2024 Schedule Analysis: Grosse Ile Red Devils

By Frank Vajcner

We now go island hopping to the place where strange things happen on Friday nights in the fall.

Obviously we are referring to Grosse Ile.

One of the strange things that happens is the odd numbered years have been abysmal, as indicated by last season’s 1-8 record. But the even-numbered years will bring forth better days, at least as has been the case. Will 2024’s schedule continue the trend?

2024 Schedule:

Aug 29: @ Ida

Sept 6: @ Flat Rock

Sept 13: SMCC

Sept 20: @ Milan

Sept 27: Airport

Oct 4: @ Jefferson

Oct 11: @ New Boston Huron

Oct 18: Riverview

Oct 25: Allen Park Cabrini

Gut-Check Game: Pick your poison between back-to-back road trips to open the season. Ida is looking to get back over the hump (more on that later), while Flat Rock is coming off of a State Semifinal run. Both squads came to “The Island” and drubbed the Devils 41-7 and 35-6 respectively last season. If John Bodner and company want to make a statement early, stealing a win in either place would go a long way. Special mention to SMCC paying a visit after said two-game stretch, as the Falcons still have a bad taste in their mouths after the Devils stunned them 21-20 at Navarre Field last season.

Trap Game: Rarely do I do this, but when you come off of a 1-8 season, the trap games don’t appear in the preseason. That could obviously change when the regular season is in full swing, but let’s get there first.

Snoozer: No snoozers to be found.

Non-Conference Challenge: In addition to a road trip to Ida, the Devils will welcome Allen Park Cabrini in Week 9. The Blue Streaks were 5-5 last season, having made the postseason for the tenth time in the last 11 seasons. The Monarchs went 5-6, which was their best mark since 2018.

Notable: This will be the first meeting on the gridiron between the Monarchs and Devils…I would be remiss to not mention the 11 sets of railroad tracks that the Devils have to cross when they travel to Milan in Week 4.

Thoughts from Frank: The first three weeks will go a long way toward determining whether Grosse Ile will continue the even-year magic. If they can go 2-1 or better, expectations will be pretty high. They will be even higher if the Devils sit at 4-3 or better when Riverview comes in for the the Colvin Cup game.