Neighbors Rally, Revive 'Community' Stadium
August 31, 2015
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
MOUNT PLEASANT – Josh Wheaton stood admiring the Community Memorial Stadium grass a little less than a year ago, and he knew what was coming next.
The weeks of trampling to come would produce the same result as every year beginning in mid-September.
“I’m looking at it and thinking, I can’t believe a week ago it was exactly the way you’d want your yard to look,” said Wheaton, a varsity assistant coach for Mount Pleasant’s football team. “And now, it’s this. It’s the same every year. I knew it was coming – and by weeks 7, 8, 9, we were going to be playing in a mud pit.”
But less than a year later, as the team prepared for its first game last week, Wheaton and his Oilers – and co-tenant Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart as well – all were enjoying something that defied any expectation: a project pulled off so quickly, it spoke well to the name of the stadium the schools share.
In less than a year, supporters of Mount Pleasant High and Sacred Heart Academy raised $600,000, secured another $300,000 in donated work, and assisted in the transformation of the stadium from an aging landmark built 50 years ago to what should again be one of mid-Michigan’s athletic jewels for years to come.
The schools reopened the stadium Friday for a doubleheader. Sacred Heart fell to rival Beal City in the opener, and Mount Pleasant then defeated Midland Dow to finish a night that saw more than 5,000 fans pass through the new gates and witness the official debut of stunning two-tone green turf that served as the main focus of a renovation that has only just begun.
“It is a community that believes in young people and certainly believes in athletics,” Mount Pleasant athletic director Jim Conway said. “I think being in a college town (with Central Michigan University), there’s that collegiate portion to it where the kids start (here), and many end up matriculating over there. And we sit right here in the middle of the city, and being the shared facility, that is kind of the focal point. We were able to use that and people latched on and wanted to be a part of it, and we’re still going.”
If you rebuild it …
Community Memorial Stadium opened in 1965 as the shared home of the Mount Pleasant High and Sacred Heart football and track and field programs. Prior to its construction, the programs had a variety of homes – CMU’s Alumni Field for the Oilers and at times the Irish, who also played at Fancher Field and at Island Park going back to at least the mid 1930s.
The new stadium construction was funded solely by the community and opened Sept. 25, 1965, for what ended as a 26-26 tie between Mount Pleasant and East Lansing. The field has remained a point of local pride since, with junior high games and the town’s rocket football teams also taking regular turns on the grass.
Most weeks during the fall see the stadium host three or four games. But Wheaton said last fall there were three weeks during which 11 games were played.
It’s not that all the activity tore up the field. But it didn’t allow the grass time to regrow after the older kids did their damage on Fridays and Saturdays.
All of that caused Wheaton to casually suggest last fall to Oilers coach Jason McIntyre that the grass should be replaced with synthetic turf. Never will happen, McIntyre responded. That conversation had been had before – including briefly when a bond was passed eight years ago that led to the repair of the locker rooms, concession stand, press box and track at the stadium – and talks about going to turf had never progressed past the idea stage.
Wheaton told his boss he’d take care of it, but nothing more was said on the topic for a couple weeks … until someone else brought it up, and McIntyre joked that Wheaton was all over it.
This time, he ran with it.
In October, Wheaton formed a committee made up of supporters of both schools. They decided they would need to raise all of the money for turf over six months – by April 1 – and split into sub committees to handle fundraising and construction.
“When I first heard about it, I was a little skeptical,” said Sacred Heart athletic director and football coach Rick Roberts, who like McIntyre is a second-generation football coach in the 26,000-resident town and has led his program for 23 years.
“I wasn’t sure we could raise that much money in that short of a time; the economy isn’t the greatest at the moment. But when I went to a meeting, and saw the energy that was around the table, I knew it was going to happen.”
Pillars of the Community
Mount Pleasant High is a Class A public school with about 1,070 students. Sacred Heart is a Class D Catholic school with about 140 enrolled. In those ways, they couldn’t be more different.
But kids at the schools grow up playing Little League baseball or youth basketball together, and a number of Mount Pleasant High families attend Sacred Heart Parish.
And there was plenty of work for all to do, and do quickly.
With money rolling in, the old grass field would need to be dug out to eight inches below the surface. Materials would need to be brought in to refill the base where the synthetic surface would be laid.
Pennsylvania-based ProGrass did the turf work, but the rest was done with local hands and equipment.
