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Napoleon Football Ethan Weatherspoon

By Mike Moore                      Photo by Ryan Kerwin, JTV Sports

Staff Writer

 

Napoleon — When the Napoleon football team beat Manchester last fall, it ended a streak of losses that annually dated back to 2006.

 

When the teams meet Friday night, well, it’s the Pirates looking to make a streak of their own with two wins in two years.

 

And as coach Scott Ashe spoke about it, there’s no other option.

 

“It’s a must win,” Ashe said bluntly. “We can’t let this go. We’re tied for first in the conference right now and have a lot to play for. We have to come out and play with a chip on our shoulder.”

 

With Week 7 set to go, the Pirates will “come out” in a way they have only once before — at home.

 

“Never been like this as far as I can remember,” Ashe said of five road games the first six weeks. “But we’re expecting a great crowd and a great atmosphere.”

 

Following consecutive wins, Napoleon is 4-2 on the season.

 

Manchester comes in 2-4.

 

“We’re not looking at their record,” Ashe said. “We know they are a good football program, and the games we’ve seen on film this year, we know they are a good team.”

 

So are the Pirates, especially while possessing the ball, lately.

 

In the past three games, Napoleon has scored 114 points, and that includes 30 in a loss to Addison.

 

“We’ve gotten into a real good rhythm,” Ashe said of the group. “We’re throwing the ball well with quarterback Darren Hampton. The offensive line has settled in and is blocking very well. It’s also a very balanced attack with a 50-50 ratio of passing and running.”

 

That may be the biggest key.

 

In a day where most high school teams still favor the run game, the Pirates are attacking with the pass and run, keeping defenses off balance.

 

“As you get later in the season, you need to be able to do both,” Ashe said. “We’re able to run it and throw it, and that causes some problems.”

 

Napoleon’s trip to the playoffs last year marked the first time the team played beyond Week 9 since 2005.

 

A win Friday night would do wonders in securing a second straight trip.

 

The Pirates face East Jackson (1-5) next weekend before closing the year with a crossover.

 

“We have a shot at our fifth win, and it’s a must-win game for us,” Ashe said. “That’s how we’re approaching it.”

 

Mike Moore is a play-by-play commentator and Sports Writer for JTV Sports.

 

He’s also a Realtor with Real Estate One, specializing with buyers and sellers throughout Michigan, from the Jackson area to metro Detroit. You can reach him at mmoore@realestateone.com or by calling (313) 770-6365 with any inquiries.

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