Edwardsburg State Championship Guide by Leader Publications

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EDWARDSBURG EDDIES 2018 MHSAA STATE CHAMPIONS COMMEMORATIVE MAGAZINE PRODUCED BY LEADER PUBLICATIONS

! s n o i t a l u t a r g n Co Jason “JZ” Ziesmer

Edwardsburg Resident and Fan

tto o the Edwardsburg Eddies F ootball Team on an Amazing Football S Season and Winning the Michigan High School State M Fo ootball Championship! oot Football

“Whatever It Takes” T

My name is Jason “JZ” Ziesmer and I'm the Ford guy and Top sales consultant at Campbell Ford in Niles, Michigan. I have been in the business since 2009 and am passionate about helping people find the perfect vehicle at this fantastic Ford Dealership in southwestern Michigan. I specialize in doing “Whatever it Takes” to get the deal done and you down the road in your new vehicle. Whether you're buying your first car or are a seasoned buyer, you will know from the start that I am here to help. As several of my customers have pointed out in their reviews on Google and Dealer Rater, I do not pressure you into buying a car or attempt to put you in a vehicle you don't want. I will be more than happy to honestly and correctly answer any questions you may have. You can check out our website for more information on our inventory, product reviews and events or contact me directly to learn more about Campbell Ford. If you have been searching for a Campbell Ford salesperson, Campbell Ford and “JZ” are here for you! I can assist you in the purchase of new Ford or Lincoln products and used vehicles. Looking for something with a bit more muscle? I can help you get the perfect Mustang or Raptor and guarantee you will drive away happy. Our Ford store is the top rated dealer in southwestern Michigan and one of the top in the region. When you're ready to start looking for your next vehicle, contact “JZ” and experience exceptional customer service.

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WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S INSIDE

5 10 12 16 44 46 60 64 66

THE LINEUP Meet the state champions ON THE SIDELINES Edwardsburg coaching staff A COMMUNITY VICTORY Village rallies around team WEEK BY WEEK A look back at an undefeated season ACCOLADES Players, coaches recognized for efforts BECOMING CHAMPIONS Athletes recall winning moments BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS Season stats recounted week by week FORD FIELD IN PHOTOS Gallery highlights championship game FROM THE PRESS BOX Sports editor looks back on journey

CONtRIBUTORS GENERAL MANAGER/EDITOR Ambrosia Neldon SPORTS EDITOR Scott Novak EDITORIAL Adam Droscha Erika Pickles PHOTOGRAPHY Jeff Douglas Ann Reiff Scott Rose Emily Sobecki Kelly Sweeney ADVERTISING Donna Knight Phil Langer Lisa Oxender Jordan York

Congratulations on a great season, Eddies! YMCA of Southwest Michigan

MEET THE EDWARDSBURG

EDDIES STATE CHAMPIONS 2018

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Edwardsburg state championship

CAPTAINS

4 treâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; harvey

25 caden goggins

32 chase sager

66 noah carrico

cayden calhoun

9 dylan morley LEADER PUBLICATIONS

conner nelson

10 ben kubal

mac gaideski

11 josh thiel

bryce blue

12 cole hoven

Edwardsburg state championship

18 cameron 20 isaiah thompson mitchell

21 skylar johnson

23 noah 24 drew tinkham bidwell

30 dillon 27 parker hursh szlanfucht

jake robertson

derek hess

Edwardsburg state championship

max wimberley

22 avery MITCHELL

alex pilarski

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52 dylan 54 willIAM mccolley harris

56 joshUA priebe

60 austin routheaux

ethan 62 mason mcdonnough 63 griffin

65 chase tilley

67 joe metzger

72 josh lee LEADER PUBLICATIONS

75 adam covert Edwardsburg state championship

coaching & STAFF KEVIN BARTZ

HEAD COACH A.J. GAIDESKI

ASSISTANT COACH

RANDY BROOKS

ASSISTANT COACH

JOSH RINEHART

ASSISTANT COACH

JON PRYOR

ASSISTANT COACH

BRIAN SCHAIBLE

ASSISTANT COACH

JEFF KOZINSKI

ASSISTANT COACH

TRAVIS MYRICK

ASSISTANT COACH

NOAH CARRICO

ASSISTANT COACH

MACY KUJAWA

TRAINER

Edwardsburg state championship

Congrats,

Eddies!

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A COMMUNITY

VICTORY

Village of Edwardsburg, surrounding region rallies around team

STORY ADAM DROSCHA | PHOTOGRAPHY EMILY SOBECKI

he Edwardsburg football team’s state championship victory was a first — a first for the team, a first for head coach Kevin Bartz, a first for Edwardsburg men’s athletics and a first for the town of Edwardsburg. But few people in Edwardsburg would say the victory was just about football. It was about legacy, pride and community. “You’re playing a town, not a team,” said Jim Knoll, superintendent of Edwardsburg Public Schools. “It is really true for us.” Knoll was ecstatic on Wednesday, Nov. 29, when the Edwardsburg community gathered in the gymnasium at Edwardsburg High School. The championship was a first for him, too. When Edwardsburg won the state championship he had only been superintendent for about five months. “What’s an Eddie?” the superintendent

called to the crowd. “A state champion!” the crowd responded. “Eddie nation” became a label for the whole of Edwardsburg, not just for the schools and athletics. The Wednesday assembly was as much for the town as it was for the boys who won the game. It was the collective celebration of decades of work and waiting. Coach Bartz welcomed past players from his 24 years of coaching and beyond down to the court to stand with the team in Eddie glory. “Our community support has been phenomenal through the entire season,” Bartz said. The number of active supporters was too many for Bartz to keep track of. Parents, athletic boosters, teachers, administrators, the school board, local businesses and alumni have provided everything from monetary support through fundraisers and dinners to the simplest letters and cards of encouragement. Local business owners like Jayson King, owner of Jayson’s Auto Truck Service Center, contributed to Eddie nation through more than just donations, but through the pride of the town as well. “Something like that is huge for a small community like this,” King said. “It gives (the community) something to be proud of.”

Edwardsburg state championship

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Edwardsburg state championship

King has owned Jayson’s for five years. As a business owner, support for the local team and school was never a question. It was more of a duty and a privilege. “I think that’s what everyone needs to do,” he said. “That should just be the way it is for everybody.” So what does a state championship mean for Edwardsburg? “For at a team and a school district, it means you’re the number one in the state,” Knoll said. “You’ve triumphed over everyone else, and it’s another accomplishment that points to why Edwardsburg is different than everything else around us.” Knoll commented how the community and the district have bought into the culture of Edwardsburg Public Schools. The three P’s of Pride, Passion and Purpose have shaped not only student attitude, but the attitude of a town. “Very rarely do you survive and succeed without a lot of help and a lot of teamwork,” he said. “You work with people to get through things, and that goes back to community support.” A culture of pride, passion and purpose shaped the greater community right down to

the companionship of the team itself. “It’s our brotherhood,” said team co-captain Caden Goggins. “We’ve had such a good bond, and we all love each other as family.” “The community, the coaches and our bond together,” co-captain Chase Sager said about what contributed to the team’s success. “I’ll take more than football away this year.” The players on Ford Field knew the victory was not just theirs. They and the coaching staff felt a town behind them, then shared their victory with the community that raised them up to excellence on and off the field. But they also knew the victory was more than football. “It’s the only place I’ve coached,” Bartz said. “It’s more than just the football part.” Making their playing experience more than football meant giving his players something greater to strive for. For Bartz and his coaching staff, making high school football players into proud men and grateful community members was a good, worthwhile goal. “This isn’t a one-year deal,” Bartz said. For Bartz, football is a model of a lifetime exercise in teamwork and striving for excellence. For the Edwardsburg community, the victory in the state championship is about creating and owning its place.

Edwardsburg state championship

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Edwardsburg state championship

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WEEK 1 AUGUST 23

EDWARDSBURG 55, ALLEGAN 0 EDWARDSBURG — Edwardsburg put its returning talent on full display in its Wolverine Conference season opener against Allegan, crushing the Tigers 55-0. Putting up 42 points in the first half alone, the Eddies offense ended with 389 yards on the night. The powerful force of its defense allowed Allegan only 47 yards on offense. Add seven quarterback sacks and 40 yards in penalties to those stats and it’s safe to say Edwardsburg is picking up right where it left off. The state runner-up squad returns eight starters from last year. Head coach Kevin Bartz is especially excited about the quickness and strength of his defense. “They’re big, they’re strong and they’re quick,” Bartz said. “We have kids that play extremely tough and leave it all on the field, and I really like that drive in them.” On offense, running back senior captain Caden Goggins led the team with 65 rushing yards and one touchdown. Another senior, running back Isaiah Mitchell, had 61 yards and two touchdowns.

BY THE NUMBERS First downs Rushing yards Passing stats Total offensive yards Passing yards Punts/average Fumbles/lost Passes intercepted Penalties/yards

Eddies 16 306 83 389 4 for 4 0 0/0 0 2 for 25

Tigers 7 5 42 47 7 for 14 6 for avg. 19.3

1/1 0 8 for 40

E – Isaiah Mitchell 7 run (Dylan Morley kick). E – Mac Gaideski 10 pass from Tre Harvey (Morley kick) E – Cade Goggins 32 run (Morley kick) E – Chase Sager 10 run (Morley kick) E – Harvey 30 run (Morley kick) E – Isaiah Mitchell 9 run (Morley kick) E – Avery Mitchell 6 run (kick blocked) E – Parker Szlanfucht 12 run (Morley kick) Varsity records: Allegan 0-1, Edwardsburg 1-0

Chase Sager, also a captain and returning starter, had 30 rushing yards and one touchdown for the Eddies. His excitement for this year’s season was evident after the win. “We have a lot of talent returning this year,” Sager said. “Once we get things put together and really start working together as a team, we will be dangerous.”

