Veteran Ishpeming Takes Back D7 Title
November 28, 2015
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
DETROIT – Michigan high school football players, if they’re most fortunate and their teams uncommonly successful, can play up to 20 playoff games during their careers.
Saturday morning at Ford Field, Ishpeming seniors Ozzy Corp and Thomas Finegan joined that exclusive club. And with membership came a few lessons available to those who have experienced two MHSAA championships and a runner-up finish.
Don’t get frazzled when trailing by two touchdowns early. Don’t be fazed when a record-setting running back is galloping at you play after play after play.
And above all else, don’t forget a game has two halves – and their team tends to own the second one.
Despite trailing into the fourth quarter and failing to slow Pewamo-Westphalia’s Jared Smith over the first two, the Hematites stayed calm – and came back for a 22-16 win to clinch their third Division 7 championship in four seasons.
“We’re a second-half team. In the fourth quarter, we get tired, but we know how to fight through it, and I feel like that’s our advantage,” said Corp, the team’s starting quarterback the last two seasons. “We know how to face adversity. When things don’t step our way, we know how to fight back and stand right back up.”
This Ishpeming four-season has run included championship game wins twice over Detroit Loyola and now P-W, to go with a loss to Loyola in last season’s MHSAA Final. The Hematites were a combined 13-0 this fall and 52-2 over the last four seasons, losing only to Loyola last year and rival Negaunee midway through 2012.
Those are some incredibly impressive numbers – and would have been only a little less impressive if the numbers from Saturday’s first half would’ve stood up over the entire game.
Pewamo-Westphalia junior running back Jared Smith, who finished this season with single-season records of 3,245 yards and 53 touchdowns rushing, had 112 and his lone score by halftime as the Pirates (13-1) held on to a 16-6 lead after scoring the game’s first two touchdowns and running 20 of the first 27 offensive plays. P-W’s first possession ended with a turnover on downs at Ishpeming’s 1-yard line after senior defensive end Luke Kuliu came up with a goal line stop.
“We didn’t have an answer,” Ishpeming coach Jeff Olson said of Smith. “We worked hard at stopping the cut back, and he got the cut back. We worked hard on stopping him from getting the outside; he got the outside. When he gets one on one, he’s extremely difficult to tackle.”
But not impossible to stop after all, as Ishpeming showed during the second half.
The Hematites picked up momentum with a 13-play drive that took up half of the second quarter before Corp scored his team’s first points with 2:41 to go in the second quarter. They carried it through the third quarter as both teams resorted to ramming their best runner back and forth against each other – Smith at times taking direct snaps for P-W and Corp blasting ahead from the shotgun for Ishpeming.
But the results were sharply different from the first half. Ishpeming gained 135 of its 211 yards during the third and fourth quarters as Corp added touchdown runs seven minutes into the second half and with 3:52 to play – the final score coming after a drive of 14 plays over nearly 8 minutes.
P-W managed only three first downs and 43 yards over the final two quarters, as Smith was contained to 37 yards rushing on eight carries. Ishpeming held onto the ball for 15 minutes and 19 seconds total in the second half to the Pirates’ 8:41 – controlling tempo a lot like P-W during the first quarter and a half.
“Because it’s our gameplan too,” Olson said. “When you’ve got two teams, something’s gotta budge.
“In the first half they were winning the line of scrimmage. I think we threw a couple of passes to try to loosen them up a little bit, back them up. But I think we did wear them down. I could see them breathing hard in the fourth quarter, definitely that last drive.”
P-W did have one chance to tie after taking over the ball at the 50 with 3:42 to play. The Pirates drove to Ishpeming’s 32-yard line, but with less than a minute remaining had to go to the pass for only the fourth and fifth times on the day. Both were incomplete – the last knocked away like a basketball blocked shot in front of the end zone by the 6-foot-5 Corp.
He ran 32 times for 128 yards and three scores after gaining only 33 yards on the ground during the first half. He also completed 6 of 11 passes for 77 yards and led the defense with 10 tackles. Senior defensive back Nick Comment had nine tackles.
