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The Deckerville Eagles, ranked No. 7 in Division 8, and the Ubly Bearcats, installed at No. 3 in the state in Division 7, put their 6-0 records on the line for a probable GTC East championship this Friday evening at Ubly High School. The GTC East season comes to and the following week with Deckerville hosting Harbor Beach (0-4, 1-5) and Ubly visiting Sandusky (3-2, 3-3), but all attention is on the game.

If there is a favorite here, it has to be the Bearcats playing on their home field with a high-powered offense that has not scored less than 42 points in any of its six games. But, while Ubly is averaging 49 points a game, the Eagles have put up nearly 43 a contest.

A shoot-out of classic proportions? Maybe. The defenses on both sides, while showing some vulnerability (Ubly allowing 68 points, Deckerville 89) are aggressive and physical.

So, like most big games, it all can be decided up front in the offensive and defensive lines.

Deckerville has proven all year that it has a passing game, but the offense still relies on the running game out of the Wing-T, especially the rushing display of senior Marcus Kemp, who has scored 20 touchdowns an piled up nearly 800 yards on the ground.

"The story of the year is Marcus Kemp and his TDs and yards," said Bill Brown, veteran Eagle coach. "But, the whole offensive line is pretty good. You don't put up those numbers up and not have a good 'O' line in front of you."

Fullback Rex Thayer and wingback Scott Gobie also have churning out the yards behind the line that consists of Jimmy Nichol, John Loomis, Nathan Peters, Josh Stanley, Nick Taylor, Brett Ross and Ethyan Kramer.

Junior quarterback Cody Hoff has also proven he can go deep to Josh Fritch or Gobie and also looks underneath to Ross and Kramer.

The Bearcats have a slight size edge in the line with Division I prospect Eric LaBuhn (6-5, 310) and Steven Weber (6-6, 220). They also have a quick backfield led by Jordan Kaufman, arguably the best athlete in the conference and the Thumb Area. Kaufman (6-3, 195, with speed) can run, throw and kick.

"Realistically, and I don't know if anybody can, but we have to contain Kaufman," Brown said with some urgency. "He's the key to that offense, and they have three good running backs."

Coach Bill Sweeney, an All-County player at Brown City in 1989 (as was DHS Asst. Coach Dan Brown), has always liked to run some power football out of the Wing-T, but he has added a 'spread' package because of Kaufman's talents.

Coach Brown commented, "Defensively, we've done a heck of a job against the spread teams all year. We actually haven't seen a lot of Wing-T teams in our conference, and I know that sounds strange." He then added, "I know (Ubly) is going to run the ball. They want to come out set a tone."

Expectations of fans and players will be high on both sides. Expect some very physical play up front in the trenches, but expect big plays from any number of options on both sides. Expect anything.

"It's two undefeated teams," said Brown. "It's just about going out, playing the game and managing what you do. Our kids will come ready to play. Both teams will come ready to play.

"This is for a championship. That's what you coach for -- to get to this game."