Thursday, October 9

By Mike Mattson

Cody Kater and Jamie Potts are no dummies.

They know it's one week at a time during the football season, but when Montague faces Oakridge it's extra special for both schools in the West Michigan Conference title chase.

"I've been waiting for this all season like everybody else," admitted Potts, Oakridge's sophomore quarterback." I'm ready to get my shot at Montague."

"We're acting like it's just another game, but obviously it's not," said Kater, Montague's junior quarterback. "We are all focused and want to get over this hump of not getting past them in a couple of years. They are conference champions, and hopefully, we'll come out Friday and show we belong."

Both teams will be ready in the showdown between unbeaten state-ranked teams.

Both teams have yet to be tested for more than half a game.

Both teams have productive offenses and solid defenses.

And both teams have big talented poised leaders at quarterback.

Kater is a little more experienced, helping Montague's run to the state semifinals last season before falling to eventual state champion Saginaw Nouvel.

He's the Wildcats' top rusher, while having a hand in 20 touchdowns and throwing for 1,033 yards in Montague's no-huddle spread offense. He also punts, rotates at free safety on defense and occasionally returns punts with his sure hands.

"He's just a special kid," Montague coach Pat Collins said about Kater. "The commitment and leadership he brings through his actions alone is special. Obviously, he's an upper level player in the West Michigan area."

Kater, like Potts, is a player who could fit well in a college spread offense. Kater has good speed, arm strength, decision-making and mobility to run or pass out of the spread.

"Cody is what they are looking for in a college quarterback," Collins said. "He's right there with the attributes they like with his size and speed, arm strength and ability to read defenses."

Having a year under his belt has been a plus for Kater, who said Oakridge's defense will present the biggest challenge yet for Montague's offense.

"They are very tough and like to hit you," said Kater, who is a talented basketball player for the Wildcats in the winter. "Their defensive line is very strong and very quick. Their linebackers are very well coached. They love to hit you. They don't miss many tackles and they make very few mistakes."

Potts, meanwhile, is enjoying his first season under center for the Eagles. Like Kater, he has a rocket arm, good mobility and the smarts to make pressure-filled decisions in the heat of battle.

His numbers aren't as gaudy as Kater's, but Coach Jack Schugars has not overloaded his signal-caller, either.

"He's making huge strides," Schugars said. "He's still learning the football nuances, but the door is wide open for what he can do. We'll keep adding things to his plate. He's done well with everything we've given him so far."

Potts said players like Michael Shoop, Matt Eacker and Luke Cole have taken the pressure off him.

"That's really nice having all the seniors around," said Potts, who was one of the area's top baseball players last season as a freshman. "It makes my job easier. It's not all on me my first year on the varsity."

This game will showcase way more players than Kater and Potts.

For every Dustin DeHoff, AJ LaRue, Matt DeJong and Jeff Petsch in a Montague uniform, Oakridge can counter with Shoop, Eacker, Cole and Kyle Pascavis.

In the trenches, Oakridge's Cody Moore, Joe Kieft and Thomas Schoonbeck will mix it up with the likes of Montague's Allen Putnam, RJ Nordlund and Alex Gillish.

Both coaches are preaching to take care of the football and they expect their starters to play a full game for the first time all season. Expect both teams to unveil a few new wrinkles, too.

"I think both teams will go deeper into their playbooks," Schugars said. "I'm sure there are things both teams haven't revealed yet. We'll do everything we can do to win. I think you'll see some fine quality football on Friday night."

So the showdown has finally arrived.

One team will win and another will lose.

But both squads should come out stronger no matter Friday's outcome.

"For obvious reasons, this is hyped up as big game," Collins said. "It's no surprise the kids, the coaches and people have been thinking and talking about this game. The anticipation has built up for a long time. Now, it's finally here and we're all excited about it."

Tickets and details

Oakridge athletic director Ray Schueller advises fans to purchase tickets ($4) in advance for the big game. They are on sale today and Friday at Montague High School and from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. both days at Oakridge High School.

Schueller said Oakridge sold 500 tickets in the first four hours on Wednesday and he's expecting a crowd of about 4,000.

Oakridge hosted its largest crowd of nearly 4,000 in a playoff game against Battle Creek Pennfield in 2002.

Schueller advises fans to arrive early on Friday, with gates opening at 6 p.m.

He added there is a chance tickets may be sold out in advance and not available at the gate due to safety issues.

"Reality is setting in," Schueller said Wednesday at lunch time. "We're pre-selling like crazy."