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Community Backs Maple Valley's Surge

August 13, 2015

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

VERMONTVILLE – It’s almost with disbelief that first-year coach Marty Martin considers the recent history of his once-feared Maple Valley football program.

“It’s been nine years since we’ve had a winning season,” said Martin, who was part of the team’s first outright league title as a senior in 1983. “It gives me goose bumps to think about that.”

But he’s had similar reactions to the outpouring of neighborly support his program has received as it works to start a revival.

Members of the community, made up of about 3,500 residents, have donated $46,000 to go with $15,000 allocated by Maple Valley's school board for the purchase of new equipment that will be used this fall. Some was necessary to fit an influx of players, but the additional funds allowed the program to update and replace some of its older gear as well. 

Confidence. Comfort. Swagger. The players anticipate a little more of all three when Maple Valley opens against Fowler on Aug. 28 outfitted in new uniforms over new shoulder pads and with new helmets topping them off.

Those good feelings come with heightened expectations, of course – which are welcomed by a program that made the playoffs seven of eight seasons and played in an MHSAA Final during the stretch preceding its recent struggles.

“It’s coming back. You can feel it,” Maple Valley senior Isiah Garn said. “On the field, the coaches are expecting more … not letting you short yourself. And the community is jumping in on us; there is so much support there. Everyone wants us to be a success again.”

Dressed to impress

Martin is deeply rooted in the school. His father was a 1953 graduate of the former Vermontville High and started middle school basketball and football and summer league baseball programs in the community before also coaching at the new Maple Valley High School after it opened in 1963. Marty played football for Dan Watson on the Maple Valley varsity after playing junior varsity for Guenther Mittelstaedt, who followed Watson and led the varsity to a 173-70 record over 24 seasons through 2008.

After playing two years of baseball in junior college, Martin came back to the community to work as a postal worker and coach, and under Mittelstaedt helped the Lions to their first playoff appearance, in 1987. He remained on Mittelstaedt’s staff through 2000, then coached a year at Battle Creek St. Philip, four years at Battle Creek Lakeview where he also taught after earning his degree, then with Mittelstaedt again for two years at Lakeview in Montcalm County.  

Martin returned to teach at Maple Valley a year ago and became only the third varsity football coach in 30 years during this offseason.

Maple Valley is a little different place than even a decade ago. The school’s enrollment briefly passed 500 during the 2007-08 school year but fell to just over 370 students as of this spring – and Martin said there are fewer than 70 seniors in this fall’s class. The community’s economics also have changed, he added, with fewer families farming or enjoying jobs with General Motors in Lansing or Kellogg in Battle Creek.  

Near the top of his to-do list was simply getting more players back into the program. Maple Valley had 40 last year, which at least worked for the amount of equipment the school had in stock.

But 69 students signed up to play this fall and 54 ended up at practice this week – good news, except for the helmet supply.

In addition to new helmets to outfit the new players, Martin also surmised eight more would need to be replaced at the end of this season, followed by 12 more needed after 2016 and 13 after 2017.

Instead, Martin began investigating if his program could get a better price by replacing the entire supply in bulk. After considering two helmets, he worked with his Riddell representative to get a deal on the helmets that included discounts on shoulder and girdle pads as well. The school board responded with its contribution – and then the community came on strong to help the rest of the way.

Martin was called out of class one day to receive a $5,000 check. Then came $1,500 from one family and $3,500 from another. He was at a graduation open house this spring when someone placed a $1,000 check in front of him. Longtime residents, some retired, gave $100; some who had graduated from Vermontville High or the other former school in Nashville, donated a few hundred as well.  

Martin’s team spent parts of the summer (and will this Saturday as well) providing muscle to local service projects, but he’s never asked the community for financial help for the program. It just made sense to provide, said 1992 grad and former player and assistant coach Paul Adrianson, whose local business Hickey Electric was among the first to contribute.

