Xoilac News - Latest Sports News & Updates

Scouting report, keys to the game for Week 1 schedule in high school football in Battle Creek area, including Harper Creek, Lakeview, Pennfield.

BATTLE CREEK - The 'Games of the Week' in high school football in the Battle Creek readership area for Week 1:

Lakeview (0-0) at Harper Creek (0-0), 7 p.m. Thursday

Scouting Report: A heated rivalry, featuring two city schools, is a great way to open the season. Harper Creek dominated this game a year ago with a 44-0 win. However, over the years, the matchup has been tight. Lakeview owns just a 24-23 record against Harper Creek overall. The Spartans have the edge in experience this year with seven starters returning on both sides of the ball. Lakeview brings back its starting running back in Austin Wildermuth and four of its top offensive lineman, including workout warrior Jaymere Boykins. Harper Creek is replacing its entire offensive line, from tight end to tight end. There is some experience in the backfield for the Beavers, however, as running back Cameron Converse and Camari Hampton both carried the ball in big games last year.

Key To the Game: Harper Creek likes its weapons in the passing game. How returning receivers Dylan Eversole and DJ Wood matchup against the Lakeview defensive secondary, featuring Isaiah Jackson, could be the key to this game.

MORE:

2025 Battle Creek-area High School Football Schedules

Vote for Enquirer Preseason Player of the Year in high school football

Harper Creek junior Brock Hibbs kicks off during a game at Lakeview High School on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024.

Battle Creek Central (0-0) at Benton Harbor (0-0), 7 p.m. Thursday

Scouting Report: Battle Creek Central opened the season the last three years against perennial power Byron Center and went 0-3 and was outscored 131-47. The Bearcats have a new opponent as their opener this year as they travel to Benton Harbor. BCC and Benton Harbor match up better in terms of where each is as a program. Benton Harbor was 0-9 a year ago with BCC at 1-8. Benton Harbor gave up 47.6 points per game last year and only scored nine total touchdowns in its nine games. Having a competitive game early could give a young BCC team the boost it needs to have a bounce-back season.

Key To the Game: BCC offensive line vs. Benton Harbor defensive front. The Bearcats say their offensive line is their strongest unit. Led by 420-pound tackle Camri Williams, plus returners Cory Wells, Hayden Miller and Nathan Cretsinger, BCC needs to control the line of scrimmage to give its young offensive weapons a chance to play in space.

Otsego (0-0) at Pennfield (0-0), 7 p.m. Thursday

Scouting Report: Pennfield is facing Otsego for just the third time in school history and the first time since 1978. The Panthers are coming off a 1-8 season and need a fast start to this year to give an improving roster some confidence. Otsego could provide that confidence as the Bulldogs were just 3-6 a year ago, playing in the Wolverine Conference, including wins over 0-9 Sturgis and 1-8 Plainwell. Otsego was shut out three times a year ago. Pennfield had some offensive woes of its own, also getting shut out three times, but played in the more competitive Interstate 8 Conference where the Panthers were the smallest school in the league.

Key To the Game: Can Otsego's offensive line slow down Pennfield linebacker Gavin May? May is one of the most highly-recruited players in the area and is poised for a monster season where he could be unblockable at times. If Pennfield allows May to roam free and get after the quarterback, he will be a problem for the Otsego offense.

Climax-Scotts (0-0) at Gobles (0-0), 7 p.m. Thursday

Scouting Report: A clash between perennial powers highlights the 8-player division in the area. Gobles was undefeated in the regular season a year ago, averaging 47 points per game. Climax-Scotts went 8-1 a year ago and scored 52.2 points per game. Gobles has been to the playoffs the last three seasons. However, Climax-Scotts has qualified for the postseason every year since 2003. Despite both being small-school powers in the same region, the two schools have only met once before, back in 1959.

Key To the Game: Climax-Scotts was hit hard by graduation and could still be looking to figure things out in what just might be its toughest game of the season. The Panthers only have two returning players in brothers Hunter LaSala and Liam Lasala.

Sturgis (0-0) at Coldwater (0-0), 7 p.m. Thursday

Scouting Report: It is the 100th meeting between Coldwater and Sturgis. The first matchup between the two schools was in 1916. The two programs played against each other every season from 1919-2013. In recent years, the rivalry has been interrupted as Coldwater played in the Interstate 8 Conference and Sturgis was in the Wolverine Conference. Sturgis leads the all-time series 49-48-2.

Key To the Game: The key to this game is for Coldwater not to look past its longtime rival. Coldwater looks to be the better team, having won the matchup last year, 35-8. Sturgis comes in after being winless a year ago, getting shut out six times. The Cardinals are a team on the rise as a young roster went 4-5 in 2024.