Oakridge vs. Shelby: How Big Is It?

The answer: Real freaking big.

Shelby's Devin Mussell (in green) tackles Hart's Brandon
Amstutz during last week's Pink and Green game.
Mussell and his Tigers play at Oakridge tonight.
(Photo by Andrew Skinner)

The two teams battle tonight in what is essentially a West Michigan Conference title game. The only way the winner of this one doesn't end up as WMC champion is if Shelby wins AND loses to North Muskegon next week, which would create a three-way tie.

Oakridge enters as the favorite, of course, having gone unbeaten in the league last year. The Eagles haven't lost more than once in WMC play since 2009. They are also ranked #1 in the state in Division 5 and avenged a 2012 playoff loss to Grand Rapids West Catholic in this year's season opener. I saw them thoroughly dominate a good Montague offense in Week 2, and I can vouch for their legitimacy.

Senior QB Austin Wright and senior RB Dan Shoop are the straws that stir the drink for Oakridge offensively. The pair combined for 553 yards of total offense last week, 440 on the ground and 113 on Wright passes. Shelby will counter with some seniors of their own in QB Andy Fortier, RBs Devin Mussell, David Guerra and Forrest Courtright and TE Brody Lee.

Defensively, the Eagles had looked immortal until last week, when they struggled to dispatch Ravenna, 31-27. The best chance Shelby has is to pick up where the Bulldogs left off and score some points. It shouldn't take too many — Shelby's only given up more than a touchdown once in four conference games so far. I think if the Tigers can score three TDs, they should have a good chance. It won't be easy, though. Shelby's D needs a huge game from Courtright at the Mike LB spot, and the Tigers' secondary, led by Mussell and Dylan Unger, will have to have their best games of the season, because Oakridge is not afraid to go vertical.

I wish I could go cover the game, but as it's not a White Lake Beacon-area contest, I can't. Oceana's Herald-Journal editor Andrew Skinner will be on site, though, taking photos for next week's paper. I will be at the Whitehall/Hart game watching one of those teams pick up their first win. However, my ear will definitely be to the ground for updates from the big one in Muskegon.