By Jeff Steers
MHSSS Special Writer
First-year Coach David Matthews does not like to put numbers on the amount of wins Essexville Garber expects to win in 2024.
It is all about being physical and prepared to play every week.
The 2002 EGHS graduate takes over the program after the Dukes posted a 5-5 record in 2023.The team has been to the Michigan High School Athletic Association playoffs for five consecutive season.
“Summer workouts have been great with a good turnout of players,” Matthews said. “One of our goals is to be more physical.”
Matthews coached in the state of Maryland for nine seasons and then at Potterville from 2017 to 2022.
Matthews expects to run a pro-style offense with spread formations. Essexville Garber will line up in a 5-2 defense and mix up coverages in 2024.
Key players for the Dukes are Tristan Westphal (OL/DL), Lukas Neering (OL/LB), Isaac Theisen (WR/CB), and quarterback and free safety Ethan Pett. All four earned conference honors in the Tri-Valley Conference Red Division in 2023.
“It is our senior year, and we are ready to get started,” Theisen said. “After all of these years we are the biggest and best players (in the school) … its our last go around.”
Pett has a couple of goals for 2024 with his biggest being beating the team across the river – John Glenn.
“We need to come together as a team and keep good team chemistry this season,” Pett said.
Other players who are expected to make a difference for the Dukes in 2024 include junior Ryan Brey (OT/DT), and senior Jack Pestrue (RB/LB), Charley Fellows (H-Back), and Cade Wallaker (WR/DB).
The Dukes will kick off the season against Hemlock and Powers Catholic in non-conference games, have six weeks of Tri-Valley Conference games, and finish with Laingsburg on Oct. 25.
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