Week 8 Football Playoff Listing
October 9, 2012
Here is a list of Michigan High School Athletic Association football playing schools, displaying their win-loss records and playoff averages through the seventh week of the season. Schools on this list are in enrollment order. An asterisk (*) beside a record indicates that a team has eight or fewer games scheduled. A carrot (^) beside a school’s name indicates that a team is one win away from playoff qualification.
Those schools with 11-player teams with six or more wins playing nine-game schedules, or five or more wins playing eight games or fewer, will qualify for the MHSAA Football Playoffs beginning Oct. 26-27. Schools with 5-4, 4-3 or 4-4 records may qualify if the number of potential qualifiers by win total does not reach the 256 mark. Schools with six or more wins playing nine-game schedules or five or more wins playing eight games or fewer may be subtracted from the field based on playoff average if the number of potential qualifiers exceeds the 256 mark.
Once the 256 qualifying schools are determined, they will be divided by enrollment groups into eight equal divisions of 32 schools, and then drawn into regions of eight teams each and districts of four teams each.
Those schools with 8-player teams will be ranked by playoff average at season’s end, and the top 16 programs will be drawn into regions of eight teams each for the playoff in that division, which also begins Oct. 26-27. All 8-player teams, regardless of win total, are listed below.
To review a list of all football playoff schools, individual school playoff point details and to report errors, visit the Football page of the MHSAA Website.
The announcement of the qualifiers and first-round pairings for both the 11 and 8-player playoffs will take place at 7 p.m. on Oct. 21 on the Selection Sunday Show on FOX Sports Detroit. The playoff qualifiers and pairings will be posted to the MHSAA Website following the Selection Sunday Show.
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11-Player Playoff Listing
1. Utica Eisenhower ^, 2772, 5-2, 75.571
2. Sterling Heights Stevenson, 2766, 6-1, 88.714
3. Clarkston, 2721, 7-0, 100.571
4. Howell, 2692, 4-3, 56.857
5. Grand Blanc, 2644, 4-3, 59.571
6. Macomb Dakota, 2608, 6-1, 88.714
7. Lake Orion, 2565, 7-0, 102.857
8. Rockford ^, 2526, 5-2, 73.571
9. Troy, 2502, 4-3, 58.286
10. Clinton Township Chippewa Valley ^, 2462, 5-2, 74.143
11. Dearborn Fordson, 2442, 6-1, 95.143
12. Holland West Ottawa ^, 2262, 5-2, 69.714
13. Northville ^, 2220, 5-2, 72.000
14. Detroit Cass Tech, 2200, 6-1, 87.571
15. Canton, 2166, 4-3, 52.714
16. Monroe, 2154, 6-1, 79.571
17. Detroit Catholic Central, 2060, 4-3, 54.952
18. Plymouth, 2050, 6-1, 80.857
19. Salem ^, 2039, 5-2, 74.143
20. Livonia Stevenson, 2005, 6-1, 86.286
21. Holt, 1992, 4-3, 56.571
22. Hartland, 1932, 7-0, 99.429
23. Warren Mott, 1879, 7-0, 88.000
