To Ford Field, and Home Again
August 31, 2012
The last time Lansing Catholic and Pewamo-Westphalia's football teams had suited up, it was under the bright lights of Ford Field for last season's MHSAA Finals.
The reigning Division 5 and 7 runners-up, respectively, returned to the field Aug. 24 in a season opener at Holt Junior High, in what was another first-time experience for leaders on both sidelines.
It was the first time in a coaching career spanning four decades that Cougars coach Jim Ahern started anew after making it to the previous season's final game. Despite numerous near-misses while coaching at Ithaca, last season was his first trip to the title game.
Pewamo-Westphalia's Brad Weber has been leading the Pirates for only five seasons, but his school and community also had never made it to a season finale before last November.
Click to see what each had to say after Lansing Catholic opened with a 45-21 win.
#TBT: Reeths-Puffer Legends Born
November 30, 2017
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The “Legends of the Game” program returned to the MHSAA Football Finals this past weekend, as members of the 1992 Muskegon Reeths-Puffer football team and cheerleaders from that fall were honored at Ford Field.
The Rockets won the Class A championship game that season 21-18 over Walled Lake Western at the Pontiac Silverdome as Stacy Starr plucked a last-ditch downfield throw out of the air and raced into the end zone to finish one of the most well-known highlights in MHSAA Football Finals history.
The play included a pitch, then a handoff, then another pitch back to quarterback Geoff Zietlow, who threw toward the end zone. His pass was deflected and snagged by Starr, who raced the final yards for the 37-yard touchdown with 23 seconds to play.
Below is the video that introduced returning players and cheerleaders.
PHOTOS: (Top) Stacy Starr makes his way around defenders to score the game-winning touchdown at the 1992 Class A Final. (Middle) Members of the 1992 Reeths-Puffer football team and cheerleaders watch the Rockets' famous highlight as they are honored at Ford Field.