The field is set, the dates and times announced. Some 256 high school football teams, split into eight divisions, start the playoffs this weekend, all dreaming of at least a win, maybe a glorious run, or possibly a state title Thanksgiving weekend at Ford Field.
Sixteen of the playoff teams are from this region. What's in store for those teams? Sports writer Mike Eckert and sports editor Dennis Chase take a look at the local match-ups.
1. Who has the best draw?
Traverse City St. Francis.
Surprised? Shouldn't be. The Gladiators are 9-0, ranked No. 1 in the state, are the defending Division 7 state champs and have the most favorable draw -- at least out of the gates -- to do it all over again.
St. Francis (9-0) opens with Inland Lakes (6-3) on Friday.
The Gladiators have had their way with Ski Valley Conference teams in recent years, beating Mancelona 52-0 in the 2007 district championship game en route to winning the state title. It was even worse in 2005 when the Glads beat Onaway 87-18 in a post-season opener.
In fact, the Gladiators are historically 8-0 against Ski Valley Conference teams.
Rudyard and Rogers City play in the other pre-district. Rudyard beat the Hurons 48-30 during the regular season. The Bulldogs also beat Benzie 41-21. St. Francis opened the season with a 54-0 win over the Huskies.
So early on, the path looks favorable -- and familiar for the Gladiators.
In the last four seasons, St. Francis followed this pattern: Host two district playoff games at Thirlby Field and then travel to the Superior Dome in Marquette for a regional final. It's resulted in three regional titles and subsequently three state finals appearances.
An interesting rematch or two potentially looms. Ravenna gave the Glads their best game in the playoffs last year and they could meet again in the state semifinal.
Mendon -- which beat SF for the title in 2007 -- returns to Division 7 after a year in D-8. The Hornets are the smallest school in this year's bracket, ranked No. 2 behind the Glads and only gave up 21 points all year. The two could meet at Ford Field.
2. Who has the toughest draw?
Suttons Bay and Lake City in Division 6.
Lake City faces defending state champion Montague on Friday. The top-ranked Wildcats, led by Central Michigan-bound quarterback Cody Kater, were averaging a shade under 50 points a game until last weekend's 13-0 win over Fremont.
In that same district, the Norsemen travel to 8-1 Sanford-Meridian, which is coming off its best regular season since 1991. The Mustangs only loss is to unbeaten Clare, which is in Division 5. Take that game out of the mix and Sanford-Meridian put up an average 45 points a game on the other eight opponents.
3. What's the most competitive district?
How about Escanaba-Cadillac and Ogemaw Heights-Petoskey in Division 3? The two Big North Conference teams, Cadillac and Petoskey, enjoy a first-round home-field edge -- and a rematch could be in the cards. But that's not a lock by any means.
Escanaba, 7-2 after a 14-0 loss to playoff-bound Kingsford on Friday, is trying to regain some playoff magic. The Eskymos are 1-8 in the post-season since winning a state title in 1981. Escanaba and Cadillac played two common foes during the regular season -- Gaylord and Alpena. Escanaba beat Gaylord 28-0 and Alpena 35-28 while Cadillac topped the Blue Devils 28-12 and the Wildcats 35-16.
Petoskey beat Ogemaw Heights in the first-round of the playoffs a year ago, and then dealt the Falcons a 24-15 setback in week two. But the Northmen were healthy then. Mike Suter, who scored twice in the win over Ogemaw Heights in early September, has missed the last three games with a sore back. He's a stalwart on defense, too. Kelsey Heinrich, a fullback-linebacker, has also been felled by injury.
If Cadillac and Petoskey survive, the two teams would meet for the district title at Cadillac, where they played perhaps the area's most exciting game during the regular season. The Vikings won that contest 31-28 on a last-second field goal.
4. What conference fared the best?
That's a good news, bad news story. Five Lake Michigan Conference schools are in the playoffs -- that's the good news -- but four will make long road trips to the Upper Peninsula for opening round games.
In Division 5, Elk Rapids is at perennially-tough Menominee. The Maroons knocked the Elks out of the playoffs two of the last three years. A rejuvenated Elk Rapids program is making a fourth consecutive playoff appearance under coach Ed Schindler.
In that same district, Grayling will take its aerial assault to Negaunee. Junior quarterback Zach Wolcott has completed 200 of 375 passes for 2,375 yards and 16 touchdowns. A dual threat, he's also rushed for 324 yards and 10 more scores. Negaunee is an identical 6-3, but the Miners lost two of their last three games, including a 50-0 setback to Ishpeming.
In Division 6, Charlevoix makes the trek to the Copper Country to take on 8-1 Calumet, which has victories over three playoff teams-- Stephenson (45-20), Ishpeming (38-22) and Iron River West Iron County (38-0). The Copper Kings lost to Boyne City last season after knocking off the Ramblers the previous year.
Boyne City, also 6-3, heads to Iron Mountain, which has won five in a row, including a 7-0 verdict over Kingsford. The Ramblers lost to Iron Mountain in the district final last season 35-6.
5. What are the feel-good stories this year?
After 29 years at Johannesburg-Lewiston, coach Fred Davis is stepping down when this season ends. His Cardinals have a chance to make it a memorable exit in the Division 8. Seventh-ranked Joburg gets started with Hillman and could meet rival Gaylord St. Mary for the district title should both teams advance.
The Snowbirds are one of the "little guys" in this year's field.
With 58 students, Manistee Catholic is hands down the smallest school, with Gaylord SM (89) joining the Sabers as the only schools with enrollments under 100. St. Igance, the Snowbirds first-round opponent, is the biggest D-8 team with 233.
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