Since its first football season in 1995, Montcalm High School has struggled to find winning seasons, collecting just four over that span.
In 2004, the Class A Generals went 8-2 and went 5-4 in the 2012 season.
The positive side of the statistic is the fact that the other two winning campaigns have occurred over the past two years where Montcalm has compiled two straight 8-2 records.
The down side? Both years the Generals were left just outside the playoff picture.
“We understood the situation with our schedule. We built a schedule to compete,” head coach Adam Havens said. “Being in the playoff discussion, especially two years in a row, is something that hasn’t happened in the history of our program. This year we bolstered the schedule by adding a Class AA opponent in Buffalo and Roanoke Catholic from Virginia.”
Montcalm once again has solid numbers for a school its size with over 30 players on the roster which includes six seniors.
“The junior class is the largest and they were freshman when we went 8-2 with no seniors on that team,” Havens said. “We lost six seniors last year including the starting wing and a slot back who was our safety due to graduation. Jayden Price and defensive end Ryland Parks also graduated.”
While Havens will need to fill a couple of key spots, he does have several experienced veterans back to guide the Generals on what he hopes is a historic run to the first-ever playoff berth in school history.
“We return our quarterback Jaylen Younger and our fullback Jeremy Shrewsberry,” Havens said. “Leading receiver, Tristan Cline and most of the offensive line are also back. We have four out the five lineman from a year ago, losing one to transfer.”
Last year Younger threw for 1,378 yards and had 16 touchdowns against only two interceptions.
There is no truth to the rumor that senior Deacon Blankenship was born with a football in his hands, but it sure seems like he did.
“Deacon is a four-year guy and his leadership is his strength,” Havens said. “He has been playing center since he was about four years old. Deacon is a life-long center who understands opposing defenses. He understands our fronts, our offense and the play calls.”
Xavier Willis is a returning sophomore starter on the line, along with Noah Carver and junior left guard Dalton Sizemore.
“Xavier is probably our biggest and most athletic lineman in my opinion. He is basketball player and an athletic kid. Noah had a good year last year. He has grown so much and learned so quickly that he found himself in the right tackle position,” Haven said. “Dalton will be third year starter and moves super well. He’s a football player.”
Blake Justice will likely be the new starter at right guard and will be the “runt” of the littler as Havens says, affectionately.
“He is a lean kid, but a physical, strong kid,” Havens said. “He can pull and get out in front of our screens. We will utilize is athletic ability and quickness to put pressure on defenses.”
As with most teams, the Generals will only go as far as the young men up front can carry them.
“We have been fortunate and the the biggest part of our success over the last two years is having those guys,” Havens said. “This group that we have right now is athletic and very versatile.”
Cline has been a top receiver with great hands the last two years for Montcalm averaging over 20 yards per catch. Havens is hoping and planning on getting him the ball more in space this season.
“Tyler Stevenson is a junior who came in after Logan Carver was injured and took over as tailback full-time. He did a great job,” Havens said. Jeremy Shrewsbury is a two-way guy that plays fullback. He will anchor the defensive line.”
Even with the smaller numbers, Montcalm has been able to limit the amount of players forced to play “Iron Man” football.
“Of the 22 positions last year, we started 18 kids. None of the offensive line plays defense and very few of our skill guys do. We have been fortunate with numbers and we have not had that in the past,” Havens said. “That has been one of the keys on defense. We had five shutouts and only two games where teams scored more than six points. We credit that to playing more kids.”
Senior Isaiah Fink will be a big key to the defense this year playing defensive end or outside linebacker, as will sophomore Jerran Pendry who Havens states has grown in the weight room.
“Logan Clower will probably be a leader in the secondary at corner and may play safety,” Havens said. “Corbin Nunn will have a bigger role. We also have some kids that got some reps last year to build depth.”
The Generals have the pieces to the puzzle of success and now is the time if playoff history is to be made.
“There is a sense of urgency with this group. We want to get it done,” Havens said. “We have been on the verge and we just didn’t handle things the way they should have been handled each week. It has cost us. Now we have to really pay attention to those details and have our leaders step up.”
Montcalm opens on the road at Buffalo Aug. 30 before hosting Twin Valley, Va. in Week 2 for the home opener.
