We conclude our preview of the 2023 high school football season with the SMAC Conference. St. Joseph comes into the season as the defending champions, winning convincingly in the final week of the regular season at Battle Creek Central in a winner take all game for the title. Although the Bears come into the season as the defending champs, this season’s Bears roster looks totally difference from last year as the Bears graduated 28 seniors from the team last year. Lakeshore looks to right the ship from a 3-6 season under now 3rd year coach Danny Thompson. It was the Lancers worst record since finishing 1-8 in 1987. The one benefit for the Lancers is they have a full offseason to prepare a quarterback, instead of one week after last year’s starter Ryan Korfmacher was hurt in a non-contact injury late in a game at Battle Creek Lakeview, just ahead of their week 7 matchup with arch-rival St. Joe. Lakeshore also looks to win a home game for the first time since 2021 as the Lancers we blanked at Kohn-Lehman Field at Al Stockman Stadium, falling to Zeeland West, Battle Creek Central, St. Joseph, and Portage Central.
Around the league teams heading to Battle Creek’s C.W. Post Field will get a look at the first non-green colored artificial turf surface, as the worn-down surface at the oldest stadium in the league now has a new blue surface.
2023 SMAC Conference Preview
Battle Creek Central Bearcats
2022 Record: 7-3 (6-1 SMAC)
Head Coach: Lorin Granger (23rd season, 38-62)
2023 Schedule:
8/25 at Byron Center – 7:00 p.m.
9/1 vs. Battle Creek Harper Creek – 7:00 p.m.
9/8 vs. Portage Northern – 7:00 p.m.
9/15 vs. Lakeshore – 7:00 p.m.
9/22 at Mattawan – 7:00 p.m.
9/29 vs. Portage Central – 7:00 p.m.
10/6 at Kalamazoo Central – 7:00 p.m.
10/13 vs. Battle Creek Lakeview – 7:00 p.m.
10/20 at St. Joseph – 7:00 p.m.
Things couldn’t have been set up more perfect for Battle Creek Central at the end of the 2022 season. The Bearcats entered the final week of the season with a change to win the SMAC Conference Championship with a game at home against St. Joseph. However, St. Joe also had that very same opportunity. Both St. Joe and Battle Creek Central entered the week 9 game at C.W. Post Field in Battle Creek with identical 7-1 records and 6-0 records in the league. But after a back and forth first half. It was St. Joe that made enough plays to claim the outright conference championship.
So to say the Bearcats have a little extra motivation this season would be an understatement. Battle Creek Central has 17 seniors on this season’s team of 48 players. They return four starters on offense, including the SMAC’s most electrifying players in Quarterback Devoine Newton, Newton has been the Bearcats starting quarterback since he was a freshman and after some early lumps, he has become one of the players to watch not only in the SMAC, but in the region as well. Newton (5’10-215) will look for senior wide receivers Mike Stein (6’2-190) and Alijah Pointer (6-4-180) He will take the snaps behind seniors Quinn Smith (5’11-280) and Jon Contreras (5’10-265) running the spread offense. But Newton will run the ball himself a good portion of the snaps.
Battle Creek Central will lineup defensively in a 3-4 alignment with five starters returning from a year ago. The key starters on the defense will be junior linebacker Kalifornia Bey (6’1-220), junior outside linebacker Kapree Richardson (6’0-205) and senior defensive end Marlin Jones (6’1-225)
Elijah Everett will handle the punting duties and Juan Romero will take care of the kicking duties.
Granger says. “We lost 22 seniors from last years playoff team, so we will be very young this year. We do have a QB that in our opinion is top 10 in the State, already breaking several school records. Mike Stein is a rising star, as is Kali Bey, we will be looking to them for leadership this fall. We anticipate that we should be competitive as we have a lot of young guys who have been “waiting for their chance”.
Granger says Portage Central, Portage Northern and his Bearcats are the favorites in the SMAC.
One new feature for Battle Creek Central is that the artificial turf installed in 2008 has finally be replaced and the new surface is blue and not the traditional green color. Battle Creek Central and Lakeshore were the first SMAC teams to install turf at their stadiums in 2008, although Lakeshore replaced the surface four years ago.
Battle Creek Lakeview Spartans
2022 Record: 3-6 (2-5 SMAC)
Head Coach: Brett Vernon (1st season)
2023 Schedule:
8/24 vs. Battle Creek Harper Creek – 7:00 p.m.
8/31 at Grand Ledge – 7:00 p.m.
