GRAND RAPIDS, Mich — There are four local high school football teams vying to win state championships this weekend at Ford Field. However, only one is looking to go back-to-back - the South Christian Sailors.
In fact, in the history of Sailors football, no team has never won consecutive state titles.
"That's the main goal," South Christian senior lineman Camren VanSolkema said. "We've been working to get here our whole season. It's finally here, but the job is not finished. We just have to finish this last game."
This South Christian football team knows what is at stake. They feel their experience at Ford Field last season will help them this time around.
"It would mean the world," South Christian senior wide receiver Jake Vermaas said. "I would be really happy about that. That's obviously the goal. Anything it takes to win. Nothing short of that. That's the expectation."
South Christian won its first state title since 2014 last year going a perfect 14-0. The Sailors journey to Ford Field this year was not as smooth sailing.
The Sailors lost three games during the regular season: one on a Hail Mary against East Grand Rapids, another to Grand Rapids Catholic Central and then in Week 9 to Wayland.
The Sailors then beat the Wildcats one week later in the playoffs, and have rattled off four wins in a row.
South Christian says this adversity has prepared them for the state championship.
The Sailors are on a mission to go back-to-back.
"It would be awesome," South Christian head coach Danny Brown said. "If you could win your last football game of the season for these seniors would be tremendous. The assistant coaches put a lot of time into it. For all of that work to come into fruition for a state championship would be awesome."
South Christian will square up with Harper Woods at Ford Field. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday.
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