24. Livonia Churchill, 1877, 7-0, 105.143
25. Macomb L'Anse Creuse North ^, 1853, 5-2, 71.857
26. Saline, 1849, 6-1, 88.429
27. Grandville, 1846, 4-3, 52.714
28. Dearborn, 1790, 4-3, 61.571
29. Rochester Hills Stoney Creek, 1777, 4-3, 52.429
30. Flint Carman-Ainsworth, 1772, 6-1, 78.571
31. Grand Ledge ^, 1743, 5-2, 67.429
32. Rochester ^, 1725, 5-2, 68.000
33. Traverse City West ^, 1720, 5-2, 70.857
34. White Lake Lakeland ^, 1700, 5-2, 70.857
35. Harrison Township L'Anse Creuse, 1680, 4-3, 52.000
36. Ann Arbor Pioneer, 1670, 4-3, 61.000
37. Davison ^, 1664, 5-2, 64.571
38. Grosse Pointe South, 1648, 6-1, 85.143
39. Walled Lake Northern ^, 1599, 5-2, 75.714
40. Temperance Bedford, 1581, 4-3, 52.286
41. Walled Lake Western ^, 1553, 5-2, 71.000
42. Brownstown Woodhaven, 1520, 6-1, 85.286
43. Ypsilanti Lincoln, 1520, 4-3, 52.857
44. Wyoming, 1515, 4-3, 44.905
45. Dearborn Edsel Ford, 1508, 4-3, 55.143
46. Midland, 1485, 7-0, 99.429
47. Oxford, 1481, 4-3, 58.000
48. Port Huron ^, 1473, 5-2, 64.857
49. Traverse City Central, 1429, 6-1, 86.000
50. Oak Park, 1391, 7-0, 108.571
51. Lansing Everett, 1359, 7-0, 109.714
52. Grosse Pointe North, 1353, 4-3, 55.571
53. Midland Dow, 1350, 4-3, 52.857
54. Birmingham Seaholm, 1349, 6-1, 87.571
55. Battle Creek Lakeview, 1347, 4-3, 56.571
56. Garden City, 1344, 4-3, 53.286
57. Portage Central ^, 1340, 5-2, 66.857
58. Muskegon Mona Shores, 1337, 4-3, 53.429
59. Birmingham Brother Rice ^, 1336, 5-2, 75.714
60. Portage Northern, 1328, 6-1, 79.714
61. Caledonia, 1308, 6-1, 81.857
62. Wyandotte Roosevelt, 1304, 6-1, 84.143
63. Farmington Hills Harrison, 1302, 4-3, 57.714
64. Detroit Martin Luther King, 1287, 4-3, 53.857
65. Detroit Cody ^, 1282, 5-2, 65.600
66. Farmington, 1278, 6-1, 85.429
67. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, 1278, 4-3, 57.143
68. Taylor Truman, 1253, 6-1, 85.286
69. Swartz Creek, 1223, 7-0, 96.000
70. Southfield, 1218, 4-3, 63.429
71. Fenton, 1202, 6-1, 80.714
72. Grand Rapids Northview, 1180, 6-1, 82.714
73. Lowell, 1177, 6-1, 86.571
74. Bay City Western, 1171, 7-0, 86.857
75. Gibraltar Carlson, 1160, 4-3, 50.714
76. Muskegon, 1144, 7-0, 109.714
77. East Lansing ^, 1142, 5-2, 65.286
78. Mattawan, 1124, 7-0, 96.000
79. Allen Park ^, 1120, 5-2, 66.571
80. Marquette *^, 1112, 4-3, 58.857
81. Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills, 1109, 4-3, 62.714
82. Lapeer West ^, 1101, 5-2, 72.286
83. Detroit Renaissance, 1094, 4-3, 49.714
84. Redford Thurston ^, 1088, 5-2, 65.571
85. Auburn Hills Avondale, 1080, 6-1, 78.429
86. St. Johns ^, 1068, 5-2, 67.429
87. Zeeland East, 1067, 7-0, 97.143
88. Byron Center, 1032, 4-3, 54.714
89. Detroit East English, 1030, 6-1, 80.857
90. Owosso, 1012, 4-3, 51.143
91. Lansing Waverly, 1011, 4-3, 45.714
92. Mason ^, 969, 5-2, 56.286
93. Petoskey, 967, 4-3, 57.857
94. Milan, 959, 7-0, 88.000
95. Sault Ste. Marie, 959, 4-3, 46.914
96. Grand Rapids Christian, 954, 6-1, 86.286
