Concord vs Homer District Championship Photo Gallery
Concord 48 Homer 32. Photos by Andy Hawley, JTV Sports.
Napoleon at Grass Lake District Championship Football – Photo Gallery
Photos by Ryan Kerwin, JTV Sports. Photos from Napoleon at Grass Lake District Championship Football. November 4, 2016. JTV Sports Photos by Ryan Kerwin, JTV Sports. Photos from Napoleon at Grass Lake District Championship Football. November 4, 2016. JTV Sports
Concord looks for second win, district title, tonight in rematch with Homer
By Mike Moore Staff Writer Concord — As has been the case nearly all season, there’s a certain significance with tonight’s district final for the Concord football team. A year of program firsts can put another check in the record book should the Yellowjackets find a way to go to Homer and defeated one of their top rivals for a second time this fall. “If we can win this game, it will be the most successful two-year span in program history,” coach Max Clark said. “It’s an exciting time for us. There’s some history to be made.” And a district title to be won. Concord (8-2) went 7-3 a year ago, equaling the highest win total for the program in two years, set in 2001 (10-3) and 2002 (5-5). But this year’s team has plenty of experience with big games, and big wins. The Yellowjackets won the first conference title in program history, and last week, knocked off rival Springport 21-14 for the first playoff win since 2001. Now, the team faces a Homer (8-2) squad it edged 28-26 in overtime way back in Week 2. “We expect close game, just…
Pirates look to avenge Week 2 loss, pull upset at Grass Lake for district crown
By Mike Moore Staff Writer Napoleon — Following a season-opening loss to Columbia Central, Scott Ashe admitted his Napoleon football team never really recovered. “We were down, and I think as coaches, we were too hard on the guys right then,” Ashe said. “That’s on us. But that was a huge factor. We were down and never really recovered.” Not the best recipe for success when taking on Grass Lake. The Pirates learned that lesson the hard way too, being dominated by the Warriors 36-18. Two weeks in, Napoleon was 0-2 and had a season on the brink of disaster. And then, it all changed. Eight weeks, and eight wins, later, the same two teams are set to meet in a Division 6 district final at Grass Lake. Ashe said his guys have learned their lesson, are confident, and simply can’t wait for 7 p.m. Friday night. “It needs to get here,” he gushed. “I can’t sleep or eat. I just want to play this game.” Napoleon earned a spot in the Friday final after beating Michigan Center 25-24 last week, the first postseason victory for the program since October…
Lumen defense shuts down Watervliet early as Titans roll to district final
By Mike Moore Staff Writer Jackson — The high-powered offense certainly showed up. The only difference, it was wearing green and gold. Lumen Christi welcomed in a Watervliet team Friday night that was averaging more than 55 points per game, and then subsequently put on an offensive show of its own, jumping out to a 35-6 first half lead en route to a 55-28 victory in the opening round of the Division 6 football playoffs. “I thought we played a great football game, other than the last eight minutes of the game,” coach Herb Brogan said. “But overall, this was a great effort. We played great defense against a great offensive team, especially in the first half.” Watervliet’s offensive prowess was well documented, as the team’s nearly 60 point-per-game average was just the starting point. The Panthers were racking up nearly 500 yards of total offense every time out, had scored 60 or more on four separate occasions, and had a quarterback in Cameron Rendo who’d thrown 30 touchdowns and just five interceptions. And you would have never known any of that based on the first half. Lumen’s defense seemed to confuse…
Michigan Center at Napoleon Football – Photo Gallery
Photos by Andy Hawley, JTV Sports. Photos from Michigan Center at Napoleon Football. October 28, 2016. JTV Sports Photos by Andy Hawley, JTV Sports. Photos from Michigan Center at Napoleon Football. October 28, 2016. JTV Sports
Southfield Bradford Academy at Columbia Central Football – Photo Gallery
Photos by Andy Hawley, JTV Sports. Photos from Southfield Bradford Academy at Columbia Central football. October 28, 2016. JTV Sports Photos by Andy Hawley, JTV Sports. Photos from Southfield Bradford Academy at Columbia Central football. October 28, 2016. JTV Sports
Manchester at Grass Lake Football – Photo Gallery
Photos by Ryan Kerwin, JTV Sports. Photos from Manchester at Grass Lake Football, October 28, 2016. JTV Sports Photos by Ryan Kerwin, JTV Sports. Photos from Manchester at Grass Lake Football, October 28, 2016. JTV Sports
Concord Football Embracing Home Playoff Game, Seeking Revenge on Springport
By Mike Moore Staff Writer Concord — It wasn’t long ago this program was an afterthought, a Friday night chance for any opponent to take out some aggression and pick up an easy win. That was then, this now. A now with the Concord football program that includes back-to-back appearances in the state playoffs. A now that includes the first ever Big 8 Conference title. A now, that for the first time since 2001, features a home playoff game. Yes, playoffs at Concord. How far things have come. “I’ve always believed in this,” coach Max Clark said. “I coached when things were rough, but always felt that if we could get people in the community on board to what we were trying to do, and get the kids that are here to play football, we’d be all right. I think we’ve built this up the right way. We probably do things little different, but it shows you when you go about things with a positive approach, positive things can happen.” The drop off for the Yellowjackets was drastic. The 2001 team went 10-3 and reached a Division 7 state semifinal. The next year Concord went 5-5, losing in the opening…
Confidence and swagger carry Golden Eagles into playoff opener
By Mike Moore Staff Writer Brooklyn — He stood in the end zone with his team, still beaming from the previous 10 minutes and what had transpired. A roll of the dice had come up perfect for Josh Kubiak, as the Columbia Central football coach elected to go for two when trailing by one. His decision gave way to a slow developing but drama-filled pass to the end zone. And a 29-28 come-from-behind victory over Hillsdale. So as he stood there, still a bit of welcome shock in the home crowd after a 7-2 regular season, and was asked how he and his team have to remove themselves from a win in Week 9 while preparing for a Week 10 battle in the playoffs. “I don’t know if we want to forget it,” Kubiak said smiling. “I want to use this momentum going into next week.” Well, next week has arrived, and speaking Thursday about this team’s Division 5 opener with Southfield Bradford, not much had changed in Kubiak’s approach. “We’re hoping to carry the momentum from last week over into this one,” Kubiak said. “We have a real good vibe going…