David Binder (34), and the Owen-Gage Bulldogs will have a much different looking schedule this upcoming season, as the Mid-Michigan 8-Man League has added three schools, Hale, Burton Madison Academy, and Caseville. After playing in a four team conference last season, the Mid-Michigan 8-Man League will now feature seven teams. (photo by: John Cook)
By: Mike Gallagher
Sports Writer
OWENDALE — Eight-man football is picking up steam in the state of Michigan, as well as in the Mid-Michigan 8-man League.
The Michigan High School Athletic Association recently released their list of schools that will be competing in 8-Man football this season. After having 34 schools play 8-Man last season, there are now 43 for the 2015 season. While there are no new schools from the Advertiser coverage area joining 8-Man, there are a few new schools being added to the Mid-Michigan 8-Man League, the conference that features Owen-Gage and Akron-Fairgrove.
The Mid-Michigan 8-Man League was started in 2009, when Owen-Gage and Akron-Farigrove made the move from 11-man, after residing in the North Central Thumb League from 1972 and 1977 respectively.
“We went to eight-man out of necessity,” said Owen-Gage athletic director Matt Peters. “We want to see small schools like us compete, and we just didn’t have the numbers. We have over 50 percent of our boys in the high school playing football, but we would still have teams with only 11, or 12 players.”
While other smaller schools around the Thumb decided to make the move to 8-Man, the Mid-Michigan 8-Man League struggled to find members, and for the past three seasons only had four teams, Owen-Gage, Akron-Fairgrove, Flint Michigan School for the Deaf, and New Haven Merritt Academy.
The lack of league members, and the trouble of finding non-conference foes that were suitable in size, forced the teams to play each other league member twice in each season, and in the 2013 season, Akron-Fairgrove and Owen-Gage squared off three times.
This season will be different for the league, as they will now have seven teams, after the additions of Burton Madison Academy, Hale, and Caseville HIgh School.
Burton Madison Academy, out of Flint has been open since 2004, but just started playing football last season, and went 1-4, with their one win being a 54-46 victory over Flint Michigan School for the Deaf. They were classified as a Class D school last year, but this year they made the jump to Class C, and will not be able to play in the playoffs. Burton played both Owen-Gage and Akron-Fairgrove in basketball this past season, and should be a natural fit for the league, as they build their program.
Hale is in their first season of 8-Man football, after playing in the North-Star Conference since 1960. The Eagles have seen their enrollment drop to 132 kids this year, and have struggled to compete in 11-man, going just 4-22 the past three seasons.
The third team joining the conference, Caseville, might be the most appropriate addition to the league, as their enrollment (91 kids in the high school) matches up well with both Owen-Gage (49 kids), and Akron-Farigrove (99). Caseville, like Burton Madison, is in the early stages of their football program, as they did not have a football program from 1990-2011. When the NCTL went to 8-Man in 2012, the Eagles brought back their program, and in 2014 earned their first win, a 52-12 victory over Akron-Fairgrove.
“Caseville approached us with the idea of joining the league,” said Peters. “They are a great fit for the league, as they are only 14 miles from our school, and they are a natural rivalry for both us, and Akron-Fairgrove. I think they are very happy to be a part of our league.”
Despite their football program’s small numbers, Owen-Gage has been successful since making the move to 8-Man, and have gone 25-7 the past three seasons, and have made the playoffs in the last four.
Akron-Fairgrove has found similar success in 8-Man, going 16-13 the past three seasons, and making three playoff appearances since the move.
As for the Mid-Michigan 8-Man League, the number of teams could grow, or could decline.
“These teams might be in the league for the short term, or it might be in the long term,” said Peters. “At the beginning of the year we set a one year schedule, and then the next year we see who is still interested, and then go from there. All that is important to us is giving kids the chance to play and compete.”
Owen-Gage will open their season August 27th against New Haven Merritt, and Akron-Fairgrove will play August 27th against Caseville.
Mike Gallagher is a sports writer for the Advertiser, and can be reached at sports@tcadvertiser.com
2015 Akron-Fairgrove Football Schedule 2015 Owen-Gage Football Schedule
August 27th @ Caseville August 27th @ Merritt Academy
September 3rd vs. Michigan School for the Deaf September 3rd vs. Burton Madison Academy
September 11th vs. Hale September 11th @ Caseville
September 18th vs. Burton Madison Academy September 17th vs Michigan School for the Deaf
September 25th vs. Owen-Gage September 25th @ Akron-Fairgrove
October 2nd vs. Caseville October 2nd vs. Merritt Academy
October 9th @ Merritt Academy October 9th vs. Hale
October 16th @ Hale October 16th @ Burton Madison Academy
October 23rd @ North Huron October 22 @ Michigan School for the Deaf