THE ROAD TO FORD FIELD--MCC'S DISTRICT OPPONENTS (possibly)

[Barney Reinberg]

Once again, work forces me to miss the MCC game.  I drove past the field on Johnson Road and got a glimpse of the pre-game warm-ups.  I glanced at the scoreboard at the Southern end of the field.  There was fifty-one minutes before the start of the game and there were fans from both sides already in the stands.  It warmed my heart to see this type of support.  But on to what we (I) want to talk about.  Playoffs, we’re talking about playoffs.  Not practice but playoffs.

Football season is over for some, others begin post season play.  Just five games separate them and a state championship.  Not an easy road, but one that must be traveled to reach the summit.  It all starts with district play.  Who and where you play will be decided on Sunday night.  For Mason County Central, the first question will be answered this Sunday, but the second question has already been answered.

MCC will have (should) home field advantage through district play.  Two of the five games will be at Spartan Community field.  Maybe Central gets cheeky and plays a game on the egg cooking turf at Oriole Field.  Probably not, no turf like home turf.

Let’s predict who the Spartan’s will meet in the first round of the playoffs.  Last year, Central was in District 2.  That District was comprised of MCC, Manistee, Kingsley and Lake City.  Lake City will not make the playoffs this season.  The only two teams from the district that have the “qualifying” six wins are 8-1 MCC and 7-2 Kingsley.  So, plan on both teams being in the same district this year.  Which leaves us with two teams.

Looking at playoff points 5-4 Manistee makes it into the field.  Based on the playoff point system, it seems Manistee is an obvious selection.  It’s the fourth team that is a little difficult to predict.  There is no telling which direction MHSAA will go to select that team.  North could be Boyne City.  Boyne City was placed in District 1 last year.  With only two UP teams qualifying for the playoffs, Boyne City is more likely than not to stay north. 

If They decide to go East, they could pick up Reed City.  If this is the case, District 2 will be a “District of Death”.  Placing three of the top ten Division 6 teams in the same District.  The end of season rankings (Associated Press) has Reed City at five, Kingsley at seven and MCC ten.  Reed City would have the highest playoff point total and have two home games.  Central would-be home week 10 and face Kingsley.  Kingsley is the defending 2023 Division 6 State Champion (by the way).  Going East is the most challenging route.  Let’s look at the Southern path.

Picking a Team from the South seems the most logical choice.  That team would be Montague.  The Wildcats finished the season with a 5-4 record and are just a couple of playoff points behind Manistee.  Should Montague be the selection, the first-round games would be MCC v Montague and Kingsley v Manistee.  Also, MCC gets home field advantage in district play.

So, there you have the prediction MCC, Manistee, Kingsley and Montague. These selections could be considered (in statical nomenclature) as “Diddly Quat”.  Good Luck to the Spartans.  As for Ludington….meh.  BR

[XLFD]

I see that Kingsley's opening home game was a loss versus Reed City.  If RC is in the district instead of Montague, would they have them replay Kingsley and have Ludington replay Manistee as a 'seeding' based on records might suggest?

[Barney Reinberg]

I dont think so.  win/loss records are not a factor in seeding teams.  it's playoff points.  If RC was in the district, RC would have most points.  followed by MCC, Kingsley and finally Manistee.  So, first round would be RC/manistee and MCC/Kingsley.  1 v4, 2v3 format.

[XLFD]

They just have been set, the visitors will be Standish-Sterling:  

Manistee (5-4) 37.222 at Reed City (7-2) 48.222|
Standish-Sterling (6-3) 45.111 at Mason County Central (8-1) 46.431, 7 p.m. Friday

[Willy]

Thanks for this topic Barney.

[Barney Reinberg]

I didn't see SS coming.  It's a tough district.