Eleven area high school football teams enter postseason
Tom Kendra | The Muskegon Chronicle, October 24, 2011 12:40 a.m.
West Michigan Conference football enjoys a favorable reputation around the state.
It comes from playoff tradition and the many state championship trophies on display at conference schools.
"I've said it since Week 1, we are the OK Red of small schools," Whitehall coach Cliff Sandee said. "The proof is in the pudding. We have three in the same region and all three are good enough to play in the state championship game."
Five WMC schools (Oakridge, Shelby, Montague, Whitehall and Ravenna) represent nearly half of the Muskegon area's 11 playoff qualifiers this season. The other participants are Grand Haven, Muskegon, Fruitport, Spring Lake, Ludington and Muskegon Catholic.
The 256-team playoff field was announced Sunday night by the Michigan High School Athletic Association. Pre-game districts will be played this weekend, followed by four more games to determine the state champions on Nov. 25-26 at Detroit's Ford Field.
"We're excited we get to play another week of football," Muskegon coach Shane Fairfield said. "It's one week at a time and the first one to five wins. This is why we do the things we do all season to put ourselves in this position."
Oakridge and Montague are in the same district and may play a rematch in Week 2; while Shelby, which tied Oakridge for the WMC title, is in a different region as its WMC foes.
Ravenna made the Division 7 playoffs as an at-large team at 5-4.
In Division 8, top-ranked Muskegon Catholic and No. 2 Mendon were placed in the same district and likely will meet in Week 2.
"I'd say that I classify our district as very tough," MCC coach Mike Holmes said about the district that also includes defending state runner-up Saugatuck and St. Joseph Lake Michigan Catholic.
Here's a look at the first-round matchups involving area teams.
Grand Ledge (7-2) at Grand Haven (8-1)
The Buccaneers defeated the Comets in the 2009 playoff opener. Haven is the No. 2 seed and Grand Ledge is No. 3. Top-seeded Rockford faces No. 4 West Ottawa in the other pre-district game.
"We are really looking forward to Grand Ledge coming here again," said Haven coach Mike Farley, whose team finished second behind Rockford in the OK Red. "They go to the playoffs every year and they are one of the best teams in mid-Michigan."
The Bucs are riding high from a big Seniors Night win over West Ottawa on Friday night. They may have a shot to avenge their lone loss to Rockford in the district title game.
Muskegon (7-2) at Mattawan (8-1)
Muskegon, which lost to Rockford and Grand Haven and finished third in the OK Red, will hit the road to face a new playoff opponent. The Wildcats play in the Southwestern Michigan Conference.
Fairfield doesn't know much about Mattawan, which has allowed only 136 points (15.1) and lost its lone game to Sturgis (25-16) in Week 2.
"This is somebody new," Fairfield said. "It adds to the mystery. They have four days to prepare for us and we have four days to prepare for them."
The winner will advance to the district title game against the Forest Hills Central-Lowell victor.
Fruitport (7-2) at East Grand Rapids (6-3)
The Pioneers have won the last five Division 3 state championships, but have lost three games this season to Holland (30-22), Lowell (23-14) and Grand Rapids Christian (50-49 in two OTs).
Fruitport coach Steve Wilson is hoping the Trojans also can surprise the state powerhouse. Fruitport won at East Grand Rapids in 2001 en route to a state runner-up finish.
"East is a beatable team, but we have to play good football," said Wilson, whose team missed getting home field against East by a single playoff point. "At least they are not undefeated this season. They are proving that they are human."
Fruitport is coming off a tough 28-6 loss to DeWitt, but Wilson thinks it was a good tuneup for this week's game.
Kenowa Hills and GR Christian meet in the other pre-district game.
Whitehall (6-3) at Sparta (7-2)
The Vikings are as healthy as they've been all season heading to Sparta.
It's been five years since Whitehall has played in the postseason.
"It's pretty exciting," said Sandee, Whitehall's first-year coach. "We've been preaching all season that it's a bonus to make it to the second season. We want to extend it as much as possible and have some fun."
Sparta has suffered its two losses to GR West Catholic (42-2) and Comstock Park (45-7).
Spring Lake and Comstock Park will play the other pre-district game.
Spring Lake (6-3) at Comstock Park (7-2)
The Lakers will prepare for a big team that runs an effective spread offense.
The Panthers suffered their losses to West Catholic (42-35) and Coopersville (14-13). Spring Lake fell to Coopersville on Friday night 49-35.
"We've done so much different this season for us to try to get through the first round," said Spring Lake coach Jerry Rabideau, whose team tied Fruitport for the Lakes 8 title. "Maybe Comstock Park is a team we can match up with."
Whitehall and Sparta will meet in the other pre-district game.
Ludington (6-3) at Escanaba (6-3)
The Orioles will have to make a long trip to the Upper Peninsula for their first taste of the playoffs since 1999.
Ludington earned its way to the postseason by winning its last five games.
"Our playoffs started in Week 5," said Ludington coach Charlie Gunsell, whose team ended the year with three straight shutouts. "We've been in playoff mode for awhile."
The game will match two talented dual-threat quarterbacks
