Chelsea Senior Receivers Look To Make Big Impact

Chelsea Football has been known over the years for producing many great student athletes. Many have gone on to play football in colleges and some have even played in the NFL. Chelsea has graduated many great football players over the years including many receivers. And this year’s big 3 receivers of the Senior class are trying to keep the historical streak going.With wide receivers Bryce Jubenville, Chris Roush, and tight end Alex Vasquez the Bulldogs bring great size, skill, speed, and strength as well as field awareness, and hands.

Jubenville, who has not played football since his freshman year, has been making spectacular catches in practices and scrimmages.

“After not being on the field for 2 years, it definitely took some time to get back on track,” said Jubenville. “It feels great to be out there playing with my brothers and I’m glad I decided to come back out for my senior year. I’m pumped for this year. Like I said, I can’t wait to get back out there and be under the Friday night lights. While the team did lose some talent, I feel we have enough to make up for it and I think this year we can go far. Just can’t believe our Senior year is already here, but I am determined to work hard and make memories with these guys that we’ll take with us afterward.”

Bryce brings lots of speed and height to the receiver position and he has been running good routes and is not afraid to take a hit for the team if needed. Bryce also plays on the varsity basketball team and excels off the field in academics as well.

“After attending a medical program this summer, my prior interest in medicine has grown, even more, explained Jubenville when asked about his future after High School. “It was an awesome experience and opened my eyes to many different opportunities within the field. My future plans consist of studying pre-med and narrowing down what exactly I want to do in the medical field. I’m definitely excited to see what the future brings.”

Chris Roush, an all-state track athlete,and varsity basketball player, brings his skills to the team in many different ways. He was the Bulldogs kicker for much of the 2015 season including kicking in the state championship game where he kicked a successful onside kick. This year he will be like a swiss army knife doing many different things.

“They have me kicking this year, playing wide receiver, free safety, and back up punter,” Roush explained. “I think my kicks will bring a lot to my team by winning field position and pinning opposing teams in their own end of the field.”

Roush feels he brings a lot to the team. Since kicking off last year in his Junior season he has been working hard and has gotten bigger and stronger. He really likes playing the free safety position also this season as he explains,”My strength is playing the ball in the air and defending the pass.”

Chris has been playing football his whole life and has played organized school football with the same core group of guys since 7th grade. His favorite football memory is in his junior varsity season when he jumped up and made a highlight reel one-handed interception.

“I loved that moment because everyone was coming up to me and was hyping me up and congratulating me,” Roush reminisces. “It made me realize that I love my teammates just as much as I love the game. I think it’s a moment I’ll always remember.”

Alex Vasquez brings his own set of skills to the game. Like many great Chelsea tight ends befoe him, Vasquez is big and strong. But with his size comes speed and great hands. And he also has big blocking ability.

Vasquez is a 3 sport star, playing on the varsity basketball and baseball teams. He has been playing football for 6 years now and loves it. He still smiles when he fondly remembers the Division 3 State Championship game in 2015.

“My favorite football memory is definitely having the opportunity to do something that no Chelsea team has done before and that is to play at Ford Field last year in the state championship game,” Vasquez proudly stated. “We have a great group of players and excellent coaching staff and I think we will make some rumbles in our conference this year.”

Vasquez plans to attend college next year and play baseball or football. As of now, he is undecided and waiting for college offers to come in.

3 great young men, 1 common goal, to help Chelsea Football win!

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Chelsea Footballs “Shake & Bake” Duo

Chelsea Football’s Cash Shegan And Kyle Bell

Some friendships are crafted over time and some just happen on the spot naturally. And Chelsea Seniors Cash Shegan and Kyle Bell’s friendship has been since the day they met. They have become best friends over the years. They hang out together, ride horses in rodeo together, and are 2 starters side by side on the defensive line for the Chelsea Bulldog football team. They have been dubbed with the nickname “shake and bake” since the 8th grade.

Bell plays defensive end while Shegan lines up at tackle and together they are a force to be reckoned with. Shegan got an almost unheard of amount of playing time for a junior last year. But he feels he earned it.

“I show up at every practice and give my all,” Shegan said. “When I’m on that field I want to be the meanest man possible and hit opponents and stop them in their tracks for our team.”

Shegan has worked out quite a bit over the summer and comes into the 2016 season bigger, stronger, and faster. And it’s not just lifting weights that make him that way. He lives with his parents Mike and Joanne Shegan on a horse farm in Chelsea where he is often working with 2,000 pound rolls of hay! He cares for the horses and is a farrier.  He also has his own rodeo and is a champion team roper, calf roper, and steer wrestler. So he knows a thing or two about bringing down big, fast beast.

