Pewamo-Westfahlen wants to extend title series
Pewamo-Westfalia has made it a habit to finish at the top of the CMAC football standings over the past decade.
The Pirates have won the league title in nine consecutive seasons, winning the title outright last fall after sharing the championship with Fowler and Laingsburg in 2022.
Fowler and Laingsburg both made the playoffs last season and will look to play a role in the league race this fall. Saranac, Bath and Perry also made the 2023 state playoffs and will look to make the cut.
Dansville is under new leadership and looking to improve, while Potterville hopes to make a statement by returning to the full varsity schedule after only a few games in 2023.
Here’s a look at the CMAC team by team.
▶ Coaches’ predictions 1. Pewamo-Westfalia, 2. Fowler, 3. Laingsburg, 4. Saranac. 5. Bath, T-6. Dansville, T-6. Potterville, 8. Perry
BATH
▶ Last season: 7-4, 2-3 (T-3.)
▶ Trainer: Shane Lorenz (Season 2)
▶ Playoff Division: 7
SCHEDULE
August 29 – Chesaning
September 6th – in Pewamo-Westfalia
September 13th – in Potterville
20 September – Fowler
27 September – in Perry
October 4 – in Laingsburg
October 11 – Saranac
October 18 – Dansville
25 October – in Durand
▶ Best returnees: Jay Kreisler (sr.) QB/DB, Brayden Teachworth (sr.) OT/DE, Jacob Kuhn (sr.) OT/DE, James Gossett (sr.) OG/LB, Nolan Rowley (sr.) RB/LB, Ethan Wicks (sr.) WR/DB/LB, Thomas Vang (sr.) WR/DB/K/P, Lattimer Jones (sr.) OL/DL, Tyler Spears (sr.) OL/DL, Nathaniel Alleva-Crandall (sr.) OG/LB, Keegan Hunt (jr.) OG/LB, Aden Briggs (jr.) WR/S, Max de Leon (jr.) WR/RB/LB
▶ Other contributors: Preston Grams (sr.) RB/LB, Isaiah Delacruz (sr.) WR/DB, Aiden Wolf (jr.) WR/DB, Jorin Arnold (jr.) RB/DL, Jack Koenigsknecht (each.) QB/DB, Calvin Smith (jr.) WR/DE, Jacob Wilson (jr.) OG/DL, Zack Holland (jr.) RB/LB, Austin Winnie (jr.) OL/DL, Jacob Archer (jr.) WR/DB, Jaden Braska (see above) OL/DL
▶ Outlook: The Bees have made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history and have been to the postseason in three of the last four years and have a record above .500. Bath, which has all five starters back on the offensive line and has more skill and size on the perimeter on both sides of the ball, has set its sights on returning to the playoffs and competing for the district championship. Lorenz said an improved passing game is one of the keys to the Bees’ success.
DANSVILLE
▶ Last season: 0:9, 0:5 (6.)
▶ Trainer: Wayne Dismuke (Season 1)
▶ Playoff Division: 8
SCHEDULE
29 August – Springport
September 6th – in Potterville
13 September – Saranac
September 20th – Pewamo-Westphalia
27 September – at Fowler
October 4 – in Perry
October 11 – Laingsburg
18 October – in Bath
25 October – Stockbridge
▶ Best returnees: Alex Baker (sr.) RB/DB, Quinnton Burgett (sr.) WR/FS, Everett Dysinger (sr.) WR/LB, Haydon Tomlin (sr.) RB/LB, Noah Starkey (sr.) OT/DT, Brodie O’Berry (jr.) RB/LB, Kori Carpenter (jr.) OT/DT, Alan Rotarius (jr.) TE/DE, Mayson Burgett (so.) QB/ATH, Cash Clark (so.) WR/ DB, Chris Matyas (so.) OG/DT, Kane Romano (so.) FB/LB, Evan Sykes (so.) TE/DE
▶ Other contributors: Logan Storye (jr.) WR/DB, Cavren Gavin (so.) WR/DB, Gary Ewing (so.) C/DT, Bryce Seymour (so.) OG/DT
▶ Outlook: Dismuke takes over an Aggie program that he believes can create an identity this season. Dansville has eight starters on offense and nine on defense and aims to control what it can and compete at a high level on a daily basis to improve. Dismuke said several players who have been on the varsity team for a few seasons and a line that can move people around are among Dansville’s other strengths.
