over No. 4 Lapeer in District Final, 35-13 over No. 6 East Kentwood in Semifinal.
Players to watch: QB D.J. Zezula, 6-0/190, sr. (2,022 yards/20 TDs passing, 804 yards/13 TDs rushing); WR/DB Austin Egler, 6-3/200, sr. (420 yards/6 TDs receiving, 3 interceptions); RB Nolan Eriksen, 5-8/188, jr. (1,448 yards/20 TDs rushing); LB/TE Jack McKillop, 6-1/220, sr. (96 tackles), OT/OLB Cole Chewins, 6-7/235, sr.
Outlook: The Wolves have turned last season’s run to a first MHSAA championship into a 26-game winning streak that included this fall four wins over other top-10 ranked teams. Zezula also quarterbacked last season’s championship run, and Chewins – who moved to tackle this fall after an injury to the starter on the left side – is a Division I college recruit at linebacker and tight end. He and McKillop help key a defense that’s tightened to give up 15.8 points per game during the playoffs and only 17.3 per game for the season.
SALINE
Record/rank: 12-1, No. 7
Coach: Joe Palka, third season (31-5)
League finish: First in Southeastern Conference Red
Finals history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 42-35 over honorable mention Canton in Regional Final, 30-15 over No. 2 Detroit Cass Tech in Semifinal.
Players to watch: RB Kevin Gross, 5-11/200, sr. (604 yards/13 TDs rushing); QB Josh Jackson, 6-2/195 jr. (701 yards/9 TDs rushing, 1,626 yards/16 TDs passing); QB Trent Theisen, 5-11/180, sr. (1,038 yards/13 TDs passing, 234 yards/5 TDs rushing); FL Jeb Palka, 5-10/140, jr. (865 yards/9 TDs receiving), DB Tyrone Miller, 6-1/180, sr.
Outlook: Saline is two games deeper than during any playoff run in its history after making its first Semifinal appearance last week. While the league schedule didn’t provide too many obstacles this fall, the Hornets took on (and fell 31-28) to Division 2 finalist Muskegon Mona Shores on opening night and have continued to raise their performance to that level during the postseason – including locking down a Detroit Cass Tech offense that was averaging 34 points per game. Saline has two quarterbacks who could start for most – Jackson and Theisen have combined for 2,664 yards passing, 935 rushing and 29 touchdown passes.
Division 2
MUSKEGON MONA SHORES
Record/rank: 12-1, No. 3
Coach: Matt Koziak, fourth season (24-17)
League finish: First in Ottawa-Kent Conference Black
Finals history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 40-7 and 42-14 (District Semifinal) over No. 4 Caledonia, 41-14 over No. 2 Midland Dow in District Final, 48-27 over No. 6 Muskegon, 25-24 over honorable mention Farmington Hills Harrison in semifinal, 31-28 over Division 1 No. 7 Saline.
Players to watch: QB Tyree Jackson, 6-5/210, sr. (2,235 yards/23 TDs passing, 825 yards/14 TDs rushing); RB/LB DeOntay Moffet, 5-9/205, sr. (1,439 yards/19 TDs rushing); WR/DB Matt Schuiteman, 6-2/180, sr. (879 yards/7 TDs receiving).
Outlook: Mona Shores also is making its longest playoff run after reaching the postseason for the first time only a year ago. Jackson, who has committed to the University of Buffalo, has been a main cog in the Sailors' rise – but left the Semifinal with an injury. With him and Moffet in the backfield, Mona Shores has run for more than 3,000 yards as a team – while the defense has given up only 52 points total in four playoff games against top competition.
WARREN DELASALLE
Record/rank: 10-3, honorable mention
Coach: Paul Verska, 13th season (99-49-0)
League finish: Third in Detroit Catholic League Central
Finals history: Division 2 runner-up 2006 and 2008.
Best wins: 26-21 over No. 1 Birmingham Brother Rice in Regional Final, 31-7 over Southfield in Semifinal, 21-14 over Detroit East English in District Final.
Players to watch: QB/DB Joey Garbarino, 6-2/210, sr. (1,098 yards/10 TDs passing, 441 yards/8 TDs rushing); RB/DB Allen Stritzinger, 6-0/178, soph. (1,183 yards/19 TDs rushing); OL/DL Khary Harris, 6-3/234, sr.; OL/DE Mike Danna, 6-3/233, sr.
