Despite playing catch-up for the entire first half of Friday’s district final game against East Jordan, Glen Lake’s football team was ultimately the one punching its ticket to regionals when all was said and done. The Lakers won that game 28-14, which means only three games remain between the team and a potential state title.

Glen Lake are 9-1 this year in football, with their only loss coming in the season opener against Traverse City St. Francis, all the way back in August. Since then, the Lakers have managed double-digit victories over most of their opponents, including East Jordan on Friday night.

That game looked different at the start, though. East Jordan drew first blood, scoring an early touchdown off an interception. A quick answer from Glen Lake tied the game at 7-7, but a botched punt attempt not long after led to an easy second touchdown for East Jordan, and the Lakers trailed 14-7 at the end of the first quarter. But Glen Lake evened the score with less than a minute left in the first half, and a pair of unanswered touchdowns in the second half put the Lakers up 28-14 over East Jordan’s Red Devils.

The win gets Glen Lake a district title and a chance to play for the regional crown this coming Friday against Bark River-Harris. If the Lakers win that matchup, they’ll only be just two wins away from a Division 8 state title. Glen Lake last played for a state crown in the 2019 Division 6 championship, but lost to Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central 0-7. The Lakers also made it to the D6 title game in 2016, but lost 14-26 to Jackson Lumen Christi.

Glen Lake won the Class DD state championship in football in 1994, an achievement the school celebrated during a game last fall.