By DOUG DONNELLY

OTTAWA LAKE – Whiteford and Reading will meet for the first time in a regular season game Friday when the Rangers travel to Ottawa Lake to take on the undefeated, No. 1 ranked Bobcats.

The last time these two teams met was in the district finals in 2018. Whiteford came into the game with a 24-game winning streak but Reading not only ended the longest winning streak in Monroe County Region history, but they knocked the Bobcats out of the playoffs and went on to win a state championships.

“When we were talking about the schedule last year, Reading is one of the teams I wanted to play,” Whiteford coach Todd Thieken said. “They are a good program and that’s someone I wanted to have on our schedule.”

Whiteford (2017, 2022) and Reading (2018, 2019) have won four of the past six Division 8 state championships.

The Bobcats are off to a 6-0 start. Last week Whiteford clinched at least a share of the Tri-County Conference championship by beating Erie Mason 58-6.

Reading (1-5) is headed for its first losing record since 2016, which is the last time the Rangers weren’t in the post-season. They were 14-0 in 2018, 13-1 in 2019 and 8-3 last year. Rick Bailey, in his 36th season as head coach, is in the Michigan High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame and has a career record of 243-120.

Bailey said the Rangers have been hit hard by injuries.

“(The roster) includes four or five guys that have been injured and out for the year,” he said. “We practiced last week with 15 guys.”

Reading lost to White Pigeon (6-0), Quincy (2-4), Union City (5-1), Springport (2-4) and Hanover-Horton (2-4). The victory came against 2-4 Bronson.

The Rangers are led by running back TayShawn Bester, who has 406 yards rushing and has scored seven touchdowns. He is averaging 27.3 yards per kick return also has made 51 tackles. Fullback/Linebacker Lucas Strine has 399 yards rushing and has been in on 65 tackles. Skyler Charters has four interceptions on defense. Quarterback Brady King has completed 30-of-52 passes for 338 yards and a touchdown. He’s been picked off three times.

Whiteford comes into the game on a 20-game winning streak, the third longest in school history, four shy of tying the all-time school and Monroe County Region record.

Jake Iott leads the Bobcats in rushing with 491 yards and tackles with 77. He has 326 career points for the Bobcats, becoming just the fourth player in Whiteford history to score 300 points, joining Jesse Kiefer (526), Logan Murphy (378) and Cole Giesige (342). His 37 career touchdowns put him tied for No. 6 in school history with Shea Ruddy. His 52 career 2-point conversions are a school record.

Kolby has six interceptions and seven touchdown receptions in six games. Hunter DeBarr leads the team with 49 points, which includes five extra-points.

Freshman quarterback Tre Eitniear has eight touchdown passes in his first six starts and has thrown for 512 yards in all.

Ryin Ruddy has scored three touchdowns and passed for three scores. The versatile senior has had games this season where he has led Whiteford in rushing (twice), receiving (once) and passing (once). He starts at tight end and defensive back.

Friday’s game is at 7 p.m. at Whiteford, where the Bobcats have won 19 straight games dating back to the 2020 playoffs.

Here are some pre-game notes on the game: