Onekama Celebrates New Stadium, Legends Past with Eyes on Another Playoff Run
By
Tom Spencer
Special for MHSAA.com
October 23, 2026
Pretty much every player who has put on the Portagers football jersey over more than six decades of Onekama High School football knows the name Jim Taylor.
And if they didn’t know it before the team’s 52-8 win over Holton on Oct. 10, they do now.
The community of Onekama honored their former coach, celebrated the 50th anniversary of the only undefeated squad in the Portagers’ history and dedicated the district’s new football stadium during the win over Holton – which also helped keep Onekama’s playoff hopes alive this fall.
The Portagers enter this weekend’s regular-season finale at Merrill ranked No. 14 on the 8-Player Division 2 playoff-points list. The top 16 qualify for the postseason, which begins next week.
“We love our history and traditions – all of the generations have just supported each other and built it into what it is today,” said fourth-year coach Justin Sedelmaier. “The former coaches are still involved, mentoring me. … Coach Jim Hunter and Coach Jim Taylor … still coming and seeing and saying hi to the team and stuff every now and then. The ’76 team, a lot of them like Jerry Brown, are always around supporting us.”
Brown, the quarterback of the only Onekama team to finish undefeated, was the primary organizer of the reunion. He was on hand for the celebration, along with Hunter and Taylor, and was even more excited about honoring Taylor than he was about the reunion.
“The motivation behind it for me anyway, personally, was to throw as much light on our coaching staff, and most specifically, the head coach, Coach Taylor, who had such a huge impact on so many lives – mine for sure,” Brown said. “This was all about shining a light on Coach Taylor and his wife, Lora – what a team. She's been right there with him all the way, supporting him.”
Lora Tayler was the school’s cheerleading coach during the first decade of football at Onekama. She was also on hand for the Oct. 10 festivities.
Brown was one of 14 players in attendance to honor the 1976 team, which finished 8-0 and won the Northwest Conference title but did not qualify for the MHSAA Playoffs, which were in only their second year and included only four teams statewide per Class at that time. (Other Onekama teams have since finished perfect for the regular season but lost in the playoffs.)
Taylor started the football program in 1964 and served as head coach until 1988. During his time guiding Onekama, Taylor compiled a 124–58–3 record with only two losing seasons over 22 years. He returned to coaching as an assistant at Onekama from 1997-2008 and was inducted into the Michigan High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2005.
During Taylor’s early years, the Portagers played their home games at nearby Manistee High School while waiting for a home field of their own. The new stadium was built thanks to support of a successful 2024 bond proposal which also provided enhanced security technology, an updated gym, new playground equipment, pickleball courts, team rooms and a modernized press box.
The press box replaced the original built by students in a shop class at Onekama, including the grandfather of the current – and only fourth – coach in the Portagers’ history.
“The press box that just came down was built by the assistant coach, Mr. Foster's shop class, and my grandfather was part of that,” said Sedelmaier, who was the defensive coordinator for four years under John Neph, who with Taylor and Hunter has been the only other head coach Onekama varsity football. “The shop class built the press box and stuff on the first field and just finally now, 60 years later, we're able to make all these field upgrades. It's really been a vision for a long time, and something that I fought for, past players have fought for, the community fought for, and it's a vision that finally came together.”
Sedelmaier was a 2007 graduate of Onekama. Taylor was an assistant coach then. Sedelmaier’s grandfather, Phil Sedelmaier Sr., father Phil Sedelmaier, Jr. and uncle Todd Sedelmaier all played for Onekama during Taylor’s head coaching days.
Justin Sedelmaier has the Portagers primed for another playoff run. They are 6-2, a win tonight should guarantee them a spot in the playoffs and potentially an opportunity to host a game at the new stadium. A loss also won’t necessarily end the season for Onekama, which has reached the 8-Player Division 2 Semifinals the past two seasons. The Portagers’ strength of schedule is expected to boost their playoff chances, no matter the outcome in the regular-season finale.
