We’ve passed the halfway point of the 2016 football season and many area teams have experienced a similar start to the season as four teams have a record of 2-3 and need to make the most of the rest of the year: Alpena, Hillman, Rogers City and Posen. Oscoda and Onaway are 3-2. Atlanta is 0-5 and the Alcona Tigers are leading the pack at 4-1.

With four weeks remaining, the final weeks for many teams will be crucial if they want to make the playoffs. Four teams made it last year and who knows how many will get in in 2016.

ALPENA (2-3)

The Wildcats have been impressive at times under first year head coach Aaron Sims. The team continues to get more comfortable running the Wing-T offense and has a playmaker in Alex Arch. He has 723 yards and 12 scores through the first five weeks and may have his eyes set on a single season mark of 20 touchdowns set by Dave Szebach in 1991. Along with Arch, both Tim Taylor and Logan Guthrie have been solid in the backfield.

The Wildcats have experienced some growing pains so far and the schedule doesn’t get easier. Alpena hosts Bay City John Glenn on Friday and then ends the year with three conference games. Alpena sits at 0-2 in conference play and with undefeated Traverse City Central, winless Petoskey and a sub-.500 Gaylord team left on the schedule. It will be important for Alpena to even its record on Friday.

PREDICTION: (4-5)

The Wildcats will look back on Week 3’s loss to Cadillac, in a game that they should have won, as the turning point in what could have been a playoff season. The growing pains will continue, but for the first time in a long time, things are looking up for Alpena.

ALCONA (4-1)

After a 35-30 loss to Tawas to open the year, the Tigers have looked unstoppable in their last four games. Alcona has won four consecutive games in dominating fashion, outscoring opponents 178-42. The Tigers are by far the best team in the area and owe much of their success to a potent rushing attack led by senior Brock Franklin who leads the area with 980 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns.

A junior laden offensive line has continued to make holes for Franklin and Tim Hutchinson as Alcona has yet to have its rushing attack slowed down this season.

PREDICTION: (8-1)

With a very favorable schedule remaining the rest of the way, it is safe to bet Alcona makes it back to postseason. Only one of the remaining teams on the Tigers’ schedule has a winning record: Oscoda. Alcona will have no problem getting back to the playoffs and may end up with favorable matchups in the first two rounds.

ATLANTA (0-5)

The Huskies are wishing that there was a reset button to hit as they are in danger of going winless for the second straight year. With just three games left on the schedule, Atlanta will attempt to pull off a major upset as its remaining games are against Hillman, Alcona and Oscoda, who were all playoff teams a year ago.

PREDICTION: (0-8)

Head coach Troy Cheedie is continuing to build from the youth football program in Atlanta, but the future can’t seem to get here fast enough for Cheedie and the Huskies.

HILLMAN (2-3)

After losing the first three games of the season and battling a ton of injuries, the worst may be over for the Tigers who have now won two straight and host Atlanta Friday for homecoming. Injuries forced Bill Koenig to move players around and one of the best changes has been moving Kyler Moir to quarterback. Billy Kolcan has since moved to a running back/wide receiver position and has excelled. Sophomore Kory Henigan has also been a nice piece to Hillman’s new aerial attack as well.

PREDICTION: (5-4)

There still is some worry about Hillman’s playoff streak ending, but the Tigers should get back to .500 on Friday. With Oscoda, Whittemore-Prescott and a winless Inland Lakes squad left on the schedule, Hillman may be able to continue its playoff streak despite a dreadful start to the year.

ONAWAY (3-2)

The Cardinals have been able to rally despite not having head coach Jim Cleaver on the sidelines. Onaway was 3-2 heading into Week 6 last year, but fell down the stretch and missed out on the playoffs.

The Cardinals will be one step closer to achieving that goal of a playoff berth if they can knock off Posen Friday. The game will have huge implications for both sides, but with Onaway having games against Pickford, Rudyard and Bellaire still left on the schedule, it may be a make or break game for the Cardinals.

PREDICTION: (5-4)

If the Cardinals are able to defeat Posen, the team should finish with at least five wins and that may be good enough to get them into the playoffs. Whether or not Onaway is able to get in, Friday will be the deciding factor in the Cardinals season.

OSCODA (3-2)

The Owls hold a winning a record and have battled adversity at times throughout the first half as they have had problems hanging onto the football. The Owls took a huge step back last week when they were lit up by Rogers City, losing 62-34 in a game where they had trouble defending the pass and once again coughed up the football. Oscoda needs to figure things out in a hurry if they want to get back to the postseason for the second consecutive year.

PREDICTION: (4-5)

The Owls need to protect the football, it’s that simple. Winning two of their next four games may not be so simple as the remaining schedule does not favor them as they have games against Alcona, Hillman, Atlanta and Tawas. The Owls will need to clean up on the mistakes if they have any hope of getting back to the playoffs.

POSEN (2-3)

Last year’s dream season seems like long ago for Posen as the 2016 season has been a bit of a struggle. Despite having two wins under its belt, Posen has had 30 points or more scored on them in all five games this season. Friday’s clash with Onaway will go a long way in deciding the Vikings’ fate this season.

Darren Dubie has been a bright spot for the Posen offense with 786 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. Dylan Schuch is not far behind with 610 yards on the ground and seven scores. The one-two punch has not been enough to help Posen come away victorious as the team has dropped its last two games.

PREDICTION: (4-5)

Offensively, Posen has the pieces of a successful team, but defensively, the Vikings have been picked apart in every way. Friday’s is a must-win for the Vikings with two winnable games left on the schedule against Bellaire and Pellston who are a combined 1-9. Posen does not want to get into a situation where they need a win in the regular season finale against undefeated Engadine.

ROGERS CITY (2-3)

The question for the Hurons will be how far their passing game take them. Quarterback Caleb Karsten is the leading passer in the area with 509 yards and seven scores. His receiving corps includes Tristan Baller who is the area’s leading receiver. Brendan Koss and Brendan Hart have also been on the receiving end of passes from Karsten. It’s been an up and down season so far for the Hurons and first-year coach Cory Malocha as the team hopes to get back to the plyoffs for the first time since 2009.

PREDICTION: (3-6)

Rogers City has a great chance to get back to .500 on Friday against Mio, but the schedule doesn’t favor the Hurons in their final three games where they will play Whittemore-Prescott, Newberry and Manton.