By Frank Vajcner
We now head off to where you can find me on the mic for volleyball, basketball, softball, and whoever else may request my announcing talents. Bedford will be looking to rebound from a disappointing 4-5 campaign. Will the schedule allow a path for success?
2024 Schedule:
Aug 30: Canton
Sept 6: @ AA Skyline
Sept 13: Dexter
Sept 20: AA Pioneer
Sept 27: @ Ypsi Lincoln
Oct 4: @ Saline
Oct 10: @ Ann Arbor Huron
Oct 18: Monroe
Oct 25: @ Toledo St. Francis (OH)
Gut-Check Game: Take your pick between a visit from Dexter in Week 3, or a trip to Saline in Week 6. Both teams combined to outscore the Mules 92-0 in consecutive games last season. Obviously, getting on the scoreboard in both games is paramount, but a strong showing in Week 3 will go a long way towards the Mules bouncing back.
Trap Game: Right before a trip to Saline, the Mules must venture to Lincoln. Despite going 2-7 last season, the Railsplitters seemed to drag a lot of teams into the mud. The Mules escaped with a 26-21 win in Temperance last season. This game also comes at the start of three straight on the road. John Phillips and company will need to keep focused.
Snoozer: For as bad as Lincoln (2-7) and Ann Arbor Skyline (1-8) were in football, neither team qualifies as a snoozer given the results against the Mules. St. Francis went 1-8, with their lone win against a shockingly winless Brother Rice squad. This was also Bedford’s most comfortable win, as they defeated the Knights 28-11 last season.
Non-Conference Challenge: Bedford will welcome Canton in Week 1, and will travel to Toledo, Ohio to face St. Francis to end the season. The Cobras defeated the Mules 35-17 last season in a game that was actually played at Bedford after Canton lost power. It was also after a certain pick was made that did not age well.
Fun Facts: Bedford does not see any changes in opposition from last season…The Week 7 visit to Ann Arbor Huron will be played on Thursday due to Huron having a large Jewish population in their student body, and the following Friday being Yom Kippur…The Mules will end conference play battling Monroe for the Golden Cleat…Canton changed their nickname from Chiefs to Cobras over the offseason
Thoughts from Frank: There’s no doubt that Bedford has a bad taste in their mouths after last season. The Mules could be unbeaten when Dexter visits in Week 3. Survive that one, and they will be looking to avenge a close loss to Pioneer the following week. That could put them at 5-0 when they travel to Saline.
I think this’ll be a bounce back season for the mules, but you can count on them losing to Dexter. They’ll probably be even stronger this season returning most of their starters. But I also wouldn’t be surprised if the mules find a way to beat saline with their only loss being to Dexter. I expect them to finish the regular season with at least 6 wins.