The Schoolcraft varsity football team at Ford Field. Photo by Stephanie Blentlinger, Lingering Memories Photography.
Schoolcraft suffered a disappointing 34-6 loss against Menominee in the state championship game at Ford Field.
For the 13 seniors on the current team, the journey started last year with a stinging loss to powerhouse Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central at Harper Creek’s football stadium. This sent the Eagles home and the Falcons to the State Championship.
After this defeat, Schoolcraft players hit the weight room and worked on plays. They focused their training and set a new goal for the 2025 state championship. Dan Devries took the helm for his first season as the Eagles head coach. DeVries is a 1995 Schoolcraft High School graduate and the Eagles JV coach since 2020. He was a tight end on the 1994 Eagles team under Hall of Fame Coach Larry Ledlow. This team suffered its own disappointment at the state championship, losing to Ravenna.
To begin this season, the Eagles headed to Centreville to face the Bulldogs in a close game that had fans on both sides biting their nails. By the end of regulation, the Eagles were victorious, winning 14-13. The Eagles next faced a much bigger opponent, Hudsonville Unity Christian. Although the Eagles ended up with a loss, they put up 19 points against the much bigger school. The Eagles then went on a 6-game winning streak, beating Constantine 23-14, Galesburg-Augusta 53-28, Coloma 26-6, Lawton 18-14, Saugatuck 33-13 and Delton 60-0. The Eagle’s second loss came at the hands of Kalamazoo United, a team with players from Kalamazoo Hackett and Kalamazoo Christian. The Eagles went undefeated in the SAV Conference Valley Division, winning the conference championship outright. Goal 1 achieved.
Districts begin with the Eagles hosting and defeating the Rams of Galesburg-Augusta, 42-21. The Eagles dominated in the game for the District Championship, pummeling the Lawton Blue Devils 26-0. Goal 2 completed.
The Eagles faced the Comets from Hanover-Horton, winning their 2nd straight Regional Championship 22-14. Goal 3 done.
Next up: the Division 7 State Semi-Finals where the season ended 1 year ago. The Eagles faced the Clinton Red Wolves on November 21 at Coldwater High School. The Eagles were not going to be denied. The 1st play of the game was an 80-yard pass from junior Quarterback Jack DeVries to senior Drew Enright, lighting up the Eagles fans and the scoreboard 6-0, after the missed 2-point conversion. It wasn’t long before the Eagles scored again and again and again, taking a 30-0 lead at the half. In the end, the Eagles dominated the Red Wolves 43-14 and were on their way to Ford Field. Goal 4 checked off.
The Eagles 11-2 faced the 13-0 Maroons from Menominee in the Division 7 State Championship. It was the first trip back for the Eagles since they won the Division 6 State Championship in 2001. Menominee won the coin toss and elected to receive.
Menominee scored first with a run from Clinton Miller from the 5-yard line with a good extra point the score was 0-7 the Maroons. After a tough drive downfield, the Maroons intercepted a pass in the endzone. In the 2nd quarter, several plays were reviewed, but it didn’t go Schoolcraft’s way. The Eagles’ defense was holding tight, but a Menominee runner was able to break through, and after a blocked extra point, Schoolcraft was down 13-0 at the half.
During the 3rd quarter, Schoolcraft worked their way down to the 23 but had to punt the ball away. The Maroons were again able to capitalize, going up 21-0 against the Eagles. The Maroons eventually took a 28-0 lead in the 4th. The Eagles did score during their next possession, making it 28-6, but Menominee scored again, ending the game at 34-6.
