The Marlette Red Raiders host the Harbor Beach Pirates with hopes of celebrating a Homecoming with a victory and keeping hope alive for the playoffs. Marlette's record at this point stands at 2-3 overall, and cannot afford another loss through the rest of the season. It does not get easy against some angry Harbor Beach Pirates who are still reeling from a deflating loss to the Ubly Bearcats, 38-6, in Week 5.
Marlette has shown signs of good offense & defense - problem is the Red Raiders are their own worst enemy. With penalties, turnovers, and non execution in most instances of the devastating speedy spread offense; Marlette have in most instances defeated themselves. Helping your opponent win is the worst way to lose games. Marlette needs to stop that and correct their mistakes as time has officially ran out to make the playoffs. They need to win now! The Red Raiders are capable of beating any team, and are considered the "trap game" for all teams that have to face them. The have the respect of their opponents, but they need to respect the way they play the game and keep their emoting in check. In their last game that they probably should have won, Marlette committed over 150 yards in penalties. That is like giving the ball back and helping the other team score. I am sure Coach Lester and the Red Raiders team is getting this cleaned up, but they must follow through on that plan. Marlette has a tough road ahead of them with this weeks homecoming game against Harbor Beach, then followed by Deckerville & Brown City. That road to the post season just got bumpier with many potholes!
While Harbor Beach can technically afford a loss, they don't want to be put into that position to make it tougher on themselves. Ball control is something the Pirates have had with their two losses to Reese & Ubly. However, Harbor Beach has shown signs late in games of a potent pass offense. But their primary offense is where the strong point has been with their record at 3-2. But that all depends on the Pirate offensive line able to make the holes and lanes for the running backs. If their opponents have a strong defense then that plan falls flat. With games still left with Sandusky & Unionville-Sebewaing to wrap up the season, the road to the playoffs will not be a easy one for the Pirates of the Eastern Thumb lake shore.
This Week 6 also is also Thumb Tailgater Sports fourth straight Blue Water Area Conference football game. The Croswell-Lexington Pioneers (4-0, 4-1) at the Almont Raiders (3-1, 4-1). The Pioneers need to win to continue to claim the sole first place spot for the BWAC title and also to get closer for the magic number 6th win for post season play. Almont would like to move on with a claim of a hopeful share of the BWAC title, and also in good standing for the playoffs.
Cros-Lex is heavily favored, but that does not mean this will be a cake walk by far. Earlier in the season, the Pioneers had a tough win over the still surviving Yale Bulldogs (2-3) in Week 2 with a 18-7 victory. Almont defeated Yale in Week 4 with a 21-18 win. So that begs that this game could be more competitive for the Pioneers, who have yet to lose to a BWAC rival.
Almont's lone loss has been to the Capac Chiefs (3-1, 3-2) who are quietly making their move for the BWAC title. Cros-Lex has the edge over Almont with a win against Capac 41-20. The Pioneers do have bumpy ride through the rest of the season with games left with Armada in Week 7 (3-1, 4-1), and Richmond in Week 8.
The Pioneers to date has 1,051 yards rushing on 147 carries, averaging about 7.14 yards per carry. And it pretty much has been due to the outstanding QB play of Ryan Fabbri, who can run & has an arm to throw behind those quick legs. The big credit goes to the coaching of Jason Vandermass and his assistants who not only depends on the rushing game, but balances the offense with passing of so far, 639 total yards.
Almont are no slouches themselves though when it comes to offense. According to Max Preps, the Raiders have amassed 1,322 yards on 215 carries, averaging 6.15 yards per carry. Passing wise they have thrown for 311 yards.
Tough to pick the winner in this game, has both teams but many of the local sports pundits have favored the Cros-Lex Pioneers. Alas...this is the BWAC - you just never know!
Elsewhere with thumb area teams in the...
NCTL
The Deckerville Eagles will outright win the NCTL title and make the postseason at their homecoming game over the Memphis Yellowjackets.
While the rest of the teams in the NCTL have long hopes to make the playoffs - specifically North Huron (2-3) & Kingston (2-3). North Huron's future makes it bleak, but could sneak in with a 5-4 record based on the strength of schedule. But they need to WIN. Same thing goes for Kingston who were heavily favored based on their schedule, but had two straight losses and has to win four more games to get that elusive six wins.
GTE
Ubly Bearcats (5-0) will defeat Bad Axe (0-5) and earn their spot in the playoffs and also their 29th straight regular season win.
Brown City (3-2) at Sandusky (3-2) is another intriguing games of the week. Both teams have two losses and can ill afford a third loss. They way Sandusky has let some games go this season is worrisome to the Redskin fans. Brown City Greendevils seem to have made just as the same mistakes as Sandusky has made this year with turnovers. This is a tough one to pick!
GTW
Reese (5-0) will continue to roll and blast their way to the playoffs earning their sixth win against the free falling EPBP Lakers (1-4). While the Unionville-Sebewaing Partriots (4-0, 4-1) want to continue their "Cinderella" run with a win over the still fiery Vassar Vulcans (2-1, 3-2) this week and set up the showdown for the GTW title game at the "Sugar Bowl" against Reese in Week 7. But one game at a time...
Cass City may have the title out of reach, but they are now focused on each game to make their way to the postseason with a victory against the explosive Bay City All Saints. The Red Hawks have lost two straight and may have on the toughest stretches of competitive teams to face off against. After this Week 6 game against the Cougars, up next is Vassar! Those Vulcans are in the mix to really make a wild situation again this year with the GTW title up for grabs and could be ultimately decided in Week 7. Will it be shared or won outright? Again...one game at a time....
Tri-Valley East
Millington (3-0, 4-1) is at Caro (2-1, 3-2) in Week 6. Caro has shown signs of some good offensive and stays in games. Can the Tigers pull off the big upset versus the Cardinals and grab a share of the title? And that Tri-Valley East title is still not fully decided until Millington meets up with the Frankenmuth Eagles (3-1, 3-2) in Week 7.
Ultimately it has been very competitive this year with all the conferences and leagues that Thumb Tailgater Sports is covering. Good luck to all teams!
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