97. Cedar Springs, 950, 4-3, 40.429
98. DeWitt, 931, 6-1, 86.571
99. Fruitport, 929, 7-0, 83.429
100. Orchard Lake St. Mary's, 926, 6-1, 95.143
101. Bloomfield Hills Lahser ^, 925, 5-2, 66.714
102. Linden, 923, 6-1, 82.857
103. Niles, 920, 4-3, 50.429
104. Hazel Park, 909, 4-3, 52.000
105. Stevensville Lakeshore, 906, 7-0, 109.714
106. St. Clair, 901, 7-0, 90.286
107. Haslett, 894, 4-3, 55.429
108. Tecumseh, 887, 6-1, 74.714
109. Sturgis, 882, 4-3, 51.000
110. Carleton Airport ^, 868, 5-2, 60.714
111. Detroit Central Collegiate, 868, 4-3, 50.714
112. Charlotte ^, 851, 5-2, 64.286
113. Chelsea, 851, 4-3, 59.000
114. Hastings, 850, 6-1, 72.857
115. Plainwell ^, 832, 5-2, 65.714
116. Cadillac ^, 820, 5-2, 65.000
117. Edwardsburg, 805, 6-1, 65.857
118. North Branch, 803, 4-3, 46.429
119. Hamilton, 801, 4-3, 50.000
120. Marysville ^, 794, 5-2, 64.429
121. Zeeland West ^, 791, 5-2, 68.714
122. Battle Creek Harper Creek ^, 780, 5-2, 73.429
123. Spring Lake, 778, 4-3, 49.143
124. Three Rivers, 760, 4-3, 44.429
125. Ogemaw Heights, 759, 4-3, 54.143
126. Goodrich ^, 748, 5-2, 59.714
127. Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy *, 729, 5-1, 67.524
128. Hudsonville Unity Christian, 727, 4-3, 50.714
129. Marshall, 723, 4-3, 48.143
130. Dearborn Heights Robichaud, 720, 7-0, 99.429
131. Big Rapids, 706, 6-1, 60.286
132. Croswell-Lexington, 704, 7-0, 86.857
133. St. Clair Shores South Lake, 704, 6-1, 76.143
134. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, 701, 7-0, 93.714
135. Otsego, 698, 6-1, 68.000
136. Detroit Country Day, 685, 6-1, 84.714
137. Comstock Park, 678, 6-1, 75.286
138. Grand Rapids Catholic Central, 674, 7-0, 85.714
139. Armada, 667, 4-3, 47.571
140. Whitehall, 663, 4-3, 41.714
141. Grand Rapids South Christian, 660, 4-3, 47.714
142. Battle Creek Pennfield, 656, 6-1, 61.429
143. Richmond ^, 656, 5-2, 64.143
144. Grosse Ile, 649, 6-1, 70.571
145. Saginaw Swan Valley ^, 642, 5-2, 61.857
146. Paw Paw, 639, 7-0, 77.714
147. Allendale, 636, 6-1, 77.286
148. Williamston, 636, 4-3, 46.857
149. Cheboygan ^, 631, 5-2, 67.143
150. Marine City, 629, 6-1, 81.714
151. Alma ^, 614, 5-2, 60.714
152. Saginaw Valley Lutheran ^, 608, 5-2, 41.571
153. Dowagiac, 605, 7-0, 80.000
154. Livonia Clarenceville ^, 597, 5-2, 57.286
155. Clawson, 582, 4-3, 45.714
156. Remus Chippewa Hills, 581, 4-3, 43.429
157. Essexville Garber, 572, 4-3, 45.429
158. Clinton Township Clintondale, 570, 7-0, 81.143
159. Lake Fenton, 564, 6-1, 72.714
160. Grant, 562, 4-3, 47.714
161. Freeland ^, 561, 5-2, 65.286
162. Kingsford, 559, 6-1, 79.571
163. Portland, 555, 6-1, 73.857
164. Gladwin ^, 547, 5-2, 60.571
165. Almont, 543, 4-3, 53.429
166. Flint Powers Catholic, 542, 7-0, 97.143
167. Menominee, 539, 6-1, 85.286
168. Macomb Lutheran North ^, 537, 5-2, 58.714
169. North Muskegon, 532, 4-3, 44.286
170. Standish-Sterling Central ^, 532, 5-2, 59.286
