2023 High School Football Preview – Southwest 10 Conference
The Southwest 10, like the Big Ten, is a conference of 10 in name only, at least for football only. With some schools dropping to 8-man football, or some not fielding a varsity team the past few years. The league is still trying to gain a little stability after a few years of membership changes.
Centreville comes into the season, looking for their 6th straight Southwest 10 Conference Championship
2023 Southwest 10 Preview
Cassopolis Rangers
2022 Record: 0-9 (0-4 Southwest 10)
Head Coach: Jeremiah Lee (1st season)
2023 Schedule:
8/24 at Allegan – 7:00 p.m.
8/31 vs. Brandywine – 7:00 p.m.
9/8 vs. Comstock – 7:00 p.m.
9/15 BYE WEEK
9/22 at Decatur – 7:00 p.m.
9/29 vs. Centreville – 7:00 p.m.
10/6 at White Pigeon – 7:00 p.m.
10/13 vs. Burton Bentley – 7:00 p.m.
10/20 vs. Dowagiac – 7:00 p.m.
Another new coach in Southwest Michigan is in Cassopolis where Jeremiah Lee was tabbed to be the new head coach, and he has his work cut out for him.
Cassopolis was winless last season, and were shutout in seven of their nine games. But Cassopolis returns eight starters on offense and nine on defense who would like nothing better than erase those memories of 2022.
The Rangers will run a veer offense this season, with senior Jayden Brown (6’2-170) running the show as the quarterback. His targets are expected to be senior wide receivers Malachi Ward (5’8-140), and Kenny May (6’4-180). At tight end will be senior Mason Smego (5’11-170), running back is senior Neelah Vanhphoumy (5’9-150). One of Brown’s protection up from Spencer Wagoner (6’4-300).
Cassopolis is very senior heavy this season, of the Rangers 28 players on the varsity roster, 13 of them will be graduating in the spring.
Defensively, the Rangers will line up in a 3-5-3 set, and Lee will serve as the defensive coordinator. Vanhphoumy at DB, and Ward at DB will play on defense as well. Joined by senior Daemond Kaminski 5’9-180) at either defensive tackle or linebacker. Sophomore Turner Westrate (5’11-140) will join Vanhphoumy and Ward at defensive back.
For the Rangers special teams, Kenny May is the kicker, senior Ethan Pfluger will handle punting, Ward and Brown will take care of kick and punt returns.
Lee expected his Rangers to be at 5-4, but now that Hartford has cancelled their season, Cassopolis only has eight games scheduled.
Coach Lee says White Pigeon is the favorite in the Southwest 10.
The Rangers open their season on August 24 at Allegan with a 7:00 kickoff.
Centreville Bulldogs
2022 Record: 6-4 (4-0 Southwest 10)
Head Coach: Jerry Schultz
2023 Schedule:
8/24 at Union City – 7:00 p.m.
8/31 vs. Schoolcraft – 7:00 p.m.
9/8 BYE WEEK
9/15 vs. Decatur – 7:00 p.m.
9/22 at White Pigeon – 7:00 p.m.
9/29 at Cassopolis – 7:00 p.m.
10/6 vs. Comstock – 7:00 p.m.
10/13 at Muskegon Catholic Central – 7:00 p.m.
10/20 at Quincy – 7:00 p.m.
Centreville did not reply to our request for a season preview.
Comstock Colts
2022 Record: 1-6 (1-3 Southwest 10)
Head Coach: Spencer Tuggle
2023 Schedule:
8/24 vs. Schoolcraft – 7;00 p.m.
8/31 vs. Allegan – 7:00 p.m.
9/8 at Cassopolis – 7:00 p.m.
9/15 vs. White Pigeon – 7:00 p.m.
9/22 BYE WEEK
9/29 at Decatur – 7:00 p.m.
10/6 at Centreville – 7:00 p.m.
10/13 vs. Galesburg-Augusta – 7:00 p.m.
10/20 at Lawton – 7:00 p.m.
Comstock did not reply to our request for a season preview.
Decatur Raiders
2022 Record: 6-4 (3-1 Southwest 10)
Head Coach: Scott Burwell (3rd season, 10-10)
2023 Schedule:
8/24 at Galesburg-Augusta – 7:00 p.m.
8/31 at Jackson Lumen Christi – 7:00 p.m.
9/8 vs. White Pigeon – 7:00 p.m.
9/15 at Centreville – 7:00 p.m.
9/22 vs. Cassopolis – 7:00 p.m.
9/29 vs. Comstock – 7:00 p.m.
10/6 vs. Delton-Kellogg – 7:00 p.m.
