Homecoming time for Cheboygan; Inland Lakes welcomes Bellaire in Week 8 football action

CHEBOYGAN – Can you believe it’s already Week 8?

Of all the football seasons I’ve covered up here, this one has to be the fastest . With only two weeks left in the Cheboygan-area high school regular season, teams are still aiming for the playoffs, while others hope to finish in style.

With Week 8 on deck, here’s what’s ahead for each Cheboygan-area team.

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CHEBOYGAN (3-4)

Last Week: While the Chiefs fell well short at Kingsley, I thought the score wasn’t a true indication of how this game went. At times, Cheboygan showed its strength offensively and defensively, but again, it was more about the mistakes Chiefs made at critical times. Whether it was a fumble, a missed assignment or anything else, Cheboygan was plagued by their miscues, and it resulted in defeat. However, the Chiefs received standout offensive games from Evan Benson and Jack Ekdahl, while Chauncey Lovelly impressed defensively.

This Week: It’s finally Homecoming for the Chiefs, who host Grayling at Western Avenue Field. While the Vikings have struggled all fall, they’re still a team capable of having offensive success. With Grayling being a dangerous passing team, it’ll be a challenge for a Cheboygan squad that’s had issues defending the pass.

INLAND LAKES (7-0)

Last Week: Almost in the blink of an eye, the Bulldogs led 30-0 at Pellston. It was a good sign that no matter who the Bulldogs are playing right now, they’re taking everyone seriously. Inland Lakes received another excellent performance from Andre Bradford, while Aidan Fenstermaker, Ty Kolly and plenty of others did their part.

This Week: The run to a fourth consecutive Ski Valley title truly starts on Friday for the Bulldogs, who welcome a much-improved Bellaire team. Inland Lakes is the clear favorite here. With a win over the Eagles, it would set up a winner-take-all showdown against Gaylord St. Mary in Week 9.

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ONAWAY (2-5)

Last Week: Talk about a heartbreaker, the Cardinals experienced it when they suffered a loss to Central Lake on the final play of the game. Despite falling short, Onaway saw Kayson Jarvis deliver an outstanding rushing performance, finishing with 270 yards and three touchdowns. If anything, it looks like the Cardinals found something on the offensive side of the ball after struggling for a few weeks.

This Week: Onaway has a great opportunity to pick up its third win when it hosts Pellston. As the Cardinals keep improving offensively, the Hornets are struggling to defend most attacks they face. This contest has been exciting in recent seasons, and I don’t expect this year’s edition to be any different.

PELLSTON (1-6)

Last Week: One incredibly difficult stretch is over for the Hornets, who had no answers for high-powered Inland Lakes at home. The Hornets did move the ball at times, but they were plagued either by turnovers or penalties. When you do those things, it makes it much tougher to hang with an opponent as good as the Bulldogs are.

This Week: The Hornets also have a shot to get back on track when they travel to Onaway. On paper, both teams look relatively similar in terms of talent. For Pellston, it’ll be about cutting down the mistakes and better execution.

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WEEK 8 CHEBOYGAN-AREA FOOTBALL MATCHUPS

Grayling (1-6) at Cheboygan (3-4) , Friday, 7 p.m.

Bellaire (1-6) at Inland Lakes (7-0) , Friday, 7 p.m.

Pellston (1-6) at Onaway (2-5) , Friday, 7 p.m.

Contact sports editor Jared Greenleaf at jgreenleaf@gannett.com . Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @sportsCDT

This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Homecoming time for Cheboygan; Inland Lakes welcomes Bellaire in Week 8 football action