Perseverance Turns Into Possibilities During Cassopolis' Turnaround Season
By
Scott Hassinger
Special for MHSAA.com
November 3, 2026
CASSOPOLIS – Good times on Friday nights have returned to the Cassopolis football program.
A couple of years removed from canceling its final three games of the 2024 season because of injuries and a lack of experienced players to fill in, coach Jeremiah Lee and his Rangers have lots to celebrate heading into this offseason and 2027.
Cassopolis finished 8-2 this fall with a 54-12 Division 7 District Semifinal loss at Ravenna on Friday. But Lee's Rangers ended the regular season on an eight-game winning streak after suffering a 25-21 defeat in the opener to Southwest 10 Conference foe and Division 8 playoff qualifier Decatur.
With an experienced roster filled with several two-, three-, and four-year varsity letterwinners, Cassopolis rebounded from a 3-6 season in 2025 by outscoring opponents 451-161 this autumn and earning its first appearance in the postseason since 2021.
"Everything has come together for our kids and coaching staff. It's just a blessing to be able to end the season in the spot we are,” Lee said. “We don't take any of it for granted and try and take advantage of all these opportunities.
"Our physicality between last year and now has changed greatly. You could see that in our preseason scrimmage at Constantine and when we took Decatur down to the wire to open our schedule. That first game allowed our team to realize how good they could be, and they continued to tap into that every week.”
Senior quarterback Lucas Williams, a four-year starter, played a major part in Cassopolis' resurgence with his athleticism and leadership in the huddle. The Rangers ran a split-back and spread offensive look.
During the regular season, the 6-foot-2, 180-pound Williams completed 73-of-114 passing attempts with 27 touchdowns while adding 75 carries for 792 rushing yards and 14 TDS.
"This season has been great after some hard times with the cancelation of our season a couple years ago and the death of one of our teammates a year ago," Williams said, referring to Kollin Grover, who died from injuries sustained during a crash a few weeks before the start of the 2025 season. "We've stuck together through it all as one and have been driven to get stronger every day on the field and off it."
Williams, a standout and four-year all-league performer in basketball and baseball as well, broke Tyrese-Hunt Thompson's school record for total TDs (passing and rushing) in a single season with 41. Hunt-Thompson, one of the greatest all-around athletes in school history, went on to play football at Ferris State and North Texas State.
Williams credited his offensive line of junior Mason Boyer (6-6, 300), Conner Turnbow, Colt Bement, Cah'lil Warren, Micah Schuelke and others for his success behind center.
"I couldn't have done anything without their hard work and dedication up there. I couldn't have broke the TD record without those guys or my receivers Jamiere Pratt, Mason Nelson and Camdyn Gillam,” Williams said. “It was just an amazing feat to be able to do this with all of my teammates.”.
Lee stated athletes like Williams don't come around often.
"Lucas is a real special kid. He's matured a great deal and has become a really great teammate this season,” Lee said. “It's tough to be a quarterback with the beatings you take in there sometimes. He makes the game easier for everyone around him, and he's made leaps and bounds."
Senior tailback Elijah Wagoner (6-0, 185) rounded out a balanced Rangers' backfield with 60 carries for 581 yards rushing. "Elijah has been our guy to get those tough yards for us late in the game. He sticks his head in there and does what he has to do," Lee said.
Among Williams' top targets through the air were Pratt, his cousin and a junior this fall. Pratt (5-10, 143) had 26 receptions for 665 yards and 15 TDs. Williams’ brother Mason Nelson, a senior, added 28 catches for 535 yards and nine TDs.
Pratt, also a standout with his speed on special teams, returned three kickoffs for TDs (55, 75, 45 yards) and with an 80-yard punt return for a score. Nelson (6-0, 150) returned a punt 89 yards for another touchdown.
"It's pick your poison. Our receivers have been really good about sharing the load. When one of them has an off night, the others pick up the slack. They block well when we have to run the ball as well. Everyone realizes it’s about we not me," Lee said. "Any time Jamiere hits a seam on kickoff or punt returns, he has a chance to take it to the house. Our offensive line is a selfless unit as well."
Senior Lane Leach, a four-year starter at middle linebacker and on the Rangers' offensive line, has been the catalyst on a stingy defense with 103 tackles, two forced fumbles and a pair of fumble recoveries.
"I'm really good at reading the field, and I feel like I'm pretty physical on defense. Offensively, I just try to do my best to protect our quarterback," Leach said.
The Rangers were known as one of the quicker teams defensively in the SW10 and among schools in Southwestern Michigan. Lee also noted that unit’s versatility and ability to show multiple fronts, and the advantages of having so much speed on that side of the ball.
"We are pretty strong up front, especially on our defensive line. Our safeties and defensive backs have helped us contain opponents to just running the football. We all strive to do our jobs and just go out and execute," Leach added. "It really stunk having to cancel our season early two years ago. But we realized we had to be dedicated and put a lot of hard work in the offseason and had a strong year this fall."
Cassopolis ended the fall allowing just 16.1 points per contest. Wagoner added 59 tackles, one forced fumble and seven pancake blocks to the efforts on both sides of the ball.
