By Mike Moore
Staff Writer
Parma — Dave Mifsud called the last three meetings of the last three years, “wild.”
And when it comes to what’s happened with Mifsud’s Western football team and Marshall since 2014, well, that’s a pretty accurate, maybe even undersold, statement.
“And we expect more of the same this time around,” Mifsud said simply.
In 2014, the teams battled in overtime, an eventual 45-44 Marshall victory.
In 2015, Western “had a chance to win before we fell apart,” Mifsud said of a 41-13 loss which was closer than the final score.
Last fall, Western earned just its second win in 15 meetings over Marshall with a 32-30 victory.
“These are two teams that plat at a very similar level,” Mifsud said.
There’s been few teams that have played at Western’s level so far this year, especially on the offensive side of the ball.
Steele Fortress continues to dominate from under center, tossing five touchdowns in a 62-12 Week 1 victory over Lansing Eastern, and then two more last weekend in a 32-20 win against Battle Creek Pennfield.
The Western senior quarterback has seven passing scores and 419 yards through the air so far.
“It has to be assignment football for our defense,” Marshall coach Jason Stealy said. “Steele Fortress is very good, and throwing the ball well. They have some speed we have to contend with.”
Marshall (1-1) allowed 152 yards through the air against a Coldwater team that doesn’t pass much during last week’s 28-7 loss.
“Our pass defense has to be better,” Stealy said. “We have to be better against the pass, and we know going in they are going to throw the ball. We can’t get caught coming up on the run, which they got us on last year. We will be prepared for it.”
“The defense is much improved from last year, which is so key,” Mifsud said of his team, which is 2-0 for the third time since 2014. “Last year was really a chance for a lot of kids to gain some valuable experience. That, on both sides of the ball, has allowed the kids to get into the concepts of what’s put in front of them.”
As for the offense, which has scored 94 points in two weeks?
“I think the ability to mix the run and pass is huge for us,” Mifsud said. “We’re showing we can catch the ball, and we certainly have guys that can throw it well. That keeps some teams back. At the same time, we have experience on the line and guys that are running the ball very well.”
The Panthers started the 2014 season 2-0 but went 2-5 down the stretch, and did likewise in 2001.
The 1999 and 2000 teams both started 2-0 before finished the year with six losses in seven games.
In 1994, the Panthers were 2-0, and finished 2-7.
The only team to start 2-0 and make the playoffs was the 2015 squad, but these examples are one of the furthest things from the minds of Mifsud and his players right now.
“The focus isn’t on what we could do the rest of the year,” the Panthers’ coach said. “In the first game, we did what we needed to do. In the second game, we had a battle that we won. Now, the focus is on the third game. We can’t worry what people think or what could happen three weeks or whatever from now. We’re focused on Marshall and what we have to do.”
Mike Moore is a play-by-play commentator and Sports Writer for JTV Sports.
He’s also a Realtor with Real Estate One, specializing with buyers and sellers throughout Michigan, from the Jackson area to metro Detroit. You can reach him at mmoore@realestateone.com or by calling (313) 770-6365 with any inquiries.
