By Jeff Steers
MHSSS Special Writer
When Ovid-Elsie made the playoffs with a 5-4 record last year, not much was expected of them.
But three wins over higher seeded teams took the Marauders into the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s D-6 state semifinal.
The team hopes to start off quicker and make another deep run into the playoffs – which has been the norm for the program.
Ovid-Elsie has made the playoffs nine of the last 11 years under veteran coach Travis Long.
“Our goals are to finish with a winning record, win the conference, and go to the playoffs,” Long said. “The off-season participation has been good, and we have a lot of great senior leadership.”
The Marauders expect to have 25 in its varsity program and 35 at the junior varsity level.
Ovid-Elsie finished 3-3 in the Mid-Michigan Activities Conference in 2023.
Key players for the Marauders start with first-team all-state lineman Jake Bowen.
“We have an amazing coaching staff and really work together as a family,” Bowen said of OEHS.
Others who will help lead the Marauders are Dawson Taylor (OL), Clayton Fruchey (RB/WR), Brock Spitzley (FB), Braxton O’Bryant (OL), Javen Belill (WR), Joe Bancroft (C), Michael Bancroft (WR), Owen Long (WR/S), and Tryce Tokar (QB).
Ovid-Elsie starts the season with a non-conference game against Powers Catholic, seven weeks of MMAC play, and a non-conference matchup with Standish-Sterling to end the season.
The Marauders were 2-3 to start the 2023 season before winning five consecutive games advancing to the state semifinal.
“At the end of the year we made a run … everything just meshed together,” Joe Bancroft said. “We have built a tradition of making the MHSAA playoffs nearly every year. We have to hold these standards up again this season.”
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