Prep Football Week 2 Recap: Predictions for Week 3
11-Player
Hillsdale (1-1)
Week 1 Result: Berrien Springs 35 - Hillsdale 28 Week 3 Schedule: Home vs. Hudson Sept. 9 7:00 p.m.
Top Performers: Stephen Petersen: 16 carries for 143 yards 4 TD, 2 rec. 34 yards, 8 tackles; Kodi Zuver: 96 rushing yards, 2 rec. 21 yards, 9 tackles 1 FR; Draydon Eckelberry: 1 rec. 42 yards, Bradley Ellsworth: 1 pass 10 yards, 5 tackles, Jace Lennox: 5 tackles; Trevor Wagler: 4 tackles
Notes: It wasn't the final result the Hornets wanted but Hillsdale showed up to play in one of the biggest games of week two prep football in Michigan. The offense matched the Shamrocks blow-for-blow until two possessions turned the tide in favor of Berrien Springs. The road doesn't get easier for the Hornets, as they host the 2-0 Hudson Tigers who came into the season as defending D8 state champions and LCAA league champions. T
here's still room for the Hornets to continue improving and if the first two weeks have shown anything, it's that the Hornets are ready to play against anyone in south central Michigan. The Tigers overcame a 20-point deficit to beat Constantine in a barn-burner in week two. That momentum could be enough to carry the Tigers past the Hornets, despite what should be another strong showing at home. If the Hornets can contain a similar offense in Hudson, they could find a way to pull off the upset in front of a giant crowd of supporters.
Week 2 Prediction: Hudson 35 - Hillsdale 24
Jonesville (0-2)
Week 1 Result: Homer 38 - Jonesville 32 Week 3 Schedule: At Union City Sept. 9 7:00 p.m.
Top Performers: Dominic Aponte: 26 carries 114 yards, 2 TD 3 2PT; Brady Wright: 3 rec. 66 yards, 1 punt return 53 yards, 1 TD; Cowen Keller: 34 passing yards, 50 rushing yards; Austin Bowers: 1 TD, 7 tackles; Braeden Trine: 5 tackles
Notes: The Comet offense saw a marked improvement over their 35-12 showing against Hillsdale. However, the Comets were unable to overcome a strong showing from the Homer Trojans in the rivalry's last game in the Big 8 conference. Jonesville is a talented ball club featuring several playmakers on both sides of the ball including Braeden Trine, Brady Wright and Dominic Aponte. The Comets still have a path towards the playoffs and can get back on track with a week three win over the Union City Chargers.
The Chargers enter the 2022 season as a surprise conference hopeful, boasting a strong offensive attack from sophomore QB Eli Payne, who threw for 238 yards and three touchdowns in week two against the Quincy Orioles. A talented younger class has the Chargers at 1-1, which includes their 42-6 clobbering of the Orioles. It would be no surprise if this matchup turned into a shootout between the rushing attack of Jonesville and Payne of the Chargers. Jonesville will look to run the ball and establish a tempo to start the contest, but the Comets may have to resort to the pass in order to beat UC. If Dominic Aponte, who has 204 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns this season, can break the 100-yard barrier, the Comets should be able dominate from within the ’20’s’.
Week 3 Prediction: Jonesville 48 - Union City 35
Reading (2-0)
Week 2 Result: Reading 26 - Grass Lake 14 Week 3 Schedule: At Quincy Sept. 9 7:00 p.m.
Top Performers: Tayshawn Bester: 132 yards, 2 INT for 2 TD; Maverick Messenger: 20 carries 116 yards; Lukas Strine: 11 carries 59 yards 1 TD; Jacob Hamilton: 1 offensive TD, 1 INT
Notes: Sometimes in matchups with good football teams, you win games in unexpected ways. The Ranger defense may be the most talented group in the Big 8 conference, and 2021 All-Region athlete Tayshawn Bester showed up in a big way to help the Rangers overcome a strong Grass Lake opponent. Grass Lake showed promise against the Rangers, taking an early lead that needed two pick sixes to go Reading's way to get them back into the ball game. The Rangers were still impressive on the ground against a solid defense; putting up over 300 rushing yards.
The Rangers will look to start their conference journey with a game will feature one of the deepest rivalries in the Big 8. The Rangers head to Quincy for their third road game to start the season. The battle for the Victory Bell features an 0-2 Oriole team looking to bounce back from a disappointing finish against Union City. If the Rangers want to stay in the lead position for a league title, defeating rivals like Quincy is a good place to start. The Orioles have playmakers in Sam Sawyer, Tre'Von Bodley and Ethan Copas. Head coach Rick Bailey and the Rangers will have to stay focused and not look past a team playing for more than just their first win of the season.
Week 3 Prediction: Reading 48 - Quincy 16
8-Player
Camden-Frontier (1-1)
Week 2 Result: Pittsford 28 - C-F 6 Week 3 Schedule: Home vs. Climax-Scotts Sept. 9 7:00 p.m.
