August 24, 2010
Every quarterback dreams of dropping back behind a castle of linemen. Good protection is key in building confidence for a first-year starting quarterback. And if I choose where to be a high school quarterback, I’d be in the OK-Gold.
CALEDONIA PREVIEW (8-3): Of course, four consecutives years as conference champs (2007 in the OK-White) and a state title means Caledonia Fighting Scots have a big target on their back. I mean, running back(s). Junior running back Trevor Garbow (6’ 180 lbs.) and senior Kyle Madden (5’10” 185 lbs.) lead the powerful charge while senior Justin Dixon (5’8” 160 lbs.) gives the Scots a speedy alternative. It’s a bit of a crowded backfield, but
“Trevor’s a hard-nosed runner. He’s coming right at you with a lot of power,” said returning left tackle Jon Meerman. “[Justin] can get to the outside. He was hurt last season, but he’s a great athlete.”
There’s a battle at quarterback for who’ll replace Luke Wiest. Right now, it’s between sophomore Heath Hoogerhyde and senior Losson Luckett, both very athletic players. Regardless of whom stands under center come August 27th, Caledonia has a big, physical line to bulldoze opponents. Returning on the line are Cory Wormmeester (6’4” 200 lbs.), Kevin Willoughby (6’4” 240 lbs.), Jake Sevensma (6’2” 200 lbs.), Colton Smith (5’10” 230 lbs.) and Meerman (6’5” 230 lbs.).
Defensively, the Scots are just as strong running the 5-2 scheme.
“We were doing Oklahomas, and Tyler Polmanteer [an outside linebacker] picked up a guy and put him on his shoulders.” Who was it? “It was me,” laughed Meerman.
HASTINGS PREVIEW (7-3): Hastings hopes to knock down some doors with senior fullback Alex Randall. Randall won’t have the same offensive line that Dewey Slaughter had for a few years, but that just means the Saxons will have to improvise.
“We’re quicker, and we’re going to have to use a lot of gang blocking instead of 1-on-1,” said Randall.
That’s not to say the Saxons aren’t looking for a fight. Left tackle David Soyo and right guard Colton Marlette (6’1” 210 lbs.) return in the trenches to protect Randall and their scrambling senior quarterback Sean McKeough. They have a word of warning for everyone.
“Colton’s intense. If you’re wearing another color, get out of the way.”
OTTAWA HILLS PREVIEW (6-4): Tackle Danzell Maze might just be the biggest, badest man in trenches for any team in the OK Conferences Standng at 6’3” 280 lbs., Maze anchors another impressive offensive line at Ottawa Hills.
“We’ve got some big guys,” said senior RB Devon Ivy. “Javon Brown (5’8” 230 lbs.), Michael Babers (6’2” 320 lbs.) and Danzell … I like running behind them. Danzell’s a good leader and good guy. Everybody is quicker getting off the ball.”
Ivy, arguably one of the best athletes in the state [can you argue against this?], displays blazing speed and a knack for getting to the outside, which should land him a D1 offer.
According to one ESPN blog, Ivy has been in talks with several area programs.
Best of luck young man.
FOREST HILLS EASTERN PREVIEW (5-5): Fighting with Caledonia, Hastings, and Ottawa Hills for a playoff spot this year is Forest Hills Eastern. Last year, the Hawks got off to a fast start but tailed mid-season. Senior QB Spencer Elliott and all 14 returning starters aren’t letting that happen again.
“These have been the hardest two-a-days yet,” said Elliott. “You don’t want to be over confident, but we look around at the talent we have and this season could be special.”
Like Caledonia and Ottawa Hills, the Hawks return a large offensive line with seniors Joe Sukup (6’2” 230 lbs.), Luke Ferris (6’2” 240 lbs.), Jay Glover (6’4” 240), and Brandon Elizalde (5’11” 195 lbs.).
“Making the jump to the OK Gold (in 2007), we knew physically we had to change.” “When I drop back now, I’m like ‘Wow, we have some big guys.”
On defense, the Hawks return leading tackler junior MLB Mark Lawson, along with juniors Dylan Banagis, and Nate Fatum. [Corrected 8/17]. “They’re like a pack of wolves getting on the ball,” said Elliott.
Head coach Tim Gibson knows his defense will face an array of offensive schemes.
“You’re going to face a smash mouth team like Caledonia, Hastings’ wing-T, Caledonia’s wishbone, South Christian and Middleville’s spread, and you still have Ottawa Hills and Devon Ivy, Catholic Central and Wayland. You need to be confident with your same guys that they can cover it all.”
CATHOLIC CENTRAL PREVIEW (5-5): Catholic Central mystifies me. Replacing record setting QB Nick Ens, and Dream Team honorable mentions RB Dan Quinn and WR Nate Lowe should be a tall task. But who better than former-Grand Valley State University offensive coordinator Todd Kolster to retool a team? Coach Kolster still has a tall target in senior WR John Haley.
SOUTH CHRISTIAN PREVIEW (4-5): The Sailors narrowly missed the playoffs for the first time in 10 years, but there’s plenty of reasons why they’ll be in the conference mix. Senior Garrison Gaddy returns as a dual threat at RB and kick returner while Michael Wierenga slides from receiver to quarterback for his YEAR year.
“He’s really mobile, but accurate,” said Gaddy. “He put’s a lot on the ball and knows where it’s going.”
Replacing Wierenga at wide out are 6’2” senior Micah Zylstra and junior Brian Heidmann (5’10” 185 lbs.). Gaddy notes that once the balls in the air, it’s Zylstra’s ball. Clearing room for the Sailor’s spread offense will be big, senior left tackle Jacob Vanderklok (6’6” 260 lbs.), senior center Ben Syswerda, and junior right tackle Levi Seif (5’11” 220 lbs.). Junior Travis Gregg (5’9” 175 lbs.), a slash-style running back, gives the Sailor’s an alternative to Gaddy, their leading rusher in 2009.
Much of South Christian’s defense depends on several two-way players like Syswerda at defensive end and Heidmann at linebacker.
“Brian’s a hard hitter. He’s going to drag you down. Once he’s there, he’s there and you’re down.”
Senior captain Jake Kool, who was the team’s second leading tackler, also returns at linebacker.
“Last year, we could put some points up. We felt that we could score every time. This year, our defense improved a lot.” “We’re getting rid of the turnovers [on offense], too.”
MIDDLEVILLE PREVIEW (2-7): Third-year quarterback Coley McKeough has never been so excited about his team’s potential. He’s never been more comfortable in the pocket either.
“Our offensive line is finally big,” said the senior quarterback. “[Junior] Adrian Foster, Korey Carpenter, and Isaac Schipper… they’re all about 220 lbs. Well, Adrian’s a little bigger.”
Foster moves from left to right tackle to make room for seniors Jacob Bultema and Marquis Gill. Joining the two senior running backs is junior Cody Ybema (5’10” 185 lbs.).
“Codey’s the toughest kid. Just hard-nosed and running you over. With Adrian Foster putting the defensive linemen on their backs, I can’t wait to see what they can do.”
Senior Patrick Bobolts also gives the Trojans a sure-handed receiving threat.
With numbers down from last year, we’ll see many of the same threats on offense and defense. Schipper is back at defensive tackle while Carpenter and Ybema are at linebacker.
“Key for us is confidence,” said McKeough. “We’re expecting to win, now. We have the guys we need for three-and-a-half yards per play.”
“We’re a ‘get our yards’ football team.”
WAYLAND UNION PREVIEW (1-8): Another team in retool mode is Wayland Union. The Wildcats will have to lean on senior LB Chris Kraima to take on the challenging OK-Gold.
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