10/13 vs. Comstock – 7:00 p.m.
10/20 at Coloma – 7:00 p.m.
Take away the 2020 COVID season where Decatur went 2-5, the Raiders have finished the regular season 5-4 or 4-5 seven straight years. Even despite that Decatur qualified for the playoffs in five of those seven years. But Decatur making the playoffs just isn’t enough anymore, the Raiders want to do some damage along the way to the playoffs.
Scott Burwell enters his third season with the Raiders with an even .500 record at 10-10. But, an experience and young roster look to take some major leaps forward this fall.
Unlike other schools their size Decatur has stayed with the traditional 11 man game, even with a varsity roster of only 19 players. Only four players are seniors this season.
The traditional Wing-T offense will be employed again by Decatur. Burwell names these as his key offensive players;
Cameron Cropsey, RB, 6’0″, 180lbs, Junior, Danny Camarillo, RB, 6’2″ 190lbs, Junior, Tanner Shugars, OL, 6’0″, 230lbs, Senior, Brody Ross, OL, 6’4″, 285lbs Junior, Ismael Pena, OL, 5’11”, 220lbs, Senior, Frank Conforti, OL, 6’2″, 260lbs, Junior, Landen Swetz, OL, 6’1″ 215lbs, Junior, Carson Shugars, TE, 6’2″ 190lbs, Junior. While Decatur did not name a quarterback, one really isn’t needed in the deceptive Wing-T offense.
Decatur on dense will go with a 4-4 defensive front, and the key players identified by Burwell as;
Danny Camarillo, LB, 6’2″, 190lbs Junior, Tanner Shugars, DL, 6’0″, 230lbs Senior, Landen Swerz, LB, 6’1″, 215lbs, Junior, Cameron Cropsey, LB, 6’0″, 180lbs, Junior, Carson Shugars, DE, 6’2″, 190lbs, Junior
Brody Mead, LB, 6’0″, 175lbs, Sophomore, Rylin Mead, DB, 5’11”, 170lbs, Sophomore.
Ismael Pena will handle the place kicking and punting duties. Cameron Cropsey, Brody Mead, and Rylin Mean serving as kick returners.
Burwell said. “The Raiders expect to make the playoffs again and contend for a division championship.” When asked who he thought is the favorite for the Southwest 10 Conference Title. “Decatur expects to win the conference this season.
Decatur opens the season with a pair of road games at Galesburg-Augusta before taking on perennial state power and new member of the Detroit Catholic League, Jackson Lumen Christi.
Hartford Huskies:
Harford announced the cancellation of their varsity football season.
White Pigeon Chiefs
2022 Record: 8-4 (2-2 Southwest 10)
Head Coach: Shawn Strawser (6th season, 36-15)
2023 Schedule:
8/24 at Reading – 7:00 p.m.
8/31 vs. Galesburg-Augusta – 7:00 p.m.
9/8 at Decatur – 7:00 p.m.
9/15 at Comstock – 7:00 p.m.
9/22 vs. Centreville – 7:00 p.m.
9/29 BYE WEEK
10/6 vs. Cassopolis – 7:00 p.m.
10/13 BYE WEEK
10/20 at White Cloud – 7:00 p.m.
It’s hard to call an 8-4 season a regression, but it was for White Pigeon who went 10-2 in 2021. However White Pigeon lost in the regional finals both seasons after winning the pre and district rounds.
This season White Pigeon will be under fire early as the Chiefs will open up the season at Reading, the same place where they defeated the Rangers in the district championship game last year 34-20
Shawn Strawser now is in his sixth season at head coach and takes his now over .706 winning percentage full steam ahead in to the new season.
Strawser will call the plays for the Chiefs “T” offense, he has five starters back from his district championship team from a year ago. In fact, of the 21 players on the roster, 14 of them are seniors.
So we know White Pigeon has plenty of experience. Junior Josh Davidson (5’9-140) is the quarterback for White Pigeon. In front of him on the O-Line are senior Gage Kershner (6’0-310), and junior Chaz Underwook (5’10-270) as offensive tackles. Another senior Seth Miller (5’10-230) lines up as guard. Senior Caleb Lane (5’10-180) will be the running back.
Miller (linebacker), Davidson (defensive back) and Lane (defensive end) will play defense as well. Adding senior Jimmy Chancy (5’8-160) at defensive end. Two other defensive backs for White Pigeon are seniors Adam Picking (6’0-180) and John Bontrager (5’10-190)
Strawser says, “We look to be very competitive and have a good season.”
As for the Southwest 10, he sees Centreville as the favorite.
Next preview: Southwestern Athletic Conference (SAC)
