Greater Lansing 8-player football preview: Fulton, Morrice, Carson City-Crystal eye playoff returns
Carson City-Crystal has been part of the playoffs each of the past five seasons in 11-player football.
The Eagles will now try to keep that streak alive at a new level.
Carson City-Crystal is the latest program in Greater Lansing to join the 8-player ranks. The Eagles are one of seven programs in the area competing in the 8-player format.
Here's an overview of the area's 8-player teams.
ASHLEY
▶ Last season: 3-6, 2-4 (T-5th North Central Thumb League Stripes)
▶ Coach: Kevin Saylor (6th season)
▶ Playoff division: 8-man Division 2
SCHEDULE
Aug. 25 – at Deckerville
Aug. 31 – New Haven Merritt Academy
Sept. 8 – Carsonville-Port Sanilac
Sept. 15 – at Peck
Sept. 22 – Kinde North Huron
Sept. 29 – at Akron-Fairgrove
Oct. 6 – at Bay City All Saints
Oct. 13 – Caseville
Oct. 20 – at Mayville
▶ Top returners: Robert Kral (QB/DB), William Long (WR/S), Jon Snider (RB/LB), Gavin Malek (OL/DL), Gibby Jason (FB/DL) Chase Kral (OL/DL)
▶ Other contributors: Seth Stahr (WR/DB), Drew Passmore (OL/LB)
▶ Outlook: The Bears have just one senior on their roster but do return five starters on offense and defense. Saylor said he has a quick and athletic team. Ashley had a group of freshmen who gained experience last season and it expects to see growth from them.
CARSON CITY-CRYSTAL
▶ Last season: 8-2
▶ Coach: Tim Swore
▶ Playoff division: 8-man Division 1
SCHEDULE
Aug. 26 – Byron
Sept. 1 – St. Charles
Sept 8 – Vestaburg
Sept. 15 – at Merrill
Sept. 22 – Farwell
Sept. 29 – at Coleman
Oct. 6 – at Blanchard Montabella
Oct. 13 – Breckenridge
Oct. 20 – at Fulton
▶ Top returners: Grayson Ackels (WR), Landon VanderVluct (RB/LB), Jace Staff (OL/DL), Ethan Halfman (OL/LB), Gavin Reeder (QB), Kody Walker (OL/DL)
▶ Other contributors: Bryson Leduke (OL/DL), Rylee Strawn (WR/DB), Hunter Doolittle (OL/LB), Owen Penoyer (DB)
▶ Outlook: The Eagles went 24-6 over the past three seasons with a pair of district championships. Now they are transitioning to the 8-man level and hope to carry over that success. Ackels is a returning all-state selection and Staff is a key all-region performer back. Swore believes his squad has a high football IQ, which will help in the transition to the 8-man game. How quickly the Eagles pick things up and gain confidence will determine their success.
FULTON
▶ Last season: 7-3, 7-2 (T-2nd Central Michigan 8-man)
▶ Coach: Zach Baker (1st season)
▶ Playoff division: 8-man Division 2
SCHEDULE
Aug. 25 – at St. Charles
Aug. 31 – Byron
Sept. 8 – Webberville
Sept. 15 – at Vestaburg
Sept. 22 – Morrice
Sept. 28 – Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart
Oct. 7 – at Portland St. Patrick
Oct. 13 – at Farwell
Oct. 20 – Carson City-Crystal
▶ Top returners: Thomas Thelen (OL/DL), Peyton Reynolds (QB/DL), Tanner Villalobos (RB/DB)
▶ Other contributors: Wyatt King (RB/DB), Trevor Brown (TE/LB)
▶ Outlook: Fulton made some noise last season, putting together its first winning season since 2017 when it also finished 7-3. The Pirates will have to build on that success with a new cast as they lost 11 seniors to graduation and have a new leader in Baker. Finding early success and gaining confidence will be key for Fulton.
CMAC football preview: Fowler, Laingsburg and Pewamo-Westphalia looking to repeat
MAPLE VALLEY
▶ Last season: 3-6, 2-3 Tri-River 8
▶ Coach: Marty Martin
▶ Playoff division: 8-man Division 1
SCHEDULE
Aug. 25 – at Mesick
Aug. 31 – Marcellus
Sept. 8 – at Morenci
Sept. 15 – Concord
Sept. 22 – Lawrence
Sept. 29 – at Britton-Deerfield
Oct. 13 – Bangor
Oct. 20 - Martin
▶ Top returners: Cam Carpenter (TE/DE), Ayden Wilkes (QB/DB), Andrew Shepard (RB/LB), Callan Hoefler (RB/LB), Nicholas Martin (RB/LB), Skyler Cook (TE/DE)
▶ Other contributors: Noah Musser-(RB/LB), Chris Mock (OL)
▶ Outlook: With six starters back on offense and five on defense, the Lions believe they have an opportunity to be successful. Carpenter, Hoefler, Shepard and Cook return as starters on both sides for Maple Valley, which will try to chase a league title. Getting off to a fast start in games and this season will be key for the Lions.
