Another winning year in 2009?

As has been well documented by now, the Mounties with their 5-4 record in 2008 posted their first back-to-back winning seasons since 1988-89. (They were 5-4 in 2007).

Northwest has not put together three straight winning seasons since the seven-year run of 1970-76.

According to Michigan-Football.com, here are Northwest's records during that stretch:

1976: 5-4
1975: 7-2
1974: 8-1 (Beat Jackson High; lost to Western).
1973: 8-1 (Beat Jackson High; lost to Kalamazoo Loy Norrix).
1972: 7-2
1971: 8-1 (Lost season finale to Chelsea, 21-7).
1970: 7-2

Northwest football archive: 1959 season

The 1959 season

6 wins
2 losses

W, 33-0 -- Sept. 18: Cement City
W, 14-13 -- Sept. 25: Dimondale
W, 24-0 -- Oct. 2: Napolean
W, 18-6 -- Oct. 9: Lansing Boys Training
W, 10-7 -- Oct. 23: Leslie
L, 19-20 -- Oct. 30: Concord
L, 0-7 -- Nov. 6: Jackson Saint Mary
W, 13-6 -- Nov. 13: East Jackson

The scores and dates come from michigan-football.com.

Northwest football archive: 1958 season

The 1958 season

3 wins
4 losses

L, 0-6 -- Sept. 19: Cement City
L, 6-26 -- Sept. 26: Dimondale
L, 7-26 -- Oct. 3: Ottawa Lake Whiteford
L, 0-26 -- Oct. 10: Lansing Boys Training
W, 12-6 -- Oct. 24: Sunfield
W, 12-0 -- Oct. 31: Battle Creek Harper Creek
W, 13-7 -- Nov. 7: Webberville

The scores and dates come from michigan-football.com.

Tentative 2009 schedule

According to Michigan-Football.com, eight of the Mounties' nine games for 2009 have been set.

The order of the some of the games has been juggled but all of the foes are repeats from 2008 except for Tecumseh.

Right now, Week Four is open.

It would be great to see Northwest play Columbia Central again (they haven't played since 1995, according to Michigan-Football.com).

Who would you like to see the Mounties play?

Here's the schedule (it doesn't say which game are home or away):

Aug. 28 -- Lansing Catholic Central
Sept. 4 -- St. Johns
Sept. 11 -- Owosso
Sept. 18 -- OPEN
Sept. 25 -- Lansing Sexton
Oct. 2 -- Mason
Oct. 9 -- Lansing Waverly
Oct. 16 -- Jackson High
Oct. 23 -- Western

Running wild

Senior running back Trevor Boyk finished the year with a net gain of 1,171 yards on the ground, according to the official stats posted on the Web site for Northwest Schools.

This marked the third-straight season that a Jackson Northwest running back has gained more than 1,000 yards.

In 2007, David Klingaman ran for 1,508 yards on 174 carries for an average of 8.7 yards per carry.

In 2006, No. 9 Johnson (the stat sheet doesn't include a first name) ran for 1,369 yards on 238 carries for an average of 5.8 yards per carry.

Boyk's 1,171 yards came on 190 rushing attempts, giving him a 6.2-yard-per-carry average.

Northwest football archive: 1957 season

The 1957 season

2 wins
1 loss

W, 13-12 -- Sept. 20: Albion Starr Commonwealth
L, 0-41 -- Oct. 4: Ottawa Lake Whiteford
W, 7-0 -- Oct. 11: Battle Creek Harper Creek

The scores and dates come from michigan-football.com.

Chelsea beats Mason, 22-20, in playoffs

Mason, the last of Northwest's regular season opponents still standing in the playoffs, lost Friday to Chelsea, 22-20.

Mason hosts Chelsea Friday in playoffs

Mason, which spoiled Northwest's homecoming this year, will host Chelsea Friday night in the second round of the Division 3 playoffs.

Mason beat Adrian in the first round, 35-20.

The Mounties' two other opponents this year that made the playoffs -- St. Johns and Lansing Sexton -- both lost in the first round.

Mount Pleasant beat St. Johns, 40-21, while DeWitt slipped by Sexton, 27-26.

Mason, Sexton, St. Johns make playoffs

Three of the four teams that beat the Mounties this year -- Mason, Lansing Sexton and St. Johns -- have made the playoffs.

Mason (8-1) will host Adrian, Sexton (6-3) will host DeWitt and St. Johns (7-2) will play at Mount Pleasant.

The Mounties' other loss was to Jackson High, which finished the season 4-5.

Mason, by the way, was No. 3 in this week's AP rankings for Division 3. The Bulldogs were sandwiched between perennial powers East Grand Rapids and Stevensville Lakeshore.

Jackson Northwest Football: The 2008 Season

The Jackson Northwest Mounties finished the 2008 season 5-4 to give the team its second straight winning season.

Here is a recap of the season:

W -- Aug. 28: Northwest 41, Lansing Catholic Central 13. Story. Stats.

W -- Sept. 5: Northwest 36, Owosso 6. Story. Stats.

W -- Sept. 12: Northwest 28, Tecumseh 20. Story. Stats.

L -- Sept. 19: at Lansing Sexton 36, Northwest 15. Story. Stats.

L -- Sept. 26: Mason 42, Northwest 7 (homecoming). Story. Stats.

