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'Oakridge Family' True in Name & Purpose

October 3, 2018

By Tom Kendra
Special for Second Half

Every football team talks about being a family.

But at Muskegon Oakridge, it’s more than just a motto.

Three of the Oakridge varsity coaches have sons on the team, including head coach Cary Harger with two-way starting senior lineman Cole Harger.

“It does make it extra special, being a senior and playing for my dad,” said Cole Harger of the Eagles’ high-flying start, which has them 6-0 and ranked No. 3 in Division 5 in the latest Associated Press poll.

“The family thing is real out here. This is such a tight-knit community, and we’re just together all the time. We know each other so well and know how to push each other.”

Oakridge faces its toughest test of the season Friday when it hosts conference rival Montague (5-1), which comes in riding a five-game winning streak and ranked No. 10 in Division 5.

Oakridge has been the dominant team for almost 40 years in the West Michigan Conference, a league which has put 14 teams in MHSAA state championship games and celebrated nine Finals winners. Oakridge has made it five times, winning titles in 1997, 2005 and 2008.

Early on in that stretch, the Eagles’ main league rival was North Muskegon, and later Ravenna. In the 2000s, the most competitive rivalries shifted north to the White Lake area in Whitehall and Montague, particularly Montague.

Oakridge is 7-4 against Montague over the past 11 years, with many of those games classic back-and-forth battles that came down to the final minutes (and sometimes, seconds). But the only game that anyone at Oakridge seems to remember is from a year ago, when host Montague pounded Oakridge 40-0 – the most lopsided conference loss in school history.

“We have waited 51 weeks for the opportunity to erase that memory,” said senior linebacker Jaden Parker, whose father, Tim, is the Oakridge defensive coordinator. “We got shell-shocked last year and didn’t fight back. This year we have more seniors, and we won’t let that happen again.”

This year’s matchup features two of Michigan’s top running backs. Montague senior Bryce Stark, a returning Associated Press all-stater, has gained 542 yards on 74 carries (7.3 per carry), despite being slowed early in the year with a knee injury. Oakridge counters with battering ram junior fullback Leroy Quinn (6-1, 216), the leading rusher in the Greater Muskegon area with 111 carries for 1,119 yards (10.1 average) and 19 touchdowns.

Coach Harger is quick to point out that Stark is just one of many weapons on this Montague team who worries his team.

“The first thing that strikes you about Montague is their athleticism and the number of quality athletes we have to focus on,” said Harger, a 1990 Oakridge graduate. “But they are also big up front, so you have to be concerned with that, as well. We need to play our best game.”

The final father-son connection on the Oakridge varsity staff is offensive coordinator Nate Danicek and his son, Jacob, a sophomore who starts at safety and plays slot receiver on offense when the Eagles break out of their full-house backfield and go with a spread look.

But the Oakridge football family goes far beyond just the coaching staff – it’s a way of life.

After a long practice Tuesday evening, Coach Harger and Coach Parker (whose fathers coached them on an Oakridge youth football team almost 40 years ago) went down the varsity roster and quickly pointed out all of the players whose fathers also played varsity football at Oakridge.

On that list is senior starting quarterback Koleman Wall (6-3, 197), whose father, Scott Wall, was the starting fullback on the 1990 team, the first Oakridge team to reach the MHSAA title game. Other father-son duos are starting running back and linebacker Blake Masterman (father Dan Masterman), starting center Mavrick McLouth (Dude McLouth), Jacob Barber (Nate Barber) and Sander Brott (David Brott).

Sander Brott is also a third-generation Eagle, as his grandfather, Mark Fazakerley, played on the first Oakridge varsity team in 1966.

“We are doing our best to carry on the tradition that Jack Schugars started out here,” said Coach Parker, referencing Schugars, who had a 262-78 record in 31 seasons at Oakridge from 1979 to 2010. “It’s a point of pride that these are all Oakridge kids. We don’t have schools of choice, so almost every one of these kids has been playing together since the youth leagues.”

The Oakridge youth league still boasts more than 150 players and is the starting point for one of the state’s most consistent programs.

With its six consecutive wins to open the season, Oakridge has qualified for the playoffs for the 15th straight year and 23rd of the past 24. Many believe this team could be good enough to get all the way to Ford Field for the first time since 2008.

The Eagles have an experienced backfield led by Quinn, but also featuring speedy senior Masterman (359 yards) and multi-talented senior Jalen Hughes (315 yards). Wall provides a fourth running threat and has been efficient through the air, completing 28-of-43 passes for 516 yards and 10 touchdowns, with just one interception.

