We’ve Got This Right

March 1, 2013

This year's Super Bowl was an occasion for an unusual amount of commentary on the state of football safety, especially concussions.

One group called on state high school associations and football coaches associations to eliminate contact outside the defined interscholastic season.  That would mean spring football practice, and during summer leagues and camps, and at all-star games.

Michigan is one of a large majority of states where schools do not allow spring football practice.  Michigan is one of a minority of states where schools do not allow contact at summer camps, for which we are often criticized by out-of-state camp promoters.  And Michigan is one of a smaller minority of states where schools prohibit students, coaches, officials and administrators from being involved in all-star games involving undergraduates.

While we are well ahead of the curve on out-of-season contact policies, we are in the mainstream of state high school associations studying what the appropriate limits should be on contact during early season football practice and throughout the remainder of the season.  We have a task force that appears headed toward recommending that the Representative Council prescribe only one contact session per day during early season practice and only two contact practices per week after games begin.

There will be other ideas percolating and then simmering with these before any are proposed to the MHSAA Football Committee and Representative Council.

Performance of the Week: Zeeland West's Keaton Hendricks

December 4, 2024

Keaton Hendricks headshotKeaton Hendricks ♦ Zeeland West
Senior ♦ Football

The 6-foot, 165-pound running back played a starring role as Zeeland West defeated Detroit Martin Luther King 42-22 in the Division 3 championship game at Ford Field to claim the program’s fifth Finals title and first since 2015. Hendricks scored an 11-Player Finals record six touchdowns, on runs of 49, 14 and 30 yards and passes of six, 11 and eight yards. Those six TDs also gave him the Finals record of 36 points scored.

Hendricks also finished with a team-high 129 yards rushing on 16 carries and caught all three passes completed by the run-heavy T-formation Dux, who threw only four times while running the ball 47. Also a defensive back, had had two tackles and a forced fumble. Hendricks finished this season with 1,576 yards and 22 touchdowns rushing on 146 carries, and 26 touchdowns total with four more receiving. He also plays basketball and competes in track & field in both hurdles races, the 400 and 800 relays and long jump, making the MHSAA Finals in those four running events in the spring.

@mhsaasports 🏈POW: Keaton Hendricks #football #ZeelandWest #Finals #champion #record #part1 #highschoolsports #tiktalk #interview #performanceoftheweek #mistudentaid #fyp #MHSAA ♬ original sound - MHSAA

@mhsaasports 🏈POW: Keaton Hendricks #tiktalk #questiontime #cars #snickers #chipotle #crazy #emoji #part2 #performanceoftheweek #mistudentaid #fyp #MHSAA ♬ Monkeys Spinning Monkeys - Kevin MacLeod & Kevin The Monkey

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MHSAA.com's "Performance of the Week" features 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 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.

Previous 2024-25 honorees

Nov. 29: Kate Simon, East Grand Rapids swimming - Report
Nov. 22:
Ella Kokaly, Essexville Garber volleyball - Report
Nov. 15:
Caroline Bryan, Grosse Pointe South swimming - Report
Nov. 8:
Kaylie Livingston, Whitmore Lake cross country - Report
Oct. 25:
Oliver Caldwell, Grand Rapids West Catholic tennis - Report
Oct. 18:
Alex Graham, Detroit Cass Tech football - Report
Oct. 11:
Victoria Garces, Midland Dow cross country - Report
Oct. 4:
Asher Clark, Bay City John Glenn soccer - Report
Sept. 26:
Campbell Flynn, Farmington Hills Mercy volleyball - Report
Sept. 19:
TJ Hansen, Freeland cross country - Report
Sept. 12:
Jordan Peters, Grayling soccer - Report
Sept. 6:
Gabe Litzner, Sault Ste. Marie cross country - Report
Aug. 30:
Grace Slocum, Traverse City St. Francis golf - Report

PHOTO Zeeland West's Keaton Hendricks scores a touchdown in front of the Zeeland West student section at Ford Field. (Photo by Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)