By Mark Lewis

Local Sports Journal

No one can say joining a conference has sapped Muskegon Catholic’s proclivity to seek out the best very best competition in the state.

MCC QB Nicholas Holt dives for the end zone last November versus Coleman. Holt will return to lead MCC in 2014, where the Crusades will face Detroit Country Day. Photo/Tim Reilly

MCC QB Nicholas Holt dives for the end zone last November versus Coleman. Holt will return to lead MCC in 2014, where the Crusades will face Detroit Country Day in Week 8. Photo/Tim Reilly

The Crusaders will play host to Birmingham Detroit County Day in Week 8 of the 2014 season, and then travel to the Yellowjacks’ side of the state in 2015, announced MCC Athletic Director Erich Adams.

The Crusaders, winners of last season’s Div. 8 state title, enter the Lakes 8 Conference in 2014, the first time the school has been in a league since the demise of the vaunted Lake Michigan Conference in 1984.

The Crusaders added to the excitement with the announcement of a season-opening blockbuster with Oakridge starting in 2015. The Eagles will host MCC in Year 1, with the Crusaders hosting Oakridge in 2016’s opener.

“We are tremendously excited to add yet another local game to our schedule and look forward to offering lighter travel to our families and loyal fan base,” said Adams.

Next season’s Week 8 match up with Country Day will begin with the JV game starting at 4 p.m. Varsity kicks off at 7 p.m.

Though the Yellowjackets sit at Div. 4, the Crusaders have held their own in head-to-head match ups, winning three games and falling four.

The first meeting between the two schools was in a memorable 1986 Class C (what is now Div. 6) state title contest, where Country Day took the title 18-14 with a controversial last-minute TD catch the won it for the Yellowjackets.