By Frank Vajcner
I now head to my hometown of Petersburg for a look at Summerfield. The Bulldogs took their game to another level in the postseason. After going 1-5 in the regular season, they won three straight playoff games to reach the Regional round. Will the schedule allow for Alex Lipka and the “Road Dawgs” to continue their success?
2021 Schedule:
Aug 27: Allen Park Cabrini
Sept 3: @ Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes
Sept 10: @ Erie Mason
Sept 17: Pittsford
Sept 24: @ Adrian Madison
Oct 1: @ Sand Creek
Oct 8: Morenci
Oct 15: @ Whiteford
Oct 22: Flint New Standard
Gut-Check Game: at Erie Mason. In the last two meetings, the Eagles have outscored the Bulldogs 112-61. This will mark the TCC opener for both teams. While it was the Eagles who won the TCC last season, the Bulldogs went further in the playoffs. This will be a chance to get a leg up in the race for the TCC crown.
Trap Game: Morenci. Besides being “Bulldogs vs. Bulldogs,” this one falls right in between road trips to Sand Creek and arch-rival Whiteford. Lipka and company will also be looking to avenge a 34-28 loss from last season.
Snoozer: Pittsford was abysmal in their TCC debut season, as they went 0-7 and were outscored 335-31. One of those losses was a 41-0 beating handed out by the Bulldogs. Waterford Our Lady may have been worse, as the Lakers scored eight points all season en route to going 0-7.
Non-Conference Challenge: Summerfield’s out-of-conference slate lacks sizzle. Allen Park Cabrini is the lone non-conference foe who won a game last season. The Monarchs went 2-5 last season and lost to the Bulldogs in the playoffs. Flint New Standard went 0-7, but in all fairness to the Spartans, 2020 was their first year as a varsity program, so they get a pass from being labeled a snoozer.
Notable: The Bulldogs were to play Cabrini last year in the regular season, but that game was another COVID casualty. This will be the eighth all-time meeting between the Monarchs and Bulldogs…The meeting with Waterford Our Lady will be the first on the gridiron…The rivalry game with Whiteford will be another playoff rematch. The Bobcats won the regular-season meeting 34-29, but the Bulldogs got the last laugh in the District Championship, as they won 34-14
Thoughts from Frank: With the exception of road trips to Erie Mason and Sand Creek, all of the Bulldogs’ games are winnable. Getting enough wins won’t be an issue, but rather hoping the non-conference foes can build the strength of schedule up with some wins.
Thoughts from Gary: Looks to be a manageable schedule for the Bulldogs. Some real tough ones on the slate but there are some they should definitely win. I always look forward to the Whiteford game. Great lower-division backyard rivalry.
Thoughts from Chris: This is a nice schedule for Summerfield. The non-conference slate should produce 3 victories and should help add up to another playoff birth.