“I love the rodeo. It’s fun and competitive,” Shegan stated.  “I’ve been doing it for years and I guess it just runs in my bloodline since my mom and dad have been involved with it most of their lives also.”

Shegan, who has been playing football for 12 years, is looking forward to the 2016 season. After graduating many great defensive players from last years state championship runner-up team, Shegan knows it’s his time to shine and step up.

“Going to the state championship was great,” Shegan said. “It was a whole new experience. It was awesome to just run across that field knowing we made it that far. It was an honor for our team because we earned it fair and square with hard work and dedication. I think this year we have a new level of intensity to our team and the team got a taste of what it’s like to go that far and we want to get there again. And win!”

Bell is the other half of shake and bake. Although he didn’t play as much as he wanted to last year he never let it get him down and continued to practice hard and get stronger. And he’s really looking forward to the 2016 season.

“It was great to be at the state championship game,” Bell said. “Our team played hard and we fought our way to get there. It wasn’t easy. And I’m hoping we can get back there this year. We have a lot of younger guys but it’s up to us seniors to step up and help them the best we can. We’re a team.”

Bell spends most of his summer and weekends when he’s not doing football, working doing construction with his dad Rick Wisbon. And his mother Sandy Wisbon is his biggest fan and supporter. The Shegans & Wisbons are all great friends and you can definitely hear them cheering at every Chelsea football game as loud as they can, screaming 1….2….3….HIT SOMEBODY!

Bell, who plans to go to college after high school and be an electrician, has been playing football for “As long as he can remember.” His dad Rick used to coach him when he was younger. Bell enjoys working on cars, hunting, fishing, riding his quad, his jet ski, and hanging out with his friends when he does have any free time. He also enjoys playing with his dogs Chubz, who many call the original Chelsea Bulldog, and Luna.

“I have a great feeling about this season,” Bell predicted. “I think the team is going to do great. We have to all know our roles and our jobs and help each other out. And I need to step up and be a good leader to the younger guys, show them why we were state finalist last year.”

The Bulldogs will be kicking off their 2016 season with a tough game in Detroit at Wayne State University, Saturday, August 27th at noon against a very good River Rouge team, who were state runners-up in their division last season.

Shake & Bake

Cash Shegan in the playoffs against Coldwater

Cash brings down a Coldwater player

Kyle Bell in the 2015 playoffs

Kyle Bell gets his arms up to put pressure on the offense

The Shegans and Wisbons celebrate in Jackson in the snow at the playoffs

Cash (number 54 for 2016) brings a running back down hard

 

Chelsea’s Lawrence Buckley Looking To Lock Down Opponents

Lawrence Buckley warms up in the State Championship game

It’s the state championship game at Ford Field and Chelsea’s Lawrence Buckley is dressed for the game but is cheering for his teammates  while he stands on the sidelines. Buckley, or Buck as he is known to his friends, is still not 100% to play after suffering a major injury at the beginning of the season. He had ruptured a tendon in one of his fingers severely before the season started and needed surgery and was done for the season. But although he suffered the injury he didn’t quit. And he didn’t give up.

“Last year at Ford Field was a great experience but I won’t lie, it was hard to feel a part of the team,”Buckley remembers. “But the guys on the team, they really put it in my head to get serious and become a leader. Jake Rhodes, Graham Kuras, Jordan Haber, Ryan Stasiak, and Bailey Edwards helped me to feel apart of the team when I was out so that’s why I stuck around and went to every practice. They made me feel real good about everything even though I was greatly disappointed I couldn’t help the team out.”

This season is different, though. Buckley is healed and has been looking great in practices and scrimmages. He brings his all-state track speed to his position of cornerback along with heart, great awareness, and hard hitting. He, along with Cam Cooper, look to make up on of the strongest cornerback combos around.

“Coach Moundrous has been working my legs and has helped me to get bigger and Coach Smith talked to me once and told me that I had a lot of potential this season but I have to get more serious about things,” Buckley said. “Every time it got hard in the weight room I would think of the conversation we had and after that I would attack whatever exercise I was doing, because I knew it would get me better than I was yesterday, so I knew I had to keep grinding and keep faith and hope that God will do his glory to help be succeed.”

And so far he has succeeded. He has made several heads up plays in pre-season and has intercepted several passes. He is locking down his opponents and along with Cooper, forcing opposing teams to make bad throws and plays. He has taken to being  a mentor helping younger players know their plays and what they should be doing and helping them out in a positive way.

“I think the team will do great this year,” Buckley states. “We have lots of young talent (Thomas Steele, Gus Reynolds, Patrick Bertoni, and more) and veterans that are willing to do whatever it takes for the team to succeed.”

