MCC Extends Streak, Hands Off Legacy
November 25, 2016
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
DETROIT – A trio of running backs who played major roles in Muskegon Catholic Central’s last three MHSAA championships closed their high school careers celebrating the school’s fourth straight title Friday.
Along the way, they also handed off the program’s future.
Seniors LaTommy Scott, Logan Helton and Walker Christofferson had become Ford Field fixtures the last few seasons, and each contributed to their combined four touchdowns in this Division 8 Final. But the fifth score of MCC’s 35-6 victory over Ottawa Lake Whiteford was scored by a freshman who will take over from here – and showed the promise that makes the Crusaders look good to continue these annual trips to Detroit.
Splitting time at quarterback with senior Trenton Bordeaux, freshman Cameron Martinez ran for a team-high 154 yards and a touchdown and threw for 61 yards and a score to help MCC pull into a tie for second all-time with its 12th MHSAA football title.
Although a freshman, the scene wasn’t entirely unfamiliar for Martinez; his brother Christian had quarterbacked the team to its 11th title last year as a senior.
“Every time we made it, I was watching from the crowd. I couldn’t wait to put on the gold helmet and bring this team back again,” Cameron Martinez said. “I love this group of seniors. I’m going to miss them, and that’s what I wanted to do – give them their fourth straight title.”
With four straight, the Crusaders (14-0) are now one shy of the MHSAA record of five consecutive titles shared by the Farmington Hills Harrison teams from 1997-2001 and East Grand Rapids’ teams from 2006-10. With 12 championships total, MCC is tied with now-closed Detroit St. Martin dePorres for second most in the sport, one behind Harrison’s record 13 football titles.
Martinez entered the Final third on the team with 614 rushing yards, tallying 12 touchdowns on the ground, and second to Bordeaux with 540 passing yards plus nine scoring passes. Also a starting linebacker, he didn’t play offense in MCC’s 35-0 Semifinal win over St. Ignace last week. But he was impacting the Crusaders’ offense by the end of Friday’s first quarter.
Martinez’ first carry came on the final play of that quarter, for three yards, and he opened the second with a 26-yard run. He also had a 19-yard run and 23-yard pass to set up Helton’s five-yard scoring run that put the first points on the board with 9:05 to go in the first half.
After coming up shy on another drive late in the half and then pushing the score to 14-6 on a 35-yard Helton run to cap its first possession of the second, MCC made it 21-6 with 3:08 to play in the third quarter with a drive that included 55 rush yards on five Martinez carries, including the final one for three yards into the end zone.
“Anytime you have a running quarterback, you have to defend 11 and not 10; it’s just simple math sometimes,” MCC coach Steve Czerwon said. “Having somebody in the backfield as dynamic as Cameron, with the ability to make plays … people are like, ‘He’s a freshman.’ Well, he’s a freshman, fine. But he doesn’t play like a freshman.”
MCC welcomed its captains from the last three seasons to Thursday’s practice, and after, Czerwon asked Christian Martinez if he was nervous for his brother. Christian’s response to Czerwon: “Nah, he’s made for these big moments.”
“After he said that – and he knows him a heck of a lot better than I do – I felt good about using him today,” Czerwon added. “And I thought he performed very well.”
So did those seniors. Helton ran seven times for 67 yards and those two scores, and Scott ran eight times for 69 yards and scored on the 25-yard touchdown “pass” which was more of a front pitch on a sweep around the left side. Christofferson, who ran for 200 yards and three touchdowns in the Semifinal win, added the day’s final score with 1:04 to play.
Helton, also a linebacker, had 10 tackles and Christofferson, a defensive back, had seven to follow up all-state senior linebacker Andrew Schulte's team-leading 13. The Crusaders never trailed this season, and the defense was a big reason why; including 13 points surrendered over five playoff games, MCC allowed only 77 points this fall (5.5 per game).
But Friday’s score didn’t tell well how close this matchup was for most of it. Whiteford had six turnovers on downs, falling short of first downs by only a yard four times. Twice, MCC sophomore defensive back Dawson Steigman made rally-ending stops. Three of the fourth-down misses came in Crusaders territory.
