Photo courtesy of Cari Hayes

DETROIT —The Detroit Lions have named Jason Mensing of Whiteford High School the week five recipient of the 2017 Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan High School Football Coach of the Week Program.  Mensing’s Bobcats defeated Adrian Madison 67-0 to run their record to 5-0 on the season.

Mensing has coached for 18 seasons, 15 as a head coach.  He was an assistant coach for one year each at Adrian College, Siena Heights University and Addison High School.  His head coaching stints included 1 year at Addison, 1 year at Grayling, 3 years at Owosso, 4 years at Tecumseh and he is currently in his 6th season at Ottawa Lake Whiteford.

The Bobcats have made the state playoffs in each of his five seasons.  Two seasons ago, the Bobcats reached the state semifinals for the first time in school history and last season finished as the Division 8 runner up to state champion Muskegon Catholic Central.  Mensing’s career record is 90-62 while being 52-13 (80%) at Ottawa Lake Whiteford.  On Friday, September 29, the Bobcats travel to Morenci to take on the 3-2 Bulldogs in a Tri-County Conference clash.

In terms of player health and safety, Mensing gathers plenty of information to help educate his coaches and players.  Providing baseline concussion testing for all Ottawa Lake Whiteford student-athletes, teaching a better and safer way to block and tackle, and reducing physical contact in practice throughout the course of the season are some of the critical player health and safety points of emphasis employed by Mensing and the Ottawa Lake-Whiteford Athletic Department.