Four Midseason Bounceback Programs
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We’re about halfway through the 2023 regular season, and we’re starting to see which teams are rising the highest. This season has produced more than a few surprising performances by teams that aren’t usually in the limelight. This article will…
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Continue ReadingWe’re about halfway through the 2023 regular season, and we’re starting to see which teams are rising the highest. This season has produced more than a few surprising performances by teams that aren’t usually in the limelight. This article will feature four teams that have shown obvious and significant improvement from last season to this season!
Lake Orion
Last Season: 4-6
Point Differential: -26
This Season: 4-0
Point Differential: +71
The Dragons have something really special brewing! Last season, they were a solid OAA Red team. In one of the toughest leagues in Michigan, they were middle of the pack. In other words, LO won the games they were supposed to, and lost the games they were supposed to. This season, Lake Orion looks phenomenal with a dominant win against Harper Woods and an extremely prominent upset against West Bloomfield. The biggest star for this team is Billy Roberson II Billy Roberson II 5'10" | 170 lbs | RB Lake Orion | 2024 State MI , who is the best running back in Michigan’s class of 2024. Last season, Billy averaged 7.6 YPC in the OAA Red, which houses some of the best defenses in the state. This team has a difficult schedule ahead with Stoney Creek, Adams, Clarkston, and Saline coming up.
Difference Makers: Billy Roberson II Billy Roberson II 5'10" | 170 lbs | RB Lake Orion | 2024 State MI , Raymond Payne Raymond Payne 6'0" | 180 lbs | WR Lake Orion | 2024 State MI , Kaydon Degraffenreid Kaydon Degraffenreid 6'2" | 220 lbs | LB Lake Orion | 2024 State MI
Northville
Last Season: 8-3
Point Differential: +125
This Season: 4-0
Point Differential: +95
Just looking at the records above may not show the vast improvement that Northville has had. Last season, Northville was a good team, though they fell to the better teams in their league. This season, they defeated Brighton who they fell to last season. In addition, they pulled off a major upset during week 1 as they defeated Clarkston at The Big House. Even more impressively, Northville has outscored Brighton and Clarkston 48-20. Great leadership and team culture seems to be propelling Northville to a phenomenal season. I would not be surprised if Northville ends up finishing the regular season undefeated!
Difference Makers: Drew Rankin Drew Rankin 5'10" | 165 lbs | DB Northville | 2025 State MI , Graham Gilmartin Graham Gilmartin 6'2" | 245 lbs | DL Northville | 2024 State MI , Adam Travers Adam Travers 6'2" | 230 lbs | OL Northville | 2025 State MI , Colin Charles Colin Charles 6'1" | 180 lbs | WR Northville | 2025 State MI , Christian Fredl, Sonny Rentz
Spring Lake
Last Season: 3-6
Point Differential: -81
This Season: 4-0
Point Differential: +19
After a down year, Spring Lake is roaring back with new head coach Cody Mallory. My first season covering High School Football for Prep Redzone in 2021, Spring Lake had a respectable 6-4 record with a disappointing 1st-round playoff exit. Last season, the team fell apart a bit with a 3-6 record. Now, they’re back. Sitting at 4-0, The Lakers have pulled off multiple close wins and have demonstrated a ton of grit and determination. In 2022, the Lakers fell to Coopersville 31-23. Last week, Spring Lake pulled off the upset as they defeated Coopersville 20-19, placing themselves atop the OK-Blue standings. The progression is incredibly obvious, and it looks like Spring Lake has a few more wins on paper, and they’ll almost certainly going to be a playoff team.
Difference Makers: Reid Grimmer Reid Grimmer 6'4" | 175 lbs | QB Spring Lake | 2025 State MI , Carson Hein Carson Hein 6'2" | 295 lbs | OL Spring Lake | 2025 State MI , Jackson Lemmen, Bryce Collins
Petoskey
Last Season: 4-5
Point Differential: -12
This Season: 2-2
Point Differential: +39
The Northmen have shown obvious improvement from last season to this season. Better yet, I don’t think this team has reached their ceiling quite yet. Last season, they fell to Ludgington 37-31 in overtime, defeated Escanaba 33-30, and lost to Gaylord 27-12. This season, Petoskey defeated Ludington 32-14, defeated Escanaba 50-0, and fell to Gaylord 9-0. That shows immense improvement, and much of that is thanks to a strong senior class along with a few great underclassmen. I hope Petoskey can keep this hot streak and make the postseason!
Difference Makers: CJ Hibbler CJ Hibbler 5'8" | 160 lbs | ATH Petoskey | 2024 State MI , Seth Marek Seth Marek 6'2" | 185 lbs | WR Petoskey | 2025 State MI , Haden Janes Haden Janes 5'8" | 155 lbs | DB Petoskey | 2025 State MI , Joeseph McCarthy, Korbin Sulitis Korbin Sulitis 6'2" | 200 lbs | DL Petoskey | 2025 State MI