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Milford/Walled Lake Western football

1st & Goal: 2021 Week 5 in Review

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

September 27, 2021

The paths to league championships are getting clearer for many teams all over Michigan as we sprint past the midpoint of this regular season.

MI Student AidMultiple teams clinched at least shares of conference titles during the final weekend of September – while many others now have located paths (some straight forward, and others with plenty of twists and turns) to accomplishing the same.

Read on as we highlight 45 games from Week 5 that likely helped shape where we’re headed over the final four weeks before playoff selection.

Bay & Thumb

HEADLINER Frankenmuth 48, Freeland 21 The Eagles (5-0) set themselves up well in the Tri-Valley Conference East race by handing Freeland its first loss this season. Frankenmuth moved into first place alone, with Week 8 opponent Essexville Garber its only league opponent left with a record above .500 at this point in the season. Cole Lindow ran for 318 yards including a 93-yarder as the Eagles scored more points than Freeland (4-1) had given up total over its first four games. Click for more from the Saginaw News.

Watch list Montrose 35, New Lothrop 14 The Rams’ first win over three-time reigning champ New Lothrop since the Mid-Michigan Activities Conference was formed in 2018 also was the Hornets’ first defeat in any league play since 2009. Now both and Durand are one game behind solo league leader Ovid-Elsie.

Remember this one Flint Hamady 26, Flint Beecher 20 This rivalry matchup is always memorable and this season once again decided at least part of a league title, with Hamady (3-2) clinching a share of the Genesee Area Conference championship.

More shoutouts Millington 30, Carrollton 12 The Cardinals (5-0) clinched a share of the TVC-West I after finishing league runner-up a year ago. Mount Pleasant 26, Midland 19 This win combined with Midland Dow’s 45-44 edging of Bay City Western sent the Oilers (5-0) into first place alone in the Saginaw Valley League Blue.

Greater Detroit

HEADLINER Brownstown Woodhaven 33, Allen Park 28 On a night with its share of last-second go-ahead scores, Woodhaven benefited from one of the loudest as Cornell Perry pulled in an Ashton Mohlman pass with 10 seconds left to pull the Warriors (5-0) past Allen Park and into first place alone in the Downriver League. The Warriors have won the last three meetings with Allen Park (4-1) since a 2018 loss to the Jaguars cost Woodhaven an outright league title. Click for more from the Southgate News-Herald

Watch list Belleville 21 Dearborn Fordson 19 Belleville (4-1) potentially earned its way back into the Kensington Lakes Activities Association East race by pulling Fordson (4-1) out of a first-place tie with Livonia Churchill, and with Fordson and Churchill set to meet Week 7.

Remember this one Warren De La Salle Collegiate 49, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 25 The Pilots (4-0) clinched a share of the Detroit Catholic League Central title and can claim it outright this week against Detroit Catholic Central, while St. Mary’s (4-1) could still earn a Prep Bowl rematch.

More shoutouts Clinton Township Chippewa Valley 37, Romeo 34 This combined with Sterling Heights Stevenson’s 31-16 win over Macomb Dakota has Stevenson first and Chippewa Valley and Romeo tied for second in the Macomb Area Conference Red, with Stevenson seeing Chippewa Valley next and Romeo on Oct. 8. South Lyon 49, White Lake Lakeland 35 The Lakes Valley Conference will still be playing out for a few weeks, but this sent South Lyon (5-0) into first place alone with Waterford Mott in Week 8 the most major obstacle left. Lakeland (4-1) sits a half-game back with Week 9 against Milford potentially becoming a huge matchup.

Mid-Michigan

HEADLINER Beal City 55, Evart 20 The Aggies (4-1) suddenly have what appears a very defendable lead in the Highland Conference after sending Evart into second place. Beal City’s final three league opponents are a combined 4-11 and Evart (4-1) had defeated those same opponents to open league play 3-0. The Wildcats hadn’t scored fewer than 40 points in a game before Beal’s defense cut that in half. Click for more from the Mount Pleasant Morning Sun.