9/8 vs. Portage Central – 7:00 p.m.
9/15 vs. St. Joseph – 7:00 p.m.
9/22 at Portage Northern – 7:00 p.m.
9/29 at Lakeshore – 7:00 p.m.
10/6 vs. Mattawan – 7:00 p.m.
10/13 at Battle Creek Central – 7:00 p.m.
10/20 vs. Kalamazoo Central – 7:00 p.m.
Battle Creek Lakeview did not reply to our request for a season preview.
Kalamazoo Central Maroon Giants
2022 Record: 0-9 (0-7 SMAC)
Head Coach: Mike Stanger (3rd season, 2-16)
2023 Schedule:
8/24 vs. Kalamazoo Loy Norrix – 7:30 p.m.
8/31 at Sturgis – 7:00 p.m.
9/8 at St. Joseph – 7:00 p.m.
9/15 vs. Portage Northern – 7:00 p.m.
9/22 at Lakeshore – 7:00 p.m.
9/29 at Mattawan – 7:00 p.m.
10/6 vs. Battle Creek Central – 7:00 p.m.
10/13 vs. Portage Central – 7:00 p.m.
10/20 at Battle Creek Lakeview – 7:00 p.m.
Kalamazoo Central did not reply to our request for a season preview.
Lakeshore Lancers
2022 Record: 3-6 (3-4 SMAC)
Head Coach: Danny Thompson (3rd season, 10-10)
2023 Schedule:
8/24 at Zeeland West – 5:00 p.m.
8/31 vs. Niles – 7:00 p.m.
9/9 vs. Mattawan – 7:00 p.m.
9/15 at Battle Creek Central – 7:00 p.m.
9/22 vs. Kalamazoo Central – 7:00 p.m.
9/29 vs. Battle Creek Lakeview – 7:00 p.m.
10/6 at St. Joseph – 7;00 p.m.
10/13 vs. Portage Northern – 7:00 p.m.
10/20 at Portage Central – 7:00 p.m.
In many cases for any sports team, or life in general, there is a turning point, things can go either way at an instance. For the 2022 Lakeshore Lancers, the turning point happened in the fourth quarter of their week 6 matchup at Battle Creek Lakeview, and while they won the game 42-35. The season headed south when starting quarterback Ryan Korfmacher broke his leg in a non-contact injury.
Lakeshore tried to break in a new quarterback going in to the final three games of the season, unfortunately those three games were to St. Joseph, Portage Northern and Portage Central all in a row.
Enter 2023: Lakeshore enters the new season with a new quarterback, and one that has been able to get the reps and practice in to prepare for the season. Coach Danny Thompson will hand the reigns to Senior Quarterback Matt Vaughn (6’4-215) However it won’t be just Vaughn at quarterback as he will also line up as a tight end and wide receiver. Senior Lucas Fay (5’7-160) and Zach Ort (6’3-205) will be at wide out. Asher Kuhn who played an increased role in the Lancer offense after Korfmacher’s injury will be the Lancers running back (6’3-215). On the offensive line, senior Jake Chellman will line up at center (6’5-275), senior Kieran Allen at tackle (6’5-245), and junior Alex Toothman lining up at guard or tackle (6’3-250). Lakeshore has six starters back on offense this fall.
The Lancers defense will line up in a 4-2 set, with four starters back from last season. With Vaughn (MLB/DE) and Ort (OLB) on defense as well. Joining them are Sophomore Ryley Danapilis at free safety (5’10-165) and seniors Cohen Hurdle (6’2-175) at cornerback, Alec Wojahn (6’2-175) at strong safety, and Zach Meechum (5’11-200) at defensive end.
Lakeshore has the luxury of having two capable place kickers with Wojahn and sophomore Ajay Singh (5’10-165).
Thompson who enters his third season as the Lancers head coach said about his team.
“Very excited about the upcoming season. We have competition all over the field and depth at the skill position. Had a great summer of lifting and looking forward to break out seasons from both seniors and juniors.
Offense: We are looking at a healthy competition at QB between Matt Vaughn(S), Jake DenDooven(J) and Landon Hall(F). Ton of skill players that we are super excited about to get into space. Couple guys to highlight … Zach Ort (Number 1 WR huge mismatch) Asher Kuhn big down hill runner with speed. Lucas Fay hardest worker on the team prime to help us both in the slot and at corner. Matt Vaughn “Mr. Do Everything”… He will never leave the field. A big offensive of line lead by Jake Chellman (my opinion one of the best o-lineman in the state) and Kieran Allen.
