TRAVERSE CITY -- For the second straight week, Traverse City St. Francis is preparing for a showdown with the Bulldogs.
But while Rudyard and Inland Lakes may share the same nickname, the teams couldn't be more different -- at least offensively -- as the Gladiators set for the second round of the playoffs.
Last week, St. Francis took the first step towards defending its Division 7 state championship with a 54-0 win over Inland Lakes. Tonight, Rudyard heads to Thirlby Field with a high-powered offense and a chance to win its first district title in school history.
The game is one of three involving teams from the region. Johannesburg-Lewiston will host St. Ignace while Manistee Catholic and host Frankfort will collide -- both for Division 8 district titles.
Rudyard heads to Traverse City with a 9-1 record and an offense which averages more than 38 points a game. Leading the way for the Bulldogs is All-U.P. Dream Team quarterback Davin Salo, who has 32 touchdowns on the year.
"He throws a catchable ball and this year he really has been able to shine," Rudyard coach Pat Maloney said. "Our system is something he does a nice job with."
Salo looked to be the team's quarterback a year ago, but broke his collarbone just before the season started. He came back strong for his senior season and the team rallied behind him.
"He's taken everything in stride and excelled," Maloney said. "When we started this year, we had some question marks. But he took the bull by the horns and the guys followed."
The Bulldogs followed as Maloney introduced a new offense. Rudyard made the switch from a "T" to the spread this year, and the result has been favorable.
"We're a small school and you've got to tinker with the system to match the kids," Maloney said. "For the guys we have this year, this works. We're not a program you're going to see the same thing from year in and year out, because the kids change."
Salo comes in with over 2,200 yards -- an Upper Peninsula record. His favorite target has been Arik Hesselink, who has hauled in 40 receptions for 706 yards and 10 scores.
After mud covered much of Thirlby Field for the last few weeks, field conditions could slow Rudyard's high-powered offense. Although, the Bulldogs have played the last two weeks in similar conditions.
"(Traverse City's) grounds crew really takes care of it," Maloney said. "Ours does a great job too, but we had rain for two weeks. It was really a mess.
"We're getting used to it and the idea of attacking specific parts of the field."
In Frankfort, the Panthers will be looking for their seventh straight district championship. That streak began with back-to-back district titles over Manistee Catholic in 2003-04.
Both teams had close games a week ago as Frankfort beat Mio 21-14 and the Sabers got past Central Lake 28-22.
Like Rudyard, Manistee Catholic has never won a district title.
Johannesburg-Lewiston had an impressive start to the playoffs with a 38-0 win over Hillman. The Cardinals have been stifiling of defense this year, allowing a little more than 7 points a contest.
Leading the Joburg defense have been linebacker Ben Bush and nose tackle Keith Koronka. Bush has 111 tackles and a sack while Koronka has 42 tackles, five sacks and 13 forced fumbles.
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