The defense is led by senior tackle Brandon Wilde (5-9, 212), who has 38 tackles on the season with half of those tackles in the backfield for negative yardage, including six sacks. Masterman leads the team with 40 tackles, and senior cornerback Jaxon Fri has three interceptions.

Oakridge could possibly play Montague a second time in the playoffs. Montague has traditionally been a Division 6 playoff team, but with its enrollment up 36 students from last year to 445, it could end up with Oakridge in Division 5.

Another possible Eagles rematch down the road is with top-ranked Saginaw Swan Valley, which beat Oakridge in last year’s MHSAA Regional Final, 48-14.

The “Oakridge family” isn’t looking near that far ahead, but is focused on proving itself after last year’s lopsided loss at Montague.

“The way we played in that game last year was our biggest motivation all offseason,” said Cole Harger. “That wasn’t Oakridge football. I think one of our biggest strengths this year is our togetherness as a team, and we have the opportunity to prove that on Friday night.”

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) Senior Cole Harger and Oakridge coach Cary Harger are one of three sets of fathers and sons on the varsity this season. (Middle) Harger (66), a two-way starting lineman, lines up his block during a Week 2 win over North Muskegon. (Below) Harger, with Jacob Danicek (middle) and Jaden Parker, whose fathers also are on the coaching staff. (Photos by Sherry Wahr.)

Grand Blanc quarterback Jake Morrow throws a pass Friday with a Davison rusher in pursuit.

1st & Goal: 2025 Week 8 Review

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

October 20, 2025

The words “winner-take-all” appears in this week’s 1st & Goal Review 10 times referring to games played this weekend.

MI Student AidAs schedules tend to rotate annually or every few years, in just about every league across Michigan, to have that many winner-take-all conference championship matchups work out to fall during the same weekend is just incredible luck.

They certainly were the theme of Week 8, as we nearly finished up those races and turned even more of our attention to the playoff chase soon to begin.  

Bay & Thumb

HEADLINER Grand Blanc 57, Davison 29 In one of two games statewide between undefeated teams, Grand Blanc (8-0) dominated in clinching the Saginaw Valley League South championship. Quarterback Jake Morrow was among headliners as the Bobcats scored a season high in handing Davison (7-1) its lone defeat. Click for more from the Flint Journal.

Watch list Frankenmuth 27, Freeland 13 The Eagles (7-1) ran their winning streak over rival Freeland (6-2) to seven by locking up this winner-take-all matchup for the outright Tri-Valley Conference Red championship. Frankenmuth hasn’t lost a league game since 2014.

On the move Goodrich 21, Fenton 20 This concluded Sunday because of Saturday night storms, and the Martians (8-0) held on to claim a second-straight overall Flint Metro League title and after also facing Fenton (5-3) for the championship a year ago. Harbor Beach 20, Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker 6 The Pirates (8-0) need one more win – albeit against a tough Millington team this week – to lock up a second-straight perfect regular season after downing another solid opponent in Laker (6-2). Flint Elite 34, Burton Bendle 8 Elite, a cooperative of New Standard Academy and Burton Madison Academy, improved a 7-1 and clinched a share of the Genesee Area Conference championship with a solid win over Bendle (5-3), which also can clinch a share this week. 

Greater Detroit

HEADLINER Detroit Cass Tech 35, Detroit Martin Luther King 19 The Technicians (8-0) finished a season sweep of King (6-3) and ran their winning streak over the Crusaders to three with a fourth-straight Public School League Blue city championship. One more win this weekend would will give Cass Tech its first perfect regular season (not including shortened 2020) since 2018. Click for more from the Detroit Free Press.

Watch list Warren Fitzgerald 36, Port Huron Northern 23 Fitzgerald (7-1) added to its perfect run through the Macomb Area Conference Gold with this notable victory over the MAC Blue champion Huskies (6-2). Although the Spartans did make the playoffs the last two seasons, this is guaranteed to be their first with a winning record since 2021.

On the move Detroit Denby 20, Detroit Pershing 6 After opening this season 0-2, Denby (6-2) began and finished PSL play with wins over Pershing (5-3), this one in the Gold city championship game. Detroit Edison 27, Ecorse 8 The Pioneers (7-1) finished an outright league title run in the Charter School Conference Gold, winning the tie-breaker over Romulus Summit Academy North because of a 26-14 victory in their Week 3 matchup. Utica 26, Macomb Dakota 17 After losing its league opener, Utica (6-2) still ended up with a share of the MAC White title and ran its winning streak to five games by avenging 35-0 and 31-0 losses to Dakota (6-2) from a year ago.

