High School Football: Seven Region teams begin state playoffs

This is where every high school football team in the state wants to be.

The Michigan High School Athletic Association playoffs begin this week.

High School Football Notes: The stories behind the final scores

Half of the 14 Monroe County Region football teams get to join the fun with five of them hosting first-round games.

All six of the games will be played at 7 p.m. Friday. A preview of each follows.

Sand Creek (5-4) at Whiteford (9-0)

Division: 8

All-time series: Sand Creek leads 34-30-1.

Last meeting: Whiteford beat Sand Creek 48-8 on Sept. 22.

Sand Creek playoff history: In the playoffs for the 25th time in program history.

Whiteford playoff history: This is Whiteford’s 12th straight playoff appearance and 24th all-time with state championships coming in 2017 and 2022.

Sand Creek statistical leaders: Ivan Wilkinson 199-1007 rushing; Jordan Illenden 80-460 rushing; Cole Scharer 42-98, 412 yards passing; Carson Preston 8 catches for 111 yards receiving; Nathan Lakotos 56 tackles.

Whiteford statistical leaders: Jake Iott 96-685 rushing, 114 tackles; Hunter DeBarr 86-626 rushing; Drew Knaggs 83-474 rushing; Tre Eitniear 36-69 for 821 yards passing; Kolby Masserant 32 catches for 670 yards receiving, 5 interceptions; Ryin Ruddy 364 yards rushing, 237 yards passing, 136 yards receiving.

Game notes: Whiteford can tie the all-time Monroe County Region record by winning their 24th straight game. … The Aggies are in the playoffs for the first time since 2021. … Hunter DeBarr leads Whiteford in scoring with 11 touchdowns, 9 extra points, 2 2-point conversions and 2 field goals. … Whiteford’s last home loss came in the 2021 playoffs to Summerfield. … Sand Creek was 1-4 before winning its last five games to reach the playoffs.

Comments from Sand Creek coach Marc Spicer (third year 14-15): “I knew we had a tough schedule to start the season. It was a rough start, but the guys have learned how to win.”

Comments from Whiteford coach Todd Thieken (second year 23-0): “They have improved a lot since we saw them in Week 5. Our kids are locked in and, no matter who we play, must play to our level of football.”

Ida (5-4) at Ovid-Elsie (5-4)

Division: 6.

All-time series: First meeting.

Ida playoff history: Qualified fourth straight season and 14th time overall. Playoff record is 11-13. Reached state semifinals in 2014.

Ovid-Elsie playoff history: This is the 16th all-time appearance in the post-season for the Marauders. They are 11-15 in the playoffs. The 2008 team reached the state finals.

Ovid-Elsie coach: Travis Long, 14th season, 77-56.

Ida statistical leaders: Dean Thomas 136-1,100 yards rushing, 15 touchdowns; Wyatt Dirkmaat 71 carries for 546 yards rushing; Gavin Albring 97 carries for 422 yards rushing, 20 catches for 324 yards and 3 TDs; Owen Snyder 33-77 passing for 464 yards, 5 TDs and 9 interceptions.

Game notes: Ovid-Elsie finished fourth in the Mid-Michigan Activities Conference, which has four playoff teams. … Ida finished in a three-way tie for third in the Lenawee County Athletic Association with a 4-3 conference record. They are one of four LCAA teams to make the post-season. … In the Marauders’ playoff-clinching win over Standish-Sterling, quarterback Tryce Tokar passed for 312 yards and four TDs and Clayton Fruchey had 188 yards receiving.

Comments from Ida coach Jeff Potter (seventh year, 41-28): “They have a dynamic quarterback who can run and throw. He throws the ball well and he has a couple of nice targets to haul in his passes. We need to make them a one dimensional on offense. When we are on offense, we have to control the line of scrimmage and be able to run the ball. OE plays in a tough conference, so we will have our work cut out for us.”

Detroit Loyola (5-4) at SMCC (5-4)

Division: 7

All-time series: First meeting.

Loyola playoff history: The Bulldogs are in the playoffs for the 17th time and has 31 all-time playoff wins. They won a state championship in 2014.

SMCC playoff history: In the playoffs for the 28th time, most in Monroe County Region history. The Falcons are 56-24 all-time in playoff games. Won state titles in and 1991, 2014 and 2019.

Loyola statistical leaders: Mariyon Ford 11 rushing TDs; Camron Walthall 6 receiving TDs; Raylon Murry 71.5 tackles and 9.5 sacks.

SMCC statistical leaders: Drew Harris 99-557 rushing; Ian Foster 68-453 rushing with 7 TDs, 12-26 passing for 155 yards and 4 TDs; Evan Marcon 89-392 rushing; Brady Hines 66-293 rushing; Brock Cousino, 51 tackles.

Game Notes: SMCC won its final three regular season games after starting the season 1-3. … Loyola lost in back-to-back playoff games to Summerfield in 2009 and 2010.

Comments from Loyola coach Terrance Sims (first year, 5-4): “Our team is very excited about the game and a chance to advance in the playoffs. We know SMCC is a very good team with lots of experience and we must play mistake-free football to win. We accept the challenge and understand this is big for the program, not only for this year but for the future.”

Comments from SMCC coach Adam Kipf (seventh year 66-31): “Loyola has some nice athletes and some hefty linemen that pose a major challenge for us this week. What we can do in 8-12 plays on offense, they can do in 1. We have our work cut out for us. The keys to the game are going to be keeping them in front of us defensively and on the offensive side, we have to reduce our mistakes and control the line of scrimmage.”

