Prep Football Week 6 Recap: Predictions for week 7
HILLSDALE COUNTY — Week six of county prep football found 11-player football teams battle conference opponents in one-score games. In 8-player football, two teams earned bounce back victories that put them back in the path for playoff contention. Take a look at each team in Hillsdale County and their week six results, and look ahead at the week seven battles that await them.
Related: Hillsdale takes down Columbia Central
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11-Player Football
Hillsdale (3-3)
Week 6 Result: Hillsdale 34 - Columbia Central 26 Week 7 Schedule: Dundee at Hillsdale Oct. 7 at 7:00 p.m.
Top Performers: Jack Bowles: 21 rushing yards 1 TD; 10 passes 152 yards 1 TD, Stephen Petersen: 99 rushing yards 1 TD, 15 yard reception; 16 tackles, Kodi Zuver: 78 rushing yards; 5 tackles, Jordan Barnes: 46 rushing yards 1 TD; 2 receptions 2 yards
Notes: Hillsdale bounced back from a disappointing week five loss to Ida with a 34-26 victory over Columbia Central. At 3-3 overall, the next three games remain important to the Hornets who look to move up the playoff points standings and earn a playoff berth this season.
The Hornets look to return to the MHSAA playoffs after missing out in 2021, their first losing season since 2016. Standing in their way will be the Dundee Vikings and the Clinton Redwolves in weeks seven and eight. Both games will be at home. Dundee lost their first game of the season to Clinton by a final score of 34-7.
It's homecoming week for the Hornets and their matchup with the Dundee Vikings will prove to be another LCAA battle to shake up the playoff picture of whichever team falls, which is why it is our week seven game of the week.
Score Prediction: Read our Thursday Game of the Week preview for the final score prediction.
Jonesville (2-4)
Related: Reading defeats Jonesville
Week 6 Result: Reading 40 - Jonesville 36 Week 7 Schedule: Jonesville at Quincy Oct. 7 at 7:00 p.m.
Top Performers: Dominic Aponte: 203 rushing yards 2 TD; KR TD, one reception 20 yards 1 TD; 3 tackles, Cowen Keller: 7/14 106 yards 2 TD; Brady Wright: 3 receptions 38 yards and 1 TD, 5 tackles
Notes: Jonesville played their final game against Reading as a member of the Big 8 conference. The Comets' final season as members of the Big 8 has not been as fruitful as their undefeated 2021 campaign. Jonesville lost the big play battle against Reading in week six. The Comets are a stronger opponent than what appears on-paper, with three of their losses this season being decided by just one score.
The Comets needed a victory at home this past Friday night to stay in the hunt for a playoff berth. Now, the Comets likely find themselves further away and need help in order to make the playoffs. The Comets have three games remaining that they need to win in order to finish the fall season with a winning record.
Jonesville has a strong opportunity to rebound in week seven with a road game at the Quincy Orioles, who just won their first game of the season. Expect the Orioles to give the Comets a good scare this Friday night, but Jonesville's rushing offense will be too strong to stop.
After this Friday, Jonesville faces Hanover-Horton and a Cascades Conference opponent in the crossover game. Both of those games could give Jonesville the playoff points they need to sneak into the Division 7 playoffs, but it may be out of the Comets' control at this point in the season.
Score Prediction: Jonesville 49 - Quincy 14
Reading (5-1)
Week 6 Result: Reading 40 - Jonesville 36 Week 7 Schedule: Springport at Reading Oct. 7 at 7:00 p.m.
Related: Wednesday E-Newspaper holds the latest State Rankings: Subscribe online to read
Top Performers: Maverick Messenger: 82 rushing yards 2 TD, Tayshawn Bester: 56 rushing yards; 79 yard KR TD, Joey Campbell: 8 tackles; 40-yard PR; 1 onside kick recovery, Colton Bassage: 8 passes 177 passing yards 2 TD, Landon Clabaugh: 2 receptions 64 yards 1 TD
Notes: The Rangers made the one or two big plays that can win close games and that proved to be enough to outlast the Comets for a week six rivalry victory.
