Despite pandemic, fans still seeing games
You can take the fans out of football, but you can’t take football out of the fans.
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced high school teams to limit crowd sizes. The rule of thumb is that each player may invite two guests.
But what about those who aren’t on the guest list and really, really, really want to see their buddy, brother, boyfriend, cousin, grandchild or son play?
If Week 1 was an indication, folks are going to get mighty creative to find ways to see games.
Where possible, they used lawn chairs, patio furniture, stepladders and pickup truck beds as vantage points from which to watch the action outside of stadium grounds.
Some complexes are simply too big and the security fence too restrictive to make possible being part of what evokes images of the “knothole gang” — fans who’d peer through the holes in wooden fences to see baseball games back in the day.
But there’s no denying the passion some folks have for football.
Let’s see ifwe can get a clear picture of this weekend’s games:
LAKEVIEW AT L’ANSE CREUSE NORTH
It has been a relatively quiet
week at L’Anse Creuse North.
After all, the Crusaders have had only one team on their schedule.
Last week, Detroit Country Day, which replaced MACWhite rival Utica on the LCNslate, had to back out on Thursday night.
At almost the same time, Lake Orion had to cancel its date with Oxford. So after some quick thinking and frantic arranging, LCN and Oxford agreed to hook up on Friday.
The Wildcats came out the winners.
Lakeview is also 0-1 after giving up a late touchdown to Warren-Mott.
The way the Wise Guy sees this Thursday affair, the Huskies post their first win of 2020.
STEVENSON AT DAKOTA
There’s simply no way everyone who wants to see this showdown live can be accommodated at Dakota on Friday.
Hello, social media. Hello, livestream.
These teamsmet twice in 2019, including a playoff game in which Stevenson avenged a regular-season loss to the Cougars.
Both come off rivalry victories — Stevenson over Eisenhower and Dakota over Chippewa Valley.
There’s top-tier Division 1 college talent on both sides in this high-quality contest.
WiseGuy is goingwith Macomb Dakota in a close one.
UTICA AT ANCHOR BAY
Welcome back, Chieftains.
Utica had to sit out last week’s opener against L’Anse Creuse North due to coronavirus quarantine. They’ll try to sail the Red Sea when they meet Anchor Bay, an impressive Week 1 winner over Ford.
WiseGuy figures the Chieftains will need time to shake the rust off.
Anchor Bay is the Friday pick.
OLSMAT DE LA SALLE
There’s no time for a pity party at De La Salle Collegiate.
The Pilots lost a heartbreaker last week when Brother Rice converted a 2-point conversion in the second overtime to break a tie and win the Catholic League Central Division game.
Now it’s back to the carpet at Wayne State for the Pilots, whose task is Orchard Lake St. Mary’s.
DLS and the Eaglets have split their last six meetings.
GivemeDLS — this time in regulation time — in the Saturday afternoon battle that will be one worth watching.
OTHER GAMES
Marine City wins at Clintondale; Clawson prevails at home against Center Line; Roseville takes down visiting Cousino; Richmond wins at home against Croswell-Lexington; Michigan Collegiate defeats visiting Detroit Community; Grosse Pointe South trims host Eisenhower; Hazel Park knocks off host Fitzgerald; Lake Shore triumphs at Fraser; New Haven falls at home to Lamphere; Ubly beats visiting Memphis; Merritt falls at Morrice; host Oakland Christian defeats Parkway Christian; Lutheran North prevails against visiting Riverview Richard; Chippewa Valley slips past visiting Romeo; South Lake wins at Lincoln; Port Huron Northern defeats visiting Sterling Heights; Warren-Mott wins at Ford; Eastpointe handlesWarrenWoods-Tower; Armada turns back visiting Yale; University Liggett outscores Mount Clemens, and Port Huronwins at L’Anse Creuse.