Bennett Zeller leads the offense. The sophomore quarterback has completed 32 passes for 683 yards and eight touchdowns and picked up 762 yards and 12 touchdowns running the ball. His favorite target is junior Jason Sedelmaier, who has 11 catches for 260 yards and three touchdowns. The next rushing leader behind Bennett is Caleb Porter, also a junior, with five touchdowns while averaging 54 yards per game.
On the other side of the ball, Onekama is led once again by senior Ryan Hrachovina, an all-state defensive linemen last season. He has been credited 103.5 tackles this year – with 22 tackles for a loss and 18 sacks. He blocked a kick and ran it in for a touchdown earlier this fall. He’s also forced a fumble and recovered another.
Jason Sedelmaier also has been a big contributor defensively with 37 tackles, including four for a loss and one sack. He leads the team with 11 pass breakups and has an interception and a fumble recovery, along with a forced fumble.
The Portagers’ only loss last season came in a Division 2 Semifinal to Felch North Dickinson. Coach Sedelmaier is ready to build on the support of Onekama’s former players and coaches as his team prepares to make another run.
“To get to see them all coming back, wearing their replica jerseys and supporting us while we get a look back at some of the history and honoring that history was great for the kids to see,” Sedelmaier said. “That team was the first team to ever go undefeated in the regular season, and they're still the only team that's ever went the entire season total undefeated.”
Tom Spencer is a longtime MHSAA-registered basketball and soccer official, and former softball and baseball official, and he also has coached in the northern Lower Peninsula area. He previously has written for the Saginaw News, Bay County Sports Page and Midland Daily News. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Manistee, Wexford, Missaukee, Roscommon, Ogemaw, Iosco, Alcona, Oscoda, Crawford, Kalkaska, Grand Traverse, Benzie, Leelanau, Antrim, Otsego, Montmorency, Alpena, Presque Isle, Cheboygan, Charlevoix and Emmet counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Longtime Onekama coach Jim Taylor shakes hands with current players during the football program’s reunion and recognition night Oct. 10. (Middle) Ryan Hrachovina (25) works to get around a Holton blocker. (Below) Members of the 1976 Onekama team walk toward the field at the new stadium. (Photos by Meredith McNabb Photography.)
Drive for Detroit: Week 2 in Review
September 11, 2013
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The definition for "rivalry game" has grown pretty broad over the history of high school athletics.
Some are considered rivalry games based purely on the fact they've been played for years. Others have been around for only a few, but the competition has become so fierce that it's the first date circled when schedules are printed each fall. Both include the intensity, anticipation and excitement that generally bring a few more casual fans to the bleachers on Friday night.
Some of Michigan's best rivalry games are among the most notable results from Week 2.
West Michigan
Zeeland East 50, Zeeland West 44 (OT)
This is shaping up as one of the best football rivalries in the state, with three of the last four games decided by eight points or fewer and East — last season’s regular-season winner — then losing to West 46-0 in their playoff opener. East has the upper hand again between schools separated by mere yards. Click to read more from the Grand Rapids Press.
Also noted:
Muskegon 35, Grand Rapids Christian 13: This would’ve been the best game on the west side any other week with the reigning MHSAA Division 2 runner-up Big Reds (2-0) continuing to look impressive in knocking off the reigning Division 3 champ Christian (1-1) in their first matchup since 1994.
Comstock Park 39, Grand Rapids West Catholic 20: West Catholic (0-2) won the first five games of these teams’ recent series before Comstock Park (2-0) got on the board last week.
Hamilton 21, Coopersville 20: A blocked extra point saved this win for the Hawkeyes (1-1) while dropping the Broncos to 0-2.
Grand Rapids Catholic Central 16, Muskegon Catholic Central 13: These teams brought this series back last season after a seven-year break, and the Cougars (1-1) have won both while this time dropping the Crusaders to 0-2.
