Jonesville looks to continue its historic postseason run Friday night when the Comets travel to face Ottawa Lake Whiteford in the Division 7 regional championship.
The matchup features a Jonesville squad currently riding a five-game winning streak, according to the Hillsdale Daily News.
The Comets enter the contest following a 52-30 victory over Union City that secured the program’s first district title since 2002.
Whiteford coach Todd Thieken noted the offensive threat posed by Jonesville senior running back John Milks, who has recorded 2,302 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns this season, as reported by The Monroe News.
During an interview with the publication, Thieken said, “They have an electric back. He’s the catalyst for them, but when teams stack the box, their quarterback gets the ball downfield for big plays.”
Whiteford enters the regional final with nine consecutive wins, including a narrow 38-34 district championship victory over Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central.
The Bobcats were propelled in that contest by quarterback Tre Eitniear, who scored the game-winning touchdown with 58 seconds remaining.
Whiteford also features a potent ground game led by Brek Ruddy, who has rushed for 1,877 yards and 30 touchdowns this season.
The two programs have not met in the postseason since 2002, when Jonesville defeated Whiteford 52-22.
While the Comets have found success on the road throughout the playoffs, they enter this matchup as the underdog against a Whiteford team that previously defeated a consensus state title contender.
Media expectations for the game are divided, as the Hillsdale Daily News predicts a 36-32 Jonesville victory.
Conversely, the Detroit Free Press projects a 37-28 win for Whiteford.
A victory on Friday would earn Jonesville its first regional football title in school history.
Fans can follow the game action through live scoreboards and threads provided by local media outlets.