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'Patriot Game' Unites Traverse City Rivals

September 9, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Twenty years ago this fall, Traverse City Central and Traverse City West faced each other in varsity football for the first time as new communities created by the split of the former Traverse City High School.

As was inevitable, the resulting rivalry has become one of the state’s most competitive, with West holding a 12-7 edge in varsity football after winning the first four games of the new series. But an idea five years ago to make the game about more has given an entirely new meaning to the annual neighborly get-together. 

The “Patriot Game” was an idea first stoked by West football coach Tim Wooer, who suggested a military salute game in 2012 after the death of U.S. Marine Justin Hansen, who had been serving in Afghanistan and was one of Wooer’s players when the latter formerly coached at Kingsley.

Historic Thirlby Field was packed with 10,000 fans for that first Patriot Game, played Week 6 that fall. And it was just a start.

The Patriot Game has grown to also honor first responders, including police, fire and medical personnel, and for more reasons than football has become the game for the 3,000 students who attend either Central or West.

In their words, two of those students – Central senior Sarah Berry and West senior Dani Priest, the governors of their school’s respective student senates – explain why the Patriot Game has grown to mean so much, and also what it says about their communities.

Both Berry and Priest have attended all four Patriot Games, and of course will be on hand tonight after a full day of festivities at both schools. (Watch the game live with subscription on MHSAA.tv.) The game again is played at Thirlby, which is the shared home of Central and West as well as Traverse City St. Francis and has been hosting football games since 1896.

Priest: “My favorite memory of the Patriot Game was freshman year. Thirlby Field in itself is just a field where not many high school kids get to experience (that kind) of opportunity, because it an incredible thing that we share between the schools. The stands were completely filled, it was my first-ever high school football game, it was under the lights, it was 500+ kids from West, 500+ kids from Central. The whole community (went) back and forth, back and forth, the game was incredibly close and then West ended up winning (17-14). That was the only game since I’ve been in high school that we’ve won. The feeling after that was incredible especially because I was a freshman and it was new; there were no words. … Especially since our community is so intimate and small, that adds another component. No matter what, because we’re in the same conference, we’re going to play each other. But what is so important about the Patriot Game itself is the students are so involved in this game.”

As has become tradition, the student sections will wear patriotic colors – tonight, West will be a sea of Blue and Central of red. The schools hold various fundraisers, including selling T-shirts leading up to the game. Money raised this year will be donated to Veteran 2 Veteran, a local program that sets up mentors for veterans as they return to civilian life.

Berry: “Last year I helped to build a memorial at our field, so that was really special and really awesome to present that to the veterans who were at the game. This year, something that I think is going to be really special is we’re doing a thing called ‘Bucks for Vets.’ We’re going to bring all the student senators and run through the stands for two minutes and get all the donations from as many people as we can to go toward this organization. The organizations that we support every year are chosen through a council. I’ve been on the council for three years now and meeting with all of the organizations. They’re able to pitch to us why they need the money, where they’re going to use the money so it will affect veterans in the area, and we’re able to choose what organization – they all deserve money – but what organization needs the money. So all of the money from the game is going toward them and not just extra new special things.”

Classes began Tuesday, giving student officers at both schools limited time to drum up enthusiasm for today’s events – although there’s already ample buzz. Both schools will hold assemblies today. At Central, veterans and first responders will be welcomed in to tell some of their stories. At West, student leaders will hold more of a pep rally to make sure the entire student body, especially new classmates, know details for the night and why they should be there.

Berry: “We have an assembly every year right before the game where we honor all of our veterans and all of our first responders, and I think that really explains to (students) why it’s such a big deal. During that assembly, everyone is completely silent. They have so much respect. Our whole school still talks about how astounding that assembly was to thank all of them (last year), and I really think they know how much it means. It’s really hard not to be emotional about it during the assembly because we have families that come in and they lost a loved one in a war, and we have people who came back from combat a few years ago, so it’s really easy to understand how much it means to everyone. Normally, all of our other assemblies, people are rowdy, (but) this one assembly everyone has so much respect. It’s amazing. You always hear, ‘Oh yeah, the veterans are losing their lives in the war. They’re fighting for our country. They’re risking their lives.’ But to actually hear from someone who has experienced the death firsthand, it really opens your eyes.”

