Petoskey, Charlevoix open playoffs with rematches; EJ, Boyne challenge 'U.P. Power'

MARQUETTE — Who’s up for round two?

The first matchup between the Petoskey and Marquette football teams was so close – decided in a 21-20 Marquette victory – the Northmen certainly wouldn’t mind another crack across the bridge.

Knowing it was certainly an option before football playoff pairings were announced Sunday night, Petoskey head coach Jim Webb and the rest of his team were happy to officially receive the opportunity.

“They were jacked when they announced the teams,” said Webb on his team. “They were fired up, which is a good thing. I think it’s an awesome draw for us, other than the trip. But, everything else included, I think it’s a great draw.”

Petoskey will head to Marquette (5-3) for a 6 p.m. kickoff in their Division 3 district opener on Friday, Oct. 27. Also within district 1 is Bay City Western (5-4) visiting Gaylord (9-0) Friday.

Petoskey is the lone team within the district to have played all three other teams, though they’ve fallen to all three.

Marquette came by just the lone point, they fell in only a 9-0 game against Gaylord, then the loss to Western was one in which it was a one-possession game in the fourth, before Western broke it open.

Coming off a loss to Clare to end the season at home a week ago, if there’s more good news for the Northmen, it’s that they haven’t taken back to back losses all season. Each loss during the 2023 campaign so far has been followed by a double-digit victory.

Against Marquette the second time, Webb is for a better mental approach to the three-hour trip through the Upper Peninsula from his team.

“I think first and foremost we have to be ready to play,” said Webb. “I don’t think it has anything to do with the X’s and O’s, it’s the mental preparation of practices and mental preparation for that game.”

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Marquette took the early advantage and 7-0 lead four weeks back, then took a 21-14 lead in the second half when the Northmen again came out slow.

While they’ll of course want to change some things up, one good thing heading in is the cutdown of prep in figuring out Marquette.

“You don’t have to start from scratch and try to figure out their personnel and base stuff, so it cuts down on that,” said Webb. “You’ve got a feel for what they tried to do the first time we played them, so that helps. It doesn’t hurt, honestly.”

The Northmen haven’t hid any bit of what they’ve done well down the stretch, with much of it coming behind the arm and legs of senior quarterback Joe McCarthy.

The regular season closed with McCarthy grabbing every single PHS passing record, season and career, including career passing yards (3,163), season passing yards (1,628), season touchdowns (17) career touchdowns (34) and season completions (94) and completion percentage (.65).

He’s also had more added to his legs this season, running for over 400 yards and five scores.

“He’s taken control, he’s been a much better leader and he wants the ball late in games,” said Webb on his QB. “He’s proven that he knows what to do with it. He’s become a little more intricate to our run game now. There’s certain times during the year where you say there’s not a whole lot to hold back for now and Joe is willing to do it all.”

That all-out attitude is what it takes this time of year to be moving on. A win Friday would bring Petoskey its first season of six or more wins since 2015 and first playoff victory since that same season.

Here’s what else is on tap for the rest of the area as the playoffs begin:

DIVISION 6 

Boyne City (5-4) at Gladstone (7-2) 

7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 27 

GLADSTONE — After riding a four-game losing streak during mid-season, the goal remained the same for the Boyne City football team.

And they’ve reached that mark of the playoffs. Now, the goal gets reset to earning a playoff win, then another.

First up is a Gladstone team that’s played a challenging Upper Peninsula schedule in 2023, which includes playoff-bound Marquette, Negaunee, Kingsford and Menominee, coming out with a 2-2 record in those games.

The Braves earned a district title a season ago, topping a Manistee squad in a 36-14 final that sent the Ramblers packing in 2022.

Now fully healthy – or as much as a team can be this time of year – Boyne City can’t be counted out here. They’re better than the four losses show.

DIVISION 7

TC St. Francis (4-4) at Charlevoix (8-1) 

7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 27 

CHARLEVOIX — Speaking of round two, this matchup looks familiar as well.

Doesn’t it feel like a century ago when the Rayders and Gladiators opened the 2023 season? How things have changed since then.

While St. Francis earned a 41-40 victory in overtime in that season opener, the two have been on different paths since.

Charlevoix has rattled off eight straight wins with a powerful offense that pounds teams behind a veteran offensive line and everyone within Charlevoix County to hand the ball off to.

The Glads have put together just a 3-4 record since, though they’ve met six playoff teams over their last seven games. It’s been far from an easy ride.

Will this one play out like the opener, as a shootout where the last team holding the ball wins? Or did the Rayders find their identity and go out and show it Friday at home?

DIVISION 8 

Ishpeming (6-3) at East Jordan (8-1) 

2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 28 

EAST JORDAN — The playoffs always bring some Saturday high school ball and that’s what we get here with the Hematites and Red Devils.

Once a power with a two-decade long run of playoff trips, Ishpeming’s 6-3 record in 2023 is the first time in four years they’ve had more than four wins.

The schedule started rough, then turned to the tune of five straight wins down the stretch, though they’ve met a pair of 1-8 teams and one 0-6 team that handed Ishpeming a forfeit win.

East Jordan has put in work for their 8-1 mark and proved to know how to grind things out and win with some heroics.

They’ve been quite comfortable at home lately as well, now playing their fourth home game over their last five.

Contact Sports Editor Drew Kochanny at dkochanny@petoskeynews.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DrewKochanny, and Instagram, @drewkochanny

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Petoskey heads to Marquette for playoff rematch, Charlevoix welcomes TCSF again