Portagers aren’t taking winless Cougars lightly
By
MATT WENZEL, News Advocate Sports Editor
Published Wednesday August 26, 2009
The history between the two teams is brief, and Onekama coach Jim Hunter wants to keep his team’s memory of it the same heading into tonight’s Mid State Activities Conference-North game.
“It’s going to be a lot tougher this year,” Hunter said of Crossroads. “They’re much improved. They’re going to win a few games this year.”
Crossroads is entering the second full year of its program after a four-game pseudo season in 2007. The Cougars are still searching for their first win after dropping 13 straight, and were outscored 429-6 last season.
But, with
a bigger, more experienced group
taking the field this year, the
Cougars have more confidence. They
were part of a four-team scrimmage
last week against White Cloud and
Hesperia at Manistee Catholic
Central.
“I really thought we held our own,”
said Crossroads coach Jeff Thorne.
“We didn’t blow anybody out, but
nobody blew us out.”
Hunter watched film of the scrimmage
and said he knows his defense will
have to focus on stopping Crossroads
quarterback Isaiah Simmons.
“Their quarterback gives us the most
headaches,” Hunter said. “He’s a
good runner, a good athlete, he’s
fast and they use him in the gun a
lot and let him roll right and left
and we’re going to have to contain
him.”
Onekama senior Dan Gillespie is
entering his third season as the
starting quarterback and has nine
wins under his belt.