Whiteford junior quarterback Thomas Eitniear was especially impressive, completing 7 of 10 passes for 96 yards and running nine times for 111 yards including the team’s lone score, an 81-yard sprint around the left end that made it 7-6 with 2:37 to go in the first half.
“Coming into halftime, that was the exact kind of game we were looking to play – to chew clock, and we just didn’t articulate a couple of our possessions into scores,” Whiteford coach Jason Mensing said. “Second half, they found some things offensively against us and took advantage. And on top of that, we didn’t articulate our drives as well.
“Overall, I’m pleased with the effort and passion, and probably the thing I’m most proud of was I didn’t feel like the moment was too big for our kids, which oftentimes you get into this type of stage, the moment can be a little large. I thought our kids handled themselves with great composure, and that’s one of those attributes for life that really matters.”
Whiteford made its first appearance in an MHSAA Final, following up its second straight – and second ever – Semifinal appearance. The Bobcats finished 13-1.
“Me and a bunch of the senior guys, we dreamed about this since freshman year,” said senior running back Jesse Kiefer, who finished as the school’s career record holder in rushing yards, points and total offense. “Coming in and being able to play on this field, it’s just not real to me. Obviously, we wanted it to come out a different way than this, but it’s still an experience I’ll never forget.”
Kiefer had seven tackles at linebacker, following senior safety Herbie Bertz’ 13 and junior tackle Jared Atherton’s eight. Kiefer also broke up three passes.
With it being their last, MCC’s seniors asked to not come out of this game early as they have most of this season with the Crusaders beating all of their opponents by at least two touchdowns.
But as they left Ford Field once more, surrounded by 13 underclassmen, they were confident with who might lead MCC back next time.
“Handing it off the Cameron, our program is in good hands,” Helton said. “I don’t expect anything less than what we’ve been doing.”
The MHSAA Football Finals are sponsored by the Michigan National Guard.
PHOTOS: (Top) Muskegon Catholic Central’s Cameron Martinez stretches toward the goal line for a score late in the third quarter. (Middle) Martinez works to elude Whiteford’s Hunter Lake.
A Game for Every Fan: 11-Player Finals
November 25, 2014
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
This weekend, the MHSAA 11-player Football Finals will celebrate a decade of calling Detroit's Ford Field home.
And these eight games over two days should provide a draw for every fan as we wave good-bye to another memorable season.
Like a favorite? Clarkston (Division 1), Grand Rapids West Catholic (5), Ithaca (6), Ishpeming (7) and Muskegon Catholic Central (8) are all reigning champions playing to repeat.
Intrigued by history? Ithaca is going for its 70th straight win and an opportunity to challenge the MHSAA record of 72 next fall.
Hungry for a rematch? Ishpeming and Detroit Loyola will meet in the Division 7 Final for the third straight season. The Hematites won the first two meetings.
Ready to root on a rookie? Saline, Muskegon Mona Shores and Lansing Sexton will all make their championship game debuts.
The Division 8, 2, 6 and 4 games are Friday, with the odd-numbered divisions playing Saturday. Tickets cost $10 and are good for all four games on one day. Click for a full schedule.
The first two Friday games will be broadcast live on Fox Sports Detroit’s primary channel (check cable/satellite box listings for your specific channel) with the Division 6 game on FSD’s Plus channel and the Division 4 game tape delayed at 10:30 p.m. on FSD primary. Both will be available live on FoxSportsDetroit.com. Saturday's games are all live on Fox Sports Detroit's main station. Audio broadcasts will be available on the MHSAA Network website.
Here’s a look at all 16 finalists. (Rankings were voted upon by The Associated Press’ media panel. Statistics are current unless noted.)
Division 1
CLARKSTON
Record/rank: 13-0, No. 1
Coach: Kurt Richardson, 28th season (217-77)
League finish: First in Oakland Activities Association Red
Finals history: Division 1 champion 2013.
Best wins: 24-21 over No. 8 Macomb Dakota, 55-41 over No. 5 West Bloomfield, 23-20 over No. 4 Lapeer in District Final, 35-13 over No. 6 East Kentwood in Semifinal.
