Menominee Follows Winning Formula
October 29, 2015
By Dennis Grall
Special for Second Half
MENOMINEE – Explaining the continued success of football at Menominee High School is not difficult.
"Football is just work. The kids are willing to work," fourth-year coach Joe Noha said of a simple explanation of a premier program for decades.
The Maroons (9-0) host Grayling (6-3) Friday at venerable Walton Blesch Stadium in a Division 5 opener. Noha, a former Menomninee player and assistant coach under legendary head coach Ken Hofer, is 45-4 since taking over the program.
Menominee was Division 5 runner-up under Noha in 2013 and reached the MHSAA Semifinals the other two seasons. Under Hofer, with Noha as the top assistant, the Maroons won Division 5 titles in 2006 and 2007 and Class BB in 1998.
There is more to this amazing success than simply hard work, something every successful program can also claim.
"We try to put our guys in the best position to have success," Noha said. "We can do a lot of different things."
Again, all successful teams can make that claim.
The Maroons also can point to stability in the coaching staff. Hofer, who retired after the 2011 season, is the all-time leader in victories among Upper Peninsula coaches with a 313-141-2 record. Noha, who graduated from Menominee in 1983 and then played football at Saginaw Valley State University, joined Hofer's staff in 1994.
Assistants like Ron "Satch" Englund, Jamie Schomer, Dave Mathieu, Nathan Linsmeier, Lucas Chouinard, Tyler Uecke, Bill Schwanz and Mark Klapp have also been part of the program for many years, providing stability to that success. Many of them also played for Hofer.
"After every practice we evaluate and look at ways to get better," said Noha, mentioning something else that of course is done across the sports universe.
Noha noted successful operations, referring to Fortune 500 companies, as he said, "everyone has core values. We put kids first, teach them hard work and responsibility (and discipline). Our teaching staff, our community; it is all part of what we do. We always have a support staff to lean on. Our kids know that. They know what the Menominee standard looks like."
He also pointed out, "There is a lot of pride there. We talk about giving back to what was given to you."
Noha also notes a "family mantra" in Menominee. "There is definitely family here, there is definitely community support here, the school supports us. There is not a lot of turnover here. We stick together, we work well together. A lot of people maintain the standard.
"A lot of people have a vested interest."
Again, nothing different from other successful programs.
But here's what is different: The Menominee Maroons do all of those things, and most importantly, perhaps, is it has been like that for nearly half a century.
One other explanation could also be how the Maroons operate on the gridiron. They are one of the very few remaining teams who use a single-wing offense, which makes it difficult for potential playoff opponents to prepare for since it is tough to emulate in practice.
Familiar Upper Peninsula opponents such as Escanaba, Kingsford, Gladstone and Marquette get to see the single-wing every year, as well as at the freshmen and jayvee levels. Grand Rapids West Catholic, which beat the Maroons in the 2013 title game and the 2012 semis, also has a good idea of the single-wing intricacies.
"West Catholic has beaten us because they were better," admitted Noha. "Trying to replicate it in practice is very difficult. You have to execute. It comes down to putting kids in good spots."
The Maroons have obviously modified the single-wing through the years, from fullback spinners to jump passes to bubble screens and fly patterns for receivers. "We can spread it out and we can pound it, but the single-wing concepts are still there,” Noha added.
"Everybody puts their tweaks on everything. If you are defending us, you better know the top three plays in our formations. Everyone's film is your DNA, your template. It is not brain surgery by any means."
It still comes down to other areas. "You have to have the kids, the coaches, and the kids have to be resilient," Noha said. "You can have any system you want."
Talent also comes in handy, and the Maroons again are blessed in that department. Led by quarterback/running back Nathan Nowack, the Maroons fill six defensive positions and five offensive positions on the Great Northern Conference all-star team this fall.
Nowack, who scored seven touchdowns against Gladstone this year, is the GNC's offensive player of the year, and lineman Adam Beyersdorf is the GNC's defensive player of the year.
Noha said changes have been made throughout the 35 years he has been associated with the program, some mandated by the MHSAA such as the reduction of contact in practice and the emphasis on concussions.
"The practices and the schemes stay the same. We look at nutrition more and we don't hit nearly as much as we used to," said Noha, who also indicated weight training has been emphasized much more since he was a player.
"The kids are bigger, stronger, faster and more physically fit. The game is faster, the kids are more skilled and get out in space more," Noha said.
While the Maroons usually boast good size in the line, Noha said the Maroons look more at body composition and how it best suits the players and positions. Many of the players go around the 180-190 pound area and are well-conditioned, solid athletes, he said.
Noha noted the first three playoff games are usually held outdoors, and then the Maroons usually play in the Superior Dome at Northern Michigan University and then hit Ford Field if they reach the title game. He said heavier kids may wilt under the indoor conditions. "We want kids that can run and move," he said.
Menominee's future may look even brighter. After not having a freshmen football team the past four years, Noha said that level will resume in 2016 as 30 freshmen players are anticipated. There were 22 freshmen on the 2015 junior varsity team.
