With Muskegon’s big uglies dominating the trenches against previously undefeated Midland, senior running back John King took full advantage. He  ran 21 times for 234 yards and four TDs in the Big Reds’ 49-21 win.

Comstock Park QB Jake Brown completed 11-of-14 throws for 144 yards and three TDs while running 22 times for 239 yards and three TDs. Comstock Park routed Ogemaw Heights 62-27.

Grand Rapids South Christian senior Chad Sterk picked off two Three Rivers passes to set up two TDS, and scored a TD on a run of his own, in the Sailors’ 38-24 victory.

Not only is he one of the top defensive players in the Lake Michigan area, Caledonia senior Heath Hoogerhyde got it done with the ball in his hands in a 42-28 win against Mattawan. He carried it 28 times for 207 yards and two TDs.

Beal City QB Sam Schafer threw for 118 yards and ran for 101 yards and two TDs as the Aggies rolled Johannesburg-Lewiston 49-16.

Brant McCollum’s 10 tackles paced a Muskegon Catholic Central defense that held defending Division 8 state champion Mendon to a lone TD, winning 28-6.

Grand Rapids West Catholic junior Andy Corey earned his lunch with 35 carries for 234 yards and a TD. The Falcons beat Newaygo 21-7.

Shelby’s Devin Mussell scored two TDs, one by ground, one by air, in a 26-22 win at Negaunee.

*Grand Rapids Christian junior Drake Harris caught seven passes for 208 yards and two TDs in the Eagles’ 68-44 win against Zeeland West. Dux senior Jon Pung ran 16 times for 245 yards and three TDs.

*Ogemaw Heights junior Brandon Benac added to his school all-time rushing record, carrying the ball 35 times for 270 yards and three TDs in a 48-27 defeat of Chippewa Hills.  Tommy DeMatio and Devin Griffus also ran for over 100 yards. In his last game for Chippewa Hills, senior receiver Trent Karcher caught four passes for 127 yards and two TDs.

*Senior running back Corry Brown rushed for 216 yards and two TDs on 18 attempts, and added an interception, as Three Rivers won at Williamston 33-13.

*Forrest Courtright had a team-high 12 tackles and an interception, pacing a Shelby defense that shut out Maple City Glen Lake 26-0 while forcing five turnovers.

*He was just resting up, apparently. Muskegon junior Deshaun Thrower missed most of the season with a broken foot. He was inserted at QB for the second half against Lowell, and threw a 46-yard pass to Marcus Smith and had a 52-yard run that set up the winning field goal as the Big Reds escaped 15-13.

*Comstock Park senior QB Jake Brown turned in another patented “double-triple”, throwing for 111 yards and a TD and running for 102 yards, in the Panthers’ 16-7 upset of undefeated, Division 4 No. 1 Grand Rapids Catholic Central.

*Beal City sophomore Alex Schafer picked off two passes and caught a TD. Undefeated, Division 8 No. 1 Beal City beat Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart 28-21.

*Finally healthy, Rockford senior running back Connor Darby had 18 carries for 113 yards and two TDs in the Rams’ 35-28 comeback win over West Ottawa. WO senior QB Trevor VanTubbergen was 24-for-41 passing for 285 yards and four TDs.

*Muskegon Catholic Central’s Alex Lewandoski had a banged up ankle but couldn’t be kept off the field. He ran 19 times for 154 yards and two TDs and led the team with nine tackles in a 14-0 win over Fowler.

*Mattawan beat Portage Central 42-21. Brock Lamorandier ran 21 times for 203 yards and two TDs and Trevor Sweeney ran 20 times for 125 yards and two TDs. In his final high school game, Portage Central’s DeJuan James had 261 yards and three TDs on 21 attempts.

*South Christian’s soph QB Jon Wassink was 21-of-27 passing for 284 yards and two TDs and ran for 68 yards and two TDs in the Sailors’ 42-23 win at previously undefeated Dowagiac.

*It was a good weekend to put Alex VanDeVusse on your fantasy team. Grand Rapids Christian’s senior quarterback threw for three TDs and ran for three TDs and the Eagles beat Fruitport 45-6.

