Friday Night Kickoff

Wow,

I really don't have long to spare, but I'll make this quick.  In the four finals games played on Friday, the Lake Michigan side of the state dominated the finals games on Friday at Ford Field.

Division 8
Muskegon Catholic Central blasted defending state champ Crystal Falls Forest Park 40-0.

Division 2
Muskegon had to work a little bit harder, but they rolled to a 34-14 win over Warren DeLasalle.   Make that 2-0 for Muskegon.

Division 6
Montague had another lopsided win for the "West Side" in a 41-20 win over Leslie.

Division 4
Holland Christian knocked off Detroit Country Day 35-20 for thier first state title in only 7 years of playing football.

Four games, four state titles for the West Side of the state.

Vacation Update
I was at the fabulous Joe Louis Arena in Detroit last night.   The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-3 with two goals from Marian Hossa, including the game winner with exactly 2:00 left... The Wings also got a goal by former Grand Rapids Griffin Jiri Hudler.   I was a season ticket holder of the Griffins for 8 seasons, and it's great to be able to have seen these young players develop in the minors in Grand Rapids, and then explode in the NHL, as Hudler has done.   Congrats Wings.

UPDATE

 The West side of the state won all 8 championship.

Posted by Dave Wolf at 09:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Posted by Dave Wolf at 07:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Well, I did not expect to see this one.  

I read in this morning's South Bend Tribune that Benton Harbor football coach Maurice Burton resigned as the Benton Harbor football coach "Burton resigns as Tigers' coach"

In the article Burton said that former football coach and current Benton Harbor athletic director Larry Featherstone did not tell him to step down.

However, I've learned that Burton was given a "resign or be fired" ultimatum by some members of the Benton Harbor Board of Education. 

It's been a rough few years for the Tigers football program, the Tigers have not had a winning regular season since 1989, the Tigers were 0-9 each of the last two years under Maurice Burton.  Larry Featherstone spent 6 years as football coach, posting a 17-37 record before being dismissed as football coach under Athletic Director James Rutter. 

Rutter selected Burton late in the school year in 2007, there was a lot of excitment in the Benton Harbor community.   Rutter expected the stands at Filstrup Field to be packed every week and he fully expected the Tigers to compete.   Here's the proof, this was recorded by WSJM back in April of 2007 during a public interview with the leading candidates for the BH football job. 

Then Benton Harbor Athletic Director James Rutter http://wsjmsports.com/blogs/kickoff/ruttergetbeat.mp3

There was little doubt that Rutter wanted the Tigers to win..  who wouldn't but, Rutter's actions spoke more than the words he used.   Shortly after Burton was hired as football coach, Rutter resigned as athletic director and took a position in Lansing.  Leaving Benton Harbor without an athletic director for the summer.   Part of the summer included football training camp, a camp that didn't have a lot of real workouts because the lack of a trainer, something the athletic director would have taken care of... if they had one.

Outgoing football coach Larry Featherstone was hired as AD shortly after school started, Featherstone learned on the job, getting some help from the AD's at St. Joe and Lakeshore.   Featherstone has left a mark as an outstanding athletic director.  Unfortunately some predicted that this situation was expected.  How could Featherstone allow his replacement to continue coaching after his falling short of what Featherstone accomplished.   

It's unfortunate for Burton and for Benton Harbor, they didn't have the wins on the field, but they won for playing the games, against the powerhouse teams such as St. Joe, Lakeshore, and Jackson Lumen Christi.   They didn't quit.

Well a new coach will be coming.   Burton will still remain a state trooper and also the track coach at Benton Harbor. 

Burton is the second local coach to step down as football coach in the past few weeks,  Mattawan's Doug Paran resigned as head coach after a 1-8 season.

Posted by Dave Wolf at 04:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Well the 2008 MHSAA finals are set and I have a few opinions about the games.

I probably won't be able to watch any of the games, I'm taking a brief vacation to the Lansing and then Detroit area this weekend, including the Red Wings game on Friday at the Joe Louis Arena... maybe I'll go to Ford Field to watch the Lions.... I think I can get seats cheap.