W -- Oct. 3: Northwest 33, at Lansing Waverly 21. Story. Stats.

L -- Oct. 10: Jackson 22, Northwest 21. Story. Stats.

L -- Oct. 17: at St. Johns 35, Northwest 6. Story. Stats.

W -- Oct. 24: Northwest 60, at Western 20. Story. Stats.

Game stories and stats are from the Jackson Citizen-Patriot and MLive's High School Sports site.

60 points!

The 60 points scored by the Mounties in beating Western Friday was the third time in school history Northwest has put up at least 60 points in a football game, according to my quick scan of michigan-football.com.

Last year, the Mounties beat Lansing Waverly 61-26.

In 1988, Northwest beat Inkster 65-0. As with last night's game, the Mounties were 4-4 going into the Inkster game and were hungry for a winning season. Inkster was 0-8 and apparently didn't much care. But hey, it was fun at the time and it looks good in the record books.

On the losing side, Northwest has twice given up 60 or more points.

The record appears to be in 2003 when Charlotte beat the Mounties, 66-8.

In 1992, Eaton Rapids bested Northwest 61-28.

Congratulations Trevor Boyk

By my tally of the MLive stats, Jackson Northwest senior running back Trevor Boyk finished the season with 1,163 yards on 193 carries (6 yards per carry) and 14 touchdowns.

If his season rushing total is not a school record, it has got to be among the best.

A Northwest football program I have from 1988 lists the season rushing record at that time as 975 yards by Andy Onda in 1971.

Perhaps the Citizen-Patriot (or a generous Internet user with some knowledge) will let us know if Boyk has set a new record. Either way, he had a fantastic season.

Boyk rushed for more than 90 yards in every game but one, Mason (which turned out to be a much tougher team than anyone realized at the time. Mason finished the regular season 8-1 -- its only defeat a 4-point loss to Grand Ledge).

Here is the game-by-game breakdown of Boyk's rushing performances this season. (Click the name of the opponent to see the stats).

Lansing Catholic Central: 25 carries for 91 yards and one touchdown.

Owosso: 22 carries for 240 yards and two touchdowns.

Tecumseh: 22 carries for 165 yards and four touchdowns.

Lansing Sexton: 25 carries for 91 yards.

Mason: 15 carries for 50 yards.

Lansing Waverly: 14 carries for 122 yards and three touchdowns.

Jackson High: 23 carries for 161 yards and two touchdowns.

St. Johns: 20 carries for 95 yards.

Western: 27 carries for 148 yards and two touchdowns.

Northwest 60, Western 20

Northwest beat Western Friday, 60-20.

Thank goodness for typos. On Friday evening, MLive had initially reversed the score and had Western winning.

But all is right with the universe, and the Mounties won big to finish the season 5-4.

Coupled with last season's 5-4 record, this marks the first time since 1988-89 that the Mounties have posted back-to-back winning records.

On Friday, Northwest rushed for 407 yards, led by senior running back Trevor Boyk who ran for 148 yards and two touchdowns.

Read the game story from the Jackson-Citizen Patriot here.

Read the game stats from MLive here.

Read the player stats from MLive here.

Congratulations Mounties on the winning season!

Northwest-Western series

Northwest has played Western more than any other school, according to michigan-football.com.

Friday's matchup will be the 42nd game since the teams first met in 1960.

The Mounties lead the series, 22-17-2.

Here are the scores of the previous games, according to michigan-football.com:

2000s
2007 - Northwest 56, Western 14
2006 - Northwest 48, Western 13
2005 - Northwest 49, Western 6
2004 - Northwest 56, Western 12
2003 - Northwest 21, Western 7
2002 - Western 13, Northwest 12

1990s
1994 - Northwest 32, Western 23
1993 - Northwest 29, Western 7
1992 - Northwest 27, Western 10
1991 - Northwest 38, Western 6
1990 - Western 20, Northwest 8

1980s
1989 - Northwest 22, Western 21 (OT)
1988 - Northwest 22, Western 20
1987 - Western 14, Northwest 2
1986 - Western 12, Northwest 0
1985 - Western 21, Northwest 15
1984 - Western 21, Northwest 6
1983 - Northwest 18, Western 7
1982 - Northwest 36, Western 8
1981 - Western 10, Northwest 6
1980 - Northwest 22, Western 21

1970s
1979 - Western 6, Northwest 0
1978 - Northwest 14, Western 0
1977 - Western 28, Northwest 7
1976 - Western 21, Northwest 13
1975 - Northwest 20, Western 19
1974 - Western 21, Northwest 6
1973 - Northwest 24, Western 0
1972 - Northwest 20, Western 6
1971 - Northwest 48, Western 6
1970 - Northwest 12, Western 0

1960s
1969 - Northwest 21, Western 7
1968 - Northwest 20, Western 7
1967 - Northwest 0, Western 0 - TIE
1966 - Western 15, Northwest 7
1965 - Northwest 14, Western 14 - TIE
1964 - Western 46, Northwest 21
1963 - Western 33, Northwest 0
1962 - Western 41, Northwest 7
1961 - Western 26, Northwest 0
1960 - Western 7, Northwest 0

Week 9: Western

The Jackson Northwest Mounties (4-4) will be looking for a winning season when they go on the road Friday, Oct. 24, to face the Jackson County Parma Western Panthers (2-6).

