2022 was a banner year for varsity football
Does it get any better than a touchdown and a rainbow? This shot from an early-season game vs. Napoleon seems like a microcosm of the entire 2022 season. Photo courtesy of Matt Brothers
by Marsha Chartrand
It has been a great year for the Manchester High School Flying Dutch football teams.
To begin 2022, in January two Manchester community members — Larry McGee and Jack Smith — received the Honorary Membership Award to the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association for their 50 years of service to Manchester Football.
Varsity Football Coach Ben Pack said at the time, “Their loyalty and service is matched with the best in the state of Michigan,“ calling McGee and Smith “two of the best.“ “He added, “For 50 years this duo helped coaches, and hundreds of players, by hauling equipment to away games and running the Chain Crew during home games.“ Although the pair actually retired from their jobs in 2017, they totaled 98 years of service between the two of them and made many friends along the way … besides getting “the best seat in the house“ for each and every game.
Activities by the varsity football players included the team reading to Klager elementary students every week during March is Reading Month; building the famed pits for the Manchester World Famous Chicken Broil; and teaching football skills to elementary players at the Summer Youth Camp. In addition, the Manchester Dutch helmet won the best design in the area in a competition hosted by MLive!
Achievements included Junior Quarterback Kannon Duffing being selected to a two-year term on the MHSAA Student Advisory Council, and Senior Wide Receiver Jaxon McGuigan being featured in the MHSAA weekly newsletter.
Season highlights for the high school teams include Varsity ending with a 6–5 record and JV with a 6–2 record; the Middle School also had a successful season with a 3-2-1 record.
“We qualified for Playoffs, listed as the #22 of the 59 Division 7 teams in Michigan for Power Points,“ said Pack. “We beat Grass Lake in a Playoff Game to finish in top 16 teams in the state; we played for a District Championship; and we beat Addison to break their 20-game league win streak.
“We received a Top 50 ranking of all 520 teams in Michigan, and a Top 10 ranking in Div. 7; we were ranked #2 in Mlive area rankings during the season. Our team also earned Division 7, first Team Academic All State.”
In addition to team achievements, Jaxon McGuigan broke a total of five school records, along with earning first team Division 7 All State in multiple polls. And McGuigan and Kannon Duffing were the team’s two players who earned first team Division 7 All Region.
Seven players earned MLive All Area recognition: McGuigan (first team), Duffing (second team), Jeff Loomis (LB — second team), Nathan Fletcher (OG/DE — second team), Landon LaVigne (OT — Honorable Mention), Nick Laurain (K — Honorable Mention), and Andrew Campbell (WR — Honorable Mention). Three players earned All Cascades Conference Recognition: McGuigan and Laurain (first team) and Duffing (Honorable Mention).
Finally, four seniors earned Individual MHSFCA Academic All State Honors: Jacob Smith, Jaxon McGuigan, Derek Huff, and Garrett Corwin.
“We were fortunate to have a group of very fine young men to work with,“ said Pack. “Their efforts gained the attention of many people in Manchester, and across the state. ‘Together Everyone Achieves More,‘ TEAM. The support of the Manchester community went a long way in helping our players achieve. We will be forever grateful!“
Congratulations to the team for an excellent and exciting season, to the coaches for their time and dedication, the parents for their endless support, and the community for their pride in this TEAM!
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