Three Slept-On Division 3 Teams

Get 30% off your subscription by using Pallone30 in the coupon code area!   Division 3 is loaded this season. With so many powerhouse contenders like Muskegon, DeWitt, River Rouge, King, Forest Hills Central, Mason, etc, it's easy to look past some teams. The three teams I'll discuss today are all at very different point with their program. We have a team that could contend for a title, a team with a high floor and low ceiling, and a team with that's skill looking to prove themselves.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">East Grand Rapids</h2>   EGR is beginning to look like a super intriguing team. Although their win total may not have reflected improvements, I see them possibly turning a corner this fall. Josh Shattuck has improved this team since his arrival, and this season it will show. Although EGR is still incredibly far from winning championships as they did with Peter Stuursma, I would not be surprised if this team had a winning record with a playoff win. At their realistic ceiling, this could be a 7 or 8-win team. Now, let's get to some strengths and question marks.   Strengths   Great Offensive Ceiling   This team has a super solid offensive ceiling! From the skill positions to the O-Line, there's a lot to be excited about. EGR has a few towering linemen, with [player_tooltip player_id='862148' first='Jacob' last='Krause'] (6'5"), [player_tooltip player_id='899524' first='Jacob' last='Tietema'] (6'7"), and [player_tooltip player_id='899505' first='Will' last='Kowalewski'] (6'9"). All of these players are still pretty raw when it comes to skill, but some have shown flashes, and It'll be great for them to get more reps this season. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='253232' first='Scotty' last='Millman'] has proven he can be a solid option. He's not going to take over a game, but he's able to manage a game and not make too many big mistakes. Then, you have the skill group with players like RB [player_tooltip player_id='382874' first='Ian' last='MacKeigan'], WR Charlie Hoekstra, among others that round out to being a good group. With this offensive group, there is potential for a very consistent offense.   Overall Trajectory   This is still a team with a lot of youth and general inexperience. Programs at the same point as EGR typically show considerable improvements throughout the season. Come playoff time; I would see this team on a bit of a hot streak. They could realistically win their final 3 games against Rival GR Christian, Byron Center, and Forest Hills Northern.   Questions   Top-End Talent   The vast majority of contenders at the D3 level have a few game-changing players. With EGR, I see a ton of good football players with a few young guys who could develop into those game-breaking players. Though, I can't currently point to anyone as a true gamebreaker. I truly see them on par with a team like Byron Center, which is a great, disciplined team, but without true standouts. That said, they're a long way from winning the White as long as Forest Hills Central is still in the league.   Thinking more about it, I truly think that this team just needs better development from some of their players. EGR is well-coached + disciplined and did fine on offense and defense last season. EGR will continue to improve, and I'm looking forward to seeing how high EGR will fly under Coach Shattuck.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Zeeland West </h2>   If a few things had gone The Dux way, they would have been at Ford Field last season. This is always a team that seems overlooked in the OK-Green even though they consistently pull off wins against teams like Mona Shores and Muskegon. Coming into this year, it seems that Zeeland West could be just as good as they were last season, where they went 10-2. Although Division 3 is absolutely loaded this season, I'd still put Zeeland West in the championship conversation.   Strengths   Offensive Consistency   They run the Wing-T, and they run it extremely well. They may not have many big names on the offensive side, but you don't need to in the Wing-T. The O-Line, even though I don't know any names off the top of my head, is always going to be great. [player_tooltip player_id='554672' first='Parker' last='Holman'] is the offensive star, as I still think he deserves more credit for what he did last season. Parker has elite speed with some offseason flashes of D2 college-prospect type of footwork and route-running. Although inconsistent, I know it's in him.   Defensive Trenches   Zeeland West is consistently one of the most underrated defensive units in Michigan. Against run-heavy teams (most of their schedule), The Dux do great. Shutting out Cedar Springs, winning against Muskegon, etc, this program has proven they can go toe to toe with any O-Line in the state. High-ceiling but still raw players like DE [player_tooltip player_id='602256' first='Brody' last='Smeyers'], DE [player_tooltip player_id='899585' first='Brody' last='Maas'], and OLB/ATH Orin Yant lead the charge for the front 7.   Questions   Secondary   Although not a bad secondary, there are times where the passing game just works against The Dux. The Mona Shores game is a great example where it's a more pass-heavy team than most on their schedule, and they were able to do anything they wanted against them. They can get away with playing a slow-paced game against most teams, especially if we get some of the playoff snow we got last year, but I fear a mismatch is they go against a great passing offense in fair weather.   Can this team win a championship?   They've beat Muskegon, won the OK-Green, and they've gone far in the postseason. The next step, truly, is Ford Field. The Dux are right there, and they're left out of the overall conversation because they just haven't been to the big show in a while.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Petoskey</h2>   This is one of the more boom or bust teams. Though no matter their record, the talent at Petoskey deserves some credit. So, East Grand Rapids has the problem of not having those game-changers. But they have an overall good all-around football team. Petoskey is the opposite.   Strengths   Top-End Talent   Petoskey has [player_tooltip player_id='249497' first='CJ' last='Hibbler'], who took off last season before his injury, and he returns with a chance to be one of the biggest game-breakers in the state. [player_tooltip player_id='586188' first='Seth' last='Marek'] is a solid route-runner with true college upside. [player_tooltip player_id='606754' first='Joe' last='McCarthy'] is a great undersized QB that I feel would have some college attention if he was taller, as he's a very consistent thrower. [player_tooltip player_id='586189' first='Haden' last='Janes'] is a DB who deserves some college attention. [player_tooltip player_id='899583' first='Korbin' last='Sulitis'] is a defensive end with actual Division 2 upside! Because Petoskey has some great pieces, they could string together some wins this season.   Pass Game / Potential for Creativity   With guys like Marek, Hibbler, and McCarthy, you could have some great mismatches. You can put Hibbler anywhere on the field and ask him to make a play, with Marek being your reliable possession receiver. They play a lot of teams who aren't used to having to defend the pass, so as long as there is time to throw, it could be a true bright spot.   Questions   All-Around Skill   This is not a very well-rounded team. Although they have those standouts, all of the Trenches need to significantly improve, and the overall skill of everyone needs to improve. The defense in particular is not a great unit on paper. If Petoskey wants to make the postseason and make some noise, they'll need some serious buy-in from the entire team. Still, this is a team that nobody is talking about!

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