Michigan high school football: Game predictions for Week 5
The football season of 1997 was a historic one for the Son of Swami.
Some of SOS’s favorite coaches — Tom Mach (Detroit Catholic Central), John Herrington (Farmington Hills Harrison), Jack Schugars (Muskegon Oakridge), and Irv Sigler (Belding) won MHSAA state titles that year.
It was especially nice to see Sigler win because he was a Riverview guy.
Another Riverview guy won a championship that year — Lloyd Carr, who just so happened to be the coach for Michigan football.
It seems like a lifetime ago that Carr’s dudes won the national championship, something that hadn’t happened in Ann Arbor in over 70 years. SOS remembers that season well and thanks to former Free Press outstanding sports writers Mark Snyder and Nick Baumgardner he is reliving that season as he speaks, err, writes.
Baumgardner and Snyder have written a book: “Mountaintop, The Inside Story of Michigan’s 1997 National Title Climb.”
When they said “inside," they really do mean “inside.’’
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The two interviewed more than 100 people to bring that magical season to life and met with Carr on a weekly basis for a year. (That may explain why Carr reportedly obtained restraining orders against the two of them.)
In a stroke of genius, the two had Carr write the foreword to the book and it is terrific, although SOS can’t believe Carr failed to mention that it was former Westland Glenn coach Chuck Gordon and SOS who are responsible for teaching him how to be a coach when Carr was at Glenn.
Anyway, the book covers everything you wanted to know about that championship season and the in-depth reporting is remarkable, showing why Snyder and Baumgardner are amazing reporters.
The only problem SOS has with the book is the back cover, which features endorsements from Mitch Albom, Adam Schefter, Kirk Herbstreit, Rich Eisen and Gerry DiNardo.
Two questions: Who are those guys? Why weren’t SOS’s endorsements included?
OK, SOS kind of knows who that Albom guy is and SOS liked his endorsement: “A perfect chronicle to a perfect season.”
That was good, although isn’t sure it is as good as either one of SOS’s endorsements:
“Jesus wept.”
“I haven’t read this book, but if I did, I would probably like it.”
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The book costs $30, a deal at twice the price. But SOS found a signed copy by the two authors and the price was $25 and dropping.
Seriously, this is a tremendous book and SOS is here with his tremendous predictions for this week’s best games in the state.
MHSAA football game predictions for Week 5
All games Friday at 7 p.m. unless noted.
Byron Center (4-0) at Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central (4-0): The battle of No. 1s — Byron Center, No. 1 in D-2, takes on the No. 1 team in D-3, Forest Hills Central. Luke Laska is a terrific running back and he is complemented by QB Landon Tungate, who can run it and throw it. Ty Hudkins, who committed to Purdue on Tuesday, is a marvelous receiver for Central and linebacker Max Richardson is always in the middle of the defense. Forest Ranger 27, Lord Byron’s Center 24.
White Lake Lakeland (3-1) at Walled Lake Western (4-0): It might be a bit premature to call this game the Lakes Valley championship game, but not by much. The closest win Western has had was a 15-point victory in the opener. Lakeland is rolling behind the running of Trevor Tschudin and the solid play of sophomore quarterback Carter Travis. It can also rely on Sean Latham to step in at QB if needed. Best Western 33, Spring Training 22.
Zeeland West (4-0) at Zeeland East (4-0): The Bird is the Word! Or, it will be when these rivals square off in the annual Bird Bowl. West has won the last five meetings and with the ground game led by Parker Holman, Rolando Robelin III and Trey Sloothaak. it could be six in a row. But East is off to its best start in six seasons thanks to dual threat QB Austin Keur. Zeeland’s Best 34, Zeeland’s Beast 21.
Flat Rock (4-0) at Riverview (3-1): Riverview has won the last five meetings, but this Flat Rock team is decidedly better than the past. QB Graham Junge is a terrific athlete and he likes to find Rocco Breslin when looking for a receiver. Riverview, of course, is one of the best running teams in the state. Ian Adams is tough to catch, and if he doesn’t have the salami, look for Nathan Pinkava to be the one carrying the ball. The Rock 27, Lloyd Carr High 24.
Adrian (4-0) at Chelsea (3-1): Adrian’s revenge tour stops this week in Chelsea. Last week, Adrian halted its 10-year losing streak to Tecumseh and this week the Maples will try end another 10-year losing streak, this time against Chelsea. The Chelsea defense will be zeroed in on stopping Chase Henline, but it should worry about QB Sean Parker, too. As if Adrian’s defense hasn’t taken enough abuse over the years from the Hill brothers (Nick and Trent) here comes the third one — Tyson — and he is about as accomplished as his two older brothers. Common Grill 28, Adrienne Petrakis 21.
Mick McCabe (err, Son of Swami) is a former longtime columnist for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at mick.mccabe11@gmail.com. Follow him @mickmccabe1. Order his own book, “Mick McCabe’s Golden Yearbook: 50 Great Years of Michigan’s Best High School Players, Teams & Memories,” now at McCabe.PictorialBook.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: MHSAA football: Game predictions for Week 5 from Son of Swami
