If there was any doubt beforehand, I think Muskegon senior QB Ladarius Jefferson's (6-2, 220) performance against crosstown rival Muskegon Mona Shores last Friday proved that, pound for pound, he's the best all-around high school football player in the state of Michigan. Jefferson (Central Florida verbal) helped lead the No. 1-ranked Big Reds (8-0) to an exciting 35-24 victory over the host No. 10-ranked Sailors in front of an overflowing crowd of 11,500. Jefferson rushed for 290 yards on 33 carries, with four touchdowns, including the game-clincher with less than two minutes remaining. Jefferson scored on TD runs of 15, 16, 26 and 38 yards for Muskegon. Overall, the Big Reds finished with 468 total yards of offense, all on the ground. Senior slotback Clinton Jefferson (6-0, 175) also had a strong performance for Muskegon rushing for 110 yards on 11 attempts with one TD.
Mona Shores (7-1) battled to the end and left everything out on the field proving it was more than worthy of its No. 10 state ranking. The Sailors ended up with 403 total yards of offense, scoring more points in one game (24) against the Big Reds than Muskegon had given up throughout its entire season (21 points in seven games). Senior QB Tristan Robbins (5-11, 175) led Mona Shores finishing 15-of-22 passing for 186 yards, while rushing for 81 yards on 16 carries with one TD. Senior WR Keyshawn Summerville (6-0, 170) added nine receptions for 85 yards, while also throwing a wide receiver pass for a touchdown.
The Sailors led 17-14 entering the fourth quarter, but were outscored 21-7 in the final frame. Though falling to the Big Reds, Mona Shores is still one of the top teams in Michigan. The Sailors are loaded with Division I college football talent, including seniors OT Keontae Watson (6-5, 265), C-DT Chuckie Anthony (6-2, 295) and Summerville, while juniors WR Damari Roberson (6-2, 190, who missed the Muskegon game with an injury)), LB-TE Jacob Wahlberg (6-4, 215), RB-LB Sincere Dent (5-10, 210) and DT-OT Cole Stout (6-5, 255) are also D-I prospects.
This game, more than anything in my opinion, showed the importance of a powerful and talented offensive line. Muskegon might have the top O-line in the state of Michigan, if not the Midwest. Behind their massive and skilled offensive line, the Big Reds rushed for almost 500 yards. Despite not completing a single pass, Muskegon was still able to earn the win against a highly-ranked opponent. To me, that's pretty incredible. Opening the holes up front all night for the Big Reds (now that I think about it, that's an appropriate nickname for this group -- they're just flat out HUGE), were senior OT Antwan Reed (6-7, 320, Penn State verbal), junior OT Anthony Bradford (6-6, 325, Alabama, MSU, Ohio State offers among many) and junior OG Marquis Cooper (6-2, 290). Other top players for Muskegon (and D-I recruits, in my opinion) are seniors DT Eli Jackson (6-1, 300) and DB Willie Shanks (6-2, 185), along with junior LB Ali'vonta Wallace (6-1, 215) and sophomore DE Billie Roberts (6-4, 225).
Week 8 top games-
Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard (7-1) 16, U-D Jesuit (3-5) 14
Mendon (8-0) 34, Cassopolis (7-1) 24
*Farmington Hills Harrison (6-2) 39, Berkley (1-7) 0
-- Harrison coach John Herrington became the state's all-time wins leader with the victory.
Wyandotte (8-0) 24, Gibraltar Carlson (7-1) 20
Goodrich (7-1) 47, Montrose (6-2) 31
Lake City (8-0) 35, Lincoln-Alcona (6-2) 34
East Lansing (6-2) 9, Lansing Sexton (5-3) 7
DeWitt (7-1) 33, Linden (6-2) 3
Kingsford (6-1) 42, Menominee (5-3) 21
Marquette (4-4) 35, Negaunee (4-4) 19
Whitehall (6-2) 25, North Muskegon (5-3) 14
Saginaw Swan Valley (7-1) 36, Alma (6-2) 19
Harbor Beach (7-1) 26, Ubly (6-2) 14
Portland (7-1) 29, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (6-2) 27
Watervliet (8-0) 36, Schoolcraft (5-3) 14
Ypsilanti Lincoln (6-2) 23, Temperance Bedford (6-2) 19
Olivet (8-0) 21, Berrien Springs (6-2) 17
Rivalry games-
Birmingham Groves (7-1) 35, Birmingham Seaholm (1-7) 33
Newaygo (6-2) 20, Grant (5-3) 6
Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central (5-3) 27, Monroe Jefferson (0-8) 0
Farmington (2-6) 47, North Farmington (1-7) 3
Novi (3-5) 21, Northville (3-5) 6
Taylor Truman (2-6) 68, Taylor Kennedy (0-8) 20
Detroit King (7-1) 17, Detroit Cass Tech (6-2) 7
Plainwell (6-2) 35, Paw Paw (4-4) 28
Interesting tidbits games-
Calumet (5-3) 30, Bessemer (3-5) 20
-- An Upper Peninsula game in the U.P.'s rugged, mountainous western side, pitted teams with two of the best, most unique nicknames in the entire state, if not the country. The Copper Kings of Calumet defeated the Speedboys of Bessemer -- how can you not love it? What awesome nicknames. I actually drove for two days (yes, that can happen in a state as expansive as Michigan) to visit Bessemer and buy an official Speedboy T-shirt. I know, you wish you had one! Now, if only I could get a Copper Kings T-shirt... A final interesting note/tidbit to the Calumet-Bessemer contest is the former players from these two schools. Former Copper Kings include Harley "Hunk" Anderson (one of the players included in my book, "Michigan's All-Time Top 50 Pro Football Players") and his best friend growing up, George Gipp (who would later achieve legendary fame as a Notre Dame football player) -- yes, THE George Gipp of "Win one for the Gipper" fame. Former Speedboy is Canadian Football Hall-of-Famer DE Bob Jurasin (NMU, CFL). Plus, I once dated a former Calumet Copper Kings cheerleader in college while at Michigan State. Soooo, anyhow... Just sayin'... Hi, Wendy!
Saginaw Nouvel Catholic (8-0) 49, New Buffalo (4-4) 14
-- What made this game interesting to me, was the distance Nouvel Catholic had to travel to play the Bison. The Panthers hopped onto their team bus and three and a half to four hours or so and 220 miles later reached the field at New Buffalo, a small Lake Michigan coastal town located in the farthest corner of southwest Michigan, a stone's throw from the Indiana border. High school football -- only in Michigan...
Updated state rankings-
1. Muskegon (8-0)
2. Grand Rapids Catholic Central (8-0)
3. Utica Eisenhower (8-0)
4. East Grand Rapids (8-0)
5. Belleville (8-0)
6. Traverse City West (8-0)
7. Detroit East English Village (8-0)
8. Zeeland East (8-0)
9. Fenton (8-0)
10. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central (8-0)
Other top teams- Muskegon Catholic Central (7-0), Montague (8-0), Ithaca (8-0), Battle Creek Harper Creek (8-0), Frankenmuth (8-0), Olivet (8-0), Traverse City St. Francis (8-0), Wyoming Kelloggsville (8-0), Wyandotte (8-0).
Week 9 top games-
Montague (8-0) at Muskegon Catholic Central (7-0)
Traverse City St. Francis (8-0) at Boyne City (8-0)
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