Edwardsburg opened the night with two touchdowns in the first quarter. Mitchell drove the first six points in on a five-yard run and kicker Dylan Morley had his first of seven successful PATs at the 7:26 mark. The second touchdown of the quarter came from Mac Gaideski on a 10-yard run, which put the Eddies up 140. In the second quarter, Goggins, Sager and quarterback Tre Harvey all had touchdowns for Edwardsburg. Harvey, the third captain for the Eddies, ended the night 36 rushing yards, one touchdown and 68 passing yards. Edwardsburg had a 42-0 lead after the first half, which put the mercy rule into effect for the second half. Cayden Calhoun opened the third quarter with a 41-yard return, which set up his touchdown two plays later from the seven-yard line. The final touchdown of the night came with 6:47 left in the game when Parker Szlanfucht drove the ball in from the 12-yard line. Bartz gave his bench ample playing time in the second, something he hoped to see more of this season. “Anytime these guys get playing time it’s a plus,” Bartz said. “The experience is what we need right now. We still made some mistakes and have a lot of things to improve on. But for the home opener to come out, get a shut out and have very minimal penalties, this is what we were hoping for.”

STORY SCOTT NOVAK | PHOTOGRAPHY EMILY SOBECKI

SCOREBOARD At Edwardsburg Allegan Edwardsburg

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0 14

0 28

0 6

0–0 7 – 55

Junior Mac Gaideski carries the ball in Edwardsburg’s season opener, which ended with a 55-0 shutout.

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WEEK 2 AUGUST 30

EDWARDSBURG 73, OTSEGO 0 OTSEGO — The Eddies had no trouble coming away with a win in week two, shutting out the Otsego Bulldogs in a game that showed fans early on what the Edwardsburg offense was capable of. Isaiah Mitchell rushed for 102 yards on three carries and scored a pair of touchdowns as Edwardsburg defeated host Otsego 73-0 in the Aug. 30 Wolverine Conference contest. The Eddies (2-0) had at that point outscored their opponents 128-0. A 32-point opening quarter left no doubt about the outcome of the contest. Mac Gaideski, a junior, got the scoring started with a 67yard punt return. Mitchell scored the next two touchdowns on runs of 62 and 37 yards before Gaideski found the end zone again, this time on a

36-yard run. Edwardsburg would tack on 28 more points in the second quarter and take a 60-0 lead into the second half, which meant a running clock for the entire 24 minutes. Conner Nelson scored on an 18-yard run before Chase Sager picked up a fumble and returned it 21 yards. Caden Goggins, Tre’ Harvey and Derek Hess scored the final three touchdowns on runs of 70, 30 and one yard. Goggins finished with 97 yards on four carries, while Cayden Calhoun added 80 yards on three totes. The Eddies finished with 458 yards of total offense, all on the ground. Defensively, Edwardsburg gave up 59 yards of total offense to the Bulldogs. Dillon Hursh had eight tackles, including four for a loss, while Drew Bidwell had five and a half tackles. Mitchell finished with six tackles. Dylan McColley and Calhoun both had interceptions. Otsego ended the season with a 5-5 record.

BY THE NUMBERS First downs Rushing yards Passing stats Total offensive yards Passing yards Punts/average Fumbles/lost Passes intercepted Penalties/yards

Eddies 8 458 0 458 0 for 1 0 1/0 0 9 for 100

Bulldogs 5 30 29 59 4 for 10 5/32 3/2 2 3 for 25

E – Matt Gaideski 67 punt return (Isaiah Mitchell run) E – Mitchell 62 run (Tre Harvey run) E – Mitchell 37 run (Chase Sager run) E – Gaideski 37 run (Sager run) E – Conner Nelson 18 run (Dylan Morley kick) E – Sager 21 fumble return (Morley kick) E – Caden Goggins 77 run (Morley kick) E – Harvey 30 run (Moerley kick) E – Cayden Calhoun 65 run (Morley kick) E – Derek Hess 2 run (kick failed) Varsity records: Edwardsburg 2-0, Otsego 0-2

PHOTOGRAPHY JEFF DOUGLAS

SCOREBOARD At Otsego Edwardsburg Otwego

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32 0

28 0

7 0

6 – 73 0–0

Senior Caden Goggins celebrates a touchdown against Three Rivers in week 7. Goggins scored on a 77-yard run at Otsego Aug. 30

Edwardsburg state championship

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WEEK 3 SEPTEMBER 7

EDWARDSBURG 41, PAW PAW 0 EDWARDSBURG — Another week, another shutout for the Edwardsburg varsity football team. The Eddies hosted Paw Paw Friday night and picked up its third shutout in a row, running past the Redskins 41-0 in a Wolverine Conference win. Even with a 6-foot-5, 285-pound Michigan Wolverine commit on the Paw Paw defensive line, Edwardsburg showed no fear. Karsen Barnhart will attend the D1 school next fall after turning away 16 other scholarship offers, ranging from schools such as Michigan State, Iowa, Nebraska and powerhouse USC. Needless to say, Barnhart was the talk of the stands and the locker room before the start of the game. “He’s big, but he didn’t scare us,” Eddies junior running back Mac Gaideski said. “Our guys are quick and strong and I knew that would be the key in getting past him and it was.”

BY THE NUMBERS First downs Rushing yards Passing stats Total offensive yards Passing yards Punts/average Fumbles/lost Passes intercepted Penalties/yards

Eddies 14 335 30 365 2 for 2 0 6/6 0 6 for 41

Redskins 12 67 28 95 3 for 9 3/29yd avg

4/2 1 4 for 29

E – Caden Goggins 11 run (conversion good) E – Chase Sager 70 run (conversion failed) E – Goggins 52 run (conversion good) E – Sager 9 run (conversion fails) E – Sager 2 run (kick failed) E – Bryce Blue 30 interception return (Dylan Morley kick) Varsity records: Paw Paw 2-1, Edwardsburg 3-0

Both teams entered the contest undefeated, but after an explosive first half, it was clear the real strength lied within the Edwardsburg squad. The Eddies had a 34-0 lead entering

halftime. Caden Goggins scored his two touchdowns in the game in the first and led Edwardsburg with 110 rushing yards on the night. Chase Sager added three touchdowns — one in the first quarter and two in the second — and had 98 rushing yards for the Eddies. Bryce Blue was the lone scorer in the second half for Edwardsburg, running in a 26-yard interception in the third. Paw Paw was held to just 95 offensive yards, while Edwardsburg ended with 365. Tre’ Harvey and Connor Nelson combined at quarterback for 30 passing yards. Although the score didn’t reflect it, Eddies coach Kevin Bartz said Paw Paw was the toughest opponent thus far. “They (Paw Paw) have some very big, strong kids, which made this game more physical than the previous two. Barnhart was obviously one to watch, but I thought our guys did a great job of containing him and their other big kids on the line,” Bartz said. “Our offense looked great and as long as we keep shutting them out, we are doing the right things on defense too, so we will keep working hard to improve and get better and now we have to prepare for a tough Dowagiac team.”

STORY ERIKA PICKLES | PHOTOGRAPHY TIM RITTER

SCOREBOARD At Edwardsburg Paw Paw Edwardsburg

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0 22

0 12

0 7

0– 0 0 – 41

The Eddies force a fumble from Paw Paw during week three of the regular season. Edwardsburg defense prevailed in the contest, which ended in a 41-0 shutout.

Edwardsburg state championship

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WEEK 4 SEPTEMBER 14

EDWARDSBURG 51, DOWAGIAC 7 DOWAGIAC — It was not exactly “Air Edwardsburg,” but the visiting Eddies proved they could throw the football in a 51-7 victory over the Chieftains Sept. 14. Already in game four, Edwardsburg (40) looked primed to make another long playoff run in 2018 as it has outscored its opponents 220-7. The Eddies are known for running the football as they run the Wing-T formation to near-perfection week in and week out. Dowagiac was prepared for the onslaught of running backs, but when the Eddies went to the air, the Chieftains were caught off guard. “We geared up obviously to stop the run because that is what they do,” said Dowagiac coach Mike Stanger. “Give them credit. They threw the ball well tonight. I do not think our run defense played poorly because we put them in third-and-six or third-and-and seven, which is what we wanted to do. But then they used the play-action pass to beat us. That was a different aspect that we had not seen out of them.” Edwardsburg quarterback Tre’ Harvey had a big night via the airwaves as he went 4-for-4 for 149 yards and three touchdowns. “We have two quarterbacks who throw the ball really well, and we have three tight ends who catch the ball well, and we have four or five kids out of the backfield,” said

BY THE NUMBERS First downs Rushing yards Passing stats Total offensive yards Passing yards Punts/average Fumbles/lost Passes intercepted Penalties/yards

Eddies 11 316 159 475 4 for 4 0 0 0 3 for 15

Chieftains 7 8 97 105 11 for 19 3/40 1 1 5 for 33

E – Chase Sager 2 run (Caden Goggins run) E – Ben Kubal 56 pass from Tre Harvey (Sager run) E – Isaiah Mitchell 1 run (run failed) D – DJ Lanier 2 pass from Cailyn Murphy (Drew Davis kick) E – Goggins 25 run (Drew Bidwell pass from Harvey) E – Cayden Calhoun 37 pass from Harvey (Mitchell run) E – Mac Gaideski 31 pass from Harvey (run failed) E – Sager 45 run (Dylan Morley kick) Varsity records: Edwardsburg 4-0, Dowagiac 2-2

Edwardsburg coach Kevin Bartz. “So, we have more diversity than we have had as a team right now, and our overall team speed right now is very good.” The Eddies did not abandon the running game by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, two of their first three touchdowns were on the ground as Chase Sager scored on a two-yard run and Isaiah Mitchell scored on a one-yard run.

“You have to make some decisions defensively if you are going to try to pack the box to stop the run on us or are you going to use three people to try and cover the pass still,” Bartz said. “We create more match-up problems for teams with that diversity.” Sandwiched in between was a 56-yard touchdown pass from Harvey to Ben Kubal. Down 22-0, Dowagiac scored its lone touchdown on the game as D.J. Lanier caught a two-yard pass from Cailyn Murphy as the Chieftains’ cut the Edwardsburg lead to 22-7 heading into the second quarter. The Eddies scored another 22 points in the second quarter as Caden Goggins scored on a 25-yard run, Cayden Calhoun hauled in Harvey’s 37-yard touchdown pass and Mac Gaideski caught a 31-yard touchdown pass. There was only one touchdown in the final 24 minutes of play as Sager picked up his second touchdown on a 45-yard run in the third quarter. As good as the Edwardsburg offense was, rolling up 457 yards in total, the Eddies’ defense was equally spectacular. Edwardsburg held Dowagiac to just six rushing and 78 yards passing. Murphy was 11-of-20 passing for 78 yards. Sager led the Eddies with 74 yards rushing on seven carries, while Goggins finished with 71 yards on nine totes. “Offensively, we fell behind early and we could put together any drives with the exception of the one we went down and scored on,” Stanger said. “That means our defense was on the field too long.”

