MUSKEGON HEIGHTS, MI. (WZZM) - A week ago, Muskegon Heights ended Morley-Stanwood's dream season. Now it's the Tigers who are dreaming a championship dream.
Muskegon Heights' district final win over the Mohawks was the ninth win of the year for the Tigers, matching their highest total since a perfect 9-0 season in 1957.
Heights is led by first-year head coach Willie Snead, who led Holland Christian to its first-ever state football title in 2008 and then left after just one glorious season. "My purpose for being here is really to impact the lives of kids and it was a great experience at Holland Christian being a Christian myself," says Snead, who played college ball at the University of Florida and in the NFL with the New York Jets and Houston Oilers. "I saw a great opportunity here because the kids have had so many struggles and it's very similar to my community in Florida where you just don't know where kids are after practice or when they leave school. You grow really fond of them and you just want to see them be successful."
The Tigers have had great success in Snead's spread offense this year. The team is led by junior quarterback Willie Snead IV, son of the head coach. The younger Snead is attending his third school in three years but says the moves have been fine with him. "It's been great. It's just given me a different environment everytime I go. I just want to win everywhere I go. Basically if we win, I'm happy."
Muskegon Heights plays Berrien Springs Friday night at Grand Haven High School for a regional championship and a berth in the state semi-finals. This is already the deepest the Tigers have gone in the playoffs since a 1992 state semi-final berth. "They're very excited," says the older Snead. "Last year, they only won two games and to be 9-2 right now and have a chance to play to get to the next round, it's been encouraging to follow the kids. And you know, right now they want more."
Join Tom Clyde, Dan Harland and Dave Solano for highlights of Berrien Springs vs Muskegon Heights and other regional final action this Friday night on "13 On Your Sidelines" at 11:15.
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