Big-Play Power Produces Memorable Moments for Chippewa Valley

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

June 8, 2021

Big-play talent has been a major contributor to Clinton Township Chippewa Valley’s all-around football success the last many seasons – and a pair of highlight reel producers were among latest additions to the MHSAA 11-player record book.

Soon-to-be senior Cephus Harris III this past fall became one of the latest of 13 to return a kickoff 99 yards, doing so during his team’s 21-20 loss to Utica Eisenhower on Oct. 16. He also ran for a 48-yard score in the game.

Additionally, David Ellis was added for a 99-yard run in a 2018 win over Dearborn Fordson. He is playing currently at Indiana and is one of 12 listed on the 99-yard run list.

Also for Chippewa Valley, Stefan Clairborne (seven in 2014) and Jacob Rybicki (five in 2016) were added to the blocked extra point/field goal attempt list. Clairborne plays at Western Michigan, and Rybicki plays at Northwood.

Click to see the 11-player football record book in full, and read below for more recent additions.

11-Player Football

Erie Mason receiver Tanner Herrera tied for the eighth-most receptions in one game Oct. 18 when he pulled in 16 for 188 yards in a 38-24 loss to Dundee. Herrera will be a senior this fall.

A number of records were added from Frankenmuth’s success over the last 60 years, both as a team and individually. Among them, then-junior Mike Holzei was added for six rushing touchdowns in a 1990 win over Caro, and then-senior Hunter Schluckebier for two kickoff return touchdowns in a 2017 game against Almont. Kevin Heinzman was added for kicking 47 extra points in 56 attempts as a senior also in 2017, and then-seniors Pat Walderzak and Justin Meyer were added for 31 and 25 tackles for loss, respectively, in 1997. As a team, Frankenmuth totaled 716 yards in a 1983 win over Midland Bullock Creek to rank second on that all-time list, and scored 71 touchdowns as a team in 2005. The Eagles also were added a number of times for fewest first downs allowed in a season, including 33 in eight games in 1965. Walderzak went on to compete in track & field at Central Michigan.

Longtime coach Bob Buckel was added to the career coaching wins list after concluding his career 214-114 after the 2015 season. Buckel led Birch Run from 1983-90, Flushing from 1991-2009, Otisville-LakeVille Memorial in 2010 and then Flint Powers Catholic from 2011-15. Under his guidance, Powers won the Division 5 championship in 2011.

Lansing Catholic’s 2019 Division 5 championship season included record-book accomplishments from a pair of standouts. Senior Zach Gillespie made the records with 2,698 yards and 27 touchdowns passing, and also a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown against Grand Rapids West Catholic in Week 2. Then-sophomore kicker Jonah Richards was added for making 72 extra points (in 75 attempts) including all nine against Eaton Rapids in a Week 3 win, plus 62 straight. Gillespie is continuing at Michigan State.

Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Central’s Trey Conner is one of 18 players who have intercepted four or more passes in a game. He made the list with four against Kalamazoo Christian on Sept. 30, 2005.

Coleman’s Spencer Pnacek has joined the list of stat-stacking passers with 323 completions in 681 attempts for 4,499 yards over 32 games from 2015-18 – all three totals making career lists. He also made the single-game passing list with 464 yards in a 2017 contest. Teammate Jason Beckner was added for his 1,902 career receiving yards over 27 games from 2015-17.

A week after Chippewa Valley’s Harris, Belding senior Kyle Prosser became the 13th with a 99-yard kickoff return, bringing his back against Eaton Rapids during a 46-3 win.

Reed City won’t soon forget its 70-40 win over Newaygo on Oct. 9. Not only did it make the list for games that saw two teams combine for the most points (with the losing team scoring at least 40), but Reed City gained 646 yards all rushing to make both the total offense and single-game rushing yards lists. Reed City also made the single-game rushing attempts list with 67 and touchdowns list with eight.