FOWLER
▶ Last season: 8:2, 4:1 (2.)
▶ Trainer: John Spicer (Season 6)
▶ Playoff Division: 8
SCHEDULE
29 August – Hudson
6 September – in Saranac
13 September – Perry
20 September – in Bath
September 27 – Dansville
4 October – Pewamo-Westphalia
October 11th – in Potterville
October 18 – Laingsburg
October 25 – at McBain
▶ Best returnees: Jacob Halfmann (Sr.) QB/DB, Alex Halfmann (Sr.) OL/DL, Joe Epkey (Jr.) OL, Ben Kohagen (Sr.) WR, Trevor Spicer (Jr.) LB
▶ Other contributors: Other contributors: Nate Spicer (sr.) Slot/LB, Asher Koenigsknecht (sr.) Slot/DB
▶ Outlook: Fowler is 18-4 over the past two seasons and will look to continue its success and extend its playoff streak to six this fall. The Eagles will count on many new faces to play a role in that after losing a lot of talent to graduation. Jacob Halfmann, Alex Halfmann and Kohagen return as two-way starters, adding more experience to Fowler, which returns four starters on offense and defense. Spicer believes the rapid growth on the offensive line and in new additions will determine the Eagles’ success this fall.
LAINGSBURG
▶ Last season: 4-6, 2-3 (T-3.)
▶ Trainer: Brian Borgman (Season 23)
▶ Playoff Division: 7
SCHEDULE
29 August – Durand
6 September – Perry
September 13th – in Pewamo-Westfalia
20 September – Potterville
27 September – in Saranac
4 October – Bath
October 11 – in Dansville
October 18 – at Fowler
October 25 – Essexville Garber
▶ Best returnees: Riley Kiffer (sr.) OL/DE, Harvey Montgomery (sr.) OL/DL, Shaun Mills (jr.) OL/DE,
▶ Other contributors: Waylon Rowley (jr.) QB, Wyatt Wagner (sr.) WR, Max Powers (sr.) RB, Leandro Dolega-Caceres (jr.) WR, Dylan Witgen (sr.) RB, Tucker Dunn (sr.) LB, Dylan Koenig (jr.) LB, Josiah Hawes (jr.) DE
▶ Outlook: The Wolfpack’s only returning starters are Kiffer, Montgomery and Mills in the trenches. Laingsburg will lean on that trio since Rowley is a new starter at quarterback. Borgman said the Wolfpack has an extremely tight group this fall. With numbers lower than in years past, staying healthy is a must, according to Borgman.
PERRY
▶ Last season: 5-5
▶ Trainer: Steve Bentley (Season 1)
▶ Playoff Division: 7
SCHEDULE
August 29 – in Clawson
September 6th – in Laingsburg
13 September – at Fowler
20 September – Saranac
27 September – Bath
October 4 – Dansville
11 October – at Pewamo-Westfalia
October 18 – Potterville
October 25 – at Vassar
▶ Best returnees: DJ Jenks (sr.) Slot/DB, Keegan Brown (sr.) FB/LB, Brandon Ketchum (sr.) OL/DL, Brady Burns (sr.) Slot.DB, Blake Bawks (sr.) Slot/OL/ LB, Brayden Conell (sr.) Slot/DB, John Schmidfranz (sr.) Slot/DB, Hunter Steiss (sr.) TE/DE, Alex McEwan (jr.) OL/DL, Gavin Fitchett (jr.) OL/ DL, Gavin Floyd (jr.) OL/DL
▶ Other contributors: Tyger Whitbeck (so.) QB/LB, Jacob Adkins (jr.) WR/DB, Mason Nosis (jr.) Slot/DB, Josh Lynch (jr.) FB/DL, Dellon Body (jr.) OL/DL, Autumn Pavlica (jr.) OL/DL, Christian Hebert (jr.) OL/DE
▶ Outlook: After making the playoffs last season, the Ramblers are rebuilding under new coach Bentley. Perry is replacing the performance of a strong senior class but has several starters back in Jenks, Brown and Ketchum who play both ways. That trio is among the five returning starters on offense and defense. While Perry is outnumbered, Bentley said his players have shown great energy and are coachable. The Ramblers are expected to make progress each week as they enter a new era in the CMAC.