Both teams are 2-0, and this will be the first time they'll match up with perfect records. Both also are expected to contend in the Big North Conference; Central won the league title and West was third a year ago. But those teams make up only a part of what is, of course, an educational event. 

Priest: “What we learn from the Patriot Game is there’s so much more than just high school. There’s so much more than just a Central/West rivalry. There are people out there fighting for our country, and we all stand together. Both of our schools are at one place realizing there’s more than just us. We have to be thankful that we have the opportunity to be at this game, cheering on our teams.”

Berry: “People definitely learn a lot about respect. You definitely notice how much respect everyone has during the game, toward other people; it’s amazing. Definitely in past years, I’ve learned how much veterans do for us. And not only veterans, but the responders, police, everyone. It’s astounding. I guess I just wasn’t aware previously how much they really risk and how much they really do. That’s the main thing I learned, and I think a lot of people in the school could say the same thing. And you really learn a lot about your community as well. (The game) is sold out every single year. The student sections are covered in a sea of blue and red, and you just learn how much support can be given to our community.”

Ticket sales at the stadium gate begins at 2 p.m. Veterans, reservists, active military and first responders will be admitted free of charge through special entrances, and later student senators from both schools will camp out at the entrances to make sure no special guests are waiting in line when festivities begin. A motorcade of American Legion Riders, local motorcycle police and North Flight emergency medical transport personnel will ride into the stadium, and colors will be presented by member of the U.S. Coast Guard Color Guard and first responder Honor Guard.

As the West marching band plays, student senators from both schools will form a tunnel for veterans and first responders to walk through as they enter the field and then line up at the 50-yard line, where they will be greeted by both football teams.

After the playing of taps and a memorial announcement of names, the junior varsity football teams from both schools together will take hold of a giant American flag stretching sideline to sideline as the band plays the national anthem. There will then be a flyover before the coin toss and opening kickoff.   

Berry: “I think doing (the Patriot Game) with West makes it extremely special. Because not only do we have friends on the other side, but using the game in this way is extremely smart. We’re able to come together for a common cause, on common ground, in that we want to honor all these people and honor what they’ve done for us, and that really ties it all together. … I’ve been asked if I want more people to be in the student section from Central supporting the veterans or more people from West, but really, we want everyone there. We want everyone to do well. We want everyone to be able to thank everyone, and it’s just an extremely supportive thing. Of course we want to win, but win or lose, it’s a great experience.

Priest: “I think what makes it special with Central is honestly, we know these kids. We see them, we’re friends with them. The only thing that makes us different is we go to different schools. We live in the same town, we do the same things, in our free time we go to the same ski hills, we go to the same beaches, we go to the same restaurants, we see each other around town, we participate in the same social events. Seeing your friends and people that you care about as well, not only as your rival but you care about them, makes it so much better.”

An estimated 100-150 veterans and first responders attended the 2015 Patriot Game, and 150 or more are expected tonight with moderate temperatures and mostly clear skies expected. The schools are preparing for a crowd that could eclipse 8,000 fans total. 

Priest: “I know people who don’t have kids in high school. My neighbors, actually, have elementary school kids, and they’re like, ‘We’re coming to the game. We bought T-shirts.’ Because they just want to help out with the cause. It’s broadcast on the news, it’s on the radio, it’s everywhere. It just shows so much how no matter if it’s your school or if it’s your kids, people just want to get involved and they want to know how they can help.”   

Berry: “It explains so much about Traverse City’s personality and just how giving the entire community is, and accepting. Traverse City is such a special place in that everyone comes at you with open arms. Our community is so giving towards veterans. The hearts of everyone grow bigger during this game. Going there can definitely affect the way you view the city.

“There’s so much love in that stadium. And everyone wants to be there. It’s the event of Traverse City for the high schools. If you’re going to go to any of the games, I would tell you, you have to be at the Patriot Game.”

Click for more information from the Patriot Game website.