Players to watch: QB D.J. Zezula, 6-0/190, sr. (2,022 yards/20 TDs passing, 804 yards/13 TDs rushing); WR/DB Austin Egler, 6-3/200, sr. (420 yards/6 TDs receiving, 3 interceptions); RB Nolan Eriksen, 5-8/188, jr. (1,448 yards/20 TDs rushing); LB/TE Jack McKillop, 6-1/220, sr. (96 tackles), OT/OLB Cole Chewins, 6-7/235, sr.
Outlook: The Wolves have turned last season’s run to a first MHSAA championship into a 26-game winning streak that included this fall four wins over other top-10 ranked teams. Zezula also quarterbacked last season’s championship run, and Chewins – who moved to tackle this fall after an injury to the starter on the left side – is a Division I college recruit at linebacker and tight end. He and McKillop help key a defense that’s tightened to give up 15.8 points per game during the playoffs and only 17.3 per game for the season.
SALINE
Record/rank: 12-1, No. 7
Coach: Joe Palka, third season (31-5)
League finish: First in Southeastern Conference Red
Finals history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 42-35 over honorable mention Canton in Regional Final, 30-15 over No. 2 Detroit Cass Tech in Semifinal.
Players to watch: RB Kevin Gross, 5-11/200, sr. (604 yards/13 TDs rushing); QB Josh Jackson, 6-2/195 jr. (701 yards/9 TDs rushing, 1,626 yards/16 TDs passing); QB Trent Theisen, 5-11/180, sr. (1,038 yards/13 TDs passing, 234 yards/5 TDs rushing); FL Jeb Palka, 5-10/140, jr. (865 yards/9 TDs receiving), DB Tyrone Miller, 6-1/180, sr.
Outlook: Saline is two games deeper than during any playoff run in its history after making its first Semifinal appearance last week. While the league schedule didn’t provide too many obstacles this fall, the Hornets took on (and fell 31-28) to Division 2 finalist Muskegon Mona Shores on opening night and have continued to raise their performance to that level during the postseason – including locking down a Detroit Cass Tech offense that was averaging 34 points per game. Saline has two quarterbacks who could start for most – Jackson and Theisen have combined for 2,664 yards passing, 935 rushing and 29 touchdown passes.
Division 2
MUSKEGON MONA SHORES
Record/rank: 12-1, No. 3
Coach: Matt Koziak, fourth season (24-17)
League finish: First in Ottawa-Kent Conference Black
Finals history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 40-7 and 42-14 (District Semifinal) over No. 4 Caledonia, 41-14 over No. 2 Midland Dow in District Final, 48-27 over No. 6 Muskegon, 25-24 over honorable mention Farmington Hills Harrison in semifinal, 31-28 over Division 1 No. 7 Saline.
Players to watch: QB Tyree Jackson, 6-5/210, sr. (2,235 yards/23 TDs passing, 825 yards/14 TDs rushing); RB/LB DeOntay Moffet, 5-9/205, sr. (1,439 yards/19 TDs rushing); WR/DB Matt Schuiteman, 6-2/180, sr. (879 yards/7 TDs receiving).
Outlook: Mona Shores also is making its longest playoff run after reaching the postseason for the first time only a year ago. Jackson, who has committed to the University of Buffalo, has been a main cog in the Sailors' rise – but left the Semifinal with an injury. With him and Moffet in the backfield, Mona Shores has run for more than 3,000 yards as a team – while the defense has given up only 52 points total in four playoff games against top competition.
WARREN DELASALLE
Record/rank: 10-3, honorable mention
Coach: Paul Verska, 13th season (99-49-0)
League finish: Third in Detroit Catholic League Central
Finals history: Division 2 runner-up 2006 and 2008.
Best wins: 26-21 over No. 1 Birmingham Brother Rice in Regional Final, 31-7 over Southfield in Semifinal, 21-14 over Detroit East English in District Final.
Players to watch: QB/DB Joey Garbarino, 6-2/210, sr. (1,098 yards/10 TDs passing, 441 yards/8 TDs rushing); RB/DB Allen Stritzinger, 6-0/178, soph. (1,183 yards/19 TDs rushing); OL/DL Khary Harris, 6-3/234, sr.; OL/DE Mike Danna, 6-3/233, sr.
