It is usually easy for Swami to come up with an opening, not today. The thought process just wasn’t coming together. Going from one subject to another, nothing seemed to fit for the sixth week of the high school football season.

Then about four o’clock on Tuesday afternoon it came together, while reading his e-mails, a friend of Swami sent the following quotation. “You can’t go back and change the beginning. But you can start where you are and change the ending,” written by C.S. Lewis. Anyone reading the quote has to say, what does that have to do with football? The All-Knowing-One feels at the midway part of the season, there are teams that would like to go back and start over, but they know it is not possible. Teams like Mio, Atlanta and Alcona are not accustomed to being where they are, either with a win or no wins at all, would really like to start over, knowing where they are at presently.

Swami would like to offer a challenge to all teams in the area, with the second half of the quote. Beginning with tonight’s games, use them as a starting place and change the last four games. The All-Knowing-One has seen it before, when players put their minds to it, the outcome changes.

Ypsilanti Community (1-4) at ALPENA (2-3) – Saturday – 4 pm. – Once that was a promising season, has turned into a must win situation. The Wildcats stepping out of conference play, are hoping to break a three game loosing streak against the Grizzlies. Ypsilanti is hoping to start a winning streak, after getting pummelled by strong competition in Michigan as well as Illinois. The latest loss came at the hands of Tecumseh that went do to the final play. The Grizzlies put together a 500 yard plus offensive display. Of which 405 yards came from running backs Emerson Wilson and Charles Johnson. Quarterback Chris Taylor did not have the greatest game through the air completing half of his throws, one of which found Treyveon Mcgee in the end zone. Swami has seen the Grizzlies mix in the pass while working the ground attack to their advantage. Defensively the Bevier brothers Markus and Jaden have been a force.

The Wildcats had a chance to make a statement in the Big North Conference, instead fell to 0-3 in conference play. Instead Alpena let mistakes and turnovers, snatch victory turning into defeat. The only offense the Wildcats could muster came from the legs of Logan Guthrie, who kept them churning for 138 of the 187 yards of total offense. Jordan Schultz had some hard runs coming up with 38 yards after the game had been decided.

Swami says it will be another tough task for the Wildcat defensive line to stop the rushing attack of the Grizzlies. The defensive secondary must be at the top of their game as well with reads. Taylor does have a good arm with pin point accuracy. The Grizzlies are by no means a one dimensional offense. Offensively for the Wildcats, Swami feels Alpena must put misdirection into their scheme, because it seems that defenses are keying on Guthrie, and have found a way of keeping him out of the end zone.

Swami Sez: Ypsilanti Community 30, Alpena 18.

Posen (5-0) at Hillman (4-1) – Friday – 7 pm. – This will be the battle of the year, in the North Star Conference for eight man football. Posen is looking to stay perfect in the conference and remain that way for another two weeks meeting up with co leader AuGres. The Wolverines dealt the only blow to the Tiger express decisively two weeks ago. Looking at the competition both have played to this point, the All-Knowing-One has to say, there is no way to predict a favorite from that standpoint.

The Vikings gave up the most points the defense has allowed in going against Hale, in the end it was the offensive play of Mark Wisniewski and Sam Brunet with three touchdowns each made Posen a winner. Vikings quarterback George Kroll was equally effective completing three of four attempts for two passing TD’s. Hillman returned to its winning ways, completely demolishing Charlton Heston. Nash Steinke had 10 carries for 141 yards, putting safely in the win column with three touchdowns. In addition, Sean Henigan and Gage Steinke contributed heavily in the win as well. The night went completely sour for Charlton Heston when Gunner Mellingen returned a 61 yard interception for a score as well. Coming off an easy win, might be what the Tigers needed, add in homecoming, that might be enough fire power to hand Posen their first loss. Another point, the usual rock solid defense of the Vikings broke on several different occasions. Swami says regardless of who wins, it will be a battle of the ages, both teams have explosive offenses. Defensively, the Tigers have given up 89 points through five games, with a bulk of the points being 50 scored by AuGres. Meanwhile, Posen’s defense has steadily been exploded by Hale for 32 points.

In the long run, the All-Knowing-One feels Posen’s defense will be weaken by the rushing attack of the Tigers, and the faithful of Hillman will move into a second place tie in the North Star with three games to play.

Swami Sez: Hillman 38, Posen 21.

Onaway (2-3) at Atlanta (1-4) – Friday – 7 pm. – Onaway and Atlanta both are looking for another win in the North Star Conference besides Charlton Heston and advancing themselves in the standings. The Cardinals had their best outing against the Patriots putting 70 points on the board. The Huskies have split with the same Patriot team, winning on Atlanta’s home turf. Onaway started the season out strong with consecutive wins, but have fallen on hard times over the last three. Atlanta is currently riding two game loosing streak. Pellston put the hurt on them last week, 35-6.

The Cardinals could do very little against a rock hard AuGres, getting whitewashed 56-0. Swami feels this game is not a momentum builder, but getting back to respectability. With a win, the Cardinals would be at .500, in additional, to favorable remaining schedule, there still looms the possibility of making the post season. The Huskies cause would be uplifted for at least a week, before taking on league leading AuGres. The ground that lead the Cardinals to wins at the beginning, has been non existent, over the last few weeks. What the Cardinals must do is find away to rejuvenate the legs of Dawson, Bredan Hilliker and Gavin Fenstermaker. Swami says when the Cardinal ground game is in motion, they are in every ball game. Meanwhile, Aaron Cuzzort has to get the passing attack back for the Huskies’ to have a chance, hooking up with Trenton Whitt and Trace Juergens. Ethan Byrne must reassemble his rushing game as well.

Swami has seen the Cardinals fly away from the prey of a Husky. The Cardinals have shown more progress then the Husky offense overall. With that said he must stick with the Cardinals to make it back to .500.

Swami Sez: Onaway 50, Atlanta 22.

Rogers City (4-1) at Alcona (0-5) – Friday – 7pm. – Alcona is not where the Tigers had hoped to be at this point of the season. Whereas the Hurons have surprised everyone to this point, except Oscoda, who put a blemish on their record. The Hurons had been on a roll over the first four games, in what appeared to be a breeze to the post season. The Owls got in the way, put pressure on the Hurons to win two games to assure they make it. A single win over Alcona would push them ever so close, but there would be three teams remaining with winning records standing in their way.

There were no excuses following the Owls 16-0 win, neither wind or rain were a viable excuse, the Hurons simply were outplayed. The Huron offense could not overcome a larger defensive line and make it into the red zone. The Owls shut down the explosiveness of Jeff Ellenberger, in addition to Lewis Fleming, who had sparked a sputtering rushing game the week before. Swami must tip his hat to Oscoda, for not allowing Huron offense, who had been averaging 35 points per game, to cross the goal line.

Alcona put together its best offensive game, it was still not enough to overcome Whittemore-Prescott. The 30 point effort was led by Ethan Long’s two rushing touchdowns to go with 93 total yards, Dominic Howe contributed 132 yards on 19 carries, one of which rushed in a touchdown. Mason Clark capped off the scoring with 58 yards. The All-Knowing-One says this was the best offensive contributions the Tigers have had. It was a late touchdown that kept them from garnering the elusive first win. The All-Knowing-One says it maybe a week late, but the Tigers will not be able to hinder the Hurons. The Hurons will take their wrath for falling flat last week.

Swami Sez: Rogers City 48, Alcona 14.