My Mid-Season Awards

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's really hard to believe we are this far into the regular season already. So far we've seen some awesome performances and gotten to evaluate a bunch of talent. There is a whole plethora of fantastic players and performances deserving of recognition. In this article I will give out some of my mid season awards, and also highlight a few of the honorable mentions that also deserve some shine. These will only be players I have had the chance to see play in person through the first 4 weeks of the regular season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Most Valuable Player-</strong> <em>Jhace Massey, Gladwin</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jhace was a pretty easy choice for me to assign the title of MVP to so far. He is clearly one of the most important pieces of the Gladwin offense, as he runs, catches and throws touchdowns consistently, and also can be seen making tackles and snagging interceptions on the other side of the ball. Jhace is the straw that stirs the drink for the G's, and his leadership value is irreplaceable. Everyone I talk to in the program seems to absolutely loves the kid. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Honorable Mentions: </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>[player_tooltip player_id='128898' first='Graham' last='Gilmartin'], Northville</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>[player_tooltip player_id='667472' first='Brock' last='Townsend'], Caledonia </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1298543' first='Ryan' last='Louch'], Clare</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>[player_tooltip player_id='253232' first='Scotty' last='Millman'], East Grand Rapids</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Ryley White, Ithaca</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Best Offensive Performance- </strong><em>Jackson Conn, Ithaca</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another fairly easy choice was Jackson in this case. Throwing for over 400 yards and 5 touchdowns against Standish Sterling in week 2, it was a completely dominating performance. It was a display of firepower that I really didn't see coming, but it seems that this is just a regular thing for this guy. I'm not too sure this will be surpassed this season in my eyes. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Honorable Mentions: </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1037418' first='Maddox' last='Greenfield'], Caledonia</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1003301' first='Jacob' last='Bartlett'], Standish Sterling Central</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Owen Mikulka, Ithaca</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Jhace Massey, Gladwin</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>[player_tooltip player_id='600192' first='Max' last='Macklem'], Goodrich</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Best Defensive Performance-</strong> <em>[player_tooltip player_id='265646' first='Drew' last='Rankin'], Northville</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This pick wasn't based on how many tackles he had, or how many interceptions he had in the game. This is strictly based off him allowing basically nothing against 2 different Division 1 Power 5 commits. He was absolutely in their chests all night, and when he was tested, he was batting everything away. It was one of the most impressive displays of technique and discipline that I have seen thus far. Colleges need to get this kid on their radar ASAP. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Honorable Mentions: </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>[player_tooltip player_id='248789' first='Victor' last='Earl'], Romeo</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Daniel Tackett, Gladwin</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Broden Peska, Ithaca</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Jacob Graham, Lowell</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>[player_tooltip player_id='862148' first='Jacob' last='Krause'], East Grand Rapids </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Standout Underclassman- </strong><em>Preston Willert, Gladwin</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Preston did not play like a Sophomore when I got to watch him against Clare. His football IQ is clearly very high, and he was flying around making tackles time after time. He is showing all the signs and potential to be a really solid prospect for the next level. He has it mentally, and as long as he continues to work on the physical aspect, he will be a menace in the JPC and eventually at the collegiate level if he stays on this trajectory. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Honorable Mentions: </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Max DeFore, Northville </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Griffin Boman, Clarkston</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Jayden Arthur, Clare</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>[player_tooltip player_id='600192' first='Max' last='Macklem'], Goodrich</em> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Hagan Wascher, Frankenmuth</em> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Best Big Man Award-</strong> <em>[player_tooltip player_id='665527' first='Ferris' last='Jordan'], Northville</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>During the game I saw Ferris play, he was living in the backfield, making tackles and disrupting the offense completely, and even wound up with an interception! He completely took over the trenches against a solid offensive line from Clarkston. His ability was on full display when the lights came on in The Big House, he played some of his best football. This is a Saturday player and he showed it when it mattered most! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Honorable Mentions: </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Anthony Lewis, Goodrich</em> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Nicholas Mikesell, Ithaca</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Clay Leetsma, East Grand Rapids </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Miles Haggart, Clare</em> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>[player_tooltip player_id='430963' first='Jaxson' last='Engelberg'], Caledonia</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><mark class="has-inline-color has-primary-color">Check back in at the end of the regular season for an updated list, and more highlighted players who stood out the 2nd half of the season! </mark></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->