High School Football schedules: Flat Rock coach on top of the world

Brady Reaume felt like the king of the world.

The 6-year-old son of Flat Rock football coach Buck Reaume climbed to the top of a stack of sections of artificial turf and struck a Superman pose.

His father snapped a photo.

Buck knows exactly how his son felt.

There have been times over the past few months where he felt like Superman, too.

Reaume’s tenure as coach of the Rams has been filled with ups and downs.

He took over a team in 2015 that had endured two straight winless seasons. The Rams managed just one winning season over the next seven years.

Everything changed last fall.

The Rams earned a berth in the state playoffs and won two games – Flat Rock’s first playoff wins since the legendary state championship season of 1976.

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If that wasn’t enough, Reaume also was promoted to an assistant principal position and the school district announced plans to install artificial turf on Marv Mittlestat Field.

“It’s wild, man,” Reaume said. “Me and my son ride our bikes to the school and check it out at the end of each day.”

Most of the key players from last year’s team – including quarterback Graham Junge, who broke the Monroe County Region record for passing yards in a season, are back for the 2023 season.

Anticipation is sky high in Flat Rock.

But Ram fans won’t get to see their team on the new turf for a few weeks. Flat Rock plays its first two games on the road.

“It’s one of those things,” Reaume said. “Initially, we wanted to host the first game. But I talked to Mr. Brodie (superintendent Andrew Brodie) and he said it would be better to play it safe and open on the road.”

Flat Rock has been promised a completion date of Aug. 28 for the new field. That was too close for comfort with the first game of the season scheduled for Aug. 25.

The Rams now have a margin for error with Airport slated to visit Sept. 8 to christen the new field.

Instead, Flat Rock will help Dundee inaugurate its new field.

Those two teams will kick off on Dundee’s new turf Aug. 25. It will be the first regular-season game between the teams since Oct. 27, 1995.

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“We used to play them every year, way before me,” Reaume said. “It was a game played in 90s, but kind of went away.”

Flat Rock has a 23-12 advantage in 35 previous meetings, including a thrilling 27-22 win in the opening round of the Division 5 state playoffs last season.

“We’re both about the same size and have a lot of people back from last year,” Reaume said. “It should be a really good game.”

That game is part of a completely revamped opening week of the season. Monroe (Jackson), St. Mary Catholic Central (Warren Michigan Collegiate), Summerfield (Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes) and defending Division 8 state champion Whiteford (Blissfield) are the only Monroe County Region teams kicking off the season against the same teams as last year.

Airport will open what looks to be a promising season at Gibraltar Carlson. The teams have not met since a playoff contest in 2005 that Airport won 34-21.

“Jim (Airport coach Jim Duffy) reached out and asked me if I was interested,” Carlson coach Jason Gendron said. “It made sense for us, playing a team so close. I have a lot of respect for Jim and I know they will be good. I thought it was a good matchup for us.”

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Carlson plays in the nine-team Downriver League. It has just one non-league opening each season, making scheduling a challenge. But for the next two seasons, Carlson’s non-league game is in Week 1.

So, Airport and Carlson struck a two-year deal.

The teams both used to be members of the Huron League. Airport leads the all-time series 16-14. Both are coming off playoff seasons.

Erie Mason cut down its travel significantly in Week 1 by scheduling a game at Jefferson. The Eagles opened at Saranac last season.

“It’s definitely a much shorter trip,” Mason coach Steve Bowers said.

Mason pulled out a 14-6 victory over the Bears in Week 9 last season to secure a state playoff berth.

“We’re familiar with them from last year, but they have a new coaching staff and we’re not exactly sure what they are doing as far as scheme,” Bowers said.

The new coach at Jefferson adds a layer of intrigue to the matchup. Former Mason coach Rob Beaudrie is taking over the Bears this fall.

“It definitely gives the game an interesting twist,” Bowers said. “Some of our guys who are seniors this year were freshmen back when he was coaching here.”

Milan resumes its long rivalry with Ypsilanti Lincoln by visiting the Railsplitters on Aug. 25. The teams last played in 2018. Milan leads the series 36-20-1.

The other new Week 1 matchups this season are Bedford at Canton, Ida at Grosse Ile and Livonia Churchill at New Boston Huron.

