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The season kicks-off this Friday evening for most of the Thumb Area football teams. The seven Sanilac County teams will be involved in six games, all looking for fast starts.

Two of the county teams bump helmets at Brown City Friday when the Peck Pirates come in to take on the host Green Devils.

The two schools went in different directions last year after Peck came away with a 36-20 victory. The Pirates commenced to post a 6-3 record and earn a spot in the post-season. The Devils, meanwhile, suffered through a 0-9 record.

Peck, under third year coach Rob Pouch, is looking to sustain some momentum and be a viable contender in the NCTL this fall.

"As always, the Brown City game sets the tone for the season," said Pouch, whose Pirates went 1-8 two years ago. "Our main focus in the off-season was this game. Right now we take one game at a time and we don't look past Brown City.

Pouch scouted BC in a scrimmage last week and came away impressed. He commented, "Their offense was clicking on all cylinders."

McClintic is in his second season of running the Wing-T and likes what he has seen early on in practices and the scrimmage.

"We've improved over last year. I'm happy with the effort," McClintic said. "I'm a little critical, though, because I'm always looking to improve."

McClintic had a chance to watch the Pirates scrimmage some tough opponents in Cass City, Ubly and Yale.

"They really looked good," offered McClintic. "Peck's a good football team from what I've seen already."

The Pirates also run a Wing-T offense, and did it very successfully behind a big line and the running of Michael Pries last fall. Pries is gone, but senior Michael Mann is moving from QB to halfback and is running well in the pre-season. Coach Pouch also has more speed this year with sophomore back Donell Hamilton.

It wasn't speed or skill that Pouch was mainly hoping to observe in the scrimmage last week. He explained, "I was looking for one thing in this scrimmage - I was looking to see if we could hit with these guys.....and there was not one team that out-hit us. And, we consistently moved the ball."

Senior Mitch Oliver will step in at quarterback and guide the Green Devil version of the Wing-T, which has three capable backs in Andre Sanson, Jamie Beals and Gus Dufort. A bigger question mark might be on defense for BC.

"It comes down to the fact the kids have to show they can come up and play," said McClintic. "We have to come out and play hard.

"This (game) will show us where were at," reminded McClintic. "We have a little rivalry thing, obviously, with adjoining towns, too, and the kids know each other."

Then Pouch added, "Brown City will be excited and ready to roll. We know they'll be pumped up and ready. It's such a good cross-county rivalry."

Kick-off at Brown City is set for 7 p.m.

Deckerville treks to Lakers

The Deckerville Eagles are aiming to defend their GTC East title this season, but will have to do so without several of their key skill position athletes, including quarterback Wes Messing and wingback Seth McVittie.

Veteran coach Bill Brown will test young sophomore quarterback Cody Hoff right away when the Eagles open Friday night at the Lakers of Elkton-Pigeon-Bayport. Hoff is joined in the backfield by two or three other newcomers. But the Eagles are still quite sound up front in a line anchored by senior Billy Ray Howard, a potential All-State candidate. Defensively, the Eagles look tough in their front seven players, led by Howard, Eddy Zapinski and Brett Ross, among others.

The Lakers have a new head coach in George Gardy, the long-time assistant of Bill McLellan, who stepped down after a successful career of over 30 years.

With some possible new schemes from Gardy, the Lakers can pose a problem of preparation for the Eagles. But, Brown is not so concerned about what the Lakers will bring, but about how his team will exceute.

"Their quarterback can run and throw and they've got good sized kids," said Brown, "but, the big thing for us is not to beat ourselves - it's those penalties and turnovers.

"Eliminating the mental mistakes.... that's the most import thing."

Deckerville hosted a six-team scrimmage last Thursday and played respectably against teams such as Bad Axe, North Huron, Valley Lutheran and others.

"It was pretty much as I expected," noted Brown. "We looked young at spots, but pretty solid in others."

Now, it's about being ready this Friday for the GTC crossover game on the road.

"A key for us is to go out and be physical. If we do that.... other things will take care of itself," said Brown.

Other games involving Sanilac teams

New Cros-Lex coach Pat Connell makes his debut at Pioneer Stadium against a formidable Montrose team. The Pioneers beat the Rams last on their home field, but Montrose was missing their star quarterback, who returns this season.

"Montrose has a very, very athletic quarterback. He runs the ball well," said Connell. "Montrose is strong and physical and they fully expect big things this year."

The Pioneers fully expect to contend for their third straight BWAC championship, after sharing titles the last two seasons. But, they will also have to do it without three-year quarterback Garrett Grundman and All-State back Bobby Cech, who have both graduated.

C-L's spread offense will be run this season by athletic junior Cameron Barrett. Defensively, senior Charles Phipps leads the way at linebacker.

Marlette has a veteran team this season, led by QB Austin Comment, that hopes to contend in the GTC East. The Raiders visit rival Kingston Friday night.

Meanwhile, Sandusky, with just 17 players on the roster, including six sophomores, is hoping to come out strong at Woodard Field Friday against a good Cass City squad.

CPS, with new head coach, Eric Frank, takes to the highway for a contest at Burton Bendle. The Tigers are led by three-year starters Justin Taylor and Pat Buiting.