*TC Central senior QB TJ Schepperly ran for 234 yards and three TDs on 26 carries in the Trojans’ epic 48-47 2OT win over Bay City Western.

*Muskegon senior John King ran for 196 yards and two TDs and made two interceptions in the Big Reds’ 34-21 defeat of Kenowa Hills.

*In his third start at QB, Zeeland West senior Braden Werley ran 10 times for 194 yards and three TDs as the Dux shocked 9-0 Zeeland East 46-0.

*West Ottawa sophomore James Lacy had a 96-yard TD run as the Panthers’ avenged their regular season loss to Grand Ledge 21-14.

*Another sophomore, South Christian QB Jon Wassink, was 10-for-12 throwing for 152 yards and a TD and ran four times for 54 yards and a TD as the Sailors blanked then 9-0 Paw Paw 48-0.

*Staying with the 10th-grade theme, Caledonia soph Logan Soule had three of the Scots’ six interceptions in their 53-27 win at Swartz Creek.

*When you have a quarterback as talented as Lake City junior Drew Marion, there are myriad possibilities. Like the school’s first-ever playoff victory, which they got 35-28 against NorthPointe Christian. Marion ran the ball 30 times for 203 yards and four TDS and was 14-for-27 passing for 181 yards.

*In undefeated Stevenville-Lakeshore’s 48-28 win over Holland Christian, Zak Drake ran for 168 yards and two TDs and Zach Ellis had 116 yards and three rushing TDs.

*Comstock Park junior cornerback Sam LaRoche picked off an Allendale pass in the end zone to clinch the 14-11 win.

*Decatur QB TJ Cerven threw for 224 yards and two TDs in a 27-14 comeback win over Hartford.

*Reed City improved to 10-0 with a 48-14 win over Manistee. Reed City’s junior QB Chad Samuels ran eight times for 101 yards and a TD.

*Senior linebacker DJ Hunt returned an interception 45 yards for a TD as Dowagiac shut out Otsego for the second straight week 36-0.

*West Catholic senior David Kuzma had two TD receptions in their 18-13 OT, comeback win at previously unbeaten Hopkins.

*Hamilton’s senior QB Nick Kronenmeyer ran 15 times for 133 yards and two TDs while going 9-of-16 passing for 136 yards and two TDs at Edwardsburg for a 42-14 win.

*Devin Mussel ran for two TDS and caught another for Shelby, which doubled up Kalkaska 42-21.

*Down to just one thousand-yard rusher lined up behind him, Zeeland East senior QB Michael Custer came through against No. 1 Muskegon. He completed 21-of-29 passes for 337 yards and two TDs as the Chix finished the regular season 9-0 thanks to the 40-39 win over Muskegon.

*Kenowa Hills senior Dylan Smith had 187 yards and four TDs on six catches in a 57-22 defeat of Grand Rapids Union.

*Hartford’s David Mireles ran for 302 yards and two TDs on just 9 carries as Hartford beat up on Lawrence 56-7.

*Ogemaw Heights qualified for the playoffs by beating Alpena 42-13. Senior Brandon Benac ran 16 times for 182 yards and three TDs.

*Wyoming QB Jack Rozema carried the ball 16 times for 194 yards and three TDs and completed 7-of-11 throws for 101 yards and two TDs. Wyoming was a 50-14 winner over Belding.

*Traverse City Central senior QB TJ Schepperly ran for 213 yards and two TDs and passed for 101 yards and a TD in a 42-21 win over Cadillac.

*It was another yeoman effort from Kalamazoo Hackett senior Geovante Weston. He compiled 234 yards and two TDs on 39 rushing attempts and Hackett beat Kalamazoo Christian 16-8.

*The Lake Michigan area’s other workhorse back, East Grand Rapids Jahaan Brown, ran for 276 yards and four TDs on 24 attempts and also had a receiving TD as the Pioneers ended on a high note, 37-14 over Caledonia.

