Charlevoix football getting comfortable with the bus early in 2024 season

CHARLEVOIX — What a run it’s been for the Charlevoix football team.

There hasn’t been a stretch like it ever in Rayder history and it’s one they certainly hope only keeps on getting better.

In 2024, it has the potential to, though it’ll come with challenges from start to finish during the regular season.

There will also be a large senior class to replace and expectations to keep up what’s been built over the last five seasons.

Here’s a look at how things look for the Rayders’ 2024 schedule:

Road trips to start

If you’re a Charlevoix parent or fan, there will be some miles put on the car to start the season.

Charlevoix will open with the first four weeks and essentially the first month on the road. They won’t play a home game until Friday, Sept. 27.

They’re not all super long trips after opening the season at Traverse City St. Francis (Aug. 30), though a three-hour trip to Oscoda (Sept. 6) in week two is nothing to shake a stick at.

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It’s just tough on a team opening the season with four straight on the road. You’re so excited to get the season started that you don’t care where you’re playing, but by week three or four, the bus, away locker rooms, crowd in favor of your opponent, it all begins to take a toll on you.

Time will tell how this Rayder team handles this early four-game stretch. It'll take some leadership and tough-minded players.

Rivals back to back

Part of that four-game road stretch to begin the season will come with back to back trips to Boyne City (Sept. 13) and East Jordan (Sept. 20).

It’s always a tossup when it’s Charlevoix and Boyne City, with the Rayders taking last year’s matchup in a 26-13 final, though Boyne claimed the previous two before that by multiples scores in each.

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That’s a tough week three game to hit the road for and one that should be a can't miss contest for any fan available that night.

Then, East Jordan won’t be all that easy in week four.

Things got a bit out of hand last season with Charlevoix earning a 50-6 win over EJ, though the Red Devils were a heck of a lot better than they showed in what became another playoff campaign.

Traditionally, it has been a pretty evenly matched game between Charlevoix and East Jordan, so who knows what week four will bring.

It can just be tough going back to back with rivals, though Charlevoix did it a year ago, however both came at home.

Ending with the champs

While it’s a tough opener again with Traverse City St. Francis, the close to the 2024 season will come with the defending Division 6 state champions, Kingsley (Oct. 25).

The Stags will certainly have some turnover in talent from one year to the next, though anytime you go all the way with a state championship, it’s experience that can’t be taught. Heck, it’s also a benefit to play three or four more high-level postseason games. All those added practices and games add up.

The matchup will be nine weeks from the opening kickoff, so who is to say how both Charlevoix and Kingsley will be by then.

On paper to start the year, however, this is quite the challenge to head into the final week of the season with.

2024 Charlevoix Football Schedule

Friday, Aug. 30 — at TC St. Francis

Friday, Sept. 06 — at Oscoda

Friday, Sept. 13 — at Boyne City

Friday, Sept. 20 — at East Jordan

Friday, Sept. 27 — Benzie Central

Friday, Oct. 04 — Elk Rapids

Game date TBD — at Mancelona

Friday, Oct. 18 — Tawas

Friday, Oct. 25 — Kingsley

Contact or send game stats/info to Sports Editor Drew Kochanny at dkochanny@petoskeynews.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DrewKochanny, and Instagram, @drewkochanny

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Charlevoix football 2024 schedule includes extensive road stretch to start