When the Michigan high school football finals converge upon Detroit this weekend, it will mark the first time since 2011 that no Muskegon-area teams will be competing at Ford Field.
Of course, the Muskegon area will still be represented in some capacity. Orchard View will be repped in a big way.
Orchard View High School alumni Dan Rohn and Eric Schugars will be matching wits as respective head coaches for Warren De La Salle (13-0) and Traverse City Central (12-1) in the Division 2 state championship game at 1 p.m. Friday. The game will be televised live on Bally Sports Detroit.
Photos by Kevin Fitzhenry (De La Salle Collegiate), Mike Krebs and James Cook (Traverse City Record-Eagle) and courtesy sources
Rohn, a 1989 Orchard View grad, is in his second season at De La Salle. He won four Division 5 state championships with Grand Rapids West Catholic in a six-year span. Last season, he guided De La Salle to the finals, where the Pilots lost to Mona Shores, 25-19.
Schugars, a 1995 Orchard View alum, is in his seventh season guiding Traverse City Central. This is his first trip to Ford Field as a head coach, although he’s well-familiar with the state finals as the son of legendary coach Jack Schugars.
Rohn and Jack Schugars coached on the same staff at Ferris State University.
Not only did Rohn and Eric Schugars both attend Orchard View, they grew up in the same neighborhood.
CatchMark SportsNet’s Scott DeCamp interviewed Rohn and Schugars via Zoom Tuesday morning in advance of their big matchup Friday. Watch the interview in its entirety above.
