Thursday Thumb Thoughts - This Weeks BWAC Showdown

Thumb Tailgater Sports continues to branch out the coverage of high school sports and this week is no exception. The Blue Water Area Conference is an underappreciated  competitive league with many teams on the outer skirts of the Thumb area along or on the south side of Highway I-69. One of the missions of TTS was to especially cover one of the top teams - the Croswell-Lexington Pioneers. But they are not alone, you can't ignore the high caliber of the other teams in the BWAC. It seems that lately in last several years it has been a tight race year in and year out with a battle till the end of the season for the league title, with at least three teams making the playoffs. The teams all fall in the Class B size school bracket making most of the schools more than capable of having a good number of players filling the rosters on both sides of the ball.
Which finally brings us to this weeks coverage of our game of the week between the Yale Bulldogs at the Armada Tigers. 

The Yale Bulldogs is the toughest team to beat with a 1-3 overall record. Yale has already lost two league games and right now seems like has a far outside chance for them to get at least a share of the title. At this it does not matter at all as the Bulldogs are thinking of nothing more than to survive and win out through the rest of the season in order to make the playoffs. One more loss and the post season is out of grasp and the Bulldogs will back in the dog pound and back on the leash! So far Yale has lost to teams with a combined record of 10-2. They opened the season with an non-league contest in a loss to Macomb Lutheran North (4-0) 21-6. Then followed Week 2 with another loss to BWAC rival the Croswell-Lexington Pioneers (3-1) 18-7. Yale's only win came in Week 3 against the Algonac Muskrats (1-3) 35-13.
Then in Week 4 which was also a Thumb Tailgater Sports featured game, the Yale Bulldogs lost late in the 4th quarter to the Almont Raiders (3-1) 21-18 with just under 5 minutes left in the game. Almont took the lead 14-12 with a touchdown in the closing seconds of the first half. But the Bulldogs took back the lead in the 3rd quarter, 18-14. Yale also had their chance to take back the lead and possible win by marching down the field but Almont's defense held their ground and prevented the Bulldogs from converting a first down with a fourth down stand. It took away any hopes of an attempted field goal tie or touchdown with :54 left in the game. Another problem for the Bulldogs was not able to convert the PAT's. And the main thing was ball control - Almont had the upper hand with possession at almost 29 minutes to Yale's 19 minutes, even though Bulldogs had more yardage with 35 carries & 224 yards rushing, and 13 yards passing. Almont converted more first downs with 13, and had 46 carries & 175 yards, and 48 yards passing. Yale has the offense and defense to win the rest of the season but in a very competitive league it is never easy in the Blue Water Area Conference.
In Week 5 the path to get to the playoffs for Yale will get even rougher than your typical drive on Michigan roads. The Armada Tigers are on cloud nine with a 4-0 record at this point, but their season from here on out becomes quite tumultuous. Not only with the game with Yale who will come in barking and biting to fight on with hopes of the playoffs, but with games coming up against BWAC opponents with Almont, Croswell-Lexington & Capac (2-2) - all teams capable of turning the tables at a moments notice. But alas, as any coach would say "one game at a time". Armada is in position to outright win the title and also grab a spot in the playoffs for the first time since 2004. Destiny is in their "paws & claws".
Last week Armada got a good, but hard win over Richmond 19-14 to remain undefeated at 4-0 at this point. The Tigers had total ball control with 24 first downs, 46 carries for 300 yards rushing along with 53 yards passing. However some cause for alarm for Armada is having six fumbles but recovered all of those. Richmond Blue Devils had some yardage rushing wise with 38 carries for 225 yards. But had only 12 first downs. Again ball control was in Armada's favor and that is something that the Yale Bulldogs have had a problem with in the season.
Armada Tigers opened Week 1 with a victory over the Class C school of the NCTL, the Memphis Yellowjackets 43-7. Armada has played against Memphis every year since 2004. Then followed with a league win in Week 2 over Algonac 25-13. In Week 3 Armada took down Imlay City 48-20. The only disadvantage for the Armada Tigers is that they have beaten all the teams with a combined win-loss record of 4-12. The greatest test for the Armada Tigers were the Richmond Blue Devils in Week 4, which was a quality win.
Armada has scored 104 points on offense, while allowing 63. Yale on the season so far scored 66 points and has allowed 73.
It is a big game for both teams with much to gain and lose at the same time. Tune in for all the excitement and live coverage starting at 6:30pm!!

In our home base of Thumb area coverage of the Greater Thumb Conference, North Central Thumb League & Tri-Valley East; there are a number of teams still in league title contention.
The Greater Thumb West has another showdown for the title pitting the Reese Rockets (4-0) at the Cass City Red Hawks (3-1). Reese will most certainly have their hands full, but Cass City is coming off a humbling overtime loss to Unionville-Sebewaing in Week 4. The Red Hawks are looking for an upset, while Reese not only wants to remain undefeated but also spoil homecoming for Cass City. Then again it is the "Wild West" of the Thumb...and the GTW league title is far from being ultimately decided until Week 7 & 8.
Another top game of the week is in the Greater Thumb East with the Ubly Bearcats (4-0) at the resurgent Harbor Beach Pirates. Ubly would like to continue their current regular season winning streak which is at 27, while Harbor Beach (3-1) wants to let many know they are "back" and also wants a piece of that GTE Title. This game now has some "luster" to it compared to the past couple years. As with the GTW, the East will not ultimately decided until Week 7 & 8.
The North Central Thumb League pretty much has their championship decided. The Deckerville Eagles have already had decisive wins over Kingston, Peck, & North Huron. Next up in the NCTL are the Memphis Yellowjackets in Week 6, and if the planets align, plus a lunar and solar eclipse all at once - I see the Eagles pretty much flying away as outright NCTL Champs. Which begs the question...and this is said in jest...if this strong Deckerville team pulls off an upset over Ubly in Week 8, do the Eagles unify the GTE & NCTL titles? That is a wish that could only happen in the WWE storylines....
Down south in the Tri-Valley East is another tight race for the finish for the title. Far from over with teams like Caro & Frankenmuth stepping up for battle against current first place holders the Millington Cardinals. And it won't be a cake walk for Millington against North Branch this week. Or have they already licked the frosting?
There are also many teams in the thumb that have legit claims of making the playoffs and others trying to hold on to some hope. Sandusky, Marlette, Cass City, Harbor Beach, Brown City, Vassar, Unionville-Sebewaing, Caro & even Kingston can all make it in depending on what happens tonight and into the rest of season. Friday will show who falls with the autumn season leaves to ground and be raked out of the playoff season! Still wide open as far as Thumb Tailgater Sports is concerned!

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