Outlook: After opening 3-0 against out-of-state opponents, DeLaSalle lost its first three games in-state – but none by more than seven points, and the Pilots avenged that first loss to Brother Rice. DeLaSalle is giving up only 10 points per game during this seven-game winning streak, with Harris and Danna dominating up front. In addition to taking DeLaSalle to the Finals twice, Verska also coached Ann Arbor Huron to the 1997 Class AA championship game.
Division 3
MUSKEGON
Record/rank: 12-1, No. 6 in Division 2
Coach: Shane Fairfield, fifth season (52-12)
League finish: Second in O-K Black
Finals history: Five MHSAA titles (most recent 2008), two runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 20-0 over No. 1 Zeeland West in Semifinal, 37-7 over No. 7 East Grand Rapids, 29-21 over honorable mention Grand Rapids Christian, 27-14 over No. 8 Cedar Springs in District Final, 42-7 over honorable mention Petoskey in Regional Final.
Players to watch: RB Caleb Washington, 5-8/180, sr. (1,556 yards/15 TDs rushing); DB/WR Alezay Coleman, 5-10/175, sr. (194 yards/1 TD receiving); WR Joeviair Kennedy, 6-3/205, sr. (381 yards/5 TDs receiving); QB Shawn Pfenning, 5-11/185, sr. (1,381 yards/14 TDs passing, 466 yards/14 TDs rushing); LB Taran Smith, 6-1/205, sr.
Outlook: Muskegon’s two runner-up finishes came the last two seasons in Division 2, but the Big Reds moved into Division 3 for this fall’s playoffs – and after falling to Brother Rice in those Finals has drawn another Catholic League power in St. Mary’s. Kennedy and Coleman were among standouts last season as well – Kennedy the team’s leading receiver in the 38-21 loss to Rice and Coleman the leading tackler that game – but they are just two from an athletic group that runs and stops the run especially well.
ORCHARD LAKE ST. MARY’S
Record/rank: 11-2, No. 5
Coach: George Porritt, 26th season (232-66)
League finish: Second in Detroit Catholic League Central
Finals history: Five MHSAA titles (most recent 2011), six runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 14-10 over Division 2 honorable mention Warren DeLaSalle, 51-3 over New Boston Huron in Semifinal, 21-19 over Southfield.
Players to watch: RB/P/K Brandon Adams, 5-11/185, jr. (1,339 yards/16 TDs rushing), RB/LB Justin Myrick, 5-10/180, jr. (1,044 yards/12 TDs rushing), DB/WR Tyson Smith, 5-11/180, sr. (308 yards/4 TDs receiving, 8 interceptions/1 TD return), DE/OT Jared Mosley, 6-2/240, sr.; DB/RB Ross Moore, 5-9/175, sr.
Outlook: The Eaglets are back in the Finals for the fifth time in six seasons and after missing the playoffs in 2013. This St. Mary’s team has a similar look to its 2012 Division 3 runner-up in that it features a group of standout running backs – joining Adams and Myrick is another junior, Pierce Bauer (646 yards/11 TDs rushing. The all-junior backfield is completed by quarterback Brandon Tabone, who has thrown 14 touchdown passes and makes plays to break up the run-heavy attack. Both losses were to Brother Rice – the latter coming down to the end in the Catholic League Prep Bowl.
Division 4
GRAND RAPIDS SOUTH CHRISTIAN
Record/rank: 11-2, No. 4
Coach: Mark Tamminga, sixth season (47-22)
League finish: First in O-K Gold
Finals history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 2012), four runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 49-14 over honorable mention Whitehall in Regional Final, 50-48 over Division 3 (Division 4 for playoffs) No. 9 Edwardsburg in Semifinal, 33-30 (OT) and 58-34 (District Final) over Hudsonville Unity Christian.
Players to watch: QB Jon Wassink, 6-2/190, sr. (1,210 yards/17 TDs rushing, 2,315/25 TDs passing); RB/DB Geff Plasman, 5-10/180, sr. (1,220 yards/22 TDs rushing); LB/WR Sam Heyboer, 6-4/210, sr. (103 tackles); DB/RB Dylan Brink, 5-11/195 jr. (112 tackles).