Milan (4-5) at Flat Rock (6-3)

Division: 5.

All-time series: Milan leads 30-12.

Last meeting: Flat Rock won 49-21 on Sept. 29.

Milan playoff history: Had a seven-year string of making the playoffs snapped last season. Has qualified 21 times with a playoff record of 20-21.

Flat Rock playoff history: Qualified for the fifth time with 4-4 record. Won state championship in 1976 and reached Regional finals last year.

Milan statistical leaders: William Gaskell V 36-of-76 for 554 yards, 3 TDs, 142 carries for 789 yards 8 TDs, 106 tackles; Lukas Linzell 64 carries for 312 yards; 9 catches for 181 yards, 2 TDs; Jaxen Wourman 18 catches for 235 yards; Kam Ackley 76 tackles.

Flat Rock statistical leaders: Graham Junge 129-of-211 passing for 1,728 yards and 18 TDs; Brian Booms 168 carries for 1,216 yards 22 TDs, 74 tackles; Adam Szalay 25 catches for 416 yards, 4 TDs; Jaycob Pieprzyk 30 catches for 362 yards, 3 TDs; Evan Szalay 20 catches for 321 yards, 2 TDs; Jacob Hagan 51 tackles; Rocco Breslin 40 tackles.

Game notes: Flat Rock has won the last two meetings, but Milan won 10 in a row before then. … Brian Booms ran for 253 yards and a school-record 6 touchdowns against Milan earlier this year. ... This is the first time Flat Rock hosted a playoff game in back-to-back seasons.

Comments from Milan coach Jesse Hoskins (13th year 91-45): “Flat Rock is a dangerous team. Offensively they can move the ball in many different ways. The QB, TB and HB are all special players. Defensively they mix up their fronts and play hard. It looks like Flat Rock has created a culture where their kids feel free to make plays in all three phases of the game.”

Comments from Flat Rock coach Buck Reaume (ninth year 37-46): “Milan and Coach Hoskins have been one of the top programs in the Huron League over the last couple years and are always well coached.  … It all starts with their QB (William Gaskell V) and we need to gang tackle him when he is running.  … On offense we need to take what they give us and get the ball to our playmakers.”

Detroit East English (5-4) at Airport (8-1)

Division: 4.

All-time series: First meeting.

East English playoff history: The Bulldogs have reached the playoffs seven times since the school starting playing football in 2012. Made it this year for the first time since 2020.

Airport playoff history: Qualified for the 18th time. Playoff record is 6-17.

Airport statistical leaders: Jack Mills 137 carries for 1,028 yards, 11 catches for 222 yards, 18 TDs; Cooper Nye 77-of-122 passing for 1,417 yards, 18 TDs; Colin Nowak 30 catches for 589 yards, 9 TDs; Nolan Zajac 14 catches for 243 yards, 3 TDs.

Game notes: East English quarterback Joseph Tate also is an All-State point guard in basketball and a star baseball player. He has nearly 1,000 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns this season. … Airport has its most wins since 2011. The school record is 11 wins in 2002. … Airport is hosting its first playoff game since 2011.

Comments from East English coach Damion King (third year 10-16): “They are big and strong and have a good running game. We have to be ready for that.”

Comments from Airport coach Jim Duffy (sixth year 37-27): “East English has played a tough schedule. They have lined up against teams like Cass Tech and MLK (Martin Luther King). They have some explosive athletes and can score quickly. … We feel as if we match up well with them. We have to execute offensively and continue to play fast defensively.”

Livonia Churchill (4-5) at Gibraltar Carlson (8-1)

Division: 2.

All-time series: First meeting.

Churchill playoff history: Qualified for the 13th time. Won two games in 2019 and 2020.

Carlson playoff history: Qualified in each of the past seven seasons and 16 times overall. Playoff record is 4-15.

Churchill statistical leaders: Evan Snead 69-of-131 passing for 932 yards, 12 TDs, 82 carries for 293 yards, 2 TDs; David Anderson 98 carries for 210 yards, 3 TDs; Peyton Sitarski 26 catches for 373 yards, 5 TDs; Myles Lueck 42.5 tackles, 3 sacks.

Carlson statistical leaders: Izaiah Wright 183 carries for 1,492 yards, 24 TDs, 8 catches for 130 yards, 2 TDs; Joe Krolak 39 of 78 passing for 684 yards, 10 TDs, 54 carries for 355 yards, 7 TDs; Landon Vida 12 catches for 335 yards, 5 TDs; Teegan Nagy 62 tackles; Noah Derwick 56 tackles; Jacob Collins 53 tackles.

Game notes: Churchill played a demanding schedule that featured six Division 1 opponents. The Chargers are the smallest school in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association.

Comments from Churchill coach Allen Feigel (first year): “It’s nice to play someone different. They obviously have a pretty dynamic running back. We have to be concerned with him and their quarterback does good things, too. They play pretty good team defense.”

Comments from Carlson coach Jason Gendron (second year 17-3): “Churchill is better than their record shows. They have good size on both their front lines. Experience comes from their skill positions with some big play capability players. ... We must win the line of scrimmage and continue with what has got us to this point, running the football and playing great defense.”

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: High School Football: State-title dreams alive for seven Region teams