As for the games

Division 1
Rockford (12-1) vs. Lake Orion (12-1) - Saturday 1:00
I have an uncle that used to live in Lake Orion... This one is hard to call, Rockford defeated the second ranked team in Divison 1 Grand Ledge 56-14.  Lake Orion beat first ranked Dearborn Fordson 38-0.   I'll go with Lake Orion in a nailbiter 21-17

Division 2
Muskegon (13-0) vs. Warren DeLaSalle (13-0) - Friday 1:00. 
One of two matchups of undefeated teams in the finals this year.   Muskegon has been just plain dominant this season, they took out the top ranked team in Division 1 Lowell 49-14.  DeLaSalle is ranked number 3 in Division 2.  They've had some blowout wins, as well as a couple of games decided by 5 points or less.   Considering what Muskegon did to number 1 ranked Lowell, I'll take Muskegon 28-6.

Division 3
East Grand Rapids (12-1) vs. Inkster (12-1) - Saturday 7:30
Inkster went from 12-2 in 2006, losing to Saginaw Nouvel 28-14 in the Finals, they went to 1-8 in 2007, and then 12-1 this season.  Inkster is making their 2nd appearance in the finals in only their 4th trip to the playoffs.   While East Grand Rapids seemingly shouldn't have to play the first 9 games and are automatic playoff qualifiers every year.   East Grand Rapids missed the playoffs in 2000, going 3-6.  Since then the Pioneers have recorded 10+ win seasons each season since 2001 (11-1, 14-0*, 14-0*, 10-2, 10-1, 13-1*, 13-1*    *=state title).    Can't argue with the job Pete Stuursma has done with the University of EGR.     I'll say  EGR 35, Inkster 10.     In fact, I think that EGR should be playing on Thanksgiving instead of the Detroit Lions,  EGR will probably give Tennessee a better game than the Lions.    Did you know that EGR has a better winning percentage at Ford Field than the Lions do????

Division 4
Holland Christian (13-0) vs. Detroit Country Day (11-2) - Friday 7:30
Holland Christian has reached the state finals for the first time, and they've only played varsity football for 6 seasons, including this year.   Country Day is in the finals for the second consecutive season, losing to Marine City 21-7 in the D4 Final last year.   They will want to make sure that they will walk out of Ford Field as winners this season... Will it happen?  I say no.  Holland Christian 24, Country Day 20.

Division 5
Ovid-Elsie (12-1) vs. Muskegon Oakridge (13-0) - Saturday 4:30
Muskegon will be well represented at the Finals this season.  and I think that this will be the second title the Muskegon area will pick up this season.   Oakridge last reached the finals in 2005 when they lost 42-28 to Jackson Lumen Christi, they took care of Lumen Christi 27-16 in the semifinals last week.   O-E is back in the playoffs after missing the playoffs last season with a 5-4 record, they reached the playoffs in the previous two seasons after finishing with a losing record each season from 1994-2004.   I will go with Oakridge 33, O-E 17.

Division 6
Montague (12-1) vs. Leslie (12-1) - Friday 4:30
I don't really know a lot about these two schools, I'm willing to guess not many around here do.  But by looking at the schedules of both teams, Leslie's 1 defeat came by the hands of 8-2 Hillsdale.  The one loss for Montague is a 28-21 defeat at the hands of D5 finalist Muskegon Oakridge.   I will have to take Montague 28-20.

Division 7
Traverse City St. Francis (12-1) vs. Ubly (13-0) - Saturday 10:00
The two schools met in the 2003 semifinals with St. Francis beating Ubly 20-14.   Ubly has been outscoring opponents around 48 to 10 so far this season, of Ubly's 13 games, they have scored more than 40 points in 10 of them, 4 games over 50 points and scored 65 in the opening round of the playoffs.  St. Francis is no stranger to the finals, TCSF won the 2003 title and another title in 2005.   Maybe it's time that Ubly faced a rather difficult opponent.  I'll take St. Francis in the upset 28-26.