PHOTOS: (Top) Traverse City Central players shake hands with veterans before the first "Patriot Game" in 2012. (Top middle) Junior varsity players from Central and West hold the giant flag during last season's national anthem. (Middle) West players converge on a Central ball-carrier in front of a packed Thirly Field in 2015. (Below middle) A helicopter provides a fly-over as the Traverse City Central band takes the field. (Below) Students dress in blue and red in support of veterans and first responders saluted during the game. (Photos by Rick Sack/TC Rick Photo.)

A Livonia Franklin ball carrier finds an opening Friday against Temperance Bedford.

1st & Goal: 2022 Playoff Week 2 Review

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

November 7, 2022

Only 72 teams remain in this season’s MHSAA Football Playoffs. And several of them this weekend took advantage of opportunities to avenge past losses with District and Regional titles on the line.

MI Student AidMost were seeing rivals for the second time this season. Others were running into opponents they’ve faced in playoffs past – and a number of teams are moving on that were stopped the last time around.

Below is a glance at a number of those results as we move another step closer to 8-Player Finals at Northern Michigan University in two weeks and 11-Player Finals at Ford Field the weekend after that.

11-Player Division 1

HEADLINER Caledonia 14, Rockford 13 (2 OT) Only two weeks earlier, Caledonia fell to Rockford 38-15 with a league title and perfect regular season on the line. But the No. 8 Fighting Scots (10-1) avenged by handing the No. 3 Rams (10-1) their lone loss, clinched by Mason McKenzie’s 2-point conversion run on the game’s final play. Click for more from FOX 17.

District Digest Clarkston 49, Davison 40 The No. 5 Cardinals (9-2) got within two of the lead late, but No. 7 Clarkston (9-2) put away the win with Ethan Clark’s sixth touchdown of the game. Grand Ledge 21, Holt 20 The Comets (9-2) scored first and continued to hold Holt off until the end, the final defensive stand coming with just under two minutes to play to avenge a 14-6 Week 3 loss to the Rams (7-4). Macomb Dakota 17, Romeo 0 No. 2 Dakota (11-0) posted its third-straight shutout to finish a season sweep of Romeo (8-3) after also winning their Week 6 meeting 21-14.

11-Player Division 2

HEADLINER Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central 33, Muskegon Mona Shores 21 The No. 4 Rangers (11-0) avenged playoff losses to the No. 7 Sailors (8-3) from the last two seasons, rolling up 30+ points for the fifth straight game. FHC quarterback Justin Osterhouse starred throwing and running. Click for more from the Muskegon Chronicle.

District Digest Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse 49, St. Clair Shores Lakeview 7 Not only did L’Anse Creuse (7-4) avenge a 37-0 Week 6 loss to Lakeview (7-4), but the Lancers earned their first District title in doing so. East Lansing 34, Portage Northern 24 The Trojans (8-3) continued to bounce back from a two-game losing streak to end the regular-season, downing the Huskies (7-4) to clinch their third District title in six seasons. Midland 41, Waterford Mott 34 The No. 5 Chemics (10-1) earned their third District title in five seasons by holding off a Mott offense that scored a combined 200 points over its final four games in finishing 8-3.

11-Player Division 3

HEADLINER DeWitt 56, Mount Pleasant 49 (3 OT) This piled a season’s worth of nail-biters into one game, as No. 9 DeWitt (8-3) scored on the final play in regulation to force overtime, the teams traded scores through the first two extra sets of downs and the Panthers scored to start the third overtime and then held the No. 5 Oilers (9-2) scoreless. It was the second-straight season these two met in a District Final, with DeWitt also advancing in 2021. Click for more from the Lansing State Journal.

District Digest Trenton 17, Gibraltar Carlson 7 After Trenton’s 27-6 Week 4 loss to No. 10 Carlson eventually resulted in the two teams sharing the Downriver League title, the Trojans (10-1) nearly flipped the score to claim a District championship. Zeeland West 36, St. Joseph 18 The No. 6 Dux (10-1) also did some avenging after falling in a District opener last season to the No. 8 Bears (9-2), who hadn’t lost since Week 1. Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice 30, Walled Lake Western 22 Brother Rice reached 5-5 by holding off a Western attack that averaged 42 points per game entering the weekend. The District title was Rice’s second straight. Western ended 9-2 and was ranked No. 2 entering the postseason.