“We want people to see the game of football doesn’t just necessarily survive. We think it can thrive if you put safety first or good fundamental education on it,” Adrianson said. “It can be a great sport for our future. … We really feel that if we get all behind and lead as a district and doing safety first, we think that’s going to set a positive trend for the game of football.”

Safety first

Maple Valley is one of 70 high schools statewide taking part in a pilot sideline concussion testing program sponsored this school year by the MHSAA. The Lions will work with XLNTbrain Sport, which incorporates baseline testing done at the start of the season to assist in return-to-play decisions after possible head injuries at practices and during games.

In addition, the Riddell SpeedFlex helmets Maple Valley purchased include the InSite Impact Response System, a series of sensors that alert sideline staff after a player’s helmet sustains what is considered a significant impact. That player will then be evaluated by training staff; Maple Valley also has a trainer this fall for the first time in 15 years, Martin said.

“That was our initial thing. We want our kids to be the safest kids,” Martin said. “We want to be one of those leaders; we want to get this district, this community, out front so everyone in the state of Michigan and the United States knows in this area that people care about their kids to the extent they’re willing to invest $27,000 in purchasing helmets.”

The helmets require reconditioning each offseason and new batteries for the InSite sensors – to the tune of $2,200. But another donor stepped in with $22,000 – enough to keep the new helmets ready to wear for a decade.

“This community identifies with this football team,” Martin said. “So they were ready for a change, and they were looking for this opportunity. I’m very blessed and humbled to think they’re showing trust in my leadership and my coaching staff and in the fact we can turn things around.”

His players have heard the stories of successes past, some before they were born. They’ll try to extend the “look good, feel good” cliché into their play on the field this fall as they work to write a restart into Maple Valley’s winning history that goes with the other renovation projects that are popping up at the school and on its grounds.

“I think there’s going to be tons of people coming out,” senior Brock Weiler said. “It’s the new coach, everything getting re-done in the school. I think the pride’s coming back.”

PHOTOS: (Top) Maple Valley huddles during offensive drills at Wednesday afternoon’s practice. (Middle) Coach Marty Martin leads the Lions through agility work. (Below) Maple Valley will wear new helmets this fall thanks in part to community donations.

Linden quarterback Dylan Dreasky (7) hands off during his team’s 14-13 win over previously-undefeated Flushing on Friday.

1st & Goal: 2024 Week 4 Review

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

September 23, 2024

“We’ve seen it all” surely belongs among the most overused phrases in sports. But Week 4 provided a few entertaining extremes from an otherwise typical high school football weekend across Michigan.

MI Student AidIn what had to be a first for a Michigan school, DeWitt welcomed an opponent from West Virginia – and in a 70-63 victory combined to tie for the sixth-most points scored between two teams in state history when the losing team scored at least 40.

Conversely, Midland Dow defeated Bay City Western 3-2 – the lowest-possible winning score when both teams put points on the board.

We’ve noted several more results below, of course, including the end of some notable winning – or losing – streaks, depending on who you were cheering on, and a handful of games that very well could decide league championships next month.

Bay & Thumb

HEADLINER Croswell-Lexington 21, North Branch 17 The Broncos (3-1) led into the fourth quarter before Croswell-Lexington (3-1) moved ahead in what could prove a key result in the Blue Water Area Conference race. These two are now tied for third in the league, with Cros-Lex facing co-leader Almont this week (after losing to co-leader Armada in Week 2) and North Branch playing Almont and Armada back-to-back in October. The Pioneers’ 21 points were the first North Branch had given up this season. Click for more from the Port Huron Times Herald.

Watch list Pinconning 21, Sanford Meridian 14 With this first win over Meridian since 2008 – breaking an eight-game losing streak against the Mustangs – Pinconning (3-1) guaranteed itself a better record than a year ago and its most wins since 2018, and after winning a combined four games over the last five seasons.

