Sometimes the process takes a recess.
Moreover, sometimes the recess is short-lived and other times it’s long-lived.
From the 1970s through the early 2000s the Shepherd football program was one of the better programs in mid-Michigan if not the state. The Jays consistently won conference championships and consistently made the playoffs when it was super-difficult to do so.
The ‘S’ they wore on their chest pretty much said it all because Shepherd football was super.
However, over the last 15 years or so, it’s been a massive struggle for the Jays. When Shepherd switched conferences from the old CSAA to the Tri-Valley Central in 2006 in seemed like it a good fit, yet it really wasn’t football-wise. Between 2006 and 2018 this once-proud program went 28-89 overall and had only three winning seasons, all coming it at 5-4.
In 2019 the Jays changed conferences again, moving to the Jack Pine Conference. Since that move they’ve been a bit better as they’ve gone 7-9 all while making the playoffs twice. Thus, things are looking up right?
Right.
On paper the Jays enter the 2021 season as a solid team, yet a team that will likely fly under the radar in the JPC because Gladwin and Clare are both stacked. At least that’s the word on the street.
Additionally, since the Jays graduated their starting quarterback, running back, tight end and two top wide outs there’s a ton of question marks at the skilled positions going in. What is known is the Jays have a massive offensive and defensive line, thus fourth-year head coach Ben Brock plans on utilizing it early and often. This is a bit of a deviation from the norm in that the Jays were a bit pass-happy in recent seasons.
“We’re going to run the ball a ton and go no-huddle, power-eye,” said Brock, a 1996 Shepherd graduate who is in his 17th-season coaching football. “This is the biggest team I’ve had since I’ve been here, averaging 220 (pounds) up front.”
Numbers-wise Shepherd has 28 players on the roster (20 juniors, 8 seniors).
Brock said junior linebacker Maddox Woods has been stellar so far in camp and will be a player to watch this season. He also said Woods has the ability to play at the next level if he continues to improve.
Junior quarterback Jude Moeggenborg and lineman Jamyson Burch have also turned some heads.
Brock also did something very interesting schedule-wise in 2021 as he’s added Alma and Ithaca back to the schedule. Historically speaking these teams have played a ton of football against one another over the decades and keeping these rivalries on the schedule is good for everyone involved, ranging from the schools to the fans and the communities.
Conference-wise Shepherd will be hard-pressed to beat the Flying G’s or Pioneers in 2021, yet one year from now the Jays very well might be the team to beat in the JPC.
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August 17, 2021 at 11:43PM
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Sizing up Shepherd: Jays looking to make playoffs for 3rd-straight season - The Morning Sun
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