Front Row: Braylen Burel, Bryce Colbert, Jourdy Ealom, Cullen Bartos. Back Row: Hunter Wilder, Phillip Wymer, Oliver Fricke, Brennen Slayton, Clint Villalpando.
(Photos courtesy of Scott DeCamp)
By Scott DeCamp
LocalSportsJournal.com
NORTH MUSKEGON – North Muskegon football teams of the last two years have won plenty of games and more than its share of titles. The Norsemen have put up numbers, both on the scoreboard and on banners going up around Fred Jacks Memorial Field.
Only one thing seems to be missing at this point as the Norse enter the 2025 season with very high hopes again.
“We’re playing it game-by-game, but obviously we all want a ring on our finger,” said senior quarterback Bryce Colbert, who guided North Muskegon to an 11-2 overall record in his first season as a starter last fall.
Culbert is referring to a state championship ring. The Norsemen have been knocking on the door, making it to the Division 7 state semifinals in 2023 and 2024. Last season, North Muskegon dropped a 35-28 semifinals decision to eventual state champion Millington.
North Muskegon head coach Larry Witham said this year’s squad is a very confident group that understands what it needs to do in order to improve. With that said, Norsemen players and coaches understand what the goals are, adding, “It’s time.”
“(It’s motivating) being that close to playing indoors (at Ford Field, site of the MHSAA state finals), where I think we would probably thrive with what we do,” Witham said. “I mean, being indoors at that time of year is tailor-made for us.
“But, that being said, you’ve got to knock the door in at some point. Do I think this group has that opportunity? Absolutely, it does. You know, it takes a lot of skill, it takes a little bit of luck, and a lot of hard work.”
North Muskegon has put up prolific offensive numbers in the last two seasons, breaking the school record for points with 481 in 2023 and ranking second in program history with 414 in 2024. Last fall, the Norsemen paired their explosive offense with a stingy defense.
Outside of capturing a state title, the Norse have won all there is to win during the last two seasons, with West Michigan Conference Rivers Division, district, and regional titles. Two years ago, they set a school record for victories in a season with a 12-1 campaign, capped by a 32-21 semifinals defeat to Menominee.
Getting within one win of Ford Field two straight years is driving this group of Norsemen.
“It’s definitely fueled us a lot,” said junior Cullen Bartos, one of the Muskegon area’s most versatile players, who was a first-team all-state defensive back last season. “We’ve had a lot of motivation and a lot of our coaches have been pushing us a lot to get back there, so we’ve just got to execute now.”
After losing a large and talented senior class to graduation, North Muskegon’s roster number will be a tad smaller this season. The Norsemen have 22 players on the varsity team and 20 on the junior varsity squad.
Six starters return on offense for the Norse and four are back on defense. Witham noted that backup players last season saw a lot of action in many games in 2024.
“I think we’ve got as good a shot as any of returning (to the semifinals). That being said, it’s not going to be easy,” Witham said. “We all know that. I think the seniors that have been around the block for a couple of years now, been through the playoff runs together, have been great leaders for our younger kids.”
In Week 8, North Muskegon hosts Newaygo in a non-league contest that fills the schedule void created by Holton’s move to eight-player football. The Norsemen again have crossover tests against Montague and Oakridge of the WMC Lakes Division, hosting the Wildcats in Week 6 and visiting the Eagles in Week 9.
Fans at Fred Jacks Memorial Field will notice upgrades around the facility in the way of banners and signage, which embrace the program’s rich history and celebrate community pride.
“It’s about the pride that this community has put into this program for, now, 93 years (of football),” Witham said. “There are people behind all those numbers, that have put this place on the map, and some of those people are still in the community that come to our games and watch us play.”
The left-handed Colbert (6-foot, 170 pounds) wasted little time settling in as North Muskegon’s starting QB last fall. He finished 133-of-204 for 2,213 yards with 23
touchdowns and only two interceptions.
Bartos (5-9, 165) made plays all over the field for the Norsemen last season. Defensively, he racked up 95 tackles with two interceptions, seven pass breakups, and two forced fumbles. On offense, he rushed for 563 yards and 10 TDs while registering 198 receiving yards and one score.
Hunter Wilder (5-10, 200) ran for 630 yards and 13 TDs in his junior season in 2024, and he’s looking to build upon that this fall.
“I think we’re very energetic as a team, excited for the season coming up,” Wilder said.
Senior Phillip Wymer (6-2, 270) returns to anchor the offensive line as a two-year starter at center. Senior Brennen Slayton (6-0, 250) moves from guard to tackle on the O-line.
“We’ve got to stay healthy. I’m sure every coach probably tells you that,” Witham said. “We’ve got some new faces defensively and we’ve been very stout defensively over the last couple of years. Having those new faces blend quickly and gel quickly is going to be of the utmost importance.
“We just don’t want to end up being in track meets where it’s 43-38. It would be very exciting for the fan base, but from a coaching standpoint, it kind of puts a little crimp in your aorta.”
––––––––––––––––––––
Subscribe to the Legal News!
https://www.legalnews.com/Home/Subscription
Full access to public notices, articles, columns, archives, statistics, calendar and more
Day Pass Only $4.95!
One-County $80/year
Three-County & Full Pass also available