Western started the season 0-5, won a pair and then got pounded Friday at undefeated Onsted.

Here's a look at Western's season up to this point, according to michigan-football.com:

L - Michigan Center, 20-27
L - Erie Mason, 12-13
L - Hillsdale, 13-34
L - Columbia Central, 26-43
L - Leslie, 12-36
W - Stockbridge, 27-21
W - Albion, 42-6
L - Onsted, 53-7

Onsted hammers Western Panthers

Onsted (8-0) crushed the Western Panthers (2-6) on Friday, 53-7, according to MLive.

The Mounties (4-4) play at Western on Friday, Oct. 24, in the final game of the season.

According to the MLive stats, Western scored first on a kickoff return -- only watch Onsted go on a 53-0 run.

The loss snapped Western's two-game winning streak.

3rd quarter tough for Northwest -- again

St. Johns outscored the Mounties 21-0 in the third quarter Friday on its way to a 35-6 win, according to MLive.

"I thought we played pretty well in the first half," Northwest coach Eddie Cobb said. "Either we played well, or they played bad and came out and played better in the second half."

Trevor Boyk ran for 95 yards on 20 carries, giving him more than 1,000 yards rushing on the season.

Last week, Jackson High scored 10 points off of a pair of Mountie fumbles in the third quarter in its 1-point win over Northwest.

*MLive game story here.
*Team/game stats here.
*Player stats here.

*St. Johns' stats here from the Lansing State Journal.

Mounties lose to St. Johns, 35-6

Northwest lost tonight to St. Johns, 35-6, according to MLive's high school sports page.

So far, only the score has been posted.

The Mounties are now 4-4 and will need to beat Western next week to secure a winning season.

Western was 2-5 going into Friday night's game at Onsted. The Panthers started the season 0-5 but won their past two games against Stockbridge and Albion.

Northwest beat Western last year 56-14.

Going for 2

Jackson Northwest coach Eddie Cobb said if he had to do it over, he'd again go for 2 against Jackson High, but he might run a different play.

"We thought we could win the game," Cobb told the Jackson Citizen-Patriot.

Predicting the St. Johns game

Except for that win-loss thing, my prediction of a 27-22 Mountie victory over Jackson High last week wasn't too far off.

So now, in another shameless attempt to lure comments and prompt a conversation about Mountie football, I'll make another prediction.

Here goes.

Let there be no doubt the Mounties have an uphill climb this week.

They are fairly evenly matched with St. Johns although on a neutral field I'd give the Redwings a 3-4 point advantage on account of their win over Lansing Sexton.

Give them another couple of points for being at home and a few more for basically playing a tune-up game last week while Northwest was battling Jackson High. With those factors in mind, the Massey Ratings prediction of a 35-23 St. Johns win doesn't seem too outlandish.

But computers don't factor in the human element.

This is a team that was talking about Ford Field after the first game of the season.

Now, if they want to make the playoffs, they must win their final two games.

I think one of two things will happen this week.

Either the Mounties will come out unfocused, flat and hungover from the Jackson High game and lose by two or three touchdowns, or they will play with the same grit, spirit and high level of intensity they showed last week while eliminating the mistakes and grind out a tough win.

They'll have to play their best game of the season to beat St. Johns.

I say they do it.

Prediction: Northwest 30, St. Johns 28.

Please share your prediction in the comment section below.

Week 8: St. Johns

The Jackson Northwest Mounties (4-3) go on the road to St. Johns (5-2) on Friday, Oct. 17, in a must-win game for Northwest if it hopes to make the playoffs this year.

St. Johns is coming off of an easy 34-20 road victory Friday over Owosso (they led 34-6 after 3 quarters and then gave up a pair of 4th-quarter touchdowns).

A year ago, St. Johns beat Northwest 49-41.

Here's a look at St. Johns so far this year, according to michigan-football.com:

W - Charlotte, 10-7
W - Flint Powers Catholic, 15-13
W - Lansing Sexton, 17-14 (Northwest lost to Sexton 36-15)
L - Mason, 22-50 (Northwest lost to Mason 42-7)
W - Lansing Waverly, 47-12 (Northwest beat Waverly 33-21)
L - Lansing Everett, 27-37
W - Owosso, 34-20 (Northwest beat Owosso 36-6)

Trevor Boyk after 7 weeks

Trevor Boyk rushed for 161 yards on 23 carries and scored two touchdowns Friday against Jackson High, pulling him within 80 yards of 1,000 yards rushing for the season.

According to the MLive/Jackson Citizen-Patriot stats, Boyk after seven games has 920 yards on 146 carries (6.3 yards per carry) and 12 touchdowns.

Here is a game-by-game breakdown of Boyk's rushing performances. (Click the name of the opponent to see the stats).

Lansing Catholic Central: 25 carries for 91 yards and one touchdown.

Owosso: 22 carries for 240 yards and two touchdowns.

Tecumseh: 22 carries for 165 yards and four touchdowns.

Lansing Sexton: 25 carries for 91 yards.

Mason: 15 carries for 50 yards.

Lansing Waverly: 14 carries for 122 yards and three touchdowns.

Jackson High: 23 carries for 161 yards and two touchdowns.

