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Current Sports | WKAR | Okemos Draws Flint Carman-Ainsworth in Division 2 Playoff Matchup

For the first time ever, the Okemos Chiefs (6-3, 5-2) will step on the field against the 
 
Flint Carman-Ainsworth Cavaliers (7-2, 5-2) Friday night.

That’s the beauty of high school football playoffs. Two very different teams an hour 
 
apart are brought together in a game that means everything.

For the Chiefs, this game marks the first time any player on their roster has been in a 
 
varsity playoff game, as they hadn’t made the playoffs since 2011. The Cavaliers, on the other 
 
hand, are making their fourth consecutive playoff appearance. The previous two were as a 
 
Division 1 team, including a semi-finals loss last year to state-champions, Clarkston.

The Chiefs will try to use their balanced offense to keep the Cavalier defense on their 
 
toes. They use a dual running back system (Chris Nelson and Kome Johnson) that has combined 
 
for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns in nine games. Quarterback Grant Klaver has thrown for 
 
nearly 100 yards a game and has eight touchdowns on the year.

To have any success in the game, the Chiefs will look to stop the vaunted running attack 
 
of the favored Cavaliers. The Cavs have rushed for 324 yards a game this season, led by senior 
 
running back Tyler Minor, who has 19 touchdowns in nine games. His 1,310 yards lead the 
 
team, and needing only 131 carries to do so. The Cavs only average 50 yard passing per game.

Giving up only 17 points a game, the Chiefs defense will have to stand on their heads to 
 
bring the Cavs down from their lofty 37 points scored per game. Something’s gotta give, and 
 
now that it is playoff time, something surely will.

Flint Carman-Ainsworth will come in as the favorite, playing on their home turf. Their 
 
only loss at home this season was a 3-point one to Lapeer (9-0), the number 4 team in Michigan 
 
Division 1 football, as ranked by the Associated Press.

The Chiefs will attempt to keep their best season in four years going as they head 
 
northeast on I-69. They have been comfortable on the road, where they are a perfect 4-0 on 
 
the season.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 pm Friday night at Flint Carman-Ainsworth high school.

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