STORY SCOTT NOVAK | PHOTOGRAPHY JEFF DOUGLAS

SCOREBOARD At Dowagiac Edwardsburg 22 22 7 0 – 51 Dowagiac 7 0 0 0– 7

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Senior Chase Tilley goes for the tackle in a 51-7 contest against the Dowagiac Chieftains Sept. 14.

Edwardsburg state championship

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WEEK 5 SEPTEMBER 21

EDWARDSBURG 71, SOUTH HAVEN 6

EDWARDSBURG — Midway through the 2018 regular season, the Edwardsburg football team was 5-0 and had outscored its opponents 299-13. Visiting South Haven was the victim of the Eddies’ powerful offense and stingy defense in week five, and Edwardsburg routed the Rams 71-6 Sept. 21. Caden Goggins scored a pair of touchdowns for the Eddies on runs of 49 and 22 yards. In addition to Goggins, six other Edwardsburg players found the end zone. Isaiah Mitchell scored on a 66-yard run, Chase Sager scored on a five-yard run, Tre’ Harvey scored on a two-yard run, Mac Gaideski scored on a 14-yard run, Cayden Calhoun scored on a three-yard run and Parker Szlanfucht scored on runs of 15 and 17 yards.

Dyan Morley capped the scoring with a 37-yard field goal. Edwardsburg rolled up 459 yards on the ground, led by Mitchell’s 103 yards on four carries. Goggins and Gaideski both finished with 84 yards rushing on five and seven carries respectively. The Eddies did not attempt a single pass in the Wolverine Conference contest. The Rams’ starting quarterback was benched with an injury, so third-string quarterback Brenden Williamson was one of the main targets of Edwardsburg’s defense. The Rams were held to negative 11 yards rushing. South Haven was 5-of-20 passing for 76 yards, leaving them with 65 yards of total offense on the night. Edwardsburg forced four turnovers in the contest, including interceptions by Conner Nelson, Gaideski and Harvey. Dillon Hursh led the Eddies with three tackles. South Haven ended the season with a 0-9 record.

BY THE NUMBERS First downs Rushing yards Passing stats Total offensive yards Passing yards Punts/average Fumbles/lost Passes intercepted Penalties/yards

Eddies 10 459 0 459 0 for 0 0 0/1 0 3 for 40

Rams 12 -11 76 65 5 for 20 5 for 29.6 2/1 3 6 for 59

E – Isaiah Miller 66 run (kick failed) E – Chase Sager 5 run (Dylan Morley kick) E – Caden Goggins 49 run (Dylan Morley kick) E – Tre Harvey 2 run (Dylan Morley kick) E – Mac Gaideski 14 run (Dylan Morley kick) E – Cayden Calhoun 3 run (Dylan Morley kick) SH – Fox 18 pass from Williamson (kick failed) E – Goggins 22 run (kick failed) E – Parker Szlanfucht 15 run (Dylan Morley kick) E – Morley 37 field goal Varsity records: South Haven 0-5, Edwardsburg 5-0

STAFF REPORT | PHOTOGRAPHY SCOTT ROSE

SCOREBOARD At Edwardsburg South Haven Edwardsburg

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6 41

0 20

0 7

0– 6 3 – 71

Senior Tre’ Harvey, pictured here at Dowagiac during week four, scored on a two-yard run against South Haven Sept. 21.

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WEEK 6 SEPTEMBER 29

EDWARDSBURG 58, PLAINWELL 6 EDWARDSBURG — On the road in week six, the Eddies allowed just one touchdown out of the Trojans. Against Plainwell Sept. 29, Edwardsburg scored a pair of firstquarter touchdowns and never looked back in building up a 38-0 halftime advantage. Caden Goggins rumpled in from 49 yards out for the first touchdown, while Isaiah Mitchell scored on a three-yard run. In the second quarter, Tre’ Harvey, Mitchell and Goggins all scored on touchdown runs. Harvey scored from 10 yards out, Mitchell from three yards out and Goggins on a one-yard run. Goggins returned the second-half opening kickoff 56 yards for his third touchdown of the night. Mac Gaideski and Cayden Calhoun concluded the

scoring with a touchdown run and a 50yard interception return respectively. The Eddies finished the night with 441 yards of total offense, including 345 yards on the ground, led by Goggins with 111 yards on seven carries. Chase Sager added 92 yards, while Mitchell finished with 42 yards. Harvey was 3-for-3 for 98 yards. Goggins caught two of those passes for 57 yards. Defensively, the Eddies limited Plainwell to 114 yards of total offense. Conner Nelson led the team with seven tackles. Mac Gaideski and Cameron Thompson had six tackles each. Going into week six, Plainwell was 4-1, losing only to Three Rivers in the season opener. Edwardsburg handed Plainwell one of three losses on the regular season (Plainwell also lost to Paw Paw Oct. 12). When Edwardsburg and Plainwell faced off again in the postseason, the Eddies did not allow a single touchdown at Leo Hoffman Field, which ended Plainwell’s 2018 season.

BY THE NUMBERS First downs Rushing yards Passing stats Total offensive yards Passing yards Punts/average Fumbles/lost Passes intercepted Penalties/yards

Eddies 14 345 96 441 3/3 0/0 0/0 1 5/30

Trojans 14 93 21 114 2/12 3/39 1/0 0 3/15

E – Caden Goggins 49 run (conversion failed) E – Isaiah Mitchell 3 run (conversion good) E – Tre Harvey 10 run (conversion good) E – Mitchell 3 run (conversion good) E – Goggins 1 run (conversion good) E – Goggins 56 kickoff return (Dylan Morley kick) E – Mac Gaideski (Morley kick) E – Cayden Calhoun 50 kick return (kick failed) Varsity records: Edwardsburg 6-0, Plainwell 4-2

PHOTOGRAPHY JEFF DOUGLAS

SCOREBOARD At Plainwell Edwardsburg Plainwell

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14 0

24 0

20 0

0 – 58 6–6

Caden Goggins is pictured during the Eddies’ second contest against Plainwell in the opening round of post season in the Division 4 playoffs.

Edwardsburg state championship

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WEEK 7 OCTOBER 5

EDWARDSBURG 38, THREE RIVERS 15 EDWARDSBURG — On a team that prides itself on running the football, quarterback Tre’ Harvey’s name may not be the first one opponents talk about. After all, Caden Goggins, Chase Sager, Isaiah Mitchell and Mac Gaideski get a majority of carries most nights. But in the biggest game of the season, Harvey stepped up in a big way and led No. 1-ranked Edwardsburg to a 38-15 Wolverine Conference victory over No. 3-ranked Three Rivers at a soldout Leo Hoffman. Harvey rushed for 126 yards on 14 carries, including a 10-yard touchdown run and was 2-of-4 through the air for 97 yards and a pair of touchdowns. “Tre Harvey was a great competitor for us tonight,” said Edwardsburg coach Kevin Bartz. “He made some big plays running for us that gave us first downs. He broke tackles and had some big passes. He is one of those kids who has become key for us offensively. He really stepped up for us tonight.” Harvey’s first touchdown pass gave Edwardsburg all the points it would need for a victory. Already leading 8-0 on a 41yard Chase Sager touchdown run, Harvey hooked up with Goggins for an 82-yard bomb to make it 16-0 following the

BY THE NUMBERS First downs Rushing yards Passing stats Total offensive yards Passing yards Punts/average Fumbles/lost Passes intercepted Penalties/yards

Eddies 18 383 97 480 2 of 4 3 for 33 2/1 0 7 for 117

Wildcats 19 20 297 317 22 of 43 4 for 37 1/0 2 4 for 35

E – Chase Sager 41 run (Mac Gaideski pass from Tre Harvey) E – Caden Goggins 82 pass from Harvey (Isaiah Mitchell run) E – Goggins 22 run (Harvey run) T – Jett Haifley 10 pass from Jalen Heivilin (Bryce Morlan kick) E – Goggins 15 pass from Harvey (run failed) T – Gavin Charvat 10 pass from Heivilin (Haifley pass from Heivilin) E – Harvey 10 run (Gaideski run) Varsity records: Three Rivers 6-1, Edwardsburg 7-0

two-point conversion run. “I think coach might have seen something. I don’t know. I am just running the plays he gives me” Harvey said. “That is just great coaching right there. He sets me up for something good.” Edwardsburg offensive coordinator says that Harvey and the offense took advantage of some of the looks the Wildcats presented.

“He was kind of taking what they gave us,” Gaideski said. “He is a tough runner and we want to put the ball in his hands.” The Eddies would increase their lead to 24-0 over the stunned Wildcats when Goggins ran it in from 22 yards out. Three Rivers (6-1) finally got on the board when Jett Haifley hauled in a 10-yard touchdown pass from Jalen Heivilin with 30.5 seconds remaining in the first half. Edwardsburg (7-0) scored a touchdown in each of the final two quarters, taking a 32-7 advantage into the final 12 minutes of play. Goggins caught his second touchdown pass of the night in the third quarter, this one good for 22 yards. Harvey capped the scoring for the Eddies with his 10-yard run following a Three Rivers touchdown. Gavin Charvat caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from Heivilin to cut the Edwardsburg lead to 32-15. The Eddies finished the night with 480 yards of total offense, including 383 on the ground. Sager also eclipsed the 100-yard mark as he finished with 108 on 12 carries. Goggins finished with 72 yards on 10 carries. The Wildcats finished with 317 yards of total offense, the most Edwardsburg has allowed this season. Heivilin was 22-of-43 for 297 yards and one interception. The Edwardsburg defense was led by Dillon Hursh and Cayden Calhoun, both of whom finished with seven tackles. Dylan McColley added four catches, while Bryce Blue had a pair of interceptions.