*QB Justin McCauley ran 19 times for 154 yards and two TDs and threw for two more TDs for 9-0 Paw Paw, a 46-36 winner against Edwardsburg.

*Jesse Ring ran for 256 yards and four TDs. Bangor beat Martin 72-0.

Geovante Weston slept well. The Kalamazoo Hackett senior carried the ball 52 times (fourth most in state history) for 423 yards (16th most in state history), with three TDs. And it’s not like those numbers were overkill, Hackett beat Parchment by only a couple scores 34-24.

Grayling junior QB Jake Swander is on pace for a 3,000-yard season. He completed 23-of-44 throws for 362 yards and six TDs. Undefeated Grayling beat up on win-less East Jordan 62-29.

Not far behind Swander is GR Christian senior Alex VanDeVusse, who added to his total by completing 16-of-24 passes for 341 yards and three TDs as the Eagles beat Forest Hills Central 38-16. Junior Drake Harris caught 10 passes for 205 yards and two TDs.

The Drake has scored in every game and has 15 TD catches total. That’s not the highest mark in the Lake Michigan area though. That goes to another 6-4 junior wideout, Holland Christian’s Kyle Steigenga. He has 17 after a 115-yard, three TD night as the Maroons toyed with ol’ Holland Public 42-20. It was 42-0 at halftime, after Holland Christian QB Ross Schreuer completed 15-of-18 passes for 284 yards and five TDs.

Cadillac’s junior QB, Jalen Brooks, played a little longer than Schreuer, three-and-a-half minutes into the third quarter. He ran 22 times for 240 yards and six TDs as the Vikings beat Clio 42-6. It’s Brooks’ second six touchdown game.

Another Big North QB with wheels is senior TJ Schepperly of league champion TC Central. He ran for 196 yards and three TDs and threw for two more in a 43-19 defeat of Gaylord.

Just when we’d given up on Hamilton for dead, the Hawkeyes beat Zeeland West 42-38. Senior QB Nick Kronemeyer threw for 186 yards and three TDs and ran for another, including the gmae-winner with a minute left in the game. For West, Braden Werley ran for three TDs and threw for another. That’s whey we rank Werley so high amongst senior running backs, he does so many things.

Zeeland East has the running backs too. Junior Spencer Viening rushed for 162 yards and five TDs and senior Josh Blauwkamp 277 yards and two TDs. The Chix unbeaten streak was threatened by Mona Shores but won 55-41 to send them into Friday’s O-K Black title game with

Brandon Moore ran for three TDs and returned a kick 90 yards for another as Montague topped North Muskegon 44-14.

Fill-in running back Ryheem Stokes ran for 181 yards and two TDs and had a 76-yard kickoff return TD in GR Catholic Central’s 28-14 win at Hastings. Stokes credited the offensive line of the undefeated Cougars.

Paw Paw remained unbeaten with a 46-23 defeat of Otsego. DeMarcus Leak ran for four TDs.

Ogemaw Heights has been a different team the second half of the season. They beat Traverse City West 56-39, as senior Brandon Benac ran 19 times for 194 yards and three TDs. Both teams need a win next week to guarantee a playoff berth.

Lawton whupped Lawrence 62-18. Brandon St. Clair had 191 yards and three TDs on just nine carries.

Payton White ran for four TDS in Constantine’s 62-34 win over Olivet.

It was a rare 2012 victory for East Grand Rapids, 54-14 over Jenison. Jahaan Brown ran for 167 yards and three TDs.

South Christian kept its playoff hopes alive beating Ottawa Hills 44-7, behind 297 yards and two TDs via the air from soph QB Jon Wassink.

*Paw Paw’s Justin McCauley ran for a TD and threw for another and intercepted two balls as the Redskins improved to 7-0 with a 28-14 win against Plainwell.

*There may be no better pure athlete in The Lake’s coverage area than Allegan senior Gary Jones. He scored TDs via the run, catch, kickoff return and interception return as Allegan picked up its second win of the season 34-13 over win-less Comstock.

*Nate Couturier had five receptions for 141 yards and three TDs for Allendale, a 34-7 winner over Sparta.

