Growing Gobles Preparing for Future with Return to 11-Player Football
By
Pam Shebest
Special for MHSAA.com
August 25, 2026
GOBLES — For the last five years, Gobles saw success competing in 8-player football, making the MHSAA Playoffs four of those seasons.
This year, coach Greg Eichler hopes to transition that success into 11-player in spite of grumbling from some fans.
“We’re pretty doubted by the town right now,” sophomore tailback/free safety Case Lord said. “But I see what goes on at practice and in the weight room, and I see our work ethic and how strong we are. I think we can do something great.”
Eichler said numbers-wise, the Tigers could compete in 8-player, but “our district is growing, which is good, so when you look at the projected enrollments a couple years down the line, we’re going to be over that playoff limit for 8-player.
“We have a younger team, but we’ve got a diverse group from sophomores up to seniors in terms of their talents and abilities, and I think they can put together some good success right now and also build for the future.”
Gobles finished a combined 31-10 in 8-player over the last four seasons.
Moving back to 11-player, more athletes will have the opportunity to play big roles in the experience.
“It’s been good to have a JV and varsity consistently with no issue, but at the same time, we have a lot of extra kids on the sideline playing 8-player,” Eichler said. “With 11-player there are more opportunities for the kids.”
Discussing the move, the coach added, "When you’ve got three extra guys on the field, it changes how much space on the field you’ve got to cover and who you’re looking at, who you’re covering, who you’re keying on.”
Another change this fall will be playing several less familiar opponents as part of a combined league. Gobles is among a handful of Southwestern Athletic Conference schools playing football as part of the Southwest 10 Conference this fall.
"We’re playing a majority Southwest 10 schedule but will play Galesburg and Saugatuck from the SAC and everyone else is Southwest (10),” Eichler said. "Traditionally the SAC has been our league. You had to give that up, but you want to make sure you’re putting the kids in the best position.”
Eichler said the Southwest 10 has some great traditions and some solid football programs that will give the Tigers a run.
“We love a new challenge, and we feel that’s what this is. It’s a new step in our program that’s going to challenge everybody, coaches and players alike,” he noted. “Southwest 10 teams are a little bit more our size. They’re still mostly bigger than us, but I think competitively they’re probably the better teams to put on our schedule.”
Senior outside linebacker/wing back Hunter Piper said playing in both conferences is a plus “because we’re playing more schools that I know. We go to those schools for other sports, so it’s nice to play new competition.”
Eichler said one advantage for the Division 8 Tigers this year is that in 11-player “you get bonuses for playing bigger schools and most of the time, we’re the smaller school.
“We have several Division 7 schools on our schedule, so those are like little bonus incentives. That’s win or lose.”
They got their first taste of 11-player in a while last Thursday in a scrimmage against Coloma. Gobles will kick off the “real” season at home Thursday against Niles Brandywine.
“We had a competitive scrimmage, and a lot of our young players got some really good experience,” Eichler said. “I would say the following day’s film session was even more important, as our team learned a lot in order to prepare for our Week 1 matchup versus Niles Brandywine.”
Their second game is a big one for the town: The Tiger Tribute game versus Hartford on Sept. 3.
“It’s the military and first responder appreciation game (which will feature) flyovers, vehicles,” Eichler said.
Honorary captain this year is Navy Lieutenant Commander Ian Weston, a 2010 Gobles alum. The tribute will include a parade and the school choir singing the national anthem.
Sophomore & senior expectations
Eichler said Lord was the first freshman he moved up to varsity over his six years coaching.
“He took some lumps early but really grew as the year went on,” the coach said. “He’s going to bring some varsity experience even as a sophomore.
"I think that’s really good for that sophomore group. He understands what varsity football looks like, even though it was 8-player. We played some really good teams.”
Lord said playing varsity as a freshman was eye-opening.
“Out of the gate I wasn’t prepared for the speed, but I learned very fast that’s a big thing with a varsity game,” he said. “Now I understand what that is, and I can compete with others.
“I’ve been looking forward to this year since last season ended.”
Lord is no stranger to 11-player football, starting the sport 12 years ago on a club team.
“My brother (Adam Vosburg), and my grandpa (Gerald Gravatt) both played football,” Lord said. “My brother had D-I (college) offers everywhere but went to Olivet to stay close to home after my grandpa passed. My brother basically lived through him, and I live through my brother.”
Eichler counts on seniors such as Piper in leadership roles.
“Hunter brings experience, some really good leadership and stability,” the coach said. “I think that’s going to be important because our bigger group right now is our sophomores. We have him and a handful of other seniors to help stabilize them.”
Part of Piper’s experience is from the 2024 team that went undefeated in the regular season before losing its Division 1 8-Player Regional Semifinal to Martin.
Jumping to 11-player is “a little funky with a couple more players, and the field is definitely a little bigger, but it’s still the same game,” Piper said. “I love the game, and I like to bring a lot of leadership. I like to help out the younger kids.”
Piper, who is also on the wrestling team, said that helps him in football.
“I like the testosterone sports,” he said. “I like to go out there and fly around and hit. The energy is beautiful.”
In spite of hearing some of the town’s naysayers, Piper said, “There’s moments in practice where I think this is a great team. People don’t see what we see, and they’re definitely underestimating us.
“Our strength is the bond we have. We have a very strong connection between all of us.”
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) Gobles’ Case Lord follows his blockers during a carry last season. (Middle) From left: Tigers coach Greg Eichler, Hunter Piper and Case Lord. (Below) Piper (7) lines up on defense last fall. (Action photos courtesy of the Gobles football program. Head shots by Pam Shebest.)