Outlook: After opening 3-0 against out-of-state opponents, DeLaSalle lost its first three games in-state – but none by more than seven points, and the Pilots avenged that first loss to Brother Rice. DeLaSalle is giving up only 10 points per game during this seven-game winning streak, with Harris and Danna dominating up front. In addition to taking DeLaSalle to the Finals twice, Verska also coached Ann Arbor Huron to the 1997 Class AA championship game.
Division 3
MUSKEGON
Record/rank: 12-1, No. 6 in Division 2
Coach: Shane Fairfield, fifth season (52-12)
League finish: Second in O-K Black
Finals history: Five MHSAA titles (most recent 2008), two runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 20-0 over No. 1 Zeeland West in Semifinal, 37-7 over No. 7 East Grand Rapids, 29-21 over honorable mention Grand Rapids Christian, 27-14 over No. 8 Cedar Springs in District Final, 42-7 over honorable mention Petoskey in Regional Final.
Players to watch: RB Caleb Washington, 5-8/180, sr. (1,556 yards/15 TDs rushing); DB/WR Alezay Coleman, 5-10/175, sr. (194 yards/1 TD receiving); WR Joeviair Kennedy, 6-3/205, sr. (381 yards/5 TDs receiving); QB Shawn Pfenning, 5-11/185, sr. (1,381 yards/14 TDs passing, 466 yards/14 TDs rushing); LB Taran Smith, 6-1/205, sr.
Outlook: Muskegon’s two runner-up finishes came the last two seasons in Division 2, but the Big Reds moved into Division 3 for this fall’s playoffs – and after falling to Brother Rice in those Finals has drawn another Catholic League power in St. Mary’s. Kennedy and Coleman were among standouts last season as well – Kennedy the team’s leading receiver in the 38-21 loss to Rice and Coleman the leading tackler that game – but they are just two from an athletic group that runs and stops the run especially well.
ORCHARD LAKE ST. MARY’S
Record/rank: 11-2, No. 5
Coach: George Porritt, 26th season (232-66)
League finish: Second in Detroit Catholic League Central
Finals history: Five MHSAA titles (most recent 2011), six runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 14-10 over Division 2 honorable mention Warren DeLaSalle, 51-3 over New Boston Huron in Semifinal, 21-19 over Southfield.
Players to watch: RB/P/K Brandon Adams, 5-11/185, jr. (1,339 yards/16 TDs rushing), RB/LB Justin Myrick, 5-10/180, jr. (1,044 yards/12 TDs rushing), DB/WR Tyson Smith, 5-11/180, sr. (308 yards/4 TDs receiving, 8 interceptions/1 TD return), DE/OT Jared Mosley, 6-2/240, sr.; DB/RB Ross Moore, 5-9/175, sr.
Outlook: The Eaglets are back in the Finals for the fifth time in six seasons and after missing the playoffs in 2013. This St. Mary’s team has a similar look to its 2012 Division 3 runner-up in that it features a group of standout running backs – joining Adams and Myrick is another junior, Pierce Bauer (646 yards/11 TDs rushing. The all-junior backfield is completed by quarterback Brandon Tabone, who has thrown 14 touchdown passes and makes plays to break up the run-heavy attack. Both losses were to Brother Rice – the latter coming down to the end in the Catholic League Prep Bowl.
Division 4
GRAND RAPIDS SOUTH CHRISTIAN
Record/rank: 11-2, No. 4
Coach: Mark Tamminga, sixth season (47-22)
League finish: First in O-K Gold
Finals history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 2012), four runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 49-14 over honorable mention Whitehall in Regional Final, 50-48 over Division 3 (Division 4 for playoffs) No. 9 Edwardsburg in Semifinal, 33-30 (OT) and 58-34 (District Final) over Hudsonville Unity Christian.
Players to watch: QB Jon Wassink, 6-2/190, sr. (1,210 yards/17 TDs rushing, 2,315/25 TDs passing); RB/DB Geff Plasman, 5-10/180, sr. (1,220 yards/22 TDs rushing); LB/WR Sam Heyboer, 6-4/210, sr. (103 tackles); DB/RB Dylan Brink, 5-11/195 jr. (112 tackles).