Wheaton made contact with the Isabella County-based Morey Foundation, which pledged to match $200,000 in donations from the community. Committee member Doug Moore is a president with Fisher Companies, which does concrete and asphalt work as well as construction transportation in mid-Michigan, and his company contributed much of the $300,000 in in-kind work.
McGuirk Sand-Gravel, which had also contributed when the stadium originally was built, hauled out the old field, while Malley Construction built the concrete curbs and long jump pits. Contractor Eric Borodychuk constructed the new entrance. Straus Masonry continues to build the wall of bricks and pillars purchased by donors, and other volunteers landscaped the hill near the front gate.
“If you don’t have those kind of people in your community, this doesn’t even get off the ground,” Wheaton said.
“We thought that was there,” Conway said of the support. “This is proof.”
Still work to do
Oilers senior Zach Heeke remembers teammates turning ankles on the old practice fields in holes left over from shot put tosses the previous spring.
Those are more or less a memory now – the varsities for both schools practice daily at the stadium, sometimes splitting the field down the middle. The subvarsity teams still practice on other fields, but the track and field throwing areas are inside the stadium as part of the new construction.
Heeke is more connected to athletics than a typical high schooler – his dad Dave Heeke is CMU’s athletic director – and Zach appreciates greatly what’s gone into his team’s new home field.
“It’s an honor, for sure. It gives us a lot of motivation,” Heeke said. “All the people who donated money to have this happen, we have to show them that we’re good enough and we want to play here, and we’ve got to play for them. It’s awesome to think of all the people who come to our Friday night games, and maybe they’re not showing up in the stands, but they’re on the wall and they’re thinking about us.”
Two members of the original 1965 stadium committee attended a celebration of the new field Thursday. Roberts, who remembers the stadium’s initial construction, believes the original contributors who have since died would be “thrilled” with how the current community has taken up their work and improved upon it.
Bricks and pillars continue to be sold, for as little as $250 and as much as $25,000, as part of the Pillars for the Community fundraising group the renovation committee set up. That money will fund a phase two that likely will include replacing original concrete and possibly adding new bleachers. Both schools are contributing together annually to a fund that will allow for the necessary regular maintenance and then replacement of the turf in 10-12 years.
“(The committee) all wanted the same thing. And when you get a bunch of ex-athletes in a room who all want the same thing for kids in the community, it goes pretty well,” Conway said.
“It’s just been a Mount Pleasant family, if you will."
Geoff Kimmerly joined the MHSAA as its Media & Content Coordinator in Sept. 2011 after 12 years as Prep Sports Editor of the Lansing State Journal. He has served as Editor of Second Half since its creation in Jan. 2012. Contact him at [email protected] with story ideas for the Barry, Eaton, Ingham, Livingston, Ionia, Clinton, Shiawassee, Gratiot, Isabella, Clare and Montcalm counties.
PHOTOS: (Top) The Community Memorial Stadium turf includes the logos of both its home teams, the shamrock for Sacred Heart and the oil derrick for Mount Pleasant High. (Middle top) Supporters have given to the stadium and the schools' players in multiple ways, from buys bricks and pillars to hanging signs. (Middle below) Sacred Heart runs a play against Beal City during Friday's game. (Bottom) Mount Pleasant High and Midland Dow players warm up before their game Friday night.
A new gate at the north entrance welcomes fans to Mount Pleasant's Community Memorial Stadium. The gate is anchored by pillars highlighting some of the project's largest donors.
The parking lot-side of the stadium pressbox, like field below, includes banners of both teams that share the field.
The uprights are padded specific to the team on the field; red for Sacred Heart's Irish and dark blue for Mount Pleasant High's Oilers.
More than 5,000 fans filled the stadium for Friday's doubleheader, these mostly supporters of Mount Pleasant High after the Sacred Heart game against Beal City had ended.
Finals Preview: Champs' Stories Unfold
November 26, 2013
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
If you're looking for a few good stories to finish off this high school football season, make sure you're glued to this weekend's MHSAA 11-Player Finals at Ford Field.
Ithaca will attempt to win a fourth straight MHSAA title and re-tie the nation's longest winning streak of 56. The Yellowjackets are one of nine teams back from the 2012 Finals, and one of four reigning champions playing to repeat.
The Division 2 and Division 7 Finals are rematches from last fall and carry plenty of intrigue; Brother Rice just edged Muskegon in Division 2 last season and Ishpeming stunned at least a few by beating to-that-point unstoppable Detroit Loyola in Division 7. DeWitt, Clinton and Clarkston are seeking their first titles, with the latter two heading to the Finals for the first time.