*Cadillac blanked Alpena 40-0, behind 275 yards and 5 TDs on the ground and 175 passing yards from junior QB Jalen Brooks.

*The Lake’s top-ranked senior running back looked like all that for Mattawan in their one-point win over Portage Central, with Trevor Sweeney rushing 14 times for 189 yards and four TDs.

*Brandon St. Clair kept up his torrid pace for Lawton, running for 174 yards and three TDs in a 38-20 defeat of Marcellus.

*Braden Werley ran for three TDs in Zeeland West’s 50-0 annihilation of Hudsonville Unity Christian.

*Fruitport is still undefeated after beating Orchard View 32-8. Dakota Gordon ran 18 times for 202 yards and three TDs.

*In the Trust Fund Bowl, Grand Rapids Christian topped East Grand Rapids 49-35. Eagles senior QB Alex VanDeVusse connected on 20-of-27 throws for 336 yards and six TDs. Drake Harris caught 10 of them for 211 yards and four TDs. EGR is known for its workhorse running backs (Kevin Grady Jr. has the state record for career attempts), but none of them had more carries in a game than senior Jahaan Brown‘s 40 on Friday. He gained 347 yards and scored two TDs.

*Mattawan senior Trevor Sweeney has had an incredible senior season, but topped even himself with one of the top 10 TD games in state history against St. Joseph. He ran for five and had two TD receptions.

*Grayling’s Jake Swander is the top passer in the Lake Michigan area. The junior QB was 30-of-51 for 477 yards and three TDs as the Vikings remained undefeated with a 41-22 win at Elk Rapids.

*Not only is Grand Haven junior Isaak Newhouse a receiving, defensive and special teams standout, apparently he can run the ball two. He had three rushing TDs in the Bucs’ 32-21 defeat of East Kentwood, and also returned a fumble for an 81-yard TD.

*A mid-season transfer from Galesburg-Augusta, Bangor’s Jesse Ring ran 17 tmes for 238 yards in a 46-0 win over Fennville. This after 275 yards and two TDs against Gobles.

*Kalkaska topped Harbor Springs 42-28, as Zach Hill ran 14 times for 222 yards and three TDs.

*Lowell made five interceptions in their 42-24 comeback win against Forest Hills Central. Kyler Shurlow had two of them, and Reed Stormzand returned one for a TD.
*Kenowa Hills QB Cody Ritsema threw for three TDs and ran for two in a 47-26 defeat of Muskegon Reeths-Puffer.

*A player we covered live earlier in the season, Baldwin senior Andon Ware, ran 18 times for 285 yards and three TDs, and caught another score, in a 48-13 defeat of Manistee Catholic.

*Grand Rapids Christian’s offense is beyond explosive. They led Hudsonville at the half, 56-7, and ended up winning 59-13. Senior QB Alex VanDeVusse played just that first half, completing 15-of-20 throws for 305 yards and five TDs. Junior All-American Drake Harris caught seven of them for 154 yards and two TDs.

*Holland Christian’s Ross Schreur and Kyle Steigenga were a similarly potent senior-junior pass-catch combo. Schreur connected on 15-of-28 passes for 347 yards and four TDs, three of them to Steigenga who made five catches for 158 yards. HC running back had 140 yards and two TDs on 15 attempts and pulled in five catches for 105 and a TD.

*Muskegon’s defense once again shut down one of the top rushing attacks in the Lake Michigan area. A week after holding Rockford to 25 yards on 22 attempts on the grown, the Big Reds did Lowell even worse, -1 on 21 attempts in a 36-21 win. The Red Arrows defense couldn’t say the same, as Muskegon senior running back  Marcus Smith carried it nine times for 145 yards and three TDs.

*He’s back to full form. Montague’s Brandon Moore, Lake Michigan’s most talented skill position senior, ran 10 times for 113 yards and two TDs, had two catches for 63 yards and two TDs, and was 5-of-8 passing for 80 yards.

*It’s as if that one good year of Holland High football was a mirage. The Dutch lost to Grand Rapids Northview 55-14. Northview’s Brandon Lawrence ran for 200 yards and two TDs.

