By DOUG DONNELLY

OTTAWA LAKE – Whiteford will play in their third football conference in three years next year if the remaining schools in the newly-formed Great Lakes Conference approve of the move.

The Whiteford Board of Education Monday adopted a resolution that establishes the GLC, a football-only conference that combines four Ohio schools and four Michigan schools.

Whiteford will be joined by Sand Creek, Erie Mason and Summerfield from the Tri-County Conference. Edon, Millcreek-West Unity Hilltop, Montpelier and North Central from the Buckeye Border League are the other four teams, giving the GLC eight schools.

The resolution adopted by the Whiteford establishes the conference. The remaining seven school boards are expected to adopt the same resolution between now and early November when the league becomes official.

Essentially, the eight-team league is the same as this year’s Toledo Area Athletic Conference with the lone exception being Ottawa Hills is out and Sand Creek is in.

Sand Creek played this year and last season in the Big 8 conference. School officials said they informed the Big 8 about a month ago they were leaving that conference.

Whiteford Athletic Director Mirandia Green said league schedules for varsity and sub-varsity games have been drawn up and the process of assigning officials is underway.

The GLC will be fifth conference Whiteford has participated in football. Whiteford was a member of the River Raisin Conference from 1960 to 1972, the Michigan-Ohio Border Conference in 1973 and 1974 and the Tri-County Conference from 1975 to 2024. Last year Whiteford joined the TAAC with Summerfield and Erie Mason.