The Division 8,4,6 and 2 games are Friday, with the odd-numbered divisions playing Saturday. All four Friday games will be broadcast live on Fox Sports Detroit's Plus channel (check cable/satellite box listings for your specific channel), with Saturday's games live on Fox Sports Detroit's main station. Audio broadcasts will be available on the MHSAA Network website. Tickets cost $10 and are good for all four games on one day. Click for a full schedule.
Here’s a look at all 16 finalists. (Rankings were voted upon by The Associated Press’ media panel.)
Division 1
CLARKSTON
Record/rank: 12-1, No. 4
Coach: Kurt Richardson, 27th season (202-78)
League finish: First in Oakland Activities Association Red
Finals history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 56-28 over Rochester Adams in the Regional Final, 30-27 over Oxford in the District Semifinal, 20-10 over Division 2 No. 6 Southfield.
Players to watch: QB D.J. Zezula, 6-0/185, jr. (2,156 yards/17 TDs passing); RB Ian Eriksen, 5-11/190, sr. (1,410 yards/25 TDs rushing); K/P Shane Hynes, 5-10/150, sr. (56-56 XP, long FG 46); WR/DB Tim Cason, 6-2/190, sr. (747 yards/6 TDs receiving); OL/DL Nick Matich, 6-3/297, sr.; OT/DT David Beedle, 6-5/285, sr.
Outlook: Clarkston’s strong football tradition now will include an appearance at the MHSAA Finals thanks to a playoff run that included avenging its lone loss, on opening night, to Rochester Adams. This is the third time the Wolves have won 12 games under Richardson, who also has led them to three straight league and two straight District titles and has coached in the program since 1977. A number of players are committed to continue at the Division I college level: Eriksen for Eastern Michigan, Beedle at Michigan State, Cason at Purdue, Matich at Western Michigan and Hynes to kick for Kent State. He’s made five field goals of 34 yards or longer this fall.
DETROIT CATHOLIC CENTRAL
Record/rank: 11-2, No. 6
Coach: Tom Mach, 38th season (340-82)
League finish: Second in Detroit Catholic League Central.
Finals history: 10 championships (most recent 2009), five runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 35-14 over No. 9 Northville in the District Semifinal, 28-0 over No. 1 Detroit Cass Tech in the Semifinal, 20-14 over Division 2 honorable mention Warren DeLaSalle.
Players to watch: QB/DB Sean Birney, 6-1/175, sr. (769 yards/11 TDs passing); RB/DB/K Zach Bock, 6-0/190, sr. (721 yards/5 TDs rushing, 255 yards/4 TDs receiving); RB/LB Connor Holton, 6-0/200, sr. (1,040 yards/11 TDs rushing); FB/DE Dyaln Roney, 6-2/230, sr. (579 yards/11 TDs rushing); DT Christopher Okoye, 6-6/320, sr.
Outlook: The Shamrocks are back in the Division 1 Final for the third straight year after finally dispatching of Detroit Cass Tech – the team that beat DCC in the last two championship games. Most of the team’s playmakers have been in those roles this season for the first time, but they and a solid defense has come through when it counted most in four wins by 10 points or fewer – including a one-point nail-biter over Temperance Bedford in the Regional Final. Roney, and standout defensive end, has committed to play at Navy in 2014. DCC’s only losses this season were to Birmingham Brother Rice, which will play for the Division 2 title.
Division 2
BIRMINGHAM BROTHER RICE
Record/rank: 13-0, No. 1
Coach: Al Fracassa, 45th season (384-98-2)
League finish: First in Detroit Catholic League Central
Finals history: Eight championships (most recent 2012), four runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 43-20 over No. 10 Martin Luther King in the Semifinal, 26-24 over honorable mention Warren DeLaSalle, 28-21 and 20-7 over Division 1 No. 6 Detroit Catholic Central.
Players to watch: QB Alex Malzone, 6-3/200, jr. (2,525 yards/21 TDs passing); C Sage Baltrusaitis, 6-1/260, sr.; DB/K Jason Alessi (6-1/180) sr. (54-55 XP/15 FG); RB Brian Walker, 5-9/225, sr. (817 yards/14 TDs rushing); WR Corey Lacanaria, 5-9/180, sr. (991 yards/7 TDs receiving).
Outlook: Some stars change, many stay the same for Brother Rice, which is seeking its third straight MHSAA title. Alessi, a safety and special teams standout (three return touchdowns this fall) scored the game-winning TD in last season's Final on a cross-field lateral during a return, while Walker and senior Shon Powell are back as the top runners and Malzone and Lacanaria have continued as one of the state’s top passing combinations. But this will be the last game for the brightest star in Brother Rice history – Fracassa will retire after the game.
MUSKEGON
Record/rank: 12-1, No 32
Coach: Shane Fairfield, fourth season (40-10)
League finish: First in O-K Black
Finals history: Five MHSAA titles (most recent 2008), one runner-up finish.
Best wins: 28-21 over No. 2 Lowell in the District Final, 24-7 over No. 9 Midland in the Regional Final, 41-35 over No. 8 Portage Central in the Quarterfinal, 35-13 over Division 3 No. 3 Grand Rapids Christian, 45-0 over Division 1 No. 3 Rockford.
Players to watch: RB Javauntae Thomas, 5-11/210, sr. (926 yards/9 TDs rushing); OL Malik King, 6-4/275, sr.; QB/DB Deshaun Thrower, 6-2/200, sr. (1,706 yards/27 TDs rushing, 1,110 yards/12 TDs passing); DL Kenny Finley, 6-3/285, sr.
Outlook: The Big Reds no doubt have been looking forward to this rematch after falling to Brother Rice by a score in last season’s championship game. Muskegon has been successful in its other revenge games this season, beating Lowell in the District Final after falling to the Red Arrows 31-20 in Week 4 and Zeeland East 54-0 after falling to the Chix by a point in 2012. Thrower came on in relief during last season’s championship game second half and nearly led Muskegon to the victory; he’s been nearly impossible to stop this season. Finley has committed to Western Michigan and King to Ball State for 2014.
Division 3
DEWITT
Record/rank: 13-0, No. 1
Coach: Rob Zimmerman, 15th season (149-34)
League finish: First in Capital Area Activities Conference Red
Finals history: Four runner-up finishes (most recent 2004)
Best wins: 28-16 over No. 4 Mount Pleasant, 43-7 over honorable mention Ionia, 21-20 over No. 7 St. Clair in the Semifinal, 13-7 over Division 5 No. 2 Portland.
Players to watch: QB Jake Johnson, 6-2/188, jr. (1,736 yards/28 TDs passing, 527 yards/1 TD rushing); RB Ben Heinritz, 5-11/200, jr. (1,353 yards/17 TDs rushing); WR/DB Chris Ruby, 5-10/181 sr. (950 yards/14 TDs receiving); LB Zach Deak, 5-8/182, sr.; WR Josh Borta, 6-3/177, sr. (651 yards/14 TDs receiving).
Outlook: The Panthers are back in the Finals for the first time since finishing a three-year streak from 2002-04 and seeking their first championship. Offense has been the calling card most seasons under crafty quarterback guru Zimmerman and has been strong again this fall – but the defense also has been on task with four shutouts and five more games giving up only on score in each. Johnson is the latest star quarterback, but while he was injured part of this season senior Jacob Heath stepped in and threw for 726 yards and nine touchdowns.
ZEELAND WEST
Record/rank: 12-1, No. 2
Coach: John Shillito, ninth season (84-21)
League finish: First in O-K Green
Finals history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 2011).
Best wins: 48-35 over No. 3 Grand Rapids Christian in the District Final, 62-27 over No. 4 Mount Pleasant in the Regional Final, 44-28 over Division 4 honorable mention Detroit Country Day.
Players to watch: QB Casey Brinks, 5-10/165, soph. (636 yards/5 TDs rushing, 587 yards/10 TDs passing); DB Grant Postma, 5-10/165, sr. (9 interceptions); RB/DB Danny Bauder, 5-9/185, sr. (1,652 yards/27 TDs rushing, 383 yards/7 TDs receiving); TE/NG Jordan VanDort, 6-5/300, sr.
Outlook: Zeeland West has won championships in 2011 and 2006 under Shillito, one of the most revered offensive coaches in the state. The Dux have run for an astounding 5,159 yards this season. VanDort, who has committed to play at Western Michigan next fall, is a two-way starter and a force in the wing-T offense and middle of West’s defense. The Dux did avenge that lone loss, to Zeeland East in Week 2, by beating the Chix 44-13 in their playoff opener.
