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