Watch list Ovid-Elsie 35, Chesaning 0 As noted above, Ovid-Elsie (4-1) moved into the lead in the MMAC, and reigning champ New Lothrop is up next. But the Marauders also are coming off two straight shutouts after sending Chesaning to 3-2.

Remember this one DeWitt 57, Grand Ledge 15 With heavies East Lansing, Holt and now Grand Ledge behind them, the Panthers (4-1) have paved a nice path toward continuing a league title streak that began in 2006.

More shoutouts Pewamo-Westphalia 42, Fowler 6 This rivalry win put P-W (5-0) in position to clinch a share of the Central Michigan Athletic Conference title in two weeks, although first the Pirates take on another league leader this Friday in Olivet. Portland 49, Charlotte 7 Portland (5-0) and Lansing Catholic will decide the Capital Area Activities Conference White title again this week after the Raiders got past a Charlotte contender that at 3-2 is off to its best start in eight years.

Northern Lower Peninsula

HEADLINER Kingsley 24, Grayling 20 Gage Hessem’s touchdown pass to True Beeman with 5:38 to play helped the Stags (5-0) pull away from their biggest scare so far this fall as they play for a third-straight league title. Circle Week 9 against Traverse City St. Francis as a likely decider in the Northern Michigan Football League Legends division. Click for more from the Traverse City Record-Eagle.

Watch list East Jordan 38, Oscoda 0 This is the second time East Jordan has been listed here this season, and we’ll keep watching. The Red Devils (4-1) are lining up potentially their best season in two decades, with this second-straight shutout putting them in position to play for the NMFL Legacy title over the final two weeks of the regular season.

Remember this one Traverse City St. Francis 48, Boyne City 14 This was arguably the most impressive offensive performance of plenty this fall for the Gladiators (5-0), and no doubt will be recalled as we move closer to playoff time as Boyne City (4-1) was unbeaten and otherwise hasn’t budged much defensively.

More shoutouts Mancelona 14, Kalkaska 8 The Ironmen’s score on the game’s final play put them at 5-0 for the first time since 2012. Traverse City Central 56, Petoskey 0 After downing Traverse City West last week, Central (4-1) kept charging ahead as it awaits this week’s potential Big North Conference title-decider against Cadillac.

Southeast & Border

HEADLINER Jackson Lumen Christi 33, Hastings 22 The Titans (5-0) moved into first place alone in the Interstate 8 Athletic Conference while also avenging last season’s one-point loss to the Saxons. Hastings (4-1) fell into a second-place tie with Battle Creek Harper Creek and Coldwater; Lumen sees Harper Creek this week and defeated Coldwater in Week 2. Click for more from FOX 17.

Watch list Ann Arbor Huron 38, Monroe 14 The River Rats (4-1) continued to build on a fall full of highlights, with this win giving them their most victories for a season since 2009 and pulling them up to No. 17 in Division 1 playoff points.

Remember this one Hudson 22, Ida 14 The Tigers (5-0) moved into first alone in the Lenawee County Athletic Association, and Week 9 opponent Dundee is the only one of three second-place teams Hudson has yet to face.

More shoutouts Ottawa Lake Whiteford 58, Sand Creek 30 The Bobcats (4-1) remain with Erie Mason the only teams undefeated in Tri-County Conference play after handing Sand Creek (3-2) its first league loss. Homer 28, Union City 22 A week after Union City (2-3) downed another contender in Reading, Big 8 Conference second-place Homer (3-2) edged the Chargers to remain in the title hunt. Homer will be hoping for help this week as Reading takes on league leader Jonesville.

Southwest Corridor

HEADLINER Centreville 32, White Pigeon 16 The reigning Division 8 champ Bulldogs have bounced back well after an opening-night loss to Niles Brandywine, and with this win kept themselves in position to earn a share of the Southwest 10 Conference championship this week against co-leader Cassopolis. White Pigeon (4-1) also entered this game tied for first before Centreville’s defense slowed a Chiefs offense that was averaging 46 points per game. The Bulldogs (4-1) have given up a total of 23 points over their last four. Click for more from the Sturgis Journal.