On the move Davison 45, Saginaw Heritage 22 This was an important opening win for Davison in Saginaw Valley Red play as it kept the Cardinals (3-1) on pace with co-leaders Lapeer and Grand Blanc and likely left Heritage (2-2) hoping for title share at best. Birch Run 21, New Lothrop 20 The Panthers (2-2) moved to the Mid-Michigan Activities Conference this fall and lost their first two league games, but getting past last season’s runner-up New Lothrop (1-3) was a great sign heading into this week’s matchup with reigning champ Chesaning. Millington 34, Cass City 6 Millington (4-0) also switched leagues this season and is the leader of the Big Thumb Conference White after this win over last season’s Greater Thumb Conference West champ Cass City (2-2).

Greater Detroit

HEADLINER Detroit Martin Luther King 18, Detroit Cass Tech 12 (OT) A fourth-down Darryl Flemister touchdown pass to Tayshaun Henry, followed by a defensive stop, gave King the latest chapter in this rivalry and broke Cass Tech’s three-game winning streak in the series. King (3-1) is atop the Detroit Public School League Blue tied with Henry Ford and East English, with Cass Tech (2-2) and Renaissance one game back and Cass Tech not facing Ford on the league schedule. Click for more from the Detroit Free Press.

Watch list Detroit Catholic Central 27, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 22 DCC (4-0) is alone atop the Catholic High School League Central heading into this week’s massive matchup with Warren De La Salle Collegiate, thanks to this victory over St. Mary’s (2-2) and the Pilots’ 41-6 defeat against Toledo Catholic Central.

On the move Rochester Adams 28, Clarkston 10 The Highlanders’ Oakland Activities Association Red schedule opened with West Bloomfield and Clarkston, and they’ve defeated both to move to 4-0 overall after falling to both last season. Macomb Dakota 24, Sterling Heights Stevenson 9 The Cougars (4-0) and Utica Eisenhower have surged to the front of the Macomb Area Conference Red, Dakota this week handing Stevenson (3-1) its first defeat with a third-straight game giving up fewer than 10 points. Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice 14, River Rouge 7 Brother Rice ended a 13-game losing streak in a big way avenging last year’s 28-16 defeat to playoff regular River Rouge (2-2).

Mid-Michigan

HEADLINER Clare 26, Gladwin 21 Clare (4-0) took a major step in the Jack Pine Conference Division 1 race thanks to an unforgettable drive at the end of this rivalry matchup. The Pioneers marched 99 yards over three minutes with Aiden Van Bonn scoring the game-winner with 53 seconds left. Gladwin had won three straight regular-season meetings with Clare (with a Clare 2021 playoff win mixed in). Click for more from the Bay City Times.

Watch list Leslie 33, Michigan Center 31 In avenging a 28-point loss from a year ago, Leslie (4-0) tied its win total from 2023 and moved closer to guaranteeing a first winning season since 2012. Michigan Center (1-3), meanwhile, has two losses by a combined three points.

On the move Hastings 31, Parma Western 17 These two decided the Interstate 8 Athletic Conference title last season, and Hastings (4-0) will continue its repeat pursuit after defeating Western (3-1) for the fourth-straight season. Corunna 48, Owosso 13 Corunna (4-0) ran its winning streak in this rivalry to six by handing Owosso (3-1) its first defeat. Mason 30, Haslett 24 (OT) Mason (3-1) sent this one to overtime with a field goal on the last play of regulation and emerged from a potential league-deciding matchup that saw neither team commit a turnover.

Fowler’s Ford Phillips (15) breaks into an opening but with Bath’s Isiah Delacruz (1) closing in. The Eagles won 41-0.

