The Michigan high school football playoffs are in full swing and here is a list of the best matchups through the district finals round.
Division 1
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Belleville (9-1) vs Saline (7-3) @ Belleville Stadium
Belleville
- 1st in KLAA East
- Key Wins: Clarkston, Dearborn, Fordson
- Key Players: Senior QB Bryce Underwood, Senior S/WR Elijah Dotson, Senior LB/RB Andre Thomas Jr.
Saline
- 2nd in SEC Red
- Key Wins: Lake Orion, Brighton, Bedford
- Key Players: Junior TE Lincoln Keyes, Junior QB Tommy Carr, Senior LB Coleman Ross
This is possibly the most anticipated matchup in the state as two teams with next-level talent will go head-to-head for the district championship. Belleville has a fast and explosive offense led by the number one player in high school football, Bryce Underwood. Underwood has a band of D-1 talent to distribute the ball to, but he will be going against a tough and physical Saline team. The Hornets are built similarly to Howell, which beat Belleville in Week 8. Saline would’ve been undefeated but was forced to forfeit its first three games.
Result: Belleville wins 42-7
Dakota (9-1) vs Eisenhower (8-2) @ Dakota Cougar Stadium
Dakota
- 2nd MAC Red
- Key Wins: Fordson, Sterling Heights Stevenson, Oxford
- Key Players: Senior QB Jadon Ford, Senior LB Di’Mari Malone, Senior LB Brady Hamby
Utica Eisenhower
- 1st MAC Red
- Key Wins: Dakota, Oxford, Sterling Heights Stevenson
- Key Players: Senior QB Jack Bullock, Senior RB Bryce Hurley
This is a matchup between two rivals in the MAC Red division. Utica Eisenhower defeated Dakota for the MAC Red Championship earlier this season, so the Cougars are looking for revenge. The first meeting was a defensive, physical battle so that can be expected once again as the stakes are raised in this playoff rivalry game.
Result: Dakota wins 41-14
Clarkston (7-3) vs Rochester Adams (8-2) @ Adams HS
Clarkston
- 4th in OAA Red
- Key Wins: Oxford, West Bloomfield, Utica Eisenhower
- Key Players: Junior S/RB/WR Lukas Boman, Junior RB/LB Griffin Boman, Sophomore QB Alex Waszczenko
Adams
- 3rd in OAA Red
- Key Wins: Clarkston, West Bloomfield, North Farmington
- Key Players: Junior QB Ryland Watters, Senior RB Matteo Humbert, Senior S Tommy Offer
This is a matchup between two contenders in the OAA Red division. Adams beat Clarkston 28-10 in the regular season so the Highlanders will look to have a repeat performance while the Wolves aim for revenge. If you’re in the stands for this one, expect to feel the physicality on the field as both teams look to establish themselves.
Result: Adams wins 41-0
Cass Tech (8-2) vs Dearborn (6-4) @ Cass Tech Arena
Cass Tech
- 1st in Detroit PSL
- Key Wins: King, McKinley (Ohio), Sterling Heights Stevenson
- Key Players: Freshman QB Donald Tabron, Junior DB/WR Corey Sadler, Senior DB/WR Alex Graham
Dearborn
- 4th in KLAA East
- Key Wins: Livonia Franklin, Stevenson, Novi
- Key Players: Senior OL Yuseph Mustafa, Senior RB Ihsan Chami, Senior WR/CB Adam Saad
Since starting the season 1-4, Dearborn has won five straight. The Pioneers enter this game coming off a blowout win against rival Fordson, but Cass Tech will likely be their toughest test. Cass Tech, who has a history of playoff success, is coming off a 41-0 win against Sterling Heights Stevenson. The Technicians are looking to make a deeper run than last year in which they lost in the second-round to Southfield Arts and Tech. The tough and physical Dearborn will need to pull off a massive upset to continue its Cinderella season.
Result: Cass Tech wins 42-7
Grand Blanc (8-2) vs Oxford (7-3) @ Grand Blanc HS Stadium
Grand Blanc
- 1st in Saginaw Valley South
- Key Wins: Heritage, Davison, Lapeer
- Key Players: Senior S/WR Nathan Szczembara, Senior CB/WR Matthew Evans, Junior QB Jake Morrow
Oxford
- 1st in OAA Red
- Key Wins: Harper Woods, Lake Orion, Adams
- Key Players: Senior RB/MLB Luke Johnson, Junior QB Jack Hendrix, Senior WR Jake Champagne
This is an east versus west matchup between two teams with contrasting styles. Oxford is a physical team that is strong on the offensive and defensive fronts. Grand Blanc has plenty of playmakers that are dangerous with the ball in the hands. It’s all orchestrated by junior QB Jake Morrow. Both teams are playing for more than themselves as they look to bring home hardware to their communities.
