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Ludington, Manistee Set for 143rd Meeting

LUDINGTON – The fifth longest running rivalry in Michigan high school football history is renewed Friday as Ludington welcomes in Manistee for the 143rd meeting between the two programs.

A rivalry that dates back to 1895, Ludington snapped a two-game skid to Manistee last year with a 45-14 win.

The winner this year will lock up second place in the Lakes 8 Conference behind Muskegon Catholic Central.

“It’s the biggest game of the year every year, regardless of your situation,” Ludington coach Charlie Gunsell said. “It’s just a big deal. It brings everyone out in the community and even with the restrictions, limiting fans, there’s still going to be a lot of people around the stadium Friday night. It’s going to feel different. It felt different last year when we went up there. There’s just a better buzz about the game and the kids are locked in from day one.”

The MISportsNow team will also be broadcasting and live streaming Friday’s game. You can view the first half of the game on Local 32 and the entire game on the free , on 9&10 Plus or on . Live coverage begins at 6:55 p.m. 

A win Friday for Ludington (3-1, 1-1) would mark the first time since 2002 and 2003 and that the Orioles have won two straight in the series.

After dropping their season opener to Muskegon CC, the Orioles enter Friday’s game winners of the three straight. Ludington handed Wyoming Godwin Heights a 21-7 loss last week while Manistee (3-1, 1-1) dropped its first game of the year last Friday in a 40-0 defeat at the hands of Muskegon CC.

“It’s just going to take football with not very many mistakes,” Ludington senior Jake Plamondon said. “Everyone’s going to be going all out on both sides of the ball. You can basically throw away the records, it doesn’t matter. We’re just going to go out there and play as hard as we can and hopefully it’s enough.”


Last Five Meetings in Ludington-Manistee Series
2019 – Ludington 45, Manistee 14
2018 – Manistee 33, Ludington 14
2017 – Manistee 42, Ludington 28
2016 – Ludington 26, Manistee 13
2015 – Manistee 49, Ludington 21


In addition Friday’s game beginning broadcasted Local 32 and live streamed on VUit and MISportsNow.com, the contest also serves as our Sports Overtime Game of the Week and will lead off Friday’s edition of Sports Overtime.

“It’s certainly one you circle on your calendar year in and year out,” Manistee coach Troy Bytwork said. “Both of us are 3-1. We’re off to a good start they’re coming off a win, we’re coming off a loss.”


Oldest Michigan High School Football Rivalries 
1893 – Battle Creek Central vs. Kalamazoo Central (1893-2019, 116 games)
1894 – Saginaw Arthur Hill vs. Saginaw (formerly West Side vs. East Side) (1894-2019, 124 games)
1894 – Menominee, Michigan vs. Marinette, Wis. (1894-2019, 113 games)
1895 – Negaunee vs. Ishpeming (1895-2019, 147 games)
1895 – Ludington vs. Manistee (1895-2019, 142 games)

Total Number of Games Played (*active series)
147 – * Negaunee vs. Ishpeming (1895-2019, 147 games, Negaunee leads series 70-65-12) (Negaunee 40, Ishpeming 20, in 2019)
142 – * Ludington vs. Manistee (1895-2019, 142 games, Ludington leads series 69-62-11) (Ludington 45, Manistee 14, in 2019)
141 – Negaunee vs. Marquette (1894-2017, 141 games, Negaunee led series 70-60-11 following 2017)
124 – * Saginaw vs. Saginaw Arthur Hill (1894-2019, 124 games, Saginaw Arthur Hill leads series 60-53-11) (Saginaw Arthur Hill 43, Saginaw 0 in 2019)
123 – * Escanaba vs. Menominee (1897-2019, 123 games, Menominee leads series 66-54-3) (Escanaba 26, Menominee 20, in 2019)


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