By David Fleet
Editor
Brandon Twp.- They’re back.
When Varsity Football Coach Brad Zube walked off the field on Friday night following a convincing 56-27 win over rival Linden, his Blackhawk team had punched a playoff ticket for the third time in as many years.
“This is the natural output from hard word and dedication when you do things right, kids play right,” said Zube. “Schools that have success are the ones with the universal buy in from the kids. From our varsity kids that’s what we are having.”
The win over Linden was just a little sweeter after they knocked the Blackhawks out of the playoffs in the second round last year.
“The kids are not talking about the playoffs,” said Zube. “If we beat Holly this weekend we’ll take on Swartz Creek for a Flint Metro League Championship. We’ve never done that here and we’ve been in the league 20 years.”
The stellar 6-1 season with two games left lifts Zube’s record to 21-7 in three seasons.

In nine seasons as a high school football coach including stints at Pontaic High School and Stoney Creek, Zube has tallied a 51-32 record.
“Brandon has tough kids,” said Zube. “Maybe it’s because this is a more rural area and they have to be tough. I’m not sure. Either way they win.”
The tradition keeps growing, added Zube.
“We graduated (last year) a two year starter at quarterback; We graduated a two year starter that’s now playing at the University of Michigan; We graduated four other starters on defense; We graduated our leading receiver. Coming into this year we really had no idea what we had, we had a rough draft of who was going to be playing but that’s about it,” he said. We’re graduating kids and other are stepping up and they are doing it every year.”
Zube looks for a full house on Oct. 19.
“We have a great community and an outstanding team,” he said. “I’d love to see the stands packed as we go for the league title.”