Greater Detroit
Detroit U-D Jesuit 28, Detroit Country Day 27 (OT)
In part because it plays in a Detroit Catholic League Central with Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, Detroit Catholic Central, Birmingham Brother Rice and Warren DeLaSalle, U-D Jesuit has had some tough seasons over the last decade; its last playoff appearance was in 2000. But this win over the reigning Division 4 runner-up Yellowjackets (0-2) made the Cubs 2-0 — equaling last season’s win total — and could be an indication of more to come. Click to read more from MLive Detroit.
Also noted:
Belleville 17, Chelsea 14: The Tigers (1-1) are seeking their first playoff berth since 2004, and beating annual qualifier Chelsea (0-2) is a great start.
Detroit Martin Luther King 6, Detroit East English 0 (2 OT): King (2-0) and East English (0-2) — formerly Crockett — are always two of the best teams in the city, and this might go down as the best regular-season game before the Public School League playoffs.
Farmington Hills Harrison 20, Rochester Adams 7: Harrison (2-0) made it four straight over Oakland Activities Association White rival Adams (1-1).
Plymouth 28, Milford 27: The Wildcats (2-0) came back from a two-touchdown deficit early in the third quarter to edge Milford (1-1).
Southwest and Border
Schoolcraft 37, Constantine 28
This was only the second week of nine on the Kalamazoo Valley Association schedule, but the league title could again be Schoolcraft’s to lose after this win over reigning Division 6 runner-up Constantine (1-1). A 47-yard touchdown pass after a Constantine turnover sealed the victory for the Eagles (2-0). Click to read more from the Kalamazoo Gazette.
Also noted:
Kalamazoo Central 23, Battle Creek Central 7: The 110th meeting in one of the nation’s longest football rivalries saw Kalamazoo Central (2-0) climb within 12 (47 wins to 59) of catching up to the Bearcats (1-1 this season) for the series lead. This game played for the Totem Pole traveling trophy dates to 1893.
St. Joseph 14, Battle Creek Harper Creek 9: After missing the playoffs for the first time in seven seasons in 2012, St. Joseph is 2-0 after handing a first loss to back-to-back MHSAA Semifinalist Harper Creek.
Mattawan 64, Marshall 34: The Wildcats (1-1) awakened on offense after scoring only once on opening night; Marshall also upped its offensive output by 20 despite falling to 0-2.
Plainwell 14, Three Rivers 7: They’re not in the same division of the Wolverine Conference anymore, but Plainwell (2-0) made it three straight over the Wildcats (1-1).
Lower Up North
Maple City Glen Lake 28, Charlevoix 0
A big win by Charlevoix (1-1) over St. Ignace on opening night made this one look like a potential nail-biter. But Glen Lake (2-0) made it three in a row and two straight shutouts over the Rayders, and this week starts its pursuit of a second straight Northwest Conference championship. Click to read more from the Petoskey News.
Also noted:
Boyne City 35, Kent City 14: After a tough opening-night loss to Glen Lake, Boyne City (1-1) bounced back against the Eagles (1-1).
Standish-Sterling 47, Gladwin 7: The Panthers (2-0) made it 10 straight over Gladwin after also beating the Flying G’s (1-1) in last season’s playoff opener.
Harbor Springs 40, Frankfort 12: The Rams (2-0) pulled within a win of last season’s total while dropping the Panthers to 1-1 as they try to make up for last year’s first playoff miss since 1994.
Traverse City West 21, West Branch Ogemaw Heights 8: The Titans (1-1) got a leg up by winning their Big North Conference opener while also avenging last season’s 56-39 loss to Ogemaw Heights (1-1).
Upper Peninsula
Houghton 26, Ishpeming Westwood 20 (2 OT)
Not only did Westwood (0-2) own two straight wins over Houghton before last weekend, but the Patriots won those games by a combined score of 70-0. They led again this time by two touchdowns early before the Gremlins (1-1) came back to claim their first victory this fall and pull within one more of equaling their victory total of all 2012. Click to read more from the Marquette Mining Journal.