Watch list Berrien Springs 34, Watervliet 6 The Shamrocks (5-0) begin league play this week in the Berrien-Cass-St. Joseph Conference, and will do so after shutting down formerly-undefeated Watervliet (4-1).

Remember this one Portage Central 23, Battle Creek Lakeview 22 A late touchdown and two-point conversion pushed Portage Central (3-2) past the Spartans (3-2) and kept them in the hunt in the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference with league leader St. Joseph coming to Portage this week.

More shoutouts Edwardsburg 49, Plainwell 0 The Eddies’ wild numbers grew again in handing Plainwell its first loss; Edwardsburg is 5-0 with four shutouts and only seven points allowed this season, against an average of 50 points scored per game. Constantine 64, Parchment 14 Four of five teams in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Lakeshore are 3-2 or better, including both of these – and Constantine (5-0) is tied for the early league lead.

Negaunee/Ishpeming football

Upper Peninsula

HEADLINER Hancock 20, Houghton 17 Rain soaked this season’s Copper Bowl and surely made it all the more memorable as Hancock (3-2) scored the final points to secure its fourth win in the last five games played against the rival Gremlins (3-2). This victory also muddied up the Western Peninsula Athletic Conference Copper standings a bit more – all seven teams in the league are either 3-2 or 4-1 overall, and all seven could still win the league title. Click for more from the Houghton Daily Mining Gazette.

Watch list Iron Mountain 28, Bark River-Harris 22 Don’t count the Mountaineers out of anything yet, including that West-PAC Copper race. Despite a pair of losses in Weeks 2 and 3, Iron Mountain (3-2) has bounced back with two wins including this one over the West-PAC Iron-leading Broncos (3-2).  

Remember this one Kingsford 44, Escanaba 7 The last time Kingsford (4-1) defeated Escanaba, the Flivvers won the Great Northern Conference championship. They have only Menominee left on the league schedule, in Week 9, but also will need the Maroons’ help with Marquette after losing to the latter in Week 4.

More shoutouts Sault Ste. Marie 14, Ogemaw Heights 6 The Blue Devils moved to 4-1 and still have a chance to play spoiler – or more – in the NMFL Legends with St Francis coming up in Week 7. Marquette 43, Gladstone 12 Marquette (4-1) is in position to win the GNC outright with an offense that has gone over 40 points in four of five games this fall. Marquette faces Menominee in Week 7.

West Michigan

HEADLINER Rockford 21, Hudsonville 16 The Rams (5-0) navigated their second-straight one-score win to keep pace with Caledonia atop the Ottawa-Kent Conference Red. Hudsonville went ahead 16-14 early in the second half, but Zak Ahern’s five-yard run put Rockford back on top to stay with 2:58 to go in the third quarter. Ahern averaged nearly 10 yards per carry, tallying 153 on 16 rushes. For Hudsonville (2-3), it was another heartbreaker; all three of the Eagles’ defeats have come by five points or fewer. Click for more from the Grand Rapids Press.

Watch list Coopersville 24, Allendale 6 The Broncos (5-0) have guaranteed their first winning regular season since 2017 and are off to their best start since 2003. They also are one of four teams at 3-0 in O-K Blue play.

Remember this one Sparta 21, Belding 14 (OT) The Spartans (3-2) may have worked their way back into the O-K Silver title conversation. A seven-point loss to leader Comstock Park in Week 3 put them a game back, but Belding (4-1) takes on Comstock Park this week with an opportunity to open the league race up to at least four teams.

More shoutouts Muskegon Mona Shore 49, Zeeland East 30 As a Week 7 matchup with rival Muskegon High draws nearer, the Sailors (4-1) and Big Reds have done their parts to push East (3-2) and others farther out of the O-K Green title picture. Reed City 22, Big Rapids 7 The Coyotes (4-1) might be pulling away from the Central State Activities Association Gold pack, with this win over Big Rapids (3-2) their second against a team currently tied for second in the league – and the third team, Central Montcalm, is up this week.