Mid-Michigan

HEADLINER Howell 37, Brighton 28 The Highlanders (7-1) had been chasing the lead in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association West since falling to Northville during the second week of the league schedule. They finally caught up and earned a share of the title by getting past co-champ Brighton (6-2), extending their winning streak over the Bulldogs to four. Click for more from the Livingston Daily Press & Argus.

Watch list Mount Pleasant 10, Midland 0 The Oilers (8-0) finished a perfect run through the SVL North with their closest win of the season, avenging last year’s 10-7 loss to the Chemics (4-4).

On the move Fowler 48, Ithaca 28 These two small-school powers most recently met in a 2023 playoff opener, won by Ithaca 28-27, but they won’t see each other again this fall with Fowler (6-2) in Division 8 and Ithaca (6-2) in Division 7. Beal City 49, LeRoy Pine River 6 The Aggies (8-0) finished their Highland Conference championship run with four shutouts in seven league games and giving up only 21 total in league play. Portland 49, Charlotte 7 The Raiders (8-0) capped another perfect run through the Capital Area Activities Association White, while Charlotte (4-4) will need to jump seven spots this week to make the Division 4 playoff bracket. 

Northern Lower Peninsula

HEADLINER Charlevoix 13, Boyne City 12 With both teams already done with league competition, this played like a playoff game as Charlevoix (8-0) moved within one more win of achieving a first perfect regular season since 1977 (not counting shortened 2020). The Rayders also had lost three of their previous four against the Ramblers (5-3), including last year’s matchup 45-21. Click for more from the Petoskey News-Review.

Watch list Harbor Springs 34, Oscoda 22 After three straight winless seasons, Harbor Springs is 4-4 with a chance for its winningest since 2019.

On the move Ogemaw Heights 34, Sanford Meridian 0 The Falcons (7-1) posted their second-straight shutout in downing Meridian (5-3) in this matchup of Jack Pine Conference division champions. East Jordan 25, Frankfort 14 East Jordan (5-3) is No. 19 on the Division 8 playoff list and Frankfort (5-3) is No. 23 after the Red Devils’ fourth-straight win in the series. Kingsley 63, Kalkaska 8 The Stags (6-2) prepped to face Charlevoix this week by scoring their most points this season and holding Kalkaska (5-3) to its fewest.

Southeast & Border

HEADLINER Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richad 44, Macomb Lutheran North 19 Matthew Hoban and James Milanovich both scored three touchdowns as FGR (8-0) finished a perfect run through the Catholic High School League Intersectional #1, ending Lutheran North’s two-year reign and also handing the Mustangs (7-1) their only loss. Click for more from the Ann Arbor News.

Watch list Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central 20, Monroe Jefferson 15 The Huron League finished play with three champions as the Falcons (7-1) bounced back from a Week 7 loss to Riverview to hand Jefferson (7-1) its lone defeat – giving all three a share of the title.

On the move Springport 35, Union City 34 The Spartans (8-0) capped a Big 8 Conference outright championship march by getting past second-place Union City (5-3) by the closest of margins, as a few points the other way would’ve meant a shared title. Michigan Center 46, Napoleon 14 These two faced off in a winner-take-all for the Cascades Conference East title, with the Cardinals (8-0) reversing the scenario from when Napoleon (5-3) won their matchup and the league in 2023. Jackson Lumen Christi 27, Traverse City St. Francis 12 No championship was on the line with this showdown, but this could end up the preview of a late-playoff Division 6 matchup as Lumen (5-3) sits No. 2 on that division’s list and St. Francis (6-2) is No. 11.

Southwest Corridor

HEADLINER Decatur 22, White Pigeon 14 Decatur’s first win over White Pigeon in three seasons gave the Raiders the outright championship in the Southwest 10 Conference – after White Pigeon defeated Decatur in a winner-take-all for last year’s title. They may meet again; Decatur (6-2) is No. 9 and White Pigeon (6-2) is No. 13 on the Division 8 playoff list. Click for more from the Kalamazoo Gazette.

Watch list Battle Creek Harper Creek 41, Marshall 22 The Beavers (7-1) clinched a share of the Interstate 8 Athletic Conference title and can claim the championship outright this week at Jackson Northwest. A perfect run through league play would be their first since 2017.

