The Inland Lakes (Indian River, MI) varsity football team is facing Pickford (MI) in a neutral-site playoff game today at 1 p.m. This matchup is part of the 2024 Michigan High School Football Playoff Brackets for the MHSAA 8-Man 1 tournament.

What: Michigan High School Football
Who: Inland Lakes (MI) vs Pickford (MI)
When: Saturday, November 16, 2024
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
Bracket: 2024 Michigan High School Football Playoff Brackets: MHSAA – 8-Man 1
Live stream: Watch live on NFHS Network

A Closer Look at Pickford and Inland Lakes’ Perfect Seasons: An In-Depth Analysis

As the 2024-2025 season comes to a close, both Pickford and Inland Lakes stand tall with perfect records, having each completed an undefeated run throughout the season. While both teams have proven their dominance in their respective leagues, the comparison between the two highlights distinct performances across several key metrics.

Unblemished Records

Both Pickford and Inland Lakes finished with identical overall records of 11-0. However, the path to these perfect records varied slightly in their breakdowns of home, away, and neutral games:

• Pickford: The team was unstoppable at home (7-0), dominant on the road (3-0), and remained flawless in neutral-site games (1-0). Their league performance was equally impressive, finishing a perfect 5-0 in conference play.
• Inland Lakes: Similarly, Inland Lakes achieved a perfect record in their league (6-0) and in non-league contests (3-0). They posted a strong home record (4-0), matched by an equally perfect away performance (4-0), and managed to go undefeated in neutral games (3-0).

Head-to-Head Performance

Both teams shared a common opponent in Ishpeming, and both were victorious in their matchups, albeit with different scorelines:

• Pickford vs. Ishpeming: Pickford delivered commanding wins, outscoring Ishpeming 65-14 in their early-season contest on September 20, 2024, and again with a 44-6 victory on November 8, 2024.
• Inland Lakes vs. Ishpeming: Inland Lakes also emerged victorious, defeating Ishpeming 30-22 in their home game on September 28, 2024.

Despite their victories, Pickford’s margin of victory in these games was significantly greater than Inland Lakes’ — a testament to their scoring efficiency.

Scoring Efficiency

Looking at the teams’ scoring averages reveals a disparity in offensive style:

• Pickford’s Scoring Breakdown: Pickford’s offense was highly potent, especially in the first half. They posted an average of 16 points in the first quarter and an impressive 28 in the second, for a total of 55 points per game. However, their second-half scoring was absent, as they scored zero points in both the third and fourth quarters, which may raise questions about their ability to maintain momentum during key stretches of games.
• Inland Lakes’ Scoring Breakdown: Inland Lakes showed a more balanced offensive attack throughout the game. They scored 22 points in the first quarter, 24 in the second, and 12 in the fourth quarter, finishing with an average of 48.4 points per game. Their third-quarter production, however, was lower, with only six points on average.

Defensive Performance

Both teams demonstrated strong defensive units, with Pickford allowing only 78 points across their 11 games (an average of 7.1 points per game), while Inland Lakes allowed 124 points, averaging 11.27 points per game. Despite the higher points allowed, Inland Lakes’ defense still exhibited consistent effectiveness in containing their opponents.

Breakdown of Wins and Opponents

Both teams played against similar opposition but with a slight difference in head-to-head competition:

• Pickford was perfect against their common opponents, with a 2-0 record against Ishpeming, who also appeared in their schedule twice.
• Inland Lakes had one victory over Ishpeming, giving them a 1-0 record against their common foe.

Playoff and In-State Performance

Both teams dominated in-state competition, finishing the season with 11-0 records within Michigan. Neither team played against out-of-state teams, highlighting their strong local performances and dominance in their respective regions.

Conclusion

The 2024-2025 season saw two exceptional teams in Pickford and Inland Lakes, each dominating their schedules with flawless records. While both teams displayed strong offensive and defensive performances, Pickford’s higher scoring efficiency and overwhelming victories over common opponents set them slightly apart in terms of dominance. Inland Lakes, however, proved their ability to be balanced on both sides of the ball, consistently overcoming opponents with tactical precision. It’s safe to say that both teams have set a high bar for future seasons, and fans can only wait to see what they’ll achieve next.