Shores' QB Stands Tall During 2-0 Start
September 6, 2017
By Tom Kendra
Special for Second Half
Muskegon Mona Shores certainly has a scary offense, with Division I college receiving prospects on the edges, two powerful running backs and a much-improved offensive line.
If only the Sailors had a taller quarterback.
If seventh-year Mona Shores coach Matt Koziak had a nickel for every time he’s heard some variation of that statement, he’d be an extremely wealthy man.
“People who say things like that don’t know Tristan Robbins,” Koziak said of his 5-foot-10, 173-pound senior quarterback in his second year as the starter. “He is tough, he is fearless and he is a leader – the guys rally around him. We are very happy with our quarterback.”
Robbins has come up big in two impressive wins – completing 7 of 11 passes for 137 yards and rushing for another 47 yards in a 41-23 win over Canton at the University of Michigan on Aug. 26, then turning around and completing 7 of 13 passes for 129 yards, with 90 yards rushing, in a come-from-behind, 42-20 win at Zeeland West last week.
Robbins has the chance to prove the doubters wrong again this Friday, in the first of two blockbuster home games on the Mona Shores schedule this fall.
Rockford, the perennial Ottawa-Kent Conference Red powerhouse, comes to the lakeshore this week, led by 6-5 senior quarterback Jason Whittaker, who has committed to continue his career at Northwestern University. On Oct. 13, the Sailors welcome cross-town rival Muskegon, the winningest program in state history, which features a Division I quarterback of its own in 6-2 senior La’darius Jefferson, who has verbally committed to sign with Central Florida.
Robbins is ready to rise to the challenge.
“I just go out there and do what I can with what I’ve been given,” said Robbins, the middle child and only son of Brent and Jane Robbins. “Our offense has been doing great so far. Now we get a home game and it should be a huge crowd, and that will just add to the excitement.”
Robbins was thrust into the starting role in last year’s opening game as a junior after senior starter Drew Switzer broke his collarbone in the preseason scrimmage. Robbins threw four interceptions as the Sailors struggled to a 1-3 start, which ultimately kept them out of the playoffs for the first time in three years. But since that rough beginning, Robbins has thrown 13 TD passes without a single interception, leading Shores to six wins in its last seven games.
“He has grown more and more comfortable in his role,” explains Koziak, who led Shores to the Division 2 championship game in 2015. “We rely on our quarterbacks to make a lot of reads, before the play and during the play, and he’s done a great job.”
Robbins follows in the footsteps of two standout, pro-style quarterbacks in Tyree Jackson (6-7), who is now the starting quarterback at the University of Buffalo, and Tyler Trovinger (6-1), the starting shortstop on the Oakland University baseball team.
Koziak said Robbins makes up for his lack of size with a series of intangibles.
• First, Robbins is a 4.0 student whose intelligence pays dividends in a complicated offense.
Lining up almost exclusively in the pistol formation, Robbins triggers an offense which features a pair of Division I prospects at wideout in junior Damari Roberson (6-2, 190) and senior Keyshawn Summerville (6-0, 175). Charles Allen and Ke’Sean Sandifer are dangerous in the slot and senior Dee Davis and junior Sincere Dent have been a potent 1-2 punch in the backfield.
Who gets the ball on any given play depends largely on the position of the defense, explains Koziak, and the responsibility of reading the defense falls largely on Robbins.
• Second, he possesses incredible leadership skills.
Understand that Robbins is far from a prima donna quarterback; he’s a wrestler in the winter and played rugby for the first time last spring (“I loved it,” Robbins explained). He regularly inspires his teammates by lowering his shoulder and “laying it out” for his team.
• Third, and perhaps most importantly, what he lacks in size and/or pure athletic ability, he makes up for in an underrated category: grit.
Robbins’ true grit was on display at a critical moment of the Sailors’ victory at Zeeland West on Friday. Holding a slim 21-20 lead midway through the third quarter, Shores faced a crucial 4th-and-4 situation at the Zeeland West 16-yard line. After a timeout, Shores ran its outside veer, where Robbins had the ball with the choice of handing off to Dent, pitching wide to Allen or keeping it himself.
“The linebacker went right for (Dent) and I saw a little room and thought I could get it, so I kept it myself,” explained Robbins. “I was able to get around the corner and make it to the end zone.”
After opening the season with a 340-mile roundtrip to Ann Arbor and 88 miles back-and-forth to Zeeland last Friday, the unbeaten Sailors are expecting a packed house for their showdown with Rockford. This will be the fourth straight season the teams have played; the Rams hold a 2-1 edge in the recent series and won last year 37-23.
Adding to the excitement (and certainly the crowd size), Friday’s game will be the second “Sailor Salute” – a massive tribute to all of those who serve the country and their communities, complete with military responder vehicles, a U.S. Army Lakota Helicopter, 300 motorcycles, elementary students singing the national anthem on the field and even a pre-game performance by a U.S. Army rock band.
