For the second time this year, the Essexville-Garber Dukes (7-2)travel to Millington (8-1) to take on the Cardinals. Millington won the first game 20-19 back on September 26.


After spotting the Dukes to a 13-0 halftime lead, the Cardinal defense showed up big by creating five second half turnovers. The offense scored three touchdowns, and held on for the win. Garber was led by running back Andrew Aho who carried the ball 34 times for 196 yards and a touchdown.

"I feel bad for my boys because we were the better football team," said Duke Head Coach Dave Schwartz after the loss. "We were the more physical team tonight."


Millington's offense was led by running back Kyle Hemingway with 95 yards on 21 carries and one touchdown. Defensively backup quarterback Josh Williams had two interceptions, including the game clincher with 1:46 left in the game at the Cardinal 10 yard line.


"Our kids had a lot of heart," Millington Head Coach Tim Furno said after the win. "We owned it in the second half."


The win against Garber clinched Millington's 20th consecutive winning season.


Millington lost to Birch Run (3-6) the following week, and shared the Tri-Valley Conference's East Division with Garber. Garber's other loss was to non-conference foe Bay City John Glenn (7-2) in the final week of the regular season.


Garber comes into the game with eight straight winning seasons and have made the playoffs in all eight of those seasons. They hold a career 3-11 record in the playoffs.


Millington has been to the playoffs 15 out of the last 18 years, and hold a 12-14 record in the playoffs.


Millington holds a 16-12 all-time record against Garber while outscoring them 21.1 to 16.4 per game. Millington has also won the last three contests between the schools.


Millington defeated all three playoff schools they faced this year. Besides Garber, they defeated Mt. Morris (6-3) 32-28 on September 05, and they beat Croswell-Lexington (6-3) 21-14 last week.


Garber only played two playoff teams this year. Along with the Millington loss, they lost 37-6 to Bay City John Glenn. John Glenn only lost two games this year. One to #2 ranked (Division 5) Standish-Sterling (9-0) and the second one the #1 ranked (Division 6) Saginaw Nouvel (9-0).


Gametime will be Saturday, November 1 at 1:00 p.m. The game can be heard locally on Mix 92.1. The Tuscola County Football Roundtable will be in Millington for the pregame show which will start at 12:30 p.m.

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