2024 Schedule Analysis: Ida Blue Streaks

By Frank Vajcner

Time to pay a visit to my alma mater. Ida continued to keep on keeping on by making the playoffs for the tenth time in the last 11 seasons. The Streaks have been playing tough schedules the last couple of seasons. Does that remain the same for 2024?

2024 Schedule:

Aug 29: Grosse Ile

Sept 6: Whiteford

Sept 13: @ Hudson

Sept 20: Hillsdale

Sept 27: Onsted

Oct 4: @ Blissfield

Oct 11: @ Adrian Madison

Oct 18: Dundee

Oct 25: @ Clinton

Gut-Check Game: Look no further than Week 2 when Whiteford comes to Hemelgarn Field. The Bobcats are coming off of another appearance in the State Finals. They have also had their way with the Streaks in each of the last three seasons, outscoring Ida 88-39. Following that test is a road trip to face Hudson at Thompson Field, where the Streaks have only won twice since 2000. Did I mention that Ida will end the regular season at another house of horrors at Clinton’s Wegner Field? The last win for the Streaks there was in 2011.

Trap Game: Right before the Week 9 visit to Clinton, Dundee comes to town for the Backyard Brawl. The last four meetings have been decided by a combined 14 points. Even though Ida has taken the last three, the fact that this lies in a look-ahead spot means Jeff Potter will have to keep his team extra focused.

Snoozer: Adrian Madison had a rude awakening in their first year in the LCAA, as they went 1-8. The Streaks drubbed the Trojans 55-14 in a game that could have been uglier had it not been called in the third quarter due to an injury. Onsted is also fitting for this category, as the Wildcats have gone 5-29 in the four seasons since a semifinal run in 2019.

Non-Conference Challenge: In addition to a visit from Whiteford, Ida will welcome in Grosse Ile in Week 1. The Streaks defeated the Red Devils 41-7 last season.

Fun Facts: The last time the Streaks defeated a state finalist from the previous season was in 2021 when they defeated a Clinton team that reached Ford Field in 2020…The Backyard Brawl has never been played in Week 8.

Thoughts from Frank: Going back to last season’s end, I said that Ida be a team to potentially go on a deep postseason run. Getting a win (or two) over the contingent of Whiteford, Clinton, or Hudson will go a long way toward solidifying that statement.