Robbins can’t wait to do his “small” part on what could be another huge night for the new-look Mona Shores football program, which made the playoffs for the first time since 2013 but has returned twice and posted four straight winning seasons.
“We do so much work and so much conditioning when no one else is around, which is no fun while you’re doing it, but it pays off on Friday nights,” said Robbins. “I can’t wait for 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) Muskegon Mona Shores quarterback Tristan Robbins finds a crease during his team’s Week 1 win over Canton. (Middle) Robbins drops back to pass during that victory. (Photos courtesy of Muskegon Mona Shores High School.)
1st & Goal: 2025 Playoffs Week 1 Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 30, 2025
The MHSAA begins its second half-century of football playoffs this weekend, the 51st aspiring to the same goal as our first in 1975 – to provide an unforgettable experience while celebrating Michigan’s best high school football teams.
A total of 288 will begin postseason play, with the 8-player brackets concluding in four weeks and the 11-player divisions cheering their champions in five.
To kick things off, there are 129 games scheduled for Friday and 15 for Saturday. Tickets to both District and Regional Semifinals this weekend cost $7 and can be purchased at GoFan.co. The majority of our playoff openers also will be broadcast and available to watch with subscription on the NFHS Network.
Below are glances at some of the most intriguing first-round matchups in each division:
11-Player Division 1
Davison (8-1) at Clarkston (8-1) WATCH
These two powers will meet in the playoffs for the first time since 2022, and the matchup will likely be one of the most attended this first weekend. Clarkston is coming off winning the Oakland Activities Association Red championship, with its only loss by just six points in Week 2 to still-undefeated Harper Woods. Davison’s loss also came to a still-unbeaten team, Grand Blanc, in Week 7 in what ended up the deciding game in the Saginaw Valley League South.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Brighton (6-3) at West Bloomfield (7-2) WATCH, Dearborn Fordson (7-2) at Farmington (7-2) WATCH, Macomb Dakota (6-3) vs. Utica (7-2) WATCH at Sterling Heights Stevenson.
11-Player Division 2
Traverse City Central (5-4) at Traverse City West (5-4) WATCH
Just a week ago, West won the annual Patriot Game matchup between these two at Thirlby Field in overtime, 21-20. They’ll return to the stadium they share for their first playoff meeting since 2017. The first round was decided in part by the Titans blocking Central’s overtime extra-point attempt, then following up with the tying touchdown and game-winning PAT. That ran West’s winning streak in the rivalry to three and pushed the Titans ahead of the Trojans in playoff-point average and into position to be the home team for this game.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY East Lansing (4-5) at White Lake Lakeland (7-2) WATCH, Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (5-4) at Walled Lake Western (7-2) WATCH, St. Clair Shores Lakeview (7-2) at Port Huron Northern (7-2) WATCH.
11-Player Division 3
Zeeland West (6-3) at Niles (9-0) WATCH
These two both ended last season at Ford Field, although a few things have changed since last Thanksgiving weekend. Zeeland West is the reigning Division 3 champion and under new leadership with Jeff Bolhouse taking over this season for retired John Shillito and taking the Dux back to the playoffs for the 16th-straight season. Niles finished last fall as Division 4 runner-up before moving into Division 3 this season and running its regular-season winning streak to 17.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Cedar Springs (8-1) at East Grand Rapids (7-2) WATCH, Zeeland East (6-3) at St. Joseph (5-4) WATCH, Linden (6-3) at Mason (5-4) WATCH. SATURDAY Marysville (7-2) at Port Huron (6-3) WATCH.
11-Player Division 4
Big Rapids (8-1) at Ludington (9-0)
Ludington will carry its first undefeated regular season since 1989 into a rematch of last season’s District Semifinal, won by Big Rapids 28-21. The Orioles have thrived on both sides of the ball, but it’s hard to not notice they’ve scored 40 or more points in all but one game, when they put up just 32. Big Rapids’ only loss came Week 8 against Coopersville, 38-28. But over its other eight games, the Cardinals allowed only 40 points total.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Redford Union (7-2) at Madison Heights Lamphere (6-3) WATCH, Grand Rapids South Christian (4-5) at Portland (9-0), Tecumseh (6-3) at Dearborn Divine Child (8-1) WATCH. SATURDAY Freeland (7-2) at Escanaba (8-1) WATCH.
11-Player Division 5
Detroit Denby (7-2) at Detroit Southeastern (6-3), Saturday
Denby will represent the best of its division of the Detroit Public School League after winning the Gold regular-season and city championships. Southeastern was among the leaders in the PSL Blue, tying for second thanks to a loss to Division 3 contender Martin Luther King, and all three of its regular-season defeats came to playoff qualifiers. Denby has won seven straight games (including a forfeit victory) since opening 0-2 with losses to playoff team Chelsea and Ohio power Garfield Heights.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Dowagiac (5-3) at Berrien Springs (5-2) WATCH, Flat Rock (6-3) at Monroe Jefferson (8-1), Armada (6-3) at Richmond (8-1) WATCH, Negaunee (6-3) at Ogemaw Heights (8-1) WATCH.
