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FLINT, Michigan — Coach Bobby Reynolds liked what he saw Thursday from the two newest Flint Generals.

Of course, Reynolds had an idea of what he was getting in Jan Jas since he played alongside the veteran forward two years ago in Flint.

Jas, who rejoined the Generals after starting the season with Kalamazoo, made his 2008-09 debut in Flint along with fellow forward Jason McCrimmon, who started the campaign with Detroit of the new AAHA.

Jas had one assist, two shots on goal and an even plus-minus rating in Flint's 6-5 overtime victory over Muskegon, which will host a rematch tonight.

Continue reading "Coach Bobby Reynolds liked what he saw Thursday from the two newest Flint Generals" »

Flint Journal sports writer Bill Khan predicted on WTRX (1330-AM) Friday morning that Muskegon will beat Davison by about three touchdowns when the teams meet in the state Division 2 semifinals at 1 p.m. Saturday at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.

Muskegon beat Davison 43-21 in the semifinals two years ago, a game in which Davison tacked on a late score to make the final score more respectable.

With only one Flint-area team left in the playoffs to talk about, the conversation also involved this weekend's Michigan-Ohio State, Michigan State-Penn State, Texas Tech-Oklahoma and Tampa Bay-Detroit games. We had time to kill.

Bill Khan from The Flint Journal will file a live blog from the Davison vs. Muskegon state Division 2 semifinal football game at 1 p.m. Saturday at Spartan Stadium. Pregame reports should begin around 12:45 p.m.

ALLENDALE, Michigan -- Believing his late brother would want it this way, Dan Skuta has returned to Grand Valley State's campus and plans to play in Saturday's NCAA Division II football playoff game.

Joe Skuta, 24, died in his sleep of unknown causes Monday night in Flint, and funeral services still are being finalized for early next week.

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Flint Journal extras: See below for more articles about the UM-OSU game Saturday.

FLINT, Michigan -- It's a huge rivalry that will come to a head Saturday.

It's Zitterkoph vs. Schaal, stand-ins for the Ohio State University and the University of Michigan, who compete in their annual gridiron battle Saturday.

Jane Zitterkoph, a Wolverine fan, and neighbor Mike Schaal, who attended OSU, have engaged in a friendly rivalry for years over the big game.

When Schaal welcomed a new baby, Zitterkoph sent Michigan-themed onesies. He, in turn, spray-painted an "O" over the "M" on the baby clothes and hung them in Zitterkoph's backyard.

"Every year, I want to do something better," Zitterkoph said.

Her idea this year: Publicly declaring that Schaal is "Michigan football's No. 1 fan."

Schaal's wife, Stacey, said "he'll definitely be surprised" by the pronouncement.

By the way, the game will be broadcast at noon on ABC.

Continue reading "Flint neighbors quarrel over huge University of Michigan and Ohio State rivalry; Who do you pick in Saturday's game?" »

DAVISON, Michigan — Senior defenseman lineman Kevin Kleine has a message for those who think Davison's fate is already sealed.

"Nobody should count us out just yet," he said.

The Cardinals are understandably confident heading into their state Division 2 football semifinal matchup with second-ranked Muskegon at 1 p.m. Saturday at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. Continue reading "Davison on a roll heading into football semifinals against powerful Muskegon" »

BATTLE CREEK, Michigan — It had been nearly four weeks since the last time North Branch lost even one game on a volleyball court, let alone a whole match.

When the Broncos finally tasted defeat again, it was terribly bitter.

A near-perfect season with possibly the best team in school history came to a crushing conclusion Thursday night when North Branch lost 20-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-21 to Fruitport in a Class B semifinal match at Kellogg Arena.

Continue reading "No. 1 North Branch shocked by Fruitport in Class B volleyball semifinal" »

FLINT, Michigan — Matt Elich was thinking the same thing as virtually everyone else at Perani Arena Thursday night.

Here we go again.

Leading in the third period, the Flint Generals watched the Muskegon Lumberjacks stage a comeback with three unanswered goals, much the same way they did when they rallied to win two weeks ago in Flint.

Only this time, the Generals were able to get off the ropes and deliver a knockout punch in the form of an overtime goal by Elich that provided a much-needed 6-5 victory before an announced crowd of 936.

Elich scored on a rebound off a shot by defenseman Martin Ondrej with 20.8 seconds left in OT to snap Flint's four-game losing streak and give the Generals (5-8-1-1) sole possession of fourth place in the International Hockey League standings.

Continue reading "Flint Generals snap four-game skid on goal by Matt Elich with 20.8 seconds left in OT" »

Oak Park, Michigan — Spencer Irvin and Jonah Spurlin each scored one goal to lead Powers Catholic to a 2-0 season-opening hockey victory over Detroit Country Day Thursday at Oak Park Ice Arena.

Mike Underwood recorded 13 saves for the Chargers (1-0). Country Day is 0-1.

Continue reading "Flint Powers Catholic opens hockey season with a 2-0 victory over Detroit Country Day" »