PEWAMO-WESTPHALIA
▶ Last season: 10:2, 5:0 (1.)
▶ Trainer: Jeremy Miller (Season 12)
▶ Playoff Division: 7
SCHEDULE
August 29 – North Muskegon
6 September – Bath
13 September – Laingsburg
September 20th – in Dansville
September 27th – in Potterville
October 4 – at Fowler
October 11 – Perry
October 18 – in Saranac
October 25 – at Lansing Catholic
▶ Best returnees: Brayton Thelen (sr.) RB, Kieffer Trimmer (sr.) OL/DL, Carter Wirth (sr.) WR/LB, Reece Thelen (sr.) WR/DB, Brandt Beech (sr.) OL/DL, Jack Bailey (sr.) OL/DL, Hayden Smith (so.) OL/LB, Trent Piggott TE/DE
▶ Other contributors: Ty Thelen (jr.) QB/DB, Brandon Anthony (jr.) WR/DE, Luke Paxton (jr.) RB/LB, Eli Thelen (jr.) WR/DB, Isaac McArthy (jr.) OL/DL
▶ Outlook: The Pirates will look to extend their championship streak to ten this season. PW has won eight of the last nine CMAC titles and has six starters on offense and three on defense back from last year’s championship team. Brayton Thelen is the only returning starter on either side and is drawing interest from colleges. The Pirates will rely on their seniors on defense to step into the starting positions and play at a high level, and they will count on Ty Thelen to take over at quarterback. Miller expects an experienced offensive line to be a major strength.
POTTERVILLE
▶ Last season: 2:0
▶ Trainer: Jason Baker (Season 1)
▶ Playoff Division: 8
SCHEDULE
29 August – Maple Valley
September 6 – Dansville
13 September – Bath
September 20th – in Laingsburg
September 27th – Pewamo-Westphalia
October 4 – in Saranac
October 11 – Fowler
October 18 – in Perry
October 25 – in Springport
▶ Best returnees: Ezzy Taylor (sr.) QB/S, Keaton Bush (sr.) OL/DL, Luke Ward (jr.) OL/DL, Markeil White (jr.) RB/DB, Keegan Bennett (jr.) RB/LB, Isaiah Woloszyn (jr.) RB/LB, Cam Wood (sr.) LB, Andrew Morales (so.) OL/LB
▶ Other contributors: Nick Morales WR/DB, Ethan Woloszyn WR/DB
▶ Outlook: Potterville will play a full varsity schedule for the first time since 2022 and hopes to continue to develop into a winning program and compete against teams it hasn’t been able to compete against in the past. The Vikings have 10 starters back on offense and defense and hope to build on last season’s growth. Potterville hopes to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2009.
SARANAC
▶ Last season: 5-5, 2-3 (T-3.)
▶ Trainer: Kirk Jackson (Season 4)
▶ Playoff Division: 7
SCHEDULE
August 30 – in Cheboygan
6 September – Fowler
September 13th – in Dansville
20 September – in Perry
27 September – Laingsburg
October 4 – Potterville
11 October – in Bath
18 October – Pewamo-Westphalia
25 October – at Clio
▶ Best returnees: Jordan Dodge (DL), Chase Stephens (RB), Warren Hill (LB)
▶ Outlook: Saranac has a roster of 22 seniors who made major appearances and were part of last year’s team that reached the state playoffs. Those seniors are included in the five starters Saranac has back on offense and defense. Jackson said getting off to a good start is important for Saranac to be ready for the rest of the season.
Contact Brian Calloway at [email protected]. Follow him on X @brian_calloway.