Outlook: South Christian is back in the Final for the third straight season, having won in 2012 and fallen to Marine City a year ago. Wassink, who has committed to Western Michigan University, was injured for the 2012 championship game and surely would like to cap his accomplished career by leading the Sailors to a title. They’ve scored 523 points this season – but a combined 192 in the four playoff wins. The losses came during the first weeks of the season to Division 2 Caledonia and Division 3 Grand Rapids Christian.
LANSING SEXTON
Record/rank: 13-0, No. 2
Coach: Daniel Boggan III, 13th season (95-45)
League finish: First in Capital Area Activities Conference Blue
Finals history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 41-20 over No. 1 Saginaw Swan Valley in District Final, 35-7 over No. 5 Richmond in Regional Final, 35-26 over Detroit East English, 21-12 over Lansing Everett.
Players to watch: RB/LB Avonte’ Bell, 6-1/228, sr. (1,306 yards/16 TDs rushing); QB/DB Malik Mack, 5-9/175, sr. (1,503 yards/19 TDs passing, 471 yards/8 TDs rushing); RB JaVon Wray, 5-6/175, sr. (1,488 yards/19 TDs rushing); WR/LB Rayshawn Wilborn, 6-4/195, sr. (757 yards/12 TDs receiving, 3 interceptions).
Outlook: A roster with 20 seniors has brought the Big Reds to the MHSAA Finals for the first time, with a number of those seniors on varsity for three seasons and four in the cases of Bell and lineman Shain Shannon. Stopping Sexton is difficult because of the number of offensive options with Bell and Wray running the ball and Mack able to take off as well if he doesn't find Wilborn, who has committed to Central Michigan University, or senior Randye Parker. That athleticism plays well on both sides of the ball – the Big Reds have given up only 144 points despite playing a schedule loaded with large Class A schools.
Division 5
GRAND RAPIDS WEST CATHOLIC
Record/rank: 13-0, No. 1
Coach: Dan Rohn, eighth season (86-17)
League finish: First in O-K Blue
Finals history: Division 5 champion 2013 and 2010, two runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 42-24 over No. 3 Menominee in Semifinal, 48-12 over No. 9 Hopkins in District Final, 56-28 over honorable mention Reed City in Regional final, 31-0 over No. 7 Muskegon Oakridge.
Players to watch: QB Travis Russell, 6-2/180, sr. (2,365 yards/35 TDs passing, 1,334 yards/20 TDs rushing); TE/DE Bryce Witham, 6-4/240, sr. (764 yards/16 TDs receiving); WR Conner Nemmers, 6-1/175, jr. (702 yards/9 TDs receiving); OL/DL Drew Doyle, 6-1/235, sr.
Outlook: West Catholic has built quite a run with this its third straight Finals appearance and fourth in five years, and with a chance to win its third title in that time. But a win Saturday would complete the Falcons’ first 14-0 season. Russell has thrown for more than 4,500 yards and 37 touchdowns and run for more than 2,000 yards over the last two seasons, and he has a dominating target in sizable tight end Witham.
LANSING CATHOLIC
Record/rank: 13-0, No. 4
Coach: Jim Ahern, sixth season (55-13)
League finish: First in CAAC White
Finals history: Class C champion 1985, Division 5 runner-up 2011.
Best wins: 21-14 over No. 5 Almont in Semifinal, 27-22 over Division 6 No. 6 Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central, 28-0 over Eaton Rapids.
Players to watch: QB Tony Poljan, 6-7/230, jr. (2,537 yards/32 TDs passing, 953 yards/22 TDs rushing, 89 tackles); RB Tony Palmer, 5-11/175, jr. (836 yards/14 TDs rushing, 866 yards/8 TDs receiving); LB/RB Moses Kone, 5-11/195, sr. (96 tackles/9.5 sacks); WR/DB Zac Baker, 6-0/170, sr. (758 yards/7 TDs receiving, 49 tackles/13 interceptions); LB/RB Ben Rashid, 5-10/175, jr. (101 tackles).
Outlook: Poljan stands tall – literally – among offensive standouts statewide; combined he’s been part of 54 rushing and passing touchdowns. And Palmer has scored 22 times with more than 1,700 total yards – both filling in well the tradition under Ahern, who built Ithaca’s program on a high-scoring offense and took the Cougars to Ford Field with the same three years ago. But don’t sleep on a opportunistic defense giving up 12 points per game – Lansing Catholic has 30 interceptions and has recovered 15 fumbles.
