Four area teams qualified for the Michigan High School Athletic Association football playoffs as the Cedarville Trojans, Rudyard Bulldogs, St. Ignace Saints, and Pickford Panthers will open postseason play Friday, October 30, and Saturday, October 31.

Cedarville: The Trojans, led by second-year Coach Scott Barr, are making their sixth consecutive trip to the playoffs, a trend dating to 2004.

Cedarville, with a 7-2 overall record, a member of the Mid- Eastern Football League, will host Stephenson, 5-3, at Alvin Hossack Memorial Field Saturday, October 31, with kickoff scheduled for 2 p.m.

The Eagles, members of the West PAC Conference, will battle the Trojans for the first time in school history during the Division 8 playoffs.

The Trojans’ offensive line-up could include Ian Burton, Zach McFarlane, Tyler Anderson, Jordan Baker, Charlie Nelson, Matt Schlosser, and Andrew Jaroche in the backfield and receivers. The offensive line is made up of Michael Kenny, Patrick Duman, Donavan Kadolph, Brandon Melcer, Harry Reinfelder, and Jake Strait.

On defense, the Trojans defensive line could be Sam Peterson, Patrick Duman, Harry Reinfelder, Jake Strait, and Brandon Melcer. The linebackers and defensive backs will include Michael Kenny, Zach McFarlane, Jeremy Sherlund, Charlie Nelson, Jordan Baker, Tyler Anderson, Andrew Jaroche, and Matt Schlosser.

The Cedarville team won its first six games, defeating Posen 54-6, Engadine 47-13, North Central 43-20, Brimley 55-0, Rapid River 36-0, and St. Ignace 28-20, but lost to North Dickinson 50-14 before closing out the season with a 14-8 win over Pickford and a heartbreaking 6-0 defeat at Bark River Harris.

Rudyard: Coach Pat Maloney, in his eighth season, recorded an 8- 1 overall record and shared the Straits Football League (SFL) title with St. Ignace. The last time the Bulldogs were in the playoffs was in 2005. The team will host SFL member the Rogers City Hurons (7-2) in the first round of the Division 7 playoffs, Friday, October 30, at 7 p.m.

The Bulldogs offense could consist of Davin Salo, Ben Grable, Jared Clark, Zac Dempsey, Arik Hesselink, and Scott Coffey in the backfield and ends, while the line will include Tyler Fountain, Bill Carey, Scott Smith, Ben Harter, and Brock Lewis.

On the defensive side of the ball, Rudyard's front line and linebackers could consist of Ben Harter, Ben Grable, Shane Sparkman, Scott Smith, Elliott Diepenhorst, Zac Dempsey, and Ron Coffey, and defensive backs of Sam Mourufus, Brett Van- Sloten, Scott Coffey, and Arik Hesselink.

The Rudyard team won its first four games, defeating St. Basil 36- 30, Hillman 43-14, Pickford 49- 16, and Newberry 39-13 before losing to St. Ignace 34-28. The Bulldogs closed out the season with victories over Rogers City 48-30, Gwinn 42-27, Benzie Central 41-21, and Munising 26-0.

St. Ignace: The Saints, with Marty Spencer in his 14th season as head coach, went 5-4 during the regular season and shared the championship in the Straits Football League with Rudyard. The Saints will travel to Gaylord to face the St. Mary Snowbirds (8- 1), members of the Ski Valley Conference for the first time in school history during the opening round Friday, October 30, with kickoff set for 7 p.m. in the Division 8 playoffs.

On the offensive side, St. Ignace will be led by Gerrit Mortensen, Austin St. Louis, Cole Christiansen, Caleb Litzner, John Evashevski, and Dan St. Onge in the backfield and receivers, and linemen Dane Mortensen, Louie Radecki, Mike Barthelemy, Grant Simmons, and Carl Ingalls.

On defense, players include Richard Bentley, Louie Radecki, Mike Barthelemy, Grant Simmons, John Evashevski, Joey Ostman, Dan St. Onge, Curtis St. Louis, Caleb Litzner, Austin St. Louis, and Cody Swagger.

The Saints defeated East Jordan 28-6, Rogers City 46-22, Rudyard 34-28, Glen Lake 31-20, and Manistique 22-12 and fell to Charlevoix 28-14, McBain 44-42, Cedarville 28-20, and Newberry 28- 14.

Pickford: The Panthers, 5-4 on the season and members of the Mid- Eastern Football League, are coached by Josh Rader in his sixth season. The team will travel to Bark River-Harris to battle the Broncos (8-1) in the opening round of the playoffs, Friday, October 30 at 7 p.m.

On the offensive side of the football, the Panthers will be led by Jacob Eddy, Jordan Lavigne, Charlie Halsey, Dylan Rye, Matt Beard, Ben Eckola, Tyler Kauffman, Jon Kelly, Ryan McBride, Cody Becks, Tim Gough, and Matt Beard.

The Pickford defense includes Jordan Lavigne, Ben Eckola, Tyler Kauffman, Dylan Rye, Charlie Halsey, Jon Kelly, Ryan McBride, Jacob Eddy, Sam Carter, Matt Beard, Cody Becks, and Tim Gough.

Pickford defeated Rapid River 23-8, White Pines 49-16, Brimley 42-0, North Central 30-0, and Engadine 41-20 and were defeated by Bark River-Harris 29-8, Rudyard 49-16, Cedarville 14-8, and North Dickinson 50-12 in the season.
Playoff Pairings of Interest
Division 8
Hillman (7-2) at Johannesburg-
Lewiston (8-1)
Ontonagon (6-3) at Lake Linden-
Hubbell (9-0)
CFFP (7-2) at North Dickinson (8-1)
Division 7
Inland Lakes (6-3) at TCSF (9-0)
Norway (6-3) at Ishpeming (7-2)
Westwood (6-2) at West Iron County
(7-2)
Division 6
Charlevoix (6-3) at Calumet (8-1)
Boyne City (6-3) at Iron Mountain
(7-2)
Division 5
Elk Rapids (5-4) at Menominee
(7-2)
Grayling (6-3) at Negaunee (6-3)
Division 4
Cheboygan (6-3) at Kingsford (7-2)
Division 3
Escanaba (7-2) at Cadillac (8-1)
Ogemaw Heights (8-1) at Petoskey
(8-1)