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!