Result: Grand Blanc wins 29-7
Division 2
Warren De La Salle Collegiate (7-2) vs Grosse Pointe South (10-0) @ Grosse Pointe South High School
De La Salle
- 3rd in Catholic Central
- Key Wins: Davison, Detroit King, St. Mary’s Prep
- Key Players: Junior QB/LB/P Anthony Bitoni, Senior RB Michael Lopez, Senior CB Isaiah Jones
Grosse Pointe South
- 1st in MAC White
- Key Wins: Romeo, Roseville, Anchor Bay
- Key Players: Senior OL/DL Sawyer Weisbrodt, Senior WR Vincent Vachon, Senior QB Jack Lupo
The undefeated Grosse Pointe South Blue Devils have been dominant in nearly every game this season but are going against a team that has plenty of playoff experience. De La Salle has made it to the Division 2 state championship the past three years, winning two state titles. These are potentially the best two teams in Division 2 as both are true state championship contenders.
Result: De La Salle wins 25-21
Orchard Lake St Mary’s (7-3) vs Farmington (7-3) @ Farmington High School
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s
- 4th in Catholic Central
- Key Wins: Brother Rice, Fitzgerald, Portage Northern
- Key Players: Senior OL Antonio Johnson, Senior QB Axel Newell, Senior WR/FS Bryson Williams
Farmington
- 3rd in OAA Blue
- Key Wins: Athens, Troy, Lakeland
- Key Players: Junior RB/LB Antoine Bailey, Senior RB/LB Trenton Darden, Senior QB Julian Johnson
This is a matchup between two evenly matched teams with identical records. Farmington has a stout defense while Orchard Lake St. Mary’s has an explosive offense. The Eaglets are rolling coming off a dominant 42-7 win over North Farmington last week. The Falcons lost to North Farmington earlier this season but styles make fights. Farmington is coming off a dominant 39-13 win against Lakeland.
Result: Orchard Lake St Mary’s wins 51-0
Mona Shores (9-1) vs Byron Center (9-1) @ Mona Shores Football Stadium
Mona Shores
- 1st in Ottawa-Kent Green
- Key Wins: Grand Blanc, River Rouge, Byron Center
- Key Players: Senior QB Jonathan Pittman, Junior RB Tomarion Steward, Senior WR/S Micha Carefelle
Byron Center
- 2nd in Ottawa-Kent Green
- Key Wins: Muskegon, Morris (Illinois), Northview
- Key Players: Senior WR/CB Isaac Lee, Senior QB Landon Tungate, Senior S/WR Landen Conrad
This is a matchup between two of the best in the Ottawa-Kent Green conference. Byron Center’s only loss of the season came against Mona Shores 14-12 earlier in the season so the Bulldogs will be looking for revenge. The defenses shined in the first matchup so that may be the case again as the stakes are raised in this playoff game.
Result: Byron Center wins 30-24
Seaholm (7-3) vs Groves (10-0) @ Falcon Field - Groves HS
Seaholm
- 2nd in OAA Blue
- Key Wins: Farmington, Avondale, Troy
- Key Players: Senior RB/S Penn Roberts, Senior QB Finn Rouland, Senior RB/CB Sean Emerson
Groves
- 1st in OAA White
- Key Wins: Seaholm, West Bloomfield, Harper Woods
- Key Players: Senior QB Ryan Counts, Senior OT Avery Gach, Senior CB Chris Little
This is a matchup between two of the most physical teams in the OAA conference. The undefeated Groves beat Seaholm 35-0 in the final game of the regular season so Seaholm will have to make adjustments in order to pull off the upset. Both teams stick to their identity of imposing their will on the line of scrimmage but perhaps Seaholm can add some trickery to even the score.
Result: Groves wins 36-7
Division 3
River Rouge (5-4) vs Riverview (9-1) @ Riverview HS
River Rouge
- Key Wins: Center Line, St. Johns Jesuit, Glenn
- Key Players: Senior QB McKale McDowell, Senior DL Jordin Farrow, Senior DL Creg Johnson
Riverview
- 2nd in Huron
- Key Wins: New Boston Huron, Flat Rock, Trenton
- Key Players: Senior C/DT Garrett Timmerman, Senior LB/RB Nathan Pinkava, Senior QB/SS Lucas Thompson
River Rouge scraped its way into the playoffs after finishing the season 4-4. The Panthers beat Southgate Anderson last week but will have its toughest test against Riverview. The Pirates are coming off a close win against Trenton last week. Riverview lost to River Rouge in last year’s playoffs so the Pirates are looking to get sweet revenge.
Result: River Rouge wins 20-14
All of the games on this list take place Friday, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m.