#TBT: Gross Leads Beal City to Class D Title

November 27, 2019

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

On Friday, coach Brad Gross will bring Beal City to the Division 8 Football Final at Ford Field to take on Reading as the Aggies play for their first MHSAA title in this sport since 2009. 

But while this will be the Aggies' first championship game appearance since 2013 it won't be the first time Gross has led a Beal City team seeking football glory. 

In 1994, Gross quarterbacked the Aggies to a 35-14 Class D championship game win over Litchfield at the Pontiac Silverdome. He threw for 183 yards and two touchdown passes, both to Wes Wilson. 

Click to see the box score, and see below for highlights from the MHSAA's broadcast. 

#TBT: Reeths-Puffer Legends Born

November 30, 2017

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The “Legends of the Game” program returned to the MHSAA Football Finals this past weekend, as members of the 1992 Muskegon Reeths-Puffer football team and cheerleaders from that fall were honored at Ford Field.

The Rockets won the Class A championship game that season 21-18 over Walled Lake Western at the Pontiac Silverdome as Stacy Starr plucked a last-ditch downfield throw out of the air and raced into the end zone to finish one of the most well-known highlights in MHSAA Football Finals history.

The play included a pitch, then a handoff, then another pitch back to quarterback Geoff Zietlow, who threw toward the end zone. His pass was deflected and snagged by Starr, who raced the final yards for the 37-yard touchdown with 23 seconds to play.

Below is the video that introduced returning players and cheerleaders.

PHOTOS: (Top) Stacy Starr makes his way around defenders to score the game-winning touchdown at the 1992 Class A Final. (Middle) Members of the 1992 Reeths-Puffer football team and cheerleaders watch the Rockets' famous highlight as they are honored at Ford Field.