Division 4
GRAND RAPIDS SOUTH CHRISTIAN
Record/rank: 12-1, No. 1
Coach: Mark Tamminga, fifth season (35-19)
League finish: First in O-K Gold
Finals history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 2012), three runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 34-14 over No. 8 Allendale in the District Final, 35-19 over No. 9 Battle Creek Pennfield in the Regional Final, 20-6 over No. 5 Comstock Park in the Semifinal, 34-17 over Division 5 finalist Grand Rapids West Catholic.
Players to watch: QB Jon Wassink, 6-2/190, jr. (2,802/22 TDs passing, 1,094 yards/22 TDs rushing); RB/DB Geff Plasman, 5-10/180, jr. (1,152 yards/15 TDs rushing); WR/DB Eric VanVoorst, 6-3/180, jr. (956 yards/9 TDs receiving); LB David Boomsma, 6-2/180, sr.
Outlook: Since opening the season with a 28-point loss to reigning Division 3 champion Grand Rapids Christian, the Sailors have won all but one game by multiple scores. Wassink had led in a big way after missing last season’s championship game victory with an injury. Boomsma was the team’s second-leading tackler in that win over Detroit Country Day and is the leading tackler this fall for a defense that’s given up a combined 44 points in four playoff wins.
MARINE CITY
Record/rank: 12-1, No. 5 in Division 5
Coach: Rob Glodich, second season (20-3)
League finish: Second in Macomb Area Conference Gold
Finals history: Division 4 champion 2007, Division 4 runner-up 2011.
Best wins: 35-22 over Marysville in the District Semifinal, 35-21 over Richmond in the District Final, 33-28 over honorable mention Detroit Country Day in the Regional Final, 12-7 over No. 4 Sexton in the Semifinal.
Players to watch: S/WR Pete Patsalis, 6-0/180 sr. (982 yards receiving); RB/S Jarrett Mathison, 5-10/175, jr.; (1,160 yards rushing, 537 yards receiving); QB Alex Merchant, 6-0/181, jr. (1,338 yards/15 TDs passing); RB Tait Sapienza, 5-9/160, sr. (1,272 yards rushing).
Outlook: Marine City was ranked in Division 5 by The Associated Press for the regular season before moving into Division 4 when the playoff field was determined. This will be the team’s third championship game appearance in seven seasons and comes after it fell to Richmond in a playoff opener in 2012. The team’s only loss this fall was 43-33 to eventual Division 3 Semifinalist St. Clair. Marine City has rumbled to 3,285 yards rushing this season with its top two leading rushers each averaging at least 7.5 yards per carry.
Division 5
GRAND RAPIDS WEST CATHOLIC
Record/rank: 9-4, unranked
Coach: Dan Rohn, seventh season (72-17)
League finish: Tied for first in O-K Bronze
Finals history: Division 5 champion 2010, two runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 27-14 over No. 2 Portland in the District Semifinal, 35-17 over No. 7 Olivet in the Regional Final, 35-0 over No. 6 Livonia Clarenceville in the Semifinal.
Players to watch: QB Travis Russell, 6-2/185, jr. (2,274 yards/20 TDs passing, 555 yards/9 TDs rushing); RB/DB Andy Corey, 5-9/180, sr. (894 yards/15 TDs rushing); WR Drake Wooten, 6-1/180, sr. (738 yards/7 TDs receiving); RB Lasavian Majewski, 5-8/185, jr. (941 yards/9 TDs rushing); TE/DE Mitchell Stanitzek, 6-5/235, sr. (278 yards/7 TDs receiving).
Outlook: Just like last season, West Catholic started slowly but has made it all the way to the Finals despite entering the playoffs unranked – and this time just got in at 5-4. Once in the field, a group of veterans took over, led by Russell and Corey, the top offensive players on last season’s team. This fall’s slow start certainly can be viewed as relative: West Catholic opened with three losses, but they all came to teams that ended up making Semifinals last weekend including reigning Division 4 champion Grand Rapids South Christian.
MENOMINEE
Record/rank: 13-0, No. 1
Coach: Joe Noha, second season (24-2)
League finish: First in Great Northern U.P. Conference
Finals history: Three MHSAA titles (most recent 2007).
Best wins: 59-28 over No. 3 Muskegon Oakridge in the Semifinal, 49-27 over Standish-Sterling in the Regional Final, 42-13 over honorable mention Kingsford, 40-21 over Division 8 No. 3 Harbor Beach.
