By Mike Moore
Staff Writer
The night has a two-pronged mission attached to it.
When the Jackson football team takes the field Friday at home against Grand Ledge, the chance at picking up a couple victories rests at the forefront.
The Vikings, at 2-2 through four weeks, desperately need a victory to keep their playoff hopes alive and well.
At the same time, the guys in orange and black will technically be the guys in pink.
“It’s our Pink Viking Project,” coach Scott Farley said of the game. “The kids will wear pink jerseys with a name of someone in their lives who has passed, survived or is currently fighting cancer. It’s something we take very seriously.”
Each player will don the name of a family member, a friend, or even someone from the community they will be dedicating the game to.
The jerseys will be sold, as will T-shirts to get into the game.
And all for a great cause.
“All money raised goes to the cancer patience assistance fund with Henry Ford Allegiance Foundation in Jackson,” Farley explained. “We’re trying to financially help supports local families.”
Farley said there’s also a lesson to be had in the gesture.
“There’s a purpose in teaching the kids, and the community, about putting other’s needs in front of their own,” he said. At the same time, everyone has been touched by cancer. This is a small way to show support for those people.”
There’s also a game to be played, and for the Vikings, an immediate need to win.
A loss would drop Jackson to 2-3 and force the team to go 4-0 down the stretch to earn an automatic playoff berth.
After an impressive win two weeks ago at home against East Lansing, the Vikings went on the road last Friday and lost a mistake-filled game 41-28 to Lansing Sexton.
“We have to find a way to get out of our own way sometimes,” Farley said. “We made so many mistakes against Sexton, giving up big plays on defense and turning it over on offense.”
That can’t happen Friday against Grand Ledge or things could get ugly.
After going 12-1 last year and losing in the state semifinals, the Comets come to Jackson 3-1 in 2016 and riding a three-game win streak.
In the all-time series, the Vikings are 5-28 against Grand Ledge and haven’t won a game since the 2007 season.
“They’re a very good team, and we know that,” Farley said. “It’s a solid program that’s very well coached. It’s a tough style of football to play against.”
But on a night designed to stand up and support those going through the toughest of times, Farley is confident his guys have a chance to pull what would be an upset.
“We just have to play more consistently,” he said. “We know who they are going to be. It comes down to us being the best we can be.”
Mike Moore is a play-by-play commentator and Sports Writer for JTV Sports. You can reach him at mjm12@albion.edu. He’s also the author of ‘Love, Defined; A Dedication to the Love, Sacrifice, and Magic of Motherhood.’
Love, Defined is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Tate Publishing or by contacting Mike directly.
Visit http://lovedefinedbook.weebly.com for more information.