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Highlight Reel: Division 3 Semifinals

November 26, 2014

The Muskegon football team defeated Zeeland West 20-0 in a Division 3 Semifinal on Saturday, while Orchard Lake St. Mary's downed New Boston 51-3. Click the headings below for highlights: 

DUX GET TRICKY - On its first possession, Zeeland West successfully executed a fake punt on fourth down, with Darius Perisee taking a Casey Brinks pass for a first down. 

EVANS JET SWEEP - Muskegon's first touchdown against Zeeland West was set up on this nice jet sweep by Alquan Evans. 

HURONS' HARTWICK STARTS OUT BIG - On the game's very first play, New Boston Huron QB Matthew Hartwick breaks off a 56-yard run to set up a field goal. 

MYRICK SCORES - On the final play of the third quarter, Justin Myrick scores for Orchard Lake St. Mary's form 19 yards out. Myrick and two other juniors - Brandon Adams and Pierce Bauer - combined for 226 yards and four scores.

Click to watch the Muskegon/Zeeland West game in its entirety and buy DVDs by clicking here by Clicking Here and the New Boston Huron/Orchard Lake St. Mary's by Clicking Here.

Football Follies

October 7, 2014

Notice reached the MHSAA office of a so-called “2014 Michigan Youth Football Classic” that invites youth league teams to “a great weekend of youth tackle football.” For $450 per team, youth football teams will bang bodies for two days – Nov. 8 and 9 – with each team guaranteed at least three games. Three!

No level of football but this – for the youngest players who have the most vulnerable skulls – allows the idiocy of three games in a weekend. Most limit competition to a maximum of one game in a week!

In my opinion, this isn’t a football classic. It’s child abuse.

I wish the foolishness would stop there, but even an organization called USA Football seems to have lost its head. Initially and mostly with funding from the NFL, USA Football was focused on teaching youth football coaches and players safe blocking and tackling techniques. Good.

But now this pseudo-national governing body for amateur football is planning events for various age groups that will extend tackle football practices and games throughout what used to be an off-season. Multiple competitions in tackle football are scheduled for high school age players in January, February and July of 2015.

At a time when professional, college, school and Pop Warner football are all reducing contact during practices in-season, USA Football wants to expand the contact experience out of season. It makes about as much sense as three games in a weekend.