Jackson Northwest football: 2008 scores, stats & schedule

The Jackson Northwest Mounties are 4-3 as they head on the road this week to St. Johns (5-2).

Here's how the Mounties have fared so far this season as well as a look at what's ahead:

Aug. 28: Northwest 41, Lansing Catholic Central 13. Game story here. Stats here.
Sept. 5: Northwest 36, Owosso 6. Game story here. Stats here.
Sept. 12: Northwest 28, Tecumseh 20. Game story here. Stats here.
Sept. 19: Lansing Sexton 36, Northwest 15. Game story here. Stats here.
Sept. 26: Mason 42, Northwest 7 (homecoming). Game story here. Stats here.
Oct. 3: Northwest 33, Lansing Waverly 21. Game story here. Stats here.
Oct. 10: Jackson 22, Northwest 21. Game story here. Stats here.
Oct. 17: at St. Johns
Oct. 24: at Western

Game stories and stats are from the Jackson Citizen-Patriot and MLive's High School Sports site.

'Our kids just came up big'

Jackson High coach Jack Fairly said he knew Northwest coach Eddie Cobb would go for the 2-point conversion to try to win the game with 1:03 remaining Friday night, writes Mike Pryson of the Jackson Citizen-Patriot.

"You can't blame him," Fairly told Pryson. "He had just jammed the ball down our throat, and our kids just came up big."

Read Pryson's story and see game pictures here.

Jackson Vikings beat Jackson Northwest Mounties, 22-21

Jackson, MI -- Turnovers were the difference Friday night as the Jackson Northwest Mounties fell to the Jackson Vikings, 22-21, at Mountie Stadium.

The Vikings scored a field goal and a touchdown off a pair of Mountie fumbles in the third quarter to take the lead and then hold on to win the game.

The Mounties scored a touchdown with 1:03 minute left in 4th quarter to narrow the score to 22-21. However, running back Trevor Boyk was stuffed when Northwest went for the 2-point conversion.

The Vikings then ran out the clock to win the game.

The Mounties and the Vikings are now both 4-3 with two games left in the regular season.

Northwest plays its final two games on the road, at St. Johns and the season finale at Western.

The Mounties scored first Friday and led Jackson High 7-6 at half time.

But when Jackson kicked off to start the second half, the Mounties fumbled.

Jackson drove about 30 yards and kicked a field goal to take its first lead of the game, 9-7.

The Mounties then drove 69 yards and scored on a 19-yard run by Trevor Boyk. After the two-point conversion, the Mounties led 15-9.

The Mounties then stopped the Jackson offense and appeared to be in control of the game.

However, Northwest fumbled the Viking punt. Jackson drove and scored a touchdown and led 16-15 at the end of the third quarter.


With 6:45 remaining in the fourth quarter, Jackson scored another touchdown. The Mounties blocked the extra point and the Vikings led 22-15.

Northwest then mounted a gritty drive and scored with 1:03 remaining to pull within 1 point. The Mounties decided to go for the 2-point conversion and the win.

However, Boyk never had a chance as he was stopped just as he got the ball.

The scoring by quarters:

Jackson: 0, 6, 10, 6 -- 22
Northwest: 7, 0, 8, 6 -- 21

- A special thanks to WKHM (970 AM) for carrying the game live and over the Internet.

Bold prediction

In their two losses this year, the Mounties have given up 42 and 36 points.

In their four victories, they've held their opponents to an average of 15 points.

Last year, the Jackson Vikings scored 55 points to Northwest's 35.

I'd say it's safe to say that the Mounties cannot afford to give up 30 points to Jackson High on Friday. Not when they've averaging just four and a half passing attempts per game.

Massey Ratings is predicting Jackson High will win, 34-25.

I'll make my first prediction so far on this blog:

Jackson Northwest Mounties 27, Jackson Vikings 22.

Anyone else care to chime in?

Kaiser & Klotz

The opening game of the 1986 season was the last time the Jackson Vikings visited Mountie Stadium.

The game marked the return of Northwest Coach Duane Kaiser (shown on the left with assistant coach Gene Klotz) after a nine-year absence from the sidelines.

Kaiser knew how to beat Jackson High. Those were his teams in 1973 and 1974 that toppled the Vikings.

Unfortunately, that night in 1986 ended on a down note for Northwest as Jackson High slipped by them by a score of 6-0.

Big hype

Friday's game against Jackson High was front-page news today in the Jackson Citizen-Patriot under the headline, "Football game has big hype."

"I think this is going to develop into a great rivalry game," Jackson High School Athletic Director Russell Davis told Mike Pryson.

Read Pryson's story here.

Vikings visit Van Horn Road

When the Jackson Vikings march into Mountie Stadium on Friday, it will be the team's first visit since 1986, according to a story in today's Jackson Citizen-Patriot.

The Vikings won that game 22 years ago by a score of 6-0.

The Cit-Pat story also announces that tickets will be on sale all week in attempt to avoid a crush at the gate Friday night.

An estimated 5,000 people attended the homecoming game against Mason two weeks ago.

Trevor Boyk watch

Jackson Northwest running back Trevor Boyk had his fewest carries in a game this season in the Mounties' win Friday over Lansing Waverly but he still managed his third 100-yard performance.