8-Player

HEADLINER Adrian Lenawee Christian 47, Colon 21 One of the most anticipated matchups this regular season turned into another solid win for the Cougars, even as Colon (4-1) became the first opponent to score in double digits against Lenawee Christian since last season’s Division 1 Semifinals. The Cougars (5-0) scored 47 points on a defense that had given up only 28 total through the first four weeks, including with a 31-6 run over the final three quarters. Click for more from the Adrian Daily Telegram.

Watch list Crystal Falls Forest Park 30, Norway 28 The Trojans (5-0) have won two-point games over Great Lakes Eight Conference West contenders two of the last three weeks, keeping them tied for first atop the league standings with Week 9 opponent Powers North Central.

Remember this one Newberry 34, Rudyard 28 With three games left in the GLEC East schedule, these two are joined by Pickford and Munising tied for first in the league after Rudyard (4-1) entered the weekend alone at the top. Newberry also is 4-1 overall.

More shoutouts Climax-Scotts 52, Athens 14 The Panthers (4-1) will be the next to try to dethrone Lenawee Christian in league play with this big win keeping them tied atop the Southern Central Athletic Association A standings. Suttons Bay 46, Munising 0 The undefeated Norsemen (5-0) continued to shine on both sides of the ball, with this shutout taking their defensive points allowed average down to 9.2.

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PHOTOS: A Milford ball carrier celebrates reaching the end zone during Friday's 18-15 win over Walled Lake Western. (2) An Ithaca defender wraps up a Midland Bullock Creek ball carrier during the Yellowjackets' 41-19 victory. (3) Negaunee's Nico Lukkarinen (24) runs the ball in for the first touchdown of Friday's win over Ishpeming. (4) Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern earned its first win over East Grand Rapids of a recent five-game series, 17-14. (Photos by Terry Lyons, High School Sports Scene, Cara Kamps and Michigan Sports Photo, respectively.)

Clockwise from the top left: (1) Manny Schmidt (standing, second from left) coaches the Lapeer White Junior High girls basketball team. (2) Schmidt, top middle, takes a photo with Lapeer’s boys track & field team last spring. (3) Schmidt, left, has coached three of his grandchildren including Morgan Turk. (4) Schmidt, far left, takes a photo with the 2011 Lapeer East cross country teams. (5) Schmidt, standing far right, coaches Michelle Brundage during the 1991 Meet of Champions.

'Lapeer Through and Through,' Schmidt Surpasses Half-Century in Coaching

By Paul Costanzo
Special for MHSAA.com

April 2, 2025

Manny Schmidt still wants to be at track practice.

Bay & ThumbAfter 50-plus years coaching in Lapeer, the man they call Coach Manny has not lost his love for helping student-athletes – and at this rate, he might go another 50.

“I told my wife years ago that the first day I don’t feel like going to practice, that I’d rather be somewhere else, that’s the day I’m done,” Schmidt said. “And it hasn’t happened yet. Obviously, you have bad days and things like that. But track, and right now practice, it just keeps me going.”

Schmidt, who is the head boys track & field coach at Lapeer, began coaching track as an assistant in 1974, and has remained there – and Lapeer East, then back at Lapeer when the schools merged back together – ever since. On Friday, April 11, he will be honored at an event at Lightning Rounds in Lapeer for his years of service to Lapeer athletes. The event begins at 7:30 p.m., following the Lapeer Lightning Co-Ed Relays.

“Manny has been a staple of Lapeer Athletics through many different renditions over the years,” Lapeer athletic director Shad Spilski said. “His willingness to help student-athletes grow and achieve their goals is all he wants out of his athletes. Manny spends, and has spent, countless hours over several decades providing athletes multiple opportunities to hone their skills. He not only coaches, but he is one of Lapeer athletes’ biggest fans and supporters. You will always find him at other sporting events cheering on athletes and his coaching colleagues. He truly is Lapeer through and through.”