Players to watch: QB/DE Justin Brilinski, 6-0/180, jr. (1,200 yards/14 TDs rushing, 1,461 yards/16 TDs passing); RB/DB Devon Harris, 5-11/165, sr. (673 yards/11 TDs rushing, 252 yards/5 TDs passing, 771 yards/10 TDs receiving); RB/DE James Brown, 6-2/197, sr. (1,035 yards/29 TDs rushing).
Outlook: Menominee has become a semi-regular at the MHSAA Finals with its three titles over the last 15 seasons, but this is its first trip without longtime coach Ken Hofer, who retired after 2011. But Noha certainly knows how to bring a team to Detroit after serving as an assistant for 19 seasons before taking over the program. Menominee hasn’t scored fewer than 40 points since opening night and won its league games by a combined 193-26 in a conference featuring most of the biggest schools in the Upper Peninsula.
Division 6
CLINTON
Record/rank: 13-0, No. 4
Coach: Scott McNitt, 29th season (174-108-1)
League finish: First in the Tri-County Conference
Finals history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 39-14 over No. 8 Grass Lake in the Regional Final, 47-28 over Constantine in the Regional Final, 49-3 over No. 9 Shelby in the Semifinal, 33-8 over Ottawa Lake Whiteford.
Players to watch: QB/DB T.J. Baker, 6-1/180, sr. (719 yards/17 TDs rushing, 1,874 yards/23 TDs passing); WR/LB Mathew Sexton, 6-0/170, soph. (500 yards/8 TDs rushing, 1,059 yards/15 TDs receiving); RB/DB Collin Poore, 5-9/160, jr. (1,599 yards/18 TDs, 281 yards/4 TDs receiving); RB/LB Brett Tschirhart, 6-0/205, jr. (556 yards/13 TDs rushing).
Outlook: It’s somewhat shocking to look back and see three straight 1-8 seasons for Clinton from 2002-04, given the team’s 14 playoff appearances total under McNitt and 22-1 record over the last two seasons. This will be the team’s first trip to the MHSAA Finals, and he’s bringing a number of offensive weapons who combined have gained 5,700 yards this fall. The defense has stepped up its game giving up a combined 51 points over four postseason games and just 57 points over its last six wins.
ITHACA
Record/rank: 13-0, No. 1
Coach: Terry Hessbrook, 10th season (100-17)
League finish: First in Tri-Valley Conference West
Finals history: MHSAA Division 6 champion 2012, 2011 and 2010.
Best wins: 42-7 over Maple City Glen Lake in the District Final, 62-34 over No. 7 Negaunee in the Regional Final, 21-20 over No. 3 Montrose in the Semifinal.
Players to watch: QB Travis Smith, 6-3/200, sr. (3,031 yards/38 TDs passing, 503 yards/9 TDs rushing); WR/DB Logan Hessbrook, 6-3/200, sr. (1,169 yards/18 TDs receiving); RB/LB Bryan Shaw, 5-11/225, sr. (981 yards/21 TDs rushing); WR/DB Josh Hafner, 6-2/175, sr. (725 yards/8 TDs receiving).
Outlook: Ithaca has taken turns with a team in Iowa this season holding the nation’s longest winning streak and can tie for it again with a 56th straight win Friday. Smith, who will sign with Toledo this winter, has set an MHSAA career record with 100 touchdown passes over the last three seasons while completing 68 percent of his throws total. Those generally are the biggest headliners, but don’t forget the defense – it’s notched five shutouts and allowed four more opponents to score only once. Nose guard Jonah Loomis and linebackers Rickey King, Dallas Reeser and Jace Demenov all have at least 100 tackles this fall.
Division 7
DETROIT LOYOLA
Record/rank: 13-0, No. 2
Coach: John Callahan, fifth season (51-9)
League finish: First in Detroit Catholic League AA
Finals history: MHSAA runner-up 2012.
Best wins: 52-7 over No. 10 Homer in the Semifinal, 50-7 over honorable mention Southfield Christian in the Regional Final, 20-14 over Division 4 honorable mention Detroit Country Day, 30-21 over Division 5 honorable mention Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard.
Players to watch: RB Marvin Campbell, 5-10/190, jr. (1,453 yards/18 TDs); RB Mideyin Wilson, 5-10/175, jr. (775 yards/10 TDs); SE/DB Keith Graves, 6-1/175, sr.; OT KaJohn Armstong, 6-4/280, sr.
