Blue Water Area football: Playoff picks continue with MHSAA district titles on the line
Only five teams from the Blue Water Area are still alive in the MHSAA football playoffs. Once again, the Times Herald's weekly picks will predict the fait of each one.
I went with 7-4 with my selections for the district semifinal round, which brings my overall record to 32-15.
Here are the teams I like in the district finals:
Macomb Lutheran North at Marine City, 7 p.m. Friday
Record: Lutheran North (8-2), Marine City (9-1)
Last meeting: Marine City 40, Lutheran North 0 — Oct. 28, 1988
Words can't describe just how dominant the Mariners have been since Week 2.
Marine City has won nine straight games, all by double digits. The Mariners are outscoring opponents 398-76 during that stretch. Their average margin of victory is 35.8.
Give credit to sophomore quarterback Lyncoln Osterland, who's in the midst of sensational season. He's thrown for 1,136 yards and 13 touchdowns against two interceptions.
As for Lutheran North, its offense is equally explosive. The Mustangs are averaging 39.3 points per game. They're also 6-0 when scoring at least 40 points.
Coincidentally, the Mariners gave up 40 points in a Week 1 loss to Armada. Since then, they haven't allowed more than 20 in a game.
Speaking of Armada, that's the team Lutheran North beat in its district semifinal. So, if comparing records against common opponents is your thing, the Mustangs are the favorite.
But I was there for the Mariners' lone defeat on Aug. 25, along with their blowout victories in Week 8 and the district semifinal. Take my word for it — this isn't the same Marine City team from late August.
The pick: Marine City
Marysville at Harper Woods, 7 p.m. Friday
Record: Marysville (8-2), Harper Woods (7-3)
Last meeting: Marysville 27, Harper Woods 12 — Oct. 30, 2020
What more can you say about the backfield tandem of Carter Saccucci and Corbin Scheffler? It's been the main catalyst for the Vikings' five-game winning streak.
Saccucci has rushed for 695 yards and six touchdowns during that stretch, while Scheffler has 574 yards and nine scores over the same period.
Marysville will need more of that Friday against a stingy Harper Woods defense.
The Pioneers held Croswell-Lexington to a season-low 13 points last week. Keep in mind that Cros-Lex entered the playoffs with a scoring average of 35.7. Harper Woods has only given up 27 points in the past four games.
It's possible that Marysville's offense will see a dip in production, which tends to happen the deeper you go in the playoffs. Still, it shouldn't spell disaster for a Vikings team that's allowing just 15.8 points per game.
The pick: Harper Woods
Warren Michigan Collegiate at Almont, 7 p.m. Friday
Record: Michigan Collegiate (10-0), Almont (9-1)
Last meeting: Michigan Collegiate 44, Almont 14 — Nov. 5, 2021
Say what you will about home-field advantage, but it could have significant impact in this one.
Almont's grass field was caked in mud last week. The conditions were so bad that the Raiders had to play their district semifinal against Clintondale at Richmond High School.
Something must've changed since then, because Almont will return home to host Michigan Collegiate on Friday. Although it's going to take much more than Mother Nature to stop the Cougars.
Michigan Collegiate is outscoring opponents 387-63. This past week, the Cougars registered a season-high 60 points in a shutout victory over Clawson. That was also their eighth double-digit win of the year.
The Raiders' defense has quelled elite offenses before, such as holding Cros-Lex to 20 points back on Sept. 29. But it wasn't the cleanest game offensively for Almont, and that'll have to change against a team like this.
Of course, it helps having Chase Battani. The Raiders' top running back has rushed for 813 yards (9.2 per carry) and 13 touchdowns on 88 attempts. More importantly, he hasn't fumbled once.
The pick: Almont
Additional picks
Note: Games with an asterisk are for 8-Player football.
Cardinal Mooney (5-5) at Clarkston Everest Collegiate (8-2) — Everest
Kingston (8-2) at Brown City (10-0)* — Brown City
Contact Brenden Welper at bwelper@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrendenWelper.
This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Blue Water Area football: Playoff picks continue with district finals