Outlook: South Christian is back in the Final for the third straight season, having won in 2012 and fallen to Marine City a year ago. Wassink, who has committed to Western Michigan University, was injured for the 2012 championship game and surely would like to cap his accomplished career by leading the Sailors to a title. They’ve scored 523 points this season – but a combined 192 in the four playoff wins. The losses came during the first weeks of the season to Division 2 Caledonia and Division 3 Grand Rapids Christian.
LANSING SEXTON
Record/rank: 13-0, No. 2
Coach: Daniel Boggan III, 13th season (95-45)
League finish: First in Capital Area Activities Conference Blue
Finals history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 41-20 over No. 1 Saginaw Swan Valley in District Final, 35-7 over No. 5 Richmond in Regional Final, 35-26 over Detroit East English, 21-12 over Lansing Everett.
Players to watch: RB/LB Avonte’ Bell, 6-1/228, sr. (1,306 yards/16 TDs rushing); QB/DB Malik Mack, 5-9/175, sr. (1,503 yards/19 TDs passing, 471 yards/8 TDs rushing); RB JaVon Wray, 5-6/175, sr. (1,488 yards/19 TDs rushing); WR/LB Rayshawn Wilborn, 6-4/195, sr. (757 yards/12 TDs receiving, 3 interceptions).
Outlook: A roster with 20 seniors has brought the Big Reds to the MHSAA Finals for the first time, with a number of those seniors on varsity for three seasons and four in the cases of Bell and lineman Shain Shannon. Stopping Sexton is difficult because of the number of offensive options with Bell and Wray running the ball and Mack able to take off as well if he doesn't find Wilborn, who has committed to Central Michigan University, or senior Randye Parker. That athleticism plays well on both sides of the ball – the Big Reds have given up only 144 points despite playing a schedule loaded with large Class A schools.
Division 5
GRAND RAPIDS WEST CATHOLIC
Record/rank: 13-0, No. 1
Coach: Dan Rohn, eighth season (86-17)
League finish: First in O-K Blue
Finals history: Division 5 champion 2013 and 2010, two runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 42-24 over No. 3 Menominee in Semifinal, 48-12 over No. 9 Hopkins in District Final, 56-28 over honorable mention Reed City in Regional final, 31-0 over No. 7 Muskegon Oakridge.
Players to watch: QB Travis Russell, 6-2/180, sr. (2,365 yards/35 TDs passing, 1,334 yards/20 TDs rushing); TE/DE Bryce Witham, 6-4/240, sr. (764 yards/16 TDs receiving); WR Conner Nemmers, 6-1/175, jr. (702 yards/9 TDs receiving); OL/DL Drew Doyle, 6-1/235, sr.
Outlook: West Catholic has built quite a run with this its third straight Finals appearance and fourth in five years, and with a chance to win its third title in that time. But a win Saturday would complete the Falcons’ first 14-0 season. Russell has thrown for more than 4,500 yards and 37 touchdowns and run for more than 2,000 yards over the last two seasons, and he has a dominating target in sizable tight end Witham.
LANSING CATHOLIC
Record/rank: 13-0, No. 4
Coach: Jim Ahern, sixth season (55-13)
League finish: First in CAAC White
Finals history: Class C champion 1985, Division 5 runner-up 2011.
Best wins: 21-14 over No. 5 Almont in Semifinal, 27-22 over Division 6 No. 6 Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central, 28-0 over Eaton Rapids.
Players to watch: QB Tony Poljan, 6-7/230, jr. (2,537 yards/32 TDs passing, 953 yards/22 TDs rushing, 89 tackles); RB Tony Palmer, 5-11/175, jr. (836 yards/14 TDs rushing, 866 yards/8 TDs receiving); LB/RB Moses Kone, 5-11/195, sr. (96 tackles/9.5 sacks); WR/DB Zac Baker, 6-0/170, sr. (758 yards/7 TDs receiving, 49 tackles/13 interceptions); LB/RB Ben Rashid, 5-10/175, jr. (101 tackles).
