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Michigan high school football: Predictions for every first round playoff game

Mick McCabe
·12 min read
2

It is Michigan high school football playoff time and the Free Press has scoured the earth — well, at least the portion located in lovely Allen Park — to find someone to pick every single game of the 11-player tournament.

After an exhaustive search — at least 10 minutes — the Free Press decided to stick with our Son of Swami. Actually, he was the only one courageous enough — or irrational enough — to agree to pick every game in the state.

In each district, the No. 1 seed is listed first and hosts the No., 4 seed. The No. 2 seed hosts the third seed. Next week, the highest-remaining seed hosts the district championship game.

Let the games begin.

All games are 7 p.m. Friday unless noted.

Detroit Cass Tech wide receiver Corey Sadler Jr. runs against Toledo Central Catholic during the second half of CHSL Prep Bowl at Ford Field in Detroit on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023.
Detroit Cass Tech wide receiver Corey Sadler Jr. runs against Toledo Central Catholic during the second half of CHSL Prep Bowl at Ford Field in Detroit on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023.

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Division 1

REGION 1

DISTRICT 1

Holland West Ottawa (4-5) at Rockford (9-0). Rockford Files 33, West Out of Here 18.

Hudsonville (5-4) at Grandville (7-2). Grand Villa 23, Ice Cream 21.

DISTRICT 2

Lapeer (5-4) at Davison (9-0). Dave’s Son 55, Peer Review 54.

Grand Ledge (6-3) at Grand Blanc (5-4). Blankety-Blank 22, Grand Sledge 20.

REGION 2

DISTRICT 1

Brighton (5-4) at Northville (8-1). Northville Downs 30, Brighton Beach Memoires 23.

Novi Detroit Catholic Central (7-2) at Novi (7-2). The Vatican 27, Number Six 24.

DISTRICT 2

Ann Arbor Huron (5-4) at Belleville (9-0). Belle Tire 44, Lake Huron 21.

Ann Arbor Pioneer (6-3) at Saline (8-1). Saline Solution 38, Pie High 22.

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REGION 3

DISTRICT 1

Oxford (4-5) at Lake Orion (9-0). Lake O’Ryan 30, Oxford Blues 19.

Romeo (4-5) at Clarkston (4-5). Wherefore Art Thou 21, Last Train to Clarksville 18.

DISTRICT 2

Utica (4-5) at Utica Eisenhower (8-1). I Like Ike 31, You Tick A 20.

Rochester Adams (6-3) at West Bloomfield (7-2). West Broomfield 26, Addams Family 24.

REGION 4

DISTRICT 1

Sterling Heights Stevenson (4-5) at Clinton Township Chippewa Valley (7-2). Chip Away 33, Steve ‘N Son 21.

St. Clair Shores Lakeview (7-2) at Macomb Dakota (7-2). Dakota Fanning 24, View of the Lake 20.

DISTRICT 2

Dearborn Fordson (5-4) at Southfield A&T (8-1). AT&T 26, Ford’s Son 19.

Detroit Cass Tech (6-3) at Westland Glenn (7-2). Momma Cass 30, Glenn Close 23.

Detroit Cass Tech head coach Marvin Rushing, right, shakes hand with Toledo Central Catholic head coach Greg Dempsey after the Technicians lost 48-23 at Ford Field in Detroit on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023.
Detroit Cass Tech head coach Marvin Rushing, right, shakes hand with Toledo Central Catholic head coach Greg Dempsey after the Technicians lost 48-23 at Ford Field in Detroit on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023.

Division 2

REGION 1

DISTRICT 1

Traverse City Central (4-5) at Saginaw Heritage (7-2). Heritage Newspapers 33, Suzy Merchant High 23.

Midland (5-4) at Midland Dow (5-4). Dow Corning 28, Chemical Spills 14.

DISTRICT 2

Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern (6-3) at Muskegon (7-2). Muskie’s Gone 33, Northern Exposure 19.

Muskegon Reeths-Puffer (7-2) at Muskegon Mona Shores (6-3). Puff the Magic Dragon 27, Mona!!! 18.

REGION 2

DISTRICT 1

Byron Center (8-1) at Portage Central (8-1). Lord Byron 41, Portable Central 32.

