Germain family football saga nears conclusion as Millington heads to semifinals

MILLINGTON, MI – Every game is the possible end to a journey that began in tears 14 years ago.

Chances are, it will end in tears, whether happy or sad.

Millington takes an undefeated record to Lansing Eastern High School when it faces North Muskegon at 1 p.m. Saturday in a Division 7 semifinal.

The Cardinals are 0-6 in the semifinals, including a loss in the 2023 state semifinals to Jackson Lumen Christi. That loss mean the end of the 2023 season for the Cardinals.

The end of the 2024 season is also near, win or lose, for the Germain football family. Landon Germain, an all-conference linebacker, is a senior, playing his final games for the Millington family.

And for his own family.

Germain is the youngest son of Millington head coach Jason Germain, who is in his third season as the head coach and has served as an offensive coordinator for 26 years.

"My youngest son (Landon) has seen it all the way through," Jason Germain said. "These kids have been playing together since they were 8 years old, so they know what's at stake. We'll be ready."

Landon Germain's football journey, however, began long before his 8th birthday. He grew up watching his older brothers, Drew and Brody Germain, star for the Cardinals. He also watched them fall short of their state championship goals.

"I watched them growing up, and I've always wanted to be like them and fill their shoes," Landon Germain said. "They really pushed me to be the player I am."

Drew Germain was an all-conference defensive back and quarterback, while Brody Germain was a two-time all-state lineman.

And Landon Germain followed them just about everywhere.

"I remember when we went to team camp when he was 4 years old," Jason Germain said. "We were pulling out of the driveway, and he sat on the front porch and started crying.

"I stopped the car and went back, asked him if he wanted to go too. He said yes, and we got him in the car and went to team camp in Frankfort."

This season, Landon Germain is the Cardinals' leading tackler and the team's back-up quarterback to Truk Terbush.

"These boys have been in the program as long as they can remember," Jason Germain said. "They know what Millington football means, and they want to be the team that gets there."

But there is also a different dynamic when the head coach is also a father.

"It's actually pretty nice playing for my dad ... he knows how to push us," Landon Germain said. "If I do anything wrong, he's going to push me. He's going to be on me. People may say I'm the coach's so, so I get away with stuff. But it just means he's harder on me and wants perfection out of me and my friends.

"We're always at home watching film. We've got a pretty tight bond around football. It's fun, especially now."

The whole Germain family is involved in potentially Millington's first semifinal win and first state-final appearance ... if the Cardinals can get past North Muskegon.

"He's the baby of the family, but the brothers have a good bond ... every Friday they're giving him texts of encouragement and saying, 'Just keep it going. Do what we couldn't do,'" Jason Germain said. "We've been close, but hopefully this is the year we seal the deal."

If Millington wins, it plays for a Division 7 state title at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 30 against the winner of the other Division 7 semifinal between Schoolcraft and Monroe St. Mary.

"It is very emotional because every game could be our last game together," Jason Germain said. "It's been a great ride. My wife posted a picture of him when he was about 4 years old and was our waterboy. It's a flood of emotions, but it's good emotions."

If you would like your local high school sports news delivered free to your inbox daily, and sign up for one of our local high school sports newsletters.

Love reading about local sports? Don't miss any of the excitement from the season ahead. Purchase your subscription now and get full access to every story on MLive!