Top Performers: Stats Not Submitted
Notes: In our Week 2 Impact Matchup, the Pittsford Wildcats emerged as the 8-player prep football team to beat in Hillsdale County. The Camden-Frontier varsity club, led by head coach Rob Wickham, will look to regroup in week 3 to remain in the conversation for a playoff berth. The team has a difficult road ahead, but C-F already showed the county what they could do with their opening season victory over Tekonsha. Quarterback Mikey Roe, athlete Kaiden Conroy and Worm Wickham are ready to get revenge over their week three opponents: The Climax-Scotts Panthers.
The Panthers were led by a strong duo of seniors in 2021 that pummeled C-F on their home turf in a 52-6 victory. Climax-Scotts has stayed on the same path as their 2021 playoff berth, starting 202 with a two-point win over Concord and a 38-0 shutout of Bellevue. Daniel Matrau, Davey Clough, Brenton Hendrics and Aiden Chambers highlight the returning Panther playmakers.
So far, there hasn't been any indication from the recent results that coach Wickham and C-F won't be able to make a competitive game at home against the Climax-Scotts Panthers. In 18 games against the Panthers, Camden-Frontier has won just one contest. This year's matchup could be number two.
Week 3 Prediction: Camden-Frontier 36 - Climax-Scotts 35
Litchfield (3-0)
Week 2 Result: Litchfield 36 - Burr Oak 14 Week 3 Schedule: Home vs. North Adams Sept. 10 12:00 p.m.
Top Performers: Logan Buehrle: 119 yards, 25 receiving yards, 10.5 tackles; Tyler Bills: 10 passes for 192 yards, 2 TD; Miguel Pedroza: 3 returns for 132 yards 1 TD, 134 receiving yards; Andrew Erhardt: 10.5 tackles, 1 safety; Brandon Campbell: 9.5 yards
Notes: Coach Langhann and the Terriers showed strides of improvement in their week two win over the Burr Oak Bobcats. The first half of the game started out rough for the Terriers, but big plays helped put them ahead and in a comfortable lead. Litchfield continues to break down barriers between now and their program success in the past (the Terriers last made the playoffs in 2011; the team has a state final appearance in 1994).
The Terriers have the right mix of talent, coaching and team chemistry to make their mark in 2022 and if things go their way in week 3, they could be in contention for a playoff appearance later this fall. The Terriers currently stand as the only team remaining that boasts an undefeated record in the SCAA Division B. The Terriers have their eyes set on the biggest remaining threats in the division but they must not overlook their county rivals headed their way in week 3.
The North Adams-Jerome Rams look to recover from two dissapointing losses in weeks one and two. They look to play their first county team in Litchfield on a special Saturday afternoon matchup. There are plenty of reasons why the Rams should worry the Terriers. First and foremost: the Rams boast a number of offensive playmakers including running back Casey Loper and quarterback Will Thielen. Both players have yet to break out this season, but a game against the Terriers could prove to be their moment. Second, the Rams are used to Saturday spotlights, having already played a weekend matchup with Stryker to open the season.
The Terriers will enter the matchup as the likely favorite, but the Rams hold a 48-12 record in the storied rivalry. The unique set up has this rivalry game penciled in as the Daily News week 3 Impact Matchup.
Week 3 Prediction: Check out this week's Impact Matchup Preview for the Daily News score prediction
North Adams-Jerome (0-2)
Week 2 Result: St. Phillip 60 - North Adams-Jerome 6 Week 3 Schedule: At Litchfield Sept. 10 12:00 p.m.
Top Performers: Casey Loper: 45 rushing yards, 1 TD (50 yard rushing TD); Kaleb Hale: 53 rushing yards, 10 tackles; Jace Brink: 8 tackles; Vincent Ginolfi: 8 tackles; Tyler Foreman: 7 tackles
Notes: Head coach Dave Price and the Rams found themselves at the receiving end of a bounce-back win for Battle Creek St. Phillip, looking to improve from their week one loss to Colon. The Tigers dominated their matchup with the Rams, securing their first victory of the season. The Rams were able to score their first touchdown of the game in quarter three. Things align easier travel-wise for the Rams in week three, even thought the team will have to wait another week for a home game.
The Rams travel to Litchfield for a unique Saturday afternoon battle with the Terriers. First year head coach Michael Langhann and the Terriers have been one of the more explosive teams in the SCAA-B this season. The Terriers find themselves at 2-0 and ready to improve on that record with another home win in week 3. The Terriers boast several playmakers at each position, with Logan Buehrle and Junior Alvarez highlighting the backfield. Miguel Pedroza is one of the biggest playmakers in Hillsdale County football, having the ability to score on any kick or punt return opportunity. Pedroza has been a reliable target for quarterback Tyler Bills, who posted his best game of the season in their week two victory over Burr Oak.
