By Staff
Beginning tonight, 256 high school football teams begin a five-week journey that leads to Ford Field in Detroit on Thanksgiving weekend.
The goal is the same for each and every one of these teams – play for a state championship.
Not everyone will make it to Detroit. In fact, only 16 teams will play for the state title in eight divisions.
Each and every one of these teams, which qualified for the Michigan High School Athletic Association football playoffs, is already a winner in our book.
They are winners because they came together back in August and worked long and hard at being the best team they could be.
Many of these teams won conference championships along the way.
Others were runners-up or finished a little farther back in the pack.
But the fact remains that each of these teams comes into the state tournament with a winning record.
Each of these teams survived the highs and lows of their seasons. They avoided injuries for the most part and overcame obstacles to be successful.
These teams learned how to deal with success and failure.
They learned how to face adversity and are the better for it.
Such is the great lesson taught by high school athletics.
We are fortunate here at the papers of Leader Publications to have three teams qualify for the postseason.
Buchanan, Cassopolis and Dowagiac begin their title quests tonight.
The Bucks, who had heavy graduation losses, put together an outstanding 7-2 season. Buchanan hosts a 7-2 Allendale squad at Memorial Field tonight at 7.
Cassopolis had its first undefeated season since 1977 and only the third in the school history.
The Rangers captured outright the Lakeland Conference championship, something that hasn't happened in Cass since 1981.
The Rangers host Eau Claire, another area team that had a solid season at 7-2. Kickoff at William F. Scott Field is set for 7:30 tonight.
Dowagiac is back in the playoffs for the second straight year. The Chieftains, who are also 7-2, face a familiar foe in Three Rivers.
Dowagiac and the Wildcats are both members of the Wolverine Conference and faced each other back in August.
The Chieftains won 25-0, giving Three Rivers its only loss of the season.
Dowagiac travels to Three Rivers to face the Wildcats tonight at 7.
All three teams have a good shot at advancing down the tournament trail. So get out there tonight and support your favorite football team.
It's time for dreams to come true for high schoolers throughout Michigan.
You can watch your team's dream come true tonight.