High School Football: A quick look ahead for local teams in 2021 (with complete schedules)

There are some big changes coming in the high school sports scene when the fall season kicks off in just a few weeks. Teams began practicing this week and the return to a full schedule is bringing plenty of optimism and excitement to the gridiron.

One of the big changes locally is Dexter moving from the SEC White to the SEC Red Division in a recent realignment of schools.

The Dreadnaughts will join the three Ann Arbor schools – Huron, Pioneer and Skyline – along with Saline, Monroe, Bedford and Lincoln. The SEC White will feature Adrian, Chelsea, Jackson, Pinckney, Tecumseh and Ypsilanti.

It’s never too early to talk football so let’s take a look at what is coming just around the corner.

Let’s kick things off with the Dreadnaughts, who will be looking to replace one of the best quarterbacks in the state the last few years (Colin Parachek) but have plenty of talent returning. After four seasons of not winning a single game, Dexter has now made the playoffs three straight seasons under coach Phil Jacobs.

While the success has certainly changed the tune of Dexter football, one big item on the to-do list has yet to be checked off. The Dreadnaughts have not defeated rival Chelsea since a 16-5 victory on Oct. 6, 1995. They will get their next shot to end the losing streak on the last week of the regular season when they face the Bulldogs on Oct. 22.

Dexter has a tough schedule in 2021 and it starts off with a big non-league challenge. The Dreadnaughts will open with Birmingham Groves. The Falcons, who play in the tough Oakland Activities Association, have reached the playoffs eight straight seasons and won two playoff games last year before having to forfeit against Warren Mott.

The Dreadnaughts will face Skyline in week two before facing Bedford in week three on Sept. 10. The Kicking Mules have made five straight playoff appearances. Last year’s scheduled Bedford-Dexter game was cancelled because of COVID.

Dexter will face Lincoln on Sept. 17. These two teams have had some recent battles for the ages including a 49-43 Dexter win in 2019 and a 48-42 Dexter victory in 2018.

The Dreadnaughts will face Pioneer on Sept. 24, Huron on Oct. 1 and Monroe on Oct. 8. It’s a tough finish for Dexter with powerhouse Saline on Oct. 15 and then the rivalry game with Chelsea on Oct. 22.


Former Detroit Lions and Nebraska Cornhuskers star Jimmy Williams takes over a Pioneer program that has been looking to reestablish itself among the elite in the area. Despite recent struggles, Pioneer has reached the playoffs in 12 of the past 20 seasons.

Pioneer will open with Anchor Bay on Aug. 27. The two teams have opened the season in two of the last three seasons with the Tars winning both in close games (16-13 in 2018 and 13-7 in 2019). Anchor Bay has reached the postseason just once in the last nine seasons – not counting last year when they went 4-3 and lost to Romeo 20-6 in a District game.

Pioneer will play Bedford on Sept. 3 and then both city rivalry games back-to-back on Sept. 10 (vs. Huron) and Sept. 17 (vs. Skyline). The Pioneers hit a tough stretch after that with Dexter (Sept. 24), Saline (Oct. 1), Lincoln (Oct. 8) and Monroe (Oct. 15). At this point, they have an open date on Oct. 22.

Huron, a program certainly on the rise, will kick off its season on Aug. 27 against Detroit Western. The Cowboys went 5-2 last year and have reached the playoffs four straight years.

The River Rats will then face a familiar foe in week two – the Saline Hornets. Huron, which won its first playoff game ever last year, opened the season (43-19 loss) and closed the season (34-27 loss) in 2020 against Saline.

After Pioneer on Sept. 10, the River Rats face Bedford, Monroe, Dexter, Skyline and Lincoln. They will finish the season against Rochester, a team that went 6-0 last year before losing in the first round of the playoffs.

Skyline will open its season Aug. 27 against Pinckney. The Pirates have reached the playoffs in four of the last five seasons. The Eagles will then play Dexter (Sept. 3), Monroe, Pioneer, Saline, Lincoln, Huron and Bedford.

Skyline finishes the year on Oct. 22 against Tecumseh. The Indians have won just four games in the last three seasons.

HURON

Aug. 26 – vs. Detroit Western

Sept. 3 – at Saline

Sept. 10 – vs. Ann Arbor Pioneer

Sept. 17 – at Temperance Bedford

Sept. 24 – vs. Monroe

Oct. 1 – vs. Dexter

Oct. 8 – at Ann Arbor Skyline

Oct. 15 – at Ypsilanti Lincoln

Oct. 22 – at Rochester

 

PIONEER

Aug. 27 – vs. New Baltimore Anchor Bay

Sept. 3 – vs. Temperance Bedford

Sept. 10 – at Ann Arbor Huron

Sept. 17 – vs. Ann Arbor Skyline

Sept. 24 – vs. Dexter

Oct. 1 – at Saline

Oct. 8 – vs. Ypsilanti Lincoln

Oct. 15 – at Monroe

Oct. 22 – at Utica Ford

 

SKYLINE

Aug. 26 – vs. Pinckney

Sept. 2 – vs. Dexter

Sept. 10 – at Monroe

Sept. 17 – at Ann Arbor Pioneer

Sept. 24 – vs. Saline

Oct. 1 – at Ypsilanti Lincoln

Oct. 8 – vs. Ann Arbor Huron

Oct. 15 – at Temperance Bedford

Oct. 22 – vs. Tecumseh

 

DEXTER

Aug. 27 – vs. Birmingham Groves (Xenith Prep Kickoff Classic)

Sept. 2 – at Ann Arbor Skyline

Sept. 10 – vs. Temperance Bedford

Sept. 17 – at Ypsilanti Lincoln

Sept. 24 – at Ann Arbor Pioneer

Oct. 1 – at Ann Arbor Huron

Oct. 8 – vs. Monroe

Oct. 15 – at Saline

Oct. 22 – vs. Chelsea

AA FATHER GABRIEL RICHARD

(Catholic League 1)

Aug. 26 – vs. Whitmore Lake

Sept. 2 – at Detroit Osborn

Sept. 10 – vs. Dearborn Divine Child

Sept. 17 – at Riverview Gabriel Richard

Sept. 24 – vs. Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood

Oct. 1 – Wyoming Kelloggsville

Oct. 8 – at Madison Heights Bishop Foley

Oct. 15 – vs. Macomb Lutheran North

Oct. 22 – vs. South Lake