Glen Lake is entering another football season with high expectations after a first round playoff loss ended a rebound year that was 2023.
In 2024, the mood is different for the Lakers, with nearly a dozen seniors hungry to prove they belong with the best in the Northwest Conference and beyond as they begin their 2024 journey on Thursday, Aug. 8 at Manton.
“The biggest goal is to make a playoff run deeper than they did last year,” Glen Lake senior Branden Roush said.
Glen Lake started the 2023 season 3-1 overall before hitting a tough road stretch that had them sitting at 3-3.
The Lakers defeated Munising in a must-win to clinch the playoff berth.
Glen Lake fell to No. 2-ranked Iron Mountain 57-8 in the first round of the playoffs last year.
For Glen Lake to make another playoff push they will have to be detailed oriented.
“The details, the small things, focusing on the little things that matter, that’ll get us farther than we were last year and help us a lot,” Glen Lake senior quarterback Benji Allen said. “We have to come out hot, not waiting to show what we can do, and play as a team and play physically.”
The Lakers will have a tough schedule in 2024 with four home and away games. Glen Lake will play Saginaw Valley Lutheran on a neutral field when the Lakers travel to play at Ferris State University on Oct. 18.
Glen Lake senior Sean Viltor says the team will achieve their goals by remaining motivated in the good times and lifting each other up during adversity.
“We won’t fail each other,” he said.
Glen Lake is excited to hit other people with their first scrimmage today before kicking off the season on Labor Day weekend.
This year’s team is senior led but the Lakers will still need to rely upon underclassmen if they want to reach their goals.
“We have to make sure they know what to do when they come in. If one of us unfortunately gets hurt or we need a break every once in a while, they know what to do ... we stay at the same level,” Sully Seymour said.
