By Dave Hart
LocalSportsJournal.com

The second week of the 2017 high school football season will feature another three days of exciting action.

LocalSportsJournal.com will have full reports on all the games involving area teams, including a busy 12-game schedule on Thursday, two games on Friday, and a great one on Saturday with a rematch of last year’s classic battle between Muskegon and Lincolnshire Stevenson, a powerful Illinois squad.

Here’s a quick look at the three “Spotlight Games” LSJ is covering this week: Mona Shores at Zeeland West, Oakridge at North Muskegon and Fruitport at Spring Lake.

Check out the previews, then log on to LocalSportsJournal.com all weekend for complete results.

Mona Shores at Zeeland West, Friday 7 p.m.

Lots of folks around the state will be watching this early-season showdown between two very good teams.

If last year’s game was any indication, it could be a thriller. Sailors wide receiver Keyshawn Summerville appeared to haul in a game-winning touchdown catch on fourth down with less than a minute left in regulation, but was called out of bounds and Mona Shores lost 32-28.

The Sailors turned a lot of heads last Saturday with an impressive 41-23 victory over Canton at the Big House in Ann Arbor.

Mona Shores displayed a lot of offensive versatility. Quarterback Tristan Robbins completed 7 of 13 passes for 129 yards and rushed for 90 yards and a touchdown. D’Anthony Davis rushed for 104 yards and two touchdowns while Sincere Dent finished with 65 yards and two touchdowns.

Summerville caught four passes for 78 yards and Damari Roberson caught two passes for 42 yards.

But the Sailors will have their work cut out for them. Zeeland West has been a state power in recent years, and appears to be very good again following last week’s 50-12 thumping of Cedar Springs.

The Dux have owned Mona Shores, winning all four previous meetings, in 2005 through 2007 and again last year.

Oakridge at North Muskegon, Thursday 7 p.m.

This could be a really good one.

The defending West Michigan Conference champion Oakridge Eagles will face a North Muskegon squad that’s won six straight games, dating back to last season.

Oakridge has dominated the Norsemen, winning this annual league matchup every season since 1994.

The Eagles showed no negative effects from the graduation of star quarterback Brady Luttrull in their opener last week. They went on the road and defeated Chippewa Hills 37-18.

The Oakridge running game was in full throttle. Alex Shoop led the way with 128 yards on 11 carries. Leroy Quinn finished with 120 yards on 19 carries and Blake Masterman totaled 88 yards on 19 carries. Mikael Wheeler led the Eagles defensively with 11 tackles.

But North Muskegon was also impressive, coming back from a 14-point deficit against a good Hesperia squad to win in overtime, 28-27.

The Norse defense helped the comeback cause with three interceptions, including an 80-yard pick-six by Brennan Moat. Quarterback Mack Young paced the Norse, throwing for 124 yards on 8 of 16 passing with two touchdowns.

Fruitport at Spring Lake, Thursday 7 p.m.

Over the last three seasons the “Battle of the Bayou” has been pretty one-sided.

Fruitport has won the last three contests with the Lakers, including last year’s thriller, which ended when Levi Six blocked a Spring Lake extra point attempt in the final seconds, preserving a 14-13 win for the Trojans.

Both teams will be looking for their first win of the 2017 season.

Fruitport opened the season with a 35-12 loss to Coopersville at home. Jakob Carlisle led Fruitport in rushing with 86 yards on 19 carries while Dominick Colegrove added 85 yards on 21 carries.

The Lakers opened on Saturday at Grand Valley State University, falling to NorthPointe Christian by a 38-14 score. Spring Lake led 14-10 at halftime, but then allowed NorthPointe to score the final 28 points of the contest in the second half.

The Lakers were led by quarterback Caleb Montgomery, who tossed two touchdown passes. Gavin Paul and Zack Benneck each caught a touchdown pass for Spring Lake.

Other Week 2 games

Thursday
Chippewa Hills at Fremont
Grand Haven at Traverse City West
Hart at Ravenna
Wyoming Godwin Heights at Hesperia
Martin at Holton
Ludington at Stockbridge
Mason County Central at Whitehall
Montague at Shelby
Muskegon Heights at GR West Catholic
Orchard View at Reeths-Puffer

Friday
Muskegon Catholic at Frankfort

Saturday
Muskegon at Lincolnshire Stevenson (IL)