Schmidt came to Lapeer to teach English in December of 1972 after graduating from Western Michigan University. He had attended high school at St. Joseph Catholic, and was unfamiliar with Lapeer. 

But it didn’t take long for him to fall in love with the school community after receiving the assignment.

“Almost immediately,” he said. “I started in December; the teacher had left and I got the job in December. Three days later, they had a staff Christmas party that I got invited to, and all of my close friends over the years, many of them, I guess, I met at that party.”

Coaching was always something Schmidt wanted to do. He played basketball and ran track in high school, and had a basketball coach who made a big impact on his life. He wanted to do the same for others.

In the spring of 1974, during his first full year of teaching English at Lapeer, he got that chance as the assistant track coach. He has since coached cross country – working to start the Lapeer East girls program in the 1990s – junior varsity football and middle school basketball. He also served as a basketball official for more than 30 years.

“I just liked being part of it,” he said.

Schmidt looks on during an event. Throughout his five decades coaching track, Schmidt has worked with athletes in every event. While middle and long distance are what he’s long enjoyed coaching, he’s currently working with the Lapeer throwers and high jumpers, as head cross country coaches Russ Reitz and Bill Spruytte are also coaching track.

“In our program, we have four of us (Schmidt, Reitz, Spruytte and Anthony Merlo), and we all have equal voice, we all coach together,” Schmidt said. “On any given day, and that’s the nice thing, I could be with anything. I could be with the hurdlers.”

This past year, Schmidt returned to the Lapeer cross country staff as an assistant, saying he was honored that the current coaches respected him enough to call him back.

But for them, it was an honor to have him.

“Working with Manny is like having access to decades of knowledge,” said fellow cross country assistant Christine Cerny. “It is such a privilege to be able to draw from that and learn from that myself. It’s so awesome to be able to coach alongside him after he has coached my kids.”

During his time, Schmidt has coached multiple generations of Lapeer families, including his own. His children Corrinne and Jennifer both ran for him, as did his grandchildren Morgan, Mason and Colton.

And by his side the entire time has been his wife, Val, who worked as a scorekeeper during meets.

“When I started coaching, she would be the person at all our home cross country meets and all our home track meets who sat there and kept track by hand,” Schmidt said. “Probably the happiest person with this new technology is my wife – now she doesn’t have to do it. When we have invites, she’ll do medals and stuff like that.”

Technological changes have been abundant for high school athletes over the past five decades, not just in competition but outside of it. Schmidt recalls returning to Lapeer from away meets and having athletes line up at the school’s two payphones to call their parents. 

“Now, when we get back, everyone has called home and their rides are there waiting,” Schmidt said. 

Throughout his time, Schmidt has done plenty of winning and coached several athletes who have moved on to compete at the college level. But the relationships he’s created are what he values most.

“Nobody’s luckier than I am with where I taught and where I coached, and who I’ve coached with over the years,” Schmidt said. “You have to look forward to going to work, and I hate to use the word ‘work’ with coaching. It is, I guess. But there’s just so much good with it.”

Paul CostanzoPaul Costanzo served as a sportswriter at The Port Huron Times Herald from 2006-15, including three years as lead sportswriter, and prior to that as sports editor at the Hillsdale Daily News from 2005-06. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Genesee, Lapeer, St. Clair, Sanilac, Huron, Tuscola, Saginaw, Bay, Arenac, Midland and Gladwin counties.

PHOTOS (Top) Clockwise from the top left: (1) Manny Schmidt (standing, second from left) coaches the Lapeer White Junior High girls basketball team. (2) Schmidt, top middle, takes a photo with Lapeer’s boys track & field team last spring. (3) Schmidt, left, has coached three of his grandchildren including Morgan Turk. (4) Schmidt, far left, takes a photo with the 2011 Lapeer East cross country teams. (5) Schmidt, standing far right, coaches Michelle Brundage during the 1991 Meet of Champions. (Middle) Schmidt looks on during an event. (Photos provided by the Lapeer athletic department.)