Division 8
Crystal Falls Forest Park (13-0) vs. Muskegon Catholic Central (13-0) - Friday 10:00
You don't find many Class D schools choosing to play Class A and B schools during the season, but this is exactly what MCC has done.   They cruised through the regular season and finished with 100.444 playoff points.   One of those 9 wins came against Division 4 finalish Detroit Country Day, and it was a rather convincing win 35-6.... ON THE ROAD.   Can't argue with that, I say MCC wins Division 8 over Forest Park 35-10.

Posted by Dave Wolf at 12:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Lancers were breathing down the necks of the number 2 team in the state of Michigan. Well, a roughly 4 minute span spelled doom for the Lancers, 3 turnovers, a punt return for touchdown and the Lancers who were down by a single point to start the half, were down 28 points midway through the final quarter.

It's hard to win any game when you turn the ball over and allow a punt return on 4 straight possessions, it's almost impossible to win a game when your facing the two time defending Division 3 state champions. So Lakeshore finishes the season at 11-2, the only two losses for the Lancers were to the number 2 ranked East Grand Rapids Pioneers, and to the number 1 ranked St. Joseph Bears 21-18. A loss they repaid to the Bears in the District finals.

While the loss for Lakeshore is disappointing, I think it's safe to say that considering what chances everybody gave the Lancers after returning only two starters on offense. Lakeshore surpassed everybody's expectations, maybe even coach Denny Dock.

This is the third 11 win season for Lakeshore in the program's 51 year history. Lakeshore lost the Big 16 West by a fumble with 40 seconds to go, but I think that most Lakeshore fans would take the District and Regional titles over the Division title anyday.

I guess that's it for football this season, I'm going to keep this going for Basketball. The Girls season starts in less than two weeks. One week later the boys season begins. So to close out the 2008 football season. Congrats to all of the 30 area teams on their seasons. Some won more than others.

The 2009 season begins on August 28th.

• Will Benton Harbor and River Valley break their losing streaks?
• Which coaches won't be around for next season?
• What will be the final season of Lakeland Conference play be like for River Valley?
• What will the newly realigned Big 16 bring to St. Joe and Lakeshore?
• With Portage Central and Northern joining to the West, will St. Joe repeat as Division champs?
• Will the four Red Arrow schools finally be able to compete with the four SJV schools?
• Will Michigan Lutheran's second year on JV be able to get them ready for Varsity in 2010?

There are a number of questions still to be asked, but there won't be many answers until August of 2009.

OK, time to break out the bleacher seat and get ready to spend 4 days a week doing basketball games for St. Joe.

Thanks for listening to the show during football season, I'll see you throughout basketball season right here on this blog.....

BTW,   I know Michigan got blown out by Ohio State.... But Syracuse a 2-8 team just beat Notre Dame????  Wow, I love Oranges...  (sorry Jason)

Posted by Dave Wolf at 09:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

There are a number of song lyrics that could go with this post.

Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye - Steam
Goodbye to you - Michelle Branch
Goodbye to you - Scandal
Goodbye - Miley Cirus (I did a search on google ok!!!!)

Well, the first goodbye of the football postseason comes from the Big 16 West Division as Mattawan head coach Doug Paran steps down after a 1-8 season.

This is according to Tuesday's Kalamazoo Gazette (Paran resigns Mattawan football coaching position).

The Wildcats have spent the last 4 years under the control of Doug Paran after coming over from Lakeshore, serving as an assistant to Denny Dock.    Paran did serve as an assistant under then Mattawan head coach Mark Lawrence.   Paran finishes at 17-21 (.447). 

Paran made the playoffs during his first two years, going 6-4 in 2005 losing to Battle Creek Harper Creek in the first round 55-31.   The Wildcats again made the playoffs in 2006, losing 10-6 at Lakeshore in the first round, finishing at 7-3 on the season.

