The 2023 Concord High School football team has nine seniors including, from left, Mekhi Wingfield, T.J. Allen, Alex Winters, Collin Thompson, Head Coach Max Clark, Levi Raymond, Benjamin Reiniche, and Rollen Smith.
By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports
(August 15, 2023 8:00 AM ET) Concord High School is just chomping at the bit for the 2023 football season.
With less than 215 students in the high school, the Yellow Jackets are eligible for the Michigan High School Athletic Association 8-Man playoffs for the first time in school history.
They are also loaded with nine seniors on the 2023 squad.
With record-breaking Mekhi Wingfield between the lines, Concord should have a solid chance to win their conference and advance to the playoffs.
“Most of the players on the team are seniors so expectations are high this season,” Coach Max Clark said during the JTV Media Days. “We have the ability to go undefeated this season if we play together.”
Senior Mekhi Wingfield is an all-state receiver who caught a state-record 17 passes in one game last year. He has football scholarship offers from Bowling Green State University, Grand Valley State University, and Wayne State University.
Senior Collin Thompson was an all-region defensive lineman a year ago for the Yellow Jackets.
Other key returners include seniors T.J. Allen (WR/LB), Rollen Smith (OL/DL), Alex Winter (OL/DL), Levi Raymond (RB/LB), and Austin Bradley (OL/DL).
Newcomers expected to make a difference for the Yellow Jackets this season are senior Carter Arbuckle (OL/DL) who is back after a year off due to an injury, senior Ben Reiniche (OL/DL), juniors Jordan Medellin (WR/DB), Alex Smith (WR/LB), and Mason Davis (OL/DL), and sophomores Gavin Riske (QB/DB) and Tylend Allen (RB/LB).
The Yellow Jackets expect to have 32 players in the program – 30 percent of the boys in the high school – and return four starters on offense and six on defense.
Concord finished 5-4 a year ago, finishing second in their 8-Man conference.
Concord High School 2023 Football Schedule
Aug. 25 Bridgman at Concord 7 p.m.
Sept. 1 Concord at Toledo Christian 7 p.m.
Sept. 8 Concord at Britton-Deerfield 7 p.m.
Sept. 15 Concord at Maple Valley 7 p.m.
Sept. 29 Concord at Gobles 7 p.m.
Oct. 6 Morenci at Concord (Homecoming) 7 p.m.
Oct. 13 Britton-Deerfield at Concord 7 p.m.
Oct. 20 Athens at Concord 7 p.m.