Outlook: Loyola graduated a 2,000-yard rusher after last season – and has equaled the team that earned the program's first championship game berth. The team moved up among bigger schools in the Catholic League and won that division this fall, and has outscored its playoff opponents by a combined 205-14. Callahan has led Loyola to four straight league and three straight District titles. The offensive line remains sizable, averaging 244 pounds across the front led by Armstrong at left tackle.
ISHPEMING
Record/rank: 13-0, No. 1
Coach: Jeff Olson, 22nd season (157-78)
League finish: First in Mid-Peninsula Conference
Finals history: Three MHSAA titles (most recent 2012), one runner-up finish.
Best wins: 34-0 over No. 4 Iron River West Iron County in the District Final, 28-13 over No. 5 Lake City in the Regional Final, 44-10 over Harbor Beach in the Semifinal, 28-24 over Division 6 No. 7 Negaunee.
Players to watch: QB/P Alex Briones, 6-2/215, sr. (1,451 yards/19 TDs passing); WR/LB Mitch Laurin, 6-0/208, sr.; OL/DE Jake Quayle, 5-11/195, sr.; DE/FB Adam Prisk, 5-11/180, sr.; DB Tyrus Millimaki, 5-7/150, sr.
Outlook: The Hematites are not only defending champions but at Ford Field for the third time in four seasons. Although many of last fall’s stars graduated, Briones is an all-state quarterback and also has run for more than 1,000 yards in guiding his team back to Detroit. Like Loyola, Ishpeming has dominated in the postseason beating its four opponents by a combined 156-23 after cruising through the regular season with only rival Negaunee getting within 35 points.
Division 8
BEAL CITY
Record/rank: 13-0, No. 1
Coach: Lou Rau, 13th season (144-29)
League finish: First in Highland Conference
Finals history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 2009), four runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 55-0 over No. 10 St. Ignace in the Regional Final, 34-18 over No. 5 Crystal Falls Forest Park in the Semifinal, 48-0 over Division 5 honorable mention Clare, 42-35 (OT) over Division 7 No. 5 Lake City.
Players to watch: RB/LB Ty Rollin, 5-8/180, jr. (1,189 yards/24 TDs rushing, 322 yards/3 TDs receiving); RB/DE Hayden Huber, 6-0/175, sr. (888 yards/19 TDs rushing); QB/DB Kurt Gross, 6-0/165, sr. (1,626 yards/23 TDs passing); TE/DE Ryan Tilmann, 6-3/180, sr. (651/12 TDs receiving).
Outlook: The Aggies have stormed back after falling to Harbor Beach in last season’s Final, with their 725 points second-most in MHSAA history and keyed by a determined senior class. Beal City has scored more than 70 points three times and more than 60 three times as well, with Forest Park and Lake City the only opponents to put up much of a challenge – the Aggies shut out seven teams. Rau, who took over the program in 2000, has led it to eight seasons of at least 10 wins and playoff berths every fall of his tenure.
MUSKEGON CATHOLIC CENTRAL
Record/rank: 11-2, No. 6
Coach: Steve Czerwon, first season (11-2)
League finish: Does not play in a league.
Finals history: Eight MHSAA titles (most recent 2008), three runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 42-0 over No. 8 Fowler in the District Final, 28-12 over No. 2 Mendon in the Regional Final, 45-14 over No. 4 New Lothrop in the Semifinal.
Players to watch: QB Nick Holt, 6-0/185, jr. (777 yards/10 TDs passing, 1,078 yards/22 TDs rushing); RB Tommy Scott, 5-8/160, jr. (755 yards/9 TDs rushing, 4 TDs receiving); RB Alex Lewandoski, 5-11/185, sr. (1,129 yards/21 TDs).
Outlook: Muskegon Catholic is back in the Finals under first-year coach Czerwon, who played in the program before graduating in 1995 and has been an assistant the last 10 seasons. The Crusaders fell to a rare losing season in 2010 but have been building back since, winning 29 and losing only eight over the last three seasons heading into Friday. Muskegon Catholic opened 0-2 this fall but against much larger opponents Muskegon Mona Shores and Grand Rapids Catholic Central, and the Crusaders have given up only a combined 75 points during the 11-game winning streak.
PHOTO: Muskegon quarterback Deshaun Thrower prepares to launch a pass during his team's playoff win over Midland. (Click to see more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)