By John Raffel
MaxPreps.com
Fowler plays in the Central Michigan Athletic Conference, one of the state's toughest football leagues for small high schools in divisions 7 and 8.
But the Lansing-area school has gotten off to a 4-0 start and is going to make a bid at a 9-0 regular-season finish and a state championship run.
"The reason has been our good defense," Fowler coach Neal Hoffman said. "We've given up only 15 points defensively."
Entering the season, Fowler was setting its goals very high.
"We had a lot of people back from last year's team that won eight games and made it to the second round of the playoffs," Hoffman said.
All-State candidate Matt Simon is leading the way for the Fowler attack at quarterback. One of his favorite targets has been wide receiver Blake Mueller, who has caught four touchdown passes so far.
But Fowler faces tough challenges from football powers Fulton, Laingsburg and Pewamo-Westphalia coming up on the schedule.
"You have to be very good to get by it," Hoffman said. "We have a nine-game schedule right in our league with no non-league games. That makes it tough."
More Football
Elk Rapids hasn't started out 4-0 since 1980. But 27 years later, under second-year coach Ed Schindler, the northwestern Michigan school has gotten off to an undefeated start in its first four games.
Schindler had previously developed a power at Whittemore Lake.
"I think the key to the 4-0 start has been a lack of mistakes offensively and defensively," Schindler said. "Our first three games we won by blowouts. Then we had an overtime win over Grayling. We were happy we were able to handle such a situation.
"We'll see a lot of close games. We'll just have to wait to see what happens."
Tyler Smith is the team's leading rusher while linebacker Carl Steuer is the team's top tackler.
"Fundamentally, we need to get better in all areas," Schindler said. "When you play some of the better teams around, you learn a lot about yourself. I'm sure we'll have some good challenges."
Regardless, Elk Rapids is proving itself to be a good football town again, Schindler said.
"They were really good in the 1950s, 1960 and 1970s," Schindler said. "A lot of today's dads played on those teams. It's been a drought in the last 25 years."
Girls Volleyball
Marysville has gotten off to a 13-1 start in girls volleyball and appears ready to be a state power again.
"The expectations are that we're going to get better. There's a lot of volleyball left," Maysville coach John Knuth said. "We're still developing as a team."
Marysville has two seniors from last year's team who are leading the way, including setter Jaime Anglin, who was all-stater last season and middle attacker Mallory Kopa, who was honorable mention all-state. Another senior is Lauren Davis, an attacker.
"We have no glaring weaknesses," Knuth said. "We've been able to put together good fundamentals."
Marysville is considered a state contender this season. The school won the Class B state title in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006, but not in 2007 earlier this year when volleyball was still a winter sport in Michigan. It is now a fall sport.
"I haven't thought all that far yet," Knuth said. "Our goal is to win our conference championship. We're in a tough league with all Class A schools. Right now, we're worried about the league championship."
Boys Cross Country
Williamston has been a state power in Division 3 in past years.
"We're running up against tough schools so we'll be strong by the end of the season. It will strengthen us," Williamston coach Paul Nilsson said. "Grand Rapids West Catholic is a school that will be tough competition for us."
Outstanding runners for Williamston include Dan Nix, a school mile record holder and Matt Lutzke, a two-time all-stater in track "who is a great athlete," Nilsson said. "He ran a 15:50 at the Michigan State Invitational last week. All the kids are running very fast right now."
Seniors John Person and Travis Barczak also add to the Williamston attack.
"Two years ago, the kids were hardly on the radar screen. They've demonstrated a talent for distance running," Nilsson said.
Williamston has enjoyed plenty of depth this season.
"I have six other boys vying for a spot on the varsity team," Nilsson said. "John Risch, a junior, is just over 17 minutes. He'll soon be in the 16-minute range. We're making progress and staying healthy."
Williamston was the Division 3 state runners-up last season and state champs in 2005.
