Tuscola County Playoff Talk
Vassar (6-3) at #5 Flint Beecher (9-0)
In a match up of conference champions, Vassar will travel to Flint to take on the Bucs of Beecher High School. The Bucs are coached by former Michigan State University and Beecher stand-out Courtney Hawkins. This season is Hawkins fourth as coach. He has a 26-11 career record. Beecher just completed their first season in the Genesee Area Conference - Red Division. The Vulcans of the Greater Thumb Conference West Division are coached by Jason Kiss. In his third season at the helm, Kiss holds a 16-11 record.
The Bucs went 3-0 this year against playoff teams. They defeated Goodrich 33-13, Lake Fenton 26-0, and Durand 22-16. The Vulcans were 1-2 versus playoff teams in 2009. They defeated Reese 26-17, and lost to Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port 41-21 and Ubly 40-14. Beecher's opponents recorded a 36-45 record this year while Vassar's opponents had a 42-39 record.
Beecher finished their championship regular season by scoring 285 points, while only allowing 65. Vassar scored 262 points in the 2009 campaign, while allowing 201.
Beecher is led by senior running back Torrey Cordell. He has rushed for 1,738 yards on 334 carries. Cordell has also scored 19 touchdowns on the ground. Vassar is led by junior quarterback Kyle Auernhamer, and senior running back Keif Vickers.
The Bucs will be making their sixth trip to the playoffs, including three straight. Vassar will be making their second appearance, their first since the 2003 season.
North Branch (6-3) at #3 Mt. Pleasant (9-0)
North Branch will travel to the Saginaw Valley Association's champion Mt. Pleasant Oilers. The Oilers are coached by Jason McIntyre, who just finished his fourth season as head coach. McIntyre now has a 33-9 record. North Branch of the Tri-Valley Conference East Division is coached by Pat Forster. In his first season, Forster has a 6-3 record.
The Oilers went 3-0 versus playoff teams this year. They defeated St. Johns 49-14, Bay City Western 35-7, and Midland 28-13. The Broncos were 1-3 against playoff teams. They defeated Yale in overtime 21-20, while losing to Essexville-Garber 21-14, West Branch Ogemaw Heights 42-6, and Millington 40-8. Mt. Pleasant's opponent posted a 38-43 record on the year, while North Branch's posted a 42-39 record.
Mt. Pleasant finished their championship regular season scoring 347 points, while allowing only 83. North Branch scored 221 points, while allowing 189.
The Oilers are led by running back John McCann and quarterback Josh Rathje. McCann has rushed for 835 yards on 92 carries while scoring 15 touchdowns. Rathje has completed 48 of 72 passes for 793 yards. He has thrown nine touchdowns and one interception. The Broncos are led by senior quarterback Doug Griffin.
Mt. Pleasant will be making their tenth trip to the playoffs, including their fourth straight. North Branch will be making their second appearance in the post-season, the school's first since 2006.
#8 Carrollton (8-1) at Millington (8-1)
The Tri-Valley Conference West Division champion Carrollton will travel to Millington to take on the Tri-Valley Conference East Division runner-up. The Cavaliers are coached by Greg Wasmer, who is in his second season. Wasmer has a 17-3 record. Millington is coached by Hall of Fame coach Tim Furno. After 32 years of pacing the sideline for the Cardinals, Furno holds a 205-109 career record.
Millington holds a 7-4-1 advantage in this series with three shutouts. The last time these two teams played was in 1988. Yours truly scored the decisive touchdown mid-way through the fourth quarter in the Cardinals 6-0 win.
The Cavaliers are 3-1 in 2009 versus playoff teams. The defeated Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port 27-26, St. Charles 31-6, and Merrill 35-6, while losing to Ithaca 48-27. Millington is 1-1 against playoff teams this year. The Cardinals beat North Branch 40-8, and lost to Essexville-Garber 14-7. Carrollton's opponents posted a 42-39 record. Millington's opponents had a 34-47 record.
Carrollton finished their championship regular season scoring 374 points, while giving up 121 points. Millington has scored 308 points, while only allowing 90.
The Cavaliers are led by senior running back Robert Essex. He has rushed 231 times for 1,754 yards and 21 touchdowns. Millington is led by senior running back Justin Stutler, who has rushed for 1,521 yards on 175 carries. He also has scored 16 touchdowns.
Carrollton will be making their second trip to the post-season. This year will also mark their second straight. Millington will be making their 16th trip to the playoffs, and this year will be their sixth straight.
Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port (7-2) at Reese (7-2)
Two-thirds of the Greater Thumb Conference West Division champions will square off for the second time this season. Back on October 9, Reese won convincingly over Laker High 33-7. Laker High has revenge on their mind as they travel to Reese this Friday. Reese is coached by Bob Saylor, who has roamed the sidelines for 10 years. Saylor has an 82-26 record. Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port is coached by George Gardy.
Reese holds a 9-6 advantage in this series, while winning six of the last seven games. These two teams have met in the playoffs on one other occasion. On November 1, 2002, Laker High beat Reese 38-7 to move to the District Final. That win was the second time that year that Laker High defeated Reese.
Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port is 3-2 versus playoff teams in 2009. They beat Vassar 41-21, Deckerville 40-7, and Sandusky 22-0. They lost to Carrollton 27-26 and Reese 33-7. The Rockets are 2-1 against playoff teams, posting victories against Houghton Lake 12-6 and Laker High 33-7. They lost to Vassar 26-17. Laker High's opponents posted a 43-38 record, while Reese's posted a 38-43 record.
Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port scored 284 points this season, while surrendering 130 points. Reese scored 289 and gave up 120 points.
Laker High is led by senior quarterback Luke Voelker and senior running back Chris Rowe. Reese is led by a multitude of players including, Justin Heinlein, Codey Somerville, and Travis VanAlst. Heinlein has 12 receptions for 350 yards and seven touchdowns. Somerville has 420 yards rushing on 50 carries. He has rushed for six touchdowns. VanAlst has 334 yards rushing and four touchdowns.
Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port will be making their second straight trip to the post-season and 14th overall. They were the 1981 Class C state champions. Reese will be making their 12th trip to the playoffs.
Other Thumb Area Games
Sandusky (6-3) at #5 St. Charles (8-1)
Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest (7-2) at #3 Ubly (9-0)
Brown City (7-2) at #7 Genesee (9-0)
Deckerville (5-4) at Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes (7-2)
Flint Powers Catholic (5-4) at Croswell-Lexington (7-2)
In a match up of conference champions, Vassar will travel to Flint to take on the Bucs of Beecher High School. The Bucs are coached by former Michigan State University and Beecher stand-out Courtney Hawkins. This season is Hawkins fourth as coach. He has a 26-11 career record. Beecher just completed their first season in the Genesee Area Conference - Red Division. The Vulcans of the Greater Thumb Conference West Division are coached by Jason Kiss. In his third season at the helm, Kiss holds a 16-11 record.
The Bucs went 3-0 this year against playoff teams. They defeated Goodrich 33-13, Lake Fenton 26-0, and Durand 22-16. The Vulcans were 1-2 versus playoff teams in 2009. They defeated Reese 26-17, and lost to Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port 41-21 and Ubly 40-14. Beecher's opponents recorded a 36-45 record this year while Vassar's opponents had a 42-39 record.
Beecher finished their championship regular season by scoring 285 points, while only allowing 65. Vassar scored 262 points in the 2009 campaign, while allowing 201.
Beecher is led by senior running back Torrey Cordell. He has rushed for 1,738 yards on 334 carries. Cordell has also scored 19 touchdowns on the ground. Vassar is led by junior quarterback Kyle Auernhamer, and senior running back Keif Vickers.
The Bucs will be making their sixth trip to the playoffs, including three straight. Vassar will be making their second appearance, their first since the 2003 season.
North Branch (6-3) at #3 Mt. Pleasant (9-0)
North Branch will travel to the Saginaw Valley Association's champion Mt. Pleasant Oilers. The Oilers are coached by Jason McIntyre, who just finished his fourth season as head coach. McIntyre now has a 33-9 record. North Branch of the Tri-Valley Conference East Division is coached by Pat Forster. In his first season, Forster has a 6-3 record.
The Oilers went 3-0 versus playoff teams this year. They defeated St. Johns 49-14, Bay City Western 35-7, and Midland 28-13. The Broncos were 1-3 against playoff teams. They defeated Yale in overtime 21-20, while losing to Essexville-Garber 21-14, West Branch Ogemaw Heights 42-6, and Millington 40-8. Mt. Pleasant's opponent posted a 38-43 record on the year, while North Branch's posted a 42-39 record.
Mt. Pleasant finished their championship regular season scoring 347 points, while allowing only 83. North Branch scored 221 points, while allowing 189.
