Tri Valley Conference- White Week 1 Matchups
TVC White is the section of the conference with the smallest teams, but it has some of the top contenders in the D7/D8 divisions. 3 of these teams have some solid matchups to kick their season off, and will be…
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Continue ReadingTVC White is the section of the conference with the smallest teams, but it has some of the top contenders in the D7/D8 divisions. 3 of these teams have some solid matchups to kick their season off, and will be great to see how they perform against good competition right off the bat.
Saginaw Nouvel vs Flint Beecher- I really am intrigued by this game. Nouvel won it 47-26 last season, but it’s hard to get a read on this seasons matchup. Beecher plays everyone tough, so I wouldn’t be shocked if this game is close, but I am a huge believer in Nouvel this year. Mostly, I am a believer in QB Preston Otter Preston Otter 6'3" | 195 lbs | QB Phillips Exeter Academy | 2025 MI . Otter has a big arm and can flat out sling it. He adds a dimension that most D8 teams don’t have to deal with very often. He is a legitimate D2 QB and has really put in the work this offseason. Look for Nouvel to have an electrifying offense, and it could all take off against Beecher if they can snag a win week 1.
Ithaca vs Homer- I am really looking forward to this game. Ithaca is making the transition from D7 to D8, and I feel like it isn’t getting talked about enough. Ithaca is coming off a regional finals appearance, and I am really curious where they stack up against the returning D8 powers. Ithaca returns a lot along the line, and return their stud RB Nathan Mikesell. Their strong rushing attack will be tough for Homer, but don’t sleep on them. We have them ranked in the top 20 in the division, and they will likely have a strong defense once again. This will be a storyline I will be following closely in week 1, and throughout the season.
Michigan Lutheran Seminary vs Unionville Sebewaing- In 2022, MLS went 9-2, with their only losses coming to D7 regional finalist Ithaca, and D8 state runner up Ubly. MLS has a solid group of seniors who contributed the year prior, and will be battle tested. Unionville Sebewaing on the other hand, has had a couple disappointing seasons, going 2-7 back to back years. MLS is going to be looking to knock the rust off and get geared up for another big season. I am interested to see what the MLS defense looked like, as I watched them once last season and came away thinking that was their biggest issue. They could move the ball, and could punch it in for points, but they were tough to stop. Sebewaing was kind of the opposite, where they could stop teams from running up the score, but didn’t score much. If MLS can come out and get a shutout W, it would be a big deal going forward. I am really looking forward to seeing what strides MLS can make in 2023.
The other 2 members of the conference each have away games. St. Louis will travel to Saranac, and Saginaw Valley Lutheran will be taking on Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest.
This conference should have at least 3 teams in the playoffs and ready to make some noise deep into the offseason! Look out for some of these teams to be contenders for Ford Field.