MHSAA Football - 8 Player State Title and 11 Player Semifinal Review
It’s a busy week, so let’s take a quick look at who won state titles and who will be playing for one this weekend.
8 Player State Title
Lawrence 56 Cedarville 12
Lawrence has only played 8 player football for two seasons. They had lost 24 of 27 before making the switch. Now, not too far removed from 11 player football, they have a large piece of hardware for the trophy case. Lawrence quarterback Derek Gribler completed 11 of his 14 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns while also running 12 times for 103 yards and three scores. Matt Mammire was his favorite target with six catches for 110 yards and a score. Jaco Alburtus caught a 69 yard touchdown on his only reception. Hunter Coombs rushed six times for 127 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He also caught three passes for 44 yards. On the Cedarville side, quarterback Joey Duncan completed nine of his 25 passes for 126 yards and a score while rushing for 58 on 11 attempts. Brad Causley caught seven of them for 95 yards. Mike Bailey ran 20 times for 84 yards. Blake Melvin and Mike Haske scored the touchdowns for Cedarville. Congrats to Lawrence on winning their first state title in 8 player football!
Division 3 – Detroit
Orchard Lake St. Mary 51 New Boston Huron 3
It was the wishbone offense and stout defense that came through for the Eaglets of Orchard Lake St Mary. The three headed monster backfield consisted of Brandon Adams, Pierce Bauer, and Justin Myrick. They combined for 226 yards. Adams had 88 rushing yards and a score, Bauer had 63 rushing yards and a score while also catching an eight yard receiving touchdown, and Myrick had 75 rushing yards and two scores. On defense, they recovered a fumble at the 11 to set up a score, blocked a punt to set up another, and got a safety. Quarterback Brendan Tabone completed five of his eight passes for 40 yards and two scores. On the New Boston side, they had a heck of a run this season. The team had only made the playoffs once and never got past the first round. This year, they made it to the semifinals before bowing out. Quarterback Matt Hartwick completed two of his four passes of 12 yards. Their only score was set up by a 56 yard run by Hartwick on the first drive that ended in a field goal. He had 63 yards on 10 runs. Jacob Fryer had four carries for eight yards. Steele White caught one pass for 15 yards.
Division 7 – Upper Peninsula
Ishpeming 22 Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary 18
This was a fairly close game. At the halftime break, Ishpeming led 8-0. Key to the game was Ishpeming’s ability to keep the ball away from MLS. They ran nearly twice as many offensive plays. Running back Ozzy Corp rushed 33 times for 202 yards. Ozzie Hakkarinen ran 18 times for 144 yards but none in the second half due to a possible broken collarbone. On the Michigan Lutheran Seminary side, quarterback Nate Lindloff completed 11 of his 17 passes for 256 yards and three touchdowns. Casey Williams caught six passes for 140 yards and two touchdowns while Andrew Schroeder caught five for 116 and the other score.
Division 4 – Capital Area
Grand Rapids South Christian 50 Edwardsburg 48
This one was really close. GRSC had a big lead at times but Edwardsburg kept pushing and trying to close the gap. Four times Edwardsburg was stopped on two point conversion attempts. For the Sailors of Grand Rapids South Christian, quarterback Jon Wassink completed 11 of his 15 passes for 148 yards and a pair of scores. He also ran 17 times for 132 yards and a score to lead his squad in rushing. Geff Plasman rushed 12 times for 110 yards and three scores. Eric VanVoorst caught six passes for 85 yards and two scores. On the Edwardsburg side, quarterback Dante Razzano completed three of his eight passes for 45 yards and a score. That lone TD reception was caught by Jackson Gaideski for his only catch of the day. Mason Tinch caught two passes for 37 yards. Isaiah Miller rushed 19 times for 235 yards and a score. Dustin Vires gained 210 yards on 14 runs and found the end zone four times.