According to the MLive/Jackson Citizen-Patriot stats, Boyk after six games has 759 yards on 123 carries (6.17 yards per carry) and 10 touchdowns.

Here is a game-by-game breakdown of Boyk's rushing performances. (Click the name of the opponent to see the stats).

Lansing Catholic Central: 25 carries for 91 yards and one touchdown.

Owosso: 22 carries for 240 yards and two touchdowns.

Tecumseh: 22 carries for 165 yards and four touchdowns.

Lansing Sexton: 25 carries for 91 yards.

Mason: 15 carries for 50 yards.

Lansing Waverly: 14 carries for 122 yards and three touchdowns.

Deja Vu

When Northwest and Jackson High met during the seventh week of the 2007 season, Northwest's record was 4-2 and Jackson's was 3-3 -- identical to where they stand going into Friday's matchup.

Jackson High won that game 55-35 but lost its final two contests to finish the season 4-5.

Northwest closed 2007 with a 56-14 thumping of Western, ending the year 5-4.

As I've said before, Friday's game is huge for the Mounties if they hope to go 6-3 this year and make the playoffs for the first time.

Jackson Northwest vs. Jackson: The Series

According to michigan-football.com, Jackson Northwest and Jackson High have only played each other 11 times in football.

The Jackson Northwest Mounties won the first two games, in 1973 and 1974, but haven't come out on top since.

The two teams played last year for the first time since 1987.

Here's a look at the series:

2007: Jackson 55, Northwest 35
1987: Jackson 14, Northwest 7
1986: Jackson 6, Northwest 0
1985: Jackson 19, Northwest 13
1984: Jackson 27, Northwest 12
1978: Jackson 52, Northwest 0
1977: Jackson 44, Northwest 0
1976: Jackson 20, Northwest 6
1975: Jackson 26, Northwest 7
1974: Northwest 7, Jackson 6
1973: Northwest 27, Jackson 24

Jackson Northwest football: 2008 scores, stats & schedule

The Jackson Northwest Mounties are 4-2 going into their final home game of the season on Friday, Oct. 10, against the Jackson Vikings.

Here's how the Mounties have fared so far this season as well as a look at what's ahead:

Aug. 28: Northwest 41, Lansing Catholic Central 13. Game story here. Stats here.
Sept. 5: Northwest 36, Owosso 6. Game story here. Stats here.
Sept. 12: Northwest 28, Tecumseh 20. Game story here. Stats here.
Sept. 19: Lansing Sexton 36, Northwest 15. Game story here. Stats here.
Sept. 26: Mason 42, Northwest 7 (homecoming). Game story here. Stats here.
Oct. 3: Northwest 33, Lansing Waverly 21. Game story here. Stats here.
Oct. 10: JACKSON
Oct. 17: at St. Johns
Oct. 24: at Western

Game stories and stats are from the Jackson Citizen-Patriot and MLive's High School Sports site.

Week 7: Jackson High

Jackson Northwest (4-2) will face a tough opponent in the Jackson Vikings Friday, Oct. 10, in the Mounties' final home game of the season.

The Vikings are 3-3, coming off a 21-7 victory over Okemos.

Jackson's three losses this year have been to Holt, East Lansing and Grand Ledge by margins of 7, 3 and 6 points, respectively.

The Mounties and the Vikings played last year for the first time in 20 years. Jackson High won a shootout, 55-35.

Look for another big game on Friday as both teams remain in the playoff hunt.

Jackson Northwest beats Lansing Waverly, 33-21

Jackson Northwest beat Lansing Waverly, 33-21, Friday night on the road, according to MLive's high school football scoreboard.

The victory snaps a two-game losing streak for the Mounties and improves their record to 4-2 this season. Waverly falls to 0-6.

The win sets up a major showdown with Jackson High next Friday at Mountie Stadium.

The game will be Northwest's final home contest of the season as the last two games -- against St. Johns and Western -- are on the road.

More importantly, the Jackson High game is nearly a "must win" for Northwest as it continues its quest for a first-ever playoff bid.

READ THE GAME STORY from the Jackson Citizen-Patriot.

Mountie tickets hot

An estimated 5,000 people watched the Northwest-Mason game Friday, writes Mike Pryson of the Jackson Citizen-Patriot.

And another big crowd is expected Oct. 10 for the Jackson High game, which will be the final home game of the season for Northwest.

Playoffs?

Although the Mounties have now lost two straight, earning a playoff bid is not impossible.

But it will probably come down to the Jackson High game on Oct. 10 at Mountie Stadium.

That's because Northwest should beat Lansing Waverly this Friday and Western in the season finale (those teams are a combined 0-10 so far this year).

In Week Eight the Mounties will face a very tough St. Johns team on the road.

So, their best shot at a sixth victory is likely going to be against Jackson High in what will be Northwest's final home game of the season.

Mason stops Jackson Northwest, 42-7

Mason jumped out to a 21-0 first quarter lead Friday on its way to beating Jackson Northwest, 42-7. (MLive game story here).

Northwest is now 3-2 on the season while Mason improved its record to 4-1.

The Mounties' Trevor Boyk was held to 50 yards on 15 carries. (MLive game stats here).

Northwest goes on the road next week to Lansing Waverly. The Warriors are 0-5 so far this season after losing 47-12 Friday to St. Johns.

