Clare opens Division 5 football playoff at Swan Valley Friday

By BEN MURPHY

Cleaver Sports Writer

The Clare football team may not have had their regular season end the way they would have liked last week, when they lost at a tough Division 3 opponent in Petoskey, 49-7. The Pioneers are ready to turn the page to the post-season though, as Clare (6-3 overall) heads to take on Swan Valley (8-1) on Friday in the first round of the Division 5 post-season.

The Vikings, out of the Tri Valley Conference Red Division, began the season with a 55-35 victory over Croswell-Lexington, while they suffered their only setback of the year in week two, falling to Frankenmuth 21-14. They have since rattled off seven straight victories, topping Freeland 21-7, defeating John Glenn 28-7, and defeating Essexville-Garber 42-6. Since then, they have taken down Bridgeport 62-0, Flint Powers Catholic 36-3, Alma 44-6 and Bullock Creek 49-37.

Swan Valley already has its most wins in a season since 2019 and they are looking for their first post-season victory since 2022. Clare is aiming for its first playoff victory since 2021.