Week 8 High School Football Previews and Picks for Branch County

BRANCH COUNTY – There are only two weeks left in the 2023 high school football regular season here in Branch County, as the season has gone by in a blink.

Entering Week 8, we have one team in the county destined for the playoffs, as the Union City Chargers enter this week’s action at 6-1, and boy do they have a doozy of a non-conference matchup at home this week, entertaining the top team in the land in Division 8 in Ottawa Lake Whiteford.

Both Quincy and Bronson head into Week 8 reeling after tough losses, with both sitting at 2-5 on the year. Both teams have finished their conference schedule and are now in the thick of a three-game non-conference block to end the year.

Coldwater will play their final home game this season as they host longtime rival Harper Creek. Coldwater is coming off a devastating one-point loss last week to Northwest and hopes to finally break into the win column Friday versus the Beavers.

In 8-player football we have the Tekonsha Indians taking a very short trek to play a team also still looking for their first win as Tekonsha will face off with Athens.

With all that out of the way, let us look at our full slate of games with The Daily Reporter’s Week 8 High School Football Previews and Picks.

The Daily Reporter Game of the Week- Whiteford (7-0) at Union City (6-1)

At Union City’s Alumni Field, Friday, 7 p.m.

Preview: This is a chance for Union City to prove what they really are, as the Chargers welcome the defending Division 8 state champions and the current No. 1 ranked team in the latest AP poll to town, as Ottawa Lake Whiteford will make the trip.

Union City has shown just how dangerous they can be, in all facets of the game, scoring on the ground, in the air, on special teams, and even on defense in their win over Summerfield last week. Union City’s bread and butter is their run game, a game that has four potential game breakers in the backfield with Rick Austin, Riley Laird, Dylon MacDonald, and Brendan Labar. The passing game, led by quarterback Eli Payne, has finally started to hit its stride and with the likes of Austin, Jeremy Zehr, Laird, and Aidan Decker catching the ball the Chargers can score from anywhere.

On defense the Chargers are led by a stout linebacker corps in Owen Jackson, Decker, and Ryan Zweng, while a secondary led by Landyn Crance is strong and likes to come up and hit people. The line, anchored by ends Caden Hughes and Nathaniel Maurer, along with tackles Reed Goodwin, Gavin Kelly, and Hunter Gillies, has proven to be stout no matter the opponent.

Whiteford is coming off a D8 state title and has won 21 straight games, dating back to the 2022 semifinal where they lost to eventual state champion Hudson.

Whiteford is the real deal and are led by five, yes FIVE, four-year starters in Jake Iott, Hunter DeBarr, Ryin Ruddy, Drew Knaggs, and Jake Iott, with DeBarr, Ruddy, and Knaggs preparing to play in career game 45 on Friday.

More: Union City scores in all facets in rout of Summerfield

Jake Iott is one of the better two-way players in the state in D8 and is coming off a 1000-yard campaign last year, while leading the team in rushing this year. Iott also plays a mean linebacker for the defense.

Both Iott and DeBarr were all-state last year and are well on their way to the same this year.

Both teams can score, with Whiteford averaging 42.6 points a game while Union City puts up 36.7 a game. The Chargers have the slight edge in defensive numbers, only allowing 7.6 points a game while Whiteford allows 11.6. So needless to say, something has got to give.

Simply put, this is the biggest test for the Chargers who are looking to make postseason noise here in two weeks. Whiteford has been tested, but they are one of the best in the state, no matter the division. It will be a heck of a game on Friday night, you may not want to miss it.

Prediction: Whiteford 26, Union City 21 

Game Two- Harper Creek (5-2) at Coldwater (0-7)

At Coldwater High School, Friday, 7 p.m.

Preview: Coldwater is coming off a heart breaker last week, falling on Homecoming to Northwest by just as single point, 7-6. The Cardinals are still searching for win number one on the year and are finally looking like they have their identity firmly in place. The Cardinals are playing like a true team and if they play like they did against the Mounties some people in Harper Creek could be upset.

Harper Creek started the season on a tear, winning their first four with victories over Lakeview, Battle Creek Central, Northwest and Marshall, followed by two straight losses against Hastings and Western. Harper Creek bounced back last week in a big 55-16 win over Pennfield. In that game, Harper Creek’s Bronson Carpenter broke the Harper Creek School record for rushing yards in a game, rushing the ball 40 times for 373 yards and six touchdowns, with the team putting up 486 yards on the ground in the win.

Coldwater has struggled giving up the big play all season long on the defensive side of the ball, so Friday night might be a long night for the Cardinals.

More: Coldwater comes up just short, falls by one point to Northwest on Homecoming

In their loss to Northwest the Cardinals highlighted a power run game built on the running of quarterback Zach Coffing, a run game that ate up chunks of yards and time off the clock. If Coldwater can do that and keep the explosive Harper Creek offense off the field, they could have an exceptionally good chance Friday night.

Prediction: Harper Creek 28, Coldwater 12 

Game Three- Summerfield (4-3) at Quincy (2-5)

At Quincy High School, Friday, 7 p.m.

Preview: Look for a shootout in Quincy under the lights.

Prediction: Summerfield 38, Quincy 34 

More: Football: Quincy drops shootout with Erie Mason; Tekonsha blanked by Litchfield

Game Four- Sand Creek (3-4) at Bronson (2-5)

At Bronson High School, Friday, 7 p.m.

Preview: Bronson’s offense struggled last week in a loss to Buchanan, as the Vikings came short of gaining 100 yards. The Vikings need to figure out their offensive woes or Friday may be a long night.

Prediction: Sand Creek 27, Bronson 20 

More: Bronson football blanked in loss to Buchanan

Game Five- Tekonsha (2-5) at Athens (0-7)

At Athens High School, Friday, 7 p.m.

Preview: Look for Tekonsha’s young offense, led by seniors Ben Mead and Emmitt Blashfield, to feast on the Athens defense.

Prediction: Tekonsha 49, Athens 27 

Follow The Daily Reporter on Facebook or online at thedailyreporter.com or follow sports editor Troy Tennyson via X, formerly known as Twitter, at @ttennysonTDR for up to minute stats, scores, news, and highlights from Friday night football.

This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: The Daily Reporter's Week 8 High School Football Previews and Picks