Week 3 high school football predictions; can resurgent Ypsi team challenge Chelsea?

A big story from the young 2010 high school football season is the resurgence of Ypsilanti. It started in Week 1 when the Phoenix, who had just one win in 2009, nearly became the first team to beat perennial playoff contender Milan in a season opener since 1993.

Then Week 2 saw the Phoenix (1-1, 1-0 SEC) not just beat Skyline, but shut out the Eagles in impressive fashion. In both games, Ypsilanti’s Austin Sanders ran for three touchdowns and the defensive line was a force to be reckoned with.

This week presents a whole different level of challenge for the Phoenix, as they prepare to face Chelsea (2-0, 1-0 SEC) at 7 p.m. Friday.

Putting up a good fight in a one-point loss to Milan and hanging 30 points on a first-year varsity program is one thing. Standing toe-to-toe with the gold standard of football in the area is another.

“They are the standard of the conference and one of the top teams we’ll see all year,” said Ypsilanti coach Jason Malloy. “We have shown in the two games that we can play good football. If we take care of our business, so we can’t worry too much about Chelsea. We have to worry about us.”

Malloy enjoyed last week’s win over Skyline for approximately 30 seconds before changing any question I had into a “we’ve got Chelsea on our minds” answer. I had to remind him that his team had just won a shutout and equaled its win total from last year.

The former isn’t something he plans on repeating on Friday.

“I told them before the season ever started that football is about big plays and it’s gonna happen to both sides of the ball,” Malloy said. “Chelsea, they will score. It’s going to be about how we respond. The thing I loved is how they responded in the Milan game.

“We look forward to the challenge,” Malloy added, “but they’ll be well coached and fundamentally sound, but we will too. It will be a nice test.”

Ypsilanti impressed me with its hard-hitting defense, especially Marquez Gollman, and Chelsea’s ball control in Week 1 seemed to be an issue. But the Bulldogs are an institution. The Phoenix will have to win a few of these marquee games before I’ll go out on a limb and pick them in one. Chelsea, 26-20.

FRIDAY'S GAMES

Bedford (2-0, 1-0 SEC) at Huron (1-1, 0-1 SEC): In its home opener, Huron faces a high-powered Bedford offense which has averaged 44 points per game in two victories so far this season. Huron's defense proved its worth with a pair of fourth quarter goal-line stands in a win over Tecumseh last week, and Luke Denson (13 carries, 110 yards, 1 TD) may have established himself as a go-to back. Still, the River Rats need to protect quarterback Alex Hassan or they could be in for a long night. Huron, 33-30.

Napoleon (1-1, 1-0 Cascades) at Manchester (1-1, 0-1 Cascades): My Manchester prediction didn’t make it into the Thursday print edition last week, and a barrage of angry phone messages from the Washtenaw’s west side was the result. Glad to know you guys still care. Manchester’s five turnovers resulted in a rare early-season conference loss last week. Shouldn’t happen again. Manchester, 35-28.

Pioneer (1-1, 1-0 SEC) at Saline (1-1, 0-1 SEC): With Michigan’s kicking game missing a field goal and extra point last week, I couldn’t help but think, why not put in Jeremy Ross? The former Pioneer (and current Wolverine walk on) was 48-of-48 on extra points in 2009 and 9-of-10 in field goals, including six of 40 yards or more. Ross’s former team is hitting on all cylinders, while Saline must be heartbroken from an overtime loss to Adrian. I’ll take the Pioneers by a two-touchdown margin. Or, as Ross would put it, four field goals and two extra points. Pioneer, 42-28.

Ecorse (2-0) at Willow Run (2-0): Willow Run found its offensive rhythm last week by running the option, but Ecorse has yet to surrender a point so far this season. While the Flyers should be able to be able to score, a victory may be a tall order. Ecorse, 21-17.

Tecumseh (0-2, 0-1 SEC) at Lincoln (0-2, 0-1 SEC): The Indians were stopped on the goal-line twice in the fourth quarter in a 22-14 loss to Huron last week, which gives me the feeling they didn’t get the holiday off from practice. Lincoln adds some previously-ineligible playmakers back to the lineup to help complement Rare Williams who told AnnArbor.com that he plans to “lead the SEC in everything.” Lincoln, 30-27.

Skyline (0-2, 0-1 SEC) at Monroe (0-2, 0-1 SEC): Even if Skyline quarterback Andrew Copp’s hand is healthy, Monroe is a team waiting to explode after two close losses to Adrian and Chelsea. Monroe 17-10.

Dexter (1-1, 0-1 SEC) at Adrian (2-0, 1-0 SEC): Even in wins over Saline and Monroe, Adrian has proven vulnerable to a power rushing attack, which Dexter has if Sequoyah Burke-Combs gets going. The Maples, however, have also proven an ability to win games despite this vulnerability. Adrian, 30-20.

Milan (2-0, 1-0 Huron) at Flat Rock (0-2, 0-1 Huron): DeAndre Mitchell scored on interception and kick returns for touchdowns in week one, switched to tailback in week two and rushed for 112 yards and two scores. Maybe he’ll play quarterback this week? Milan, 21-6.

Father Gabriel Richard (2-0) at Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (0-2): Notre Dame Prep is looking for its first points of the season. Against the defending Catholic League champs is not the best place to start. Richard 24-0.

Petersburg-Summerfield (2-0) at Whitmore Lake (0-2): Maybe the start of school will motivate some more students to go out for the Whitmore Lake football team … or maybe not. Summerfield, 30-6.

poll by twiigs.com

Season Record: 16-5 (.762) Last week: 7-4 (.636). Best Pick: Gabriel Richard 45, Albion 14 (Richard won 54-14). Worst Pick: Riverview 17, Milan 14 (Milan won 21-0).

Pete Cunningham covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at petercunningham@annarbor.com or by phone at 734-623-2561. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.