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For the most part football is played on a level playing field. Sure, there are the occasional home field advantages, like a crown in the middle, a hole at the 50 yard line or the infrequent soft spots that favors the home team. But for the most part, both squads have equal advantages. Every start date for the educational year is different in the news coverage area. With that in mind, Swami feels that the field is tilted, by that the All-Knowing-One feels one team can play on a Thursday night, then play on a Wednesday the following week. Where the opposition, plays an opener on Friday, then to return to action a mere four days later. Swami feels the advantage has to go with the team that had the earlier opener. The reason why they have one more day to prepare. What the All-Knowing-One would like to see, all high schools in the area be all on the same educational start time. Whether it is after Labor Day or the week before. One way or the other, not a mixed bag. That is just Swami's view, further more it gives he a very short period of time to prepare his column and meet a Tuesday evening deadline. Some might say, just get over it Swami, his response is the same every team should play on a level playing field. SAULT STE. MARIE (1-0) at ALPENA (0-1) – Friday – 7:00 pm – In playing a game, you find out what you need to improve on for the following week. In the Wildcats, it came down to three to four plays. The difference in those plays, could have shifted momentum in Alpena's favor. Like Swami said, could have, but it was not in the cards as the Wildcats were saddled with a 28-16 opening loss to Escanaba.
It was a battle of two evenly matched teams, the Wildcats won the ground war with 214 yards, while the Eskymos won the air attack with 77 yards. With that in mind, the bulk of Alpena's scoring was on runs of eight yards by Logan Guthrie, and a one yard plunge by Lars MacArthur. Kayden Wisniewski added to the scoring total with a 30 yard field goal and a PAT.
So what does the Wildcats have to do differently against Sault Ste. Marie in their home opener? The All-Knowing-One says not to give up the big play, but mainly play with the same mind set they had in the Escanaba. The offensive line has to continue to open up the holes and backfield of the Wildcats will find those openings.
Sault Ste. Marie celebrated the first game on its newly renovated field with a win over Cheboygan 13-0. Senior Jake Huntala ran for a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns to seal the win. Defensively, the Blue Devils did the rest. The Chiefs deepest penetration came as the half ended with the ball on the Blue Devils eight.
The Blue Devils do not rely strictly on the run, they add in a nice mixture of the pass to keep the opposition thinking all the time. Swami says the defense of the Wildcats will be made well aware of the combination and will turn out to be the difference in this contest.
Swami Sez: Alpena 28, Sault Ste. Marie 6.
HILLMAN (0-1) at ALCONA (1-0) – Wednesday – 7:00 pm – In the opener for the two squads it was a tale of two completely different outcomes. One favored the Alcona Tigers, while the other was a disappointing night for the Hillman Tigers.
Sure, it was disappointing for the Tigers beginning their last year of 11 man football, but in respect they faced a veteran and well tuned Gaylord St. Mary team. The schedule has done them no favors on the road again, in facing the same type of team in Alcona.
Billy Kolcan did get the offense going with a touchdown reception, one of seven catches he would have for 179 yards. Defensively, he was a standout as well with 15 tackles and an interception.
Alcona made it look easy against Tawas in a 46-13 shellacking of the Braves. The Braves were unable to stop the power T offense. Alcona has run the offense for years, and their way of thinking if it can not be stopped why change it. The Tigers main objective this season is to be better every week. Swami thinks it will be hard to improve upon the win over Tawas.
Quarterback Alex Stephenson made things happen in the win with his arm and legs. The Tigers do have one mainstay to replace that being all purpose back Brock Franklin. But the All-Knowing-One says that did not stop twins Jack and Tim Hutchinson, along with Kyle Haeger in the opener.
Swami says this isn't the type of beginning Hillman had envisioned, but there is still a lot of season left, so it change in the blink of a week. Alcona will continue to ride its offense, and defense to move forward.
Swami Sez: Alcona 35, Hillman 8.
AU GRES (1-0) at OSCODA (1-0) – Thursday – 7:00 pm – The battle of the North Star Conference will be the highlight of the night. Both high power offensives had very little difficulties in notching their first wins.
Oscoda had little trouble getting to the outside with jet sweeps against East Jordan. The inability of East Jordan to stop the run ended in three Owl touchdowns to set the tone. The success of the Owls in the early going has been attributed to a strong conditioning program, and increasing in numbers, some of which has come in the form of transfer students. Quarterback Nathan Nagel had the offense under control and smooth running of Grant Huebel and Travis Lamrock only added to the woes of East Jordan. But it is not possible without a sizable offensive line.
AuGres quarterback Caden Zeien led the way in a lopsided win over Rogers City on Friday. Zeien had no trouble picking apart the Huron secondary on 12 of 15 pass attempts, two of which found the end zone. If word of mouth has anything to say, then the All-Knowing-One considers Zeien to be the real deal in leading this Wolverine team. It was not only the offense that was on this night. The Wolverine did their part coming up with four interceptions that kept Rogers City off balance, one of which was returned 50 yards for a TD. as well.
The All-Knowing-One feels this game maybe in reverse of last week, when the Owls had no trouble. He says turnovers maybe on the side of Oscoda this week, as the hard hitting line and the aggressive secondary will give the Owls fits. He does feel that this will be a high scoring contest never the less.
Swami Sez: AuGres 35, Oscoda 28.
CEDARVILLE (1-0) at POSEN (0-1) – Friday – 7:00 pm – It is nothing like having two homes games to start the season, the down for the Posen Vikings is they are against the top competition in the Upper Peninsula. The Vikings saw enough of freshmen Mason Harris last week, but this week they must prepare for a more diversified offense in Cedarville.
As the Vikings hopes go, it will be on the shoulders and legs of quarterback Dylan Shuch. He was able to scamper for 130 yards on 28 carries, and three touchdowns, while his arm accounted for another 138 yards, while settling for a lone score through the air. Sam Brunet had just two catches but they accounted for 128 of those yards.
Cedarville used turnovers converted into points to put away a pesky Rudyard squad. Turnovers led to easy points, as quarterback Trey Norris used one to go just three yards to knot the score early. It was the Trojans on display after that point, Norris found Gunnar Fountain which was set up by yet another turnover and the rout was on. Fountain scored three of the Trojan TD's, Norris passing ability stole the show with his pin point skills accounting for three scores himself.
True, the Vikings might not have to worry about the speed this week going outside, but the Trojan ground game has to be still a concern. Add in the pin point, passing ability, Posen will have to worry about a dual threat. The Vikings maybe happy to get on the road next weekend.
Swami Sez: Cedarville 42, Posen 20.