11-Player Division 6
Flint Elite (8-1) at Montrose (9-0) WATCH
Elite, a cooperative of Flint New Standard Academy and Burton Madison Academy, is in its sixth season and has qualified for the playoffs for the first time (not counting COVID-shortened 2020, when nearly all teams made the field). Elite also won the Genesee Area Conference title, with its only loss coming 20-16 to Genesee in Week 2. Facing Montrose – in the playoffs for the 16th-straight season – is definitely another opportunity for the Warriors to raise their profile. The Rams have given up 34 points all season and played only one game closer than two touchdowns.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Kent City (9-0) at Olivet (8-1) WATCH. SATURDAY Boyne City (6-3) at Traverse City St. Francis (6-2) WATCH, Calumet (7-2) at Kingsley (7-2) WATCH, Durand (7-2) at Flint Hamady (6-3) WATCH.
11-Player Division 7
Ottawa Lake Whiteford (8-1) at Clinton (7-2) WATCH
These two are meeting in a playoff opener for the second-straight season, with Clinton claiming last year’s 38-32. Whiteford moved this season to the Toledo Area Athletic Conference and won that league, while Clinton finished second in the Lenawee County Athletic Association to undefeated Hudson, which along with Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central provided the Redwolves’ losses. Whiteford’s defeat came to still-unbeaten Harbor Beach.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY McBain (7-2) at Charlevoix (8-1) WATCH, Ithaca (6-3) at Saginaw Valley Lutheran (9-0), Constantine (6-3) at Lawton (7-2) WATCH. SATURDAY Saranac (7-2) at North Muskegon (6-3) WATCH.
11-Player Division 8
White Pigeon (7-2) at Decatur (7-2)
Decatur secured the Southwest 10 Conference title this season with a six-point double-overtime win over Bronson in Week 2 and then an eight-point win over White Pigeon in Week 8. That was also the Raiders’ first win over White Pigeon since 2022, and this will be their first season with a playoff rematch since 2021. Decatur has won six games in a row, losing only to Lawton and still-undefeated Springport over the first three weeks. The Chiefs’ only other loss came to Bronson, and they bounced back from two straight defeats with a 46-20 win over Stockbridge last week.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary (6-3) at Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Central (7-2) WATCH, Fowler (6-3) at New Lothrop (6-3) WATCH, Auburn Hills Oakland Christian (5-4) at Madison Heights Madison (8-1), Frankfort (6-3) at East Jordan (6-3) WATCH.
8-Player Division 1
Pickford (7-1) at Indian River Inland Lakes (9-0) WATCH
This is a massive matchup for opening weekend of the postseason, and a rematch of one of last year’s Semifinals. Pickford won that 2024 meeting 34-18, going on to finish Division 1 runner-up with a two-point loss to Deckerville in the championship game. The Pirates’ only loss this season came against still-undefeated Norway, but no one else came close. Similarly, Inland Lakes’ closest game this fall was last week’s 27-point win over Gaylord St. Mary to clinch the Ski Valley Conference title.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Gogebic (8-1) at Norway (9-0) WATCH, Climax-Scotts (7-2) at Gobles (7-2) WATCH, Capac (7-2) at Brown City (7-2) WATCH.
8-Player Division 2
Morrice (8-1) at Deckerville (8-1), Saturday WATCH
The Eagles won the Division 1 title a year ago and 20 straight games before falling to Capac by eight points in Week 8. Morrice, meanwhile, also played at the Superior Dome to end last season, as the Division 2 runner-up. These two last met in a 2023 playoff opener – a 46-40 Deckerville win – and it’s difficult to forecast how this one will turn out as both defeated their one common opponent by a significant margin. Morrice’s only loss came to Portland St. Patrick, which is undefeated and could end up seeing the winner of this game in a Semifinal in two weeks.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Gaylord St. Mary (7-2) at Mio (8-1) WATCH, Pittsford (7-2) at Britton Deerfield (8-1) WATCH. SATURDAY Powers North Central (7-2) at Lake Linden-Hubbell (7-2) WATCH.
MHSAA.com's weekly “1st & Goal” previews and reviews are powered by MI Student Aid, a division within the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP). 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 scholarship and grant programs that help make college Accessible, Affordable and Attainable for you. Click to connect with MI Student Aid and find more information on Facebook and Twitter @mistudentaid.
PHOTO (Top) Ypsilanti’s Roshard Slater (8) breaks into the open during his team’s season-opening win over Okemos. (Photo by John Johnson.)