Ahh, the Northwest. The big question is: How are the teams that lost their coaches to Traverse City West going to do? Of course I’m talking about Kingsley and Mesick. Kingsley returns a lot of talent, and their running back Maurice Sims is one of the most talented back in the north. They also return a kid, who when he was injured in the preseason last year Tim Wooer called one of the fastest kids he’d ever coached. The backfield at Kingsley will be stellar.

Jason Morrow left Mesick for Traverse City West fairly late and his loss caused a fair amount of animosity in town. Thankfully for Mesick, a coach who had taken a team to playoffs for the first time last year, was just sitting there on staff. Of course I’m talking about Don Crossley. While the bulldogs are still young, expect Crossley and his staff to have the kids ready to play.

Suttons Bay loses a lot of starters from last year, but that seems to be the story every year, and somehow the coaching staff has new kids ready to play week one. It would be easy to say this will be a down year for Suttons Bay, but down years just don’t seem to happen at the Bay.

Frankfort seems primed for a good year. Bankston is a heck of a player and we all know that the sartorially resplendent Matt Stapleton will have his kids ready to play. They, along with Suttons Bay should fight with Kingsley for the top spot in the NWC.

Glen Lake is improving, and as always should have great quarterback play. However I don’t think they have the horses to run with Frankfort, Suttons Bay, or Kingsley. Benzie will not win a conference game.