Many teams dive into their league seasons in Week 2, but Whiteford and Ida will continue their interesting series on Aug. 31. Ida, which leads the rivalry 12-8, will visit the Bobcats this year.

Two of the Monroe County Region best rivalries show up in Week 9 this year. Dundee will host Ida in the final game of the regular season on Oct. 20 and Whiteford will make a short trip to Summerfield.

SMCC picked up a tough final game.

The Falcons will travel to Birmingham Detroit Country Day for a Saturday homecoming game on Oct. 21. The teams have met six previous times with Country Day winning all of them.

"They reached out to us," said SMCC coach Adam Kipf, who played for the Falcons the last time the teams met in 1998. "They're certainly a good team, but we want to be able to play good teams and get ready for the playoffs."

AIRPORT

Aug. 24: at Gibraltar Carlson, 7 p.m.

Aug. 31: RIVERVIEW, 7 p.m.

Sept. 8: at Flat Rock, 7 p.m.

Sept. 15: at SMCC, 7 p.m.

Sept. 22: GROSSE ILE, 7 p.m.

Sept. 29: at New Boston Huron, 7 p.m.

Oct. 6: at Jefferson, 7 p.m.

Oct. 13: MILAN, 7 p.m.

Oct. 20: D.H. CRESTWOOD, 7 p.m.

BEDFORD

Aug. 25: at Canton, 7 p.m.

Sept. 1: ANN ARBOR SKYLINE, 7 p.m.

Sept. 8: at Dexter, 7 p.m.

Sept. 15: SALINE, 7 p.m.

Sept. 22: at Ann Arbor Pioneer, 7 p.m.

Sept. 29: YPSILANTI LINCOLN, 7 p.m.

Oct. 6: ANN ARBOR HURON, 7 p.m.

Oct. 13: at Monroe, 7 p.m.

Oct. 20: TOLEDO ST. FRANCIS, 7 p.m.

DUNDEE

Aug. 24: FLAT ROCK, 7 p.m.

Aug. 31: at Erie Mason, 7 p.m.

Sept. 8: BLISSFIELD, 7 p.m.

Sept. 15: at Onsted, 7 p.m.

Sept. 22: ADRIAN MADISON, 7 p.m.

Sept. 29: at Clinton, 7 p.m.

Oct. 6: HILLSDALE, 7 p.m.

Oct. 13: at Hudson, 7 p.m.

Oct. 20: IDA, 7 p.m.

ERIE MASON

Aug. 25: at Jefferson, 7 p.m.

Aug. 31: DUNDEE, 7 p.m.

Sept. 8: at Northwood (Ohio), 7 p.m.

Sept. 15: at Ottawa Hills (Ohio), 7 p.m.

Sept. 22: SUMMERFIELD, 7 p.m.

Sept. 29: WHITEFORD, 7 p.m.

Oct. 6: QUINCY, 7 p.m.

Oct. 13: at Reading, 7 p.m.

Oct. 20: at Sand Creek, 7 p.m.

FLAT ROCK

Aug. 24: at Dundee, 7 p.m.

Aug. 31: at Grosse Ile, 7 p.m.

Sept. 8: AIRPORT, 7 p.m.

Sept. 15: JEFFERSON, 7 p.m.

Sept. 22: at Riverview, 7 p.m.

Sept. 29: at Milan, 7 p.m.

Oct. 6: SMCC, 7 p.m.

Oct. 13: NEW BOSTON HURON, 7 p.m.

Oct. 20: LIVONIA CLARENCEVILLE, 7 p.m.

GIBRALTAR CARLSON

Aug. 24: AIRPORT, 7 p.m.

Aug. 31: at Dearborn Edsel Ford, 7 p.m.

Sept. 8: at Taylor, 7 p.m.

Sept. 15: WYANDOTTE ROOSEVELT, 7 p.m.

Sept. 22: SOUTHGATE ANDERSON, 7 p.m.

Sept. 29: at Trenton, 7 p.m.

Oct. 6: at Woodhaven, 7 p.m.

Oct. 13: ALLEN PARK, 7 p.m.

Oct. 20: LINCOLN PARK, 7 p.m.

IDA

Aug. 24: at Grosse Ile, 7 p.m.

Aug. 31: at Whiteford, 7 p.m.

Sept. 8: CLINTON, 7 p.m.

