Pirates meet Haslett in playoff opener — with broadcast link

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PINCKNEY — The Pinckney football team has made playoff berths something of a regular thing, having qualified in five of the last six seasons.

Nothing wrong with that, of course, but now the Pirates want more.

“The expectation used to be to get into the playoffs,” senior tackle Charlie Lovell said. “Now it’s time for the next step is to be in the playoffs and winning games, instead of getting into the first round and losing.”

The Pirates (6-3) will take their first shot at winning a playoff game tonight, when they play at Haslett (7-2) in the first round of the Division 3 state playoffs.

The game will be broadcast on The Livingston Post beginning at 6:50 p.m. Click here for the link.

Pirates coach Rod Beaton said his players set that goal in the offseason.

“The kids wanted to win the SEC championship and a district championship,” he said. “It was great to hear them say that. … We have it all in front of us.”

What is in front of the Pirates is a Vikings team that likes to run the ball, has a big line and an outstanding receiver along with a defense that’s fast and flies to the ball.

When Beaton was describing the Vikings, it was pointed out that it sounded as if he were describing his own team.

“There are so many similarities between us,” he said, laughing. “In a lot of ways, we mirror a lot of things. We can get into a lot of formations and different things in the run game, while on defense, it’s about keeping things simple.”

The Pirates go into tonight’s game coming off a narrow 35-34 win over Coldwater in the season finale, one Lovell says got his team mentally ready for tonight’s opponent.

“it went all the way to the last second,” Lovell said. “We weren’t able to let off the gas, which helps us get some speed going in.”

“We wanted a team that would give us a playoff-type game in a playoff-type atmosphere,” Beaton said. “They’re a well-coached, physical football team, and we pulled out the win. It wasn’t necessarily the prettiest game ever played, but at the end of the day, you have to make one more play than they do. and our kids saw that.”

Mason (7-2) and South Lyon East (3-6) meet in the other district game. If Pinckney win, the Pirates would either travel to Mason next week or play host to South Lyon East.

But next Friday, in football terms, is way off the radar. For now, it’s all about Haslett for the Pirates.

“We know we have to go out and play,” Beaton said. “If we do that, with our senior group, we’re going to be in on some things. To get Haslett right off the bat, we’re going to have our hands full, but it’s going to be fun. It really is.”

 

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