After an exciting first week of action, high school football is back for week two, with some more intriguing non-conference matchups on the schedule for the weekend.
Many football games this season are broadcast live and are available on MHSAA.tv or by visiting NFHSnetwork.com. Games on NFHS can be accessed via subscription, costing $11.99 per month or $79.99 per year and can be purchased by clicking here.
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ALL EASTERN WEATHER
Mona Shores vs. Rockford (7 p.m.)
The main matchup in western Michigan this weekend as the Sailors head to take on the Rams.
Mona Shores started off with a big win against Wisconsin foe Manitowoc Lincoln last week. The Division 2 team, which is just two years away from winning the state title, will be hoping for a big win this week.
Speaking of standout wins, Rockford made it easy for a revamped East Grand Rapids team last week, defeating the Pioneers 48-7. After a disappointing finish at Division 1 Regionals last year, Rockford is hoping for a deep run in 2022.
The Rams are 17-7 against the Sailors, all time, including a win in their last meeting in 2019.
Rochester Adams vs. Rochester (7 p.m.)
An annual matchup between cities is also scheduled for Thursday in Rochester.
Adams narrowly missed his first state championship since 2003. However, they return with a strong core of veterans to make another Division 2 championship effort. The Highlanders started off on the right foot last Friday, beating St. Mary’s 42-14. .
Rochester is a program that has grown considerably in recent years, although it missed the playoffs by one game last season. The Falcons hope to bounce back after narrowly losing to Utica, 27-24, last Friday.
Thursday night will mark the 52nd meeting between the two Rochester schools, with Adams posting a 37-14 record against Rochester, including losing the Falcons in 22 straight games, since 1996.
Unity Christian vs. San Jose (7 p.m.)
Unity Christian has been a team on the cusp of reclaiming its 2018 glory, but has had bumps along the way. Whether COVID closed out their 2020 season or dropped in dramatic fashion to Chelsea last year, the Crusaders came into this season trying to erase past disappointment. They will need to shake off a loss in Week 1, where they fell to Whitehall, 54-26.
The Bears also look to bounce back from a season-opening loss, falling to powerhouse Traverse City Central, 49-28. St. Joseph had an incredible run to the D3 Semifinals last year, before falling to DeWitt.
Chippewa Valley vs. L’Anse Creuse (7:00 p.m.)
Chippewa Valley entered this season with the expectation that they can finally get over the hump and win a district title. The Big Reds certainly turned heads last week with a big win over Detroit Catholic Central. MLive.com has Chippewa Valley at #14 going into Week 2.
L’Anse Creuse also played in a close to open their 2022 campaign last week, beating Ferndale with a 27-26 victory. The Lancers have come a long way since posting six straight seasons with one or fewer wins.
This is the eighth meeting of all time between the two teams, but the first since 2005. Chippewa Valley is 5-2 against L’Anse Creuse.
- Watch prep sports on the NFHS Network
Muskegon vs. De LaSalle (7:00 p.m.)
One of two East-West matchups in Week 2 sees two teams with high expectations meet at Warren.
After a perfect state championship season, De La Salle looks to be back racing in 2022. Led by quarterback Dylan Trondle, the Pilots dominated their first game of the season against the Detroit Renaissance. They led 35-0 at halftime, before turning on cruise control for a 41-13 win.
Muskegon hopes to return to the winning form of a few years ago, where they made it to four straight D3 championship games. They had a less one-sided win in Week 1, posting a 20-14 win over East Kentwood.
However, the Big Reds have historically had an advantage over the Pilots. Muskegon is 4-0 against De La Salle, with their last meeting coming in 2019.
Brother Rice vs. East Kentwood (6 p.m.)
The other big battle between states sees a pair of schools looking to bounce back after heavy losses.
Brother Rice received an unwelcoming result in Week 1, falling to Macomb Dakota by a score of 21-7. The Warriors were hoping to improve their appearance in the D3 Regional Finals last season, and a win against the Falcons will definitely get them back on track.
East Kentwood is coming off a tough 2-7 season in 2021, marking consecutive years in which the Falcons have failed to hit the .500 mark in a decade. However, they showed some fight against Muskegon last week, and they hope to cause a stir on Friday.
West Zealand vs. Cedar Rapids (7 p.m.)
The Red Hawks, for the first time in a couple of seasons, entered the season with conference aspirations and potential regional championships after reaching the D3 regional final before falling to DeWitt last season. However, they came back to Earth at Wayne State last week, when they were shut out 22-0 against a strong Rogue River team.
One team that was on the right side of a thrashing was Zeeland West. The Dux started their 2022 season strong last week, winning 66-15 over Stevensville Lakeshore. The Dux hope to be a team that will contend for the OK-Green title this season.
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