11-Player Division 4

HEADLINER Goodrich 10, Freeland 9 The No. 6 Falcons (8-3) carried a 9-0 lead into the fourth quarter. Goodrich made it 9-7 on a Jace Simerson run early in the final period, setting up an incredible series of moments over the final seconds as the Martians (10-1) blocked a Freeland punt attempt, the ball came to rest with two seconds to play, and Caden Kolanowski kicked the 25-yard game-winning field goal as time expired. See below for more from WJRT.

District Digest Riverview 53, Tecumseh 30 No. 3 Riverview (11-0) slowed down a Tecumseh offense averaging 51 points per game entering the weekend and posted its highest score of the season as well in a matchup of previously-undefeated teams. Tecumseh ended 10-1 and was ranked No. 7. Dearborn Divine Child 30, Livonia Clarenceville 24 (2 OT) The Falcons (9-2) needed a 2-point conversion to send the game to double overtime, and then stopped Clarenceville (6-5) to close out the District title win. Grand Rapids South Christian 35, Hudsonville Unity Christian 20 The No. 2 Sailors (11-0) won their third-straight District title, stopping Unity’s pursuit of a possible fourth in five seasons. The Crusaders, last season’s Division 4 runners-up, finished 6-5.

11-Player Division 5

HEADLINER Flint Hamady 33, Marine City 27 The Hawks (10-1), who were playing in Division 7 just six years ago, defeated a second league champion this playoffs to earn this Division 5 District title – the program’s second ever, but also second in five years to go with the championship won in Division 6 in 2018. Marine City (8-3) was last season’s Division 5 runner-up. See below for more from the D Zone.

District Digest Flat Rock 29, Romulus Summit Academy North 28 The Rams (8-3) earned their first District title with a comeback capped by a 23-yard game-winning field goal by Mitchell Smith with 15.5 seconds to play. Summit finished 8-3, tying its winningest season of 2019. Muskegon Oakridge 30, Belding 8 The No. 4 Eagles’ defense continued to shine, this time stopping a Belding offense averaging 43 points per game. Oakridge moved to 10-1, and the No. 6 Black Knights ended at 9-2. Portland 34, Corunna 28 The No. 10 Cavaliers (8-3) pulled within six of the lead with just under three minutes to play, but got no closer as No. 3 Portland (10-1) clinched its fourth District title in six seasons.

11-Player Division 6

HEADLINER Warren Michigan Collegiate 14, Madison Heights Bishop Foley 0 Last season’s Division 6 runner-up and current No. 4-ranked Michigan Collegiate (10-1) posted one of its most impressive defensive performances of the last two seasons in shutting out a Ventures offense averaging more than 39 points per game. Bishop Foley (10-1) closed its first season reaching double-digit wins and had entered the playoffs ranked No. 9. Click for more from the Macomb Daily.

District Digest Gladstone 36, Manistee 14 No. 10 (tied) Gladstone (9-2) not only claimed its first District title since 2008, but earned a chance to avenge a Week 7 loss to No. 3 Negaunee this week. Manistee started 3-3 but closed at 7-4 for its winningest season since 2018. Millington 14, Standish-Sterling 12 Both defenses impressed, but Millington (10-1) made some crunch-time stops in avenging a 28-24 loss to the No. 10 (tied) Panthers (8-2) in Week 5. Grand Rapids West Catholic 50, Constantine 24 Top-ranked West Catholic (10-1) reached 50 points for the second time this season and held No. 8 Constantine (9-2) to almost half of its 47 ppg average entering the weekend.

11-Player Division 7

HEADLINER Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central 36, Detroit Central 28 The Falcons (6-5) handed top-ranked Central (10-1) its lone loss to clinch their fourth District title in six seasons. The Trail Blazers were giving up only 4.7 points per game entering the weekend, but St. Mary was able to build a lead and hold on to down a second undefeated opponent over the last three weeks. Click for more from the Monroe News.

District Digest Jackson Lumen Christi 35, Hudson 0 The No. 4 Titans (8-3) shut out a Hudson offense that was averaging 38 points per game, making the No. 3 Tigers (9-2) the sixth of their last seven opponents to score seven points or fewer. Lawton 35, Schoolcraft 21 Last season’s Division 7 runner-up and current No. 10-ranked Lawton (9-2) finished a season sweep of Schoolcraft (7-4) after also defeating the Eagles 49-14 in Week 7 to decide the Southwestern Athletic Conference Valley title. Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker 28, Montrose 14 No. 6 Laker (10-1) finished a repeat District title run and reached double-digit wins for the first time since 2017, ending Montrose’s season at 7-4.

