By Frank Vajcner and Gary Hauf
Before we get to our much-anticipated Week 1 picks, Gary and I will serve up a tasty appetizer of the best games to attend this season.
We will also put games into the following two categories:
Without further ado…
Week 1
Must-See Game: SMCC at Clinton. I feel like that I’m stating the painfully obvious here, but this game has a LOT of juice. A rematch of a playoff game, both teams having aspirations of deep playoff runs, and two teams that will play disciplined, detail-oriented football. Did I mention that they could see each other again in the postseason? Stay tuned.
Under the Radar: Blissfield at Whiteford: The first of three regular-season games in The Woods. The last time the two teams met, it took a miraculous 80-yard run by Ryin Ruddy to win. Can the Bobcats protect home field with not many starters returning, even though I have said that no one walks into The Woods and leaves a winner?
Grosse Ile at Ida: I had to put this one on here, as there is a lot of hype around the Blue Streaks this season. Despite their 13-2 record in their last 15 season openers against the Huron League, the Red Devils will be looking to recapture their even-numbered year magic.
Week 2
Must-See Game: Whiteford @ Ida. Fantastic early season matchup. Both teams will come into this contest with big plans for the 2024 season. This one will go a long way for the winner.
Under the Radar: Ann Arbor Huron @ Monroe. This is a swing game very early in the season for both teams. For the Trojans, this game could propel them into a possible 3-0 start. If the Trojans are to make the playoffs, I think that is where they need to be after 3 games.
Week 3
Must-See Game: Ida at Hudson. The Streaks face their first road test at a place that has been a house of horrors in Hudson’s Thompson Field. Ida has only defeated the Tigers twice there since 2000. The Tigers also have aspirations of a Ford Field run.
Under the Radar: Whiteford at Buchanan. The Bobcats will be on the road a lot this season, and a 166-mile haul to Southwest Michigan one week after a tough game at Ida will not be a walk in the park for the Cats.
Week 4
Must-See Game: Saline @ Monroe. Anytime the Hornets visit Bunkleman Field, it is a big game. The Trojans have not beaten Saline since 2011. After almost pulling off the upset last year, Monroe will come into this one with confidence.
Under the Radar: Huron @ Riverview. We talked about Huron being the dark horse in the Huron league. Big opportunity for the Chiefs to make a statement in week 4. Going into Riverview and coming out with a win is not an easy task however. Can Huron make us look good here at FNV?
Week 5
Must-See Game: Riverview at Flat Rock: The Rams had control of the Huron League, until the Pirates knocked them off last season in a thriller. Can the Rams get revenge on their home field? The last time the Rams defeated the Pirates was in 2017.
Under the Radar: Carlson at Southgate Anderson. The last time the Marauders ventured to Southgate, it was the Titans who stunned them. This was also the last regular season Downriver League loss for the Marauders. Jason Gendron will have to keep his team from looking ahead with a big game against Trenton looming the following week.
Week 6
Must-See Game: SMCC @ Riverview. One of a handful of games in the Huron league that will determine who wears the crown. SMCC has not beaten the Pirates since 2019, on its way to a D6 State Championship. A victory in week 6 would mean a lot for the Falcons.
Under the Radar: Bedford @ Saline. Saline has been the benchmark in the SEC Red for quite some time. A win here for the Kicking Mules would be a tremendous statement. You don’t have to go back too far to see that Bedford is plenty capable. The Mules pulled off a stunner just 2 season ago at Saline. Can they do it again?
Week 7
Must-See Game: Flat Rock at SMCC. Last season, the Falcons swooped into Mittlestadt Field and knocked the Rams out of contention for the Huron League. Revenge will be on the mind of the Rams as they head to the Friendly Confines of Navarre Field. And I would be remiss to not mention the Falcons breaking out their new Salute to Armed Forces uniforms.
Under the Radar: Whiteford at Clarkston Everest Collegiate. Another long trip for the Bobcats, who will face a team that they have drubbed in three playoff meetings in the Mountaineers of Everest Collegiate. This time it will be the Mountaineers who will have home-field advantage.
Week 8
Must-See Game: Dundee @ Ida. The Backyard Brawl will nearly always make this list. If the Vikings are to make the playoffs, this is a game they might need to have. For Ida, we may be talking a top seed in the playoffs at this point. This game is almost always played down to the wire. I don’t see that changing.
Under the Radar: Whiteford @ White Pigeon. Locals around here might not be familiar with the Chiefs of White Pigeon. A quality program, of which, Whiteford has knocked out of the playoffs the last 2 seasons. I have to believe, White Pigeon has redemption on their minds.
Week 9
Must-See Game: Ida at Clinton. This could potentially be the Game of the Year in the LCAA. I mentioned that both teams have aspirations of deep playoff runs, but Ida will be looking to exorcise demons at another house of horrors, as they have not won at Wegner Field since 2011.
Under the Radar: Dundee at Blissfield. The last two meetings have been decided by a combined ten points, and this could be a potential playoff-elimination game.
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Good list guys
I know you can only list so many games. I would throw on there as honourable mention:
Week 1: Grosse Ile at Ida. 100% agree with your assessment here! The most underrated game of the week!
Week 2: Jefferson at Milan. If you follow the HL closely, you know the winner of this game will have momentum swung in their favor going into the rest of the league schedule. Big game for both teams.
Week 4: SMCC at Airport. Gut check game for both teams. If SMCC wants to pick up steam towards a lengthy playoff run, they must knock off one of their crosstown rivals in the Jets who whipped the Falcons 42-23 last year. Airport has won the last 2 meetings.
Week 7: Dundee vs. Hudson. I am not sure who is the home team here but after looking at Dundee's schedule, this is a huge game for them. Win and they're in the playoffs.
Week 8: Flat Rock at Huron. Playoff implications on the line. Similar to the backyard brawl storyline.
Week 9: Monroe at Riverview. Riverview is loaded, Monroe is improved. Can the Trojans finally pull it off in a game that is huge for playoff points?
Week 9: Detroit Country Day at SMCC. If SMCC has the season that some people predict them to have, this could be a heck of a game as Country Day has a junior running back with D1 offers and an offensive tackle committed to West Virginia University.
Week 9: Whiteford vs. Lucas. I don't know who the home team is. I have followed Ohio high school football for almost 30 years now and if you don't know, Lucas is one of the better small high school programs in Ohio in the past 10 years or so. Lucas lost in the state championship in 2019 to Marion Local.