P-W sophomore quarterback Jimmy Lehman did connect on a 50-yard touchdown pass to sophomore tight end Bryce Thelen during the first half. Senior linebacker Nate Jandernoa led the Pirates with nine tackles as they made their second appearance at Ford Field to go with a runner-up finish in Division 7 in 2011.
P-W will graduate seniors who filled only seven starting positions Saturday. A large group of expected returnees will play to get back to Detroit to take advantage of the knowledge they gained facing the most experienced tournament team in the state.
“It’s big for us to come in here, for our guys to get a look at what it’s like,” Smith said. “We’ve got a lot of guys coming back next year, so hopefully we’re coming right back with experience. We played a pretty good game, but next year we’ll know exactly what to expect.”
The MHSAA Football Finals are sponsored by the Michigan National Guard.
PHOTOS: (Top) Ishpeming quarterback Ozzy Corp reaches across the goal line for one of his three touchdowns Saturday. (Middle) Ishpeming running back Isaac Olson charges ahead through an opening in the Pewamo-Westphalia defense.
After Reaching Historic Heights, Niles Eager to Continue Climb Under Shaw
By
Scott Hassinger
Special for MHSAA.com
September 9, 2025
NILES – Scot Shaw admits he was just looking to have a little fun when he accepted Matt Brawley's offer five years ago to become the new football coach at Niles.
But anyone aware of his past success knew it wouldn't take long for Shaw – a member of the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association's Hall of Fame – to affect change in the culture of the Niles program.
Shaw, a former head coach at Elkhart Memorial, Ind., from 2015-2019, returned to the sidelines after sitting out 2020 during COVID-19.
Prior to Shaw's arrival, Niles hadn't had a winning season since 2014. Following six consecutive sub-.500 finishes, Niles compiled a 5-4 mark in Shaw's first season as several underclassmen played key roles and set the Vikings up for future success.
Not counting the shortened 200 season – when all schools were playoff eligible – Niles secured its first postseason berth since 2003 and went 6-5 in Shaw's second season, losing 24-17 in a Division 4 District Final to Edwardsburg. The Vikings improved to 10-2 in 2023, losing a heartbreaking 21-14 Regional decision to Portland but winning the first of now two straight Wolverine Conference titles.
Their hard work came to further fruition last fall as they finished 12-2 and secured league, District and Regional tiles, the latter by avenging the 2023 loss to Portland 37-34. Niles then doubled up perennial state power Grand Rapids South Christian 62-30 in a Semifinal at Armstrong Field in Three Rivers before falling to Goodrich a week later in the Division 4 championship game at Ford Field, 35-6.
Shaw is 35-13 at Niles with a career win-loss record of 246-120.
"When I got here, I was coming off a one-year retirement. I just wanted to have some fun and run a different offense. My son Kyle is an assistant coach at Mishawaka (Ind.), and they run the flexbone," Shaw said. "Coming in … I don't think the expectations were that high, so as a coaching staff you think about what you can do to improve things. So at least in my past experience, we've always been pretty good and have had high expectations. We changed the culture here at Niles by asking our players to come to practice, do the best they can every day and be more physical than the people we play. So far those three principles have worked out well and put this program where it is now."
Shaw used the 2024 home playoff win over Portland to describe how everything has come full circle.
"In that game we were ahead of Portland, then gave the lead up and we could've given up. But we came back and scored in the last few seconds to win in the Regional Finals,” Shaw said. “Having a belief that you can win despite all odds is a huge thing now and instilled in our kids. They don't doubt themselves or each other any longer.”
Niles outscored opponents 535-160 in 2024, posting six shutouts. The Vikings averaged 38.2 points per game while allowing just 11.4 per contest.
Freshman quarterback Will Turnbull now controls the Vikings' flexbone attack following the graduation of Talen Bennett. So far, Turnbull has met the challenge by completing 10-of-27 passes for 117 yards and one TD with three interceptions. He's also run for a pair of TDs.
"The quarterbacks we've had so far at Niles have been very intelligent, smart and very good at reading opposing defenses. Will is an excellent athlete who throws the ball well and is a little water bug when he runs it. He's been able to pick up our offense pretty quickly," Shaw said.