MORRICE
▶ Last season: 9-3, 7-2 (T-2nd Central Michigan 8-man)
▶ Coach: Kendall Crockett
▶ Playoff division: 8-man Division 2
SCHEDULE
Aug. 25 – at Breckenridge
Aug. 30 – Merrill
Sept. 8 – at Byron
Sept. 15 – Portland St. Patrick
Sept. 22 – at Fulton
Sept. 29 – at Webberville
Oct. 5 – Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart
Oct. 13 – Vestaburg
Oct. 19 – at Blanchard Montabella
▶ Top returners: Gage Cartier(OL/DL), Caden Binkley (RB/DB), CJ Chapko (OL/DL), Travis Smith (FB/LB), Wyatt Cartier (QB/LB), Oliver Long (TE/DL), Austin Gutting (TE/LB), Brandon Schmidtzfranz (RB/DB)
▶ Other contributors: Joel Fisher (RB/DB), Griffin Long (QB/DB), Braden Hart (OL/DL), Joe Galloway (TE/LB), Wyatt Valentine (RB/DB)
▶ Outlook: Crockett has built a successful 8-man program at Morrice, which has won at least eight games each of the past six seasons. The Orioles’ streak of league titles came to end last season, which marked their first in the Central Michigan 8-man conference. Morrice will face two early big tests in Breckenridge and Merrill and Crockett believes those could dictate how the season unfolds. Crockett likes the traits of his team and believes Morrice has a great mix of size and speed on offense and great speed on defense.
PORTLAND ST. PATRICK
▶ Last season: 3-6, 3-6 (7th Central Michigan 8-man)
▶ Coach: Pat Russman (28th season)
▶ Playoff division: 8-man Division 2
SCHEDULE
Aug. 25 – at Coleman
Aug. 31 – at Webberville
Sept. 9 – Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart
Sept. 15 – at Morrice
Sept. 23 – Breckenridge
Sept. 29 – at Vestaburg
Oct. 7 – Fulton
Oct. 13 – at Byron
Oct. 21 – St. Charles
▶ Top returners: Devin Cook (DL/OL), Tyler Groothuis (DB/WR/K), Shawn Frawley (DL/OL), Riley Mosser (LB/WR), Daniel Huggler (OL/DL), Lucas Simon (DB/RB), Brayden Simon (LB/RB), Landon Simpson (DB), Brady Leonard (QB), Grant Pline (DL/OL), Joel Enz (DL/OL). Gabe Wernet (DB/WR)
▶ Other contributors: Charlie Thelen (DL/TE), Aiden Mosser (LB/OL), Logan Krieger (DL/OL), Brody Beckhold (DL/OL), Hudson King (DB/RB), Gavin Groothuis (DB/WR), Augustus Teachworth (LB/WR), Brayden Bozung (DB)
▶ Outlook: The Shamrocks had 10 straight winning seasons after making the switch to 8-man football in 2012. That streak ended last fall when St. Patrick suffered its first losing season since also going 3-6 in 2011. The Shamrocks will look to bounce back with a large cast of returning starters on offense and defense. St. Patrick has all but one player returning from last fall and has a large freshman class that will help it add depth. Developing offensive and defensive identities are among the keys for the season to Russman.
WEBBERVILLE
▶ Last season: 1-8, 1-8 (9th Central Michigan 8-man)
▶ Coach: Todd Coe
▶ Playoff division: 8-man Division 1
SCHEDULE
Aug. 25 – at Farwell
Aug. 31 – Portland St. Patrick
Sept. 8 – at Fulton
Sept. 15 – St. Charles
Sept. 22 – at Byron
Sept. 29 – Morrice
Oct. 5 – at Vestaburg
Oct. 14 – at Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart
Oct. 20 - Merrill
▶ Top returners: John Wyatt Coe (DE/WR/RB), Sam Croft (DB/WR). Kevin Farmer (WR), Austin Johnson (QB/WR/DB), James Huff (OL/DL), Brodee Tyler (LB/RB)
▶ Other contributors: Josh Boschma (OL/DL), Landon Taylor (QB/WR/DB), Wyatt Storey (WR/DL), Kyle Kubiak (LB/OL/RB), Caleb Norton (DE/WR/OL)
▶ Outlook: The Spartans have finished with just one win in each of the past three seasons and hope to rebound this fall. Coe said a lot of new and young players have brought energy into the program. Webberville was beat up from an injury front last season and hopes to remain healthy. Handling adversity will be another big key this fall according to Coe.
Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on X @brian_calloway.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: High school football: Get to know the Greater Lansing 8-player teams
