Drive for Detroit: Week 5 Preview
September 20, 2018
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
As we dive into the midpoint of the 2018 high school football regular season, there’s more than meets the eye to many of our Week 5 matchups.
Sure, we’ve got some of the usual regulars on this week’s preview list – Clinton Township Chippewa Valley vs. Macomb Dakota among them – but it’s fair to say a number of others discussed below are a bit off the usual board, but with plenty of significance upon further view.
Games below are tonight unless noted. Check out the MHSAA Score Center for the full schedule and results as games are completed. MHSAA.tv will broadcast 15 games this weekend, including our top game from the “Bay & Thumb” area. Our “Drive for Detroit” previews are powered by MI Student Aid.
Bay & Thumb
Davison (4-0) at Grand Blanc (4-0)
The Saginaw Valley League Blue is topped by three undefeated teams – these two and Lapeer – and this one will go a long way toward determining the eventual champion. But it also could have playoff implications down the road – the Bobcats are tied for fourth and Davison is tied for ninth in playoff point average among teams that traditionally fall into Division 1 for the postseason.
Others that caught my eye: FRIDAY Swartz Creek (4-0) at Flint Hamady (4-0), Ubly (3-1) at Harbor Beach (3-1), Harrison (2-2) at Beaverton (3-1), Richmond (3-1) at Yale (2-2).
Greater Detroit
Clinton Township Chippewa Valley (4-0) at Macomb Dakota (4-0)
Like Davison and Grand Blanc mentioned above, these two rank highly among likely Division 1 playoff teams – Chippewa Valley first in playoff point average and Dakota tied for seventh – and they’ve seen each other in the postseason as well five of the last six seasons. The Big Reds won both meetings in 2017 and this season have handed the only losses to Saline and Roseville. Dakota is averaging 45 points per game during its best start since its 2013 league title season.
Others that caught my eye: FRIDAY Detroit Cody (4-0) at Detroit Mumford (3-1), Garden City (3-1) at Dearborn Heights Crestwood (4-0), Auburn Hills Avondale (3-1) at Farmington (4-0), SATURDAY Detroit Catholic Central (3-1) at Birmingham Brother Rice (3-1).
Mid-Michigan
DeWitt (4-0) at East Lansing (4-0)
They have two of the richest traditions in the Lansing area and will meet as members of the same league for the first time. The winner will earn a strong upper hand in an otherwise middling Capital Area Activities Conference Blue, and these two also met in the playoffs as recently as 2016. DeWitt still scores a bunch and East Lansing has offensive firepower too, but the defenses could emerge as the stars of this meeting – DeWitt has given up only 7.8 points per game, and East Lansing a respectable 16 ppg.
Others that caught my eye: FRIDAY Lansing Catholic (4-0) at Portland (4-0), Canton (3-1) at Brighton (3-1), Ovid-Elsie (3-1) at New Lothrop (4-0), Haslett (4-0) at Williamston (3-1).
Northern Lower Peninsula
Traverse City Central (3-1) at Gaylord (4-0)
First-year coach and former assistant Shawn Sargent has the Blue Devils off to their first 4-0 start since their last playoff season in 2015. Gaylord has some solid wins, but Central will provide the strongest test to date. The Trojans have to be revved up after a close loss to rival Traverse City West last week. Central shines especially on defense, giving up only 9.5 points per game.
Others that caught my eye: FRIDAY Oscoda (3-1) at Rogers City (4-0), Traverse City St. Francis (4-0) at Grayling (2-2), Leroy Pine River (4-0) at McBain (2-2), Traverse City West (2-2) at Alpena (2-2).
Southeast & Border
Athens (3-0) at Adrian Lenawee Christian (4-0)
The Southern Central Athletic Association has only four 11-player teams but two of the most intriguing matchups in the region this weekend. (Pittsford and Climax-Scotts line up on the other side.) Lenawee Christian is 4-0 for the first time ever; the Cougars are in their 11th season as a varsity program. And Athens? The Indians didn’t have an opponent Week 2, but have outscored their three this season by a combined 107-0.
Others that caught my eye: FRIDAY Jackson (4-0) at Chelsea (3-1), Concord (3-1) at Springport (4-0), Union City (2-2) at Reading (4-0), Addison (2-2) at Grass Lake (4-0).