Ouch

Mason, 42
Northwest, 7

LSJ: Mounties no easy win

In its preview of Friday's top games, the Lansing State Journal says that "Jackson Northwest's days as an easy win are over."

"The Bulldogs must be careful to avoid a letdown after last week's St. Johns win that put Mason alone in first place in the CAAC Red."

In honor of '88

The class of 1988 is holding its 20-year reunion this weekend.

Many of the proud alumni surely will be at the Mounties' (3-1) big game Friday against Mason (3-1).

In the meantime, can anyone possibly explain their senior year class float?

Pryson: Mountie Stadium 'a fun place to watch a game'

In the Jackson Citizen-Patriot's weekly blog on MLive about high school football, sports writer Mike Pryson declared that Northwest has one of the best crowds and best bands in the area.

"It's a fun place to watch a game," Pryson wrote.

Pryson said he plans to be at Northwest (3-1) on Friday for the Mounties' homecoming matchup against Mason (3-1).

The Bulldogs scored 50 points last week, making this week's game "a big test" for the Mountie defense, Pryson wrote.

My prediction is that the offense, too, will be challenged to find ways to move the ball consistently with weapons beyond star running back Trevor Boyk.

Boyk has carried the offensive load for the Mounties through the first four games, averaging 147 yards rushing on 24 carries per game.

Northwest was featured prominently in this week's Citizen-Patriot blog, including a lot of chatter about the Oct. 10 home game against Jackson High.

Pryson predicted another shootout (Jackson High won last year, 55-35), adding, "The gap between Northwest and Jackson is not that great right now."

Read the complete transcript of the hour-long blog session.

Mason ranked No. 8

Mason, the Mounties' opponent Friday, is ranked No. 8 in Division 3, according to the latest Michigan AP prep football poll.

Mason (3-1) is ranked one team ahead of Lansing Sexton, which beat the Mounties (3-1) last week.

Friday is homecoming at Mountie Stadium and Northwest beat Mason a year ago.

It should be a good game.

Massey picks Jackson Northwest over Mason

Massey Ratings, which last week came within 3 points of picking the score of Lansing Sexton's win over Jackson Northwest (prediction: 35-17; final: 36-15), is predicting the Mounties will beat Mason this Friday, 29-25.

Mason is 3-1 and is coming off a 50-22 win over previously undefeated St. Johns.

The Mounties are 3-1 and will be looking to bounce back in front of a homecoming crowd.

The Cheerleaders

I've previously noted the coaches, the band and the fight song, but the Friday night football experience just wouldn't be the same without the Mountie cheerleaders.

And I can't think of anyone with more spirit and dedication who ever donned the red and black than Molly Myers ('90). Can you?

Homecoming classics

Perhaps my favorite Mountie homecoming victory came in 1985 when Northwest snapped an 18-game losing streak in beating Columbia Central, 14-7.

I was in eighth grade at the time and I still remember many of us rushing on to the field after the win.

Sounds a little silly now but, hey, I guess you had to be there. It's not every day you see an 18-game losing streak get broken.

The 1989 homecoming game against Western was also special.

The play of the game came in triple overtime when Mike Collison hit Matt Resor in the endzone on a third-and-long halfback pass. We won 22-21.

I don't recall any one rushing the field that time, but they probably should have.

Any one else have a special Mountie homecoming game they remember?

Homecoming foe Mason pounded St. Johns

Contrary to what I posted last night, Mason did in fact win Friday. Big.

The Bulldogs beat St. Johns 50-22.

The Mounties host Mason Friday for homecoming.

Northwest beat Mason last year 41-28.

Game story posted: Northwest's 1st loss

The Jackson Citizen-Patriot has posted the game story from Friday's Lansing Sexton victory over Northwest.

Lansing Sexton tops Jackson Northwest Mounties, 36-15

No details yet from MLive, just a score.


According to a game summary from the Lansing State Journal, the Mounties had a 15-14 lead in the third quarter but the Big Reds scored 22 unanswered points.

As one loyal reader noted (but not on this blog), maybe that Massey computer knows a few things. It's prediction was 35-17, Sexton.

Next Friday, the Mounties will host Mason for homecoming.

1974

As has been noted a couple of times, the Mounties have started the season 3-0 for the first time since 1974.

According to the Michigan-Football Web site, they finished that season 8-1.

Not to take anything away from the 1974 team, but I think it's pretty obvious the Mounties play a tougher schedule these days.

For what it's worth, seven of the team's nine opponents in 1974 were from Jackson County. This year, only two are (Western and Jackson High).

Here's a closer look at the 1974 season:

W: Jackson High, 7-6
W: Kalamazoo Loy Norrix, 20-8
W: Michigan Center, 43-0
W: Vandercook Lake, 22-8
L: Western, 21-6
W: Napoleon, 40-0
W: Columbia Central, 7-0
W: East Jackson, 14-0
W: Chelsea, 38-13

Are the Mounties for real?

That's the question Mike Pryson of the Jackson Citizen-Patriot posed this week during a live blog with readers on MLive.

Pat: "What are the big games this week, Mr. Pryson?"

Pryson: "Hmm.
Hillsdale at Leslie for the SMAA crown.
Jackson has a must-win game at home with Eastern.
Northwest at Lansing Sexton - We'll see if Mounties are for real."