STORY SCOTT NOVAK | PHOTOGRAPHY JEFF DOUGLAS

SCOREBOARD At Edwardsburg Three Rivers 0 7 0 8 – 15 Edwardsburg 8 16 6 8 – 38

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Co-captain Tre Harvey forces a fumble at Edwardsburg’s homecoming against Three Rivers.

Edwardsburg state championship

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WEEK 8 OCTOBER 12

EDWARDSBURG 38, VICKSBURG 22 VICKSBURG — Undefeated and No. 1-ranked Edwardsburg avoided the upset bug when they traveled to Vicksburg Oct. 12. Despite eventually going 3 and 6 on the season (after a 7-3 record in 2017), Vicksburg’s offense gave the Edwardsburg defense a run for its money, one that had fans on the edge of their seats through the contest. The host Bulldogs gave the Eddies everything they wanted for more than half of the Wolverine Conference contest before falling 38-22. Following the win, Edwardsburg (8-0) was looking for its fourth undefeated season since 2013 when it traveled to Sturgis for the regular season finale the following week, Oct. 19. Vicksburg scored first in

the contest and led Edwardsburg 14-8 in the second quarter before the Eddies took command of the game. Edwardsburg outscored the Bulldogs 30-8 from that point on to remain undefeated. Caden Goggins had another big game for the Eddies with 180 rushing yards on eight carries with touchdown runs of 62, 73 and two yards. Mac Gaideski added 55 yards on two carries and a 41-yard touchdown, while Isaiah Mitchell finished with 54 yards on six totes and a 30-yard touchdown run. Edwardsburg finished the night with 313 yards of total offense, all of which came on the ground, as the Eddies were 0-for-1 passing. The Bulldogs had 264 yards of total offense, of which 152 yards came on the ground. Drew Bidwell led the stringy Eddies defense with 12 tackles. Dylan McColley had 11 tackles, Dylan Hursh 10 and Cameron Thompson eight.

BY THE NUMBERS First downs Rushing yards Passing stats Total offensive yards Passing yards Punts/average Fumbles/lost Passes intercepted Penalties/yards

Eddies 6 313 0 313 0/1 0/0 0/0 0 2/30

Bulldogs 27 152 97 264 10/15 1/37 1/0 1 4/50

V – Caleb Welch 2 run (conversion good) E – Caden Goggins 2 run (conversion good) E – Isaiah Mitchell 30 run (conversion good) V – Jacob Conklin 1 run (conversion failed) E – Goggins 62 run (conversion failed) V – Welch 2 run (conversion good) E – Goggins 73 run (conversion good) E – Mac Gaideski 41 run (conversion good) Varsity records: Edwardsburg 8-0, Vicksburg 3-5

STORY SCOTT NOVAK | PHOTOGRAPHY JEFF DOUGLAS

SCOREBOARD At Vicksburg Edwardsburg 8 6 6 16 – 38 Vicksburg 8 6 0 8 – 22

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Isaiah Mitchell fights off the Vicksburg defense on a carry as Edwardsburg defeated the Bulldogs 38-22. Though the Bulldogs went 3 and 6 on the season, Vicksburg was one of the closest contests in the Eddies’ regular season.

Edwardsburg state championship

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WEEK 9 OCTOBER 19

EDWARDSBURG 56, STURGIS 0 STURGIS — The Edwardsburg football team rolled into the playoffs with a full head of steam after shutting out host Sturgis 56-0 in the regular and Wolverine Conference season finale on Oct. 19. With the shutout against Sturgis, the Eddies completed their third undefeated season in the past four years. In 2017, the Eddies lost to Three Rivers 18-21 during the regular season. Edwardsburg had undefeated seasons in 2015 and 2016. After defeating the Sturgis Trojans, Edwardsburg was set to host another set of Trojans in the opening game of the playoffs — this time the Plainwell Trojans. A 36-point first quarter left no doubt that the Eddies would not be sharing the conference championship this season, and would hold

the title all on their own. Edwardsburg (9-0) opened up a 42-0 halftime lead and played the second half with a running clock. Isaiah Mitchell had a big night running the football as he rushed for 103 yards on just four carries and scored a touchdown. Chase Sager finished with 65 yards on six carries and scored on runs of four, two and 26 yards. Caden Goggins, who opened the game with a 90-yard kickoff return, added 31 yards on three touches. He also had a 21yard touchdown run. Also scoring for the Eddies, who finished the night with 369 yards rushing, were Conner Nelson (18 yards) and Parker Szlanfucht (13 yards). Nelson finished with 73 yards rushing on a pair of carries. Defensively, Edwardsburg limited the Trojans to 104 yards of total offense. Mac Gaideski, Cameron Thompson, Drew Bidwell and Chase Tilley all had six tackles each

BY THE NUMBERS First downs Rushing yards Passing stats Total offensive yards Passing yards Punts/average Fumbles/lost Passes intercepted Penalties/yards

Eddies 11 369 0 369 0/1 0/0 1/1 0 2/20

Trojans 5 88 16 104 2/9 4/31 2/1 1 3/25

E – Caden Goggins 90 kickoff return (conversion good) E – Chase Sager 4 run (conversion failed) E – Isaiah Mitchell 64 run (conversion failed) E – Sager 2 run (conversion good) E – Goggins 21 run (Dylan Morley kick) E – Sager 26 run (Morley kick) E – Conner Nelson 18 run (Morley kick) E – Parker Szlanfucht 13 run (conversion failed) Varsity records: Edwardsburg 9-0, Sturgis 1-8

STORY SCOTT NOVAK | PHOTOGRAPHY JEFF DOUGLAS

SCOREBOARD At Sturgis Edwardsburg 36 7 7 6 – 56 Sturgis 0 0 0 0 – 0

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Pictured here, the Eddies take the field at Vicksburg in week eight. On the road at Sturgis, Edwardsburg shut out the Trojans, finishing out the regular season.

Edwardsburg state championship

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WEEK 10 OCTOBER 26

EDWARDSBURG 45, PLAINWELL 0 EDWARDSBURG — Of the 32 high school football teams who qualified for the Division 4 playoffs, Edwardsburg was one of only two unbeaten teams. Grosse Ile (a suburb of Detroit) shared a 9-0 record with the Eddies entering the opening district games. But only one team advanced, keeping its perfect record alive, and that was the Eddies Oct. 26. Leo Hoffman field was packed with blue and orange as fans watched a typical Edwardsburg team run touchdown after touchdown into the end zone. Grabbing its fifth shutout of the season, the Eddies improved to 10-0 with a 45-0 win over Plainwell and advance to the district final against Paw Paw. Along with Edwardsburg’s perfect record, they currently hold the title for most shutouts in a season of the 16 teams now left in the playoffs. Add to that the AP’s No. 1 ranking of the Eddies for most of the season, and it’s safe to say they are the team to beat.

BY THE NUMBERS First downs Rushing yards Passing stats Total offensive yards Passing yards Punts/average Fumbles/lost Passes intercepted Penalties/yards

Eddies 12 283 64 347 4 of 5 0/0 1/1 0 4/55

Trojans 19 108 23 131 2 of 8 3/18.3 2/1 0 2/10

E – Caden Goggins 27 pass from Tre Harvey (Chase Sager run) E – Sager 24 run (pass failed) E – Sager 1 run (Isaiah Mitchell run) E – Sager 3 run (Mitchell run) E – Mitchell 9 run (Harvey run) E – Mac Gaideski 3 run (Dylan Morley kick) Varsity records: Plainwell 6-4, Edwardsburg 10-0

“We are taking this one game at a time,” said Edwardsburg senior Isaiah Miller. “It’s only going to get harder from here. Tonight is just the start of playoffs and we came

out ready to play, but we have to keep that focus every week now.” Mitchell scored a 9-yard touchdown for the Eddies in the third quarter and ended the night with 54 rushing yards. A scoreless first quarter wasn’t what Edwardsburg had in mind, but the game quickly changed pace when the Eddies had a much-needed offensive explosion, adding 30 points to the scoreboard in the second period alone. Caden Goggins scored the first touchdown for Edwardsburg, running the ball in from the 27 yard line. Chase Sager, who led Edwardsburg offensively with 87 yards, scored the next three touchdowns. “He (Sager) is a tough kid whether he’s on offense or defense,” said Edwardsburg coach Kevin Bartz. “He runs through tackles and was big for us offensively tonight.” Mitchell’s touchdown in the third prompted a running clock for the remainder of the second half, while Mac Gaideski’s three-yard touchdown more than sealed the deal. Edwardsburg ended the night with 347 offensive yards, far surpassing the 131 yards put up by Plainwell.

STORY ERIKA PICKLES | PHOTOGRAPHY JEFF DOUGLAS

SCOREBOARD At Edwardsburg Plainwell Edwardsburg

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0 0

0 30

0 15

0– 0 0 – 45

Co-captain Chase Sager carries the ball one of many times in Edwardsburg’s 45-0 win over Plainwell in the opening round of the Division 4 playoffs.

Edwardsburg state championship

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WEEK 11 NOVEMBER 2

EDWARDSBURG 49, PAW PAW 10 EDWARDSBURG — For the 11th straight time this season, the Edwardsburg Eddies faced a Wolverine Conference foe under the Friday night lights. And just like the previous 10 games, the Eddies used their high-powered Wing-T offense on visiting Paw Paw, crushing them 49-10 to win their third consecutive Division 4 district championship and their fourth in the last five years. But the game ball didn’t go to the Eddies’ offense, but rather the defense, anchored by Chase Sager, Cameron Thompson and Dillon Hursh. Those three Eddies consistently found their way in the Paw Paw backfield, disrupting pass plays while amassing 11 tackles for loss on the night, not to mention a couple of fumble recoveries by Sager and Logan McColley, and an interception by Bryce Blue. “They couldn’t go inside, they couldn’t go outside and any time they dropped back, most of the time it was Sager grabbing the guy 10 yards back,” said Edwardsburg Coach Kevin Bartz. “Our defense all year has been outstanding. Even tonight, it stood out more than anything. Other than the kickoff return, the penalty and the last pass, they couldn’t do anything.”