The Rams will have their hands full with another strong offensive team. Offensively, the Rams will have to control the tempo of the game and limit the opportunities the Terriers have offensively. If the Rams can get their rushing attack going with Will Thielen and Casey Loper, the Rams could keep themselves in positive field position to put points on the board. 8-player football fans should not be surprised if the Rams make this a close game. North Adams-Jerome has dominated this rivalry the past few decades but this is a new Terrier ball club. It should be an exciting game for fans of both teams and the contest has been selected as the Daily News week 3 Impact Matchup.
Week 3 Prediction: Check out this week's Impact Matchup Preview for the Daily News score prediction
Pittsford (2-0)
Week 2 Result: Pittsford 28 - Camden-Frontier 6 Week 3 Schedule: Home vs. Lenawee Christian Sept. 9 7:00 p.m.
Top Performers: Legend Gore: 97 rushing yards, 19 receiving yards, 1 TD, 10 tackles; Lane Lewis: 67 rushing yards, 2 TD, 7.5 tackles; Gavyn Carden: 60 rushing yards, 104 passing yards, 1 passing TD, 6 tackles; Bryce Williams: 2 rec. 63 yards, 1 TD, 5.5 tackles
Notes: Things could not have gone better to start their 8-player football transition. The Wildcats, led by head coach Mike Burger, are now 2-0 to start the season, with double-digit wins against SCAA opponents. The Wildcats clawed their way to a strong win in our Impact Matchup for week 2. When a good team gets an impressive win over another good team, there's cause for celebration for their community and fans. The Pittsford community has answered the call from running back Legend Gore, with one of the most packed games the Pittsford stadium has seen in the past few years. The Wildcats look to lean on their 11-player experience to help propel them to a playoff berth in their 8-player debut season.
Standing in their way will be several SCAA-A opponents that have been some of the best teams in the state the past couple of seasons. One of those teams will be heading to Pittsford for a week 3 slugfest. The Adrian Lenawee Christian Cougars have continued their 8-player dominance this season. The defending 8-player D1 state champions defeated Toledo Christian 34-26 in week 2, extending their win streak to 26 games. The juggernaut Cougar squad has several impressive playmakers including dual-threat QB Sam Lutz. Running back Collin Davis also leads the Cougar offense, scoring three touchdowns in week two.
The Cougars will most likely walk into Pittsford as strong favorites, but the Wildcats have known what it will take from them to win these matchups. These are the games head coach Mike Burger expects the team to compete in if they want to accomplish their offseason goals. The Pittsford Wildcats have a strong offensive and defensive line, which has allowed their top running backs to carve out opposing defenses. The Wildcats should be able to move the ball on the Cougars, but if the Wildcats want to end the Cougar 26-game winning streak, they will have to find success on the defensive side of the ball. The Cougars are not immune to mistakes but it will be up to the Wildcats to capitalize on those few moments where these playoff-like matchups are decided.
The matchup will be the Hillsdale Daily News Week 3 Game of the Week.
Week 3 Prediction: Check out the Daily News Game of the Week preview on Thursday for score predictions and keys to victory for both teams
Waldron (0-2)
Week 2 Result: Tekonsha 58 - Waldorn 6 Week 3 Schedule: Home vs. Stryker Sept. 9 7:00 p.m.
Top Performers: Jacobi Gonzalez: 19 carries 86 yards, 5 rec. 80 yards 1 TD, 9 tackles; Frank Duelo: 8 tackles, 1 INT, 1 FR; Seth Williams: 7 for 14 90 yards 1 TD; Kurtz: Carmen Kurtz: 9 tackles; Collin Williams: 8 tackles, 1 FR
Notes: Head coach Anthony Roney and the Spartans have been working through a transition in leadership and playmakers to start their 2022 season. Seniors like Kaiden Depew expected the team to take their lumps in the first few weeks of the season. The Spartans were on the receiving end of a loss in 2021 to Tekonsha that ended their league title hopes. In 2022, Tekonsha was able to dominate in every facet of the game to take down the Spartans.
The Spartans were plagued by turnovers and fumbles in 2021, but the Spartans were able to overcome those mistakes with their talented offensive weapons. The Spartans fumbled five times against Tekonsha, something the Spartans cannot do if they want to defeat a good Stryker squad on their home turf. Quarterback Seth Williams took major strides forward, completing 50 percent of his passes against Tekonsha. Spartan Jacobi Gonzalez will be a key player going forward for Waldron after taking on the majority of the offensive work in week two.
Stryker may be too strong of a passing team for the Spartans to maintain pace. Fans should expect the spread offense from Stryker to put points on the board. It will take a fundamentally sound and mistake free game from Waldron to pull off the upset. If the Spartans cannot hang onto the football in week three, they could find themselves trying to climb out of a hole they cannot escape from.
Week 3 Prediction: Stryker 42 - Waldron 21
This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Prep Football Week 2 Recap: Predictions for Week 3