Mattawan would struggle the next two years, falling to 3-6 in 2007, and a 1-8 record in 2008. with the 'Cats only win coming against 0-9 Benton Harbor.

This season was probably the most difficult for the Wildcats, the controversy for Paran started before the season even started as a number of key players were kicked off of the team due to violations of team rules.   The parents of those players were threatening to sue the school district to get them reinstated to the team.  The numbers on the roster weren't that deep either this season as the Wildcats only had 27 players on the varsity roster for 2008,  not a good number for a Class A school consisting of 1,158 students.  I think you could tell then that the clock for Paran was already starting to countdown.

So the new coach whomever it shall be will have to contend with a program that only has 4 wins in the last two seasons combined.  In addition, the new coach will have to find a way to bring the skilled athletes roaming the halls of the new Mattawan High School.   The Mattawan administration will name a successor sometime before January.   If you want my opinion, make sure the new coach will keep the players on the field, keep the parents out of his playbook, and off the sidelines.

It doesn't really help Mattawan that St. Joe and Lakeshore are in the division, next season add Portage Central and Portage Northern to the West Divsion.   The new coach will have his feet to the fire in the first two weeks, they travel to Battle Creek Lakeview and then host Jackson Lumen Chrisit in week 2 of 2009.

Posted by Dave Wolf at 11:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

OK, sorry, but I have to do this again.

"Against the Wind"

The Lakeshore Lancers had to go against the win to take the lead with about 4 minutes to go as Aaron Sanders caught a 10 yard touchdown pass from Zak Wasserman in the corner of the end zone to give Lakeshore a 18-15 lead against East Lansing to win the Regional Championship.

And the Lancers had to do it into not only a stiff 25-30 mile and hour wind, but a very cold wind.   The Lancers were the only team to be able to score with the wind in their face.

Now the game wasn't decided until the very last play of the game.   With 10 seconds remaining, East Lansing completed a 30 yard pass down to the Lakeshore 20 yard line,  After the ball was spotted, East Lansing spiked the ball with 4 seconds left to set up a 37 yard field goal with the wind to try to tie the game.

I never caught the name of the kicker for East Lansing, but his kick hit the crossbar dead center as the clock hit zeros.

Last week the Lancers defeated the number 1 team in the AP poll, well, they get to face what is probably the top program in the state of Michigan.   As Al Pscholka calls them, the "University of East Grand Rapids."

The East Grand Rapids Pioneers who only lost 1 game this season to number 1 in division 2 Lowell. 

East Grand Rapids has won 4 of the last 5 Division 3 state championships, including the last two.  If you remember last year, they needed 5 overtimes to defeat Orchard Lake St. Mary's 46-39 in probably the most memorable championship game in MHSAA history.

Now unless you have been living under a rock for the past 10 years,  EGR has probably one of the top athletic programs, not just football in the state of Michigan.   EGR has around 102 state titles in their trophy case.  

Now as for the "University of EGR" part, there are always allegations about some illegal activity about recruiting practices about the Pioneers, most of them involve the name Grady.   Kevin Grady Sr. was banned by the MHSAA from a few years ago and the EGR athletic program was placed on probation in 2005 by Grady's involvement in the football programs.   Grady has two sons that now play at the University of Michigan, Kevin Jr. is on the football team, while brother Kelvin Grady is on the Michigan Basketball team.  

Here is the story from WZZM TV in Grand Rapids
http://www.wzzm13.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=38886

Well Grady is gone, but they have to worry about Joe Glendenning.  This guy is a pure athlete,  All State in Football, Lacrosse, and Hockey.   Not bad.   

Al and Denny said that the game will most likely be played on Saturday, November 22 at 1:00.  Probably at Otsego High School.  We will try to confirm that soon.

Elsewhere

South Haven was defeated by Holland Christian
Decatur lost to Reading
Mendon lost to Muskegon Catholic Central

Posted by Dave Wolf at 03:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=281112029

Benton Harbor's Wilson Chandler had a good night on Wednesday.  27 points, 11 of 12 shooting.

