A Fresh Start Under Bill Nesbitt
After a modest 3‑6 finish in 2025, the Cheboygan Chiefs are looking to rewrite their narrative under veteran coach Bill Nesbitt. The team entered the 2024 season for the first time under his guidance, and the experience has set the stage for a more competitive 2026 campaign.
The schedule promises a blend of home‑field advantages and challenging road trips, each game positioned as a potential turning point. Early in the season, the Chiefs will test their mettle against Sault Ste. Marie on August 28, hoping to secure a third straight victory over the Blue Devils after a 19‑7 win last year.
The first home appearance comes on September 4 against Kalkaska, where the Chiefs hope to halt the Blazers’ upward trajectory after the latter finished 5‑4 in 2025. A week later, the team travels to Boyne City, seeking to end a five‑game skid against the Ramblers, who made the postseason a year ago.
Rivalries will pepper the roster, beginning with a September 18 showdown against Elk Rapids, a perennial NSC foe that finished 4‑5 last season. The following week, Charlevoix, the 8‑2 playoff team from 2025, will visit Western Avenue Field, offering the Chiefs a chance at revenge.
The toughest test arrives on October 2 when Kingsley brings its dominant Stags to town. The Stags, who fell to Jackson Lumen Christi in the state title game last November, present a formidable challenge that could define the Chiefs’ season.
A Saturday night clash with Redford Union on October 10 will pit the Chiefs against the Panthers, a 7‑3 playoff team from 2025, marking the only weekend game of the schedule and a chance to prove resilience under lights.
The final home conference matchup on October 16 against Grayling follows a 41‑27 victory over the latter in 2025, giving the Chiefs a familiar foe to close out their home slate. The season concludes on October 23 with a road trip to New Lothrop, where the Chiefs hope to reverse a prior loss against the Hornets, who finished 7‑4 last year.
Through a demanding slate that spans from August to late October, the Cheboygan Chiefs aim to translate early momentum into a sustained push toward the playoffs. The blend of seasoned leadership from Bill Nesbitt and the youthful energy of the roster could finally deliver the breakthrough the program has been chasing.