171. Hopkins, 531, 7-0, 80.000
172. Detroit University Prep, 528, 6-1, 65.81
173. Grayling, 516, 7-0, 76.571
174. Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard, 515, 6-1, 74.000
175. Allen Park Cabrini, 512, 6-1, 61.429
176. Olivet ^, 509, 5-2, 50.714
177. Frankenmuth, 507, 7-0, 85.714
178. Newaygo, 507, 6-1, 64.857
179. Grand Rapids West Catholic, 503, 4-3, 56.339
180. Ida, 503, 4-3, 41.857
181. River Rouge, 495, 7-0, 75.810
182. Manistee, 493, 4-3, 42.029
183. Carrollton, 492, 6-1, 61.429
184. Lansing Catholic, 487, 6-1, 74.857
185. Reed City, 480, 7-0, 86.857
186. Dundee ^, 476, 5-2, 52.571
187. Muskegon Oakridge, 474, 7-0, 78.857
188. Kingsley ^, 473, 5-2, 48.143
189. Jackson Lumen Christi, 472, 7-0, 92.571
190. Buchanan, 467, 6-1, 65.857
191. Leslie, 467, 7-0, 74.286
192. Clare ^, 465, 5-2, 58.762
193. Roscommon, 461, 4-3, 39.905
194. Kalkaska ^, 459, 5-2, 41.714
195. Millington, 459, 6-1, 71.714
196. Lakeview, 457, 4-3, 40.857
197. Warren Michigan Collegiate, 446, 6-1, 68.143
198. Harper Woods, 440, 4-3, 36.457
199. Boyne City, 437, 7-0, 66.286
200. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central ^, 437, 5-2, 61.000
201. Negaunee, 433, 7-0, 78.857
202. Elk Rapids, 432, 4-3, 39.857
203. Manistique, 430, 4-3, 38.571
204. Beaverton, 422, 4-3, 36.571
205. Hemlock, 421, 6-1, 79.714
206. Shelby ^, 417, 5-2, 61.000
207. Detroit Consortium ^, 416, 5-2, 49.381
208. Vassar, 416, 6-1, 55.714
209. Clinton, 413, 7-0, 75.429
210. Maple City Glen Lake, 409, 7-0, 64.000
211. Michigan Center, 406, 7-0, 69.714
212. Manchester ^, 404, 5-2, 48.429
213. Calumet, 402, 4-3, 45.857
214. Ithaca, 402, 7-0, 84.571
215. Montrose Hill-McCloy, 400, 6-1, 70.571
216. Niles Brandywine ^, 396, 5-2, 45.714
217. Grass Lake, 395, 6-1, 64.857
218. Hillsdale, 391, 7-0, 80.000
219. Madison Heights Madison, 391, 6-1, 75.571
220. Ecorse, 390, 4-3, 38.952
221. Montague, 390, 6-1, 67.143
222. Laingsburg, 388, 4-3, 37.286
223. Sanford Meridian ^, 388, 5-2, 50.190
224. Jonesville ^, 383, 5-2, 54.857
225. Cass City, 379, 4-3, 38.000
226. Constantine, 371, 6-1, 56.857
227. Grandville Calvin Christian ^, 371, 5-2, 50.714
228. Watervliet, 369, 7-0, 62.857
229. Schoolcraft, 366, 7-0, 83.429
230. Blissfield, 364, 4-3, 48.143
231. Byron Area, 364, 6-1, 54.571
232. Iron Mountain, 354, 4-3, 44.571
233. Reese, 350, 7-0, 73.143
234. Union City ^, 350, 5-2, 44.429
235. Burton Bendle, 348, 6-1, 50.000
236. Pellston, 347, 4-3, 22.000
237. Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian, 346, 4-3, 34.857
238. Saginaw Nouvel ^, 344, 5-2, 75.629
239. Carson City-Crystal ^, 337, 5-2, 45.571
240. Hartford ^, 337, 5-2, 59.857
241. Marlette, 336, 4-3, 37.000
242. Flint Hamady, 334, 4-3, 38.857
243. Whittemore-Prescott ^, 328, 5-2, 49.286
244. Sandusky, 327, 4-3, 41.571
245. Dansville ^, 323, 5-2, 50.429
246. Springport, 319, 4-3, 38.143
247. Bridgman, 318, 4-3, 39.857
248. Lawton, 317, 6-1, 68.000
