Late in the fourth quarter of both Pioneer and Ypsilanti's high school football losses last week -- Pioneer to Birmingham Brother Rice, Ypsilanti to Saline -- both the Phoenix and Pioneers lost something much more valuable than the out-of reach games they were involved in: their starting quarterbacks.

If neither starter can go when the teams face each other at Pioneer on Friday night, the Phoenix's uncertainty at the quarterback position heading into the season may prove to have been a blessing in disguise.

Ypsilanti senior Kevin Clark was upended late against Saline and went to the sidelines in visible pain. From my vantage point, he had trouble lifting his throwing shoulder on the sideline after the hit, and fellow senior Darryl Tipton had to take over.

Tipton and Clark had what coach Jason Malloy called a "healthy competition" throughout the preseason, splitting first team snaps at scrimmages and practice. Though Clark emerged as the starter for Ypsilanti (1-1), the offense shouldn't take a huge step back with Tipton under center.

The situation for Pioneer (0-2) differs simply in that backup quarterback Aedan York didn't expect to play significant minutes this year. Andy Creal has been the hands-down starter since the beginning of last season.

Creal's assignment for the first eight quarters of the season wasn't to win, but to survive for eight quarters against two of the best teams in the state. The rest of the year was supposed to be when he and his team's could shine.

Creal made it just over seven-and-half. Let's hope he's back soon, but until then, the offense is in the charge of untested York.

Lucky for York, he has a teammate by the name of Drake Johnson who has averaged 28.5 carries and 149 yards in the first two games. That load is likely to get a little heavier for Johnson, which should make York's transition into the role as a starter a little easier. Pioneer, 35-14.

Picks:

In light of my recent run of horrendous picks (last week was a little better), a reader had an idea for all of you to capitalize on my misfortune. After making your picks in our interactive polls below, email your personal picks to me at petercunningham@annarbor.com.

Anybody who beats my picks will be entered into a drawing to win some sort of prize each week. If your picks are perfect, you win the prize automatically. This week, the prize is an AnnArbor.com T-shirt. I'll see what I can do get some cooler stuff as the season goes on.

Picks need to be in my email inbox before kickoff of the first game of he week, which will almost always be at 7 p.m. on Friday. Good luck!

Skyline (2-0) at Chelsea (1-1): Chelsea's offense may leave a little to be desired, but the Bulldogs' defense lays the wood. Look for Truman Hadley, Michael Steinhauer and company to make Skyline quarterback Andrew Copp's Friday night miserable. It may take 40 carries out of Berkley Edwards to do it, but Chelsea will muster just enough offense to get by. Chelsea, 24-21.

Dexter (1-1) at Huron (0-2): I've picked the River Rats to win every week and got burnt both times. Third time's the charm. Huron, 21-18.

Saline (1-1) at Lincoln (2-0): Lincoln hasn't won more than two games in a season since 1998. That should change this year, but not this week. Saline, 17-10.

Vandercook Lake (0-2) at Manchester (2-0): Manchester has turned the ball over seven times in two game, which coach Wes Gall called "maddening." If the Dutchmen can win when giving the ball away, imagine what they'll do when they hold on to it. Manchester, 35-13.

New Boston Huron (1-1) at Milan (1-1): New Boston lost to Monroe St. Mary 12-6 last week, which is an impressive feat against the back-to-back Division 6 state finalist. New Boston Huron, 22-13.

Detroit Consortium (2-0) at Willow Run (0-2): The Flyers kick off Michigan Metro Conference play with a bang. Willow Run, 36-30.

Morenci (1-1) at Whitmore Lake (0-2): The Bulldogs have been impressive, even in a defeat versus Hudson last week. The Trojans ... not so much. Morenci, 42-14.

Eastern Washtenaw Multicultural Academy (0-1) at Wyoming Tri-Unity Christian (1-1): The Chargers are still searching for someone to fill the huge void left by the departure of Shadi Farha. Tri-Unity, 41-25.

SATURDAY

Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (2-0) at Father Gabriel Richard (2-0): The Fighting Irish are playing the Fighting Irish in Ann Arbor the same day the Wolverines play the Fighting Irish at the Big House. Way too many red-heads converging on one setting for my liking. Gabriel Richard, 28-21.

Last week record: 6-3 (.666); Season: 12-9 (.571); Readers' week: 5-4 (.556) Season record: 13-8 (.619).

Contact Pete Cunningham at petercunningham@annarbor.com or by phone at 734-623-2561. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.