Can JoBurg football get back in the NMFC-Legacy and postseason discussion in 2025? These games will be key if they do:
JOHANNESBURG ― It's been a while since JoBurg football has found itself in a conference title race or competing for a spot in the MHSAA playoffs.
This season, they're hoping to rediscover the recipe for success and get back to their winning ways.
New playmakers at key positions will hope to help JL be competitive again in the Legacy Division of the Northern Michigan Football Conference and, hopefully, turn the program back in the right direction in the back half of the 2020s.
Here are the biggest matchups we are watching for the Johannesburg-Lewiston Cardinals in 2025:
Johannesburg-Lewiston football
Head coach: Joe Smokevitch (13th season)
2024 record: 1-7 overall, 1-4 NMFC-Legacy
Key Games: Sept. 19 vs. Harbor Springs, Oct. 3 at Oscoda, Oct. 10 vs. Maple City Glen Lake, Oct. 24 at Manton
Cards hope to extend winning streak on divisional foe
JoBurg hasn't had much success against NMFC-Legacy opponents over the past three seasons, going 3-13 in league matchups since 2022. One matchup, however, has gone decisively in their favor.
Sporting a three-game winning streak against the Harbor Springs Rams, the Cardinals will look to give their Homecoming Game crowd another victory to cheer about and extend their winning streak over the Rams to four.
Former divisional rival back on the schedule
Oscoda left the NMFC-Legacy for the NMFC-Leaders division after the 2022 season and, as a result, has been off of JL's schedule ever since. This season, the Owls and Cardinals will match up again in a non-divisional bout.
JL fell to Oscoda 24-14 in 2022, the last time these two teams matched up, and the Owls hold a 2-0 overall record over the Cardinals all-time. They went 5-4 last season, boasting wins over NMFC-Legacy teams Mancelona and Harbor Springs.
Conference champs head to JoBurg
To be the best, you have to beat the best. This season, the reigning 'best' is Maple City Glen Lake.
The Lakers (9-2, 5-0 NMFC-Legacy) were among the best in all of Northern Michigan last season, losing by just a touchdown in a district title matchup with the eventual Division 8 state champions, Beal City. this year, they'll have a much bigger target on their backs as they hope to hold off other quality teams like East Jordan and Frankfort.
But what if JL is back in the division title hunt?
If JoBurg can find a way through their first three conference matchups, then the Week 7 matchup at Glen Lake will be critical for both teams.
Will playoffs be on the line in Week 9?
The importance of this matchup will reveal itself as JoBurg progresses through the 2025 season, but if JoBurg wants to be a playoff team once again, finishing the regular season on a high note should be a priority.
If JL can take care of business in their non-conference games, there's a chance that this could be a matchup that decides their postseason fate. Either way, JL will be looking to end a four-game losing streak to Manton that dates back to 2021. Manton won 38-30 in Week 9 of the 2024 season.
Contact GHT Sports Editor Dylan Jespersen at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @dylanjespersen, and Instagram, @dylanjespersen
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: The biggest games of the 2025 Johannesburg-Lewiston football schedule
Category: General Sports