Division 6
MONROE ST. MARY CATHOLIC CENTRAL
Record/rank: 12-1, No. 6
Coach: Jack Giarmo, 17th season (143-54)
League finish: First in Huron League
Finals history: Class B champion 1991, three runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 50-15 over No. 3 Clinton in District Final, 27-26 over No. 2 Jackson Lumen Christi in Semifinal, 40-7 over New Boston Huron.
Players to watch: RB/DB Justin Carrabino, 5-8/160, jr. (1,380 yards/15 TDs rushing, 243 yards/5 TDs receiving); QB/DB Bryce Windham, 6-1/160, sr. (865 yards/15 TDs passing, 171 yards/4 TDs rushing); TE/DB Travis Vuich, 6-4/180, sr. (499 yards/9 TDs receiving); RB/LB John Lako, 6-2/200, sr. (1,048 yards/16 TDs rushing).
Outlook: St. Mary is back in the Finals for the first time since finishing a run of three runner-up finishes between 2005-10 – the last coming against Ithaca in the first of four straight title wins for the Yellowjackets. Defenses know what’s coming but still haven’t had much success stopping it; senior Mitchell Lamour has added another 841 yards and 12 touchdowns rushing to the two 1,000-yard seasons of his backfield mates. The Falcons only loss was by five in Week 9 to Division 5 finalist Lansing Catholic.
ITHACA
Record/rank: 13-0, No. 1
Coach: Terry Hessbrook, 11th season (114-17)
League finish: First in Tri-Valley Conference West
Finals history: Division 6 champions 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013.
Best wins: 20-16 over No. 5 Boyne City in Semifinal, 41-27 over No. 10 Madison Heights Madison in Regional Final, 35-0 over No. 8 Millington in District Final, 33-14 over Division 8 No. 9 (Division 7 for playoffs) Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary.
Players to watch: QB/DB Jacob Smith, 6-1/170, jr. (1,979 yards/26 TDs passing, 1,298 yards/19 TDs rushing); WR/DB Spence DeMull, 6-3/165, jr. (1,080 yards/15 TD receiving); WR/DL Jonah Loomis, 5-9/170, jr. (100 yards/5 TDs rushing, 134 tackles); OL/OLB Jace Demenov, 6-0/205, jr. (154 tackles).
Outlook: Ithaca’s winning streak stands at 69 games, the longest active streak nationally among 11-player football teams. A win this weekend also would make the Yellowjackets the 12th in MHSAA history to win five football titles. They trailed Madison heading into the fourth quarter and held off Boyne City in the final seconds last week – and if they finish with another victory, they should make a run next fall at the MHSAA consecutive wins record of 72. Ithaca has only six seniors.
Division 7
DETROIT LOYOLA
Record/rank: 13-0, No. 2
Coach: John Callahan, sixth season (64-10)
League finish: First in Detroit Catholic League AA
Finals history: Division 7 runners-up 2012 and 2013.
Best wins: 60-26 over No. 3 New Lothrop in Regional Final, 41-21 over Pewamo-Westphalia in Semifinal, 46-18 over Detroit Country Day.
Players to watch: RB/LB Marvin Campbell, 5-10/196, sr. (1,817 yards/30 TDs rushing); LB/TE Darryl Clemons, 6-2/228, sr. (68 tackles); LB/FB Paul Engram, 5-11/236, sr. (68 tackles); OL/DL Devon Hayes, 6-2/315, sr.; RB/CB Mideyin Wilson, 5-10/185, sr. (1,013 yards/15 TDs rushing).
Outlook: Loyola’s recently-annual Finals matchup with Ishpeming has become arguably the best long-distance rivalry in Michigan; the Bulldogs are seeking their first championship after falling to the Hematites by six in 2012 and 10 a year ago. Campbell is finishing a career that’s included 3,936 yards and 53 touchdowns on the ground, and he’s averaging an amazing 10 yards per carry this fall. He and Wilson again run behind a massive offensive line going 305-238-275-240-315 pounds from left tackle to right.