Buckley has always been pushed in a positive direction by others also. Dan and Marijane Nelson have been very big positive influences in his life and his mother Rhonda Gibson has always supported him in many ways influencing him and encouraging him, as well as his sister Lanika.

“I’d be lost without my mom and the Nelson family,” Buckley stated. “They mean the world to me and I can’t say enough good things about them. I thank God every day they are all in my life.”

Buckley plans to major ln social work and minor in criminal justice after high school. He went to the state championships in track in 2016 for 3 events and he hopes to run track in college. In his spare time, he enjoys hanging out with his  friends and enjoys going to “FCA”, fellowship of Christian athletes.

Laying down the big hit

Kissing the Regionals Trophy

breaking up a pass

wrapping up the tackle

Ford Field warm ups

Chelsea’s Austin Boatright Walks Tall

Chelsea Football’s Austin Boatright at the 2015 State Championship game 

The Chelsea Bulldogs football team are going through their warmups at Ford Field in Detroit on a frigid late November day as they prepare to face Orchard Lake St. Mary’s in the Division 3 State Championship game. It is the first time the Bulldogs have made it to the championship game so the players are taking it all in. Although focused, they are enjoying every minute of it. But one player walks around and seems to be really appreciating it more. Maybe that is because he is grateful to not only to be able to be walking on this field but he is appreciative to be able to be walking at all.

Senior Austin Boatright was born with a clubbed right foot. In many cases it can be treated but the treatment is very brutal.

“Every week until I was a year old the doctors had to break my ankle and they would cast it and then continue the same process for a year,” said Boatright. “My parents (Michael and Jamie) had the emotional part of dealing with hearing the screaming and crying when they broke my ankle. That must have been so hard for them to hear their son scream like that. They did my first operation when I was like two years old to lengthen my heel cord. And they did multiple surgeries to try different things to fix my foot.”

Many people with a club foot, even after treatment, still struggle to walk normally, let alone be able to run and play football. But football is Boatright’s favorite sport and he’s been playing it since he was 8 years old. It’s his favorite sport and he wasn’t going to let anything hold him back.

“I had to battle back from the surgeries to get some sort of muscle in my leg so I could play football. And two years ago was the biggest surgery I have ever had. I was put under for eight hours and they did a reconstructive surgery to my ankle. I couldn’t imagine what my parents were going through at the time knowing that I was put under for eight hours and them not being able to see me,” said Boatright. “I overcame these surgeries by keeping in mind what my parents said to me. That I’m no different than anyone else and to push yourself to new limits, and to just fight. They said “don’t let your foot take over, you just gotta push through the pain.” Honestly, the only reason I’m this far is because of my parents. If it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be doing any sports, I would probably be sitting in a room by myself asking why it had to happen to me.”

Boatright likes to prove others wrong. If you tell him he has limits, he will show you otherwise. He has learned to believe in himself and never give up. And he has a strong support system with his friends and family, including his younger sister ShyAnn, a sophomore this year who is a Chelsea cheerleader and was at the championship game on the sidelines cheering for her school and her brother.

“Knowing my little sister is on the sideline makes me feel so good,” Boatright stated talking about her cheering for the team. “I love her with the deepest love that a brother can have for a sister because she has been there every step of the way with me.  She helped me through my past surgeries by getting food for me, hanging out with me when friends couldn’t, and her getting my medicine when I woke up screaming in the middle of the night in pain. She is just one of the best people I could ask for as a sister. It feels amazing when I look over and see her cheering for us to win our games on Friday nights.”

Boatright, who plays on the defensive line mainly at end, enjoys playing on the line up front. It’s a great way for him to be tested in his strength and competition.

“I tried many different sports and football was the one I just fell in love with,” Boatright said. “Many people would never give me a chance because of my foot and people have told me for so long that I wouldn’t be able to play any sport and I love proving people wrong. This season I am going to help the team by putting my best effort forward in getting the starters ready for the games and doing the best to try to become a starter.”

In 2015 when his Bulldogs went to the state championship game he was there every step of the way. And when he wasn’t playing he was supporting hs teammates. And although he didn’t start, he was always ready to rotate in when his team needed him.

“The state championship was the best thing that has happened to me so far because of how much I’ve been through and it makes me feel so good hearing “Oh your not going to be able to play any sports or your not going to be able to walk,” Boatright reminisced. “It was the icing on the cake making it there. We might not have won but to me personally, it wasn’t about the winning or losing, it was just being able to play football period.”

