This week’s high school football game of the week is a east versus west matchup between two perennial powerhouses with championship expectations.
The River Rouge Panthers play its first home game of the season versus the Muskegon Mona Shores Sailors on Friday, Sept. 6 at 7pm.
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The game will be streaming live on Local 4+ in partnership with State Champs Sports Network.
River Rouge enters this game coming off a 37-8 victory against Glenn Rockets in the first game of the season last week.
The Panthers are looking to build upon their dominant performance with a win against a tough Muskegon Mona Shores team. River Rouge Head Coach Eric Pettway says his team has to remain disciplined to stop Mona Shores’ triple option offense.
“Anytime you play a team like Mona Shores that likes to run a triple option, you just want to make sure everybody knows what their job is and they’re doing their assignments defensively,” said Pettway.
After getting off to a slow start last season, River Rouge football eventually found its rhythm and qualified for the state playoffs for a 14th straight season.
The Panthers won the district championship versus Riverview Pirates 47-29. However, in the regional round River Rouge was narrowly defeated 20-19 by longtime rival Detroit Martin Luther King.
“I really think this team is ready for this season,” said Pettway. “A major part about it is a lot of the guys that were able to play in that game and throughout the season actually returned. The entire offensive line was able to return, the quarterback was able to return, both our tailbacks did return and really the entirety of the defense except for like two guys.”
Those returning players from last year’s squad dominated against Glenn. Senior quarterback McKale McDowell started for the past two seasons and returns as the team’s field general.
McDowell grew up dreaming of being a River Rouge football player. Now entering his final season, he has his sights set on a state championship appearance.
“I want to take the kids in my city to Ford Field,” said McDowell. " A lot of kids never stepped foot in there if we don’t go to the state championship. So I definitely want to make that a great opportunity for the city of River Rouge.”
Senior defensive lineman Jordin Farrow anchored the defensive front with 13 total tackles, seven tackles for loss and one forced fumble against Glenn. He has committed to play football at Toledo University.
“I just feel like it’s the place for me,” said Farrow. “Not too far from home, I can come home whenever I have time. When I was talking to players there they said it ain’t nothing but school and football so I won’t be distracted by anything because it’s not a big campus.”
Senior defensive linemen, Creg Johnson and Jaylen Pitts (Howard commit) round out the defensive front. Johnson, born and raised in River Rouge, says being a River Rouge football player means a lot to him and the community.
“It’s been big on me and my community to be apart of this football team,” said Johnson “Always dreamed of it since I was a little kid. Running around, playing for the little league team and that ‘Panthers’ across my chest since I’ve been born.”
Junior tailback Jamauri Foster has emerged as a primary ball-carrier for the Panthers. Against Glenn, Foster rushed for 138 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries.
The Panthers are accustomed to several of its players playing collegiate football after high school. Coach Pettway expects most of the seniors will have the opportunity to play football on the next level.
“We have 26 seniors so I’m expecting to at least see 20 guys sitting at that table on signing day,” said Pettway.
Despite River Rouge having a reputation for collegiate athletes and postseason success, Coach Pettway says the team culture of academics and character is what translates to winning on the football field.
“No matter what goes on, it’s not about the wins, it’s about creating young men,” said Pettway.
“We really believe your best academic self, your best character, all of that stuff is way better than this football stuff cause this football stuff only lasts for a short time,” said Pettway. " With that being said, if I get great young men, I’m going to have great football players because those are the guys that are going to come and lift everyday. Those are the guys that are going to pay attention and be coachable.”
River Rouge is looking to make its first state championship appearance since 2021, in which they were defeated by Dewitt 40-30.
“Win a state championship,” said Farrow when asked about his goals for this season. “That’s the main goal.”
The away team, Muskegon Mona Shores enters this game coming off a 28-26 victory against Grand Blanc last week.
Mona Shores will be well-traveled as they start the season with three straight away games against Grand Blanc, River Rouge and Flint Hamady.
The Sailors are up for the challenge as plenty of experienced players return from a team that went 7-5 and lost 42-28 against Muskegon in the district championship game.
On offense, senior quarterback and three-year starter Jonathan Pittman passed for 1,391 yards and 15 touchdowns last season. Returning junior running back Tomarion Steward rushed for 973 yards and seven touchdowns last season and will be the primary ball-carrier.
The defensive front will return senior defensive tackle Ja’Mari Taylor, senior edge rusher Hunter Krueger and senior linebacker Soloman Robertson.
The Mona Shores seniors are looking to get back to state-title contention after watching the program bring home a state championship as freshmen in 2020.