The Halfway Point – HS Football-Week 5

Once we see Week 5 show up on the High School Football schedule, it's time for us to prepare for the long stretch of games that could determine whether your school is postseason-bound or trying to finish out the season with a chance to build on next year. Three area schools could get one step closer to locking up a playoff spot with their fifth win, while several schools are still at the .500 mark.

We're back in the Interstate 8 this week, as we make a trek to Pennfield to see the Panthers host the Harper Creek Beavers. The Panthers earned their first win on the season in Marshall, holding off a contentious Redhawks squad in a 27-13 victory. The win was also the first for head coach Mike McGuire at the lead for the Green and Gold.

The Beavers made a change at quarterback for an offensive spark, and they ran into a shootout with the Charlotte Orioles in a 52-45 overtime edge. It evens their record at 2-2 and keeps them in the I-8 title hunt behind Jackson Lumen Christi and Coldwater.

These two crosstown rivals have played in non-conference battles in other sports, but this will be the first time since 2000 the two squads have faced off on the gridiron. The Beavers would prove victorious in a 21-0 shutout. It will also be the first time since 1978 that it's been a conference game, when Harper shut Pennfield out 12-0 in the old Twin Valley Conference. Pennfield holds a 16-12-1 overall record over Harper Creek, with the lone tie being the first ever full season game for the Beavers in 1958; a scoreless tie at that.

In other action, Lakeview hosts state-ranked Stevensville-Lakeshore and Battle Creek Central heads to St. Joseph in non-divisional action in the Southwest Michigan Athletic Conference. St. Philip hits the road to take on St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran on Saturday night. Here's this week's schedule!

Friday, September 26th
Game of the Night
Harper Creek vs. Pennfield
Harper Creek 2-2 (1-1 Interstate 8) - Pennfield 1-3 (1-1 Interstate 8)
Catch the action on WBCK!

Battle Creek Central vs. St. Joseph (BC Central 2-2)
Stevensville-Lakeshore vs. Lakeview (Lakeview 2-1)

Athens vs. Springport (Athens 0-4)
North Adams-Jerome vs. Bellevue (Bellevue 0-4)
Mendon vs. Bronson (Bronson 0-4)
Climax-Scotts vs. Camden-Frontier (Climax-Scotts 4-0)
Delton vs. Galesburg-Augusta (Delton 2-2, Galesburg-Augusta 1-3)
Portage Central vs. Gull Lake (Gull Lake 2-2)
Hastings vs. Middleville-Thornapple Kellogg (Hastings 0-4)
Homer vs. Jonesville (Homer 4-0)
Maple Valley vs. Leslie (Maple Valley 0-4)
Lakewood-Lake Odessa vs. Olivet (Olivet 3-1)
Quincy vs. Union City (Quincy 3-1, Union City 4-0)
8-Man Football - Tekonsha vs. Litchfield (Tekonsha 0-4)

Saturday, September 27th
8-Man Football - St. Philip vs. St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran @ Three Oaks (St. Philip 4-0)

Marshall vs. Jackson Lumen Christi (Marshall 1-3)