The pass/catch combo of quarterback Carson Roose and receiver Ryan Jones put up some massive single-game numbers for Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett during the fall. Roose made the single-game passing yardage list three times, the completion list twice and attempts list once – with his 536 yards against Carson City-Crystal on Oct. 17 ranking ninth all-time. His seven touchdown passes against Mount Clemens on Sept. 26 tied for eighth-most in one game. Jones caught 18 passes for 234 yards against Carson City-Crystal – the receptions tying for third on that single-game list. Roose is a junior and Jones a sophomore this school year.

PHOTO: David Ellis is hoisted into the air by a teammate after scoring on a 94-yard kickoff return during Chippewa Valley’s 2018 Division 1 championship game win over Clarkston at Ford Field.

Sharp-Shooting Long Sisters Help Bring Newaygo to Breslin

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

May 27, 2021

Newaygo’s run to this season’s Division 2 Final included record-book performances by sisters Jaylee and Jaxi Long.

Jaylee Long – who has signed with Cornerstone University – made the career list for 3-pointers with 168 over 90 games and four seasons.

Jaxi Long, a junior, was added for 17 free throws against Howard City Tri County on March 24 and a .878 free throw percentage (79 of 90) for the season. Her season percentage is tied for 12th-highest all-time.

See below for more recent record book entries in girls basketball and boys soccer.

Girls Basketball

Plymouth continued this season to earn entries in the team records for 3-pointers, led by senior Ella Riley. The Wildcats were added for 15 3-pointers in a game against Dearborn Fordson on March 19 and 14 against Burton Bentley on Feb. 27, and also for attempting 479 over 20 games this season (making 143). Riley made the individual 3-pointer list with 72 this season, after sinking 75 as a junior, and for making 163 over 63 games for her career – she was on varsity all four seasons but missed her sophomore year with an injury. She will continue her career at Elmhurst University in Illinois.

Oscoda also was added for some major 3-point shooting performances this season. The Owls drilled 15 against both Rogers City on March 9 and Midland Calvary Baptist on March 13, and also 14 against Durand on Feb. 20.

Leland’s Olivia Lowe finished a four-season, 82-game varsity tenure this winter on a pair of career lists. She grabbed 1,077 rebounds during her career – also making the single-season list with 302 as a junior – and ranks eighth with 470 made free throws (in 643 attempts). She will continue at Hope College.

Boys Soccer

Big Rapids Crossroads Academy senior Joseph Gardei was the busiest keeper for one game in MHSAA history Oct. 1, when he stopped a record 48 shots on goal during an 8-1 loss to Clare. Gardei had only six field players available in front of him, while Clare played at full strength.

Mitchell Drabicki’s scoring surge over his four varsity seasons at Clinton saw him score two goals as a freshman in 2015 and 59 as a senior – those 59 ranking 10th all-time for a single season. He also made the career scoring list with 102 goals total.

Kirt Brown has been added to the record book list with a record of 369-214-49 after serving as Parchment’s varsity boys coach from 1990-2004 and taking over at Mattawan in 2006. He led Mattawan to the Division 1 Semifinals this past fall.

Nathan Isbrecht became the first player to be added to the MHSAA record book for scoring six goals in a game during the Fall 2020 season, as he did so in Watervliet’s 10-2 season-opening win over Parchment on Sept. 9. He is a junior.

Evan Mieden earned Carleton Airport’s first record book entry for boys soccer with a busy senior season. He made 349 saves in goal, which rank ninth-most on the single-season list.

Leslie earned its first record book entries in this sport Sept. 15 – and in a big way. Senior Tristan Feigner tallied eight goals, tied for third-most in one game. Senior Garrett Mays set the MHSAA record with 10 assists, including eight on Feighner’s goals.

PHOTO: Newaygo’s Jaylee Long brings the ball upcourt during her team’s Division 2 Semifinal win over Detroit Country Day in April. (Click for more from Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)