LSJ Blogs: Get Prepped

Extra points: Week 10

This continues to be the rainiest high school football season most of us remember. But mid-Michigan teams trudged to some big wins in the opening round. 

The big three:
1. DeWitt 42, Mason 0 -- I thought DeWitt would win. Most did. But not like this. The most slippery field I've ever seen didn't help anyone. But both teams had to play on it, and DeWitt found a way to make it work. 

2. Sexton 33, Fowlerville 20 -- The Gladiators made a late run to make this closer, but Onaje Miller again went over 200 yards rushing with four TDs. Now he gets to take on DeWitt.

3. Williamston 42, Battle Creek Pennfield 6 -- Never even close as the Hornets took down the No. 9 team in Division 4. 

Game ball: Stockbridge in Division 5. The Panthers took a bite out of the toughest area draw and didn't flinch a bit in downing No. 9 Onsted on the road. Next up: No. 1 Jackson Lumen Christi.  

WOW factor: Division 8 honorable mention Fulton downing No. 4 Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart on the road. Make that a huge vote for the CMAC and the area as a whole as three teams downed ranked opponents from outside mid-Michigan. 

Upset central: Fulton over MPSH, no question. 

Three more that caught my eye:
1. Durand 34, Laingsburg 14 -- A potential Ovid-Elsie/Laingsburg district final proved too good to be true. Laingsburg had given up only 44 points this season, but because of the draw had to face a Class B team to start the playoffs. 
2. Ithaca 21, Grandville Calvin Christian 0 -- After a rough one two weeks ago against St. Charles, the Yellowjackets gave up only 74 yards of offense to Calvin Christian. 
3. Holt 13, Brighton 10 -- The Rams had to score the final 13 points of the game to escape 5-4 Brighton. Sophomore kicker Evan Fischer deserves a game ball too for booting two fourth-quarter field goals. 

Some final thoughts from the game I covered this week, Mason at DeWitt:

--For the second straight week, too much rain and a messy field make it hard to draw many conclusions. Just too much slipping and sliding. 

--This will sound a little silly, but the matchup I maybe regret seeing most was between kickers Jacob Derby of Mason and Cody Ballard of DeWitt. Derby didn't get any scoring opportunities, although Ballard was impressive on his, booting extra points when it had to be tough to get footing. 

--This game was only 14-0 with 4 minutes to go in the first half. Defensively the Bulldogs hung in a lot longer than maybe it appears. 

--Mason will say goodbye to some outstanding seniors like defensive back Clayton Satterelli, linebacker Josh Clark, linemen Kyle Kranz and Christian Powell and tight end Beau Hayhoe. But there is plenty of good to come with a number of other standouts only sophomores or juniors. 

--Sexton will be as big as DeWitt. Sexton will be faster. But if the rain finally stays away, the Panthers might show some stuff on offense no one locally has had to defend this season. For that reason, I like DeWitt by two touchdowns early.  

This continues to be the rainiest high school football season most of us remember. But mid-Michigan teams trudged to some big wins in the opening round. 

The big three:
1. DeWitt 42, Mason 0 -- I thought DeWitt would win. Most did. But not like this. The most slippery field I've ever seen didn't help anyone. But both teams had to play on it, and DeWitt found a way to make it work. 

2. Sexton 33, Fowlerville 20 -- The Gladiators made a late run to make this closer, but Onaje Miller again went over 200 yards rushing with four TDs. Now he gets to take on DeWitt.

3. Williamston 42, Battle Creek Pennfield 6 -- Never even close as the Hornets took down the No. 9 team in Division 4. 

Game ball: Stockbridge in Division 5. The Panthers took a bite out of the toughest area draw and didn't flinch a bit in downing No. 9 Onsted on the road. Next up: No. 1 Jackson Lumen Christi.  

WOW factor: Division 8 honorable mention Fulton downing No. 4 Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart on the road. Make that a huge vote for the CMAC and the area as a whole as three teams downed ranked opponents from outside mid-Michigan. 

