Bedford 2020 Schedule Analysis

By Frank Vajcner

We continue in the schedule analysis series by heading to Temperance, Michigan for a look at Bedford. The Mules heads into the 2020 season with a new head coach in John Phillips. Will the schedule allow for a new era to start off well? Let’s take a look.

2020 Schedule

Aug 28: Sylvania Northview (OH)

Sept 4: Ann Arbor Pioneer

Sept 11: @ Dexter

Sept 17: @ Ann Arbor Huron

Sept 25: Ypsilanti

Oct 2: @ Ann Arbor Skyline

Oct 9: @ Saline

Oct 16: Monroe

Oct 23: Woodhaven

Gut-Check Game: at Dexter. The easy answer would be Saline, given what they have done the last few years, but I’m going with a trip to Dexter in Week 3. After the Dreadnaughts went through some dreadful years (pun not intended) from 2011-2017, highlighted by a 41-game winless streak, Phil Jacobs’ bunch has righted the ship by qualifying for the playoffs in each of the last two seasons. This could be a chance for Phillips to get a signature win in Year 1.

Trap Game: at Ann Arbor Skyline. Yes, I’m aware that Skyline was awful last year at 1-8. But the purpose of identifying a trap game is based more on spot in the schedule. The Mules take a trip to Ann Arbor in Week 6, and that comes right before a tough stretch of a trip to Saline, and visits from Monroe and Woodhaven. Phillips will need to keep everyone focused.

Snoozer: at Ann Arbor Huron. I don’t mean to keep beating a dead horse from the schedule analyses of years prior, but despite ending a 39-game losing streak last year, Ann Arbor Huron is still in the basement of the SEC-Red. The River Rats have lost their last 27 conference games, dating back to a win over Skyline on October 3, 2014.

Non-Conference Challenge: Besides going to Dexter for the SEC-White crossover, Bedford will play Sylvania Northview in Week 1, and Woodhaven in Week 9. The Warriors are coming off of their fourth consecutive playoff appearance, as well as a school-record ten wins last year. The Wildcats went 5-5 last season, and could be a solid opening test for Phillips and company.

Notable: This will be the first time since 1996 where Bedford and Northview will meet. The two schools were foes from the now-defunct Great Lakes Conference. The Mules won the last meeting 20-6…The meeting with Woodhaven will be the first on the gridiron between both schools…Ypsilanti makes the jump to the SEC-Red after spending the last seven seasons in the  SEC-White. The Mules defeated the Grizzlies 55-25 last season in crossover play…The game at Huron will be on a Thursday night due to the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah.

Thoughts from Frank: The Mules will be looking to make the playoffs for a school record-tying five straight seasons. The non-conference slate is challenging, and road trips to Dexter and Saline are even more arduous. Getting through a rough October will be key to making the postseason.

Thoughts from Chris: There aren’t many easy games when you play in the SEC Red, but the league slate is manageable. The non-league schedule offers a little bit of everything with Woodhaven, Northview and Dexter. If the Mules can win two of their non-league contest, they should find themselves as a playoff qualifier again.

Thoughts from Gary: I see both the Kicking Mules and the Saline Hornets at 6-0 on October 6th. Call me hopeful or wishful but that would be fun if it worked out like that.