11-Player Division 8

HEADLINER Fowler 28, Beal City 27 The No. 8 Eagles handed No. 3 Beal City its only loss of the season, in doing so clinching its second District title in four seasons. Fowler scored the most points the Aggies (10-1) gave up this fall and came back after trailing by a score at halftime. Click for more from the Lansing State Journal.

District Digest White Pigeon 34, Reading 20 After avenging a Week 5 loss to No. 10 (tied) Centreville to open the playoffs, White Pigeon (8-3) did the same in this District title matchup after losing the No. 9 Reading 33-14 in their season opener. Clarkston Everest Collegiate 42, Marine City Cardinal Mooney 21 The Mountaineers (8-3) avenged a league-title deciding loss, having fallen to No. 10 (tied) Cardinal Mooney 15-8 in Week 6. The District title was Everest’s third straight. Ubly 49, Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary 14 The top-ranked Bearcats (11-0) earned their fourth-straight District title by limiting an MLS offense averaging 45 ppg entering the weekend. At 9-2, the No. 5 Cardinals finished their winningest season since 2016.

A Grand Ledge receiver hauls in a pass against Holt.

8-Player Division 1

HEADLINER Martin 56, Adrian Lenawee Christian 14 There will be a new Division 1 champion this month, as No. 3 Martin (9-2) ended No. 8 Lenawee Christian’s opportunity to extend a two-season reign. A year ago, the Cougars defeated Martin 36-14 in a Semifinal. But the Clippers found their stride on both sides of the ball in this Regional title game, with the 56 points the most Lenawee Christian (8-3) has given up in a game since switching to 8-player in 2020. Click for more from FOX 17.

Regional Roundup Munising 36, Newberry 22 This matchup was decided by 14 points for the second time this season, but with much more scoring than in the top-ranked Mustangs’ 14-0 win in Week 2. Munising improved to 11-0, while No. 6 Newberry ended 9-2 and its winningest season since 2004. Merrill 68, Breckenridge 28 The No. 2 Vandals (11-0) have won all of their games by at least 22 points this season, that closest win coming over Breckenridge (8-3) in Week 2 before nearly doubling up the margin in this rematch. Brown City 52, Deckerville 6 The No. 9 Green Devils’ 8-player debut almost couldn’t be going better. Brown City (10-1) claimed its first Regional title since 1997, in the process earning an opportunity to avenge its lone loss to Martin. Deckerville, surging at the end with a four-game winning streak, ended at 7-4.

8-Player Division 2

HEADLINER Mendon 46, Colon 44 These neighbors met for the first time in 8-player football, and with the kind of finish hoped for with a long-anticipated matchup. Mendon took the lead after a fourth-down conversion set up Jack McCaw’s go-ahead scoring run with 3:39 to play. The No. 7 Hornets held on to hand No. 2 Colon (10-1) its only defeat and will play in their first Semifinal since 2017. Click for more from the Sturgis Journal.  

Regional Roundup Powers North Central 45, Lake Linden-Hubbell 6 The top-ranked Jets (11-0) finished a season sweep of the Lakes (7-4) and ran their three-year winning streak to 35. Marion 14, Gaylord St. Mary 0 The No. 4 Eagles (11-0) are headed to the Semifinals for the third-straight season and have yet to give up a point in the playoffs. No. 10 St. Mary finished its winningest season since 2017 at 8-3. Morrice 34, Au Gres-Sims 14 The No. 9 Orioles piled up 409 yards including 386 on the ground and came back from an early deficit to win their first Regional title since 2019. The No. 6 Wolverines finished 7-2, their only other defeat in Week 2.

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PHOTOS (Top) A Livonia Franklin ball carrier finds an opening Friday against Temperance Bedford. (Middle) A Grand Ledge receiver hauls in a pass against Holt. (Photos by Douglas Bargerstock and Michele Hoffman, respectively.)