Sept. 15: HUDSON, 7 p.m.

Sept. 22: at Hillsdale, 7 p.m.

Sept. 29: at Onsted, 7 p.m.

Oct. 6: BLISSFIELD, 7 p.m.

Oct. 13: ADRIAN MADISON, 7 p.m.

Oct. 20: at Dundee, 7 p.m.

JEFFERSON

Aug. 25: ERIE MASON, 7 p.m.

Sept. 1: at Milan, 7 p.m.

Sept. 8: RIVERVIEW, 7 p.m.

Sept. 15: at Flat Rock, 7 p.m.

Sept. 22: NEW BOSTON HURON, 7 p.m.

Sept. 29: at Grosse Ile, 7 p.m.

Oct. 6: AIRPORT, 7 p.m.

Oct. 13: SMCC, 7 p.m.

Oct. 20: at Melvindale, 7 p.m.

MILAN

Aug. 25: at Ypsilanti Lincoln, 7 p.m.

Sept. 1: JEFFERSON, 7 p.m.

Sept. 8: NEW BOSTON HURON, 7 p.m.

Sept. 15: at Grosse Ile, 7 p.m.

Sept. 22: SMCC, 7 p.m.

Sept. 29: FLAT ROCK, 7 p.m.

Oct. 6: at Riverview, 7 p.m.

Oct. 13: at Airport, 7 p.m.

Oct. 20: ANN ARBOR SKYLINE, 7 p.m.

MONROE

Aug. 24: at Jackson, 7 p.m.

Aug. 31: at Ann Arbor Huron, 7 p.m.

Sept. 8: YPSILANTI LINCOLN, 7 p.m.

Sept. 14: ANN ARBOR SKYLINE, 7 p.m.

Sept. 22: at Saline, 7 p.m.

Sept. 29: ANN ARBOR PIONEER, 7 p.m.

Oct. 6: at Dexter, 7 p.m.

Oct. 13: BEDFORD, 7 p.m.

Oct. 20: RIVERVIEW, 7 p.m.

NEW BOSTON HURON

Aug. 24: LIVONIA CHURCHILL, 7 p.m.

Aug. 31: SMCC, 7 p.m.

Sept. 8: at Milan, 7 p.m.

Sept. 15: RIVERVIEW, 7 p.m.

Sept. 22: at Jefferson, 7 p.m.

Sept. 29: AIRPORT, 7 p.m.

Oct. 6: at Grosse ile, 7 p.m.

Oct. 13: at Flat Rock, 7 p.m.

Oct. 20: at Detroit Henry Ford, 7 p.m.

SMCC

Aug. 24: WARREN COLLEGIATE, 7 p.m.

Aug. 31: at New Boston Huron, 7 p.m.

Sept. 8: GROSSE ILE, 7 p.m.

Sept. 15: AIRPORT, 7 p.m.

Sept. 22: at Milan, 7 p.m.

Sept. 29: RIVERVIEW, 7 p.m.

Oct. 6: at Flat Rock, 7 p.m.

Oct. 13: at Jefferson, 7 p.m.

Oct. 21: at Detroit Country Day, 1 p.m.

SUMMERFIELD

Aug. 25: at Waterford Our Lady, 7 p.m.

Aug. 31: BRONSON, 7 p.m.

Sept. 8: SPRINGPORT, 7 p.m.

Sept. 15: at West Unity Hilltop (Ohio), 7 p.m.

Sept. 22: at Erie Mason, 7 p.m.

Sept. 29: at Sand Creek, 7 p.m.

Oct. 6: UNION CITY, 7 p.m.

Oct. 13: at Quincy, 7 p.m.

Oct. 20: WHITEFORD, 7 p.m.

WHITEFORD

Aug. 24: at Blissfield, 7 p.m.

Aug. 31: IDA, 7 p.m.

Sept. 8: at Ottawa Hills (Ohio), 7 p.m.

Sept. 15: at Edon (Ohio), 7 p.m.

Sept. 22: SAND CREEK, 7 p.m.

Sept. 29: at Erie Mason, 7 p.m.

Oct. 6: READING, 7 p.m.

Oct. 13: at Union City, 7 p.m.

Oct. 20: at Summerfield, 7 p.m.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: High School Football schedules: Flat Rock coach on top of the world