On the move Paw Paw 43, Three Rivers 0 The Red Wolves (5-3) have now won five straight after opening 0-3 against opponents that are a combined 22-2. Vicksburg 38, Edwardsburg 35 The Bulldogs (5-3) bounced back from a pair of tough losses to defeat Edwardsburg (6-2) for the first time since 2014. St. Joseph 37, Battle Creek Central 18 The Bears (5-3) have won five of their last six games and put Central in position as one of several 4-4 teams working for a playoff spot in Division 2.

Upper Peninsula

HEADLINER Menominee 49, Kingsford 14 Another hard-fought race in the Western Peninsula Athletic Conference Copper was decided as Menominee came up big in a winner-take-all after Kingsford (6-2) did the same versus the Maroons to clinch the outright title a year ago. Menominee (8-0) also remains in the hunt for its first perfect regular season since 2015. Click for more from the Iron Mountain Daily Reporter.

Watch list Marquette 21, Cadillac 12 The Sentinels (5-3) are sitting No. 27 on the Division 3 playoff list after a fourth win over their last five games – but with Kingsford up next to complete the regular season.

On the move Bark River-Harris 44, West Iron County 7 The Broncos (6-1) completed a perfect run through the West-PAC Iron and sit No. 12 on the Division 8 playoff list, with the Wykons (3-4) still holding out hope at No. 36. Negaunee 42, Houghton 6 The Miners (5-3) are holding at No. 26 on the Division 5 playoff list, with a tough home matchup with Iron Mountain this week. Calumet 46, Gladstone 3 Calumet (6-2) ended up third in the West-PAC Copper, its losses to the league leaders, but one more win will give the Copper Kings their most since 2021.

West Michigan

HEADLINER Hudsonville Unity Christian 42, Grand Rapids South Christian 14 When last these two met, South Christian (4-4) avenged a 50-21 regular-season loss by ending Unity’s 2024 season with a 35-28 District Semifinal defeat. They may meet again in these Division 4 playoffs as well – but at this moment, Unity (8-0) is the repeat Ottawa-Kent Conference Green outright champion. Click for more from the Grand Rapids Press.

Watch list Wyoming Godwin Heights 41, Wyoming Kelloggsville 22 A ninth-straight win over the rival Rockets (5-3) sent Godwin Heights (7-1) into one of the few remaining league championship games this weekend as the Wolverines will face Belding in a winner-take-all for the O-K Silver title.

On the move Kent City 24, Howard City Tri County 21 After surviving its closest game this season, Kent City (8-0) this week against Grant will pursue its first perfect regular season since 2017. Grand Rapids Catholic Central 35, Grand Rapids Northview 7 The Cougars (8-0) finished a perfect run through the O-K Black by avenging last season’s loss to Northview (5-3). Grand Rapids West Catholic 31, Ada Forest Hills Eastern 21 The Falcons have won 19 straight league games and now four straight league championships including two consecutive in the O-K Green.

8-Player

HEADLINER Blanchard Montabella 36, Merrill 26 Montabella (8-0) wrapped up a repeat championship in the Mid-State Activities Conference Blue by claiming this winner-take-all matchup, and can complete a first perfect regular season during the playoff era this week against Portland St. Patrick. Montabella also is No. 3 on the Division 1 playoff list, while Merrill (6-2) is tied for the No. 11 spot. Click for more from the Mount Pleasant Morning Sun.

Watch list Pittsford 52, Waldron 44 The Southern Central Athletic Association Blue title belongs to Pittsford after another winner-take-all matchup. The Wildcats (7-1) finished a second-straight perfect run through the league and handed Waldron (5-3) its only conference defeat.

On the move Powers North Central 38, Gogebic 34 The Jets (6-2) have swooped in to create a three-way tie for first in the Great Lakes Eight Conference West with the Miners (7-1) and Lake Linden-Hubbell and one league game left to play. Mendon 46, Climax-Scotts 20 The Hornets (8-0) won a winner-take-all in the SCAA Red, further avenging a 46-44 loss to Climax-Scotts last season that allowed the Panthers to do the same. Bridgman 44, New Buffalo 8 The Bees (7-1) handed the Bison (7-1) their only loss this season in claiming a winner-take-all for the Southwest Michigan 8-Man Football League title.

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PHOTO Grand Blanc quarterback Jake Morrow throws a pass Friday with a Davison rusher in pursuit. (Photo by Terry Lyons.)