BY THE NUMBERS First downs Rushing yards Passing stats Total offensive yards Passing yards Punts/average Fumbles/lost Passes intercepted Penalties/yards

Eddies 12 395 0 395 0/4 0 0/0 1 4/50

Redskins 3 -75 97 22 5/12 6/30 5/2 1 2/30

E – Caden Goggins 33 run (Mac Gaideski run) E – Tre Harvey 6 run (Gaideski run) E – Isaiah Mitchell 5 run (Chase Sager run) PP – FG Jose Valverde 26 E – Harvey 30 run (run failed) E – Mitchell 35 run (run failed) E – Sager 21 run (Dylan Morley kick) E – Goggins 16 run (kick failed) PP – Peter Frey 43 pass from Mason Popp (Valverde kick) Varsity records: Paw Paw 8-3, Edwardsburg 11-0

The last pass Bartz referred to was Paw Paw’s final play from scrimmage when Mason Popp found Peter Frey on a 44-yard touchdown pass with just over a minute remaining in the game. That play would put Paw Paw in plus yardage, finishing with 30 total offensive yards on the night. Even though it was a blowout at the end, the beginning of the game was anything but. The Paw Paw defense, looking to build off

a stellar display of limiting Three Rivers to just seven points in the previous week’s 14-7 upset win, held the Eddies to consecutive turnover on downs in the opening quarter. Edwardsburg’s leading rusher, Caden Goggins, started the scoring on a 33-yard run, followed by a Mac Gaideski two-point conversion. Gaideski would get another conversion after quarterback Tre’ Harvey made his way to the end zone on a six-yard run. Isaiah Mitchell also scored on a five-yard run in the second quarter. The Eddies led 24-3 at halftime. Paw Paw freshman kicker Jose Valverde kicked a 26-yard field goal just before halftime to put the visitors on the board. Two straight Paw Paw turnovers in the third quarter led to Edwardsburg points and all of a sudden the game was broken open. Harvey (30 yard rush) and Mitchell (35 yard rush) tacked on the scores following the turnovers. Sager added his name to the scoresheet with a 21-yard rush at the end of the third quarter. He finished with 11 rushes for 90 yards and a touchdown. Goggins tallied his second score of the game on a 16-yard run in the fourth quarter while the mercy rule running clock was implemented to solidify victory. He would finish with 11 rushes for 139 yards and two touchdowns. Mitchell had eight carries for 62 yards and a pair of scores. Harvey ran for 49 yards on five attempts and two touchdowns, while Gaideski finished with six carries for 42 yards.

STORY RYAN HAINES | PHOTOGRAPHY JEFF DOUGLAS

SCOREBOARD At Edwardsburg Paw Paw Edwardsburg

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0 0

3 24

0 19

7 – 10 6 – 49

Conner Nelson looks on as Bryce Blue fights to recapture the ball as the Eddies battled it out with Paw Paw to decide who would move onto the Division 4 regional championship.

Edwardsburg state championship

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WEEK 12 NOVEMBER 10

EDWARDSBURG 56, HOLLAND CHRISTIAN 21 EDWARDSBURG — The run to Ford Field continued for the Edwardsburg football team after defeating Holland Christian in the division 4 regional championship. A 40-point second-half explosion lifted host Edwardsburg to a 56-21 win over Holland Christian for a spot in the state semifinals. It was the third consecutive regional title for the Eddies. Edwardsburg was defeated by the Cougars 42-31. Grand Rapids Catholic Central also defeated the Eddies 46-31 in the Division 4 semifinals in 2010 in a game also played at Vicksburg High School. “Once we knew we were in Division 4 and looked at the brackets, obviously where we wanted to be was matched up with them because we knew they have a great team again,” said Edwardsburg coach Kevin Bartz. “Whether we were on their side of the bracket or they were on the opposite side, we knew we had to run into them at some point.” The Cougars come into Saturday’s game with an 11-1 record. Their lone loss came back in week No. 2 against Saline, 17-7. Saline is a state semifinalist in Division 1. “They are an extremely good football team again,” Bartz said. “They do not have a Noah Fugate (running back) or Jaylen Mayfield (offensive lineman) they had last year, but personnel wise they are so fundamentally sound. They are physically quick and strong. They are a lot like us because they do not hurt themselves

BY THE NUMBERS First downs Rushing yards Passing stats Total offensive yards Passing yards Punts/average Fumbles/lost Passes intercepted Penalties/yards

Eddies 17 504 77 581 1 for 1 0 2/2 0 4/40

Maroon 16 53 306 359 17 for 37 1/49 1/1 3 2/10

E – Caden Goggins 64 run (Mac Gaideski run) H – Wilson Wirebaugh 1 run (pass failed) E – Caden Goggins 15 run (Isaiah Mitchell run) H – Wilson Wirebaugh 2 run (Jon Keizer kick) E – Mac Gaideski 5 run (Isaiah Mitchell run) E – Mac Gaideski 61 run (Chase Sager run) H – Will VanWieren 4 pass from Wilson Wirebaugh (Wilson Wirebaugh run) E – Caden Goggins 57 run (Tre Harvey kick) E – Caden Goggins 77 pass from Trey Harvey (Chase Sager run) E – Isaiah Mitchell 16 run (Parker Szlanfucht run) Varsity records: Holland Christian 8-4, Edwardsburg 12-0

usually. Even though our style of football is completely different our discipline and what we are trying to accomplish is very similar. It should be a great matchup again.” Bartz said in order for the Eddies to turn the tables on the Cougars they would have to do a better job against their run. “I went back and watched the film from the state finals last year and they were pretty much able to run the ball at will and gain big chunks,”

Bartz said. “We have to be able to do a better job on first and second down, so that we put them into a situation where we know they are going to pass.” In the regional championship, the Eddies (120) found themselves in an unusual situation at halftime when Holland Christian trailed 16-6. Edwardsburg had played in just one close game this season, a 38-22 win over Vicksburg. The Eddies regrouped at halftime and shifted their running game into high gear for the final 24 minutes. Edwardsburg outscored the Maroon 16-7 in the third quarter and 24-8 in the final 12 minutes to turn the game into another rout. Despite its best efforts, Holland Christian was unable to contain the Eddies’ running backs. Caden Goggins rushed for 203 of Edwardsburg’s 525 yards on the ground and scored on touchdowns of 64, 15 and 57 yards. He also caught a 77-yard touchdown pass from Tre’ Harvey in the fourth quarter that sealed the victory. Mac Gaideski, who rotates with Goggins, added 109 yards on just five carries with touchdown runs of five and 61 yards. Isaiah Mitchell had the other Edwardsburg touchdown on a run of 16 yards in the closing moments of the game. Defensively, the Eddies did their best to contain Holland Christian standout quarterback Wilson Wirebaugh and his big wide receivers. And while Wirebaugh threw for 306 yards on 17-of-37 passing, the Eddies were able stop the Maroon’s ground game. Edwardsburg forced four turnovers, including three interceptions. Conner Nelson led the way with six tackles and an interception. Gaideski had four stops, while Harvey and Goggins each intercepted a pass and Dylan McColley recovered the fumble.

STORY SCOTT NOVAK | PHOTOGRAPHY JEFF DOUGLAS

SCOREBOARD At Edwardsburg Holland Christian 6 0 7 8 – 21 Edwardsburg 16 0 16 24 – 56

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Sophomore Drew Bidwell rallied his teammates as the Eddies competed for the Division 4 regional Championship at Edwardsburg Nov. 10.

Edwardsburg state championship

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WEEK 13 NOVEMBER 17

EDWARDSBURG 46, GRAND RAPIDS CATHOLIC CENTRAL 44 VICKSBURG — One goal accomplished. One goal remaining. After falling to Grand Rapids Catholic Central 42-31 in last year’s Division 4 state championship game, the Edwardsburg football team’s goal was to get back to Ford Field in Detroit. The Eddies accomplished that goal in Vicksburg Nov. 17 with a thrilling 46-44 win over Catholic Central in overtime. The rematch of the 2017 championship game lived up to its billing. Despite racing out to a 24-0 first-half lead, Edwardsburg had to withstand a second-half onslaught by the Cougars, who eventually tied the game at 30-30 with 5:46 remaining in regulation. The Eddies answered with a quick touchdown drive that culminated with a one-yard Isaiah Mitchell run and a Chase Sager 2-point conversion that gave Edwardsburg a 38-30 advantage with 1:56 remaining. Two-time defending state champion Catholic Central would not fold. The Cougars went 68 yards in the final minute and a half, scoring with 19.7 seconds remaining on a Nate Trudeau eight-yard pass reception from Joe Collins. The all-important 2-point conversion was good and the teams headed to overtime deadlocked at 38-38. The Eddies went on offense first and did not waste their opportunity as Mitchell

BY THE NUMBERS First downs Rushing yards Passing stats Total offensive yards Passing yards Punts/average Fumbles/lost Passes intercepted Penalties/yards

Eddies 13 386 52 438 3 for 5 1 for 24 0/0 1 2/20

Cougars 18 103 283 386 19 for 32 4 for 32 1/1 0 5/40

E – Chase Sager 1 run (Mac Gaideski run) E – Caden Goggins 48 run (Isaiah Mitchell run) E – Goggins 55 run (Sager run) GR – Nick Hollern 1 run (Joey Silveri run) GR – Drew Gommesen 6 pass from Silveri (Nate Trudeau pass from Silveri) E – Goggins 37 run (run failed) GR – Gommesen 10 pass from Joe Collins (Brandy Lopez kick) GR – Trudeau 15 pass from Collins (Lopez kick) E – Mitchell 1 run (Sager run) GR – Trudeau 8 pass from Collins (Jace Williams pass from Collins) E – Mitchell 6 pass from Tre Harvey (Sager run) GR – Malachi Love 7 run (run failed) Varsity records Edwardsburg 13-0, Catholic Central 11-2

hauled in a six-yard Tre’ Harvey pass. Sager added the 2-point conversion and Edwardsburg led 46-38. A seven-yard Malachi Love touchdown run for Catholic Central on its overtime possession meant that the 2-point conversion stood between the Eddies and Ford Field. The Cougars

came out in an I-formation for a conversion attempt and when backup quarterback Joey Silveri was stopped short of the goal line by the Edwardsburg defense, the celebration was on. “We have been on process to get back to Ford Field and whoever was in our way we were looking to take care of,” said head coach Kevin Bartz. “We never really did mention the revenge factor. This was our next step to get there.” Bartz said that despite the early lead, the Eddies knew they were going to be in a dogfight. “You knew it was going to be one of these kind of games,” he said. “They did a great job coming back. Our kids didn’t flinch or panic. I thought we could score. We just needed one stop and we got it at the end.” Goggins had a huge day for the Eddies with 167 yards rushing on 13 carries and the four touchdowns. “What a game,” Goggins said during the postgame celebration. “It feels so good (to be going back). We have been working for this for so long. This week we have been focused more than ever and to beat the team that knocked us off last year to get to the state championship feels great.” Goggins said that the Eddies never lost focus during the Cougars’ comeback. “They started shutting us down a bit, but we never gave up and kept pounding,” he said. “It worked. We wanted this so bad and I think that is how we pulled off the win.” Edwardsburg finished with 366 yards on the ground, while Harvey was 3-of-5 throwing the ball for an additional 53 yards. For the second straight week the Edwardsburg defense had to withstand a passing barrage. Collins threw of 293 yards and three touchdowns as the Cougars went 20-of-33 through the air and rushed for 114 yards.

