Only eight teams in each division remain in the Michigan high school football playoffs and here is a list of the most competitive regional finals matchups.
Division 1
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#3 Belleville (10-1) vs #2 Detroit Catholic Central (11-0) @ Fr. Elmer Stadium (The Elm) - Novi 11/15 7:00 PM
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.
Detroit Catholic Central
- 1st in Catholic Central
- Key Wins: Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, De La Salle, Detroit King
- Key Players: Senior QB Skyler Hunter, Senior RB/FS Jaden Pydyn, Junior TE/DE Jack Janda
This is the most anticipated matchup in the state as both teams are regarded as the best in the state and are legitimate state title contenders. Belleville enters this game coming off a dominant 42-7 win against Saline for the district championship. Catholic Central is coming off a blowout 41-7 victory against West Bloomfield. Both teams have dominated the playoffs this year but only one can move on to the semifinals. Everything went Belleville’s way in their previous matchup in 2022, as Belleville won 33-10.
#8 Hudsonville (10-1) vs #1 Howell (11-0) 11/16 1 p.m. @ John Duke Memorial Stadium - Howell
Hudsonville
- 1st in Ottawa-Kent Red
- Key Wins: East Lansing, Rockford, Grandville
- Key Players: Senior QB Griffin Baker, Jack Wills TE, Senior WR Carson Dykstra
Howell
- 1st in KLAA West
- Key Wins: Hudsonville, Brighton, Belleville
- Key Players: Senior RB Justin Jones, Senior DL Bobby Kanka, Junior QB Preston Barb
This is a matchup between two of the most physical teams in the state as both teams are built on running the ball and stout defenses. The teams met in the first game of the season with Howell coming away with a close 20-17 win. Hudsonville is coming off a 19-16 win against Grandville in districts. Howell is coming off a tight 35-33 win against Brighton.
#6 Cass Tech (9-2) vs #5 Dakota (10-1) @ Dakota Cougar Stadium 11/15 7:00 PM
Cass Tech
- 1st in Detroit PSL
- Key Wins: Ohio McKinley, Detroit King, Dearborn
- Key Players: Freshman QB Donald Tabron, Junior DB/WR Corey Sadler, Senior DB/WR Alex Graham
Dakota
- 2nd in MAC Red
- Key Wins: Fordson, Oxford, Utica Eisenhower
- Key Players: Senior QB Jadon Ford, Senior LB/RB Brady Hamby, Senior LB Di’Mari Malone
Two powerhouses with championship pedigree will clash in an evenly matched game. Cass Tech last won the state championship in 2016 while Dakota last won it in Cass Tech is coming off a 42-7 win against Dearborn. The Technicians' skill players have a lot of speed on offense and defense but they will have to contend with a tough and physical Dakota team. The Cougars enter this game coming off a 41-14 win against rival Utica Eisenhower, which avenged their only loss of the season. Dakota is aiming for its first state title since 2007.
#24 Grand Blanc (9-2) vs #26 Rochester Adams (9-2) @ Adams HS - Rochester 11/15 7:00 PM
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
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 game is a classic speed versus power matchup. Grand Blanc has plenty of playmakers that are dangerous with the ball in the hands. It’s all orchestrated by junior quarterback Jake Morrow. The Bobcats will have to find a way to deal with the power and physicality of Adams. The Highlanders play smash mouth football behind junior quarterback Ryland Watters and senior running back Matteo Humbert.
Division 2
#11 De La Salle (8-2) vs #7 Birmingham Groves (11-0) @ Falcon Field - Beverly Hills 11/15 7:00 PM
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
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 game is a matchup between two powerhouses that met in the playoffs previously. Groves lost to De La Salle in the state semifinals of 2022. De La Salle went on to win the state championship. Groves is undefeated this season and have dominated every opponent. The Falcons will have their toughest test against the Pilots who are perineal state title contenders.
#15 Orchard Lake St Mary’s (8-3) vs #43 Gibraltar Carlson (10-1) @ OA Carlson High School 11/15 7:00 PM
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
Gibraltar Carlson
- 1st in Downriver
- Key Wins: Southgate Anderson, Bedford, Livonia Franklin
- Key Players: Junior RB Izaiah Wright, Senior QB Joe Krolak, Junior LB Teegan Nagy
This will be the first all-time meeting between these two teams with Carlson making the regional finals for the second year in a row. Carlson will look to be physical and disciplined against the speedy and skilled Eaglets. St. Mary’s has a roster full of D1 talent and will look to move the ball quickly up and down the field and run up the score. The Eaglets are aiming for their first state championship since 2016 while Carlson is looking to make its deepest playoff run.