Football is played to be fun for the Maroons, and it is always more fun when you can enjoy success like the Maroons experience. What it all comes down to in Menominee, Noha said, is "the scoreboard never defines us. We try to use football to get us to a better place."
Denny Grall retired in 2012 after 39 years at the Escanaba Daily Press and four at the Green Bay Press-Gazette, plus 15 months for WLST radio in Escanaba; he served as the Daily Press sports editor from 1970-80 and again from 1984-2012. Grall was inducted into the Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame in 2002 and serves as its executive secretary. E-mail him at [email protected] with story ideas for the Upper Peninsula.
PHOTOS: (Top) Senior Nathan Nowack (36) follows two of his blockers during this season's game against Marquette. (Middle) Hunter Hass works to avoid a Marquette defender on a rainy night. (Below) A Menominee ball-carrier holds onto the ball as two Marinette, Wis., players tackle him. (Photos courtesy of Val Ihde.)
Awe Working to Reignite Three Rivers, Bring Best of Past to New-Look Home
By
Scott Hassinger
Special for MHSAA.com
September 11, 2024
THREE RIVERS – Jeff Awe had always been content as an assistant during his 30 years coaching high school football.
All that changed in early April when Awe accepted the head varsity position at Three Rivers. Awe had spent 27 of those years as a Wildcats assistant before taking over the program.
"Becoming a varsity football coach was never on my radar," said Awe, who spent the last three years as head coach of the Wildcats junior varsity, guiding them to an 8-1 record last fall.
Awe felt he could help rejuvenate a program that stumbled to a 1-8 record in 2023 and suffered its first losing season since 2020.
“With the kind of season we had I could see, at least in my mind, exactly what needed to be done to turn this program around,” Awe said. “I wanted to bring some positivity back to Three Rivers football. The timing and circumstances made it the right time to pursue it.”
Awe, who played for and coached under former Three Rivers coaches Scot Shaw, Jeff Zonyk and Tom Foghino – all members of the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame – has brought back some of that positivity already with increased participation. More than 80 players came out for the sport between the varsity and JV teams.
Three Rivers defeated Charlotte 36-0 in the season opener two weeks ago at newly-renovated Armstrong Field, avenging a 52-22 loss from 2023. The Wildcats are 1-1 overall after losing a hard-fought 10-7 decision Friday at Adrian. Three Rivers hosts 2023 league champ and Regional finalist Niles in Friday's Wolverine Conference opener.
Shaw, coincidently, is currently the head coach at Niles.
Awe played for Shaw, Three Rivers' head coach from 1986-2004, and was a standout receiver and cornerback earning first-team all-conference his senior year.
Three Rivers finished with back-to-back 9-0 records in Awe's freshman and sophomore years. Awe was a starter as a senior on the first Wildcats team to make the playoffs in 1986.
"In my junior year we went 8-1 but lost our last game to Coldwater and didn't make the playoffs under the old system," Jeff Awe recalled. Three Rivers finished the 1986 regular season 8-1 as well on the way to that first playoff berth.
Awe is graduate of Western Michigan University and a long-time science teacher at Three Rivers Middle School. His long-range vision for the football program is to combine the old-school mentality from when Three Rivers was the most physical and disciplined football team every week with new-school principles.
"I want to build a bridge from our youth flag football program all the way up to the varsity level. I want to be able to put a coaching staff in place that can take over the program someday when I am done and keep it going strong," Jeff Awe said.
Three Rivers, mainly a spread offense team for several years, has returned to its old-school I-formation principles. But the passing game will remain a big part of the Wildcats' attack.
"We're going to have multiple looks on both sides of the football. With the way high school football is played now, we have to ready to adjust and adapt every week," he said.
"Right now I want our seniors to have a great year. We're excited and ready to go, and I like the way the summer went. Now we have to win some games and compete against some very good football teams on our schedule."
Awe feels fortunate to have been influenced by a number of great football minds over the course of his career like Zonyk, Foghino, Shaw and J.J. Wagner at Three Rivers, along with Mendon's John Schwartz and the late Bob Critz.
"We all did a lot of good things together. All of those guys taught me a great deal about the game," Awe said.
However, the lessons he learned as a player from Shaw have really stuck with him.
"Scot is a master at motivating his players, getting teams ready mentally, and he knows how to make you feel like a million bucks with just a comment or two. He can get his athletes to run through a wall and do things you thought were impossible,” Awe said. “I loved playing and coaching for him, and now I'll be coaching against him.”
Awe worked tirelessly over the summer promoting the Three Rivers football tradition.
"I've worked hard by having former players and coaches who have been successful in life come in and speak to our kids. There is a huge legacy here about what it means to put that Wildcat jersey on. I'm bringing the old nameplates back. The front of the uniform sports the name of the community you play for, and the name on the back is your family," Awe said.
"When you learn how to go out on the field and work hard and be disciplined, those are life lessons these kids will take with them into adulthood and beyond. I want them to understand that whatever number they wear there are people all over the country who once wore that number who are paying attention. They want to see if the individuals on this team are doing the correct things to make themselves successful."
