Now that Ithaca lost in the regional finals, which football team in the state has the longest current winning streak?
If you came up with Muskegon Catholic Central and its 18 straight victories, you aren’t close.
The team riding a 26-game winning streak is Powers North Central, which will go for win No. 27 tonight when it meets Deckerville for the 8-player state championship in Greenville.
The streak began when senior quarterback Jason Whitens was a sophomore and the Jets won their final game of the 2014 regular season, their final game in 11-player football.
The last two seasons have been 8-player football for the school in the Upper Peninsula — and that is fine with Whitens.
“Honestly, there’s not that much of a difference,” he said. “Yeah, there’s a lot more open field and it benefits us because we’re athletic, but I can’t say I like one over the other because they’re both just playing football. You’re going out there, you’re strapping it up.”
With three fewer players on each team, the 8-player game is more wide open and faster, which is why the Jets are averaging 67.4 points a game.
North Central has only 115 students, so 8-player football has been a godsend.
When Crystal Falls Forest Park, which played in 13 11-player state championship games, went to 8-player football this fall, the sport gained more legitimacy around the state. It might not be long before the Michigan High School Athletic Association revamps football so that 11-man is divided into seven divisions and 8-player football becomes Division 8 and plays its championship game in Ford Field.
But for now, Whitens is thrilled to be headed to Greenville.
“To compare it to Ford Field, that’s a tough comparison,” he said. “The whole atmosphere there … it is outside, but there’s walls surrounding it. It’s pretty nice. There’s a fire place up by the concession stand. There’s a huge bonfire going on during the game. It’s awesome.”
Whitens, 6-feet-5, 210 pounds, has had an awesome season, completing 111 of 155 passes for 2,403 yards with 43 touchdowns and only two interceptions. He has also rushed for another 591 yards and 16 TDs.
If Whitens’ name sounds familiar, that’s because he has led North Central to the last two Class D basketball state championships.
Whitens is a terrific athlete. Defensively he plays end, linebacker and cornerback, and as a freshman he also played baseball and ran track.
He has options when it comes to college. He has more college interest as a basketball player but college football programs have a growing interest, too.
“I’m going to college for sure, that’s a done deal,” he said. “Sports-wise, most likely basketball, but I haven’t decided where. I know that I have to make a decision at some point, but right now I’m just enjoying the ride.”
It has been a wild ride for Whitens, who has also put together consecutive basketball seasons of 27-0 and 28-0 to give him a personal 81-game winning streak.
Among his college options is an invitation to be a preferred walk-on for basketball at Central Michigan and Michigan State.
When suggested that the only reason MSU coach Tom Izzo wants him around is so he would have a Yooper to yell at, Whitens went along with it.
“I don’t see why not,” Whitens said, laughing. “He’s a Yooper, I’m a Yooper; we both know how to get it done. We’re both winners. It’s a match made in heaven to me.”
Whitens was only kidding — but everything he said was absolutely true.
Contact Mick McCabe: 313-223-4744 or mmccabe@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @mickmccabe1
State final!
Sport: 8-player football
Matchup: Deckerville (11-0) vs. Powers North Central (12-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m., Greenville High School.
Tickets: $8.
Son of Swami’s high school football semifinals picks
Jason Whitens Powers North Central