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.)
1st & Goal: 2026 Week 1 Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
August 27, 2026
If recent numbers hold true this season, 33,000 Michigan high school football players are waking up this this week at the dawn of another season.
The most-played high school sport across the state kicks off again over these next few days, with 184 games tonight, 112 on Friday and six Saturday.
There will be showcases to enjoy, including the Amazon Prep Kickoff Classic at Wayne State, the Battle at the Big House at Michigan, and the Vehicle City Gridiron Classic at Flint’s Atwood Stadium. There are also two rematches of 2025 MHSAA Finals, and we highlight those below among our glances at top games from every region.
The great majority of varsity games are scheduled to be broadcast this weekend on the NFHS Network. Follow the MHSAA Scores page all weekend – and all season – for scores as they’re submitted.
Bay & Thumb
Goodrich (12-1) vs. Frankenmuth (10-2) at Michigan Stadium – Thursday
These two will meet at Michigan Stadium for the second time in four years as this opener continues to set a nice tone for two of the state’s most annually successful programs – the Eagles have reached double-digit wins six straight seasons, and Goodrich has done the same all of the last four. Frankenmuth has a 3-2 edge in this recent series, but Goodrich won last year’s matchup 17-14.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Harbor Beach (14-0) at Cass City (6-4), Belleville (7-3) at Grand Blanc (10-1), Detroit Country Day (4-5) at Saginaw Swan Valley (10-2). FRIDAY Saginaw Heritage (4-5) vs. Mount Pleasant (13-1) at Michigan Stadium.
Greater Detroit
Hudsonville Unity Christian (12-2) at Dearborn Divine Child (13-1) – Friday
This is a rematch of last season’s Division 4 Final, won by Divine Child 23-22 as the teams traded touchdowns and leads during the fourth quarter and the Falcons stopped a Unity two-point conversion try with 6:44 to play and then ran out most of the rest of the clock. That final quarter no doubt has stuck with both programs through the offseason, and this might be the most intriguing game statewide this weekend.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Central (8-3) at Allen Park Cabrini (11-2), Muskegon Mona Shores (5-5) at Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (11-2). FRIDAY Macomb Dakota (7-4) at Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (6-5), Jackson Lumen Christi (11-3) at Detroit Edison (9-3).
Mid-Michigan
DeWitt (14-0) vs. Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills (8-2) at Wayne State – Thursday
The reigning Division 3 Panthers are looking to extend a run that has seen them lose only once over the last two seasons, and after both of those teams ranked among the highest scoring in MHSAA history. DeWitt’s backfield will have some changes as it enters this Amazon Prep Kickoff Classic matchup, but expectations will be high again. Kenowa Hills is coming off a league title and will turn to Michigan prospect Lundon Hampton to again carry a significant offensive load.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Traverse City West (5-5) at Howell (9-2), Lansing Sexton (6-4) at Lansing Everett (5-5), Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (5-5) at Ithaca (8-4). FRIDAY North Muskegon (7-4) at Pewamo-Westphalia (11-1).
Northern Lower Peninsula
East Jordan (7-4) at Charlevoix (8-2) – Friday
These two took last season off from facing each other, but Charlevoix has won their last 10 matchups going back to 2014 and will look to kick things off in a big way again after winning their first eight games a year ago. Like the Rayders, East Jordan has made the playoffs every season this decade and would love to take major momentum into Northern Michigan Football Conference play, which lasts the rest of the regular season as the league is one division with eight league games this fall.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Croswell-Lexington (4-5) at Petoskey (5-4). FRIDAY Freeland (7-3) at Ogemaw Heights (11-2), Novi (3-6) at Traverse City Central (7-5), Mancelona (5-5) at Maple City Glen Lake (9-2).
Southeast & Border
Rockford (8-3) at Saline (10-2) – Friday
These two Division 1 powers will lock up on opening night for the second-straight season after Saline coach Kyle Short led the Hornets to a 37-28 opening win over his alma mater a year ago. Saline went on to reach the Regional Finals before falling to eventual Division 1 runner-up Detroit Cass Tech, while Rockford is coming off a run that ended with a District Final loss to rival Hudsonville.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Harper Woods (11-1) at Chelsea (9-2), Brighton (7-4) at Dexter (12-2). FRIDAY Hudson (13-1) at Hanover-Horton (9-3), Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central (8-3) at Ottawa Lake Whiteford (8-2).
Southwest Corridor
Kalamazoo United (9-3) at Constantine (6-4) – Thursday
These rivals are meeting after United won the Southwestern Athletic Conference Lakeshore and Constantine finished second a year ago, thanks to a Titans 34-7 win in Week 6. The SAC is playing as only one division this fall, with all nine games against league opponents, and this matchup could set an early tone in what should be a highly-competitive league race.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Jenison (4-6) at Kalamazoo Central (6-4), Caledonia (4-5) at Portage Northern (7-3), South Haven (5-4) at Lawton (8-3). FRIDAY McBain (8-3) at Edwardsburg (6-4).
Upper Peninsula
Escanaba (9-2) at Kingsford (7-4) – Thursday
A 21-18 win over Kingsford in last season’s opener no doubt helped propel Escanaba early on the way to its best finish since 2018, and was the program’s first win over the Flivvers since 2019. Although the longtime Great Northern Conference rivals now go separate ways for league play, this one could still end up playing out this season as a matchup among two of the best north of the Mackinac Bridge.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Negaunee (6-4) at Marquette (6-4), West Iron County (4-5) at L’Anse (5-5). FRIDAY Marinette, Wis. (6-4) at Menominee (14-0), Houghton (2-7) at Calumet (7-3).
West Michigan
East Grand Rapids (9-3) at Lowell (10-3) – Thursday
After arguably losing a little bit of its punch for a few seasons, this annual rivalry game will have a lot of eyes again with EGR coming off its winningest season since 2017 and Lowell its best since 2016. The Red Arrows won last year’s matchup 40-7, breaking the Pioneers’ previous three-year hold on the series.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Hudsonville (11-1) at Byron Center (7-4). FRIDAY Paw Paw (6-4) at Big Rapids (10-2), Zeeland West (8-4) at Cedar Springs (8-2), Grand Rapids West Catholic (13-1) at Grand Rapids Northview (5-4).
8-Player
Blanchard Montabella (11-2) at Martin (13-0) – Thursday
This is another 2025 championship game rematch, as Martin downed Montabella 52-8 in last season’s Division 1 Final. The Clippers have won three of the last four Division 1 titles, and despite graduating some significant playmakers return 1,000-yard rusher Seth Toris. Montabella also returns some of its best on both sides of the ball. The Mustangs plan to return to 11-player football in 2027, but will finish this run through 8-player with one of the most competitive early-season schedules all-time as they also take on reigning Division 2 champ Portland St. Patrick in Week 2.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Pittsford (7-3) at Britton Deerfield (9-2). FRIDAY Climax-Scotts (8-3) at Concord (5-4), Hillman (6-4) at Indian River Inland Lakes (9-1). SATURDAY Merrill (8-3) at Newberry (6-3).
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PHOTO The sun rises on the new stadium turf at Pewamo-Westphalia this summer. (Photo by James Pivarnik.)