Football

Muskegon-Area Week 8 Game Picks: “Battle for the Bell” stands out as one of our area’s best rivalries

Here is the rivalry trophy for the annual “Battle for the Bell” game between Montague and Whitehall. (Photo by Zach Zweigle of CatchMark Sports Net)

Only two weeks remain in the regular season of high school football, but one of the most highly anticipated games of the year will take place this week. Montague and Whitehall will face off on Friday in the annual “Battle for the Bell” showdown. Both teams enter with a 6-1 record and sit only a few miles apart from each other. If Whitehall wins, they’ll take home a share of the West Michigan Conference title. Montague has already clinched a share of the title, but can win it outright if they beat Whitehall.

Before we get to our predictions, here are our records picking games through seven weeks of action!

Game Picks Records

  • Mike Meekhof: 87-27 (76%)
  • Christian Slusser: 86-28 (75%)
  • Grant Kieft: 82-32 (72%)
  • Bella Borgeson: 72-42 (63%)
  • Brandon Nichols: 90-24 (79%)
  • Nick Johnson: 91-23 (80%)

Now, here are our Week 8 Muskegon-Area Game Picks!

Fruitport (6) at Allendale (0)

  • Mike Meekhof: Fruitport 35-28
  • Christian Slusser: Fruitport 35-21
  • Grant Kieft: Fruitport 35-21
  • Bella Borgeson: Fruitport 23-21
  • Brandon Nichols: Fruitport 21-14
  • Nick Johnson: Fruitport 21-17

Grand Haven (6) at East Kentwood (0)

  • Mike Meekhof: Grand Haven 20-6
  • Christian Slusser: Grand Haven 28-14 
  • Grant Kieft: Grand Haven 21-20
  • Bella Borgeson: Grand Haven 35-14
  • Brandon Nichols: Grand Haven 28-12
  • Nick Johnson: Grand Haven 42-14

Shelby (0) at Hart (6)

  • Mike Meekhof: Hart 60-6
  • Christian Slusser: Hart 45-13
  • Grant Kieft: Hart 35-12
  • Bella Borgeson: Hart 28-7
  • Brandon Nichols: Hart 14-0
  • Nick Johnson: Hart 55-0

Manistee (6) at Hesperia (0)

  • Mike Meekhof: Manistee 42-6
  • Christian Slusser: Manistee 42-7
  • Grant Kieft: Manistee 28-14
  • Bella Borgeson: Manistee 35-23
  • Brandon Nichols: Manistee 28-7
  • Nick Johnson: Manistee 42-7

Mona Shores (6) at Holland (0)

  • Mike Meekhof: Mona Shores 58-21
  • Christian Slusser: Mona Shores 49-7
  • Grant Kieft: Mona Shores 54-12
  • Bella Borgeson: Mona Shores 45-14
  • Brandon Nichols: Mona Shores 56-21
  • Nick Johnson: Mona Shores 60-0

Holland Christian (1) at Hamilton (5)

  • Mike Meekhof: Hamilton 35-13
  • Christian Slusser: Hamilton 42-14
  • Grant Kieft: Hamilton 35-20
  • Bella Borgeson: Hamilton 13-8
  • Brandon Nichols: Holland Christian 21-7
  • Nick Johnson: Hamilton 42-14

Hartford (0) at Kent City (6)

  • Mike Meekhof: Kent City 55-0
  • Christian Slusser: Kent City 35-7
  • Grant Kieft: Kent City 42-28
  • Bella Borgeson: Kent City 21-7
  • Brandon Nichols: Kent City 28-7
  • Nick Johnson: Kent City 52-7

Morley-Stanwood (4) at Ludington (2)

  • Mike Meekhof: Ludington 28-12
  • Christian Slusser: Morley-Stanwood 28-14
  • Grant Kieft: Morley-Stanwood 21-20
  • Bella Borgeson: Morley-Stanwood 35-28
  • Brandon Nichols: Morley-Stanwood 17-12
  • Nick Johnson: Ludington 42-21

Montague (5) at Whitehall (1)

  • Mike Meekhof: Montague 28-24
  • Christian Slusser: Montague 35-28
  • Grant Kieft: Montague 35-32
  • Bella Borgeson: Montague 31-28
  • Brandon Nichols: Montague 28-14
  • Nick Johnson: Whitehall 35-34

Muskegon (6) at Reeths-Puffer (0)

  • Mike Meekhof: Muskegon 58-7
  • Christian Slusser: Muskegon 49-14
  • Grant Kieft: Muskegon 65-6
  • Bella Borgeson: Muskegon 55-14
  • Brandon Nichols: Muskegon 56-12
  • Nick Johnson: Muskegon 55-0

Centreville (1) at Muskegon Catholic Central (5)

  • Mike Meekhof: Muskegon Catholic Central 21-20
  • Christian Slusser: Centreville 28-21
  • Grant Kieft: Muskegon Catholic Central 35-28
  • Bella Borgeson: Muskegon Catholic Central 22-17
  • Brandon Nichols: Muskegon Catholic Central 28-12
  • Nick Johnson: Muskegon Catholic Central 35-21

Muskegon Heights (0) at Carson City-Crystal (6)

  • Mike Meekhof: Carson City-Crystal 42-22
  • Christian Slusser: Carson City-Crystal 42-28
  • Grant Kieft: Carson City-Crystal 42-35
  • Bella Borgeson: Carson City-Crystal 35-32
  • Brandon Nichols: Carson City-Crystal 28-21
  • Nick Johnson: Carson City-Crystal 42-35

North Muskegon (6) at Mason County Central (0)

  • Mike Meekhof: North Muskegon 28-0
  • Christian Slusser: North Muskegon 35-14
  • Grant Kieft: North Muskegon 14-12
  • Bella Borgeson: North Muskegon 28-6
  • Brandon Nichols: North Muskegon 12-6
  • Nick Johnson: North Muskegon 42-14

Ravenna (1) at Oakridge (5)

  • Mike Meekhof: Ravenna 24-21
  • Christian Slusser: Oakridge 28-21
  • Grant Kieft: Oakridge 35-21
  • Bella Borgeson: Oakridge 28-21
  • Brandon Nichols: Oakridge 28-21
  • Nick Johnson: Oakridge 42-7

Spring Lake (3) at Grand Rapids West Catholic (3)

  • Mike Meekhof: Grand Rapids West Catholic 35-20
  • Christian Slusser: Grand Rapids West Catholic 35-14
  • Grant Kieft: Spring Lake 42-35
  • Bella Borgeson: Spring Lake 23-14
  • Brandon Nichols: Grand Rapids West Catholic 32-21
  • Nick Johnson: Spring Lake 35-28

West Ottawa (0) at Rockford (6)

  • Mike Meekhof: Rockford 42-14
  • Christian Slusser: Rockford 49-7
  • Grant Kieft: Rockford 72-6
  • Bella Borgeson: Rockford 48-7
  • Brandon Nichols: Rockford 64-12
  • Nick Johnson: Rockford 60-0

Zeeland West (5) at Zeeland East (1)

  • Mike Meekhof: Zeeland West 42-28
  • Christian Slusser: Zeeland West 35-21
  • Grant Kieft: Zeeland East 38-20
  • Bella Borgeson: Zeeland West 40-35
  • Brandon Nichols: Zeeland West 24-12
  • Nick Johnson: Zeeland West 42-35

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