Three Rivers features much more experience on the field than in the past. Brayden Carpenter and Aiden Williams are the lone sophomores on a 38-player varsity roster that features 17 seniors. Senior cornerback Jace Gray and two-way lineman Sam Reynolds, along with junior quarterback Mason Awe (Jeff’s son), have emerged as three of the team’s leaders on and off the field.
Gray, a 5-foot-9, 190-pound linebacker, has 18 tackles over two games after a team-high 12 against Adrian.
"Jace is the heart and soul of our defense. He is incredibly instinctive and has a knack for forcing turnovers,” Jeff Awe said. “He is a big reason we hope to be greatly improved on defense this season.”
Reynolds, a three-year varsity letterman, helps anchor much-improved offensive and defensive lines with his 5-10, 240-pound frame. "Sam is one of our best players and leaders. He is our strongest kid and anchors both sides of our line. We are looking forward to a big year from him," Awe said.
Mason Awe (5-11, 190) completed 4-of-5 passes for 57 yards against Charlotte. "Mason is smart, athletic and one of our leaders on offense. He can make plays with his arm, legs and brain and is a complete player at the quarterback position," Jeff Awe said.
Senior tailback Lamonta Stone leads Three Rivers in rushing with 34 carries for 267 yards and three TDs over those first two games. Other impact players on defense include senior linebackers Tre Rohrer (5-10, 185) with 16 tackles and a fumble recovery, and Landon Moreland with 16 stops.
Senior Max Burg (6-6, 260) is another key returning starter on the Wildcats' offensive line.
Reynolds sees a much different attitude from teammates this season.
"Everyone wants to be at practice this year. Coach Awe has created a camaraderie in our program that hasn't existed for a while,” said Reynolds, who aspires to become a coach and math teacher.
“My varsity experience has helped me with the physicality and the speed of the game. We got a bad taste in our mouth last year and aren't going to settle for a losing season.”
Gray feels he and his teammates are more connected with one another.
"The experience I bring back is valuable, and it gives me an advantage on the field. My strength and senior leadership are factors I hope contribute to us winning more games and making the playoffs," Gray said.
Mason Awe enjoys the special relationship he has as a son of the head coach.
"It's special because off the field I can go home and talk with him about how the practice or game went, the plays and what is working or not working. We have a good relationship, and we think alike on the field," Mason Awe said. "Our team wants to be the toughest and most gritty one out there. That's a trademark of old Three Rivers teams and we want to go back to that. I like being a big part of the offense, making plays and helping the team win. Confidence is a big key coming off last year. It will be the defining factor. This is a strong group, and we've been playing together for a while."
Awe's coaching staff consists of Mitch Walters, Nate Foley, Drew Bosma and Zac Robare at the varsity and JV levels, along with Scott Muffley, Toby Gose and Al Schmucker at the middle school level.
Armstrong Field introduces improvements
Three Rivers has played its home football games at Armstrong Field since 1951. Voters approved a bond in 2019 for upgrades to the stadium and the 40-year-old fieldhouse that was built during the early 1980s.
The renovations also included construction of a new weight room at the high school (completed in 2022), along with the installation of a new track, video scoreboard, artificial turf and new gating.
"We compete in the Wolverine Conference where over half of our schools play their football games on artificial turf,” said Three Rivers athletic director Matt Stofer. “It's been a long five years, but it’s cool to see it finished. Our community and alumni, along with our student-athletes have been great about everything, and the stadium looks great."
Finding a safe playing surface and one that could withstand multiple uses were major factors.
"We wanted to find a surface that other schools had a lot of success with. We traveled to and took a look at fields in St. Joseph, Chelsea, Olivet College and some other schools," Stofer added.
The high school soccer teams, band, physical education classes and youth football program also will have access to the facility.
Two of the biggest changes inside the facility are new gating and a new sound system.
"Before the renovations you could just pull into Armstrong Field, and you were right there. You can still drive in, but now you have to physically get out of your car to pay and enter the stadium through one of the two new gates located at the end near the concession stand," Stofer explained. "These changes allow us to lock up the facility now when we need to."
The new video scoreboard, purchased by an anonymous donor, will include a new sound system.
"It's been quite a busy summer,” Stofer said. “We've traveled to Stevensville Lakeshore and up to Holland West Ottawa to work with their video crew in a few training sessions. We're very excited about what we can use it for once we learn everything. Our goal for now is just to get it up and running.”
Scott Hassinger is a contributing sportswriter for Leader Publications and previously served as the sports editor for the Three Rivers Commercial-News from 1994-2022. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Berrien, Cass, St. Joseph and Branch counties.
PHOTOS: (Top) From left: Three Rivers varsity football coach Jeff Awe and players Mason Awe, Jace Gray and Sam Reynolds. (Middle) A new video scoreboard complete with a sound system is among new features fans will see this season at Armstrong Field in Three Rivers. (Below) Three Rivers Community Schools superintendent Niki Nash gathers with students, school officials and community members near midfield Aug. 29 to cut the ribbon prior to the first home football game played on newly-renovated Armstrong Field. (Top photo by Scott Hassinger; scoreboard and ribbon-cutting photos by Matt Stofer.)