*Big senior running back Payton White ran 12 times for 161 yards and 3TDs as Constantine topped Parchment 42-20.

*Grand Haven’s pass-heavy attack was good eatin’ for Mona Shores junior Asantay Brown. He made three interceptions and caught what would prove to be the winning TD in the Sailors’ 21-14 victory.

*Another sophomore QB to watch — Coopersville’s Tucker Kloote was 9-of-14 for 249 yards and three TDS in a 37-22 win against Wyoming.

*How about Michael Kempton’s 20-yard average? He ran 13 times for 260 yards and four TDs for Edwardsburg, a 48-29 winner over South Haven.

*Two quarterbacks ran for six touchdowns on Friday. Only eight players in Michigan history have scored more in a single game. Comstock Park senior Jake Brown did it while running 22 times for 171 yards in a 41-19 win at Westland John Glenn. Up in Petoskey, Cadillac junior Jalen Brooks ran 27 times for 294 yards and the six TDS (a Big North Conference record) — and left the game midway through the third quarter with cramps. Cadillac improved to 3-0, 44-14.

*In Kalamazoo  Hackett’s 42-14 defeat of Delton-Kellogg, Geovante Watson ran 15 times for 193 yards and four TDs.

*Brandon Lawrence ran for 200 yards and four TDs and Grand Rapids Northview trounced Ottawa Hills 42-0.

*Both Traverse City St. Francis touchdowns came in the fourth quarter, on fourth down, from junior Byron Bullough, a Michigan State commitment. The Gladiators beat Elk Rapids 12-7.

*Another future Spartan, Grand Rapids Christian junior Drake Harris, caught four passes for 144 yards and two TDs as the Eagles blanked previously unbeaten Kenowa Hills 43-0.

*Kalkaska took a 21-19 lead at Boyne City with under a minute to play in the game. Then Maceo Vroman returned the kickoff 95 yards for the win. Boyne is 3-0.

*Forest Hills Central senior linebacker Nick Lamica had two interceptions against East Kentwood. He returned one for a TD and also caught a TD pass as the Rangers won 45-14.

*Ty Jensen rushed for 124 yards and three TDs for Grayling, a 27-13 winner over Charlevoix.

*Kingsley’s 74 points (to Mesick’s none) were the most ever scored by the Stags.

*Watervliet piled up 505 yards of total offense, improving to 3-0 by topping Saugatuck 43-13.

*Reed City’s defense recovered five Holton fumbles in their 60-21 victory.

*Belding senior QB Brady Badder had a school-record setting game, throwing for 261 yards and five TDs and running for 98 yards and another TD in a  63-42 win over Lake Odessa Lakewood.

*Mona Shores soph QB Tyree Jackson was 13-of-18 for 276 yards and two TDs in Mona’s 42-14 win over Spring Lake. Asantay Brown was his main target, collecting eight balls for 171 yards and a TD.

*A workhorse running back at EGR you say? Pioneers senior Jahaan Brown carried the ball 35 times for 248 yards and a TD in East Grand Rapids’ 23-12 defeat of East Kentwood.

*Grand Rapids West Catholic junior Andy Corey is a wide receiver by trade, but scored two rushing TDs in the Falcons’ 28-0 defeat of Comstock Park on runs of 59 and four yards. He also caught a 21-yard TD.

*Mattawan senior Trevor Sweeney rushed for 192 yards and three TDs on 11 carries, and returned a kick 70 yards for a score, in a 49-27 win against Sturgis.

*Harbor Springs ended its losing streak at 10 games. The Rams played Manistee Catholic tough in the opener, then whupped Frankfort 43-8 . Junior David Walker ran 10 times for 137 yards and three TDs.

*It was a big third quarter for Hartford senior Gareth MacMillan, when he scored all three of his TDs in a 45-8 defeat of New Buffalo.

*Kenowa Hills senior Dylan Smith caught 11 passes for 202 yards and two TDs, and the Knights beat Greenville 28-22.