Here is your Varsity Football team. The team with heart and soul who refused to just roll through the season to get it over with after they suffered a few heartbreakers in the start of the season! They sucked it up and knocked off an unbeaten Vestaburg team who were 5-0. Went on to shock a solid Coleman team with our defensive team and beating them. They were the only team this season to hold the Sabers to just 19 points!   (Missing from the team photo is Senior Tyler Aultman)

Football Awards Night
December 11, 2003

Pride? Yes, this team has it! Soul? You Bet! Heart? You shouldn't have to ask!

The final "tail gate party" of the season for the OHS Football Team was held Dec. 11th, 2003 during awards night. The JV families brought all the side dishes and the Varsity families were in charge of bringing the desserts. 

The Football Coaches grilled the hamburgers and brats for the team just as they had promised. "No matter when we have this, it will either rain, snow, or both! " Coach Hunter said. They moved the grill up to the bus garage and used truck headlights and flashlights for light. The grilling took longer than usual in the 10 degree, blowing wind and snow weather, but they stuck to it with smiles on their faces and got it done!

The extra time gave the families more time to mingle and I was able to get photos of the seniors with their parents. Pictured is Senior Joe Catanese with his parents Sam and Sally. Joe was Co-Team Captain, made Honorable Mention Tight End in the All Conference Selections and voted MVP by his teammates. Congrats Joe!

Senior Mike Fredericks poses with his parents Steve and Hazelle. Mike made 1st Team Linebacker as well as Honorable Mention Center in the All Conference Selections. The team members voted him MVP also, and Coach Hunter believes this is a first to have a tie for MVP.

Dec11srjon.jpg = Senior Jon Sievert and his parents happily pose for a photo. Jon has some impressive defensive stats, with 29 tackles and 8 tackles for losses! He came through with some impressive plays just when they were needed

Reporter's Comments:

I have been trying to find the right words to sum up the season for our boys. I have a tendency to get emotionally "attached" to the team I try to cover for the web site. *blush* It's hard not too.

In the October 28, 2003 Manistee News Advocate, I came across a sports editorial done by Sports Editor Greg Gielczyk, on our Portager football team. I don't think I could have written a better wrap up of the season. (with the exception that vestaburg came into the game unbeaten, not with one loss...sorry Greg ..had to say it..) With Greg's permission granted, I am going to place that article here, just as it was written. Thank you Greg.

Portagers Proved they had heart
Greg Gielczyk, Sports Editor

    Great, or even modest, expectations sometimes don't always bear fruition and that can be frustrating. That was certainly the case for the Onekama High School Portager's Varsity Football team, which dropped last Friday night's regular-season finale, 41-0 to playoff-bound Frankfort.

    Onekama tumbled to a 3-6 record with six seniors back from a team that went 5-4 the previous season, and while on the surface that looks bad, you have to dig a little deeper.

     Just three weeks ago, the Portagers were coming off a crushing last-minute loss to inner-county and Mid State Athletic Conference North Division rival Brethren.

     It could have gotten real ugly. But, there were five games left and rather than quit on themselves and simply go through the motions over the final five games of the season, the Portagers buckled down and proved that they are made of sterner stuff.

      A five-game winning streak to finish the season 5-4 also might have been enough to admit the Portagers to the post-season playoffs.   Some 5-4 teams are always invited to the party.

      Onekama regained confidence in itself with a victory over Forest Area, and then shocked a solid Vestaburg team that came into the game with only one loss.

      Vestaburg suffered lingering side effects from that upset, losing the next week to Ashley, securing the Bear's playoff spot and extending to seven games.

       It breathed new life into the match-up with undefeated Manistee Catholic Central the following week, and the Portagers had an outstanding effort from their defense against the vaunted Sabers' rushing attack.

      Jordan Kowalkowski broke a huge touchdown run early in the game, but the Portagers shook off that early blow and settled down to keep the Sabers from running away with the game. The Sabers' defense, however, proved just as difficult to score against and the Portagers failed to get on the scoreboard in suffering a 19-0 loss.

       Onekama bounced back successfully the next week, coming away with a narrow 7-6 victory over Coleman to deny the Comets a playoff-securing sixth win.

       Even with the loss to Frankfort, the Portagers could hold their heads up high after finishing the season with three victories in their last five games.

       Naturally, the Portagers would have preferred to have been 7-2, or 6-3 at the worst.   But we aren't always given what we wish.   What they accomplished in the final five weeks of the season was worth more than all the wins they were denied.

      They showed they had character, pride, and heart.

While the families waited for the coaches to finish grilling the hamburgers and brats, they took lots of photos for memories and had a grand time visiting. Friendship and laughter were abundant tonight!

Summing up the night and individual awards:

• Team Captains: Joe Catanese and Patrick Stedman

All-Conference Selections:

• Pat Stedman: 1st team offensive tackle, Unanimous, Second Year

• John Revolt: 1st Team Running Back Second Year

• Dustin Thomas: 1st Team Quarterback, Unanimous 1st Team Kicker, Unanimous

• Chris Smith: 1st Team Defensive Tackle

• Mike Fredericks: 1st Team Linebacker Honorable Mention Center

• Dan McElreath:  1st Team Defensive Back , Second Year Honorable Mention Flanker

• Joe Catanese: Honorable Mention Tight End

• Brett Cronkhite: Honorable Mention Linebacker

Team Voted Awards: (photo at bottom of page)

• Most Valuable; Joe Catanese and Mike Fredericks

• Most Improved :  Brett Cronkhite

• Outstanding Back : John Revolt

• Outstanding Lineman: Patrick O'Rorke Stedman

Captains for the 2003 season were Pat Stedman and Joe Catanese.

Brett Cronkhite made Honorable Mention Linebacker as well as voted Most Improved by his team mates.

It didn't take me long to catch up with Senior Dan McElreath and his mom Karen. Dan made 1st Team Defensive Back, Second year and also Honorable Mention Flanker!

Senior Andy Norton and his mother pose for me. Andy had 4 tackles on the defensive stats, tying Tom Gillespie and John Yonkers.

Senior Patrick Stedman with his mother Katie. These two were having a lot of fun tonight! Giggles all around! Pat had and outstanding season making 1st Team Offensive Tackle, Unanimous, Second year as well as being voted Outstanding Lineman by his team mates. Pat was also Co-Captain. Pat had 38 tackles with 13 tackles for losses this season!

Senior John Revolt's mom proudly stands with her son. John also had an outstanding year making 1st Team Running Back, Second year and being voted Outstanding Back by his teammates. John had 149 carries for 659 yards rushing.

Left to Right: Brett Cronkhite, Most Improved; Joe Catanese, Co-Most Valuable; Patrick O'Rorke-Stedman, Outstanding Lineman; Mike Fredericks, Co-Most Valuable; John Revolt, Outstanding Back