Southwest Corridor
Watervliet (2-2) at Kalamazoo United (4-0)
Watervliet has won outright or shared seven straight league titles, but enters Southwestern Athletic Conference Valley play with a pair of close losses – their first regular-season defeats since Week 6 of 2016. United also was 4-0 coming into this league opener a year ago, and Watervliet won 52-34. But United – giving up only 27 points total over four games this time, might have the defense to slow down a Watervliet offense averaging 43 points per game.
Others that caught my eye: FRIDAY Paw Paw (3-1) at Three Rivers (4-0), Muskegon Catholic Central (2-2) at Cassopolis (4-0), Stevensville Lakeshore (2-2) at Portage Central (3-1), Battle Creek Central (3-1) at Benton Harbor (1-2).
Upper Peninsula
Harbor Springs (4-0) at St. Ignace (2-2)
With their best start since 1999, the Rams have equaled last season’s win total and are lined up to chase their best record since going 6-4 in 2000. But St. Ignace, despite losing to Johannesburg-Lewiston last week, has experienced a turn as well after uncharacteristically winning just a game a year ago. The Saints not only have more wins than last season already, but with 23 more points will eclipse last year’s output.
Others that caught my eye: FRIDAY Norway (2-2) at Calumet (4-0), Negaunee (2-2) at Ishpeming (4-0), Maple City Glen Lake (2-2) at Gladstone (2-2), Petoskey (2-2) at Marquette (2-2).
West Michigan
Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian (3-1) at Hopkins (3-1)
The Ottawa-Kent Conference Silver has the smallest schools of the league’s seven divisions and doesn’t get the attention of the other high-profile leagues. But the Silver’s best have had big moments too over the years, and these two teams are hoping to ride fast starts into more over the next two months. NorthPointe started 5-0 a year ago before hitting the tough part of the league schedule – but did make the playoffs. Hopkins is seeking its first playoff berth since 2014 and already has avenged Silver losses from last season to Belding and Wyoming Godwin Heights.
Others that caught my eye FRIDAY Hudsonville (4-0) at Jenison (3-1), Whitehall (3-1) at Montague (3-1), Muskegon Oakridge (4-0) at Ravenna (3-1), Grand Rapids South Christian (3-1) at Hudsonville Unity Christian (4-0).
8-Player
Onekama (4-0) at Wyoming Tri-unity Christian (4-0), Saturday
The Portagers seemed on the verge of something special last season, when they finished 9-2 losing in the 8-Player Division 2 Regional Finals. So far this fall they’ve outscored opponents by a combined 196-6, with only reigning Division 1 champion Central Lake getting on the board. Tri-unity is coming off its first challenge of the season – a 38-27 win over Suttons Bay – and could next provide Onekama’s best test to date, and with the Midwest Central Michigan West championship perhaps on the line.
Others that caught my eye: FRIDAY Morrice (4-0) at Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (3-1), Battle Creek St. Philip (3-1) at Camden-Frontier (3-1), Cedarville (3-1) at Engadine (3-1), Mayville (3-1) at Kinde-North Huron (3-1).
Second Half’s weekly “Drive for Detroit” previews and reviews are powered by MI Student Aid, a part of the Student Financial Services Bureau located within the Michigan Department of Treasury. MI Student Aid encourages students to pursue postsecondary education by providing access to student financial resources and information, including various student financial assistance programs to help make college more affordable for Michigan students. MI Student Aid administers the state’s 529 savings programs (MET/MESP) and eight additional aid programs within its Student Scholarships and Grants division. Click for more information and connect with MI Student Aid on Facebook and Twitter @mistudentaid.
PHOTO: Grand Blanc quarterback Tylor Leedom pitches to a teammate during the Bobcats’ Week 3 win over Flint Southwestern. (Photo by Terry Lyons.)
Off to Fast Start, Gunsells Aspiring to Assemble Lasting Ludington Legacy
By
Tom Kendra
Special for MHSAA.com
September 11, 2025
Cameron Gunsell has been building things at Ludington High School his entire life.
“One of my earliest memories is making forts with the blocking dummies with my older brother during football practices,” recalled Gunsell of his and older brother Wilson’s adventures.
