Rangers, Eddies face challenges

Published 9:01 am Thursday, November 7, 2019

STAFF REPORT

CASSOPOLIS — Undefeated Cassopolis and Edwardsburg will seek district championships in the Michigan High School Athletic Association playoffs Friday night.

The Rangers (10-0) will travel to Reading (9-1) to face the Division 8 defending state champions, while Edwardsburg, which won the Division 4 state championship in 2018, will head north to face Zeeland West in a Division 3 showdown.

The Eddies are 10-0 in the season and winners of 24 consecutive games, which date back to the 2017 Division 4 state championship game.

Cassopolis at Reading

The Rangers, who have reached the Division 7 state semifinals two of the last three years, felt fortunate to drop down into Division 8 for the 2019 postseason.

Unfortunately for Cassopolis, that means facing the defending state champion in the district title game.

The Rangers blanked White Pigeon 41-0 for the second time this season to advance to Friday night’s championship game.

Reading, who are also the Rangers, defeated Mendon 38-0 last Friday night to begin defense of their title.

Cassopolis also played Mendon this season as they are both members of the Southwest 10 Conference. The Rangers defeated the Hornets 28-0 in Week 2.

The winner will advance and host the regional finals, where it could face the winner of the Sand Creek (8-2) or Adrian Lenawee Christian (9-1).

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Edwardsburg at Zeeland West

The success the Edwardsburg football program has achieved since 2010 can be traced directly to Zeeland West and its Wing-T offense. The Eddies’ coaching staff, as well as players, traveled to Zeeland to learn how to run the offense, which Edwardsburg has perfected over the years.

The Eddies advanced to the title game against the Dux (9-1) by routing St. Joseph 42-8 Friday night. Edwardsburg has now outscored its opponents 455-67.

The Eddies would have scored even more points had it not had a 2-0 forfeit win over South Haven.

Zeeland West defeated arch rival Zeeland East 38-7 last Friday night.

The Dux and the Chix (5-5) seem like they play twice a year as they have met five times since 2012. The winner of the regular-season contest was upset in three of those meetings.

The winner will host the regional championship against either St. Johns (7-3) or DeWitt (8-2).

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.