2024 Schedule Analysis: Whiteford Bobcats

By Frank Vajcner

It’s time to wrap up the Schedule Analysis series with a trip to The Woods. While Whiteford saw a 27-game winning streak come to an end in the State Finals, they still made the postseason for a 12th consecutive season, which is currently the best active streak for any blog team. What will the schedule hold for the Bobcats, who are also on a 23-game regular season winning streak?

2024 Schedule:

Aug 29: Blissfield

Sept 6: @ Ida

Sept 13: @ Buchanan

Sept 20: @ Edon (OH)

Sept 27: Summerfield

Oct 4: Erie Mason

Oct 11: @ Clarkston Everest Collegiate

Oct 18: @ White Pigeon

Oct 25: @ Lucas (OH)

Gut-Check Game: I could make a case for all of the non-conference games, especially the road games. But since I don’t want to be long-winded, I’ll highlight what I believe could be the toughest. In Week 3, the Bobcats will make a 166-mile trek to Southwest Michigan to face Buchanan. The Bucks are coming off of a 7-4 campaign with their second straight playoff appearance. Besides the long trip, this will likely test the mettle of a much younger Bobcat team.

It’s also worth mentioning a trip to Edon, Ohio the following week. The Bobcats will return to the scene of their last regular-season loss, which was a 52-32 defeat by the Bombers in 2021. Plus the Bombers will be looking to avenge a 58-18 shellacking in the Woods last season. I’ll also throw in a playoff rematch at White Pigeon, which will be a 122-mile trek. The Chiefs will be looking to avenge a 54-6 beatdown in the Woods in last season’s Regional Championship.

Trap Game: Week 2 will bring the shortest road trip of the season to Ida. Even though the Bobcats have owned the Blue Streaks in each of the last three seasons, the Streaks return a boatload of skill and trench talent to a team that is being considered a sleeper for a deep playoff run. Plus, this game is at the start of a tough three-game stretch on the road. I also like this as a potential Game of the Week.

Snoozer: There isn’t one to be found.

Non-Conference Challenge: With only two conference games, I’ll highlight the best of the rest in the out-of-conference. The Bobcats will open with Blissfield coming to The Woods. The Royals put a scare into Whiteford last season before the Bobcats scored late to pull out a 28-21 win. Blissfield went 5-5 last season.

The Bobcats will also face another familiar foe in Week 7, as they will travel 89 miles to face Everest Collegiate. The Mountaineers went 9-3 and made the playoffs for an 11th straight season. Both teams have met three times in the playoffs, with the Bobcats having won all three meetings. 

Whiteford will end the season making a 136-mile trek to Lucas, Ohio, which is just outside of Mansfield. The Cubs went 8-2 last season.

Fun Facts: The Bobcats will play two three-game stretches on the road. Oddly enough, all the road games are non-conference…The Bobcats will be logging a lot of miles on the road this season, as all six road games will be a combined 1,208 miles of round trip travel. The longest trip will be to Buchanan, while the shortest will be to Ida…Both TCC games will be at home.

Thoughts from Frank: I have to give Todd Thieken credit for scheduling tough games, as all non-conference opponents finished at least .500 or better last season. There will be plenty of playoff points to be earned for the Bobcats, which should help them immensely, as they will be in Division 7 this season.