Pryson also said the Mounties have four tough games in the next five weeks. To make the playoffs, they must win at least one of those games. "It won't be easy," Pryson wrote.

To the air?

The Mounties have had tremendous success running the ball so far this season.

Senior Trevor Boyk leads the way through three games with 496 yards on 69 carries.

It's just a hunch, but I'm guessing the ranked Lansing Sexton Big Reds will be keying on Boyk Friday night.

The Mounties only threw the ball twice last week against Tecumseh, completing neither pass.

Above is a picture of Chad Logan in 1988, the year he passed for 318 yards against Redford Union -- a single-game record at the time (and may still be for all I know).

Here's to hoping the Mounties can channel a little bit of Logan on Friday against Sexton in those moments when they need it the most.

Chat with Pryson and Pat

The Jackson Citizen-Patriot's Mike Pryson and "Pat" will be hosting a live chat on high school football from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday.

Find it here.

Reggie No. 5

Trevor Boyk doesn't look like a guy who is too concerned with this week's Massey Rating.

Take a look.

Massey predicts Sexton win

Massey Ratings is predicting a 35-17 Lansing Sexton victory Friday over Northwest.

Of course, this is the same computer model that predicted the Big Reds would win last week (they lost) and lose their first game to Holt (they won by 41 points).

Massey also said the Mounties would lose last week to Tecumseh.

So, it's obviously not real accurate. But just in case Northwest needed another motivating factor in addition to this week's snub in the AP poll, there it is.

Pictures from the Tecumseh game

The Jackson Citizen-Patriot has posted pictures from Friday's game against Tecumseh in its photo gallery on MLive.

You can find them here.

Michigan high school football rankings

If the Jackson Northwest Mounties ever wanted a chance to really prove themselves, they'll have it Friday night.

The 3-0 squad was snubbed in the Michigan AP high school football rankings that were released this evening.

However, their opponent Friday night, 2-1 Lansing Sexton, is ranked.

The poll ought to motivate the team -- and provide them with a huge opportunity.

Ground game

(Junior running back Rick Rochefort in 1989, left).

The University of Michigan may be sporting a spread offense these days but the Jackson Northwest Mounties are proving that games can still be won on the ground.

In its 3-0 start to the 2008 season, the Mounties have already rushed for 782 yards, according to the stats at MLive's Michigan High School Sports page.

Against Owosso, the Mounties gained 300 yards on the ground.

I don't know what the current record is for yards rushed in a game by the team, but a 1988 football program lists the record at that time as 459 yards against Michigan Center in 1971 (the Mounties won, 45-14).

This season, Northwest has rushed for 12 touchdowns -- the same number of times they've thrown the ball (completing five, two for touchdowns).

Here is the Jackson Northwest football page at MLive's high school sports site: http://highschoolsports.mlive.com/school/jackson-jackson-northwest/football/

And here are the links to the stats for each of Northwest's first three games:
Lansing Catholic
Owosso
Tecumseh

Week 4: Lansing Sexton

The Mounties will play a tough team Friday in the Lansing Sexton Big Reds.

Sexton is 2-1 and will coming off a 17-14 loss to undefeated St. Johns.

Just as the Mounties won big in their first two games, so did Sexton, topping Holt, 48-7, in the season opener and beating Lansing Eastern, 32-14, in Week Two.

Sexton blanked Northwest last year, 26-0.

The Mounties will have their hands full Friday when they head to Lansing Sexton for their first road game of the season.

Jackson Northwest Mounties beat Tecumseh to start season 3-0

Jackson Northwest's Trevor Boyk scored four touchdowns -- one in each quarter -- to lead the Mounties to a 28-20 win Friday night at home over Tecumseh, according to MLive's high school sports Web site, http://highschoolsports.mlive.com.

The victory gives the Mounties their first 3-0 start since 1974.

The Mounties play at Lansing Sexton next week.

According to MLive, the Mounties trailed Tecumseh at halftime, 14-12. The game was tied 20-20 in the fourth quarter when Boyk scored his fourth touchdown of the night to seal the victory.

See a picture from the game and read the story from the Jackson Citizen-Patriot's Mike Pryson.

Here is the game summary from MLive and the game breakdown and stats.

The '85 Mounties

The Mounties of 1985 had a rough season, going 1-8. But they played hard in every game, losing both to Jackson High and Western by just 6 points. And the game they did win was homecoming (14-7 over Columbia Central).

Below are pictures from an old program of the team and the coaches (head coach Tom Goodwin, center, and assistants Roger Davidson, left, and Ron Jamrog).

On the loose

"We were outmanned many times, but we formed a circle and kept the enemy out," coach Kaiser was quoted as saying in the yearbook about the 1988 season.

Marty Smith, right, was a senior that year and a leader on the team. About this picture, the yearbook says, "Marty Smith makes another dazzling run."

The Fight Song

In case you forgot the words...

GO, MOUNTIES!

(Northwest Fight Song)

Go, Mounties, on to fame
All cheer for Northwest!
Fight on to vic-to-ry,
And beat all the rest!
(Rah! Rah! Rah!)

Hail to the Red and Black;
Long may they fly-y!
To our hearts, you'll always be dearest,
Northwest Hi-i-igh!

