My continuing series on the way too early look at the upcoming high school football season.

Time to dive into the Central Michigan Athletic Conference.

  1. Pewamo-Westphalia Pirates
  2. Fowler Eagles
  3. Laingsburg Wolfpack
  4. Fulton Pirates
  5. Saranac Redskins
  6. Dansville Aggies
  7. Bath Bees
  8. Potterville Vikings

It's tough to pick against a two-time defending state champion.  And I certainly am not going to start now.  Pewamo-Westphalia is coming off consecutive Division 7 titles and, despite losing some very talented players from the 2018 senior class, the Pirates have plenty left in the cupboard.  They begin the season with a premier match-up of football programs when they face the Ithaca Yellowjackets at Alma College.  It's one of those challenges that P-W loves to take on in order to find out how they match up with another gridiron powerhouse.  Unless some major upsets take place in the CMAC, the Pirates should win their fourth straight conference title.  Fowler is possibly one of those schools that could topple the mighty P-W Pirates.  The Eagles were the last team to win the CMAC not named Pewamo-Westphalia.  Although they've struggled the past few seasons, they seem poised for another comeback.  Laingsburg is coming off, arguably, their best 3-year stretch in school history.  The Wolfpack have made the playoffs three consecutive seasons, including their first District title in school history (2015).  The 2018 version will have to replace a wonderful senior class to make it 4 straight trips to the postseason.  They won't many returning starters from a successful group.  Fulton made a return to the playoffs in 2017 after a 2-year hiatus and their only two regular season losses came to CMAC opponents P-W & Laingsburg.  The Pirates may be in a similar situation as those Wolfpack too.  With many seniors having to depart because of graduation, it will take the returning juniors and some newcomers to take Fulton back to the promised land.  QB Jach Andrews and LB Larry Briggs will lead the charge.  Saranac returned to the MHSAA playoffs in 2017 for the first time since 2011, when they won 9 games and made the District Final.  The talented combo of Tavin Haskins and Brady Jackson led the Redskins attack, and those two return for their senior seasons.  Along with Drew Ward and Chase Potter (two more returning seniors with plenty of experience), Saranac may find themselves back in the postseason yet again.  Dansville was hoping for their 5th playoff spot in the last 6 seasons last year, but early slip-ups set them back.  The Aggies offense struggled early on in 2017, only scoring 6 combined points in their first 3 contests.  And with the departure of all-area RB Carter Frantz, it will be especially important for Dansville to get off to a better start this season.  It's been 5 years since Bath was in the postseason.  And after a promising 2016, the Bees stepped back in 2017, going from 4-5 to 2-7.  Despite being in some close contests (and nearly beating rival Laingsburg), it wasn't the year Bath wasn't hoping for.  The defense was present, but the Bees will need the offense to step up in 2018 in order to be successful.  Potterville hasn't seen much gridiron success in recent years.  The Vikings haven't won more than 3 games in a season since 2009, going undefeated in the regular season and collecting a school record 10 victories.  After being outscored 377-95 in 2017, Potterville has a tough mountain to climb this year.  It will take a complete 180 for the Vikings to become a competitor in the CMAC.

Keep an eye out for my way too early GLAC predictions.

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