The Gunsells are now building something much bigger and more permanent at Ludington – with dad, Charlie Gunsell, in his 22nd and final year as the Orioles’ head football coach, Wilson an assistant coach and Cameron the team’s unquestioned leader and senior quarterback.
Cameron has rushed for nine touchdowns and thrown for three more over the first two weeks, leading Ludington to lopsided road wins over Coopersville and rival Mason County Central and heading into Friday’s home and West Michigan Conference Lakes opener against Fremont.
There is a buzz in this small town, best known for its Lake Michigan car ferries, which hasn’t won a football conference title since 1999 and has only one playoff victory in school history, which came during the COVID year of 2020.
“We definitely feel like this is our time,” said Cameron, 18, who is three years younger than his only sibling, Wilson. “Our motto this year is ‘Wake People Up.’ We brought back a ton of playmakers and had the best offseason in the weight room getting ready.”
The Orioles started making noise right away at Coopersville, where Cameron carried the ball 34 times for 246 yards and five touchdowns while completing 8-of-11 passes for 116 yards and a TD. He also made a team-high six tackles from his free safety position.
Last week, he was back at it against rival MCC in the Lumberman’s Cup, this time doing more damage through the air completing 8-of-15 passes for 245 yards and two scores while rushing 16 times for 161 yards and four TDs. He again led the team with eight tackles.
“It’s uncomfortable for me as the head coach talking about my son, but he is really good,” said Charlie Gunsell, a Caro native who was the starting quarterback at Ferris State in 1997. “Cam is so stinking competitive, and 80 percent of what we do offensively is a read through him. He is the guy who makes us click on both sides of the ball.”
Cameron (6-foor-3, 190 pounds), in his third year as the starting quarterback, is closing in on 4,000 passing yards and 3,000 rushing yards for his career. His play caught the attention of college scouts, drawing scholarship offers from Grand Valley State, Davenport and reigning Division II national champion Ferris.
Gunsell announced last month that he would be following in his dad’s footsteps at Ferris, which he said was not an easy decision.
“I honestly was really close to choosing Grand Valley,” said Cameron, who completed 70 percent of his passes last season. “But, in the end, I have always wanted to be a Bulldog. Just like here at Ludington, I grew up going to football games at Ferris.”
With that choice behind him, Cameron is focused on the immediate goal of helping his team unseat Whitehall, which has won three straight WMC Lakes titles, and then making a run in the Division 4 playoffs.
He knows that defenses are going to be keying on him and stacking the box after his fast start.
“If they want to focus on me, that’s great for us,” explained Cameron, who lines up in the shotgun every play and distributes the ball to the Orioles’ four-wide skill players. “We have a lot of other weapons this year.”
The leading receiver is junior Taj Williams with seven catches for 142 yards over two games, while sophomore Kyle Himes has three catches for 122 yards.
Ludington actually features three Himes brothers, with freshman Mikie Himes the team’s second-leading rusher through two games with 88 yards. Junior Messiah Himes is a dangerous running and receiving threat from his slot position.
“We have a lot of kids who deserve touches, and they will get them as we get into our conference games and everyone tries to take Cam away,” said Gunsell, who is assisted by offensive coordinator Brent Gillett and defensive coordinator JP Deines.
Coach Gunsell points to conference foes like Oakridge, Montague, Orchard View and Whitehall as teams that have had the type of playoff success his team wants to emulate.
In order to make a run, he said the team must get the job done up front, where they are led by seniors Walt Autrey (6-4, 298), Colin Shelton and Connor Chaney.
“We have had talented players before, but our biggest thing up here is, are we tough enough?” said Gunsell. “These kids have worked so hard in the weight room to get stronger and to make that toughness our calling card.”
Tom Kendra worked 23 years at The Muskegon Chronicle, including five as assistant sports editor and the final six as sports editor through 2011. E-mail him at [email protected] with story ideas for Muskegon, Oceana, Mason, Lake, Oceola, Mecosta and Newaygo counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Ludington quarterback Cameron Gunsell launches a pass during his team’s win over Mason County Central last week. (Middle) Gunsell’s father and head coach, Charlie Gunsell (in headset) monitors the action from the sideline. (Photos by Jason Goorman/Local Sports Journal.)