Niles also graduated 1,000-yard rusher Sam Rucker, but sophomore Brandon Walsh has stepped up at that spot with 63 carries for 303 yards and four TDs. Anderson also handles some of the rushing load, along with Elijah Norris, who had 23 touches for 120 yards during a 16-0 Week 2 win over Stevensville Lakeshore – Niles’ first victory on Lakeshore’s home field.
Junior wideout Max Rucker, along with senior tight end Brenden Olsen, are two other key ingredients on both sides of the ball for Niles.
Olsen (6-foot-7, 180 pounds) is also a standout basketball and baseball player for Niles who recently received a Division I baseball scholarship off from the University of Houston.
"It’s been a wonderful experience playing football with several cool guys and a great coaching staff. They key is just showing up every day ready to work and getting better,” Olsen said. "Our state finals loss just showed that we need to dig deeper and prepare better for teams like that down the road.
“Building good chemistry with the new guys has been easy because we have so many returners. My goals are to be more of a leader and be more involved in plays this season."
Senior all-staters Chase Brawley (6-1, 280) and Brandon Hamilton (5-11, 245) both return on the Vikings' offensive line. Knee injuries to both Hamilton and senior Trenton Scott (6-2, 280) kept them on the sidelines during the Vikings' push through the end of the 2024 regular season and playoffs. Evan Williams (5-10, 200) is another key part of the Vikings' blocking group, and junior kicker Ben Bruckner is another returning offensive weapon.
"Getting to state last year really motivated us to prepare well for this season,” Brawley said. “The experience I gained playing varsity these last three years has been invaluable. Our team motto this season is 'All In,' so we just have to remain focused to attain our goals."
Perhaps no one was more motivated to get back on the field than Hamilton, who was sidelined with that injury after Week 6.
"Last year I learned it takes all 11 guys to win a football game. Coaching from the sidelines really taught me a great deal,” Hamilton said. “I'm playing right guard and outside linebacker. We have four out of our five offensive linemen back, so we are experienced. Defensively we can fly to the ball, and we have some dudes who can really hit. That's exciting.”
Cheney, Jayelin Vawter, RJ Fielder, Bryce Zache, Malachi Burris, Rucker and Bradley Wolverton are among the team's top tacklers so far.
"It takes everyone on the team to make a big difference. The main thing we have to remember is it’s a new year,” Cheney said. “Last year's achievements don't matter, but it prepared us well for any success we have this time around."
Cheney, a senior, anchors the Niles' defense after earning all-state honors as a junior. Freshman Vaughn Ausmus also has seen time at linebacker. Other returning starters on the Vikings' defensive front include Fielder, Burris and Bryce Young.
Niles' defensive secondary will be anchored by Olsen, Rucker and Anderson.
"We have a lot of good kids coming back defensively, and the kids who are stepping up to fill in different spots realize what their responsibilities are and they have become part of our rotation," Shaw said.
Many successful stops
Shaw is a 1975 graduate of Mishawaka, where he played basketball for legendary coach Marvin Wood. Shaw also lettered in football and received the prestigious Phil Askew Mental Health Award his sophomore year at the 1973 Indiana state football finals. He then attended and played football at Butler University, earning all-Pioneer Football Conference honors in 1978 and 1979 and serving as senior captain.
From 1979-1986, Shaw taught social studies and physical education at Concord High School (Ind.) serving as an assistant coach in football, wrestling and baseball. He served as Three Rivers' varsity football coach from 1986-2004, leading that team to the MHSAA Playoffs 15 times and the Division 4 title in 2003. Shaw also served as the Wildcats' head boys track & field coach, leading them to 2000 and 2002 MITCA team championships.
Shaw then served as Grandville's head football coach from 2005-2010, leading the Bulldogs to two Ottawa-Kent Conference Red titles and two playoff appearances. He was an assistant coach at Hope College for three seasons, then served a one-year stint in 2014 as the head coach at Wayne High School in Fort Wayne, Ind., where the Generals went 9-2, won the Summitt Conference and made it to the third round of the state playoffs.
He moved on to coach four seasons at Elkhart Memorial before the school consolidated with Elkhart Central. After the one-year coaching hiatus in 2020, he took over at Niles.