"Having that previous varsity experience helped me a great deal this season knowing the plays and having a good connection with a phenomenal quarterback. Our greatest mentality this season has been our will to win and a strong belief in ourselves. It's been a pleasure to be on the field with these guys," Wagoner said. "We like to fly to the ball and hit you hard on defense and let you know we are there."
Mason Pike had 83 tackles, one interception and three fumble recoveries. Trevor Williamson added 78 tackles. Tyson West 44 tackles and 11.5 sacks, Easton Mitchell 56 tackles and one interception, and junior Conner Turnbow totaled 52 stops, two interceptions, one forced fumble and one recovery for the Rangers.
One of several two-way starters for the Rangers, Turnbow (6-0, 185) handled the center's duties as well as playing outside linebacker.
He’s among several players expected to return next fall; Cassopolis will graduate just four seniors off a 34-player roster.
"We've had some past struggles, but we stuck with it and this year we really put it together as a team. It was about loving one another and sticking with it,” Turnbow said. “We are more disciplined and locking down in the weight and film room. There's a lot of brotherhood, we are having fun and we come out expecting to win now.”
Scott Hassinger is a contributing sportswriter for Leader Publications and previously served as the sports editor for the Three Rivers Commercial-News from 1994-2022. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Berrien, Cass, St. Joseph and Branch counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Cassopolis senior quarterback Lucas Williams receives a necklace signifying his single-season school record for touchdowns. (Middle) Jamiere Pratt (1) returns a kickoff for a touchdown during a Week 9 win over Galesburg-Augusta. (Below) Conner Turnbow (55) recovers a fumble during that 49-18 victory. (Photos by Scott Hassinger.)
Drive for Detroit: Week 3 Preview
September 12, 2019
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Every football regular season there’s one week when it’s tough to tell heading in which matchups might eventually have the greatest impact on the season as a whole. That tough-to-forecast week then tends to end up as one of the most exciting of the entire fall.
This might be that week for 2019. There are some definite must-watch games across the state for Week 3 – but in a lot of places, we’re eager to see who emerges as leagues continue to get rolling and summer weather hangs on just a little bit longer.
Below are some pretty strong guesses at games you won’t want to miss from your part of Michigan. You’ll again be able to check out 20 games live on MHSAA.tv – including eight of the games listed below.
Games below are Friday unless noted. "Drive for Detroit" is sponsored by MI Student Aid.
Bay & Thumb
Flint Beecher (1-1) at Flint Hamady (2-0)
These neighbors have begun playing each other during the regular season again only recently, with Hamady winning both matchups as part of the Genesee Area Conference Blue schedule over the last two seasons. Hamady edged Beecher 24-18 in Week 3 last year on the way to winning the league title and both teams qualifying for the playoffs.
Keep an eye on these: FRIDAY Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary (2-0) at Saginaw Nouvel (2-0), Kalamazoo Central (1-1) at Flint Powers Catholic (2-0), Sandusky (1-1) at Ubly (2-0), Chesaning (2-0) at Montrose (2-0).
Greater Detroit
Rochester Adams (2-0) at Lake Orion (2-0)
The Dragons are one of the stories of the season so far, coming off back-to-back 0-2 starts the last two years with wins over highly-touted Lapeer and Southfield Arts & Technology to open this one. Lake Orion won those games by a combined score of 54-14, but faces another team that hasn’t gotten much attention – yet. Adams has outscored its first two opponents by a combined 91-31, with a 31-7 win last week over 2018 playoff qualifier Oxford.
Keep an eye on these: FRIDAY Detroit U-D Jesuit (2-0) at Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (2-0), Dearborn (1-1) at Belleville (2-0), Utica Eisenhower (1-1) at Clinton Township Chippewa Valley (2-0), Canton (1-1) at Plymouth (2-0).
Mid-Michigan
Clare (2-0) at Harrison (2-0)
The Jack Pine Conference title continues to go through Clare, which shared the championship with Roscommon last season after outright wins in 2016 and 2017 and four more during the first half of the decade. The Pioneers have lost only three league games this decade – including to Harrison in 2010 and 2015. The Hornets earned their first two wins this season by a combined 70 points, but Clare has to be happy too with a combined 62-point margin during its start that included an impressive 35-0 shutout of Alma in Week 1.
Keep an eye on these: FRIDAY Hartland (1-1) at Brighton (2-0), Fowlerville (2-0) at Williamston (2-0), Haslett (1-1) at Mason (2-0), Lake City (1-1) at Beal City (2-0).
Northern Lower Peninsula
Alcona (1-1) at Oscoda (2-0)
Alcona owns a 7-3 advantage since the teams began playing each other annually again in 2009, but Oscoda won 55-8 last season on the way to a North Star League title. The Owls offense found its stride last week against Coleman with a feat that is at least rare, if not unique – eight players combined to score 10 touchdowns, with Owen Franklin crossing the goal line three times and Andy Dault, Robert Host, Caleb Nagel, Gabe Kellstrom, Zach Ouillette, Gavin Lueck and Anthony Ward all scoring once (and quarterback Brayden Mallak making the MHSAA record book with five first-half TD passes).
