By John Raffel
MaxPreps.com
The Single Wing offense is alive and well in Menominee, Mich. The old-time offense, in which there is no quarterback and the ball is snapped to a running back, produced a Division 5 state championship for the south-central Upper Peninsula school last season under long-time coach, Ken Hofer.
Going into the final week of the regular season, Menominee was ranked No. 1 in the state in Division 5 with an 8-0 record.
"We thought we'd have a good nucleus coming back this season," Hofer said. "We didn't know what to expect. We have had some tough games but have been able to get through it. Our young men have improved so much."
The final weekend of the season, Gladstone, with a 3-5 record, is the only team standing in the way of an undefeated season for Menominee.
"Compared to last season, we're more a running team," Hofer said. "Last year, we had a good mix between running and passing."
Ethan Shaver leads the running attack with 992 yards after eight games.
"He's our glue," Hofer said. "He was an all-stater for us last year."
More Football
Troy Schelke is in his 12th year of coaching a Harbor Beach football team, located on the tip of Michigan's Thumb, on the shores of Lake Huron. Football fever is warming things up at Harbor Beach where the Pirates are off to an 8-0 start in Division 7.
Harbor Beach was 8-1 last season and 9-0 in 2003. The team was also 9-0 in 1973 and 1980.
"The younger players have stepped in this year and have done a fine job for us," said Schelke. "We're trying to teach team defense and be very disciplined."
How far can Harbor Beach go in the playoffs?
"That's hard to say at this point," Schelke said. "You have to have a good team and have a lot of luck go your way. We'll try to go as far as we can."
The playoffs start next weekend.
Girls Volleyball
East Kentwood is making a serious bid at the Class A championship for volleyball this season in Michigan.
EK has gotten off to a 48-3 start which includes a victory Tuesday night in four games against O-K Red Conference title power Jenison (50-4).
"We're having a great year," said East Kentwood coach Roxanne Steenhuysen. "We graduated five seniors from last year. You always have to wonder what happens after that. We have had a great core of young kids who work hard and know what it takes to be successful. Jenison has a fabulous team. It was a great game for us to win.
"We're not as big of a team as we were last year. But we have a couple of kids who can place the ball for us. We have a very balanced attack."
Senior Kim Stewart leads the team in kills along with Steenhuysen's daughter, Megan, a junior, plus junior outside hitter Jessica Brown.
"Jessica will play college ball, Division I, somewhere," Steenhuysen said.
Later this month, the three-week state tournament begins.
"We try to get things going now," Steenhuysen said. "We focus on the conference tournament, then on the various facets of the state tournament."
East Kentwood won the state title in 2006.
Cross Country
Highland Milford and coach Brian Salyers hopes to make a run at the state title this year.
"Our boys are undefeated in dual meets," Salyers said. "For the most part, our sport has gravitated away from dual meets. But our conference still puts major emphasis on it."
Five different schools in Milford's league - the Kensington Valley Conference - have won state titles since 1995, he said.
"You have to go through our loeague first to win the title," he said. "Right now, we're ranked fifth in the state and hope to be in the state finals mix."
Phen Fuelling and Bob Feigley are the team's top two runners.
Boys Soccer
Harbor Beach has also been a power in soccer with an 8-0 record in the Greater Thumb East League.
The Coach is Phil Bowen, who has had the job for 12 years.
"It's the first time in four years we're undefeated in the league," he said. "We're a team that has improved a lot. I have 15 sophomores and freshmen along with six seniors."
Jeremy Booms leads the team with 15 goals.