STORY SCOTT NOVAK | PHOTOGRAPHY JEFF DOUGLAS

SCOREBOARD At Vicksburg Edwardsburg 16 Catholic Central 0

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8 6 16 7

8 15

8 – 46 6 – 44

Chase Sager plows through Grand Rapids Catholic Central’s defense in the Eddies’ rout to the state championship. The Eddies won the semifinal in overtime.

Edwardsburg state championship

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WEEK 14 NOVEMBER 23

EDWARDSBURG 28, CHELSEA 7 DETROIT — They say that defense wins championships and offense sells tickets. On Friday night at Ford Field in the Division 4 championship game, Edwardsburg’s defense rose up and led the Eddies to a 28-7 victory over Chelsea and the school’s first state football title. “Last year we were shocked to be here,” Edwardsburg Coach Kevin Bartz said about the disappointing 42-31 loss to Grand Rapids Catholic Central. “This year we were more focused and ready to take care of business. We finally got the job done after 24 years. But there are many that never get this far.” The Bulldogs (10-4) were able to contain the high-octane Edwardsburg offense throughout the first half, and trailed just 8-7 as the teams headed off the field at halftime. The Eddies’ coaching staff made some halftime adjustments and Edwardsburg got back on track offensively and were able to outscore Chelsea 20-0 in the second half. “I told the guys that we had to clean up what we were doing,” Bartz said. “We made the change to outside, which allowed us to open the middle for (Caden) Goggins and the rest of the backs.” The adjustments worked. The Eddies took the opening second-half possession and marched into the Bulldog red zone. Facing a fourth-and-2 on the Chelsea 5 yard line, Mac Gaideski found pay dirt. Harvey added the 2-point conversion

BY THE NUMBERS First downs Rushing yards Passing stats Total offensive yards Passing yards Punts/average Fumbles/lost Passes intercepted Penalties/yards

Eddies 19 382 0 382 0 for 2 1 for 50 1/1 0 4 for 30

Bulldogs 18 69 178 247 16 for 27 0 for 0 2/1 2 2 for 5

E – Caden Goggins 5 run (Isaiah Mitchell run) C – Hunter Neff 4 pass from Quinn Starkey (Drew Lewis) E – Mac Gaideski 5 run (Tre Harvey run) E – Harvey 5 run (run failed) E – Goggins 53 run (kick failed) Varsity records: Chelsea 10-4, Edwardsburg 14-0

and the Eddies led 16-7 with 6:39 left in the third quarter. Chelsea would start at its own 36-yard-line on the ensuing possession and face a third and 16 twice on the drive. Despite converting on those plays, the Bulldogs ended up turning the ball over on downs at the end of the third quarter. Hursh would have a couple of tackles for loss and Thompson picked up a sack on the drive for the Edwardsburg defense. Hursh finished with 14 tackles (three for loss) and a sack. Thompson finished with three tackles (1.5 for loss) and a sack. Both teams turned the ball over on downs to open the fourth quarter with Chelsea turning it over on their own 22-yard line. Three plays later, Harvey scored on a five-yard

run to give the Eddies a 22-7 lead with 3:10 left in the game. On the following play from scrimmage Chelsea turned the ball over as Cayden Calhoun recovered a Hunter Neff fumble on the Eddies’ 47-yard line. Goggins sealed the deal with his second touchdown of the game and 31st of the season, this one from 53 yards out. He would finish the game with 15 carries for 125 yards and 1,482 rushing yards on the season. Sager added 14 rushes and 119 yards. Harvey had 10 carries for 75 yards and a touchdown. The game started off a bit rocky for the undefeated Eddies as on its opening possession, Chelsea stopped Edwardsburg on fourth down at its own 34-yard line. The Edwardsburg defense was able to hold as Chase Sager sacked Chelsea quarterback Quinn Starkey to set up another long third down. Starkey took a chance throwing deep into the end zone, but Bryce Blue intercepted the pass, ending the threat. Three first down runs by Isaiah Mitchell ( four yards), Harvey (19 yards) and Sager (43 yards) set up a Goggins five-yard touchdown run. The Eddies led 8-0 after the first quarter. Chelsea capped a 64-yard drive when Starkey found Neff on a four-yard touchdown pass to close the gap at 8-7. Both teams traded turnovers in the second quarter. The best scoring opportunity came when the Bulldogs’ Drew Lewis attempted a 23-yard field goal that sailed wide right. This is Edwardsburg’s first state championship since volleyball in 1977 and the first football state title for southwest Michigan since Constantine in 2004. “I couldn’t ask for anything else in this world,” said an emotional Sager said after the game.

STORY RYAN HAINES | PHOTOGRAPHY JEFF DOUGLAS

SCOREBOARD At Ford Field, Detroit Chelsea 0 7 0 0 – 7 Edwardsburg 8 0 8 12 – 28

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The Eddies celebrate the championship win over Chelsea at Ford Field in Detroit the day after Thanksgiving.

Edwardsburg state championship

POSTSEASON AWARDS

ALL-WOLVERINE CONFERENCE FOOTBALL FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE Skilled position • Caden Goggins, Edwardsburg Jalen Heivlin, Three Rivers Austin Williams, Plainwell Chase Sager, Edwardsburg Bryce Morlan, Three Rivers Caleb Welch, Vicksburg Tre Harvey, Edwardsburg Cailyn Murphy, Dowagiac Jaylin Fox, South Haven Second-team Skilled position Isaiah Mitchell, Edwardsburg Jett Haifley, Three Rivers Will Eldridge, Otsego Kurtis Carr, Paw Paw Jake Conklin, Vicksburg FIRST-TEAM Offensive linemen Karsen Barnhart, Paw Paw Josh Priebe, Edwardsburg Kyle Rose, Vicksburg Ethan Griffin, Edwardsburg Trey Szymanowski, Plainwell SECOND-TEAM Offensive linemen Grant Deal, Vicksburg Gabe Aranda, Dowagiac Alex Rafael, Otsego Noah Carrico, Edwardsburg Placekicker Bryce Morland, Three Rivers FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE Linebackers • Traven VanOss, Three Rivers Dylan McColley, Edwardsburg Nate Harden, Paw Paw Dillon Hursh, Edwardsburg SECOND-TEAM Linebackers Drew Bidwell, Edwardsburg Lamberto Paredes, Dowagiac Andrew Vorce, Paw Paw FIRST-TEAM Defensive linemen Chase Sager, Edwardsburg Karsen Barnhart, Paw Paw Devon Gidley, Three Rivers Caleb DeKyger, Allegan Gabe Green, Dowagiac FIRST-TEAM Defensive backs Mac Gaideski, Edwardsburg Nolan Mark, Three Rivers Jake Mathney, Paw Paw Gavin Charvat, Three Rivers SECOND-TEAM Defensive backs Conner Nelson, Edwardsburg Curtis Carr, Paw Paw Will Eldred, Otsego Punter Bryce Morland, Three Rivers

STORY SCOTT NOVAK | PHOTOGRAPHY JEFF DOUGLAS

he postseason honors keep rolling on for Division 4 state champion Edwardsburg. The Eddies dominated the All-Wolverine Conference squad. On Dec. 6, three Edwardsburg players earned Associated Press Division 3-4 AllState, while Bartz was named secondteam Coach of the Year. Senior running back Caden Goggins was a first-team selection after helping lead the Eddies to back-to-back state championship appearances and the 2018 title. Goggins finished with 1,480 yards rushing with 25 touchdowns. He averaged 12.2 yards per carry. He also caught 10 passes for 344 yards and four touchdowns. “Caden has obviously been a difference maker for us all year,” Bartz said. “He is explosive. The number of big plays he had for us both catching and running the ball. I cannot even get how many 40plus yard gains he has had all year. He came into this season a lot stronger, a lot more physical and a lot more confident. He is just one of those kids who turned an average play into a big play for us.” Priebe, who is being recruited by numerous Power Five Conference schools, including Michigan State, Michigan and Cincinnati, was a secondteam selection as lineman. Joshua Priebe, who has scholarship offers from Mid-American Conference schools Toledo and Central Michigan, played both ways for the Eddies. The 6-1, 195-pound junior helped the Eddies average more than 9.4 yards per rushing attempt and 360 yards a game on the ground. “I think he is one of the best high school offensive linemen in the state

right now,” Bartz said. “He also kind of changed who he was from last year just in his body size and strength. He was just a dominant force of moving bodies out of the way for us all year. And then he played some solid defensive minutes for us as well. I think he is one of those kids who is going to make another big jump from this year to next year.” Chase Sager was an honorable mention selection at linebacker. Sager finished the year with 50 tackles, including 24 for a loss. He also had a fumble recovery and an interception. “Sager has been a defensive force for the last two years,” Bartz said. “I think he is our best defensive player not only this year, but last year. His speed. His strength. He plays with tenacity. He might be our best football player overall. He rarely comes out of the game.” Bartz is 173-74 in his 24 years at Edwardsburg. The Eddies have qualified 13 times for the postseason, including nine straight. Edwardsburg is the first team in southwest Michigan to finish the season 14-0. Edwardsburg landed four players on the offensive side of the squad and five players on the defensive unit. Bartz was also named Wolverine Conference Coach of the Year. First-team selections for the Eddies on offense were running backs Coggins and Sager, quarterback Tre Harvey and offensive linemen Priebe and Ethan Griffin. Goggins was named captain of the offensive unit. On defense, Dylan McColley and Dillon Hursh were first-team selections at linebacker, Sager and Noah Carrico as defensive linemen and Mac Gaideski at defensive back.

