It may be putting the cart before the horse, or it may be being smartly proactive, but some fund-raising is being planned this week to help Martin football players and fans pay for a trip to the state finals Saturday, Nov. 19, at the Superior Dome in Marquette.

The Clippers will have a return match with Brown City at 1 p.m. this Saturday in the semifinals on their own turf. They defeated Brown City 49-7 in a matchup earlier this season, so there certainly is a possibility they will earn the long trip north the following weekend.

However, first things first. They have to get past Brown City and it should be remembered they just earned sweet revenge last Saturday against Adrian Lenawee Christian, a team that had beaten them twice over the past two seasons.

It has been estimated that about $15,000 needs to be raised to pay for the trip to the Upper Peninsula, including lodging and meals for the players, band and cheer team.

So the Clipper Cafe in downtown Martin will have a spaghetti dinner at $5 per person from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11. Additional donations may be made at the Cafe.

Besides the dinner there will be the presence of some of the members of the 1987 championship team, a silent auction for autographed memorabilia and “conversation with the great Clipper community.”

Martin Supt. Samantha Ball reported, “If the football team is not successful in Saturday’s semi-final game, a community-wide survey will be conducted to help determine how proceeds shall be dispersed.”