Portage Northern Football Preview
Portage Northern is one of the most interesting teams in the state heading into 2021. They’re returning some key players and bringing in a new coach who knows the area very well. They have some talent, experience, and knowledge of…
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Continue ReadingPortage Northern is one of the most interesting teams in the state heading into 2021. They’re returning some key players and bringing in a new coach who knows the area very well. They have some talent, experience, and knowledge of what to expect. They’re going to be a fun team to watch and no one really knows what to truly expect until they hit the field.
The Huskies are bringing in their rivals now formal Defensive Coordinator Kurt Twichell. Twichell is now taking over for Coach Schermerhorn who retired after 27 years as the Huskies Head Coach. It’s impossible to replace a legendary coach, you just have to be yourself. Twichell has to come in and just be himself. He’s a tough coach and brings great energy. He’s a fiery guy and is very competitive. If you make a mistake he will let you know about it. He’s hard on his guys but they know it’s because he wants them to be their best.
The Huskies are led by their starting TE and OLB Jake Kavanaugh. Kavanaugh is a decent athlete and has a nice frame. He’s 6’2″ and 185 lbs. He’s pretty light for a college TE but he could bulk up over time. He’s also a little light to play LB in college as well. Granted, he’s only 18 years old so he will continue to grow. He’s got a great first step when blitzing and shoots out like a cannon. He’s primarily on defense but he will rotate in on offense and make plays there. He’s decent with the ball in his hands and can break a big play.
The Huskies are coming off of a 7-2 season where they averaged 30 ppg last year. It’s clear that they have the talent but as noted, they’re relying on a new coach for the first time in almost 3 decades. They just had a deep run into the playoffs where they fell short against East Lansing. They have expectations and don’t want to sit around and wait too long.
The Huskies start their season on August 26th at 7 PM at home against Central High School. They then go on the road for a few weeks before returning home. They finish the year with a 2 game homestand against Holt and Kalamazoo Central.
I’ll be keeping a close eye on the Huskies this season. As I mentioned, they have the talent, but I want to see how Coach Twichell does. It’s impossible to replace a legend of the area like Coach Schermerhorn. They’re in an interesting spot. They could easily pick back up right where they left off or falter some to start the year. Keep an eye on the Huskies in 2021 because they are going to be so fun to watch as we see everything unfold.