Also noted:
Iron Mountain 27, Gwinn 8: Iron Mountain (1-1) bounced back from an opening-night loss; Gwinn (1-1), despite this loss, played the Mountaineers much closer than the last two seasons.
St. Ignace 26, Mancelona 20 (OT): After their first opening-night loss in four seasons, the Saints (1-1) bounced back while dropping Mancelona to 0-2 after the Ironmen lost just once in 2012.
Ishpeming 38, Manistique 0: The Hematites (2-0) have outscored their first two opponents, both 2012 playoff teams, by a combined 74-0. Have no fear Emeralds: You also started last fall 0-2 but made the postseason.
Powers North Central 14, Munising 12: Munising (0-2) no doubt is smarting after losing its first two games by a combined nine points, but the Jets surely are celebrating their second straight 2-0 start.
Mid-Michigan
Lansing Everett 48, Saginaw 14
Five Capital Area Activities Conference Blue teams left Greater Lansing for Week 2 games, but only the Vikings (2-0) returned with a victory. Everett’s offense has scored 83 points so far and looks even better than last season’s best effort in four seasons. Saginaw did struggle to keep up this time, but is 1-1 entering Saginaw Valley Association North play this week.
Bath 40, Fulton 22: For a Bees (1-1) team that hasn’t made the playoffs since 2000, a second straight win over traditionally powerful Fulton has to be encouraging. The Pirates (1-1) also are looking to climb back into the playoffs after missing in 2012.
Fowler 26, Laingsburg 12: This has been one the best Central Michigan Athletic Conference games for a decade; Fowler (1-1) enjoyed a nice bounce-back after a loss to Mendon on opening night, but the Wolfpack finds itself in a recently-rare 0-2 spot.
Beal City 48, Clare 0: This was expected to be much closer, but Beal City (2-0) might just be this strong. The Aggies have now outscored their first two opponents by a combined 109-0 while Clare is 0-2 again although it ended up 9-3 with the same start in 2012.
St. Johns 28, Dearborn 13: The Redwings (1-1) followed up a lackluster opening-night loss to Charlotte with an impressive win over a playoff regular in Dearborn (0-2).
Bay and Thumb
Essexville-Garber 25, Millington 6
The Saginaw News called this a “program-defining” win for Garber, and it might’ve been the team’s biggest in the Tri-Valley Conference East since also beating the Cardinals in 2009. The Dukes (2-0) broke a two-season playoff hiatus last fall, and this season could be league title contenders as well — although the Cardinals (1-1) certainly shouldn’t be expected to fall out of the mix. Click to read more from the Saginaw News.
Mount Pleasant 21, Flint Powers Catholic 14: The Oilers (1-1) had a rare struggle in 2012 and opened this fall with a loss to DeWitt, but got back on the right foot by beating recently powerful Powers (1-1).
Fenton 43, Adrian 7: The Tigers (2-0) continued to roll after a rivalry win over Linden in Week 1; Adrian fell to 1-1 but 0-2 versus Fenton over the last two seasons.
Flint Carman-Ainsworth 49, Saginaw Heritage 20: Carman-Ainsworth (2-0) enhanced its status as a Saginaw Valley South favorite by knocking off a solid Hawks team (1-1).
Richmond 28, Croswell-Lexington 21: The Pioneers (1-1) had beaten Richmond (1-1) in six straight including a second time last season during the playoffs.
Trophy Games
Each week the MHSAA highlights trophy games played across the state. One was mentioned above, and we also knew about this one heading into the weekend.
Promise Bowl Trophy: Jackson High and Lumen Christi began playing for this prize a year ago, and the Titans own both matchups so far. Final: Lumen Christi 43, Jackson 14.
PHOTO: Lansing Everett (white jerseys) improved to 2-0 with last week's win on the road against Saginaw High. (Click to see more from High School Sports Scene.)