DIVISION 8 FOOTBALL: Top-ranked Reading firmly on map as repeat champions
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
DETROIT — Ask most people outside of south central Michigan where exactly Reading is located, and one might receive some blank stares.
Regardless of its remote location in the farm fields less than 20 miles from the Ohio and Indiana borders, those who follow prep sports in Michigan at least clearly understand Reading’s recent dominant football program.
The top-ranked Rangers ended the 2019 campaign as a repeat MHSAA Division 8 state champion following a 33-6 triumph over unranked Beal City at Ford Field.
“I think they might not know where we are, but people know who we are,” offered Reading head coach Rick Bailey, who has quietly compiled a 223-105 record over 32 seasons as a head coach. “This is one great run by our football program the past two years.”
Bailey’s Reading squad’s victory came against one of the most predominant small-school football programs in state history, as Beal City has reached the postseason 35 times in the 45-year history of the MHSAA-sponsored state tournament.
The Rangers (13-1) ran the gauntlet against highly-respected teams in the postseason, beginning with a pre-district title over Mendon — which as won 12 state titles over the past four-plus decades — while Reading also chalked up wins over state-ranked Adrian Lenawee Christian and Cassapolis along the way. Even state semifinals opponent, seventh-ranked Fowler, is 4-3 all-time in state title games.
“I really think we left a mark in the playoff book,” said Reading senior Hunter Midtgard, who had 108 yards of offense and scored two touchdowns. “Just because we came through last year, we had a really good team, and then we came through this year and we wanted to prove a point that this was our team and we wanted to leave a legacy. We just wanted to finish the job.”
Finish indeed — wrapping up a two-year run with a 27-1 ledger and two state championship trophies.
Reading, which averaged 43.5 points and outing while giving up only 7.7 point a game with four shutouts heading into the finals, chalked up 270 yards with its ground assault, another 55 yards in the air for 325 total yards, while allowing 194 yards to Beal City. The Aggies became the 10th opponent held to seven points or less.
Reading, which lost to Division 7 state finalist Pewamo-Westphalia in the season opener, did not lose again and was in complete control against the Aggies, who were not even listed as honorable mention in the final AP regular season polls on Oct. 25.
The Rangers took an 8-0 lead after the first quarter, led 14-6 at halftime and outscored Beal City (12-1) 19-0 in the second half.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the way we played — we dominated,” said Bailey.
Jayson Scoville hauled in an 18-yard touchdown pass from Power Mauk with 3:21 to go in the first quarter. Mauk’s two-point conversion pass to Hunter Midtgard ended up being the game-winning points before the game was even a quarter old.
After Beal City scored with 10:07 left in the second period on a 56-yard TD reception by TJ Mason from the arm of Jack Schafer, the Rangers dominated the rest of the way.
Mauk hooked up with Migtgard for a 40-yard touchdown pass just 29 seconds before the half to pad the Rangers’ lead.
Elijah Strine added a 9-yard TD run and Midtgard scored on a 28-yard sprint in the third quarter for a commanding 26-6 advantage.
Reading capped the scoring on Matthew Stewart’s 12-yard TD run inside the final minute.
Midtgard had 12 carries for 67 yards to go along with the 40 receiving yards for the Rangers. Strine chalked up 73 rushing yards on 12 carries, and Roger Hill had seven rushes for 63 yards.
Ben Affholter led the defensive charge with 10 tackles, while Nick Affholter added eight tackles. David Bignell had an interception for Reading.
Schafer finished 5-for-9 passing for 115 yards for Beal City. Logan Chilman added 59 receiving yards on two catches, while Seth Schafer had 14 tackles and Ethan Locke added 10 tackles for Beal City.
After Beal City finished an uncharacteristic 2-7 last season, the Aggies (12-2) returned to the postseason after a two-year layoff and made an unexpected run to the final weekend.
Beal City is now 2-6 all-time in state title games.
“I think they fit right in there with the best (Beal City has fielded),” said Beal City coach Brad Gross.“I can’t ask for anything more from these guys, starting from last year at the end of the year. It didn’t start in June; it started last year, in November. These kids made a commitment to be there and get things done, and that’s what they did.
“It was a great run. We just lost to a very good football team,” concluded Gross.
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