It is time to end one of the biggest mysteries in Livingston County athletics.
How come Pinckney and Fowlerville do not play each other in football?
Both schools are in favor of playing each other. The issue is both schools have scheduled games far into the future and it is difficult to schedule football far into the future when schedules are clogged with league games and two-year contracts.
Fowlerville has an opening for next season. Pinckney does not. Pinckney has two openings in 2026. Fowlerville may not. It is the question people ask me the most while covering athletics for WHMI. The people want to see the rural schools of comparable size play. So do the Ads at both schools.
This is a giant-sized rivalry among pint size schools in the making.
There is no bad blood between the schools. They play each other in boys and girls basketball. But not football?
“I would love it,” said Pinckney Athletic Director Matt Seidl.
Fowlerville AC Jeff Finney is in favor of it too. However.
“It’s not as easy as saying that we are just going to play each other,” Finney said.
The bigger schools – Howell, Brighton and Hartland play each other every year in football and basketball because they are members of the Kensington Lakes Activities Association West division. What complicates things for Pinckney (Southeastern Conference) and Fowlerville (Capitol Area Activities Conference Red Division).
Fowlerville plays Adrian who is in the same league as Pinckney but it not particularly close. Meanwhile, Pinckney plays Lake Fenton and Corunna which are both further away than Fowlerville.
“I am all for it,” Seidel said. “Maybe we van can call it the Foster Bowl.”
I don’t need the publicity, but if you are going that far then we need not just the game, but a weekend festival with clowns, dancing girls and elephant ears.
Let's get it done as soon as possible.