Portage Northern (8-1) at Caledonia (7-2). Macedonia 36, Northern Tissue 22.

Everett's R'Mon Terry celebrates after a tackle for a loss against Grand Ledge during the second quarter on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at Grand Ledge High School.
Everett's R'Mon Terry celebrates after a tackle for a loss against Grand Ledge during the second quarter on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at Grand Ledge High School.

DISTRICT 2

Lansing Everett (5-4) at East Lansing (7-2). East Izzo 29, Magic High 13.

Milford (6-3) at White Lake Lakeland (6-3). Lake Land 14, Mill’s Ford 10.

REGION 3

DISTRICT 1

Birmingham Groves (6-3) at Birmingham Seaholm (8-1). Orange Grove 21, Sea Home 14.

Livonia Franklin (6-3) at Waterford Mott (7-2), Saturday, 3 p.m. Mott’s Apple Sauce 31, Bill Emons’ High 22.

DISTRICT 2

Livonia Churchill (4-5) at Gibraltar Carlson (8-1). Carl’s Son 28, Winston 20.

Dexter (6-3) at Allen Park (8-1). Dexter Bussey 23, SOS Homeboys 21.

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REGION 4

DISTRICT 1

Warren Cousino (6-3) at Warren De La Salle (7-2). De La Slappy 41, Casino 18.

Detroit U-D Jesuit (6-2) at Warren Mott (6-3). DUD Jesuit 29, Mott The Hoople 20.

DISTRICT 2

Harrison Township L'Anse Creuse (4-5) at Grosse Pointe South (8-1). War Memorial 26, Hawaiian Cruise 15.

Roseville (6-3) at Port Huron Northern (7-2), Saturday, 1 p.m. Rose Bowl 34, North of Port Huron 21.

Mason coach Gary Houghton is shown against Haslett, Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, in Mason.
Mason coach Gary Houghton is shown against Haslett, Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, in Mason.

Division 3

REGION 1

DISTRICT 1

Bay City Western (5-4) at Gaylord (9-0). The Gaylords 31, Bay City Rollers 20.

Petoskey (5-4) at Marquette (5-3), Friday, 6 p.m. Petoskey Stones 17, Al McGuire High 14.

DISTRICT 2

Grand Rapids Northview (4-5) at Mount Pleasant (8-1). Mt. Dismal 27, View from the North 20.

Lowell (6-3) at Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central (8-1). Sherwood Forest 28, Low and Outside 17.

REGION 2

DISTRICT 1

Coopersville (7-2) at East Grand Rapids (7-2). Just East 32, Marry Lilliesville 23.

Zeeland East (6-3) at Zeeland West (6-3). Zeeland’s Best 38, Zeeland’s Beast 18.

DISTRICT 2

Battle Creek Harper Creek (6-3) at Parma Western (8-1). Chicken Parm 24, Harper Valley PTA 17.

Stevensville Lakeshore (5-4) at St. Joseph (6-3). Children’s Aspirin 20, Steven’s Villa 14.

REGION 3

DISTRICT 1

Linden (4-5) at Mason (9-0). Mason Jars 34, London Bridge 17.

Fenton (6-3) at DeWitt (6-2). DeWhat 38, Bob Fenton 21.

DISTRICT 2

Redford Thurston (6-3) at Walled Lake Western (8-1). Walled Lake Best Western 41, Thurston Howell IV 23.

Holly (6-3) at Auburn Hills Avondale (8-1). Avon Lady 21, Holly Jolly 16.

REGION 4

DISTRICT 1

Detroit Martin Luther King (4-5) at Port Huron (7-2). King of Wishful Thinking 27, Semelsberger High 16.

Warren Fitzgerald (4-5) at Grosse Pointe North (6-3), Friday, 6 p.m. North by Northwest 33, Edmund 19.

DISTRICT 2

River Rouge (5-4) at Southgate Anderson (7-2). Rouge River 26, Anderson Cooper 21.

Trenton (5-4) at Riverview (8-1). Lloyd Carr High 32, Engine Plant 21.