Austin Boatright tries to shed a block

Sidelines in the state championship game

Running out of the tunnel

In the tunnel in the 2015 Championship game

Chelsea’s Athletic Cam Cooper Gives All

 

Chelsea’s Cam Copper Praises God In The 2015 State Championship Game

Cam Cooper’s Chelsea Bulldogs are down in the 2015 Division 3 State Championship game at Ford Field in Detroit. They need a big play to get back into the game. Cooper lines up in the backfield behind his quarterback Jack Bush. Bush takes the snap and Cooper runs his pattern, fakes out his defender big time and thanks to a great block and big hit taken by Alex Vasquez and a perfect pass from Bush, Cooper is able to reel the ball in and use his all state track speed to fly into the end zone for the big score. As he scores he stops to celebrate and praises God. And he thinks of his mother.

“Scoring that Touchdown felt great because I really wanted to accomplish something for my mom who had to miss the game due to cancer and I was able to give God praise while I was in the end zone,” says Cooper. “But I know I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish that without my teammates who busted their butts and did their job. The line blocked great, the other receivers drew attention to themselves, Jack had a great pass, and if you really pay attention to the film Alex Vasquez ran a great route and took a big hit by a nationally recruited linebacker to get me open.”

Cooper is always singing praises of others and very humble with his own accomplishments which are many. Cooper not only excels in football, where he is listed in the MHSAA top 40 players to watch in 2016, he also went to states in track and starts at guard for the Bulldogs basketball team. He also has played soccer and baseball. But football is first and foremost his passion.

“This is my 6th year of playing football,” Cooper recalled. “I love the contact but I also love the lifetime memories and bonds that are created with the coaches and guys in the locker room and competing with the guys I grew up with.”

Cooper has attended many camps over the years for football including college camps and Nike showcases. And all his hard work is paying off as has been highly recruited by many Division 1 schools including Western Michigan, Bowling Green, Ball State, Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan, and Valparaiso along with some others such as Grand Valley State.

“Right now I’m leaning towards Western Michigan because I’ve built a great relationship with their coaching staff and it’s my Dad’s Alma mater, and they also do an awesome job keeping in contact with me,” stated Cooper. “Other colleges that have shown interest are many Ivy League school such as Harvard and Princeton who’ve come to visit me in school and watch me workout and run during track season.”

Cooper, or AJ, Hollywood, Coop, or Super Cam, as his friends call him, is very proud to be listed as a top football player in the state. But he knows he needs a great education also as he excels in the classroom as much as he does in sports.

“Being ranked one of the top players in the state is somewhat cool,” said Cooper.”But in reality I’m completely aware that rankings do not matter when it’s game time and that I need to show up and give 100% every time I step on the field. I have not even scratched the surface of my full potential and there is still a ton I need to work on.”

Cooper plays all over the field and will do whatever it takes to help the team accomplish it’s goals. He’s played cornerback and running back and returned kickoffs and punts in the past but this year the coaches have called on him to learn halfback and safety.

“I’m excited about it,” said Cooper. “I’ll enjoy being utilized everywhere. My favorite position so far is corner cause it’s just me and the receiver and for them to beat me it’s going to take A LOT because I hate losing.”

Cooper has spent a great amount of time in the weight room and studying game film and working on getting faster and stronger in the offseason. In the summer 7 on 7 scrimmages he looked  great locking down opponents, picking off passes, and burning defenders to make outstanding catches and touchdowns. Cooper feels his Bulldogs are ready to challenge again this year after going to the state championship game last season which was his favorite football memory ever.

“I feel that the team is looking good this year,” Cooper proudly exclaimed. “We graduated a lot of great players from last season and we are young and for the most part pretty inexperienced but we have a couple of very experienced vets that are ready to lead and an unbelievable coaching staff who does a great job day in and day out to get us ready.”

Cooper plans to go into pre-med and play football after High School. He has a great support system around him with many friends and loved ones but the people that mean the most to him are his mom and dad.

 

“In my spare time I like to work out and spend time with my awesome family,” Cooper proudly states. “My mom, Jan Cooper, and my Dad, Scott Cooper, adopted me when I was younger and have done an awesome job keeping me focused, down to earth, and my head on straight and have always supported me in my goals. Since I was young my parents have always told me that school and academics come first so I find myself studying a very good amount of time during the school year. I’ve also reconnected with my birth family so it’s great being able to communicate with them as well. Overall it just feels great to have a big family that supports me and pushes me to do my best, be a Man of God, and a gentleman.”

Cooper smiles as he talks of his family. Because of them, he has learned the ethics of hard work and because of that he gives his all and does his best in everything he does. And he looks to do the very best he can on the football field this 2016 season.

Cam in the playoffs running back a punt

Super Cam

Cam makes a TD catch in the championship game

Cam flies!

