MIDLAND DOW at TC WEST
WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Thirlby Field, TC
RECORDS: TC West 3-2; Dow 4-1
LAST YEAR: Dow won 26-12
SERIES: Dow leads 5-2
RADIO: FM-101.1
STREAM: nfhsnetwork.com/events/mhsaa-mi/gam0ee9774e1d
BACKGROUND: The Titans knocked off Midland 27-21 last week. The 2017 season is the only time West has beaten both Midland schools in the same year, and that included a 49-19 playoff win over Dow that set up only the second postseason gridiron meeting between Central and West.
TC CENTRAL at MIDLAND
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Midland Community Stadium
RECORDS: Midland 3-2; TC Central 2-3
LAST YEAR: Midland won 30-7
SERIES: Midland leads 11-6
RADIO: FM-104.5
STREAM: nfhsnetwork.com/events/mhsaa-mi/gamc6578c6243
BACKGROUND: TC Central is looking to split with the Midland teams before getting the big Bay City schools in back-to-back weeks. West beat the Chemics 27-21 last week at Thirlby. The injury bug has bitten the Trojans for the second straight year, but when healthy they can compete against any Saginaw Valley team.
BOYNE CITY at TC ST. FRANCIS
WHEN: 5 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Thirlby Field, TC
RECORDS: Boyne City 4-1; TCSF 5-0
LAST YEAR: Boyne won 23-20
SERIES: TCSF leads 32-11
STREAM: youtube.com/@NextLevelBroadcasting
BACKGROUND: St. Francis can clinch the NMFC-Legends title with a win; Boyne can force a three-way tie for the crown along with Kingsley, provided the Stags beat Cheboygan in Week Seven.
GLEN LAKE at KALKASKA
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Kalkaska HS
RECORDS: Glen Lake 3-1; Kalkaska 5-0
LAST YEAR: Glen Lake won 44-13
SERIES: Kalkaska leads 7-4
STREAM: nfhsnetwork.com/events/mhsaa-mi/gam63540cd5de
BACKGROUND: Kalkaska won in 2022, but prior to that hadn’t beaten Glen Lake since 1968. In fact, the Blazers dominated the Lakers back in the 1960s, hence the series lead. Glen Lake has won three of four meetings in the 2020s.
ALPENA at GAYLORD
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Gaylord HS Community Field
RECORDS: Alpena 0-5; Gaylord 5-0
LAST YEAR: Gaylord won 51-0
SERIES: Gaylord leads 22-9
RADIO: FM-101.5
STREAM: nfhsnetwork.com/events/mhsaa-mi/gam983930a68b
BACKGROUND: The return of D.J. Szymoniak. The former Gaylord coach, whose contract was not renewed after leading the Devils to an undefeated regular season and the third round of the postseason just two seasons prior, landed quickly at Alpena. The Wildcats are 0-5, but this year’s team has already more than doubled last year’s scoring output in just five games. Gaylord hasn’t lost to Alpena since 2014, a season finale setback that cost the Devils a playoff berth.