Outlook: Poljan stands tall – literally – among offensive standouts statewide; combined he’s been part of 54 rushing and passing touchdowns. And Palmer has scored 22 times with more than 1,700 total yards – both filling in well the tradition under Ahern, who built Ithaca’s program on a high-scoring offense and took the Cougars to Ford Field with the same three years ago. But don’t sleep on a opportunistic defense giving up 12 points per game – Lansing Catholic has 30 interceptions and has recovered 15 fumbles.
Division 6
MONROE ST. MARY CATHOLIC CENTRAL
Record/rank: 12-1, No. 6
Coach: Jack Giarmo, 17th season (143-54)
League finish: First in Huron League
Finals history: Class B champion 1991, three runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 50-15 over No. 3 Clinton in District Final, 27-26 over No. 2 Jackson Lumen Christi in Semifinal, 40-7 over New Boston Huron.
Players to watch: RB/DB Justin Carrabino, 5-8/160, jr. (1,380 yards/15 TDs rushing, 243 yards/5 TDs receiving); QB/DB Bryce Windham, 6-1/160, sr. (865 yards/15 TDs passing, 171 yards/4 TDs rushing); TE/DB Travis Vuich, 6-4/180, sr. (499 yards/9 TDs receiving); RB/LB John Lako, 6-2/200, sr. (1,048 yards/16 TDs rushing).
Outlook: St. Mary is back in the Finals for the first time since finishing a run of three runner-up finishes between 2005-10 – the last coming against Ithaca in the first of four straight title wins for the Yellowjackets. Defenses know what’s coming but still haven’t had much success stopping it; senior Mitchell Lamour has added another 841 yards and 12 touchdowns rushing to the two 1,000-yard seasons of his backfield mates. The Falcons only loss was by five in Week 9 to Division 5 finalist Lansing Catholic.
ITHACA
Record/rank: 13-0, No. 1
Coach: Terry Hessbrook, 11th season (114-17)
League finish: First in Tri-Valley Conference West
Finals history: Division 6 champions 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013.
Best wins: 20-16 over No. 5 Boyne City in Semifinal, 41-27 over No. 10 Madison Heights Madison in Regional Final, 35-0 over No. 8 Millington in District Final, 33-14 over Division 8 No. 9 (Division 7 for playoffs) Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary.
Players to watch: QB/DB Jacob Smith, 6-1/170, jr. (1,979 yards/26 TDs passing, 1,298 yards/19 TDs rushing); WR/DB Spence DeMull, 6-3/165, jr. (1,080 yards/15 TD receiving); WR/DL Jonah Loomis, 5-9/170, jr. (100 yards/5 TDs rushing, 134 tackles); OL/OLB Jace Demenov, 6-0/205, jr. (154 tackles).
Outlook: Ithaca’s winning streak stands at 69 games, the longest active streak nationally among 11-player football teams. A win this weekend also would make the Yellowjackets the 12th in MHSAA history to win five football titles. They trailed Madison heading into the fourth quarter and held off Boyne City in the final seconds last week – and if they finish with another victory, they should make a run next fall at the MHSAA consecutive wins record of 72. Ithaca has only six seniors.
Division 7
DETROIT LOYOLA
Record/rank: 13-0, No. 2
Coach: John Callahan, sixth season (64-10)
League finish: First in Detroit Catholic League AA
Finals history: Division 7 runners-up 2012 and 2013.
Best wins: 60-26 over No. 3 New Lothrop in Regional Final, 41-21 over Pewamo-Westphalia in Semifinal, 46-18 over Detroit Country Day.
Players to watch: RB/LB Marvin Campbell, 5-10/196, sr. (1,817 yards/30 TDs rushing); LB/TE Darryl Clemons, 6-2/228, sr. (68 tackles); LB/FB Paul Engram, 5-11/236, sr. (68 tackles); OL/DL Devon Hayes, 6-2/315, sr.; RB/CB Mideyin Wilson, 5-10/185, sr. (1,013 yards/15 TDs rushing).
Outlook: Loyola’s recently-annual Finals matchup with Ishpeming has become arguably the best long-distance rivalry in Michigan; the Bulldogs are seeking their first championship after falling to the Hematites by six in 2012 and 10 a year ago. Campbell is finishing a career that’s included 3,936 yards and 53 touchdowns on the ground, and he’s averaging an amazing 10 yards per carry this fall. He and Wilson again run behind a massive offensive line going 305-238-275-240-315 pounds from left tackle to right.
