(THIS) FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

[Barney Reinberg]

High School football is nearing its end of season.  Mason County Central earned a berth in the playoffs with their sixth win last Friday at Spartan Community field.   Ludington unfortunately ran into Whitehall and has yet to secure their sixth win.  With Oakridge and Montague taking a step back Whitehall has emerged as the West Michigan Conference Lakes division bullies.  Fear not Ludington, you’ll punch your ticket this Friday at Muskegon Orchard View.  Mason County will be on the road to Shelby to play a 3-4 Tiger team.  If you’re a “homer” for either team, the drive home should be an enjoyable one.  If you’re a fan of high school football and want to watch a game that has more than a little on the line.  I recommend you travel a few miles North and watch the Manistee verse Montague game.

First, Manistee sits at 4-3 and Montague has a 3-4 record.  Six wins is a guaranteed playoff spot, while five wins has a decent chance of making it into Week 10.  Manistee needs at least one more win to get to five.  If they fail Friday night, their last chance will be against 7-1(8-1) and State ranked Mason County Central.  Montage playing in the Lakes division may have a chance with a record of 4-5 but lose to Manistee and they have a tough battle with a Ravenna Bulldogs team needing win in Week 9 as well.  This is a critical game for both teams.

The teams match up quite well when we compare them with a couple of common opponents.  Just look at how each team fared against Muskegon Oakridge.  Manistee came away on the short end of a 49-22 score.  Montage on the other hand came out of top 14-7 in a defensive struggle.  Against Ludington, Manistee fell short by one point in a 39-38 shootout.  Montage fell to the Orioles by 11 45-34.

This could be a game well worth the thirty-minute drive.  Manistee with a bit more offense and Montague with a bit more defense.  You can catch the game as well on MHSAA.tv with a subscription.  I’ll be working so it’s the live stream for me.  BR

[XLFD]

Thanks for the prep update, I'm very impressed with MCC this year.  Back when I was growing up in Scottville, they'd be hard pressed for two wins during most school years.  Now, after a year where the school board heard a lot of complaints from parents about their coaches and their methods, the kids have stepped up, and one has to give some credit to the coaches.  If the Manistee-Montague contest was held on neutral ground without so much on the line, I think Montague would prevail, but I think Manistee will use home-cooking and desperation to squeak out a win by a touchdown or two.

[Barney Reinberg]

I was thinking about the "coaching concerns" as well.  At 7-1, they must be doing something right.  It should be a good game.