Well the shortened regular season is over and while not all teams played six games…All of these youngster have gotten to experience high school football in what might have been there last chance to do so…And the one positive of that shortened season every team has got a shot in the playoffs! It won’t be an easy road for any of our five ultra local schools, but four of our five start this week at home. The Shepherd Bluejays will be the only team to hit the road as they face Saginaw Swan Valley a team that Shepherd has never bested on the gridiron (0-13). However, the last couple years the Jays have won games you don’t expect with head coach Ben Brock, so don’t count them out. Also, this Swan Valley team is really good, but not the powerhouse they were the last couple years.
Sacred Heart Academy plays Akron Fairgrove this Saturday with a 1 pm kickoff. Here is your short preview of that game. Myself and Andy Theisen broadcasted there first matchup on the 9th of October, which was also a Saturday 1 pm kickoff. The final score 70-0 behind 6, yes 6 Luke Predum Touchdowns. If the Irish are victorious they will take on the winner of Carsonville Port Sanilac and Bay City All Saints.
Clare has got a tough draw, they will be favored over Kent City at home, but as far as 3-6 matchups go it is a tough one with the schedule Kent City plays. If Clare beats Kent City there 6-0 regular season record will only be good for one home playoff games. The highly ranked Pioneers just so happen to be stuck in a district with 2 of the 4 teams ranked ahead of them in Division 6. IF they best Kent City the law firm of Recker, Warner, and Weldon will have to hit the road. However, if this Clare team get by Montague and Muskegon Catholic Central…A trip to the state championship is definitely not out of the question. Side note, this is a very young Clare team with an awful lot coming back next year.
Mount Pleasant will be heavy favorites against Gaylord this Friday night. Gaylord has averaged less than ten points in their five losses this season and may hot not faced a defense as stout as this Mt Pleasant Oiler team. Gaylord will have a tough time moving the football against the front seven of the Oilers that has been dominant all year long. The Oilers, if victorious will at home next week to face the winner of Muskegon Reeths Puffer and Marquette, a game that will be played at Marquette.
Now that leaves us with our Friday night matchup of Beal City vs Coleman. A matchup that goes way back to the days of the Tomahawk conference. It was 2014 the last time Coleman made the football playoffs, only to run into Beal City in the district opener falling 55-13, and that team rolled through the regular season. This years Coleman team is just 1-5 and comes in after blowing a big lead in their final game last Thursday. Beal City comes in after a big shut out win over Morley Stanwood, all signs point towards Beal City, but this isn’t the year to count anyone out. The Aggies will have a better record, they will be more battle tested playing a tougher schedule, but this year is unlike any other. This 1-5 Coleman team is in the playoffs. Their regular season is done in the past, now they are in the same spot as Beal. Three wins and you have a district title. It’s win or go home time, every week it’s just about being 1-0! If you Beal City you need to be careful not to look ahead as a bigtime matchup could be on the horizon. The runner up in d8 from two years ago vs last years runner up…OOOO Boy Beal City Breckenridge would be a showdown for the ages in Mid Michigan! Breckenridge face a one win Manton team Friday night at home!
