Bay City area playoff football previews and predictions for Week 10

BAY CITY, MI - The MLive Bay City coverage area still has five teams competing in the high school football playoffs, and each has a championship on the line in Week 10.

Here's a look at what lies ahead for Gladwin, Ogemaw, Standish-Sterling and Cass City, who vie for district championships in 11-player football, and Au Gres, which competes for a regional crown in the eight-player game oin Friday.

DIVISION 5

Region 1, District 1

Gladwin (7-3) at Ogemaw Heights (9-1)

: 7 p.m. Friday

: Ogemaw leads 25-16, including a 12-7 win this season in Week 3. They split a pair of matchups last year, with Gladwin winning the season opener 42-28 and Ogemaw winning the first-round playoff meeting 28-23. They were league rivals from 1968-2001, first in the Northern B Conference, then in the North East Michigan Conference.

The Lowdown: If recent history is an indication, get ready for a doozy. Their past three matchups have been absolute battles that could have tipped either way. This season, like last season, they are two of the area's top squads and are poised for a district championship donnybrook. Ogemaw brings a rough and rugged mentality to the table, playing power football with a big offensive line and the strong running of Rob Hock, Conner Lambert and Calvin Marshall. Gladwin can counter-punch with the best of them and has big-play ability in quarterback Colton Pfenninger and receiver Donald Corlew. But don't be surprised if this is another defensive war.

First Round: Gladwin def. Kingsford 18-15; Ogemaw def. Clare 21-13

Next Round: Regional final vs. winner of Belding at Frankenmuth

: Ogemaw Heights 20, Gladwin 14

DIVISION 6

Region 1, District 2

Standish-Sterling (7-3) at Reed City (8-2)

: 7 p.m. Friday

: Standish-Sterling leads 2-0, including a 44-6 win in the first round of the 2008 playoffs and a 28-8 regular season win in 2007.

The Lowdown: Reed City is a traditionally strong program that hasn't has a losing season since 2009. The CSAA Gold squad has reached the state's final four the past two seasons. The Coyotes have beaten three teams this season that are still playing, and their losses came to Division 4 No. 8-ranked Big Rapids and Division 5 No. 2-ranked Pontiac Notre Dame, so they are big-game tested. Standish-Sterling finished as the fourth seed in the Jack Pine Conference-2, but asserted itself as a team to reckon with down the stretch with wins over state-ranked Ogemaw Heights and Ovid-Elsie. The Panthers love their power football and are strong in the trenches with OL Eli Cottrell and DL Cody DeShais. But they also have an explosive element, fronted by quarterback Brody Sullivan.

First Round: Standish-Sterling def. Mason County Central 50-32; Reed City def. Manistee 41-20

Next Round: Regional final vs. winner of Boyne City at Kingsley

: Standish-Sterling 42, Reed City 37

DIVISION 7

Region 2, District 2

Cass City (7-3) at Millington (9-0)

: 7 p.m. Friday

: Millington leads 6-0, including a 34-6 win in Week 4 this season. Cass City also lost to the Cardinals 21-20 in last year's district final in a game that was decided by a hairline call at the goal line.

The Lowdown: Cass City tackles a mighty challenge when it travels to Millington, the No. 2-ranked team in the state. Millington is a perennial power, going since 1988 without a losing season. The Cardinals return most of their vital pieces from last year's state semifinal team, including the program's all-time leading rusher Dallas Walsh. But Cass City can't be overlooked. When the backfield of Ryker Wallace, Will Perry and Jackson Anthony get rumbling, the Red Hawks can be a force. Coach Scott Cuthrell's program has earned 11 straight playoff bids, reaching the semifinals in 2019 and 2020 and would love a signature win this week. As first-year league mates in the new Big Thumb Conference, these two programs better get used to crossing paths in big games.

First Round: Cass City def. Saginaw Valley Lutheran 50-15; Millington def. Laker 42-12

Next Round: Regional final vs. winner of Pewamo-Westphalia at Ithaca

: Millington 30, Cass City 20

Region 2

Onekama (9-1) at Au Gres (9-1)

: 7 p.m. Friday

: Au Gres leads 1-0, winning 52-30 during the regular season in 2023.

The Lowdown: Onekama is one of the state's great bounce-back stories this season, making a six-win jump from a year ago and winning more games this season than the past four combined. The Portagers were state runners-up in 2018 and are rekindling that glory after a first-round upset of Marion. With 6-foot-4, 200-pound QB Luke Bradford and dominating defensive lineman Arden Bradford, Onekama can set a powerful tone. But Au Gres won't back down, fielding one of its most talented teams in program history. Four-year starting quarterback Carter Zeien and electric runner Cole Dewald raced for more than 600 yards a week ago and haven't been slowed since a Week 1 loss to Alcona. The Wolverines are averaging an eye-popping 58.4 points per game.

First Round: Onekama def. Marion 22-20; Au Gres def. Mio 70-42

Next Round: State semifinal vs. winner of Powers North Central at Crystal Falls Forest Park

: Au Gres 34, Onekama 30

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