HILLSDALE COUNTY — When Week 8 was all said and done, one 11-player and an 8-player football program emerged as the first (and maybe last) true playoff candidates of the 2025 season.
Two standout wins on two special nights of celebrations highlighted the week of high school football in Hillsdale County, and both teams had headline performances from athletes that helped lead push their teams up the playoff points standings.
Week 8 11-player Athlete of the Week — Max Young
Jonesville sophomore Max Young, a linebacker and running back for the Comet football team, helped shut down Vandercook Lake in a 46-7 win on senior night.
It was an all-around near-perfect effort from the defensive group, despite missing their captain who was out with an injury. Several players stepped up to the occasion, including Young.
Young finished the game leading the team in tackles with seven. He also had an interception and a fumble recovery. He was supported by a trio of impressive performances from teammates Reece Rundquist, Asher Mcclain and Jordan Doque.
While the defensive stats might not stick out compared to the offensive output by the Comets in their last game at their 75-year old football field, Young’s performance highlights the growth the Comets have had over the past few weeks to position themselves as a Division 7 playoff team and a team looking for its sixth win of the 2025 season.
Week 8 8-player Athlete of the Week — Pittsford O-Line
Pittsford earned an SCAA-B title for the second straight season in a 53-44 shootout over Waldron high school. The game was the de-facto title matchup with both squads entering at 5-0 in the conference.
It was a game for the history books, and the win for Pittsford that seals their spot in the 8-player, Division 2 playoffs wouldn’t have been possible without the experience work up front by a dominant offensive line.
The senior laden group up front dominated in the trenches, plowing the way for 352 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns. The group also held the pocket long enough for senior quarterback Jake Drawe to complete 10 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns. Drawe was the biggest recipient of the group’s effort, rushing 25 times for 271 yards and three touchdowns. Ethan Pickford added nine carries, 88 yards and two touchdowns.
The group was quickly praised by Drawe after the game.
“I would love to thank my whole offensive line,” Drawe said. “I think they blocked their butts off. I couldn’t have done it without them.”
The group, which includes senior Zach Schutte, senior Nathan Wickard, senior Dylan Jenkins, Landon Rose, Ryan Schutte and Wyat Bressette, might be the most important position group for the Wildcats and their hopes of making a playoff run after Week 9 concludes the regular season.
Week 8 Highlights, Top Performers and Stats
Jonesville 46, Vandercook Lake 7
Pittsford 52, Waldron 44
Camden-Frontier 62, North Adams-Jerome 20
Littchfield 44, Tekonsha 0
Bronson 44, Reading 0
Hudson 86, Hillsdale 8
This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Pittsford O-line and Max Young named Week 8 football athletes of the week: Week 8 Review
Reporting by Joseph Flaherty, Hillsdale Daily News / Hillsdale Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
