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Local Sports Journal

Now that my copy of the localsportsjournal Football Preview Edition has finally arrived down here in North Florida, I feel much more confident with these fearless picks for week No. 3.  What a great job the staff did in putting the publication together!

w Lowell @ Grand Haven:  Have The Buccaneers ever had a tougher schedule than this year’s group of opponents?  Perennial power Lowell is next up for the Bucs after splitting their first two games against Muskegon and East Lansing.  Its always tough to pick against a Noel Dean coached team but this will be Lowell’s first big test after beating a couple of creampuffs to open the season.

l Mona Shores @ Caledonia:  The Sailors welcome back Matt Koziak to the sidelines for their 3rd straight road trip.  The Fighting Scots were one win away from playing at Ford Field last year.  I hope I’m wrong but I like Caledonia’s tradition and their home field advantage.

w Rockford @ Muskegon:  It seems like these two football giants have been playing each other forever, but this game will mark only the 10th meeting.  Form has rarely held true, nor has the home field always been an advantage.  I believe Deshaun Thrower is the difference maker in this game as the big Reds make it two straight over Ralph Munger’s Rams.

w Reeths Puffer @ Jenison:  Jenison lost all nine games last year and even lost their quarterback to Grand Rapids Christian.  Puffer rebounds to win to make it two in a row over a team heading south in a hurry.

w Fremont @ Howard City Tri Co:  Two 0-2 teams are looking for their first win in 2013.  I can’t go against the boys from Gerberville who have won the last nine meetings between these two squads.

w Fruitport @ Spring Lake:  This may be the toughest pick of the night.  Grabinski Field will be rocking and I see the home team winning a thriller in a defensive tussle.

w Muskegon Catholic @ Grant:  Do not be fooled by the Crusader’s 0-2 start.  I see MCC making Grant the first of seven straight victims before gearing up for another long playoff run.

w Ludington @ Orchard View:  This game should light up the scoreboard at Cardinal Stadium.  Could Ludington make the playoffs for only the 3rd time in school history?  With a win over the Cardinals the Orioles are halfway home.

w Hart @ Oakridge:  One truly has to admire Hart head coach Steve Hlady for his eternal optimism in his attempt to build a winning program at Hart.  But even if Hlady could suit up such Hart stalwarts of the past like Terry Mack, Fred Stevens, Bill Schlee, Vern Hansen, Dan Tate, Turk Griffin and the Robinson brothers, it wouldn’t be enough to pull off the upset of the century against the powerful Eagles.

w Shelby @ Mason Co Central:  Even if the Spartans brought back former Mason Co Central grad Mike Hankwitz, current defensive coordinator at Northwestern to call the shots, they still would not be able to stop Shelby from rolling to another victory.

w Ravenna @ Montague:  Coach Pat Collins and his Cats will be fighting mad following last week’s loss to Oakridge.  The Bulldogs should also be ready to make amends for last year’s 52-0 shellacking from Montague, Ravenna’s most lopsided defeat in more than 40 years.

w Whitehall @ North Muskegon: This long time rivalry has been so tight that since 1955 these teams have met 40 times with each team winning 20 games.  The resurging Norse go one up on the Vikings after Friday’s battle ends.

w Morley Stanwood @ Hesperia:  What is in the water in Hesperia?  I underestimated those Panthers last week against Big Rapids but I’m now officially jumping on the Hesperia Bandwagon.

w Holton @ Reed City:  Lets hope that Holton coach Chris Hilliker can keep his 15-man squad healthy throughout the season.  Reed City has won 12 of their last 13 games and just has too much firepower for the gutsy Red Devils.

w Newaygo @ Lakeview:  There should be plenty of fireworks when these two unbeaten teams collide in Lakeview.  The ferocious Lions have scored more than 100 points in their first two games and roll over Lakeview.

w Kent City @ Hopkins:  Hopkins has made the playoffs six years in a row, while the Eagles are looking for their first winning season in a dozen years.  ‘Nuff’ said.

w Carson City Crystal @ Baldwin:  The first time I was ever in Carson City was for a Cross Country Meet.  The second time was when I got lost.  Baldwin played Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart tough last week but Carson City plays a tougher schedule.