Football playoff field set, local teams ready for action
By Mike Moore Photo by Ryan Kerwin, JTV Sports Staff Writer When the football season begins, teams from across the state have hopes and dreams about a long run to Ford Field and a chance at a state title. When the regular season ends, well, reality has a strong way of showing up. But, for 256 teams, the hopes for one of those eight state titles, and 16 spots in Detroit, remains alive and well. Here’s a quick look at the teams in JTV’s coverage area and their first-round playoff pairings. Exact times and dates for games will be made available Monday or Tuesday, at the latest. Let the fun begin Lumen Christi rolled to another state title last year, and begins its title defense at home against Quincy this weekend in a Division 6 opener. The Titans went 7-1 in their eight-game schedule, and will host a Quincy team that went 5-4 and is in the playoffs for just the second time (2014) since 2005. Quincy’s last playoff appearance ended abruptly in a 53-16 loss to, well, Lumen. The Lumen-Quincy winner will take…
Home playoff game on the line as Columbia looks to upend Hillsdale
By Mike Moore Photo by Ryan Kerwin, JTV Sports Staff Writer Brooklyn — A playoff spot secure, the Columbia Central football team is trying to get a bit greedy now. And why not? Come Sunday night we’ll know where the 256 playoff teams fall, but Golden Eagles’ coach Josh Kubiak is fairly certain his guys could be playing at home in the pre-regional round. If, if they find a way to win Friday night at Hillsdale. “We’re going to have to match their urgency,” Kubiak said of the Hornets, who are 4-4 and will have a decent shot at making the tournament with five wins. “They are in a spot where they absolutely have to win, so we know they are going to be ready to go.” The need to win is one thing, but Hillsdale is also seeking some needed revenge. The Hornets lost to Columbia 29-28 in last year’s finale, officially ending their playoff hopes. In 2015, Columbia snuck away with a 26-22 victory. “I think it’s fair…
Western football stressing focused approach in must win against Dexter
By Mike Moore Photo by Ryan Kerwin, JTV Sports Staff Writer Parma — There are some obvious particulars to focus on here. First, this is a must win in every sense of the term. Secondly, there can be no looking past anyone, not at this stage, not with this much on the line. Thirdly, well, it’s a must win, which needs repeating. “I’m pretty confident we are not in with five wins,” Western football coach Dave Mifsud said Wednesday night while speaking of this weekend’s tilt against Dexter. “I mean, there’s a chance, I guess, but I don’t think we’re in with only five wins.” Fourthly, this is a must win. Ok, enough of that, but the point is clear. The Panthers got what they needed last weekend in a lopsided victory over Northwest, and on Friday need one more win to go to 6-3 and secure an automatic playoff berth for the second time in three years. Simple enough, until you look at the opponent, an 0-8 Dexter team, and consider what else…
Western tennis looks to cap magical year with solid state finals
By Mike Moore Photo Courtesy Western Athletics Staff Writer Parma — Each year has its own unique flavor, a different twist on what’s come before and what’s to come in the future. Yet, as the Western boys tennis team prepares for this weekend’s state finals at Hope College, well, the feel is all-to-familiar. Now, the guys hope the finish is something entirely different. “This is something you have to enjoy every year,” coach Doug Blume said of his program’s streak of five consecutive trips to the state finals. “Mainly because, every year you have new guys competing.” This year took on a new look when the Panthers were shifted in regionals and competed in Haslett. “It was a tough regional, with some highly ranked teams,” Blume said. Yet his guys did what they always seem to do — taking home the regional title for the fifth year in a row. “We had a real good feeling his could be our year,” Blume said. “We had talent back and the guys were ready…