Cam on the run in the championship

 

 

 

 

Chelsea Quarterback Jack Bush Quiet Leader

Chelsea Quarterback Jack Bush escapes from a defender in the 2015 State Championship game 

When Chelsea’s Jack Bush was 5 years old his parents noticed he was slower than most of the kids he was playing soccer with. They didn’t think much of it until it became more of a  limp. His mother, Laura, a pediatric emergency room nurse at U-M’s Children’s Hospital, decided to take their only son for X-rays.

The hospital called the family later that same night. The diagnosis was Perthes disease, a rare childhood condition in which the blood supply to the femur head is cut off and the bone’s cells die, causing major problems at the hip joint.

Jack had to be kept from running and sleep in braces every night, which is tough for any 5 year old but even worse for one who grew up in a sports family especially when his father Brad was an assistant football coach at Eastern Michigan University. Running was particularly dangerous because, with dead cells in the femur head, it wouldn’t take much to cause a dislocation. Jack’s picture was posted in the school with orders not to allow him to run at recess or attend gym class.

Fast forward several years to 2015 and it’s the Division 3 state State Championship game at Ford Field in Detroit where Jack has helped lead his Bulldog team to with his throwing and his running! In what can be only defined as a blessing and maybe even a miracle Jack has no signs of Perthes as he breaks several tackles and carries the ball for a first down. Jack would finish the season with over 1,700 passing yards, 17 touchdown passes, and 9 rushing touchdowns. Not bad for a young quarterback who shared playing time the first half of the season and who many thought as a young child would probably walk with pain or a limp, let alone be able to run.

That championship game was the greatest football  moment in Jack’s life. The place was packed with Chelsea fans cheering for their Bulldogs. It was the first time Chelsea had ever made it to the state championship game and hopefully not the last.

“I’ve been playing football for as long as I can remember,’ says Jack who also plays basketball and baseball. “Football is by far my favorite sport. I think it’s mainly to me being around it with my dad my whole life.”

Jack, who’s father Brad is the Head Coach at Chelsea, feels a lot of pressure at times because of the name and situation he is in, being coaches son. But he doesn’t let it affect him on the field because he has a job to do and he knows what it is so he shrugs off the detractors.

“It’s hard at times. I get ridiculed a lot, get called names. People cry favoritism so I feel I really have to prove myself more,” said Jack. “I sometimes feel like there is a bit extra pressure because of that. But I know better, but still, it can be tough.”

Jack proved any critics wrong last season and is hoping for an even better season this year as he has secured the number 1 position. He has looked sharp in pre-season scrimmages and has remained very focused.

Like his favorite quarterback Peyton Manning Jack does most of his talking on the field. He tries to emulate him with his decision making and maintaining grace under pressure. When Jack feels pressure in the pocket he knows when to make the right decision. But he also knows when to take off and get the extra yardage needed.

Chelsea lost many great players from that championship team last year but are reloaded for another possible championship run. But they have a very tough schedule ahead of them as usual, starting with their opening game at Wayne State against state champion runner-ups River Rouge.

“We have a very young team but we have a very fast team,” said Jack. ” We have a lot of guys coming back from last season and we are going to need different players to step up. We have high expectations this year.”

Jack has attended several quarterback camps including A4 QB Camp and Northwestern. He not only excels on the field but in the classroom with a 3.88-grade point average and he takes several AP classes. Jack lives in Chelsea with his parents and his siblings, Janie and Grace.

“I’m really looking forward to this season,” Jack stated. “I’m hoping for an even  better season than last and I hope I can help the team out even more, and hoping we can finish.”

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Chelsea Football​ Looking to Finish

Chelsea Senior Quarterback Jack Bush looks to lead his Bulldogs to the state championship game again 

Chelsea sports teams will take on anyone, anywhere, anytime. They don’t care how much bigger the school is or better the team is, they will take them on. It gives them a good measuring stick of just how good their own teams are. And that is what the Bulldogs football team has been doing the last few weeks as they have been competing against many other teams in 7 on 7 scrimmages with the “skill” players on the team. Most of the teams they’ve been competing against were playoff teams last year as well as some of the top teams in their respective conferences and areas. And the Bulldogs welcomed them all at Jerry Niehaus Field.

The Bulldogs are led by Senior Quarterback Jack Bush who helped lead his team to the state championship game  last season at Ford Field in Detroit. Bush looked sharp in the scrimmages using his excellent field vision and quick decision-making ability making some very excellent passes to his bevy of receivers. His short passes are placed on the money and quick and his deep passes are on the mark and crisp.

The Bulldogs receivers feature some of the fastest young men in the area. Senior Chris Roush showed off his speed, hands, and route-running skills catching about everything that came his way. Seniors Al Vasquez and Travis Frazier, lining up at the Tight End position, showed off their skills and size. Bryce Jubenville, who has not played football since his freshman year, showed no signs of it as he made several highlight reel catches. There are many great offensive players including Mikal Nelson, Gus Reynolds, Thomas Steele (who also backs up Bush at QB), and Jared Hansen.