Northern Lower Peninsula

HEADLINER Charlevoix 26, East Jordan 20 After a couple of tough losses over the first month, Charlevoix (2-2) is moving in the right direction and will jump back into league play after handing East Jordan its first defeat. East Jordan (3-1) may very well end up the Northern Michigan Football League Legacy champion again with a key matchup this week against Maple City Glen Lake. But the Rayders can carry some momentum especially defensively back into NMFL Leaders play after containing a Red Devils offense that had scored 44 or more points in all of its first three games. Click for more from the Petoskey News-Review.

Watch list Petoskey 20, Gaylord 0 Petoskey (4-0) is off to its best start since 2011 and giving up just under eight points per game after this shutout of the reigning Big North Conference champion Blue Devils.

On the move Manton 24, Lake City 22 Manton (1-3) had lost eight straight to Lake City (1-3) and took a nice first step for this season specifically after winning once all of last fall and missing out on a Week 3 victory by eight points. Kingsley 26, Boyne City 20 Kingsley (3-1) navigated a tough obstacle in Boyne City (2-2) on the way to this week’s potential NMFL Legends-deciding matchup with Traverse City St. Francis. Oscoda 20, Elk Rapids 0 After an 0-2 start, Oscoda (2-2) is even again after avenging last year’s 30-0 defeat to the Elks.

Southeast & Border

HEADLINER Manchester 36, Napoleon 14 Manchester (4-0) took a major step opening in a strong Cascades Conference East by ending a five-game losing streak to Napoleon (2-2), which had won 11 straight league games and two straight league championships. The Flying Dutchmen see undefeated Leslie (noted above) this week. Click for more from the Jackson Citizen Patriot.

Watch list Clinton 8, Blissfied 0 Clinton (3-1) posted its second-straight shutout to start Lenawee County Athletic Association play and made a second-quarter touchdown stand against the Royals (2-2).

On the move Adrian Madison 38, Dundee 13 The Trojans (3-1) just keep building, bouncing back from a Week 3 loss to Clinton as they continue to leave behind last year’s 1-8 finish. Dexter 56, Ann Arbor Huron 19 The Dreadnaughts (3-1) have rebounded from a Week 2 loss to Saline with a pair of 50-point performances, and they’ll be rooting for Huron (2-2) against Saline this week. Tecumseh 20, Adrian 10 Tecumseh (2-2) had lost its last two games by one point and then eight, but got even by avenging last year’s 29-7 defeat to the Maples (2-2).

DeWitt’s Tyler Dusseau (65) and Max Holtz (5) bring down a ball carrier from Hurricane, WV.

Southwest Corridor

HEADLINER White Pigeon 14, Decatur 6 This was as good as forecast, as White Pigeon (4-0) scored the only points of the second half to get past Decatur (3-1) and extend its regular-season winning streak to 17. Touchdowns were scored on defense, special teams and via a trick play. Click for more from the Sturgis Journal.

Watch list Kalamazoo Central 41, Stevensville Lakeshore 37 Kalamazoo Central’s first win over Lakeshore since 2018 moved the Maroon Giants to 3-1, giving them one more win than all of last season and guaranteeing their best finish since at least 2019.

On the move Bronson 34, Reading 12 Bronson (3-1) was 0-6 against Reading (1-3) since joining the Big 8 Conference in 2017, and a third win this season means the Vikings will at least tie their winningest since 2012. Constantine 28, South Haven 22 These two decided the Southwestern Athletic Conference Lakeshore title last year, and the Falcons (4-0) showed some grit again with their second-straight one-score win this fall. Paw Paw 34, Vicksburg 7 Paw Paw has outscored its first two Wolverine Conference opponents by a combined 97-7 and has not given up more than 15 points to any opponent this fall.

Upper Peninsula

HEADLINER Kingsford 29, Negaunee 27 Last season’s Western Peninsula Athletic Conference Copper co-champions met for what could eventually decide the league title this fall, and this time Kingsford won close after falling to Negaunee 13-12 a year ago. The Miners (3-1) trailed big in the third quarter before launching a comeback, but the Flivvers held on to move to 4-0. Click for more from the Iron Mountain Daily News.