Brawley, who was hired as the school's athletic director just three days before Shaw, remembers football participation nearly doubling after Shaw and his staff took over.
"Basically, Scot had only a month to put together his coaching staff and prepare the kids that first season. I accompanied the coaching staff to a three-day coaches clinic down south at Harding University. Scot is very detailed, and I remember he filled several notebooks with notes on running the Flexbone offense," Brawley recalled.
"Scot relates very well to his players and has a special knack for being able to motivate them with positive words, and he understands that kids have more going on in their life besides football. We couldn't ask for a better situation. Scot does a great job of mentoring his coaches, getting kids into the weight room. It’s truly amazing what Scot and his coaching staff have been able to do here at Niles in such a short time."
Shaw has been successful in building Niles' program in much the same manner that he developed Three Rivers into a perennial conference and state power.
"It's my sincere belief that kids want to be successful, be good and to win,” Shaw said. “It’s not enough to want to do it, but they must be taught how to do so. You are off to a great start if you have that belief that you can win, do the things that are required of you to win and then carry that out with a tremendous work ethic. The next step is to develop that talent, and it’s easier if you have the right attitude. I've been very fortunate to be able to mold attitude, a strong work ethic and a team-first attitude in building this program.”
Shaw's current group of players closely resemble some of the teams he had years ago at Three Rivers. This year’s Niles team features big, strong, physical and athletic athletes with quickness who succeed because of an extraordinary work ethic.
Niles' school enrollment increase pushed the Vikings into Division 3 this fall. They quickly have proved they belong with victories over St. Joseph (28-18) and Lakeshore (16-0). Niles could very well see either one of them again come playoff time.
"Bumping up to D3 is going to be another challenge, but it also means we're going to see some different teams in the playoffs. The community is going to expect the same type of results,” Shaw said. “As a team, we have to be able to carry on that tradition with the same type of attitude and commitment to excellence that we preach every day. You have to do that in each step along the way, and if you're lucky enough to make the playoffs then you have to be able to do whatever you can to earn yourself another Monday.”
Shaw's coaching staff includes Kyle Mikel, Dan Brawley, Dave Landon, Austin Weber, Lonnie Jones, Thane Typer, Zach Fillwock, Joel Brawley, Scott Swanson, Shane Brown and Chase Andres.
"I’m really happy with our coaching staff. They are very dedicated and they work hard during the offseason in the weight room, attending clinics, and they are very knowledgeable at the positions they coach,” Shaw said. “When we got here, we had a hard time getting coaches because of previous results. But now we have a loyalty to the guys who have helped build this while we were going through the growing pains. I had been there before at the Finals, and last year it was fun to gauge the excitement our other coaches felt.”
Honoring a community icon
Niles held its annual community-wide pep rally Sunday, Aug. 17 where all 2025 Vikings fall sports teams were introduced and long-time Niles' No. 1 fan Johnny Morrison was honored for his years of support of the athletic program. Hundreds of people attending the event wore Gold T-shirts with the words "Johnny Morrison Vikings' Legend" across the front.
"Johnny is one of the most outstanding human beings I've ever been around in my life. When you see him, he always is eager to talk about our coaching staff or our athletes. He has the biggest heart in the world," Brawley said.
Morrison, who has Down syndrome, has served as manager on the sidelines for the Vikings' football, basketball and baseball teams since 1986.
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) Niles senior tailback Alex Anderson scores a touchdown during last season's 62-30 Semifinal win over Grand Rapids South Christian at Armstrong Field in Three Rivers. (2) Fifth-year Niles head coach Scot Shaw, third from left, is pictured with seniors Chase Brawley (71), Brandon Hamilton (78), Brenden Olsen (3) and Ward Cheney (5). (3) Members of the Niles cheerleading squad and student body get the crowd pumped up and showing their school spirit at a community-wide pep rally on Aug. 17. (4) The Niles athletic department and sports boosters held the pep rally to introduce the 2025 fall sports teams and honor longtime Niles' No. 1 fan Johnny Morrison. (Action photos by Scott Hassinger. Pep rally photos by Max Harden/Leader Publications.)