The season is so close you can almost taste it. It has started to cool off and as we all know, HS SPORTS ARE BACK BABY. Yes, please read that like it was from The Hangover…
With all that said, our very own Jay Courtland got the change to head out to Fruitport last week, where 3 of our coverage area squads were suited up and scrimmaging. Montague, Fruitport, and Mason County Central all went to battle for a little pre-season practice. Here is what Jay found.
Montague Wildcats
Montague’s biggest strength right now is sheer numbers. The Cats suited up around 40 varsity players — a far cry from just 19 in 2018 — and they look the part. This is a team full of contributors. The offensive line might be the most imposing unit, senior-heavy and averaging 250 pounds across the board. That wall up front gave QB Eli Peterson all kinds of protection. Add in skill guys who have clearly put in work this offseason, and you’ve got a team with a different edge than just a couple of seasons ago. They’re buying into their new coach, and it shows.
Mason County Central
MCC came to play. Their backs are big and strong, and the line has plenty of muscle too. The Spartans went toe-to-toe in the trenches and didn’t back down against a couple of much bigger schools. The Spartans leaned on a solid run game and mixed in smart play from QB Pierce Bladzik, who Coach Smith said has started every game since his freshman year. Now a junior in 2025, Bladzik looked composed and made good decisions.
Fruitport
On defense the Trojans were flocking to the ball against the run, closing holes fast. With their QB catching Jay’s eye. With Jay saying “good size, quick, and could run“. The edge, was definitely there for Fruitport, many of them said “I just want to hit somebody”. Sure enough, once it kicked off, they played with that edge. Fruitport showed fight, energy, and a physical attitude. They got some tools and they are ready to use them come next week against rival Spring Lake.
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