Editor’s note: This is another part of a continuing series of articles highlighting the top 10 sports stories locally for 2022. No. 2 is the 2022 fall football season featuring the Reed City Coyotes, Evart Wildcats and Big Rapids Cardinals.
BIG RAPIDS – Football fever especially hit three communities this fall in what turned out to be the No. 2 sports story of the area for 2022.
The Reed City Coyotes won a share of the CSAA title and were Division 6 district and regional champions. They lost 14-13 to Negaunee in the state semifinals.
The Evart Wildcats won the school’s first district title ever and came up barely short of a regional crown, losing 34-33 at Iron Mountain.
The Big Rapids Cardinals had a dramatic late-game rally over Tri County to help secure themselves a share of the CSAA crown.
For Reed City, a 6-0 win over Millington secured the regional title.
“This team made goals on the first day of practice and they have almost hit every goal they made,” Reed City coach Scott Shankel said. “They are the second team in school history to win a regional title.”
There were many standouts including Seth Jackson, Bryson Hughes, Noah Morgan, John Ondrus, Caleb Hetrick, Carter Gawne, Kyle Crusan, Logan Langworthy, Spencer Hansen, Aiden Storz, Teddy Szymanski, Max Hammond and Xavier Allen.
Reed City threw for over 700 yards, and rushed for nearly 4,000 with 52 touchdowns on the ground and 13 in the air and the defense was very stingy.
Evart made school history with its district championship win over East Jordan.
Cole Hopkins rushed for 1,247 yards (8.8 yards per carry) and 18 touchdowns and had 221 yards receiving and two scores. He was the leading tackler on defense with 97 tackles, two sacks, one interception and one fumble recovery.
Preston Wallace led the entire state of Michigan in touchdown passes with 32, amassing 2,337 yards passing and completed 67 percent of his passes.
Other standouts were Marcel and Dafoe White, Jake Ladd, Riley Ransom, Kaden Dubreuil and Alex Burhans.
Big Rapids was led by quarterback Wil Strickler with 1,991 yards and 15 touchdowns passing plus 643 yards and 11 touchdowns rushing.
Defensive back Zander Prince set a school record for season interceptions with nine as well as single game interceptions with four.
“I am very proud of how our team competed this season,” Big Rapids coach Mike Selzer said. “The players had to overcome a lot of adversity as well as injuries. Many players were asked to take on new roles and play positions that they hadn’t and they did an excellent job.
“Our team goals were to win the conference and make the
playoffs.”
For the Cardinals in 2022, it was mission accomplished.
Prep football teams excited their fans with championship play in 2022
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