(As printed in the 1983 football program)

The Coaches of '83

It's a good thing I recently moved. All of those boxes full of junk and gems are easily within reach. I found an old football program from 1983. Coincidentally, it's for the Tecumseh game (which the Mounties won, according to my new favorite Web site, 15-6).

I scanned the page with the roster but the quality was too poor to read online. For the record, the heaviest player on the team was Todd Eicher at 210 pounds. The lightest guy was 145-pound Jon Gutekunst. The roster lists three quarterbacks: senior Steve Thallman, and juniors Don Sniffen and Mike Chambers.

Here's a picture from the program of Tom Goodwin and his coaching staff. From left, they are: Ken Klinger, Pat Kelly, Wayne McDonald, Tom Goodwin, Kevin Blodgett, Mike Barrett and Ed Mise.

The Band

Yes, this is a blog about Northwest football. But a Mountie football game -- especially at home -- just wouldn't be the same without the band.
This is a yearbook picture taken in the fall of 1988. That's Amy Lathrop on the far right and Chris Tuckey to her right. Paul Lacinski is on the far left. Not quite sure who the other two folks are and the yearbook doesn't identify them.

A Mountie sandwich

Given the importance that has been placed on Friday's game against Tecumseh, here's a little inspirational photograph.

Taken from the high school yearbook, it's a picture of junior Scott David (36) and senior Brian Pahl (43) putting a stick on a Western Panther in 1987.

Tecumseh game 'HUGE'

In a live blog tonight on MLive.com, the Jackson Citizen-Patriot's Mike Pryson called Friday's game against Tecumseh "HUGE" for the Mounties.

"Mike Pryson: Someone asked me what will be the best game of the week. Well, not sure if it will be the best game, but Tecumseh-Northwest is HUGE for the Mounties. Sure, at least on of the Northwest players is taking Ford Field, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. First, Northwest has never even been to the playoffs. Secondly, Northwest still has to play Jackson, Lansing Sexton, St. Johns and Mason. Not sure that the Mounties are a clear-cut favorite in any of those four games. Northwest better beat Tecumseh on Friday."

Pryson's co-host, Pat, while discussing Northwest's playoff prospects, said the Mounties would not beat Jackson High later in the season.

"Pat: Northwest will not beat Jackson or Lansing Sexton. Northwest will beat Western and should beat Waverly. That makes the Mounties 5-2, if they beat Tecumseh. That means they need to beat either Mason or St. Johns. I don't know … "

Lean hungry wolves

I'm sure others recall more memorable sayings from Coach Kaiser, but one that sticks in my head came during the week of practice before we played Tecumseh my junior year in 1988.

"Big, fat bears are no match for lean, hungry wolves," Kaiser, a hunter, growled repeatedly. By Friday, we were mumbling it in our sleep.

Coach Kaiser was apparently concerned that we might be intimidated by our opponent's size advantage. They were bigger than us but coach successfully got into our heads and I don't recall any of us being too intimidated. The best part, of course, is that we won the game, 26-12.

This week, the Mounties play Tecumseh as they look to start the season 3-0. I have no idea how big Tecumseh is, but I'll take the lean, hungry wolves any day.

A little history

Since I started this blog (about 15 minutes ago), I've come across an interesting Web site (http://michigan-football.com/f/jcksonnw.htm) that lists past records and scores.

Some tidbits:

- The Mounties were 5-4 last year. If they can put together a winning season this year (and, of course, they're well on their way -- and then some) it would be the schools' first back-to-back winning seasons since 1988-89 (when a certain blogger was a proud member of those teams).

- In the three seasons of 1984, 1985 and 1986, the Mounties sadly won only one game (when a certain blogger's two older brothers played. The good news is that they shared in that one victory -- a sweet 14-7 win over Columbia Central in 1985).

- On a happier note, the Mounties had seven straight winning seasons from 1970-76, recording a combined record of 50-13.

- Since Northwest's football glory days in the 1970s, teams have twice gone 7-2 (1982 and 1993).

Tough schedule

According to a schedule that was linked from the Northwest schools' Web site, these are the Mounties' remaining games:

9/12 - TECUMSEH
9/19 - at Lansing Sexton
9/26 - MASON (homecoming)
10/3 - at Waverly
10/10 - JACKSON
10/17 - at St. Johns
10/24 - at Western

Here's the link: http://www.highschoolsports.net/defaultcal.cfm?ct=s&schoolid=MI492019291+&spt=4&lvl=1&division=1

The Mounties are 2-0!

Ok, Ok... I don't mean to get carried away but I've been intending to create a blog for some time and the Mounties fast start to this football season seems to be an excellent topic.

In their first game on Aug. 28, the Mounties beat Lansing Catholic Central, 41-13. Last Friday, they beat Owosso, 36-6. That's 77 points in two games. I can recall entire seasons going by without Northwest scoring 77 points. Maybe more than one season.

Here are links to Jackson Citizen-Patriot stories for those first two games:

Northwest routs Lansing Catholic
http://highschoolsports.mlive.com/game/news/165742/article/19695/

Northwest beats Owosso
http://www.mlive.com/highschool/citpat/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/122069552614470.xml&coll=3

According to the school Web site, the Mounties are home this Friday against Tecumseh. Here's to 3-0!