COACH OF THE YEAR Kevin Bartz, Edwardsburg

Edwardsburg state championship

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Edwardsburg state championship

BECOMING

CHAMPIONS November 23, 2018 is a day the Edwardsburg football team, staff and fans will not soon forget. Before the excitement wore down, we asked the athletes for some of their favorite memories of the season â&#x20AC;&#x201D; including the state championship, and shared some of our favorites here. To read responses from the rest of the team, visit leaderpub.com.

Edwardsburg state championship

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conner nelson

Grade: 11 Position: Quarterback and safety

What was the biggest moment during the regular season? The biggest moment during the regular season was the win over Three Rivers on homecoming. What do you remember most about the championship game? What I remember most about the championship game was seeing Coach Bartz hoist the state trophy for the first time. What does this state championship mean to the community? This state championship is a cultivation of all the hard work, determination, and pride this community has given to us and each other. It is nice to have a physical representation of that for everyone to see and experience in our little town.

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Edwardsburg state championship

Treâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Harvey

Grade: 12 Positions: Quarterback, cornerback, safety, linebacker, punt returner What was the biggest moment during the regular season? The biggest moment during the regular season to me came during the whole homecoming game. The game itself was a statement to the state of Michigan. [Three Rivers] was ranked to be higher in Michigan in D4 and to finish the best in the Wolverine Conference. It was our first close game and a great win versus a top team. It spring boarded confidence for the rest of the season. What do you remember most about the championship game? I remember the halftime locker room speech. Mostly Coach Bartz saying the fact that we have only a half left for the rest of our lives. That left a drowning feeling in my mind. The only way to survive was to do everything I could to help win the game. What does this state championship mean to the community? It means everything to this community. This is a football community. Everybody has been waiting for a state championship for a long time. Not only football players, but everyone who has associated themselves with the town has contributed to this. Parents, peers and businesses have helped get this program where it is today.

Edwardsburg state championship

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MAC GAIDESKI

Grade: 11 Positions: Safety running back, punt returner What was the biggest moment during the regular season? The biggest moment of the regular season was against Vicksburg. We almost got beat. This shrunk all of our heads and got us back to focusing on what really matters, and that is getting better every week. What does this state championship mean to the community? The state championship is more than just a team thing. It involves every past Edwardsburg football player who has been working up to this moment. Also, it involves the Village of Edwardsburg. They have been backing us from years ago until now and without the community, there is no way we would have been able to accomplish all that we have done.

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Edwardsburg state championship

BRYCE BLUE

Grade: 11 Position: Corner back

What was the biggest moment during the regular season? I think beating Three Rivers on homecoming was the biggest moment. What do you remember most about the championship game? I remember just the atmosphere of playing in a state championship and I also remember when we stopped them on fourth down in the fourth quarter and knew after we were going to win. What does this state championship mean to the community? It means a lot because we have had an amazing amount of support from them all season and it feels great to know that we can bring them back a state championship.

Edwardsburg state championship

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ISAIAH MITCHELL

Grade: 12 Positions: Halfback, linebacker What was the biggest moment during the regular season? I think the biggest moment during the regular season was beating Three Rivers. What do you remember most about the championship game? The thing I remember most about the championship game is the faces of the team as we won. What does that state championship mean to the community? It meant a lot to the community, this being the first state win.

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Edwardsburg state championship

DREW BIDWELL

Grade: 10 Position: Middle linebacker, tight end

What was the biggest moment during the regular season? The homecoming game against Three Rivers was the biggest moment of the season. What do you remember most about the championship game? The thing I remember most about the championship game was looking up at the scoreboard and waiting for the clock to hit zero. What does this state championship mean to the community? It means everything. The community has supported us for years. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s filled with alumni and incoming players, so to win a state championship for them is perfect.

Edwardsburg state championship

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CADEN GOGGINS

Grade: 12 Positions: Running back, defensive back

What was the biggest moment during the regular season? The biggest moment during the regular season was beating Three Rivers at my final homecoming game. What do you remember most about the championship game? The thing I remember most about the state championship was scoring a touchdown in the final minutes because I knew it would be my last touchdown as an Eddie. What does this state championship mean to the community? Winning the state championship was truly amazing for the community. They supported us all season and we could not have done it without them. It feels great to have won it for them.

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Edwardsburg state championship

DILLON HURSH

Grade: 11 Positions: Linebacker, tight end, running back What was the biggest moment during the regular season? Beating Three Rivers. It really showed who we were as a team, and that we could compete with one of the best teams in Division 4 at the time. It was confidence boosting. What do you remember most about the championship game? Looking at the scoreboard during the final minute of the game, and knowing we had finally accomplished what we had been dreaming about since were little kids playing rocket football. What does this state championship mean to the community? This championship interconnects the community, and shows our passion and perseverance not only as a community, but as a family together. Representing that a state championship victory was just another representation of how all the people in our community have shaped us into the young respectable men that we are, so that we can leave a virtuous impact on the world as a whole, in our futures still to come.

Edwardsburg state championship

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CHASE SAGER

Grade: 12 Positions: Offensive linebacker and running back What was the biggest moment during the regular season? The biggest moment during the regular season was beating Three Rivers. This was a huge matchup and really showed our team the potential success we could achieve. What do you remember most about the championship game? I remember looking up in the crowd and just seeing all of the people who support us. This was an amazing feeling to see all the people who supported the team. Watching the clock hit zero is a moment that I will never forget. What does this state championship mean to the community? This state championship means everything to the community. The community really supported us and this was seen as you drove around the town of Edwardsburg. This state championship could not have been completed without this amazing communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s support.

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Edwardsburg state championship

DYLAN MCCOLLEY

Grade: 12 Position: Linebacker

What was the biggest moment during the regular season? The biggest moment during the regular season was facing Vicksburg because they really made us open our eyes and realize that we are going to need to work even harder if we want to win state. What do you remember most about the championship game? It was the fourth down and six after a fake start and Mac Gaideskiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s huge hit. They were 3 by 1 with three of the receivers to my right. Hunter Neff, Chelseaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all-state wide receiver, was the 2 receiver. The ball was hiked and Neff ran a two-yard drag right in front of me and I had caught on quickly. Then that was it. I tackled him right as he caught the ball and we had scored on that offensive drive. What does this state championship mean to the community? State championship means so much to our community. They supported us Eddies for years. To finally have won a state championship is just so awesome. It puts Edwardsburg on the map.

Edwardsburg state championship

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JOSHUA PRIEBE

Grade: 11 Positions: Offensive guard, defensive end

What was the biggest moment during the regular season? Going undefeated in the conference and dominating every team, including our rivals such as Dowagiac and Three Rivers, which are always fun games. What do you remember most about the championship game? Coming out on offense after halftime and dominating them up front to secure the win. What does this state championship mean to the community? It means everything. It puts Edwardsburg on the map, and we are now a more respected football program because of this big win.

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Edwardsburg state championship

ETHAN GRIFFIN

Grade: 11 Positions: Tackle, defensive end

What was the biggest moment during the regular season? To me the biggest moment during the regular season was beating Three Rivers on homecoming night. This was the biggest moment because coming into the week we knew there was going to be a lot of hype between the community, and social media due to the fact that it was the number one versus the number three team in Division 4 and coming out and playing the way we did that night was something I will never forget. What do you remember most about the championship game? The one thing I remember the most about the state championship game was walking out of the tunnel before the game. Hearing the roar of cheers from our crowd as we jogged onto the field is truly insurmountable, and just the simple fact that we were about to play on the same field as the Detroit Lions is an amazing moment in my life that I will always remember. What does the state championship mean to the community? This state championship means everything to our community, especially for those who have grown up living in Edwardsburg seeing what our football program has developed into, going from having several losing seasons to making the playoffs every year, to now bringing home the hardware to our small village in southwest Michigan.

Edwardsburg state championship

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NOAH CARRICO

Grade: 12 Positions: Guard, defensive end What was the biggest moment during the regular season? The biggest moment during the regular season was beating Three Rivers during homecoming because it was the No. 1 team vs. the No. 2 team. What do you remember most about the championship game? What I remember most about the championship game was walking off the field knowing that all our hard work paid off. What does this state championship mean for the community? The state championship is payoff to the community for all of the support they have given us in the rain and snow throughout the year.