Keep an eye on these: FRIDAY Ludington (2-0) at Manistee (2-0), Grayling (1-1) at Kingsley (2-0), Tawas (1-1) at Whittemore-Prescott (1-1). SATURDAY Holt (2-0) at Traverse City West (1-1).
Southeast & Border
Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central (2-0) at Milan (2-0)
This pair frequently of late has decided the Huron League title – although Milan last season followed up a 26-21 win over the Falcons with later losses to Riverview and eventual conference champion Grosse Ile. But these two look like the possible teams to beat again. Milan opened league play last week beating Grosse Ile 35-13, and St. Mary has nice wins over 2018 Division 7 runner-up Madison Heights Madison and Carleton Airport to start this fall.
Keep an eye on these: FRIDAY Coldwater (2-0) at Jackson Lumen Christi (2-0), Hillsdale (2-0) at Erie-Mason (2-0), Brooklyn Columbia Central (2-0) at Ida (1-1), Schoolcraft (2-0) at Ottawa Lake Whiteford (1-1).
Southwest Corridor
Portage Northern (2-0) at Portage Central (1-1)
These neighbors shared the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference West title last season, in part because of Central’s 21-20 win over Northern in Week 3. Northern earned a degree of revenge seven weeks later with a 35-7 win over Central in a Division 2 playoff opener and on the way to a District title. The Huskies got past a major league obstacle last week by edging Stevensville Lakeshore 14-6, but haven’t beaten Central during the regular season since 2012.
Keep an eye on these: FRIDAY Centreville (2-0) at Cassopolis (2-0), St. Joseph (2-0) at Mattawan (1-1), Paw Paw (2-0) at Plainwell (1-1), Kalamazoo United (0-2) at Berrien Springs (2-0).
Upper Peninsula
Calumet (2-0) at Ishpeming Westwood (1-1)
A number of contenders facing off immediately this season has put a focus on the Western Peninsula Athletic Conference Copper, and this week reigning champion Calumet will travel to take on 2018 runner-up Westwood. The Copper Kings won last year’s matchup 14-12 and then got past the Patriots 6-0 in a Division 6 playoff opener. But Westwood this time is trying to bounce back from last week’s 20-point loss to Iron Mountain, which has emerged as the possible Copper favorite this fall.
Keep an eye on these: FRIDAY Menominee (1-1) at Gladstone (2-0), Charlevoix (2-0) at St. Ignace (1-1), Ishpeming (2-0) at Norway (1-1), Marquette (0-2) at Sault Ste. Marie (2-0).
West Michigan
Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central (2-0) at Grandville (2-0)
This matchup features a pair of teams that have been impressive so far and have high hopes of moving up in tough conferences. Forest Hills Central was 5-5 a year ago and third in the Ottawa-Kent Conference White, but has beaten 2018 playoff teams Jenison and Holland West Ottawa to start and held both to seven points apiece. Grandville tied for fourth in the O-K Red last season and finished 4-5 overall despite a one-point Week 3 win over the Rangers. The Bulldogs have outscored their first two opponents by a combined 106-44, with a 39-point win over playoff regular East Lansing last week.
Keep an eye on these: FRIDAY East Grand Rapids (1-1) at Muskegon (2-0), Grand Rapids Catholic Central (1-1) at Zeeland East (2-0), Muskegon Reeths-Puffer (1-1) at Muskegon Mona Shores (2-0), Hamilton (2-0) at Byron Center (2-0).
8-Player
Pickford (2-0) at Powers North Central (2-0), Saturday
If nothing else, this matchup might feature the two best offenses in 8-player football this season – and might be pitting two teams that will be playing for MHSAA championships at the Superior Dome in two months. Reigning 8-player Division 1 runner-up Pickford has put up 106 points, against 34, over its two wins over playoff regulars Crystal Falls Forest Park and Engadine. North Central’s combined tally is 128-18 against two more annual powers, reigning 8-player Division 2 champion Rapid River and Cedarville.
Keep an eye on these: FRIDAY Pellston (2-0) at Au Gres-Sims (1-1), Bellevue (1-1) at Climax-Scotts (2-0), Battle Creek St. Philip (1-1) at Colon (2-0), Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (1-1) at Deckerville (2-0).
Second Half’s weekly “Drive for Detroit” previews are powered by MI Student Aid, a part of the Office of Postsecondary Financial Planning located within the Michigan Department of Treasury. MI Student Aid encourages students to pursue postsecondary education by providing access to student financial resources and information. MI Student Aid administers the state’s 529 college savings programs (MET/MESP), as well as scholarship and grant programs that help make college Accessible, Affordable and Attainable for you. Connect with MI Student Aid at www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid and find more information on Facebook and Twitter @mistudentaid.
PHOTO: A Newberry ball-carrier looks for an opening during last week’s 8-player 32-8 win over Stephenson. (Photo by Jeff Rochefort.)