Defensively we are going to be carried by our Seniors… Matt Vaughn – Zach Ort – Alec Wojahn – Cohen Hurdle – Zach Meechum. They are hungry and we are going to play simple and aggressive. Where we might lack with a little bit of size we will make up with speed.”
Thompson wouldn’t name a favorite in the SMAC, but said. “Conference is tough every year I think it will come down to who plays mistake free football.”
Lakeshore’s season will start on the road on August 24th at Zeeland West, with an early 5:00 kickoff. As always, you can hear every Lancers game live on 97.5 Y-Country with Al Pscholka and Denny Kniola.
Mattawan Wildcats
2022 Record: 3-6 (2-5 SMAC)
Head Coach: David Arrasmith (4th season, 8-17)
2023 Schedule:
8/24 at Lowell – 7:00 p.m.
8/31 vs. Marshall – 7:00 p.m.
9/8 at Lakeshore – 7:00 p.m.
9/15 at Portage Central – 7:00 p.m.
9/22 vs. Battle Creek Central – 7:00 p.m.
9/29 vs. Kalamazoo Central – 7:00 p.m.
10/6 at Battle Creek Lakeview – 7:00 p.m.
10/13 vs. St. Joseph – 7:00 p.m.
10/20 at Portage Northern – 7:00 p.m.
Mattawan did not reply to our request for a season preview.
2022 Record: 4-5 (4-3 SMAC)
Head Coach: Mick Enders (14th season, 90-43)
2023 Schedule:
8/24 vs. East Lansing – 7:00 p.m.
8/31 at Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central – 7:00 p.m.
9/8 at Battle Creek Lakeview – 7:00 p.m.
9/15 vs. Mattawan – 7:00 p.m.
9/22 at St. Joseph – 7:00 p.m.
9/29 at Battle Creek Central – 7:00 p.m.
10/6 vs. Portage Northern – 7:00 p.m.
10/13 at Kalamazoo Central – 7:00 p.m.
10/20 vs. Lakeshore – 7:00 p.m.
When it comes to football in the SMAC, it’s known that in most seasons, the conference (or division) title runs through Portage Central. It’s only when the Mustangs don’t have a good year that other teams may have a chance.
Portage Central was set up perfectly for a great season as the Mustangs were home for five of the first six weeks of the season, but only were able to win one of those five early home games and started with a 2-4 record before finishing at 4-5. Except for a 42-0 loss to Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, Portage Central lost their other five games by a total of 24 points. Including a 1-point loss at home to St. Joseph after they missed two PAT’s
But coach Mick Enders will count on an experienced group of players onto the field this season as he has 20 seniors on the team this season, with nine starters back on offense and eight on defense.
Junior Peyton Porter (6’0-170) will once again play quarterback for the Mustangs flexbone offense. Senior Tomas Layne (5’10-190) lines up at running back, and senior Nick Green (5’8-165) will be a slot back. Senior Jake Longman (6’5-305) and junior Jase Brookens (6’2-295) will be up front on the offensive line.
On the Mustangs odd front defensive scheme, Enders says seniors Carson Schnurstein (5’10-195) and Peyton Ruthven (6’1-195) are at free safety and safety respectively. While seniors Danny Calhoun (6’2-210) and Alex Tangeman (6’5 200) will play outside linebacker.
Junior Sean Myers will be the kicker on special teams.
According to Enders, “We bring back a veteran group that played a lot of snaps last year. Non-conference schedule is very challenging and looking forward to working with this group.”
Enders expects his rivals Portage Northern and St. Joseph as the teams to beat in the SMAC this season.
You can hear the Mustangs game at St. Joseph on News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM and the season finale at home against Lakeshore on 97.5 Y-Country.
Portage Northern Huskies
2022 Record: 7-4 (5-2 SMAC)
Head Coach: Kurt Twichell, 3rd season (10-10)
2023 Schedule:
8/24 at Vicksburg – 7:00 p.m.
8/31 vs. Holland West Ottawa – 7:00 p.m.
9/8 at Battle Creek Central – 7:00 p.m.
9/15 at Kalamazoo Central – 7:00 p.m.
9/22 vs. Battle Creek Lakeview – 7:00 p.m.
9/29 vs. St. Joseph – 7:00 p.m.
10/6 at Portage Central – 7:00 p.m.
