Now that the Oscoda boys football team has finished with a winning record...

5-4 is an improvement over the last couple years. Johnny knows this is a team on the rise.

But he didn't come here to talk football but rather Oscoda basketball (Boys schedule here). The Owls are playing in the Big Dipper division of the North Star League with their first game being at home November 25 vs Fairview. Good to see this league is local and the road games aren't too long of a trip, unlike the trips over to Frankfort in football.

The Oscoda girls basketball team (Girls schedule here) starts a bit later than the boys with a road game at Kingsley on December 14 with their first home game two days later vs Houghton Lake. If you look at that handy league standing graphic above you can apply it to the girls as well, same teams in the league, same division to boot.

Here's to a fabulous season of Owls basketball.

Well this is nothing but a BIG disappointment

The highly touted and highly-ranked Oscoda girls basketball team, 17-1 and North Star League champs (again) will have to sit out the MHSAA Girl's Basketball Tournament because a team member has tested positive for COVID-19.

“The girls are just crushed” Oscoda coach Mark Toppi said, no doubt expressing the feeling not just for the team but for our whole community. This is a team that were heavy favorites to win their third district title in a row and now, it's just over. After the boys football undefeated and untied season stretched so long due to state officials erring on the side of safety and caution (And Johnny has no issues with this, they are simply doing their jobs) the team just couldn't participate any longer. COVID-19 has been a real teacher of lessons for kids and hopes and how things can change in life overnight around these parts.

If you see one of our girl's team members, tell 'em you're sorry but tell them you're also quite proud.

The three week delay in fall high school sports will NOT stop Oscoda's playoff run

Johnny mentioned this on Twitter but he does see when Oscoda sports stories go up here so do the numbers so let's keep everyone informed. The MHSAA has announced that they had a three week delay to start the season, they are well-prepared to weather this emergency Covid declaration. In three weeks time our Oscoda Owls will still head to Traverse City to take on TC St. Francis. 

Until then, everyone stay safe and wear your masks. Covid is more dangerous to a Division 7 team's prospects than New Lothrop.

After much cajoling from Johnny, the MHSAA rankings FINALLY get it right

You'd think an undefeated team whose closest game was a 46-0 win over an arch rival would get some press in this state. There is no other team playing a "full Covid schedule" who is undefeated and has given up ZERO points. Yet, the MHSAA and a lot of online Michigan high school football "experts" (ie read fanbois) had completely overlooked the Oscoda football team come rankings time.

Week after week Johnny would point out the obvious to the powers that be and they simply buried their heads in the sand. 

Until this week! Oscoda is finally (and rightfully) ranked in Division 7:

1. Pewamo-Westphalia (4) (5-0) 40

2. Ithaca (5-0) 34

3. New Lothrop (5-0) 33

4. Hemlock (5-0) 25

5. Schoolcraft (4-1) 23

6. McBain (4-0) 16

7. Detroit Loyola (5-0) 15

8. Charlevoix (5-0) 12

9. Oscoda (5-0) 9

10. Grass Lake (4-1) 7

Others receiving votes: Riverview Gabriel Richard 4. Cass City 1. Madison Heights Bishop Foley 1.

Let's keep the momentum going guys, the playoffs are near which will provide another chance to prove the haters and "experts" wrong.

It's football playoff time in Oscoda!

And 'dem Owls are opening the MHSAA state playoffs at home tonight for the first time ever with the game starting at 7pm. Here now is a tale of the tape and a few thoughts and links to check out.

First off, the weather. Mother Nature dropped an inch or two of snow on the trick-or-treaters last night which will slowly melt today making the field mushy in parts. This can be an advantage to the underdog, in this case McBain, as weather is a great equalizer. Oscoda relies on a quicker tempo, with a smart passing attack all which can be limited if the offensive line is getting pushed in the mud or receivers can't make good cuts on routes. The weather could play a factor.

The first game jitters. They're a thing. How many good teams are upset in the first playoff game? Oscoda went through this last year and really seemed to play harder for some home playoff football. Many teams play better their second playoff game. You must survive the first to get a second.

When one compares the quarterly scoring of both Oscoda and McBain, Oscoda does far more scoring in the first half. Something to watch for. If the Owls are having trouble early on it could mean trouble later. Oscoda did outscore McBain this season by a wide margin, (340-201) Johnny really thinks Oscoda will need that defense tonight to stand tall and maybe have a bigger hand in the win than the offense. Remember the Tawas game? The defense won that game by the time the offense got going late.

Info from around the Web:

MHSAA has the teams playoff points listed thusly:
Oscoda:  295 8-1 70.556
McBain:  308 5-4 43.667

Would you just look at this prediction disrespect from the Detroit Free Press?
McBain (5-4) at Oscoda (8-1). McPain 21, Air Force Base 18.
Pshaw, cancel that paper. LOL

Here's MLive's take, no better for Oscoda fans:
D7: McBAIN (5-4) at OSCODA (8-1)
Oscoda is enjoying a renaissance for its athletic program, with quarterback Brayden Mallak and wingback Owen Franklin standing at the heart of the success. The Owls would love nothing better than to add a postseason chapter to the history they are making. But it won’t come easy against perennial playoff program McBain. They have one common opponent in Houghton Lake, with Oscoda winning 14-12 and McBain losing 8-6. Expect a battle. McBain 22, Oscoda 20

The Detroit News didn't cover or really discuss any games not related to SE Michigan, big shock. Fuck them.

Here is Oscoda's bracket, win tonight and they will host Traverse City St. Francis or a rematch from week one with Houghton Lake. IF and that's a big IF, the Owls were to win that game too they could host a regional final provided Iron Mountain were to lose in their first two games.


The game can be heard locally on 100.7 FM beginning at 6:45pm

So, nobody outside Oscoda is giving the Owls a chance. That's fine. Oscoda vs The World and those Owls are going to go out tonight and make us proud.

Fearless Forecast:
Oscoda 20
McBain 16

Oscoda football kicks off their season tonight at home!

That's right Owl football fans, the Oscoda 11 kicks off their season tonight at home at 7pm vs. Houghton Lake. You'll recall last year Oscoda's only regular season loss was to Houghton Lake so revenge may weight heavily on the Owls' minds tonight. The JV game will be played at 4pm.

Interesting note for Johnny writing on Oscoda football -- Johnny's last game for Ortonville-Brandon was against Oscoda. The Brandon millage had failed earlier that year and sports were cut until a pay- -to-play system came to be and saved the season. By then however, some teams had dropped Brandon from their schedules thinking the Blackhawks wouldn't have a team and the points system to get into the playoffs pretty well required your team playing 9 games. Brandon looked around and filled other games (Including one in Ohio) and found Oscoda had an open date at the end of the year and so the game was played in Ortonville and that night was Brandon's only win of the season, 18-6 over the Owls.

Fearless Forecast
Oscoda 30
Houghton Lake 14

The Oscoda Boys Basketball team goes for 24-0 tonight in Houghton Lake

The Owls head to Houghton Lake tonight to play the Aggies of Beal City at 7:30pm. While the Aggies are 'just' 13-8 overall, Oscoda must not look ahead to a regional final where they would be favored, the Owls have to concentrate on Beal City tonight good things may come later, focus guys, it's key. Oscoda is a perfect 5-0 on neutral floors this year while the Aggies are 2-1.

Should they win, Oscoda will play the winner of the Sanford Meridian vs. Manton game which will be played right before the Owls game tonight also in Houghton Lake.

Big ups for the Owls! If it's winning time, it's Oscoda High School!