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Manistee’s Trevor Mikula looks for room to run during the Chippewas’ victory over Harbor Springs on Saturday. Manistee will kick off with Muskegon Catholic Central at 7 p.m. on Friday at Chippewa Field.
Photo: Dylan Savela/News AdvocateManistee’s Trevor Mikula looks for room to run during the Chippewas’ victory over Harbor Springs on Saturday. Manistee will kick off with Muskegon Catholic Central at 7 p.m. on Friday at Chippewa Field.
Manistee’s Trevor Mikula looks for room to run during the Chippewas’ victory over Harbor Springs on Saturday. Manistee will kick off with Muskegon Catholic Central at 7 p.m. on Friday at Chippewa Field.
Manistee’s Trevor Mikula looks for room to run during the Chippewas’ victory over Harbor Springs on Saturday. Manistee will kick off with Muskegon Catholic Central at 7 p.m. on Friday at Chippewa Field.
MANISTEE — The Chippewas are halfway through this year’s shortened season without a blemish to their name.
On Friday, streaks will clash as Manistee hosts Muskegon Catholic Central in a Lakes 8 Conference battle of unbeatens.
“I’m sure they’re thinking what we’re thinking,” said Manistee coach Troy Bytwork. “With four teams in the conference playing this year, there’s not a whole lot of room for error.”
The Chippewas last claimed conference supremacy in 2018, when they went 9-0 through the regular season. Clearly, Friday’s contest is a crucial stop along this year’s road to the Lakes 8 title.
“Every conference game is obviously important when it comes to vying for that championship,” Bytwork said. “We’ve both had it before, and we’re both hungry for it. This game will certainly open that path for one us.”
Manistee has been impressive through its first three weeks, collecting convincing wins over Memphis (53-0), conference rival Orchard View (34-20) and Harbor Springs (42-20).
The Chippewas have been winning the battle in the trenches on both sides of the ball, which is going to be key in this week’s matchup, Bytwork said.
“This game will be decided in the trenches like most are, especially at the high school level,” he said. “Can our offensive line keep doing what they’ve been doing the last few weeks? And can our defensive line hold ground? That’s where this game will be won.
“The last two weeks, we’ve seen we were able to pull away during the second half in some tight ballgames to that point,” Bytwork added. “Usually, that’s the case when you start to wear teams out with your size and physicality.”
While Manistee’s success starts up front, its skill players have certainly been proving their worth as well.
The Chippewas’ senior running back and workhorse Landen Powers is averaging 196 yards per game on the ground through three weeks, while sophomore quarterback Jeff Huber — in an impromptu first varsity season since being called upon to fill in for injured senior Keelan Eskridge — has looked poised in his role.
In Saturday’s win over Harbor Springs, Huber showcased his ability to gain yards through the air, throwing for 181 yards and two touchdowns on 9-of-15 passing, while also rushing for 83 yards and two scores on 18 carries.
“He became pretty important to us pretty fast when Keelan went down,” Bytwork said of Huber, who began the season under center for Manitee’s junior varsity squad. “He stepped in to start Week 2 against a conference opponent, and he was extremely composed.
“Like a lot of younger players, you can just see his growth from practice to practice, and obviously from game to game,” he said. “In that particular position, you’re going to have some ups and downs through a game, but he’s controlled those. And last week, he really threw the ball well.
“And that always adds another element to the offense that teams have to prepare for.”
Manistee is slated to kick off at 7 p.m. on Friday at Chippewa Field.
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