GRAYLING — Not only does Grayling’s football team have the opportunity to begin a deep playoff run, but it can run its winning streak to three straight games and avenge an earlier loss to Benzie Central in a Division 6 district game Friday night in Grayling.
The Vikings lost to the Huskies, 41-28 on Oct. 2 in the midst of a losing streak that would reach three straight games. It was the last time the Huskies won.
They have lost three in a row, and come into the contest with a 2-4 record compared to Grayling’s 3-3 mark.
“Watching the film, we didn’t play our best ball,” Grayling head coach Eric Tunney said of the Oc. 2 game. “They were able to get pressure on us defensively, and we didn’t give Hunter (Ventline, the Vikings quarterback) enough time go to through his reads and throw a good ball.
“So we’ve emphasized that this week. They’ve got a couple good players on offense, and we didn’t contain them very well at all. It seems so long ago. It was just a few weeks.”
Tunney isn’t saying that the Vikings are a completely different team now, but some of the mistakes they made in the first game they haven’t made the last couple games.
He also feels that the Vikings are much more confident now after notching a couple of wins, and are excited for the opportunity to extend their season with another one.
Benzie ended the regular season wit a 36-20 loss to undefeated Kingsley last week. The Huskies grabbed a 20-13 lead to start the second half, taking the second half kickoff and marching down the field, scoring on a 24-yard touchdown pass.
Kingsley scored on its next possession, and then punched in two more in the fourth quarter when the Huskies offense sputtered to pull away.
Huskies quarterback Ike Koscielski completed five passes for 48 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for 90 yards and two scores.
Grayling rolled over an admittedly struggling Cheboygan, 41-6 to end a three-game losing streak and then pulled away from a 14-14 tie in the fourth quarter for a 29-14 victory over Ogemaw Heights last week.
“Ogemaw’s won some big games, so that was a huge win for us and gave the kids some confidence, and some momentum, I think, heading into the playoffs,” said Tunney.
“We’ve had a couple good days of practice so far. We get one more day of prep, and then we’ll see what happens Friday night. As far as preparation, I think we’re so far ahead of where we were Week 3. I like where we’re at.”
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