249. Lake City, 316, 6-1, 52.476
250. Pewamo-Westphalia ^, 316, 5-2, 51.714
251. Manton, 315, 4-3, 29.000
252. Madison Heights Bishop Foley, 309, 4-3, 42.143
253. Ishpeming, 307, 6-1, 62.571
254. Detroit Douglass, 306, 4-3, 50.857
255. Unionville-Sebewaing, 303, 4-3, 36.143
256. Evart ^, 302, 5-2, 41.762
257. Traverse City St. Francis, 299, 4-3, 44.571
258. Detroit Loyola, 298, 7-0, 83.429
259. Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest *, 298, 5-2, 48.143
260. Lincoln Alcona ^, 292, 5-2, 44.429
261. Genesee ^, 288, 5-2, 38.857
262. Mancelona, 288, 7-0, 62.857
263. Royal Oak Shrine Catholic, 284, 4-3, 47.429
264. Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett, 283, 6-1, 54.286
265. Reading, 283, 6-1, 58.714
266. Decatur, 277, 6-1, 52.143
267. Britton Deerfield, 276, 4-3, 44.429
268. Ubly, 275, 4-3, 37.000
269. Brown City, 272, 4-3, 44.286
270. Gobles, 271, 6-1, 49.857
271. Ottawa Lake Whiteford, 268, 6-1, 60.286
272. Hudson, 264, 4-3, 40.429
273. Waterford Our Lady ^, 263, 5-2, 51.857
274. Mayville ^, 258, 5-2, 48.571
275. Melvindale Academy for Business & Tech ^, 254, 5-2, 52.714
276. New Buffalo, 250, 4-3, 31.000
277. Marcellus ^, 249, 5-2, 35.857
278. Harbor Beach, 245, 6-1, 60.143
279. Johannesburg-Lewiston ^, 243, 5-2, 39.048
280. Vestaburg ^, 242, 5-2, 45.857
281. Coleman, 239, 4-3, 36.714
282. New Lothrop, 237, 7-0, 67.429
283. Bessemer *^, 233, 4-2, 36.095
284. L'Anse, 233, 6-1, 48.429
285. Petersburg-Summerfield, 232, 4-3, 37.000
286. Stephenson ^, 229, 5-2, 43.286
287. Merrill, 228, 4-3, 37.286
288. Manistee Catholic Central, 219, 4-3, 30.143
289. Mendon, 216, 7-0, 67.810
290. Beal City, 213, 7-0, 82.286
291. Pittsford ^, 213, 5-2, 38.857
292. St. Ignace La Salle, 207, 7-0, 50.286
293. Lutheran Westland, 204, 4-3, 45.857
294. Mio, 203, 4-3, 30.905
295. AuGres-Sims, 199, 4-3, 31.762
296. Pickford ^, 197, 5-2, 47.429
297. Onaway ^, 194, 5-2, 39.143
298. Powers North Central, 194, 4-3, 29.429
299. Central Lake, 193, 4-3, 30.762
300. Fowler, 186, 6-1, 66.000
301. Climax-Scotts, 183, 7-0, 51.429
302. Muskegon Catholic Central ^, 181, 5-2, 53.171
303. Morrice, 171, 4-3, 30.571
304. St. Joseph Lake Michigan Catholic, 171, 5-1, 45.524
305. Colon, 164, 4-3, 30.524
306. Crystal Falls Forest Park, 164, 6-1, 46.571
307. Baldwin *, 160, 5-2, 41.571
308. Lake Linden-Hubbell, 159, 4-3, 26.500
309. Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart, 121, 6-1, 64.857
310. Iron Mountain North Dickinson *, 112, 7-0, 64.000
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8-Player Playoff Listing
1. Deckerville, 194, 6-1, 51.143
2. Marine City Cardinal Mooney, 185, 3-4, 22.029
3. Battle Creek St. Philip, 182, 4-3, 32.000
4. Kinde-North Huron, 180, 3-4, 21.029
5. Kingston, 175, 4-3, 28.600
6. Cedarville, 169, 7-0, 59.810
7. Tekonsha, 163, 1-6, 11.000
8. Carsonville-Port Sanilac, 162, 4-3, 33.714
9. Bellaire, 161, 5-2, 37.976