“I’m shaking off the rust,” said Jubenville. “It’s been a long time since I’ve played but it feels good to be back on the field with the team.”

One notable player who plays both sides of the ball is Senior Cam Cooper who has been listed as one of the top players in Michigan to watch this season. Cooper made several great catches on offense and broke up many passes on defense including making several outstanding interceptions.

“I’ll do whatever it takes to help my team,” Cooper stated. “We didn’t win it all last year but we’re hungry, we were there. We want to go back and get it all. We have a lot of speed and some great lineman this season. We’re going to compete and finish!”

Also on the defensive side of the ball are Senior linebacker Drew Anstead who has shown off his speed and strength. Senior Lawrence Buckley has played outstanding at cornerback locking down everyone that comes near him and has made several big pass breakups and interceptions.  Senior Cole Septer has played outstanding too. Septer has a great read on the ball and is know for his hard hitting.

This team is deep with talent at every position and has a lot of great young talent waiting to help when the time arrives. They have a great coaching staff that recognizes these are student-athletes and coaches them on the field as well as off. Although Chelsea has a tough schedule, starting at Wayne State against a very tough state champion runner-up team, River Rouge, the coaches will have the team prepared and ready for the season and hopefully get them back to Ford Field where they can finish!

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Chelsea’s Ty McTaggart Named Ann Arbor Region Defensive Player Of The Year

Ty poses for a senior pic, photo by Amy Vontom Farley

When you ask Chelsea Senior Defensive Lineman Ty McTaggart who the best defensive player on his state finalist Bulldogs team is he will rattle off everyone’s name but leave his own off. Because he feels the defensive unit which helped get the team to the Division 3 state championship  game is one solid core of players, each stepping up and contributing in their own way. But apparently others don’t see it that way as the 5′ 10″ 270 pound defensive stud was chosen unanimously as the Ann Arbor Area Defensive player of the year.

Ty was also honored as an SEC All Conference player, and voted by coaches to the Ann Arbor area defensive dream team. Through nine games in the regular season, McTaggart recorded 71 tackles, including 10 for loss, and 6.5 sacks as he was a pivotal part of Chelsea’s stifling defense this season, which recorded 5 shutouts and held opponents to only average about 10 points a game.  In the Playoffs he stepped up big and recorded  30 more tackles including 7 in the championship game against arguably one of the best teams in the state, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s.

“Ty’s one of the best we have ever had,” said Chelsea Head Coach Brad Bush. “He’s by far the best in our league. He practices hard, plays hard and goes hard in the weight room,” continued Bush. “He’s got great explosion off the line and he uses his hands exceptionally well. It’s something special.”

McTaggart has anchored the ruthless Chelsea front line all season, helping to limit opposing running backs while also applying pressure against the pass. He is known for his vocal leadership and his effort and technique in the trenches. He is also known for his toughness, intensity, and determination.

“It felt good that the team worked well with each other and that they trusted one another to do their job, “McTaggart said of the team. “And that is why we made it to Ford Field. I felt like after the Trenton game we needed to step it up. We all stepped up at practice and took it to another level.”

Right after the regular season and preparing for the playoffs McTaggart was with his friend Senior defensive Parker Dye when a car ran a red light at the corner of Old US 12 and Freer Road and hit the car they were in on the side. Both suffered minor injuries and thankfully it wasn’t worse. “It really scared me. I was glad we were both okay and that we could finish the season,” McTaggart said.  Both tough kids didn’t miss a game after the accident.

“I’m really humbled by these honors being given to me,” McTaggart said referring to all his accolades. “I’m very honored and thankful for all the recognition and I feel really good that my effort that I put into football was noticed and rewarded.”

McTaggart plans to attend Michigan State University in the Fall of 2016 and major in the livestock industries program. He wants to own his own butcher shop someday.

McTaggart pulls down the Eaglet running back in the state championship game at Ford Field

Stopping the run at Ford Field

McTaggart set to get the Trenton QB in the playoffs

Ty makes a big stop along with his teammates against Trenton in the playoffs

 

Chelsea goes down fighting in Championship Game

 

2015 State Finalist Team

The streets of Chelsea at 4:20 P.M. were lined with a large crowd of both young and old alike Saturday, November 30. They were holding signs, taking pictures, waving, and all there with the common bond of sending their football team off in prideful style. As the two charter buses carrying the team weaved it’s way down main street led by a Police escort, many fans and parents followed behind them in a convoy on the way to Ford Field in Detroit.

