Continuing with the theme of realignment this year in the OK conference, Friday night's game of the week will take place in the OK Gold between two-time defending OK White champ Cedar Springs and four-time defending OK Blue champ Grand Rapids Catholic Central.
"This is exciting. I mean it's a big game," Cedar Springs head coach Gus Kapolka said. "A month ago we didn't even know if we were going to have a season and now you are playing in a really big football game against an elite opponent, so excited. This is the reason why you coach, this is the reason why you play."
Both teams are 2-0 on the season. The Red Hawks come in on the heels of a 28-12 win over Wayland in a game it led by just two after three quarters.
"Last week we didn't play up to our standard and everyone on our team knows it," Cedar Springs senior quarterback Jeremy Campione said. "Right now our practices are not focused on Catholic Central on Friday, they are focusing on bettering our team right now and getting better at the fundamentals of playing the game because we just did not come out and accomplish what we wanted to."
For Cougars head coach Todd Kolster the biggest concern facing Cedar Springs is the physicality the Red Hawks bring to the field.
"Coach Kapolka has done an outstanding job since he's been there," Kolster said. "They've been physical, they play hard. That is the thing as a coach you want somebody to say about your team, that they are physical and they play hard and I would definitely say that. They play harder than anybody that we've played and they are definitely more physical than anybody that we've played."
While it's still early in the season and South Christian is also 2-0 in the OK Gold, this one figures to carry a lot of weight when it's all said and done in the conference.
"There is a lot riding on it," Cougars junior quarterback Joey Silveri said. "Still a full season to go and you can't take anybody for granted but I would say this is probably going to be for the conference. Cedar is a very good team so we know they are probably the best team in the conference and they are going to be coming for us."
Our coverage from Cougar Stadium will begin on FOX 17 news at 5 on Friday.