10. Peck, 156, 6-1, 45.743
11. Ewen-Trout Creek *, 146, 1-6, 9.476
12. Brimley *, 145, 1-5, 9.262
13. Eben Junction Superior Central *, 132, 4-2, 34.524
14. New Haven Merritt *, 130, 1-4, 10.000
15. St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran *, 118, 1-4, 8.543
16. Litchfield, 115, 1-6, 8.714
17. Rapid River, 115, 6-1, 45.048
18. Portland St. Patrick, 104, 7-0, 53.714
19. Akron-Fairgrove, 95, 5-2, 34.514
20. Caseville, 90, 0-7, 2.857
21. Engadine *, 89, 3-3, 23.857
22. Rock Mid Peninsula, 87, 2-5, 17.417
23. Waldron, 87, 5-2, 35.571
24. Posen, 84, 2-5, 15.548
25. Burr Oak, 79, 3-4, 19.000
26. Owendale-Gagetown, 60, 5-2, 34.371
27. Flint Michigan School For The Deaf *, 45, 1-4, 8.114
QB Follows Mentors in Leading Montague
October 4, 2017
By Tom Kendra
Special for Second Half
Sebastian Archer didn’t have to look far to find role models as Montague’s starting quarterback.
Pat Collins, Montague’s 14th-year head coach, was the quarterback who first brought the Wildcats to the promised land, culminating a dream season at the Pontiac Silverdome with a 12-7 loss to powerhouse Detroit dePorres in the 1992 Class CC championship game.
Cody Kater, now the Wildcats’ quarterbacks coach, took it a step further and led Montague to back-to-back Division 6 titles with wins over Leslie (41-20) in 2008 and Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central (24-21) in 2009.
“I’m pretty lucky that I get to learn from both of them every day,” said Archer, a 5-foot-9, 175-pound junior who is off to an impressive start, following in the footsteps of recent Montague quarterbacks Jacob Buchberger and Dylan Stever. “They push me pretty hard, but I know it’s only to make me better.”
Archer will try to glean all he can from Collins and Kater this week, as the 6-0 Wildcats (ranked No. 3 in Division 6 by The Associated Press) prepare to host 5-1 Muskegon Oakridge (ranked No. 6 in Division 5) in a key battle for the West Michigan Conference championship and playoff seeding.
Montague has bolted to its 6-0 start behind one of the highest-scoring offenses in the state, averaging 57 points per game. Collins said the key for his team to stay unbeaten with a grueling final three games against Oakridge, Ravenna and then Montague’s first-ever meeting against unbeaten and four-time reigning Division 8 champion Muskegon Catholic Central, is for Archer to continue his dynamic play while taking care of the ball. Archer has thrown for 945 yards, 12 touchdowns and just two interceptions.
“Sebastian distributes the ball well and makes good decisions,” Collins said. “We anticipated having a good team this year and hoped to be in the position where we are right now, but this is where things get really tough and we’ll see what we’re made of.”
While Archer is continuing the Montague tradition of strong quarterback play, he is a completely different style of QB than his two mentors.