Watch list Escanaba 45, Sault Ste. Marie 0 For the second time this season, Escanaba avenged a 2023 loss. Escanaba had lost their last two recent meetings with Sault Ste. Marie, and at 2-2 already has as many wins as both of the last two seasons.

On the move Bark River-Harris 48, Gwinn 0 Bark River-Harris (2-2) is back to even after opening with two losses, and as the Broncos pursue a fifth-straight winning season. Menominee 48, Calumet 6 The Maroons (4-0) also are positioning themselves for another run at the West-PAC Copper title, in this one sending Calumet to 2-2. Houghton 39, Ishpeming Westwood 8 The Gremlins (2-2) pulled within a win of tying last season’s total.

West Michigan

HEADLINER Hudsonville 28, Rockford 21 Hudsonville (3-1) broke a nine-game losing streak against its rival that stretched back to the 2016 playoffs, and ended previously-undefeated Rockford’s Ottawa-Kent Conference Red 27-game winning streak that began in 2019. The Eagles fell to the Rams 48-0 just last season, but now sit with East Kentwood atop the early league standings. Click for more from the Grand Rapids Press.

Watch list Newaygo 42, Howard City Tri County 38 Newaygo (4-0) is in its second season under legendary past Rockford coach Ralph Munger, and its four wins this fall are more than the team has won in a season since 2019. Tri County (3-1) was last season’s runner-up in the Central State Activities Association Gold and had defeated Newaygo in four straight.

On the move Muskegon Mona Shores 14, Byron Center 12 Only Hudsonville’s stunner could dislodge this from West Michigan’s top billing above, as Mona Shores won this matchup of undefeated teams in a defensive showdown. Hudsonville Unity Christian 43, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central 20 We already figured Unity (4-0) was back to being Unity past, but doubling up the reigning Division 3 champion FHC (3-1) speaks plenty more. Grand Rapids Northview 31, East Grand Rapids 27 Northview made the playoffs at 4-5 last season in part because of its tough schedule, and the Wildcats are looking great to build on that with this win making them 4-0. Northview had lost all five of their recent meetings with EGR (2-2).

8-Player

HEADLINER Deckerville 30, Brown City 28 Half the eight-team Big Thumb Conference Blue is 3-1 or better this fall, and Deckerville (4-0) is tied with Kingston at the top of the standings after pulling ahead of the Green Devils (3-1) to claim this meeting. Deckerville had lost both of its previous 8-player matchups with Brown City, including 46-28 last season as the Green Devils went on to a league title. Click for more from the Sanilac County News.

Watch list Burr Oak 66, Tekonsha 8 The Bobcats were a combined 2-25 the last three seasons heading into this one, but they’re 3-1 this fall and already have scored more points than during any full season since 2020.

On the move Pickford 65, Ishpeming 14 The Hematites (3-1) no doubt will become an 8-player force, but Pickford (4-0) remains one of if not the top team to chase in the Upper Peninsula. Gaylord St. Mary 56, Bellaire 8 St. Mary (3-1) bounced back from a Week 3 loss to Ishpeming to hand Bellaire (3-1) its first defeat. Portland St. Patrick 29, Morrice 12 The Shamrocks (4-0) made it two in a row over the rival Orioles (3-1), impressing especially on defense as Morrice had scored at least 44 points in all of its first three games.

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PHOTOS (Top) Linden quarterback Dylan Dreasky (7) hands off during his team’s 14-13 win over previously-undefeated Flushing on Friday. (Middle) Fowler’s Ford Phillips (15) breaks into an opening but with Bath’s Isiah Delacruz (1) closing in. The Eagles won 41-0. (Below) DeWitt’s Tyler Dusseau (65) and Max Holtz (5) bring down a ball carrier from Hurricane, WV. (Top photo by Terry Lyons, middle photo by John Johnson, and below photo by Max McCallister.)