2024 Schedule Analysis: Jefferson Bears

By Frank Vajcner

We now head to the alma mater of good friend Jeff Grodi. Jefferson went 2-7 last season, and ended a 14-game losing streak in the Huron League. Will the schedule allow for the Bears to stay on the road back to respectability?

2024 Schedule:

Aug 30: Hanover-Horton

Sept 6: Milan

Sept 13: @ Riverview

Sept 20: Flat Rock

Sept 27: @ New Boston Huron

Oct 4: Grosse Ile

Oct 11: @ Airport

Oct 18: @ SMCC

Oct 25: Melvindale

Gut-Check Game: The first road trip of the season takes the Bears to Riverview to face the Pirates. Since the Bears’ last win over Riverview in 2016, the Pirates have outscored the Bears 306-73 in the last seven meetings. Asking for a win might be to tall of an order, but a respectable showing will indicate that Year Two under Rob Beaudrie is a big step forward. Expectations will be sky high if the Bears are 2-0 heading into this one.

Trap Game: Grosse Ile was the team who ended the Bears’ losing skid in the Huron League. Not only will the Red Devils will be looking to avenge a loss, but this game comes at the end of a brutal stretch from Weeks 3-5.

Snoozer: Melvindale was 1-8 last season, and got shut out six times. The Bears defeated the Cardinals 40-36 in Melvindale last season.

Non-Conference Challenge: The out-of-conference slate for Jefferson doesn’t have a lot of sizzle. The Bears will welcome Hanover-Horton to Marc Cisco Field in Week 1. The Comets went 2-7 last season, with wins over a winless Homer and a surprisingly woebegone Reading.

Fun Facts: This will be the first ever meeting with the Comets on the gridiron, in addition to the first ever meeting with a school from the Cascades Conference…Grosse Ile has been the only Huron League team Jefferson has defeated since 2017.

Thoughts from Frank: Will we see Da Bears get back to being respectable this year? I can see wins in both out-of-conference games, but they will need to beat at least one or two other teams in the Huron League.