A Game for Every Fan: Week 6
October 4, 2013
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Admittedly, a number of teams show up regularly in this weekly look at the best high school football games to be played around the state. Their frequent mentions are the product of tough competition they schedule, their past histories of making it to the highest levels of our playoffs, and because of both the overall statewide interest in how those teams fare.
But this week, many of those teams are absent from this list – replaced by some others with similarly strong resumes this season that many probably aren't as used to following.
See below for our best matchups from each region of the state, including four 5-0 vs. 5-0 face-offs.
Some additional fun with numbers: Two teams (Portland and Felch North Dickinson) have qualified for the 11-player playoffs. A total of 76 can qualify with a win tonight. Counting 8-player teams as well, there are 79 teams still undefeated.
Mid-Michigan
Jonesville (5-0) at Homer (5-0)
Neither team has won the Big 8 Conference title since Homer did so in 2005 (although Jonesville finished one game back last season). In fact, Homer hasn’t made the playoffs since 2006 and Jonesville was 1-8 only two seasons ago. But they’re both dominating this fall, and both already have big wins over last season’s league champion, Reading. The winner tonight earns a playoff berth and strong upper hand in the league race with two conference games remaining.
Others that caught my eye: Lansing Everett (4-1) at East Lansing (3-2), Lansing Sexton (5-0) at Holt (3-2), Jackson Lumen Christi (4-1) at Mason (5-0), Williamston (4-1) at Portland (5-0).
West Michigan
Shelby (5-0) at Muskegon Oakridge (5-0)
Oakridge’s 18-game regular-season winning streak is on the line against a team it has beaten in four straight – but also, like Oakridge, a Shelby team that won 10 games last season. The Tigers have romped through its first four games in the West Michigan Conference this fall, while Oakridge did get a scare last week before beating Ravenna 31-27. The winner of this one claims a playoff berth, and Oakridge – with its final league opponents a combined 2-8 – will be touch to catch in the league race if it can prevail.
Others that caught my eye: Allendale (4-1) at Belding (4-1), Lowell (5-0) at East Grand Rapids (3-2), Hudsonville (3-2) at Rockford (4-1), Wyoming Godwin Heights (4-1) at Wyoming Kelloggsville (3-2).
Upper Peninsula
Rapid River (5-0) at Cedarville (5-0)
This has become the regular-season game of the year during the short history of 8-player football in Michigan. Cedarville is tied for the highest playoff points average in 8-player and Rapid River is just behind the three co-leaders. The winner takes a commanding one-game lead in the Bridge-Alliance Conference, but Cedarville has additional motivation: The Trojans beat Rapid River 72-12 during the 2012 regular season and were a heavy favorite to at least make the MHSAA Final – but Rapid River came back to eliminate Cedarville 22-14 in their Regional Final.
Others that caught my eye: Felch North Dickinson (5-0) at Crystal Falls Forest Park (5-0), Lake Linden-Hubbell (3-2) at Hancock (2-3), Kingsford (4-1) at Marquette (4-1), Eagle River Northland Pines, Wis. (5-1) at Houghton (3-2).
Greater Detroit and Southeast
Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central (5-0) at Milan (5-0)
This kind of game has become an annual rite of fall for St. Mary, which has at least 10 wins four of the last five seasons and is used to being in Huron League contention. Milan is getting used to this too; after a dismal 1-8 finish in 2011, the Big Reds ran the table last season and have a 14-game regular-season winning streak on the line. Beating Grosse Ile 21-14 and then St. Mary 35-20 over consecutive weeks last season put the rest of the league on notice, but the rematch of the latter could be both closer and more low-scoring – the Falcons have given up only 22 points this season.
Others that caught my eye: Birmingham Brother Rice (5-0) at Orchard Lake St. Mary's (3-2), Hudson (5-0) at Ida (4-1), Waterford Our Lady (3-2) at Royal Oak Shrine Catholic (5-0), Grass Lake (5-0) at Manchester (4-1).
Lower Up North
McBain (4-1) at Lake City (5-0)
Granted, a giant matchup against reigning MHSAA Division 8 runner-up Beal City looms for Lake City in Week 7. But few teams statewide have been as impressive so far as the Trojans, who have outscored their opponents by a combined 262-6 – yes, 6 – in setting up for another Highland Conference title-deciding showdown with the Aggies. McBain would love to ruin that possibility. The Ramblers did fall to Lake City 28-13 last season, but have beaten Trojans in three of their last five games and already have equaled last season’s win total.
Others that caught my eye: Elk Rapids (4-1) at Grayling (4-1), Mio (4-1) at Rogers City (3-2), Mancelona (3-2) at Pickford (4-1), East Jordan (3-2) at Boyne City (4-1).
Southwest and Border
Schoolcraft (4-1) at Battle Creek Pennfield (5-0)
Did you know? ... Pennfield has qualified for the playoffs 14 straight seasons and can make it 15 tonight. The Panthers have to be careful, however, not to look ahead to next week’s matchup with Olivet – the other team tied for first in the Kalamazoo Valley Association. That shouldn’t be an issue, however, given Schoolcraft won the league last season thanks in large part to a 19-16 win over Pennfield. Schoolcraft already has fallen to Olivet this season, three weeks ago, and likely must win tonight to keep hopes of a shared title alive.
Others that caught my eye: Lawton (5-0) at Hartford (3-2), Mattawan (2-3) at Portage Northern (3-2), Deckerville (3-2) at Lawrence (3-1), Battle Creek Harper Creek (4-1) at Sturgis (3-2).
Bay and Thumb
Frankenmuth (4-1) at Millington (4-1)
The layers of this rivalry stack high, and this game no doubt is the one both have had circled all fall. After three seasons falling to the Cardinals, Frankenmuth broke through for a 12-8 win in the Tri-Valley Conference East opener last season and hung on to win the league title while Millington also didn’t lose again until the District Finals. The Cardinals have fallen to Essexville-Garber in league play this season and trail the Eagles by a win in the standings with two more games to play after tonight.
Others that caught my eye: Vassar (3-2) at Marlette (5-0), Bay City Western (2-3) at Midland Dow (4-1), Cass City (3-2) at Reese (4-1), Fenton (5-0) at Lapeer East (3-2).
PHOTO: Carson City Crystal – here against Vestaburg in Week 4 – is one of 76 teams statewide that can qualify for the playoffs with a win tonight. The Eagles made the postseason last fall for the first time since 1999. (Click to see more from High School Sports Scene.)
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.)