By Mark Blentlinger
Overnight on November 10, the football field in Schoolcraft was blanketed with just over five inches of snow. The Schoolcraft Eagles football team would be facing the Montague Wildcats at 1 p.m. on Saturday for the Regional championship game and a chance to play on, with hopes of making it to Ford Field the day after Thanksgiving.
The Schoolcraft field crew knew what had to be done. At 6 a.m. the clean-up started. The call went out for anyone willing to help and to bring shovels, snow blowers and high-powered leaf blowers.
The call was answered. Community residents, parents of players, farmers and businesses showed up to do whatever they could. They did an amazing job of clearing the field by game time, according to Athletic Director Jeff Clark. All of the icy snow had been removed and piled high along the sidelines. Owners of Pine View Golf Course showed up with a tractor, pulling a huge leaf blower to help loosen the remaining ice. J & J Farms brought in heaters to be used on the Eagles sideline to help keep players and coaches warm.
Every single one of the volunteers deserve a huge thank you, Clark said. He credits the following and hopes that no one was forgotten. But in case any contributor was left out, he said, “Please forgive and know your help was deeply appreciated.” His list: Matt and Marc Fox, Wendy Fox, Jennifer Gottschalk, Jason Walther, Wade Rutkoskie, Kristin Flynn, David Knowlton, Michelle Hamlin, Jason Crouch, Jeff VanderWiere, Pat Wujkowski, Jason and Josh Jager, Jeff Clark, Bret and Teri Blalock, Lori Hart, Nick Perez, Eric McGehee, Tim Pastol, Dan and Jack Devries and were all there to help.