The Oilers are led by running back John McCann and quarterback Josh Rathje. McCann has rushed for 835 yards on 92 carries while scoring 15 touchdowns. Rathje has completed 48 of 72 passes for 793 yards. He has thrown nine touchdowns and one interception. The Broncos are led by senior quarterback Doug Griffin.
Mt. Pleasant will be making their tenth trip to the playoffs, including their fourth straight. North Branch will be making their second appearance in the post-season, the school's first since 2006.
#8 Carrollton (8-1) at Millington (8-1)
The Tri-Valley Conference West Division champion Carrollton will travel to Millington to take on the Tri-Valley Conference East Division runner-up. The Cavaliers are coached by Greg Wasmer, who is in his second season. Wasmer has a 17-3 record. Millington is coached by Hall of Fame coach Tim Furno. After 32 years of pacing the sideline for the Cardinals, Furno holds a 205-109 career record.
Millington holds a 7-4-1 advantage in this series with three shutouts. The last time these two teams played was in 1988. Yours truly scored the decisive touchdown mid-way through the fourth quarter in the Cardinals 6-0 win.
The Cavaliers are 3-1 in 2009 versus playoff teams. The defeated Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port 27-26, St. Charles 31-6, and Merrill 35-6, while losing to Ithaca 48-27. Millington is 1-1 against playoff teams this year. The Cardinals beat North Branch 40-8, and lost to Essexville-Garber 14-7. Carrollton's opponents posted a 42-39 record. Millington's opponents had a 34-47 record.
Carrollton finished their championship regular season scoring 374 points, while giving up 121 points. Millington has scored 308 points, while only allowing 90.
The Cavaliers are led by senior running back Robert Essex. He has rushed 231 times for 1,754 yards and 21 touchdowns. Millington is led by senior running back Justin Stutler, who has rushed for 1,521 yards on 175 carries. He also has scored 16 touchdowns.
Carrollton will be making their second trip to the post-season. This year will also mark their second straight. Millington will be making their 16th trip to the playoffs, and this year will be their sixth straight.
Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port (7-2) at Reese (7-2)
Two-thirds of the Greater Thumb Conference West Division champions will square off for the second time this season. Back on October 9, Reese won convincingly over Laker High 33-7. Laker High has revenge on their mind as they travel to Reese this Friday. Reese is coached by Bob Saylor, who has roamed the sidelines for 10 years. Saylor has an 82-26 record. Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port is coached by George Gardy.
Reese holds a 9-6 advantage in this series, while winning six of the last seven games. These two teams have met in the playoffs on one other occasion. On November 1, 2002, Laker High beat Reese 38-7 to move to the District Final. That win was the second time that year that Laker High defeated Reese.
Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port is 3-2 versus playoff teams in 2009. They beat Vassar 41-21, Deckerville 40-7, and Sandusky 22-0. They lost to Carrollton 27-26 and Reese 33-7. The Rockets are 2-1 against playoff teams, posting victories against Houghton Lake 12-6 and Laker High 33-7. They lost to Vassar 26-17. Laker High's opponents posted a 43-38 record, while Reese's posted a 38-43 record.
Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port scored 284 points this season, while surrendering 130 points. Reese scored 289 and gave up 120 points.
Laker High is led by senior quarterback Luke Voelker and senior running back Chris Rowe. Reese is led by a multitude of players including, Justin Heinlein, Codey Somerville, and Travis VanAlst. Heinlein has 12 receptions for 350 yards and seven touchdowns. Somerville has 420 yards rushing on 50 carries. He has rushed for six touchdowns. VanAlst has 334 yards rushing and four touchdowns.
Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port will be making their second straight trip to the post-season and 14th overall. They were the 1981 Class C state champions. Reese will be making their 12th trip to the playoffs.
Other Thumb Area Games
Sandusky (6-3) at #5 St. Charles (8-1)
Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest (7-2) at #3 Ubly (9-0)
Brown City (7-2) at #7 Genesee (9-0)
Deckerville (5-4) at Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes (7-2)
Flint Powers Catholic (5-4) at Croswell-Lexington (7-2)
Comments
Date: Friday, October 30th
Time: 7:00pm
Site: Flint Beecher High School
Directions: The game will be played at the "old" Flint Beecher High School which is located on the corner of Coldwater Rd.and Saginaw St.
Also - North Branch at Mt. Pleasant will be played on Saturday, at CMU's Kelley Shorts Stadium. Game Time - 1 p.m.