The Bulldogs had earned their first trip there in the playoffs and were set to  face off against 6 time state champion Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (OLSM). As the crowd filtered in during the Bulldogs warmups you began to wonder if anyone was left in the Chelsea area. The entire north side of the field, the visitors side, was awash in a sea of blue and gold. Across the field representing OLSM was a spattering of red and white.

The Bulldogs kicked off to OLSM & the Eaglets moved the ball down the field running the ball and burning off early clock time. Justin Myrick scored from the 1 to put the Eaglets up and with a two point conversion the Eaglets were up 8-0. The Bulldogs took over and on their first offensive drive threw an interception. The Eaglets struck quick with a 34 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Brendan Tabone to Kahlee Hamler putting the red and white up 15-0.

Many teams would’ve given up right there. But not the Bulldogs. They fought back and never gave up and in the second quarter they got their first score of the game on a 47 yard gadget play pass from Graham Kuras to Noah Van Reesema  to make the score 15-6 .

In the most controversial  play of the game, the Bulldogs Jordan Haber put big pressure on Tabone, along with Trevor Kingsley, and forced a fumble deep in the Eaglets territory. But the referee called it an “incomplete pass” which caused a record setting decibel level of boos to be launched in the stadium. It was very apparent to all it was a fumble including the Fox Sports Detroit television announcers. This would be just one of many bad calls and non calls on the night and the fans would let the refs know it.

After a very entertaining halftime show by the Chelsea Marching Band, the Bulldogs received the ball down 15-6. But they had a hard time moving the ball. After another Tabone to Hamler touchdown, the Bulldogs found themselves in a big hole. But they kept battling on. And it was quarterback Jack Bush completing a 14 yard pass to Cam Cooper to keep the Bulldogs in the game. But it just wasn’t enough as the Bulldogs just couldn’t catch a break or get the right call and OLSM just ran the ball and the clock up en route to a 29-12 victory.

In the end, St. Mary’s power-run scheme was too much to handle eating up large chunks of clock to secure their third title in five years. OLSM’s 29-12 victory was earned mainly on the ground gaining  293 of its 372 total yards by running the ball.

“They certainly ran the ball well, which we knew they would,” Chelsea Head Coach Brad Bush said. “I felt like after the start they scored, we turned it over, they scored and boom, it’s 15-0. But then it’s a game. So you give them credit. When you take a group of athletes that good and combine good coaching, that’s tough.”

Chelsea (12-2) took its share of risks in the game, finding success in some such as Bush’s trick-pass play by Kuras, as did the squib kick by Christopher Roush recovered by Cole Septer in the third quarter. But a few other good plays were broken up by OLSM and some rather questionable officiating.

“I told our guys when we came down here we weren’t coming to keep it close,” he said. “You can question the fake field goal, choosing to go for it, but in a game like this you’re going to have to do stuff like that to win. We didn’t come down here to keep it close; we came down here to win.”

Chelsea came up short of its goal of bringing home the championship hardware but just making it to game No. 14 was enough for the Bulldogs to walk away, heads held high. The Bulldogs were led by Jack Bush who went 13-21 for 145 yards and a touchdown. Van Reesema led the team in receiving with 4 catches for 91 yards and a touchdown. Cooper led the team in all purpose yards with 107 yards, including a big 48 yard kickoff return.

On the defensive side of the ball Caden Murphy led the team with 10 tackles followed by Kuras with 9, and Ryan Stasiak and Kingsley with 8. Kuras had an interception in the end zone to stop a OLSM drive before the half.

“That’s a great football team,” Bush said. “For my money, that is probably the best team in the state. We’ve played some great teams from all over the state, but I felt like defensively, coming into this game, that’s the best defense we’ve ever played against.

“We had our chances; we were right there with them, and our guys played their tails off. I’m proud of our guys.”

The student section represented up front by teammates from the state championship runner up field hockey team

The band performs for the tv cameras

Chelsea fans were out in full force

Kelly Bertoni conducts the band

Coach Bush gets awarded the finalist trophy

Van Reesema goes up for the grab

Cam Cooper pays homage after his TD catch

Chelsea defense lays on some big hits

Van Reesema pulls in the ball

Ryan Stasiak and Peter Koseck apply the pressure for a big stop

Trevor Kingsley and the rest of the defense swarm to the ball

Cam Cooper TD catch & run

Bailey Edwards gets pulled down after making a big catch

Head Coach Brad Bush

Drum Major Kelly Bertoni

Van Reesema with another catch

Trevor Kingsley with the hard tackle

Ty McTaggart makes a big tackle

QB Jack Bush on the keeper

2015 State Finalist Team

Chelsea, Little City, Big Hearts

The Chelsea Faithful brave the elements to cheer their Bulldogs to victory over Coldwater

Chelsea is a very quaint city of roughly 5,100 people located about 15 miles west of Ann Arbor. It is full of friendly people, a vast array of  eclectic shops and restaurants, and many parks and lakes.  It is a very warm and inviting community and if you are new from out of town you are accepted right away because once you embrace the blue and gold colors of the Bulldogs, the school’s mascot, then you too are a Chelsea Bulldog.

