The Countdown Begins
The 2025 Football broadcast schedule is set
It seems like just yesterday that we were coming together for a Memorial Day barbecue and now, fall sports are in full swing. The WLEW Sports Network has finalized its initial broadcast schedule and our first game is fast approaching. As always, our broadcast schedule is subject to change depending on how the season plays out, but it’s an exciting time for any player, coach, parent, marching band member, lifelong fan or just a casual passerby. Official practice for MHSAA football began on Monday, August 11 with most first games taking place on Thursday of Labor Day weekend. Our first game will take place in the primetime slot on Friday, August 29 between the Cass City Red Hawks and Harbor Beach Pirates. The last two times they’ve met have brought high-drama finishes to start the season. Last year, even overtime was required to determine a winner.
How It’s Made: The Schedule
A lot of thought goes into our broadcast schedule (with an emphasis on “a lot”). If it was possible, we would love nothing more than to provide coverage at every single game happening every week. Unfortunately, that’s not possible and instead we have to craft a fine balance of distributed coverage, while still ensuring that we are broadcasting the biggest and most impactful games each week.
Some of the factors that go into the schedule:
What game would have the biggest impact on the season and/or division
How many times have we covered the involved teams this season
Does the selected game infringe on other broadcasting entities’ coverage areas
Is there sufficient space and infrastructure for our broadcast team, mostly, steady and reliable internet access
Are season and game stats readily available from both teams to aid broadcast prep materials
Do Clark Ramsey and Dave Hanson’s personal schedules allow them to be at the game (both have “day jobs” that take priority)
Is there a risk of the game’s cancelation due to injuries or other outside factors
Do the selections maximize coverage to as many schools as possible
If you feel that your team isn’t on the schedule enough or another team is listed too much, don’t worry, you’re not alone. Not all of the factors listed above can be achieved, week-in and week-out. We draft roughly 20-22 different schedules starting in late May and try every angle all the way through mid-August to ensure maximum reach. Luckily, the Thumb is fortunate to have a number of different entities that provide excellent coverage and we try our best collectively to spread the love to all of our area teams.
Below, you’ll find our preliminary broadcast schedule that starts in the dog days of summer and takes us right up to Halloween’s doorstep. All games are subject to change based on how the season plays out.
As the season progresses, check our broadcast schedule page for the most up-to-date information and matchups.
Week 01: Cass City at Harbor Beach
Both the Harbor Beach Pirates and Cass City Red Hawks are coming off 2024 playoff runs and looking to start their 2025 campaign on the right foot. After two tight games in previous seasons, the Red Hawks and Pirates will duke it out to open our 2025 football coverage.
Friday, August 29, 2025 — Harbor Beach, MI
Coverage: 6:00pm | Kickoff: 7:00pm
Sports Radio 102.1FM & wlewsports.com
Week 02: Whiteford vs Harbor Beach (neutral site)
Two Division 08 blue chip programs go head-to-head in non-divisional play on a neutral field in Davison, Michigan. Whiteford is the 2022 state champion, losing to Ubly in 2023 in the state title game. Harbor Beach is looking to make it back to the state championship for the first time since 2012, the year of their only title in school history.
Saturday, September 06, 2025 — Davison, MI
Coverage: 12:00pm | Kickoff: 1:00pm
Sports Radio 102.1FM & wlewsports.com
Week 03: Lakers at Cass City
Lakers and Cass City are set to meet for the 71st time since 1960 and to kick off divisional play in the Big Thumb Conference. With most expecting both the Red Hawks and Lakers to be in the upper tier of divisional foes, this classic rivalry is bound to provide a thrilling game. The two rivals have split their last 10 meetings, with Cass City taking the previous two games including last year, 28-8.
Friday, September 12, 2025 — Cass City, MI
Coverage: 6:00pm | Kickoff: 7:00pm
Sports Radio 102.1FM & wlewsports.com
Week 04: Brown City at Deckerville
Brown City travels to the “Foxborough of the Thumb” to take on the Deckerville Eagles in a Big Thumb-Blue showdown. The Eagles are the reigning 8-player state champions, while Brown City is looking to hand Deckerville their first loss in over a year.
Friday, September 19, 2025 — Deckerville, MI
Coverage: 6:00pm | Kickoff: 7:00pm
Sports Radio 102.1FM & wlewsports.com
Week 05: Cass City at Sandusky
The Red Hawks and Wolves have faced off 50 times since 1950 and face off in a divisional game at the halfway point in the regular season. Sandusky has not defeated Cass City since the 2015 playoffs, with the Red Hawks taking the previous six games. The Cass City Red Hawks rolled through the Wolves last year, winning 32-8 in Ryan Palmer’s first year as head coach for Sandusky.
Friday, September 26, 2025 — Sandusky, MI
Coverage: 6:00pm | Kickoff: 7:00pm
Sports Radio 102.1FM & wlewsports.com
Week 06: Sandusky at Lakers
The Wolves and Lakers meet on the gridiron in Week 06 of the regular season. For just the second year, Lakers and Sandusky are divisional foes (since the old Thumb-B Conference from the 1980’s). Sandusky has not defeated Lakers since 2006 with the green and white winning 8 of the last 10 matchups.
Friday, October 03, 2025 — Pigeon, MI
Coverage: 6:00pm | Kickoff: 7:00pm
Sports Radio 102.1FM & wlewsports.com
Week 07: USA at Ubly
The USA Patriots and Ubly Bearcats have faced off 23 times in 21 years with the Bearcats dominating the series 17-6 since 2004. Now divisional opponents since the inception of the Big Thumb Conference in 2024, Ubly and USA look to enter the home stretch of the regular season on a hot streak. Last year, the Patriots lost to Ubly 46-14.
Friday, October 10, 2025 — Ubly, MI
Coverage: 6:00pm | Kickoff: 7:00pm
Sports Radio 102.1FM & wlewsports.com
Week 08: Lakers at Harbor Beach
Two classic rivals clash in a cross-divisional matchup in the penultimate week of the regular season. The Pirates have taken 9 straight over the green and white, including the last two years, 18-6 and 38-6. This will be the 35th meeting in history between the two schools.
Friday, October 17, 2025 — Harbor Beach, MI
Coverage: 6:00pm | Kickoff: 7:00pm
Sports Radio 102.1FM & wlewsports.com
Week 09: Harbor Beach at Millington
The reigning and 2024 Division 07 state champions host the Harbor Beach Pirates in a highly-anticipated matchup in the final week of the regular season. Millington and Harbor Beach have faced off 16 times in history, but none since 1978.
Friday, October 24, 2025 — Millington, MI
Coverage: 6:00pm | Kickoff: 7:00pm
Sports Radio 102.1FM & wlewsports.com
Week 10: MHSAA Playoffs
What will the 2025 postseason look like? Only time will tell. Listen to every minute on the WLEW Sports Network!