Pickford Goes Another Week Without a Game

PICKFORD – For the third straight week, the Pickford football program has been left without a game.

The defending 8-player Division 2 state champion, Pickford was forced to cancel and forfeit its game with Rapid River on Oct. 16 because of a confirmed COVID-19 case within in its school system. A week later, it was Pickford on the receiving end of a forfeit win following a COVID-19 at Brimley.

With the playoffs commencing this week, the third-ranked Panthers (6-1) are again receiving a forfeit win following Stephenson’s decision to cancel Thursday’s Division 1 first-round matchup after a COVID-19 case in its school system.

“They want to play football, that’s why they came out for the team is to be able to play in games,” Pickford coach Josh Rader said. “Whenever a game gets canceled, it’s disappointing. But you just got to retool as far as your thinking and get ready for that next week because we’ve got a job to do.”

Pickford will next face the winner of Saturday’s Newberry-Onaway game in a regional semifinal. If Newberry wins, Pickford will host, while the Panthers will travel to Onaway if the Cardinals win Saturday.

“We always want to be out there, but it’s another thing you got to do,” Pickford senior Eric Huyck said. “We’ve got to keep our heads up, be ready for it. Do not get lackadaisical in practice. Come out and keep working.”