ISHPEMING
Record/rank: 12-0, No. 1
Coach: Jeff Olson, 23rd season (169-78)
League finish: First in Mid-Peninsula Conference
Finals history: Four MHSAA titles (most recent 2013), one runner-up finish.
Best wins: 22-13 over No. 7 Traverse City St. Francis in Regional Final, 20-7 over No. 9 Iron River West Iron County in District Final, 22-18 over Division 8 No. 9 (Division 7 for playoffs) Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary in Semifinal, 20-0 over Division 8 No. 7 Beal City.
Players to watch: QB/DB Ozzy Corp, 6-5/190, jr. (606 yards/6 TDs passing, 731 yards/15 TDs rushing, 4 interceptions defensively); RB/DB Ozzy Hakkarinen, 6-0/205, sr. (611 yards/7 TDs rushing, 5 interceptions); LB/FL Dominic Suardini, 5-8/175, sr. (474 yards/7 TDs rushing); OL/DE Dan Thornton, 5-10/175, sr. (Statistics through regular season.)
Outlook: Most fans outside Ishpeming and its league may not recognize the names leading the charge back to Ford Field this weekend – the Hematites graduated the majority of players who carried them to back-to-back championships. But this group quickly has begun its own legacy continuing a winning streak that now stretches 33 games. Hakkarinen left the Semifinal with an injury and Corp picked up the slack finishing with 198 yards rushing; he may need to answer similarly but has proven more than capable, as has a defense giving up only 8.7 points per game.
Division 8
MUNISING
Record/rank: 12-1, No. 8
Coach: Jeff Seaberg, 10th season (43-53)
League finish: First in Mid-Eastern Conference
Finals history: Class C champion 1980.
Best wins: 10-7 over No. 7 Beal City in Semifinal, 43-14 over No. 4 Crystal Falls Forest Park in Regional Final, 24-6 over No. 3 St. Ignace in District Final.
Players to watch: RB/LB Garrett Blank, 6-1/205, sr. (2,071 yards/29 TDs rushing); WR/DB Andy Cooper, 6-4/175, sr. (410 yards/7 TDs receiving, 6 interceptions); OL/DL Jason Lindbeck, 6-8/250, sr.; OL/DL Ian McInnis, 6-2/270, jr.; QB/DB Austin Kelto, 5-10/175, sr. (977 yards/18 TDs passing, 303 yards/8 TDs rushing).
Outlook: Munising has done just about everything possible so far during its best season in more than three decades. The lone loss came on opening night to Division 7 No. 9 Iron River West Iron County, and the Mustangs have given up only 57 points since and 85 total this fall. The program has five winning seasons over the last 20, but three over the last four years. A strong group of 10 seniors has played a major role in bringing the program back to its first championship game since its coach, Seaberg, was a junior on the team.
MUSKEGON CATHOLIC CENTRAL
Record/rank: 13-0, No. 1
Coach: Steve Czerwon, second season (25-2)
League finish: First in Lakes 8 Conference
Finals history: Nine MHSAA titles (most recent 2013), three runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 42-6 over No. 2 Harbor Beach in Semifinal, 48-7 over No. 6 Mendon in Regional Final, 42-0 over No. 5 Fowler in District Final, 30-0 over Detroit Country Day.
Players to watch: RB/DB Tommy Scott, 5-8/180, sr. (1,944 yards/31 TDs rushing); QB/DB Nicholas Holt, 6-0/185, sr. (859 yards/15 TDs rushing, 438 yards/9 TDs passing); TE/LB Lamar Jordan III, 6-0/200, sr.; OL/DL Jaeden MacPherson, 6-3/245, sr.; K Griffin Seymour, 5-8/140, sr. (80 extra points in 83 attempts, 3-5 field goals).
Outlook: The Crusaders have more than met expectations that they’d dominate again this season after returning Scott, Holt and Seymour among a number of contributors to last year’s run. Holt’s numbers might look low, but he’s missed most of the last seven games with an injury. Junior Christian Martinez has filled in well in his absence, and the defense is combining with Holt to pick up any remaining slack – MCC is giving up a mere 121 yards per game.
PHOTO: Ford Field has been home to the MHSAA 11-player Football Finals since 2005.