It’s the final week of the regular season; one that has been anything but regular. However, there is one big positive for this goofy regular season in this goofy year. Every team gets a shot in the high school playoffs for the first time ever. Teams that struggle to get to that 6 win mark because of tough schedules will have a chance to make a statement this year (this year 6 wins wouldn’t have mattered because of playoff points, but you get the picture). The big thing that is up for grabs in the final week of the regular season is home playoff games. Something once again in this goofy year will be more important than ever. Our five ultra local schools went 4-1 this past week.. Shepherd moved to 2-2 on the year with a defensive victory over Pinconning 12-7. Beal City fell to 4-1 vs. McBain in a classic contest 23-19 in a game that came down to the final play. Sacred Heart moved to 4-1 besting Ashley on the road. Clare continue to roll as they blasted Harrison, and Saturday night Mt Pleasant put on a defensive performance for the ages shutting out Midland Dow 21-0! It was the first shutout of Midland Dow since a district final contest in 2005! For our final regular season game we are back at Frank A Schafer field for a game that has become a good rivalry in the past several years.
Beal and Morley began playing way back and often opened their seasons playing each other in through the 80’s. Beal leads the all-time matchup 15-4-1. The one tie came in 1980 with a 6-6 stalemate. The rivalry was renewed in 2016 and the two teams have finished their season against each other since 2017. In 2016 in a game that may have kept the Aggies out of the playoffs it was a crazy goal line or well two goal line series to end the contest. It appeared Beal recovered a fumble in the endzone to get within one point, but it was then called a safety allowing Beal to get the ball with under a minute left with a chance to win.. They got down field only to be held out of the endzone falling 21-16. In 2018 it was all Morley as they blasted Beal City 35-0. Last year was another classic with Beal winning 21-14 giving them lots of momentum heading into the playoffs where the made it all the way to Ford Field.
This year both teams know they are in the playoffs, but with a win the Aggies hope for as many home playoff games as possible, and Morley with a win can avoid a possible opening match up with highly ranked Pewamo and Ithaca who are both in their district. Beal City and Breckenridge are staring down each other possibly with a second round match up with each other. As of now Breckenridge would have home field advantage for that contest, Breckenridge plays rival St Louis this Friday. There is a chance some things could flip with playoff points, but Beal City will have to take care of business Friday first. As far as our other teams are concerned; Clare is in good shape to host a playoff game, but possibly only one. Despite being ranked number five in D6 two teams ahead of them are in the same district with Montague and Muskegon Catholic Central. Shepherd will most likely be on the road with their 2-2 record, if they best Beaverton this week they may be able to host a game. Their district looks to be going through a strong Freeland team. Sacred Heart Academy should host a game or two, but it’s much tougher to gage with no districts, just an open field at this point. The Mt Pleasant Oilers as of now have home field advantage through their district over top ranked Muskegon, if both teams win on Friday it will be awfully close to see who gets the homefield advantage heading towards that district final! The Oilers are scheduled to play Saginaw Heritage this Friday.
So back to just one game this week, but it should be a great one with Beal City hoping taking on Morley Stanwood with a lot on the line for both teams! Join us at 6:45 for all the action! Next week I’ll tell you who is playing who and where we will be for week on of the playoffs!
