Homecoming is always a test for high school football teams, with the pomp and pageantry off the field during the week and the dance on Saturday.
But the Hartland footall team has enough on its plate going into tonights homecoming bame, with Northville coming to town.
The Mustangs (5-1 overall, 4-1 KLAA West) won’t be any iind of pushover in a game the Eagles (4-2, 3-2) need to improve their standing in playoff rankings.
Tonight’s game will be broadcast on The Livingston Post starting at 6:50 p.m. Click here for the link.
Currently the Eagles are ranked 21st in Division 1, where the top 32 teams make the playoffs. A win over Northvlle, currently ranked 16th, would boost the Eagles in the rankings.
But playoff possibilities aren’t on the agenda for Hartland coach Brian Savage, who keeps his team focused on this week’s opponent.
“We put all that stuff behind us,” he said. “The KLAA is never easy.”
Still, the Eagles are on a three-game winning streak after beating Howell last week, and that confidence is fed by a developing offense that has established tight end Jaxson Wilson as a receiving threat in addition to running back Joey Mattord.
“Jaxson’s getting better and our passing game is coming around,” Savage said. “At the beginning of the season, ewr were still trying to figure out who we were as a passing team.”
The Eagles also were trying to decide on a quarterback, a decision made for them when senior Sam Clay was lost for the season due to injury. In his stead, junior James Butzier has stepped up.
“He’s getting better every week,” Savage said. “He’s getting more experience, like the rest of our juniors playing their first varsity season.”
Hartland will have to find ways to shut down a powerful Northville offense led by quarterback Luca Prior.
“They’re off to a great start,” Savage said of the Mustangs. “They have great team speed, a good quarterback and a running back who can be gone if he gets loose. We’ll have to keep the ball out of their hands.”
Which puts the onus on the Hartland offense to hold onto the ball as much as possible, exemplifying the adage that the best defense, in this case, might be a time-consuming offense.