I know it's the Knicks but a good night for Wilson.  

 If you want to see him in person, The Knicks are scheduled to be in Detroit at the Palace on Wednesday, November 26, at 8PM.  He'll be in Chicago against the Bulls on Tuesday December 9 at 8:30.

In Indianapolis on January 31,  In Detroit again on March 11,  at Chicago on April 7

Posted by Dave Wolf at 08:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I've decided that I will keep the blog going all year long including basketball season.

And since I am a huge fan of Genesis and Phil Collins, this one was easy to quote.

"Take A look at me now"

That's exactly what Benton Harbor should be saying after the recent work and updates to on of the top basketball venues in Southwest Michigan, Benton Harbor's Don Farnum Gymnasium.

Now I am one of those people that really like visiting Benton Harbor's gym, working with the St. Joe girls and boys basketball teams during the last 20 years or so, I've been a frequent visitor to Farnum Gym.  It was rare that St. Joe came out on top during these past 20 years or so.   I've seen some of the classic battles between the Bears and Tigers, Bart Holubar, Anthony Miller, Kim Knuth, and recently Destiney Williams, Brad Guinane, Devino Williams.   These were many of the great players that I have seen working and attending these games.

But the gym was really showing its age.   Like the Bear Den in St. Joe, one of the very few area gyms that still have wooden bleachers.  To my knowledge, only St. Joe, and LMC are the only schools in Berrien County that still have wooden bleachers.

Benton Harbor easily has the highest seating capacity of the Berrien County schools.  Despite that the new beachers will reduce the capacity by a hundred or so.   The new bleachers have to comply with the ADA (Americans with disabilties act).  Which mean that the new bleachers are wider between rows and less steep, which means they aren't as high.   While Benton Harbor really hasn't come near to capacity recently for games, it still reduces the number of paying patrons that can find a seat.

That's one reason that St. Joseph hasn't redone the aging wooden bleachers in the Bear Den.  The Bear Den underwent a renovation back in 2003 while the fieldhouse was being built, but one thing that wasn't upgraded was the bleachers.   The Bears have come to capacity several times since then, usually for Lakeshore or Benton Harbor games.  But the Bear Den in St. Joe holds about 1,800 comfortably.   Take away a few hundred seats and at $4-$5 a head, suddenly the St. Joe schools athletic budget would take a hit.    Lakeshore redid their gym about 10-15 years ago.   They lost a few hundred seats.  If you have tried to find a seat at a Lakeshore home basketball game against St. Joe or Benton Harbor, you would have to get there early.   The bad part for St. Joe and Lakeshore is that there isn't much they can do to increase capacity.  St. Joe has a fieldhouse on one side and St. Joe has a hill to deal with on the other side. 

Seating capacities for Lakeshore and St. Joe will be a major topic this postseason... St. Joe will host the Girls district tournament.  Lakeshore will be hosting the Boys Class B district tournament.  The Class B regional tournament, which has been held at venues such as Western Michigan University or Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek... Will be held at St. Joe High School.  

BTW. Here are some photos of the new Farnum Gym in Benton Harbor.  (I like the Tiger pictogram in the upper deck.... NICE)  (Thanks to Louis Krajecki)

Posted by Dave Wolf at 04:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's been a few days since the game on Friday, and I am now recovered from it.   I would have said it was the cold, but I am what you would call... a "wimp"   I get to work in the heated pressbox at St. Joe so I have no problems whatsoever with weather or cold during games.

I wish I could say that it was the wind and cold that downed my Bears last Friday, It was kinda funny, the weather map on Friday from the Weather Channel had a huge low pressure system in Illinois moving towards Michigan.   Ironic, because that map had a huge red "L" surrounded by a swirling storm of snow and rain and misery.

Well, that's exactly what happened at Dickinson Stadium last Friday for St. Joe, a huge "L" storm, without a lot of pressure came in to St. Joe and the winds coming from the south, blew away the Bears in the District finals.   The rain played by Zak Wasserman, and the snow, provided by Coco Johnson, who snowed over the Bears defense in the second half to put the game out of reach.