A batted-ball was turned into a touchdown reception courtesy of the patient senior Landen Clabaugh. Senior Joey Campbell brought in the onside kick recovery after Maverick Messenger's go-ahead score to seal the victory. Reading's combination of senior leadership and experience has paid off and now it looks like the Rangers are back in the D7 top 10 contenders. The Rangers were ranked No. 10 in the latest AP poll, and winning their final three games of the season could continue to push the Rangers up in the final rankings and official playoff standings at the end.
The Rangers should have a favorable matchup for homecoming week against the Springport Spartans, who have an 0-6 record this season. The Spartans lost to the 1-5 Quincy Orioles by double digits in week six. This should be a good home game to prep the Rangers for their Big 8 season finale against Homer High School in week eight. Then, the Rangers most likely face the runner-up team in the Cascades conference for the annual crossover game. That game will most likely be Manchester or Addison.
Score Prediction: Reading 56 - Springport 0
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8-Player Football
Related: Week 6 8-Player Football Roundup
Camden-Frontier (3-3)
Week 6 Result: Camden-Frontier 52 - Waldron 6 Week 7 Schedule: C-F at Athens Oct. 7 7:00 p.m.
Top Performers: Brandon Hall: 57 rushing yards 1 TD; 1 INT, Logan Leggett: 64 rushing yards; 1 INT, Kayden Conroy: 48 rushing yards 1 TD
Notes: Camden-Frontier had 358 total yards of offense to help get back on track in week six against the Waldron Spartans. The team is now 3-3 on the season, matching head coach Rob Wickham's season high last year. The Camden-Frontier varsity football team's offense has found success on the ground lately, and the team will have to use every bit of help it can get to defeat an Athens team that is in playoff contention.
This week is a must win game for both teams if they want to be in consideration for a playoff berth this fall. Athens is coming off of two shutout losses to Adrian Lenawee Christian and Climax-Scotts. Athens and Camden-Frontier sit at 3-3 overall and whoever wins this match will more than likely have a chance to make the playoffs.
Camden-Frontier's strong defensive players, including Worm Wickham, will make this a tougher battle for Athens. However, Camden-Frontier's strong rushing attack will need another week of strong numbers for them to pull out the victory. If Camden-Frontier's running back committee can carve out another 200-plus yard performance, Athens may be in trouble.
Score Prediction: Camden-Frontier 40 - Athens 32
Litchfield (4-1)
Week 6 Result: Bye Week Week 7 Schedule: Litchfield at North Adams-Jerome Oct. 7 at 7:00 p.m.
Top Performers: Bye Week
Notes: It turns out that the Litchfield Terriers would throw our weekly predictions for a loop last week. Litchfield enjoyed a bye week off and now faces North Adams-Jerome in week seven. With a week (and an earlier-than-expected release of game notes) of rest under their belts, the Terriers should be healthy and ready to go for their rematch with North Adams-Jerome in week seven.
The Terriers and Rams played earlier this season in a week three game at Litchfield. The special ceremony and home field advantage helped the Terriers to take a double-digit lead at the half. However, the Rams, led by senior running back Casey Loper, would storm back to take the lead from the Terriers. The Terrier offense was also unstoppable in that game, which allowed the Terriers to win 54-48.
Both teams have struggled defensively this season, but both offenses have found ways to exploit their opponents when they find themselves matched up with weaker defenses. This game should be another shootout for both squads, and it is the week seven impact matchup.
Score Prediction: Read our Thursday preview of the week seven impact matchup for our final score predictions.
North Adams-Jerome (1-5)
Week 6 Result: Tekonsha 84 - North Adams-Jerome 12 Week 7 Schedule: Litchfield at North Adams-Jerome Oct. 7 at 7:00 p.m.
Top Performers: Casey Loper: 182 rushing yards 2 TD; 2 tackles, Jace Brink: 7 tackles (one for a loss)
Notes: The Rams faced a hungry Tekonsha squad this past Friday and got the full force of their offensive firepower. The Rams were outmatched and outplayed in every facet of the game. Casey Loper managed to break off two impressive touchdown runs to put North Adams-Jerome on the scoreboard. The good news for the Rams is they have home field advantage and revenge on their mind as they host the Litchfield Terriers for a week seven showdown.
