PICKFORD – Engadine will go for its first win over Pickford since 1998 when it visits the Panthers Friday as our “MISportsNow Fans’ Choice Game of the Week.”
Pickford and Engadine have cruised through the opening two weeks of the season, outscoring opponents a combined 220-18. Engadine has posted wins over Charlton Heston Academy (62-0) and defending Bridge Alliance Football League champion Onaway (34-12), while Pickford has rolled through Bellaire (56-6) and Pellston (68-0).
Pickford leads the all-time series at 37-14-1.
For our “Overtime on the Road” matchup, Traverse City Central (2-0) begins its defense of its Big North Conference title against rival Traverse City West (2-0) in the fifth annual Patriot Game.
After recording only its second losing season (4-5) in program history a year ago, the Titans are off to a strong start this fall, picking up wins over Midland (42-14) and Grand Haven (38-17) and outscoring opponents by an average of 24.5 points per game.
Despite wins over sizeable Class A programs, West coach Tim Wooer says the Titans have yet to face competition the level of Central.
“We’re going to face probably the best team, certainly so far this season, and possibly throughout the season on Friday night in Central,” Wooer said. “They’re extremely talented defensively and by far the best defensive team we’ve seen. Explosive on offense with (Devante) Walker and all the weapons that they have.”
Completing its first undefeated regular season since winning the 1988 Class A state championship a year ago, Central has picked up right where it left off, rolling past Bay City Western (41-0) and Marquette (45-20).
“I think it just proves to our players that, hey they’ve beaten quality competition and they’ve been successful. So you have to raise our level to beat a team like that, because they’ve been successful,” Central coach Eric Schugars said. “When a team is successful, they play differently.”
These are just two of the 16 local games that we plan to show Friday night on Sports Overtime.
Matthew Doyle
Traverse City West at Traverse City Central
David Lyden
White Cloud at Lakeview
Hesperia at Morley Stanwood
Derrick Larr
Traverse City St. Francis at Elk Rapids
Greg Miller
Manistee at Ludington
Whitehall at Mason County Central
Jim Lehocky
Engadine at Pickford
Eric Davis
Gaylord St. Mary at Inland Lakes
Rudyard at Pellston
Jeff Blakeman
McBain at Evart
Jake Johnson
Beal City at Pine River
John Harrington
Mesick at Glen Lake
Noah Jurik
Cadillac at Petoskey
Tawas at Harbor Springs
Bonus
Whittemore-Prescott at Oscoda
Gaylord at Escanaba
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