Prep Football: Standout games on the schedule for every 11-player Hillsdale County team
HILLSDALE COUNTY — The MHSAA prep football season is just around the corner. Teams head into their dead weeks finalizing any last-minute practice details. While teams in Hillsdale County will look to get through their first practices, the first games appear on the horizon later this August.
Each team has a unique game that stands out on their 2023 schedules, including trips to Ottawa Lake Whiteford and hosting teams like Pewamo-Westphalia. While all three teams will be going through unique changes to their schedule, each team's standout game on their schedule will be the ultimate test looming on their calendar.
11-Player Prep Football teams face tougher challenges each season
Conference realignments have thrown the status quo to the wind for 2023 for two Hillsdale County prep football teams. For Jonesville, and their former Big 8 rivals in Homer, a new dawn awaits their programs as they leave their longstanding tradition as Big 8 Conference members to start a new journey as Cascade football teams.
The Cascade Conference also brought in Brooklyn Columbia Central, filling out a new conference alignment that began to take shape earlier this year. To compensate for the loss of key programs, Big 8 football teams will play at least two members of the Tri-County Conference this upcoming season. The cross-conference pairing will make for an interesting challenge for the teams remaining in the two leagues, including Hillsdale County powerhouse: Reading.
In addition, the Hillsdale varsity Hornets will prepare for their annual rivalry game against Jonesville for week one. But one week after, the Hornets will have to prepare for one of the bigger schools they have faced in the past decade: Lake Fenton. This will be one of the toughest stretches any county team will face this year, but the Hornets will have to navigate it as they head into a new-look LCAA schedule. Out is Columbia central, and in is Adrian Madison.
Hillsdale Prep Football Schedule (2022 Record: 4-5)
at Jonesville: Friday, Aug. 25 7 p.m.
vs. Lake Fenton: Thursday, Aug. 31 7 p.m.
at Blissfield: Friday, Sept. 15 7 p.m.
vs. Ida: Friday, Sept. 22 7 p.m.
vs. Adrian Masion: Friday, Sept. 29 7 p.m.
at Dundee: Friday, Oct. 6 7 p.m.
at Clinton: Friday, Oct. 13 7 p.m.
vs. Onsted: Friday, Oct. 20 7 p.m.
Standout Game: Lake Fenton.
Head coach Marc Lemerand and the Hornets welcome the Lake Fenton Blue Devils to Baumgarten Stadium for their second game of the season. It will be a short turnaround for the Hornets, who will have one less day to prepare for the game, and it comes one week after their rival opener against Jonesville.
The Blue Devils earned a 9-2 overall record in 2021 on their way to a district finals appearance and a Flint Metro League championship. Lake Fenton fell short of their expectations in the 2022 prep football season after falling to 3-6 on the year. The Blue Devils had one score losses to Gaylord and eventual state runner-up Goodrich. They put together impressive shutout victories against Clio and Owosso and took down Ortonville Brandon 30-14 for their third win. However, the offense just scored 179 total points in 2022 and gave up 154 to opposing teams.
Jonesville Prep Football Schedule (2022 Result: 4-5; now playing in Cascades West)
vs. Hillsdale: Friday Aug. 25 7 p.m.
at Michigan Center: Thursday, Aug. 31 7 p.m.
vs. Grass Lake: Friday, Sept. 8 7 p.m.
at Hanover-Horton: Friday, Sept. 15 7 p.m.
vs. Addison: Friday, Sept. 22 7 p.m.
at Columbia Central: Friday, Sept. 29 7 p.m.
vs. Pewamo-Westphalia: Friday, Oct. 6 7 p.m.
at Homer: Friday, Oct. 13 7 p.m.
Standout Game: Pewamo-Westphalia
In a season of change, it is surprising to see the standout game of the 2023 season come during a week eight non-conference game. Head coach Frank Keller and the 2023 Comets welcome the perennial D7 powerhouse Pewamo-Westphalia Pirates on Oct. 6. The Pirates have not missed a playoff berth since 2004. In that time, the pirates have claimed four Division 7 state championships, including the 2021 Division 7 state title.
The Pirates will look to return to their 2021 highs after going 6-5 in 2022. The Pirates lost 7-28 to New Lothrop in a D7 district championship game. The Pirates dropped more than 200 points from their offensive production from 2021 to 2022. The defense gave up 100 more points to opposing offenses from 2021 to 2022. Despite their setback, the Pirates look to bring their prestige program to Jonesville to start October.
Reading Prep Football Schedule (2022 Result: 8-3)
vs. White Pigeon: Thursday, Aug. 24 7 p.m.
vs. Quincy: Thursday, Aug. 31 7 p.m.
at Union City: Friday, Sept. 8 7 p.m.
vs. Bronson: Friday, Sept. 15 7 p.m.
at Springport: Friday, Sept. 22 7 p.m.
at Hanover-Horton: Friday, Sept. 29 7 p.m.
at Ottawa Lake Whiteford: Friday, Oct. 6 7 p.m.
vs. Erie-Mason: Friday, Oct. 13 7 p.m.
at North Central (Pioneer, OH): Friday, Oct. 20 7 p.m.
Standout Game: Ottawa Lake Whiteford
There are several games on the Reading Rangers' 2023 calendar that could be the "standout" game of their upcoming season. First, they welcome the White Pigeon Chiefs for their third matchup in two years. The Rangers took on White Pigeon to open the 2022 season on the road, winning that contest 33-14.
The Ranger and White Pigeon met again in the district finals, where White Pigeon earned revenge. Their opening season matchup will be one of the top games to watch in Hillsdale County, and it occurs a day before many other opening weekend contests.
However, the Rangers' first scheduled games against their TCC-crossover opponents will happen on Oct. 6. The Rangers cap off a three-game road trip with a visit to the Whiteford Bobcats, the 2022 Division 8 state champions. The Bobcats broke through Addison, Gabriel Richard, White Pigeon, Everest and Ubly on their way to a title. The Bobcats have been to the playoffs every year since 2012.
This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Prep Football: Standout games on the schedule for every 11-player Hillsdale County team