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Edwardsburg state championship

ALLEGAN

OTSEGO

PAW PAW

DOWAGIAC

SOUTH HAVEN

PLAINWELL

THREE RIVERS

VICKSBURG

STURGIS

PLAINWELL

PAW PAW

HOLLAND CHRISTIAN

GRAND RAPIDS CC

CHELSEA

TOTAL

4 1 3 2 3 4 3 1 2 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 19

7 7 4 5 2 4 4 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 19

9 8 8 7 4 4 2 2 2 1 0 0 2 0 0 1 25

5 4 4 1 7 4 8 3 3 2 2 2 1 4 0 0 37

7 8 6 3 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7

10 12 7 13 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 18

8 4 6 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3

3 6 4 2 1 4 3 2 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 15

7 11 6 2 6 2 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 15

10 19 13 9 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 17

19 16 13 9 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15

14 15 15 7 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11

15 14 8 10 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13

121 121 100 70 56 26 24 14 13 9 5 4 4 4 1 1 231

OTSEGO

PAW PAW

DOWAGIAC

SOUTH HAVEN

PLAINWELL

THREE RIVERS

VICKSBURG

STURGIS

PLAINWELL

PAW PAW

HOLLAND CHRISTIAN

GRAND RAPIDS CC

CHELSEA

TOTAL

Caden Goggins Chase Sager Isaiah Mitchell Tre’ Harvey Mac Gaideski Cayden Calhoun Parker Szlanfucht Conner Nelson Bryce Blue Avery Mitchell Derek Hess Dillon Hursh Noah Tinkham Josh Thiel Jackson Hoover Josh Priebe TOTAL

3 4 8 2 3 3 1 1 4 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 17

ALLEGAN

RUSHING — CARRIES RUSHING — YARDS

SEASON STATS 60

Caden Goggins Chase Sager Isaiah Mitchell Tre’ Harvey Mac Gaideski Parker Szlanfucht Cayden Calhoun Conner Nelson Avery Mitchell Derek Hess Josh Thiel Bryce Blue Dillon Hursh Noah Tinkham Jackson Hoover Josh Priebe TOTAL

65 97 110 80 84 111 72 180 31 19 134 206 170 125 1,484 30 18 98 73 51 92 108 20 65 87 91 61 112 119 1,025 61 102 30 29 103 42 28 54 103 54 64 67 54 60 851 36 30 20 59 2 37 126 4 41 16 54 59 22 68 574 12 53 4 17 84 63 54 55 11 0 44 111 28 10 546 9 80 16 13 27 0 0 0 11 9 7 0 0 0 172 22 28 13 36 35 0 0 0 21 16 0 0 0 0 171 4 18 23 -4 25 0 0 0 73 0 1 0 0 0 140 28 0 15 0 10 0 0 0 0 48 0 0 0 0 101 30 10 4 7 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 64 1 20 0 3 9 0 0 0 14 1 0 0 0 0 48 8 0 0 15 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 26 0 0 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 0 2 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 306 458 333 329 459 345 388 313 370 255 395 504 386 382 5,223

Edwardsburg state championship

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TOTAL TOTAL

2 0 0 0 0 0 2

0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1 1 0 1 0 0 3

0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1 0 0 0 0 0 0

2 0 0 0 0 1 3

0 0 0 0 0 0 0

10 8 4 2 2 1 1

TOTAL

CHELSEA CHELSEA

2 1 0 0 0 0 3

CHELSEA

GRAND RAPIDS CC GRAND RAPIDS CC

0 0 0 0 0 0 0

GRAND RAPIDS CC

HOLLAND CHRISTIAN HOLLAND CHRISTIAN

1 0 0 0 1 0 6

HOLLAND CHRISTIAN

PAW PAW PAW PAW

1 0 0 0 1 0 2

PAW PAW

PLAINWELL PLAINWELL

0 0 0 0 0 0 0

PLAINWELL

STURGIS STURGIS

0 2 1 0 1 0 4

STURGIS

VICKSBURG VICKSBURG

25 16 15 8 8 2 2 4 1 1 82

VICKSBURG

THREE RIVERS

2 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 4

THREE RIVERS

3 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 5

THREE RIVERS

PLAINWELL

3 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 6

PLAINWELL

2 1 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 7

PLAINWELL

SOUTH HAVEN

0 3 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 5

SOUTH HAVEN

1 3 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 7

SOUTH HAVEN

DOWAGIAC

3 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 5

DOWAGIAC

1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3

DOWAGIAC

PAW PAW

2 0 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 6

PAW PAW

3 1 1 1 1 1 0 2 0 0 10

PAW PAW

OTSEGO

1 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4

OTSEGO

2 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5

OTSEGO

ALLEGAN

1 0 2 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 8

ALLEGAN Caden Goggins Mac Gaideski Ben Kubal Cayden Calhoun Drew Bidwell Isaiah Mitchell TOTAL

1 1 2 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 7

ALLEGAN

RUSHING — TOUCHDOWNS REC. — CATCHES

Caden Goggins Mac Gaideski Cayden Calhoun Ben Kubal Drew Bidwell Isaiah Mitchell TOTAL

REC. — YARDS

Caden Goggins Chase Sager Isaiah Mithcell Tre’ Harvey Mac Gaideski Cayden Calhoun Conner Nelson Parker Szlanfucht Avery Mitchell Derek Hess TOTAL

0 35 0 33 15 0 83

0 0 0 0 0 0 0

16 25 0 31 0 66 0 37 14 0 0 0 30 159

0 0 0 0 0 0 0

57 39 0 0 0 0 96

97 0 0 0 0 0 97

0 0 0 0 0 0 0

27 1 20 0 0 0 48

0 0 0 0 0 0 0

77 0 0 0 0 0 77

46 0 0 0 0 6 52

0 345 0 106 0 86 0 70 0 29 0 6 0 642

Edwardsburg state championship

ALLEGAN

OTSEGO

PAW PAW

DOWAGIAC

SOUTH HAVEN

PLAINWELL

THREE RIVERS

VICKSBURG

STURGIS

PLAINWELL

PAW PAW

HOLLAND CHRISTIAN

GRAND RAPIDS CC

CHELSEA

TOTAL

0 0 0 0 0 0

1 1 1 0 0 3

0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 2 2

0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 1 1

0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 1 1

0 0 0 1 0 1

0 0 0 0 0 0

1 2 1 1 4 9

PASSING

28 PASSES ATTEMPTED 23 PASSES COMPLETED 664 TOTAL YARDS

HARVEY

ALLEGAN: 3 OF 3, 68 YARDS

#4 TRE’

REC. — TDS

SEASON STATS

0 1 0 0 0 1

Cayden Calhoun Mac Gaideski Ben Kubal Drew Bidwell Caden Goggins TOTAL

Edwardsburg state championship

PAW PAW: 1 OF 1, 14 YARDS DOWAGIAC: 4 OF 4, 159 YARDS PLAINWELL: 3 OF 3, 98 YARDS THREE RIVERS: 2 OF 4, 97 YARDS STURGIS: 4 OF 5, 91 YARDS HOLLAND CHRISTIAN: 1 OF 1, 77 YARDS GRAND RAPIDS CC: 3 OF 5, 52 YARDS CHELSEA: 2 OF 2, 2 YARDS

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DEFENSIVE Great Job Eddies! STATS CoNGratULatIoNS! TKLS

ASST

TFL

Drew Bidwell

7(-23)

Dylan McColley

Dillon Hursh

Chase Sager

INT

10(-35)

14(-56)

12(-94)

Conner Nelson

Cameron Thompson

6(-63)

Mac Gaideski

2(-8)

Noah Carrico

12(-42)

Bryce Blue

2(-7)

Cayden Calhoun

Chase Tilley

4(-5)

Isaiah Mitchell

1(-12

Joshua Priebe

4(-24)

Alex Pilarski

Ethan Griffin

5(-13)

Caden Goggins

1(-8)

Dylan Morley

1(-3)

Treâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Harvey

1(-12)

Parker Szlanfucht

Max Wimberley

Bennett Meyers

Derrick Hess

Noah Tinkham

Avery Mitchell

Ben Kubal

Skylar Johnson

Mason McDonnough

Austin Routheaux

Jake Robertson

TOTAL

530

1 3 2

1 5

2953 Detroit Road (M-60) Niles, MI 49120

(269) 683-5305

www.watsontreeservice.net

1 2

1(-13) 1(-5)

1 224

Stats include games 1-14, and do not include the state championship against Chelsea.

Edwardsburg state championship

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Edwardsburg state championship

From the PRESS BOX

he success that the Edwardsburg football team has enjoyed over the last decade has overshadowed the slow start the Eddies had under coach Kevin Bartz. Bartz has coached at Edwardsburg 24 years. Not all of them have been as successful as the last decade. But had it not been for a losing streak against Constantine, Bartz and the Eddies may never have made it to the state semifinals five times or made back-to-back state championship games. They probably would not have won the 20-18 Division 4 title with a 28-7 victory over Chelsea at Ford Field in Detroit Nov. 23. Bartz and the Eddies had lost eight consecutive season openers to the Falcons and their Wing-T offense. Bartz was beside himself trying to figure out how to beat Constantine. As the story goes, he complained about it to his wife Kim, who finally had had enough and suggested maybe they try emulating the Falcons. So, in 2007, Edwardsburg switched to the Wing-T, and the rest is history. As Lee Corso at ESPN would say, â&#x20AC;&#x153;not so fast my friend.â&#x20AC;? It took a few years for the Eddies to get the offense, which uses a series of facts to multiple

running backs, down pat. There were some real struggles those first couple of years. Edwardsburg would go 5-4 in 2008 and 4-5 in 2009. Then things began to click for Bartz, his staff and his team. In 2010, Edwardsburg went 8-1 in the regular season and made their first trip to the state semifinals where they lost to Grand Rapids Catholic Central. The Eddies would continue to work at getting better at hiding the football in its new offense and produced plenty of regular season victories. But the playoff wins did not. Edwardsburg was ousted in the opening round of the playoffs three consecutive seasons. Finally, in 2014, the postseason success began to equal the regular season with district and regional titles and spots in the semifinals and title games. Bartz has led Edwardsburg to a level of success unseen by the Eddies, or any other southwest Michigan football team. Edwardsburg was a successful football team some success in the 1960s, but fell on hard times between 1973 and 1994, with only two winning seasons over that stretch. In came Kevin Bartz the following year and

Edwardsburg state championship

little did the Village of Edwardsburg know, things were about to change in a big way for the Eddies football team. The slow start was met with local opposition as a petition was signed by some of the players when the Eddies went 5-4 in 2008 to get rid of the Wing-T. Bartz stayed the course and despite that 4-5 record, turned the corner the next season and Edwardsburg has never looked back. I, for one, am glad they did. Too many times I have seen coaches cave into public pressure instead of sticking to what they believe in. Too many times I have watched programs fall apart because school districts and communities do not have the patience to see things through. Edwardsburg should be applauded for sticking with Bartz and his football team. They worked through the growing pains and have been rewarded in a huge way for that patience. Maybe some other school districts should model their programs after Edwardsburg. They could do worse. Scott Novak is sports editor for Leader Publications. He can be reached at scott. novak@leaderpub.com

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Congratulations EDDIES

from Winston and the staff at Brown Funeral Home

521 East Main Street, Niles, MI

269-683-1155

www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com Helping Families Connect, Honor & Remember

A CATALYST FOR OUR COMMUNITY. Learn more at ChemicalBank.com. Congratulations to the new State Champions, the Edwardsburg Eddies!

Edwardsburg state championship

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