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Football Playoff Showdowns: East Jordan hopes to continue historic season; Central Lake, Inland Lakes eye Superior Dome

James Cook, The Record-Eagle, Traverse City, Mich.
·3 min read

Oct. 26—ISHPEMING at EAST JORDAN

WHEN: 2 p.m., Saturday

RECORDS: East Jordan (8-1); Ishpeming (6-3)

LAST WEEK: East Jordan beat Elk Rapids, 20-0; Ishpeming beat Ishpeming Westwood, 30-0

SERIES: First meeting

STREAM: nfhsnetwork.com/events/mhsaa-mi/gamb6552e9cb9 OR wrup.com (Ishpeming broadcast)

BACKGROUND: The Hematites become the 10th Upper Peninsula team the Red Devils have ever faced. Rudyard and fellow NMFC-Legacy member St. Ignace are the only U.P. teams East Jordan has played in football more than once. The Devils look to build off an 8-1 season and last year's 6-0 postseason win against Frankfort. An EJ victory would match the program's best win total with the 1999 and 1979 squads.

BENZIE at MENOMINEE

WHEN: 1 p.m., Saturday

RECORDS: Benzie (5-4); Menominee (7-2)

LAST WEEK: Benzie lost to Cheboygan, 29-25; Menominee beat Bark River-Harris, 44-14

SERIES: First meeting

STREAM: nfhsnetwork.com/events/mhsaa-mi/gam5dac3c939d

BACKGROUND: The Maroons have 54 postseason victories under their belt (to only 29 defeats), while the Huskies are 9-12. The trip from BCHS to Blesch Field is 344 miles and takes almost six hours — each way.

HOUGHTON LAKE at McBAIN

WHEN: 7 p.m., Friday

RECORDS: McBain (5-4); Houghton Lake (5-4)

LAST WEEK: McBain lost to Fowler, 40-0; Houghton Lake beat St. Louis, 48-8

LAST MEETING: McBain beat Houghton Lake 42-16 in Week Five

SERIES: McBain leads 3-1

RADIO: FM-107.9 (McBain); FM-92.1 (Houghton Lake)

STREAM: nfhsnetwork.com/events/mhsaa-mi/gam3384967711 OR youtube.com/@Wcdy

BACKGROUND: McBain kept its streak of consecutive winning regular seasons intact at seven with a 5-4 mark this year. Now, the Ramblers look to take that into the postseason, where McBain hasn't won more than one playoff game since 2015. With a strong decision over the Bobcats already under their belt, the Ramblers can shoot for that as Beaverton and Hemlock wait on the other side of the district bracket.

LINCOLN ALCONA at INLAND LAKES

WHEN: 7 p.m., Friday

RECORDS: Inland Lakes (8-1); Lincoln Alcona (8-1)

LAST WEEK: Inland Lakes beat Gaylord St. Mary, 36-30; Alcona beat Whittemore-Prescott, 54-0

LAST YEAR: Alcona won 50-40

SERIES: Inland Lakes leads 2-1

STREAM: nfhsnetwork.com/events/mhsaa-mi/gama671ed0883

BACKGROUND: These two first met in 1971, then not again for 50 years in 2021. But this is the first postseason faceoff between the two. Junior QB Aidan Fenstermaker leads the Bulldogs on the ground, through the air and on defense. Garrett Somers is much the same for the Tigers. Senior WR Jacob Willey receives the bulk of targets in the Bulldogs' pass game. Both teams' only loss came against St. Ignace: Inland Lakes by a 30-28 score, and Alcona by a 42-28 margin.

CENTRAL LAKE at ST. IGNACE

WHEN: 7 p.m., Friday

RECORDS: Central Lake (7-2); St. Ignace (8-1)

LAST WEEK: Central Lake beat Atlanta, 38-12; St. Ignace beat Pickford, 42-10

LAST MEETING: St. Ignace won 56-0 in 2016

SERIES: St. Ignace leads 4-0

STREAM: nfhsnetwork.com/events/mhsaa-mi/gam210f07aaf4

BACKGROUND: The Trojans started the season 1-2 but then reeled off six consecutive victories. The Saints won 56-0 back in 2016, the Trojans' last year playing 11-player football and the season before Central Lake won the 8-player Division 1 state championship with a perfect 13-0 record. In their only playoff meeting, St. Ignace won 28-12 in a 2002 Division 7 matchup.

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