SCOTTVILLE – With a record setting offense and the most wins in program history, MCC was primed to make a deep run in the playoffs.
Three injuries occurred before the Spartans even practiced for the first time.
A season ago, MCC finished at exactly .500 with five wins and five losses. The Spartans did, however, see the playoffs. It was Kingsley who ended MCC’s season in the pre-district game with a convincing win 61-12.
Two of its losses last season came to Manistee and Ludington. Both of those teams the Spartans beat in the 2024 season.
Though, a (5-5) season wasn’t exactly ideal, MCC only had four seniors graduate and were expected to have a solid 2024 champaign.
Senior Peyton Merz was a key pillar heading into the season for the Spartans and he lived up to the expectations picking up all-conference honors. Merz ran for 2207 total yards and 26 touchdowns. On top of the rushing stats, Merz recorded 49 tackles, 14 TFL’s and four sacks.
The Spartans opened its season with a long road trip to Godwin Heights. Last season these two schools met up in week one with MCC coming away with a 27-7 win. This season, no different. The only exception was that Godwin Heights would not go down easily. MCC would hold on to win 16-14.
Fast forward a week, the Spartans would have Ludington who they have not beaten since 2015. This game started the rise of Merz, rushing for 372 yards and five touchdowns. Mason County Central would win the offensive shootout 50-43 and avenged its lost from last season.
They would then drop its week three game to the eventual WMC Rivers division champ North Muskegon 36-20.
After its first and only loss in the regular season, they would go on to win five straight contests against Centerville, Ravenna, Hart, Hesperia, and Shelby. All were not close football games either.
Sitting at (7-1, 4-1) and locking down a 2nd place finish it its respective conference, MCC would face Manistee to finish the regular season.
A game that they lost last season 58-8, you could tell the players and MCC’s faithful were pumped up and ready to go. Yet another strong rushing performance by Merz accumulating 240 yards and three touchdowns. The Mariners would fall to the Spartans 36-22.
Mason County hosted a playoff game against Standish-Sterling who themselves was having a solid season at (6-3) heading into the game. Having said that, they came hungry. Jumping out to an early 36-12 lead, MCC needed to find some momentum coming out of the half. Unfortunately, the Spartans were plagued with the turnover bug with three of them as they fell 50-32.
Final Season Results
- Week 1 – Mason County Central defeated Godwin Heights 16-14
- Week 2 – Mason County Central defeated Ludington 50-43
- Week 3 – North Muskegon defeated Mason County Central 36-20
- Week 4 – Mason County Central defeated Centerville 26-14
- Week 5 – Mason County Central defeated Ravenna 38-21
- Week 6 – Mason County Central defeated Hart 35-12
- Week 7 – Mason County Central defeated Hesperia 50-13
- Week 8 – Mason County Central defeated Shelby 56-26
- Week 9 – Mason County Central defeated Manistee 36-22
- Pre-District – Standish-Sterling defeated Mason County Central 50-32
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