Upset central: Fulton over MPSH, no question. 

Three more that caught my eye:
1. Durand 34, Laingsburg 14 -- A potential Ovid-Elsie/Laingsburg district final proved too good to be true. Laingsburg had given up only 44 points this season, but because of the draw had to face a Class B team to start the playoffs. 
2. Ithaca 21, Grandville Calvin Christian 0 -- After a rough one two weeks ago against St. Charles, the Yellowjackets gave up only 74 yards of offense to Calvin Christian. 
3. Holt 13, Brighton 10 -- The Rams had to score the final 13 points of the game to escape 5-4 Brighton. Sophomore kicker Evan Fischer deserves a game ball too for booting two fourth-quarter field goals. 

Some final thoughts from the game I covered this week, Mason at DeWitt:

--For the second straight week, too much rain and a messy field make it hard to draw many conclusions. Just too much slipping and sliding. 

--This will sound a little silly, but the matchup I maybe regret seeing most was between kickers Jacob Derby of Mason and Cody Ballard of DeWitt. Derby didn't get any scoring opportunities, although Ballard was impressive on his, booting extra points when it had to be tough to get footing. 

--This game was only 14-0 with 4 minutes to go in the first half. Defensively the Bulldogs hung in a lot longer than maybe it appears. 

--Mason will say goodbye to some outstanding seniors like defensive back Clayton Satterelli, linebacker Josh Clark, linemen Kyle Kranz and Christian Powell and tight end Beau Hayhoe. But there is plenty of good to come with a number of other standouts only sophomores or juniors. 

--Sexton will be as big as DeWitt. Sexton will be faster. But if the rain finally stays away, the Panthers might show some stuff on offense no one locally has had to defend this season. For that reason, I like DeWitt by two touchdowns early.  

News Tip: CAAC to start alternating on basketball Fridays

In response to a complaint filed this summer with the state’s Department of Civil Rights, the CAAC will begin rotating its Friday night basketball schedules starting with the 2010-11 season.

Week 10: Blitz Picks Preview Show

Geoff Kimmerly, and WILX's Jeremy Sampson discuss this week's preps matchups. On the show this week:

District 1: Grand Ledge (7-2) at Grand Haven (8-1)
 
District 4: Battle Creek Pennfield (8-1) at Williamston (8-1)
 
District 7: Pewamo-Westphalia (6-3) at Potterville (9-0)
 
District 3: Lansing Sexton (7-2) at Fowlerville (8-1)
 
District 3: Mason (8-1) at DeWitt (9-0)

LSJ All-Decade Team: Girls basketball

This top five is lacking in true post players. But with two Miss Basketballs, two runners-up and a fifth who could've been, I'd take them against most.

Healthy competition

What would've been a great third match this fall between the Lakewood and DeWitt volleyball teams Wednesday night has been canceled due to illnesses on both teams. With so many schools closing lately amid a flood of absences, are you surprised more games haven't been canceled?

Weekend's best

Soccer districts and cross country league finals highlight the best of non-football action from Oct. 23-24.

Football first impressions

Just a few from Sunday's playoffs announcement while they're fresh in my head.

Extra points: Week 9

These might've been the final games of the season for more than half of mid-Michigan. But a number of teams certainly went out with a bang. 

Week 9: Blitz Picks Preview Show

Geoff Kimmerly, and WILX's Jeremy Sampson discuss this week's preps matchups. On the show this week:

Olivet (6-2) at Maple Valley (1-7)

Correction: The Haslett vs. Okemos game will be played at Haslett. 
Okemos (1-7) at Haslett (4-4)
 
Grand Ledge (6-2) at Howell (7-1)
 
St. Johns (6-2) at DeWitt (8-0)
 
Eastern (4-4) at Sexton (6-2)

LSJ All-Decade Team: Boys Bowling

Some big names head this list, but there is definitely some room for argument although this sport has been MHSAA sponsored only since 2004.