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With three games left in the 2008 regular season, Lester has Marlette off to a 4-2 start (2-2 Greater Thumb East). Two more wins in their last three games and the Raiders will be headed to the playoffs for the second year in a row and just the third time overall in school history.

A win this Friday night over Brown City (1-5, 1-4) would be a good start in that direction. In order to get the win, though, Marlette will need to play better than it did in Week 6.

The Red Raiders got off to a slow start in losing a 42-6 game to Deckerville last Friday night.

"Deckerville just flat-out played well," Marlette coach Dennis Lester said. "We were dominated from the beginning to the end. We struggled defensively all night.Ê

"Now, we just have to get up and wipe ourselves off and get back to work."

Other area games
Lapeer East (3-3) at Brandon (2-4): It's do-or-die time for the Eagles. If coach Jake Weingartz and his team want to make the playoffs, they need to win the remainder of their games this season. East is coming off a 45-35 loss to Oxford while Brandon lost to Fenton, 35-19, in Week 6.

Armada (2-4, 2-3) at Almont (4-2, 3-2): A shocking 27-21 loss to Imlay City last Friday night may have cost the Raiders a shot at a second straight BWAC title. Almont must rebound quickly if they still want to get the six wins needed to make the playoffs. Armada is coming off a 35-0 loss to Cros-Lex in Week 6.

Armada (2-4, 2-3) at Almont (4-2, 3-2): A shocking 27-21 loss to Imlay City last Friday night may have cost the Raiders a shot at a second straight BWAC title. Almont must rebound quickly if they still want to get the six wins needed to make the playoffs. Armada is coming off a 35-0 loss to Cros-Lex in Week 6.

Algonac (0-6, 0-5) at Imlay City (1-5, 1-4): The Spartans Aaron Thompson led his team to victory against Almont last week. Thompson threw for 219 yards and three touchdowns in the upset win. This week, Thompson and the Spartans face winless Algonac with a chance to get their second win of the season.

Capac (4-2, 3-2) at Yale (4-2, 3-2): The winner of this game will be looking to keep its slim title hopes alive in the BWAC. The Chiefs are coming off a 35-13 win over Algonac in Week 6, as QB Jon Botwin threw for 135 yards and a score. The Bulldogs were defeated, 28-7, by Richmond last Friday night.

Swartz Creek (0-6) at Oxford (5-1): A win for Oxford would put the Wildcats in the state playoffs for the third consecutive season. Coach Bud Rowley found a way to win last week, outscoring Lapeer East to get the 45-35 win. The Dragons have struggled this season, scoring just 38 points in six games.

Goodrich (6-0, 4-0) at LakeVille (1-5, 0-4): The Martians have already clinched at least a share of the GAC-Red title when they beat Mt. Morris, 30-14, last Friday night. Goodrich RB Jake Bourassa is second in the area in yards rushing with 919 and leads the area in touchdowns with 14.

Mayville (2-4, 1-3) at Harbor Beach (1-5, 0-4): The Wildcats won a thrilling 36-28 overtime game over Bad Axe last Friday night and are hoping that momentum will carry them this week as well. Mayville has won at least three games in a season just once since 1999. Nate Richardson leads Mayville with 695 rushing yards on the season.

North Branch (2-4, 1-3) at Bridgeport (3-3, 2-2): The Broncos hit the road this Friday night to take on the league's most improved team in the Bearcats. North Branch has struggled in coach Steve VerBurg's first season. The Broncos' offense has generated just 57 points in four conference games.

Millington (5-1, 3-1) at Caro (2-4, 2-3): A win would put Millington and coach Tim Furno in the playoffs for the 15th time in school history. Last week, the Cards dropped a 35-20 heartbreaker to Birch Run in the school's homecoming game.