The best part of hosting teams for CatchMark SportsNet media days is getting to see the players and coaches cut loose and enjoy themselves.
It’s an opportunity to see player-to-player and coach-to-player bonds. At the end of the day, it’s about creating memories.
Most of the time, coaches feel uneasy being part of the media-day hype videos or TikToks that the young people so enjoy. Sometimes coaches will throw caution to the wind and jump in there, however, because they know it’ll make their players happy.
No better example of that than Shelby head football coach Phil Fortier showing some dance moves in the Tigers’ TikTok or getting in a three-point stance for the hype video shoot during a media day session on Sunday.
See the TikTok here:
Thanks to Fortier for playing the lead role in the hilarious TikTok above. In all seriousness, Fortier is a great role model for young people because while he’s trying to teach life lessons win or lose, he’ll leave his pride at the door and have fun alongside his players.
Other coaches across various sports have done so as well at media days and it’s been very entertaining to watch.
Speaking of swallowing pride: Time for me to do that when it comes to my “On the Mark” football picks. Week 1 was a rough one for me and a couple others on the panel. Good job by Jordan Durga and Jon Russell last week.
You won’t see his record on this week’s “On the Mark” graphics, but Week 1 guest picker Jeff Burel was solid at 10-7.
This week’s guest picker is none other than Mike Taylor. Who knows, maybe we can get the “old coach” on an upcoming CatchMark SportsNet TikTok.
Here are Week 2 picks for games involving West Michigan Conference and Greater Muskegon teams:
DECAMP’S DISSECTION
Whitehall (1-0) at Tecumseh (1-0), 7 p.m. Thursday: Whitehall was in complete control during its season opener against Hudsonville Unity Christian until cramps took hold of a few key Vikings players. Whitehall came away with a 34-28 victory against a program that’s never easy to beat.
It’s a different challenge this week as the Vikings board a bus and travel to Tecumseh, located southwest of Ann Arbor, about three hours from home. Tecumseh is coming off a 10-1 season, one of the Indians’ best in years. Last week, Tecumseh handled Jackson Northwest, 40-21.
If the cramping issue is addressed, then Whitehall should have a happy bus ride home.
Prediction: Whitehall 42, Tecumseh 20
Ravenna (0-1) at Montague (0-1), 7 p.m. Thursday: Montague-Ravenna football games have been interesting in recent years to say the least. In a bit of a chippy game last season at Ravenna, the Bulldogs came away with a 14-7 victory over the Wildcats at Citizens’ Field. In a hard-fought game in 2021, Montague edged Ravenna by the same score at Townsend Athletic Complex.
Tonight, Montague welcomes Ravenna back to Townsend Athletic Complex. Last week, the Wildcats showed some promise in a 34-28 season-opening home loss to Spring Lake, while the Bulldogs couldn’t quite find their footing in a 32-14 home defeat to Beal City.
Both teams are trying to establish their identities. For Ravenna, it’s life without Hunter Hogan, the 2022 West Michigan Conference Player of the Year, who is now at Calvin University.
Prediction: Montague 27, Ravenna 20
North Muskegon (1-0) at Muskegon Catholic Central (0-1), 7 p.m. Thursday: North Muskegon is coming off a thrilling 17-14 season-opening win at home over perennial power Pewamo-Westphalia. Meanwhile, Muskegon Catholic Central took a home loss last week, 34-20, to a New Lothrop squad that’s also tough year in and year out.
Last season, MCC rallied for a 24-22 victory over North Muskegon in a season-opening matinee at Muskegon’s Hackley Stadium. The Norsemen have payback in mind, but it’s never easy against the Crusaders, especially on their home field.
The Norse have the skill to get the job done, but as per usual, the game will be won or lost up front.
Prediction: North Muskegon 21, Muskegon Catholic Central 20
Warren De La Salle (0-1) at Muskegon (0-1), 7 p.m. Friday: Score updates coming from Hackley Stadium last week in Muskegon’s 27-7 home loss to Rockford were a bit surprising, but the Rams are as solid as they come on an annual basis and they have tons of depth.
You’ve got to believe that Muskegon head coach Shane Fairfield and his staff challenged the Big Reds in practice this week. With De La Salle coming to town, the Big Reds had no time to feel sorry for themselves.
De La Salle, two-time Division 2 defending state champ and coached by Orchard View alumnus Dan Rohn, is also coming off a loss. The Pilots fell, 31-26, to a Davison program that’s been really strong in recent seasons.
Might this be a prelude to a Division 2 state finals showdown in November between Muskegon and De La Salle?
Prediction: Muskegon 27, Warren De La Salle 24
Rockford (1-0) at Mona Shores (1-0), 7 p.m. Friday: What do we make of Rockford’s 27-7 victory at Muskegon and Mona Shores’ 58-7 rout of Manitowoc Lincoln in Wisconsin last week?
Early signs seem to suggest that the Rams and Sailors are both pretty darn good, but this matchup should be a better barometer, especially as it relates to Shores.
Last season, Mona Shores let one slip away at Rockford, 31-27, in Week 2.
Along with Muskegon-De La Salle, Mona Shores vs. Rockford is one of the more appealing matchups in the state this week.
Prediction: Mona Shores 28, Rockford 24