#68 Saginaw Heritage (8-3) vs #27 East Lansing (8-3) @ East Lansing High School 11/15 7:00 PM
Saginaw Heritage
- 2nd in Saginaw Valley South
- Key Wins: Mt. Pleasant, Lapeer, Midland Dow,
- Key Players: Junior QB Connor Greif, Senior DB D.J. Burns, Senior OL/DL Ethan Kraatz
East Lansing
- 2nd in Capital Area Blue
- Key Wins: Portage Central, Everett, Dexter
- Key Players: Senior RB Jace Clarizio, Senior QB Ben Fletcher
This matchup is about as evenly matched as it gets. Both teams have identical records and finished second in their respective leagues. East Lansing has one of the top running back recruits in the country in Jace Clarizio. Heritage is looking to make its first semifinals appearance in school history while Lansing is looking for its first state title since 1991.
Division 3
#35 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central (9-2) vs #29 Zeeland West (10-1) @ Zeeland Stadium 11/15 7:00 PM
Forest Hills Central
- 3rd in Ottawa-Kent White
- Key Wins: South Christian, Zeeland East, East Grand Rapids
- Key Players: Junior QB Nick Williams, Senior WR Brendan Cargill, Senior LB Seder Middaugh
Zeeland West
- 2nd in Ottawa-Kent Gold
- Key Wins: Forest Hills Central, West Catholic, Zeeland East
- Key Players: Senior QB/DB Trey Sloothaak, Senior HB/LB Isaac VanderZwaag, Senior FB/CB Keaton Hendricks
This is a playoff rematch between two of the best teams in west Michigan. Last season, Forest Hills Central beat Zeeland West 18-14 in the semifinals and went on to win the Division 3 state title. The Dux beat the Rangers 28-7 earlier this season but winning in the playoffs is where it counts. The Rangers will have to remain disciplined to contend with the Zeeland West run game.
#70 River Rouge (6-4) vs #21 Detroit Martin Luther King (8-3) @ Detroit King High School 11/15 6:00 PM
River Rouge
- Key Wins: Center Line, St. Johns Jesuit, Glenn
- Key Players: Senior QB McKale McDowell, Senior DL Jordin Farrow, Senior DL Creg Johnson
Martin Luther King
- 2nd in Detroit PSL
- Key Wins: Cleveland Heights, Cass Tech, Grosse Pointe North
- Key Players: Sophomore QB Darryl Flemister, Senior WR Damon Stennis, Senior DE/TE Xavier Newsom
This is a playoff rematch between two heavyweights in Division 3. The teams met in the regionals last year with King narrowly defeating River Rouge 20-19 in overtime. Both teams have plenty of speed and D1 talent on both sides of the ball so the game may come down to which team is more disciplined.
#30 Mason (9-2) vs #13 Walled Lake Western (11-0) @ Warrior Stadium - Walled Lake 11/15 7:00 PM
Mason
- 1st in Capital Area Red
- Key Wins: Haslett, Jackson, Linden
- Key Players: Senior QB Cason Carswell, Senior LB Logan Doerr, Senior RB/LB Caleb Vaughn
Walled Lake Western
- 1st in Lakes Valley
- Key Wins: Mason, South Lyon East, Milford
- Key Players: Junior RB Donovan Triplett, Sophomore QB David Krall, Senior S Troy Temple
These two teams met last season in the Division 3 regional final and Mason won an overtime thriller 44-41. Mason also beat Walled Lake Western during the regular season last year 30-7. Walled Lake Western got revenge during this year’s regular season and beat Mason 20-17. Walled Lake has a run heavy style behind one of the premier running backs in the state, Donovan Triplett. Mason’s quarterback Cason Carswell is regarded as the greatest quarterback in Mason’s history as he is the school’s all-time leader in career passing yards, career passing touchdowns, passing yards in a single game, and passing touchdowns in a single game.