Highlighting the community are the Chelsea schools. They are very diverse, educational learning facilities, especially the High School which is voted every year in the top 20 schools of Michigan and in the top 700 in the nation! Their test scores are some of the highest in the state, along with their college readiness, and proficiency in reading and math. Along with the pride they feel of high educational values they have much pride in the athletics.

Chelsea can be known as a city of championships. They have achieved many, many championships in all sports over the years. Just this fall sports season alone the first year Field Hockey team won the Division 1 regular season championship and went to the State Championship game. The volleyball team won the SEC Conference Title, the Girls Cross Country team won the Conference Title, the soccer team won Conference, the boys Tennis won, and the Swim and Dive team finished eighth place in states. And the Football team will be at Ford Field in Detroit Saturday evening to take on Orchard Lake St. Mary’s for the Division 3 Championship.

Although Chelsea Football has won championships in the past, they have never made it this far in the the modern playoff era. And this is a great group of kids and the whole area supports them. You will not see this team throw fits, or throw helmets. If they make a mistake, they shake it off and learn from it and move forward. You will not see them arguing, cussing, or calling out other players in a negative way. You will not see them breaking team rules or slacking in their studies. They do not skip school, they do not start fights, they do not break the law. Many on the team are member s of National Honor Society and on honor roll. You will not see them padding their own statistics. You will however, see them helping each other, encouraging each other, supporting each other as a brotherhood. When you watch Chelsea football, you see a complete team with no weaknesses of great young men. And that comes from coaching and parenting!

“My husband and I have had all three of our sons grow up being part of Chelsea and the Bulldog Experience,” said Senior Defensive lineman Quinn Kelly’s mother Christine. “The coaching and mentoring here goes above and beyond. My boys have learned many positive things especially dedication and hard work and how rewarding the payoff can be. The lessons they have learned here will last them a lifetime.”

That is very much the general consensus of the community and team parents, past and present. There is much pride and respect in the sports programs of Chelsea, and right now especially in the football program. The fans have poured into opposing team’s stadiums outnumbering the home teams on many occasions, even in the playoffs. They are loyal. They sit in the freezing cold, in the snow, and they travel far to do it. And the faithful fans are very thrilled and excited for this team.

“Many of the seniors’ parents have been impressed with this group of boys for quite some time,” stated Johnny Packard, Senior lineman Jay Packard’s father. “We kept seeing many of the same boys since Chelsea’s U8 Rec Leagues (baseball, basketball, flag football…). They were good, athletic and talented. But it was that undefeated freshmen year that the talk began: these guys are something special, a real team, they really care about each other, having fun and celebrating each other’s accomplishments,” Packard continued. “They were fun to watch. Then they got broken up. Some of the boys got taken up to varsity. That JV squad was still good but the parents were chomping at the bit , waiting for their senior year. And here it is. WOW! Everything we hoped for and then some. They are out there again having fun and celebrating each other’s accomplishments. These are a great group of kids, all 70 something of them. The kind of kids you can’t help but be proud of, regardless of their accomplishments. But what a great accomplishment; making it to Ford Field and accomplishing the goal of play 14”

#Play 14 is the manta of the team beginning last summer. It refers to the number of games a team must play to get to the championship game. And these players, their fans, and parents are living the dream. They are playing 14.

“This is a great group of young men, you’ll never find any better,” Mike Shegan, father of Junior Defensive Tackle Cash Shegan proudly proclaimed. “These kids deserve this, they’ve earned it and I can’t be more proud of them.”

“This is very exciting for the whole community,” Jerry Kingsley, father of Senior Defensive End Trevor Kingsley said. “I especially like how Coach (Head Coach Brad Bush) has made it about the team. They’ve done a great job and this is a big learning experience in many ways that they’ll always remember.”

The whole city is proud, even non football fans. They are planning to line the streets Saturday at 4 p.m. as the team buses carrying the players drive through the city. The school sold out of tickets in one day, 2,000 tickets! And local businesses Advanced Dental Group and Steele Heating and Cooling gave away free tickets to all the Juniors and Seniors. Many more people will be travelling Saturday in droves proudly wearing their blue and gold and hoping to watch a great team of excellent young men put the positive finishing touches on a storybook season.

Student Section Celebrates a Big Victory over Pioneer

The student section has a whiteout in Dexter

Student section braves the cold in the Rgionals