Collins engineered the tightly-packed, wing-T offense during his playing days, which usually meant about one or two passes per game.
Kater was more of a prototypical pocket passer, standing 6-4 and throwing 79 touchdown passes over his career. Kater played college quarterback at University of Cincinnati, Grand Rapids Community College and finally Central Michigan. He worked his way up to the starting job for the Chippewas as a junior, but broke his collarbone in the first quarter of CMU’s 2013 season-opening game against Michigan in “The Big House.”
Archer, meanwhile, is described by Collins as more of a “point guard” on the football field.
“He is definitely a dual threat,” Collins said. “Like a good point guard, he is capable of taking it into his own hands if need be. But first and foremost, he’s looking to get our other guys involved.”
That supporting cast, many like Archer part of Montague’s loaded junior class, has been stellar through the first two-thirds of the season.
Bryce Stark is explosive out of the backfield, rushing for 625 yards and 13 touchdowns this fall. Kenyan Johnston is the team’s most prolific receiver, highlighted by his nine catches for 129 yards and two touchdowns in a thrilling 46-44 win at rival Whitehall on Sept. 22. The main downfield threat is burner Jake Jancek.
For the past 40 years, the road to the WMC title has gone through Oakridge, a perennial playoff team which has qualified for the postseason 21 of the past 22 years and won MHSAA championships in 1997, 2005 and 2008. The main rival for Oakridge for many years, particularly the 1990s, was Ravenna, but since the turn of the century the biggest challenges have come from the White Lake area duo of Whitehall and, especially, Montague.
Montague edged Oakridge 29-26 two years ago and led 28-14 last year at Oakridge before the Eagles rallied for a 31-28 win.
Archer expects another classic game.
“I can’t wait for Friday night,” said Archer, who, in addition to his quarterback duties, starts at safety and punter and hold on kicks. “It will probably be like the Whitehall game where the stands are full and people are sitting on the grass. Those are the games we love to play in.”
Part of the reason for the year-in, year-out success at Montague and Oakridge is coaching stability. Montague has had just two head coaches in the past 32 years, with Ken Diamond coaching from 1986-2003 and Collins from 2004 to present. Oakridge has had an even longer stretch with just two head coaches, led by Jack Schugars from 1979 to 2010 and now Harger from 2011 to present.
Montague has made the playoffs in 12 of 13 seasons under Collins, with the back-to-back championships in 2008 and 2009 capping an amazing stretch which saw the Wildcats make it at least to the Semifinals five straight years from 2005 to 2009.
Getting back to that elite level is what motivates Archer to come in to “Camp Kater” on Monday and Friday mornings before school. Kater emphasizes building up arm strength on Mondays, and switches the focus to pocket awareness on Fridays. Those sessions have transformed Archer from a running back playing quarterback to a well-rounded QB, Collins said.
Archer grew up idolizing Kater in small-town Montague, but he lists his favorite professional quarterbacks as Tom Brady and Doug Flutie, the 5-10 quarterback who was an inspiration to little guys everywhere. Flutie retired in 2005 when Archer was just 4 years old.
“The roster lists me as 5-9, but I’m 5-7; I’m not gonna lie to you,” said Archer, who also plays basketball and baseball for Montague. “I’ve watched old films of Flutie, and I love how he found a way to make things happen even though he was a little guy. That’s what I try to do.”
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) Montague junior quarterback Sebastian Archer, a true dual-threat for the unbeaten Wildcats, looks for running room Sept. 22 during his team's 46-44 victory over rival Whitehall. (Middle) Archer tries to throw over 6-4 Whitehall defensive end Brandon Rake; Archer completed 14 of 20 passes for 217 yards, four TDs and no interceptions in the win. (Below) Montague coach Pat Collins played quarterback for the Wildcats in the early 1990s, leading them to the Class CC championship game in 1992. Collins, now in his 14th year, has a 121-38 record at Montague, highlighted by back-to-back MHSAA titles in 2008 and 2009. (Photos by Tim Reilly.)