10/13 at Lakeshore – 7:00 p.m.
10/20 vs. Mattawan – 7:00 p.m.
Quarterbacks come and unfortunately in high school football, they leave just as fast. Portage Northern must find the next man up for record setting quarterback Cane Mack who is now at Wayne State University. What the Huskies do have coming back more than makes up for it. Braylen Amos steps into the role (5’9-165 Sr.), and despite Amos being a starting quarterback on the varsity for the first time as a senior. Portage Norther’s spread offense returns 9 starters from last year, including both wide receivers, Jadyn Walker (6’4”-210, Sr.) and Keegan McIntyre (5’11-180, Sr.). Portage Northern also has two offensive lineman over 250 pounds, and one of them is a sophomore, Gregory Patrick (6’4-265, So.) and Zack French (6’2”-275, Jr.).
The Huskies 4-3 defense also returns 10 starters from last year and features. Jackson Altwies, DE, 6’4” -220, Sr.), Manuel Messan, DE, (6’1”, 220, Sr.), Austin Walburn, DT, (5’11”, 170, Senior), Jackson Laskarides, LB, (5’11”, 215, Sr.), Vaughnzell Tyus, LB, (5’11”, 190, Jr.), and Yunus Mumuni, CB, (5’11”, 175, Sr.).
Third year head coach Kurt Twichell said, “We return 19 starters plus our specialist from a young team in 2022 that got a taste of the postseason, but must replace the production of two All-State players in QB Cane Mack and RB XaVior Tyus.
You’ll be able to hear the Huskies game with St. Joseph on September 29 on News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM and the Huskies game at Lakeshore on 97.5 Y-Country on October 13.
2022 Record: 9-2 (7-0 SMAC)
Head Coach: Andrew Pratley (5th season, 30-13)
2023 Schedule:
8/24 at Niles – 7:00 p.m.
8/31 vs. Detroit Henry Ford – 7:00 p.m.
9/8 vs. Kalamazoo Central – 7:00 p.m.
9/15 at Battle Creek Lakeview – 7:00 p.m.
9/22 vs. Portage Central – 7:00 p.m.
9/29 at Portage Northern – 7:00 p.m.
10/6 vs. Lakeshore – 7:00 p.m.
10/13 at Mattawan – 7:00 p.m.
10/20 vs. Battle Creek Central – 7:00 p.m.
St. Joe comes into the season missing 28 seniors from last season’s 2022 SMAC Championship team. Coach Andrew Pratley enters his 5th season with only two starters returning on offense. Davis Crossman or Jackson Lane will take the snaps for the Bears Split Back Veer style offense, the two will alternate back and forth. St. Joe did the same thing two seasons ago when last years starting quarterback Matt Lanier was a junior and he split time with then senior Preston Nichols. Nichols was injured later that season, putting Lanier under center the rest of the way.
Also gone are 1,000-yard rusher Joron Brown and speedster Trey McGinnis. Derek Cruz did have time and experience at running back last year for the Bears. St. Joe will also count on Blayke Sicurello, who played as a wide receiver on the bears 8-1 JV team a year ago.
St. Joe’s 4-3 base defense will be led by returning seniors Max Kesterke (6’0”-190, Sr.) and Jack Lawrence (6’1-190, Sr.). While adding sophomore Isaac Codde (6’1-195, So.) and Maguire Lange (5’8-170, Jr.). Like the Bears offense, the Bears defense only returns two starters from last season.
St. Joe again chooses to combine their JV and Varsity squads and use the 5th quarter rule extensively. With 54 players suiting up on for varsity games. St. Joe has 13 seniors this season.
According to Coach Andrew Pratley. “We will be extremely young, but our goals won’t change. An opportunity for players to step up and exceed expectations.”
Along with St. Joe, Pratley expects Portage Central, Portage Northern, and Battle Creek Central to battle it out for the SMAC championship once again.
A few new wrinkles for the St. Joe schedule is the resumption of the rivalry game with Niles. St. Joe and Niles met for the 100th time in 2019 before the Vikings left for the BCS and then Wolverine Conference, and they will continue to meet for the foreseeable future as the season opener, depending on the future membership of the SMAC conference. Gull Lake has indicated they will be returning to league play next year. While Kalamazoo Loy Norrix has not made their intentions known yet.
The Bears also have a week two game with Detroit Henry Ford at Dickinson Stadium.
You can hear every St. Joe game live on News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM with Joel Cordes and Bret Witkowski with the call of the game.