Macomb Township

Local football teams prepare for postseason

By Jon Malavolti
C & G Sports Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo by Patricia O’Blenes Macomb L’Anse Creuse North’s football team won its sixth game of the year Oct. 12, beating Fraser High 18-17 and qualifying for the state playoffs in the process. Pictured is coach Anthony Kiner on the sidelines during a game earlier this season. Photo by Patricia O’Blenes Macomb L’Anse Creuse North’s football team won its sixth game of the year Oct. 12, beating Fraser High 18-17 and qualifying for the state playoffs in the process. Pictured is coach Anthony Kiner on the sidelines during a game earlier this season.

FRASER — The coach walked up to his team after the game as it huddled near midfield and shouted, “We are in the playoffs!”

The team responded, all yelling, “Yeah!”

Macomb L’Anse Creuse North is back in the state football playoffs for the first time since 2007 and just the second time in program history after edging Fraser High 18-17 Oct. 12 on the road.

The win was LCN’s sixth of the season, automatically qualifying it for the postseason, which begins in two weeks.

“That’s the biggest thing we preached — playoffs,” LCN coach Anthony Kiner said. “It’s pretty special ground we’re on.”

The Crusaders and Ramblers traded scores in the first half, followed by a scoreless second half in the Macomb Area Conference Blue Division finale for the squads.

“That’s high school football. Any given Friday, someone can come and beat you,” Kiner said. “They’re a heck of a ball team, and I look forward to playing them in the future.

“A win’s a win. It doesn’t matter if you win ugly or you win pretty,” he said.

LCN improved to 6-2 overall and finishes 4-1 in the MAC Blue. The Crusaders’ regular-season finale is at 7 p.m. Oct. 19 at home against Marysville High.

Kiner said the matchup with the Vikings would be a “pretty good test.”

“We have a lot to play for,” the coach added, referring to playoff seeding and possible home-field advantage.

The playoffs begin the following week.

“We expected to be in the playoffs,” Kiner said. “We’re not done yet.”

Visit our website at www.can dgnews.com/Sports for more details from LCN’s win at Fraser.

Local football roundup
While LCN is in, Chippewa Valley needs to defeat Port Huron at 7 p.m. Oct. 19 at home to ensure a spot in the playoffs. The Big Reds fell to 5-3 after a 17-13 loss to Macomb Dakota Oct. 12. The Cougars, meanwhile, continued to increase their postseason résumé, improving to 7-1 overall, winning the MAC Red title outright. Dakota finishes the season hosting Roseville High at 7 p.m. Oct. 19.

Elsewhere in MAC Red action, Utica Eisenhower defeated Utica Stevenson for its sixth win to qualify for the playoffs. Ike plays at Cousino at 7 p.m. Oct. 19 in its regular-season finale.

Macomb Lutheran North will also be looking for its sixth win in the final game of the regular season. The Mustangs fell 23-17 in overtime Oct. 13 at Dearborn Divine Child to fall to 5-3 on the year. Lutheran North plays at Richmond High at 7 p.m. Oct. 19.

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Jon Malavolti at jmalavolti@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1040. Follow Jon on Twitter.