Each high school football team faces many questions heading into a new season. Here is the biggest for each team and the Week 1 scouting reports.
It is Week 1 of the high school football season.
There are a lot of unknowns about the season, especially with so much turnover this year in graduating seniors.
Here is a look at the big question for each team as well as the Week 1 scouting reports.
Grand Ledge at West Ottawa
WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28
WHERE: West Ottawa High School
LAST YEAR'S RECORD: West Ottawa 1-8, Grand Ledge 5-5
LAST MATCHUP: Grand Ledge won 36-33 in 2024
ALL-TIME SERIES: Tied 4-4
BIG QUESTION: Can the offense put up points? Last year's Panthers only won one game, a 24-21 victory over Jenison. The defense kept the Panthers in several games, especially early in the season. But West Ottawa lost perhaps its best defender to injury midway through the season, then faced the top three teams in the OK Red to close out the season. Meanwhile, West Ottawa's offense was held to single digits in three games and to 22 or fewer points in seven of its nine games. The Panthers will have to find a way to get into the end zone. It won't be easy with the exact same schedule as last year, but Grand Ledge is always a close matchup and should be again. If the Panthers can earn a win and start with momentum, it would be a huge boost.
PREDICTION: West Ottawa 20, Grand Ledge 17.
Ottawa Hills at Holland
WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28
WHERE: Hope College's Ray & Sue Smith Stadium
LAST YEAR'S RECORDS: Holland 5-4, Ottawa Hills 1-8
LAST MATCHUP: Holland 48-0 in 2024
ALL-TIME SERIES: Holland leads 7-5
BIG QUESTION: Can the youth step into the roles of last year's strong senior class? Last year was Holland's first winning season in more than a decade. The Dutch had two shutout wins in their new conference and scored a ton of points. The Dutch seem to have skill position speed and depth but will start a sophomore quarterback in Eli Wolters, who takes over for all-state honorable mention QB Amari Powell, now playing at Calvin. But the biggest shoes will need to be filled on defense. The Dutch only have a couple starters returning from that strong group and will need to prove the defense can continue the trend.
PREDICTION: Holland 28, Ottawa Hills 14.
Holland Christian at Allendale
WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28
WHERE: Allendale High School
LAST YEAR'S RECORDS: Holland Christian 6-4, Allendale 1-8
LAST MATCHUP: Holland Christian won 17-12
ALL-TIME SERIES: Allendale 4-1
BIG QUESTION: Can the Maroons stay healthy? Last year, Holland Christian lost four key starters during the season and couldn't recover, dropping four of the final five games. With a new quarterback relying on experienced skill positions and a new defense relying on a couple of returning starters, those leaders on both sides of the ball will be pivotal and will have to remain on the field for the Maroons to make a playoff run.
PREDICTION: Holland Christian 21, Allendale 17.
Grand Rapids Union at Zeeland East
WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday
WHERE: Zeeland Stadium
LAST YEAR'S RECORDS: Zeeland East 5-5, Union 1-8
LAST YEAR'S MATCHUP: Zeeland East 36-6
ALL-TIME SERIES: Zeeland East 13-0
BIG QUESTION: Can the Chix take the next step and make a run? While the other teams in the area are all starting new quarterbacks, Zeeland East will return Will Drnek as one of a stunning 18 returning starters for the Chix. That is a ton of experience back from a team that made the playoffs last year. But in a league with Zeeland West, Unity Christian, Forest Hills Central and South Christian, it will take the entire group maturing together to
PREDICTION: Zeeland East 35, Union 10.
Hamilton at St. Johns
WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday
WHERE: St. Johns
LAST YEAR'S RECORDS: Hamilton 5-5,
LAST YEAR'S MATCHUP: St. Johns 27-26
ALL-TIME SERIES: 1-1
BIG QUESTION: How quickly can the Hamilton offense adjust to the new fast-paced spread? Going from a mostly running Wing-T team to a high-passion spread offense is no easy task. There will definitely be some growing pains with the new system under new coach Zach Harbison, but the Hamilton defense is always strong, and if the offense can continue to trend upward on offense as the season goes, the Hawkeyes will find themselves back in the playoffs.
PREDICTION: Hamilton 27, St. Johns 20.
Buchanan at Saugatuck
WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday
WHERE: Saugatuck High School
LAST YEAR'S RECORDS: Saugatuck 7-4, Buchanan 6-4
LAST YEAR'S MATCHUP: Buchanan won 32-6
ALL-TIME SERIES: Buchanan leads 3-1
BIG QUESTION: How quick will the young players pick things up? Saugatuck returns very few starters from last year's playoff team. A new quarterback, among most key positions, will have underclassmen looking to grow quickly. Playing a perennial playoff team like Buchanan in the first week will be a tough start, but it will be an immediate test and learning experience, no matter how the game finishes.
PREDICTION: Buchanan 32, Saugatuck 24.
Lawrence at Fennville
WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28
WHERE: Fennville High School
LAST YEAR'S RECORDS: Fennville 3-6, Lawrence 0-9
LAST YEAR'S MATCHUP: N/A
ALL-TIME SERIES: Fennville leads 27-10
BIG QUESTION: How strong will the Fennville defense be? The quick spread offense of the Blackhawks will have fast and talented receivers to go with an up-and-coming quarterback. But the struggle for the Blackhawks has been its defense. With half of the starters returning on defense, this could be the year that the defense really makes a difference.
PREDICTION: Fennville 35, Lawrence 12.
Detroit Old Redford Academy at Zeeland West
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29
WHERE: Zeeland Stadium
LAST YEAR'S RECORDS: Zeeland West 13-1, Old Redford 9-2
LAST YEAR'S MATCHUP: N/A
ALL-TIME SERIES: First matchup
BIG QUESTION: How will the Dux respond on defense? The defending state champions lost a ton of starters to graduation on both sides of the ball. The strength of the team will be on the offensive and defensive lines. Meanwhile, the Wing-T offense will take care of itself even with a new head coach. Jeff Bolhouse has been part of the staff for a long time so he knows the Wing-T as well as anyone. So that leaves the defense, especially the secondary, along with a new group of linebackers, who will need to step up to solidify the defense if the Dux want to make another run in the playoffs.
PREDICTION: Zeeland West 28, Old Redford 22.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: High school football predictions and big question for each team
Category: General Sports
