Prep Football Preview: Montcalm seeking first playoff appearance in school history

The football season last year for Montcalm was a nice story. Unfortunately for the Generals, the ending was bittersweet.

After piling up eight straight wins, Montcalm appeared headed for the postseason before a pair of losses derailed that dream.

“For us to be as young as we were, I think maybe the moment got a little big for us. We turned the ball over four or five times in the first half of that game,” head coach Adam Havens said. “It has also been what has driven them. The fact that we missed the playoffs and feeling like we have something to prove. We were a Cinderella story last year, but they wanted more and they still want more.”

The best part for Montcalm this year is it did not lose a single player due to graduation and the Generals did not lose their fire.

“Following the success of last season, we were able to keep everybody hungry. These guys have worked their tails off since really about January. They have stayed in the weight room,” Havens said. “Even when we as coaches were not here, they were still in the weight room on their own. It is just business ever yday and they are so comfortable in their positions. They know their assignments. They know what to expect day in and day out.”

Although the Generals are experienced, they are still a young football team with only six seniors on a 30-man roster.

“We have a junior quarterback and a sophomore fullback. Our whole offensive line are underclassmen,” Havens said. “On defense, some games I will have freshmen that factor in the depth chart. The kids have played together basically their entire career back to Little League football and they are used to winning. They have been a tough group and a hard working group since they were young.”

Junior Jaylen Younger will be the starting quarterback for the second straight season after getting some experience as a freshman.

Logan Carver will move to the tailback position after playing mostly in the slot and wing-back last year.

“We felt like his skills were more beneficial at tailback. He is a shifty kid and kind of a utility guy,” Havens said. “We can hand him the ball or spread him out and throw a quick pass to him. We can also get him one-on-one against a safety or a corner on a deep ball. He is really good at a lot of stuff. We have so many play-makers to give defenses problems from a game planning aspect.”

Juniors Dylan Simpson and Deacon Blankenship are 6-foot-3, 290 pound type guys who will be starting for the third season.

“Dylan has really been our leader on the offensive line in the off-season. He has been the one that rallied guys and got them working. He is lighter on his feet, much stronger and playing much more physical,” Havens said. “Deacon is definitely an anchor and calls out the defenses for us. He really understands the game and has been playing center since he was five years old.”

Fellow junior Noah Carver and a pair of sophomores, Dawson Sizemore and Jordan Lusk round out the big guys up front. Havens also added he has some young linemen that he is high on as well.

Sophomore Jeremy Shrewsbury will play fullback and give the Generals much more than just a blocking back.

“Jeremy was big for us last year. He played fullback and starting middle linebacker,” Havens said. “He is a bowling ball that has soft hands and can really run. His gracefulness is something to watch.”

Defense was a strong point for the Generals last year and Havens expects more of the same this year, led by senior Ryland Parks at defensive end.

“I think we were a top five scoring defense in single-A last year. We are solid,” Havens said. “Ryland is another one of those bigger kids and a nightmare for offensive lineman. He is strong and quick off the ball. Jayden Price is our safety. He sets the pass coverage and gets downhill in the run game. The outside linebackers will be junior Tristen Cline and senior John Hall.”

Trevor Kennett will start for his second season and he will be the shutdown corner for Montcalm in its man-to-man coverage.

Heading into the 2023 season, the Generals have all of the pieces for success. Now it is all about playing the games.

“All we are really talking about is making the playoffs and what it is going to take to get there for the first time in school history. This group is really unselfish and they are win first guys. We just have to show up each week, get better and handle our business.”