ELK RAPIDS — You’ve really got to blow off the dust in the Charlevoix football record books to find the last time the Rayders earned a three-peat of conference titles.
Truthfully, you might never have found it before Friday night.
Now, it’s not so hard to find.
For a third straight year, the Rayders are champions of the Northern Michigan Football Conference Leaders Division with a perfect 4-0 record after a 41-8 win over Elk Rapids Friday, Oct. 3.
“You try to take it one game at a time and tonight we won a conference championship,” Charlevoix coach Don Jess said. “That was the message going into the game, let’s try to make some history and win a third straight championship.”
Charlevoix also improved to 6-0 overall on the season, while winning all four league games with at least 40 points on the scoreboard.
In all four games, they’ve earned a 186-15 point-differential. Over the last three years, Charlevoix is now 13-0 in conference play and 26-2 dating back to the 2020 season.
Leading the Elks just 21-0 at halftime, Charlevoix turned things on in the second half to get out to a 41-0 lead.
“It took us a little while to figure things out, but I think that’s the sign of a good team, when you don’t play your best and you’re still able to get the win,” Jess added.
Ian Moran wore down the Elks in the second half and accumulated 122 yards and two scores on the ground, along with 186 all-purpose yards.
The Rayders also shared the ball around the field, with seven different players catching at least one pass and six different earning a carry.
“Ian got most of his yards in the third quarter, then we were able to spread it out and get the ball in a lot of guys’ hands,” Jess said. “It was nice to have that many guys make plays.”
Carter Greenacre had two catches for 51 yards and a score, then Greyson Warchol, Collin Jess and Garrison Sterrett all scored on the ground. Jess also finished 12 of 17 for 176 yards and a touchdown.
On defense, Warchol led with eight stops, Landen Whisler had six tackles and a pass defensed, Moran recovered a fumble and Peter Yanchulis and Nolan Miller each had a sack.
Charlevoix will wrap the regular season with three straight non-conference games now, two straight at home, beginning with a talented Mancelona (4-2) team fresh off a 20-point win over East Jordan.
The Rayders and Ironmen will kick off on Friday, Oct. 10 on Kipke Field.
TC St. Francis 20, Boyne City 13
TRAVERSE CITY — After a 23-20 win over Traverse City St. Francis late last season, there was no way the Boyne City football team was going to walk into Thirlby Field in Traverse City on Oct. 3 intimidated.
Not like most of St. Francis’ opponents this season. And, it showed.
While the Ramblers didn’t come away with the victory in the end of a 20-13 Glads win, there was no backing down from a Boyne team that could see St. Francis once again in the Division 6 postseason.
Boyne City actually led in a 13-6 game – which kicked off at 5 p.m. in Traverse City – after the first quarter, then totaled 151 yards on the ground for the night.
Drew Neer and Tanner Kelley connected on a first quarter touchdown, then Neer ran one in from short in the first.
Jamie Joseph totaled 87 yards on 16 attempts for the Ramblers, Owen Hewitt had 53 yards on eight carries, the two grabs for 35 yards, while Neer finished 4 of 12 passing, 70 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
Hewitt and Brayden Joyce each recovered fumbles on the defensive side, Hyker McKenney and Kaiden Schoolcraft led with nine stops each, then Thomas Ager had eight.
The Glads, ranked No. 1 in Division 6, put the ball on the ground five times, though Boyne got their hands on just a pair.
Boyne City (4-2) will welcome Morley Stanwood on Friday, Oct. 10, then get ready to head to Charlevoix on Friday, Oct. 17.
Other area scores:
Petoskey 20, Cadillac 13
Mancelona 36, East Jordan 16
Inland Lakes 51, Rogers City 0
Gaylord 41, Alpena 0
Johannesbug-Lewiston 26, Oscoda 14
Gaylord St. Mary 54, Pellston 8
Cedarville 36, Onaway 12
St. Ignace 46, Rudyard 6
Cedar Springs 63, Sault Ste. Marie 7
Cheboygan 41, Grayling 27
Contact or send game stats/info to Sports Editor Drew Kochanny at dkochanny@petoskeynews.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DrewKochanny, and Instagram, @drewkochanny
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Charlevoix makes history with third straight title, Boyne makes it a game vs. TCSF
Reporting by Drew Kochanny, The Petoskey News-Review / The Petoskey News-Review
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
