Climax-Scotts undefeated after six weeks.
By John Raffel
MaxPreps.com
Climax-Scotts reigned supreme in Division 8 in Michigan with the state football championship in 2004. It could happen again this year, considering coach Kevin Langs' team is off to a 6-0 start.
After 38-20 and 30-6 victories over Athens and Battle Creek St. Phillips to open the season, Climax-Scotts blew away its next four opponents away by a whopping 203-0 margin.
"We worked hard to be competitive in the off-season," Langs said. "We lost two all-staters back with Mike Myers and Nick Ludwig, a state player of the year in Class D last season. We've had our players who return this year step up. They've been our leaders. We have a senior class of 11 players. It's a close-knit group that has grown together and has become a good football team."
Langs has one returning all-stater with his son, Jordan.
"Our quarterback for us is also a major ball carrier," Kevin Langs said. "We have as many as eight different guys carrying the football for us."
Climax-Scotts might be able to win in weeks 7 and 8. But the regular-season at Pittsford won't be easy. Dominic Bushouse, a linebaker, leads his team with 48 tackles.
More football
Blissfield is a small school in the south central part of Michigan. But football rules as king in the small community during the autumn season.With two-thirds of the season in the bank, Blissfield is 6-0. The team got off to that same start two seasons ago and went 10-0 before it lost in the second round of the playoffs.
Coach Ron Estes entered the season cautiously optimistic of his team's hopes for a banner season. Its toughest game was week one against Sand Creek when the Royals won 20-19.
"I knew some things had to fall into place," Estes said. "But I knew it was a possibility. We've been running the ball very well, so that way, we maintain possession. We've played good defense. We haven't given up the big play. We've won two or three games in the second half when we were able to score on the opposition."
Estes said his 2007 team is similar to 2005, although he'd like to see this season's squad go a little farther.
"The team two years ago was not as much of an offensive threat," he said. "But the offenses are about the same."
Running back Luke Shrader has close to 700 yards rushing. Linebacker Dean Schneider is his team's leading tackler.
Going 9-0, Estes cautioned, is not a cinch.
"Our next game is against a tough Erin-Mason team," Estes said. "For week eight, we play an Adrian team that is 4-2 right now. We end with Jonesville on week nine. None of them are going to be easy."
Girls volleyball
Belding's volleyball team is off to a 23-0-2 start and smelling state championship contention in Class B. Not bad for a team that graduated seven seniors from a team that won 42 matches last year.
"We've had a lot of hard work and determination," said Belding coach Mikayla Linebaugh. "But Chelsey Montague has done a great job as our setter."
Montague replaced last year's setter, Choley Albert, now playing college volleyball.
Kara Youngs is getting looks by Division I college teams as a hitter. She and Alisha Warner are the only seniors on the team. Sisters Jessica and Alyssa Holyfield are sparking the team at the net.
"I thought we could have a good team," said junior defensive specialist Katie Kmiecik. "But it's been kind of a surprise to be undefeated. We worked hard during the summer. We have great team chemistry."
Girls golf
Conference championships for girls golfers have been conducted across the state this week. Next week, it's regional tournament time, followed by state finals Oct. 20-21.Two conference champions include Greenville in the O-K White Conference and Stanton Central Montcalm in the Central State Activities Association.
Depth has fueled both teams with Katrina Templar, Breezy Bernth, Jessie Marshall and Sara Morrow leading the way for Greenville in Division 2 and Alexa LaLonde, Alexa Butler and Chrissy Hansen sparking Central Montcalm in Division 3.
"We're doing very well as a team," LaLonde said. "Everybody is having a great season."
"I'm very excited that our girls are playing so well," said Greenville coach Nancy Johnson. "Right now, some of our girls are playing their best golf of the season."
Cross country
Hesperia hopes to be a team that challenges for state championship honors for boys cross country this season. The Panthers won the state Division 4 title last fall.
The boys team was among those that won a divisional title at the Carson City-Crystal Invitational last weekend. It's the second largest invitational in the state with 104 high school teams.
"We're working hard," Darling said. "We won at Benzie Central (in northwest Michigan) in a tough invitational. We took second at the Michigan State Invitational. At the state finals, if we stay healthy, we have a good shot at first place."
Maverick Darling of Ovid-Elsie had the fastest time with 15 minutes and 11 seconds in his division. He is being recruited by Wisconsin, Michigan and Michigan State.
Don Baese, the founder of the invitational, said the numbers are down slightly from 108 last year, which was an all-time high turnout for a meet founded in the mid 1970s.
"I think gas prices are a major reason for the decline," he said. "Teams that used to travel two hours to come to our meet are now going to other places."