St. Joe's season finishes at 10-1,  Lakeshore now also 10-1 will host the East Lansing Trojans on Saturday afternoon at Kohn-Lehmann Field at Al Stockman Stadium at 1:00. 

Now I can't tell you much about East Lansing, except that they are 8-3 on the season.  Two of their three losses are against playoff teams.  The Trojans were defeated by Lansing Everett 29-7, Everett is 7-3 and lost to Lowell in the District Championship game 62-42 in Division 2(yes 104 points).   East Lansing also lost to Grand Ledge 36-35, Grand Ledge is 10-1 and lost to Rockford 56-14 in a Division 1 District Championship game.   Now, the third loss for East Lansing is a little perplexing.  The Trojans were defeated 27-17 in week 5 to Lansing Eastern (try to stay with me on this.  East Lansing and Lansing Eastern...)   Lansing Eastern finished the year at 2-7.   We don't know the circumstances of that game, not without spending 1.99 to buy the game article from the Lansing State Journal's archives.   But if you wanted to read the preview from the LSJ, Click here.

As for the other big game on Friday night.  I'll say this.

If college football needs a reason to have a playoff for a championship here's the example.   The South Haven Rams basically were seeded 4th in the "Wolverine Conference District"  The Rams went on the road and beat the top seed Paw Paw.  Then a week later, they went on the road again and avenged a loss earlier in the season by defeating Three Rivers, at a place where the Rams have had very little success.

Well this week's game for the Rams again has them on the road, but it's going to be an unfamiliar place for South Haven Coach Sam Nichols.  Holland Christian.  The Rams head coach had a coaching role with Holland Christian in helping start the Maroons football program.  He knows the program and he knows the weeknesses and strengths of many of his former players and hopefully that will give the Rams an edge to possibly gain the Rams first Regional title to go along with the District title they picked up a week ago.

 OK that's it for me.  

I'll be checking in every so often, I've even decided to keep posting during baskeball season. 

Posted by Dave Wolf at 05:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ok... "Take My Breath Away"

Now that my bad recall of 1980's Top Gun soundtrack lyrcis are out of the way... What else can I say.

The St. Joe Bears have had a few close games since Elliot Uzelac took over the helm of the program prior to the 2006 season.

Two games with Battle Creek Central come to mind, in 2006 St. Joe got a field goal from Ethan Schweir with 5 seconds to go to beat Battle Creek Central 24-21.   A year ago, the Bears defeated the Bearcats 19-18 in a back and forth game all night long.  This year's Lakeshore game comes to mind, the Bears 21-18 winners as the Lancers lose a fumble with under a minute left.

Other than those three games, the Bears have not had a game decided by anything less than at least a touchdown.  The Bears really haven't had to play in close games, but they've won all of those close games.

Jay Nimtz's 36 yard field goal with 12 seconds remaining and Sean Guinane's 2 yard run for the 2 point conversion in the overtime gave the Bears a 32-31 victory in the first round of the MHSAA playoffs, setting up a rematch of the last two district title games as St. Joe hosts Lakeshore, the Lancers had little trouble with Charlotte in a 42-7 win on Saturday afternoon.

 BTW, Here is the video of the Guinane 2 point conversion

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaxbWz90l5U

If you ask me, St. Joe needed a close ball game.  Other than the win over Lakeshore, the Bears have jumped out to huge lead in all the games.   The Bears needed to play in a close ball game after having easy wins against Benton Harbor, Mattawan, and Kalamazoo Central.

BTW as I type this, the sprinklers are on again in the Notre Dame game... not the ones on the field,  the ones from the eyes of the Notre Dame players after falling in the 4th overtime to Pitt 36-33.   I am going to enjoy watching Jeff Jeffers cry over this one on Channel 16.  (Sorry Jason)

Posted by Dave Wolf at 05:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)