The two rivals have already played once this year, and that game proved to be an all-time classic for both sides. North Adams-Jerome looks to end their season on a high note and upset the Terriers' bid for a playoff berth. The Terriers sit just outside the projected playoff field and North Adams-Jerome has a chance to take away that playoff bid in head coach Michael Langhann's first season coaching the Terriers.
Head coach Dave Price and the Rams will not have the luxary of a bye week after their brutal loss to Tekonsha, but they will have home field advantage, and that may just be the factor that concludes this contest with a Rams victory.
Score Prediction: Read our Thursday preview of the week seven impact matchup for our final score predictions.
Pittsford (3-3)
Week 6 Result: Pittsford 46 - Bellevue 14 Week 7 Schedule: Climax-Scotts at Pittsford Oct. 7 at 7:00 p.m.
Top Performers: Gavyn Carden: 5 passes 78 yards 1 TD; 42 rushing yards 3 TD; 3.5 tackles, Legend Gore: 150 rushing yards 2 TD; 3 tackles, Lane Lewis: 91 rushing yards, Bryce Williams: 3 receptions 56 yards 1 TD, 2.5 tackles, Anthony Governo: 5 solo tackles
Notes: After losing to three state ranked teams in a row, the Pittsford Wildcats got back on track to defeat Bellevue in week six. Turnovers have been a major thorn in the Wildcats' side, but they didn't let two turnovers turn their night into another disappointing defeat. Pittsford outgained Bellevue 361 yards to 138.
ittsford has a 3-3 overall record in their first year of 8-player football. The Wildcats sit on the outside-looking in on the 8-player playoff picture. The Wildcats will play in a make-or-break game in week seven at home against Climax-Scotts.
The 5-1 Climax-Scotts lost a one-score battle to Colon in week six. Both teams are considered two of the best this year and state title contenders. The Panthers stand in the way of Pittsford and their playoff hopes; however a win will give Pittsford a major playoff point win for the Wildcats that could push them into playoff consideration if they finish the year with a 6-3 record. The game starts at 7 p.m. and will be streamed live on the NFHS Network.
Climax-Scotts quarterback Daniel Matrau will be a key playmaker for the Panthers and someone Pittsford will need to contain this Friday if they want to pull off the upset against the No. 4 Climax-Scotts. Pittsford's trio of Carden, Lewis and Legend Gore will have to control the turnover battle and limit the extra opportunities the Wildcats gave teams in their previous two losses. If the Wildcats can keep the ball from ending up in the Panthers' hands late in the game, they could be playing in a one-score game. However, the Panther defense may prove to be too much for the Wildcats and the Wildcats could struggle to stop the Panther rushing attack.
Score Prediction: Climax-Scotts 48 - Pittsford 22
Waldron (1-5)
Week 6 Result: C-F 52 - Waldron 6 Week 7 Schedule: Battle Creek St. Phil at Waldron Oct. 7 at 7:00 p.m.
Top Performers: Seth Williams: 8 passes 115 yards, Jacobi Gonzalez: 4 receptions 79 yards; 11 tackles 1 INT, Collin Williams: 9 tackles
Notes: The Spartans struggled in their week six battle for 'The Jug' against the Camden-Frontier football team. Camden-Frontier got revenge for last season's defeat and placed themselves back into the playoff race. The Spartans and head coach Anthony Roney have had two rivalry losses in a row and that could be the dagger that leaves the Spartans vulnerable at home against the Fighting Tigers of St. Phillip.
St. Phil ended a three-game losing streak with a 56-6 victory over a 0-6 Burr Oak squad. St. Phil faced a grueling six-game schedule to start their season and navigated it respectfully. They head on the road for the first time since Sept. 9 to Waldron for a must win matchup for both teams. While a winning season is out of reach for the Spartans, St. Phil represents the start of what could be a final run for the Spartans to end the season.
For St. Phillip, the matchup is a must win to keep their winning season and playoff hopes alive. St. Phillip has a tough week eight matchup ahead with the Litchfield Terriers, but the Spartans could catch the Tigers' looking ahead to a presumably tougher opponent. This game should be closer than the last two contests the teams have played on their schedule. Waldron's turnover woes should allow St. Phillip to squeak by with a week seven victory.
Score Prediction: Battle Creek St. Phillip 42 - Waldron 24
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This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Prep Football Week 6 recap and predictions for week 7
