Week 1 Football Results
Grand Rapids West Catholic 30 Lumen Christi 13 Coldwater 33 Jackson 22 Columbia Central 34 Napoleon 14 Climax-Scotts 48 Michigan Center 14 Clinton 48 Manchester 12 Concord 22 Hanover-Horton 0 Grass Lake 32 Stockbridge 18 Hudson 26 Addison 8 Springport 40 Vandercook Lake 7 Whitmore Lake 12 East Jackson 6 Grosse IIe 41 Western 21 Eaton Rapids 20 Northwest 17
Napoleon and Columbia Set to Kick Off 2016 with 49th All-Time Meeting
By Mike Moore Staff Writer Scott Ashe called it one of his program’s best rivalries. He also hinted how much of a must win it can almost feel like. The Napoleon and Columbia Central football teams will kick off the season Friday night, doing so in Week 1 for the fifth year in a row. For Ashe and his Pirates, figuring out Columbia and starting the season on the right foot is goal No. 1. “They’ve had our number for a few years now,” Ashe said. Columbia is 31-17 all time against Napoleon and has won seven of the past eight meetings. “It has to happen up front. They’ve been better up front than we have the past few years. That has to change.” Easier said than done, as Ashe pointed out. “Columbia is going to be well coached, and they have a good group of athletes,” he said. “That’s a team that comes ready to compete.” The Golden Eagles were dominant a year ago in the opener, rolling to a 35-0 victory that began what was a 1-3 start to 2015 for Napoleon. The chance to kick off the season on a high note is something Ashe put mounds…
Lumen Christi to Play Under the Lights Against One of State’s Top Teams
By Mike Moore Staff Writer Jackson ― As far as the season-opening atmosphere goes, it may not get better than this. As far as the season-opening opponent goes, well, it may not get better than this. The Lumen Christi football team is set to play under the lights Friday night as the guys in green and gold officially launch the 2016 season in style. And at the other end of the field will be a Grand Rapids West Catholic squad that’s played in five of the past six Division 5 state finals, and just so happens to be a three-time defending champ. “We expect a great ball game,” Lumen coach Herb Brogan said Thursday. “They’re the three time defending champ that’s been there for almost five years in a row. It’s a program with great tradition.” It’s also one, Brogan added, that returns most of its starters on the offensive side of the ball, including at quarterback, all receiver spots and running back. “They are going to move the ball and score some points. They do that against everyone,” Brogan said. “The key is getting a few stops in there.” That was the approach the Titans took in Week 1…
Vikings to be tested right off the bat in opening-week battle with Coldwater
By Mike Moore Staff Writer Jackson — A five-game win streak and the first playoff victory since 1999 helped push the Jackson football team to an 8-3 record in 2015 and a place back at the table of football respectability. Now, with an eye on continuing that success and momentum, the Vikings open the 2016 season at home against a team that lost once all of last year. And that was in the Division 3 state semifinals. “It’s a tough way to start, but it is what it is when you’re trying to find teams to play,” Vikings coach Scott Farley said of Friday’s tilt with Coldwater, a game that will air on JTV. “But it’s a good test for us. We’re going to see good teams all year, and this will be a good barometer of where we are right now.” While the Vikings went 8-3, got back to the playoffs for the first time since 2009 and helped distance themselves from a five-year stretch of seven total wins, Coldwater started the year with 12-straight victories, allowing more than 14 points in that span just one time. The Cardinals’ season came to an…
Week 1 Football Schedule on JTV
Grand Rapids West Catholic at Lumen Christi Saturday 1pm and 7pm, Sunday 3:30pm Coldwater at Jackson Saturday 3:30pm and 9:30pm, Sunday 9:30pm Columbia Central at Napoleon Sunday 1pm and 7pm Games will stream at the above times on jtv.tv/live
Football Preview: Grass Lake
Grass Lake Warriors Last season’s record: 5-5 Returning starters: 6 on offense, 5 on defense First Game: Aug. 26 at Stockbridge 7 p.m. Offensive keys: The Warriors averaged nearly 30 points per game last season, which made a 5-5 finish somewhat surprising. But, as the 2016 campaign is set to launch, the offense has a chance to be even stronger with more than half the starting lineup back in the fold. “Offensive line play and quarterback play, to start,” coach Randy Cole said when asked what has to fuel the group. “After that, we have to develop some receivers. We have some solid backs we will rely on.” Jonathan Lutchka started at receiver a year ago, but has made the switch to quarterback. Luke Coppernoll (675 yards and seven touchdowns) and Danny Vuocolo (300 yards, four scores) will be the primary backs behind Lutchka. “I expect our line to be pretty good, too,” Cole said. “We have three guys back who started last year.” Defensive keys: After starting 2015 with a 2-4 record, it was the defense that locked down in three wins to get things back on track. Five guys from that…