Performance: GR Catholic Central's Nolan Fugate
October 13, 2017
Nolan Fugate
Grand Rapids Catholic Central senior – Football
Fugate, a 6-foot-1, 210-pound running back, ran 37 times for 477 yards and five touchdowns in GRCC’s 57-50 win over Comstock Park on Oct. 6. His rushing yardage ranked fourth-most in MHSAA history for one game and second-most in the state since 1990, earning Fugate the Michigan Army National Guard “Performance of the Week.”
Also the leading rusher on last season’s team that won the Division 4 championship, Fugate has carried the ball 111 times for 1,137 yards and 13 touchdowns this fall – averaging 10 yards per carry. He's amassed those numbers despite limited attempts in four running clock games this fall. After coming up for the playoffs but seeing little action as a sophomore, and then moving into a prominent role the last two seasons, Fugate is fourth in GRCC history with 335 career carries, second with 2,537 career yards, tied for second with 27 career rushing touchdowns and fifth with a career average of 7.6 yards per carry. And like any good back, he knows to credit those clearing the way – Fugate follows an outstanding line led by 6-5, 270-pound Jalen Mayfield, who has committed to sign with University of Michigan.
Fugate also ran track last season for the first time in high school and plans to do so again this spring. He hopes to return to the basketball program as well – he played subvarsity his first two years before taking last season off. He’s aiming to continue his football career after high school and has interest from many of the state’s top Division II programs plus a few at the Division I mid-major and NAIA levels. Fugate is planning to study business and carries a 3.2 grade-point average. Wherever he goes, that program will get a proven winner – GRCC is 7-0 this fall heading into tonight’s Ottawa-Kent Conference Blue title-deciding matchup with reigning Division 5 champion Grand Rapids West Catholic, and the Cougars are 21-2 with Fugate on the roster.
Coach Todd Kolster said: "I think the world of Nolan. He is a very self-motivated young man. He is very mentally tough and has worked extremely hard to help lead our team. He is a great teammate and a high-character person. He's is a great competitor. ... He is one of the best tailbacks in the state of Michigan; he rushed for over 1,600 yards and 21 touchdowns a year ago. He could have very gaudy statistics and surpassed those totals already if I played him in those other (running clock) weeks."
Performance Point: “We had a good gameplan coming in, and I think we executed really well and our line blocked really well and it was just a good night offensively,” Fugate said of the Comstock Park win. “I knew I was having a pretty good night. I knew I had some big runs, and I was just following my blocks, but I didn’t know the exact yards I had. I was actually pretty surprised (at the yardage total). I had some big runs the first possession, and I could see our offensive line executing their blocks well so I was figuring I would have a pretty big night. The first play we had the ball in the second half, I broke a 72-yard run. That was my favorite run because I broke out into the open and I just ran past everyone and I could hear the crowd screaming.”
Following Jalen: “He’s my best friend too, and it’s pretty special. You don’t get a chance to run behind the best lineman in the state very often, so I’m pretty fortunate. We shared a moment when we talked about how good of a night it was, and it was just a really special night overall.”
Great expectations: “We’ve just been listening to the coaching staff, and whatever they’ve asked we’ve been executing to the best of our ability. And we’ve been staying focused throughout the week trying to have the best practices we could have. We realize the expectations are high, so we just have to stay focused on each game and play united and just get better each day. You’ve just got to worry about one thing at a time and for that (opponent), and you can’t look ahead to the playoffs. … We knew the expectations were high, but I had faith. We definitely had more talent last year, but I feel like we’ve executed a lot better this year up to this point. I knew we could be special, and if we just keep working out each day and bringing it every day I think it will turn out really well.”
Running like “All Day” Adrian: “My favorite running back is probably (the Phoenix Cardinals’) Adrian Peterson, so growing up I always watched him. He’s a strong, explosive, physical runner. I like how he runs downhill and he’s always physical, and when he gets an opening he’s very explosive.”
Hooping like a football player: “A kid I grew up with (point guard Austin Braun) has been talking to me about (playing basketball). I was thinking about it, and I think I’m just going to do it. I think our team will do really well this year, so it would be fun to be a part of it. I’ll probably play really physical. I’ll probably be like the sixth man, bring intensity and defense and rebounding. That’ll probably be my job."
- Geoff Kimmerly, Second Half editor
Every week during the 2017-18 school year, Second Half and the Michigan Army National Guard will recognize a “Performance of the Week" from among the MHSAA's 750 member high schools.
The Michigan Army National Guard provides trained and ready forces in support of the National Military Strategy, and responds as needed to state, local, and regional emergencies to ensure peace, order, and public safety. The Guard adds value to our communities through continuous interaction. National Guard soldiers are part of the local community. Guardsmen typically train one weekend per month and two weeks in the summer. This training maintains readiness when needed, be it either to defend our nation's freedom or protect lives and property of Michigan citizens during a local natural disaster.
Previous 2017-18 honorees:
October 5: Marissa Ackerman, Munising tennis - Read
September 28: Minh Le, Portage Central soccer - Read
September 21: Olivia Theis, Lansing Catholic cross country - Read
September 14: Maddy Chinn, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep volleyball - Read
PHOTOS: (Top) Grand Rapids Catholic Central’s Nolan Fugate runs away from the Comstock Park defense during last week’s 57-50 win. (Middle) Fugate prepares to take on a Comstock Park defender. (Photos by Murray Sports Photography.)