Byron Center football looks to build off recent success

BYRON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — The Byron Center High School football team produced double-digit wins last year for only the fourth time in school history.

The Bulldogs are hoping to build off that success as they enter a new season.

“Last year is last year, and we had some really good seniors who did a lot of things, but we return all of our offensive production, the number guys, so that’s pretty exciting,” Byron Center coach Marc Cisco said. “They are experienced, all three-year starters, and that makes some adjustments easier and should give us some time to get some younger guys going.”

The Bulldogs went 10-2 a year ago and won a share of the O-K White conference championships. They upset Caledonia in the district finals before losing to East Lansing, 42-20, in a regional final.

“It added a month of practice, and winning the way we did at the end of the Forest Hills Central and Caledonia games was important for the young guys,” Cisco said. “You just have to hang on and keep it close if you want to have a chance of winning.”

While the Bulldogs return starting quarterback Landon Tungate and all-conference wide receiver Isaac Lee, defense will be another key factor.

Byron Center allowed 14 points or less in seven of its nine regular-season games.

“The biggest thing we have to do again is play good defense,” Cisco said. “Last year we gave up 16 points a game, and you’re going to win a lot of games doing that. That’s the focus, filling those spots on defense and being really smart.”

Tungate, a four-year varsity player who was an all-conference safety as a sophomore, is excited for his final season.

“I’ve had a lot of great memories the last three years and I’ve been able to see how hard work pays off,” Tungate said. “I think we have great potential, and we just have to keep the focus on and keep the effort 100%.”

Lee, a senior, had a breakout season last season and has received offers from Grand Valley State University and Ferris State.

“Isaac has been a basketball-first kid, and this summer he became a football-first kid,” Cisco said. “A super talented kid, really smart and he’s not a big fan of the spotlight but he just works hard.”

Lee said this year’s close-knit team has an abundance of talent.

“I love this group,” he said. “I think we have the most talent and experience that we have ever seen and we have guys who work hard on and off the field.

“We have the same potential as last year, if not more, but we have to put the work in and keep grinding. We have to have the same underdog mentality like we did last year and not get ahead of ourselves,” he added.

Byron Center moves into the O-K Green conference this season. It includes defending Division 2 state champion Muskegon.

“Everything has to be done the same way or better because the competition is better,” Cisco said. “We are going to have our hands full and it starts with just being good Week 1, that’s the most important thing.”

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