ISHPEMING
Record/rank: 12-0, No. 1
Coach: Jeff Olson, 23rd season (169-78)
League finish: First in Mid-Peninsula Conference
Finals history: Four MHSAA titles (most recent 2013), one runner-up finish.
Best wins: 22-13 over No. 7 Traverse City St. Francis in Regional Final, 20-7 over No. 9 Iron River West Iron County in District Final, 22-18 over Division 8 No. 9 (Division 7 for playoffs) Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary in Semifinal, 20-0 over Division 8 No. 7 Beal City.
Players to watch: QB/DB Ozzy Corp, 6-5/190, jr. (606 yards/6 TDs passing, 731 yards/15 TDs rushing, 4 interceptions defensively); RB/DB Ozzy Hakkarinen, 6-0/205, sr. (611 yards/7 TDs rushing, 5 interceptions); LB/FL Dominic Suardini, 5-8/175, sr. (474 yards/7 TDs rushing); OL/DE Dan Thornton, 5-10/175, sr. (Statistics through regular season.)
Outlook: Most fans outside Ishpeming and its league may not recognize the names leading the charge back to Ford Field this weekend – the Hematites graduated the majority of players who carried them to back-to-back championships. But this group quickly has begun its own legacy continuing a winning streak that now stretches 33 games. Hakkarinen left the Semifinal with an injury and Corp picked up the slack finishing with 198 yards rushing; he may need to answer similarly but has proven more than capable, as has a defense giving up only 8.7 points per game.
Division 8
MUNISING
Record/rank: 12-1, No. 8
Coach: Jeff Seaberg, 10th season (43-53)
League finish: First in Mid-Eastern Conference
Finals history: Class C champion 1980.
Best wins: 10-7 over No. 7 Beal City in Semifinal, 43-14 over No. 4 Crystal Falls Forest Park in Regional Final, 24-6 over No. 3 St. Ignace in District Final.
Players to watch: RB/LB Garrett Blank, 6-1/205, sr. (2,071 yards/29 TDs rushing); WR/DB Andy Cooper, 6-4/175, sr. (410 yards/7 TDs receiving, 6 interceptions); OL/DL Jason Lindbeck, 6-8/250, sr.; OL/DL Ian McInnis, 6-2/270, jr.; QB/DB Austin Kelto, 5-10/175, sr. (977 yards/18 TDs passing, 303 yards/8 TDs rushing).
Outlook: Munising has done just about everything possible so far during its best season in more than three decades. The lone loss came on opening night to Division 7 No. 9 Iron River West Iron County, and the Mustangs have given up only 57 points since and 85 total this fall. The program has five winning seasons over the last 20, but three over the last four years. A strong group of 10 seniors has played a major role in bringing the program back to its first championship game since its coach, Seaberg, was a junior on the team.
MUSKEGON CATHOLIC CENTRAL
Record/rank: 13-0, No. 1
Coach: Steve Czerwon, second season (25-2)
League finish: First in Lakes 8 Conference
Finals history: Nine MHSAA titles (most recent 2013), three runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 42-6 over No. 2 Harbor Beach in Semifinal, 48-7 over No. 6 Mendon in Regional Final, 42-0 over No. 5 Fowler in District Final, 30-0 over Detroit Country Day.
Players to watch: RB/DB Tommy Scott, 5-8/180, sr. (1,944 yards/31 TDs rushing); QB/DB Nicholas Holt, 6-0/185, sr. (859 yards/15 TDs rushing, 438 yards/9 TDs passing); TE/LB Lamar Jordan III, 6-0/200, sr.; OL/DL Jaeden MacPherson, 6-3/245, sr.; K Griffin Seymour, 5-8/140, sr. (80 extra points in 83 attempts, 3-5 field goals).
Outlook: The Crusaders have more than met expectations that they’d dominate again this season after returning Scott, Holt and Seymour among a number of contributors to last year’s run. Holt’s numbers might look low, but he’s missed most of the last seven games with an injury. Junior Christian Martinez has filled in well in his absence, and the defense is combining with Holt to pick up any remaining slack – MCC is giving up a mere 121 yards per game.
PHOTO: Ford Field has been home to the MHSAA 11-player Football Finals since 2005.