River Rouge quarterback Mckale McDowell (19) looks to pass against Belleville during the second half of Prep Kickoff Classic at Wayne State University's Tom Adams Field in Detroi on Friday, August 25, 2023.
River Rouge quarterback Mckale McDowell (19) looks to pass against Belleville during the second half of Prep Kickoff Classic at Wayne State University's Tom Adams Field in Detroi on Friday, August 25, 2023.

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Division 4

REGION 1

DISTRICT 1

Allendale (6-3) at Whitehall (9-0). White House 33, Chip & Dale 19.

Big Rapids (8-1) at Spring Lake (7-2). Spring Fling 21, Rapids That Are Big 13.

DISTRICT 2

Ionia (5-4) at Ada Forest Hills Eastern (7-2). East Forest 20, I Own You 14.

Wayland (6-3) at Grand Rapids South Christian (6-3). South Kool High 26, Zach Mouseghian High 22.

REGION 2

DISTRICT 1

Vicksburg (4-5) at Niles (8-1). Queen of the Nile 35, Vapo Rub 15.

Edwardsburg (5-4) 47.444 at Paw Paw (8-1). Charlie Maxwell 28, Eddie and the Cruisers 12.

DISTRICT 2

Charlotte (6-3) at Hastings (7-2). Haste Makes Waste 30, Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte 19.

Lansing Sexton (8-1) at Portland (9-0). Oregon 29, Lansing’s Saxons 15.

REGION 3

DISTRICT 1

Tecumseh (5-4) at Chelsea (8-1). Common Grill 32, Zajac High 19.

Adrian (6-3) at Haslett (6-3). Has Less 24, Adrienne Petrakis 19.

DISTRICT 2

Ortonville Brandon (5-4) at Goodrich (8-1). Goodyear 31, Brandon Inge 22.

Lake Fenton (6-3) at Freeland (8-1). Land of the Free 27, Fenton’s Lake 24.

REGION 4

DISTRICT 1

Croswell-Lexington (7-2) at Harper Woods (6-3). Harper Weeds 31, Mark Hollis High 22.

Madison Heights Lamphere (7-2) at Marysville (7-2). Mary Had A Little Lamb 27, Little Lamplighter 10.

DISTRICT 2

Detroit East English (5-4) at Carleton Airport (8-1). Metro Airport 37, East Spanish 19.

Dearborn Divine Child (5-4) at Redford Union (7-2). Divine Intervention 32, RU Serious 24.

Flat Rock football coach Buck Reaume (left) celebrates a 33-21 win over Airport Friday evening with his team.
Flat Rock football coach Buck Reaume (left) celebrates a 33-21 win over Airport Friday evening with his team.

Division 5

REGION 1

DISTRICT 1

Gladwin (7-2) at Ogemaw Heights (8-1). Outlet Mall 41, Man from Glad 33.

Howard City Tri-County (7-2) at Kingsford (8-1), Saturday, 1 p.m. Charcoal 27, Tri-County Area 13.

DISTRICT 2

Essexville Garber (5-4) at Frankenmuth (8-1). Chicken Dinners 41, Jon Morosi High 32.

Birch Run (5-4) at Saginaw Swan Valley (5-4). Outlet Mall II 21, Swan Song 16.

REGION 2

DISTRICT 1

Comstock Park (5-4) at Grand Rapids West Catholic (9-0). Catholic West of Grand Rapids 40, Mark Comstock’s Park 21.

Muskegon Oakridge (6-3) at Belding (8-1). Balding 34, Oak Ridge Boys 30.

DISTRICT 2

Benton Harbor (4-5) at Grand Rapids Catholic Central (8-1). Catholics in Grand Rapids? 44, Bent On A Harbor 29.

Berrien Springs (5-3) at South Haven (6-3). South of Heaven 27, Burying Springs 22.

REGION 3

DISTRICT 1

Flint Hamady (8-0) at Corunna (9-0). Corona 41, Ham & Eggs 30.

Williamston (6-3) at Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (8-0). Preppies 47, Settlement 20.

DISTRICT 2

Richmond (5-4) at Marine City (8-1). Marine Biology 22, Rich Man 20.

Armada (5-4) at Macomb Lutheran North (7-2). Mickey York High 24, Spanish Armada 21.

REGION 4

DISTRICT 1

Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard (7-2) at Dearborn Heights Robichaud (6-3). Richard Engel 26, Tyrone Wheatley High 22.

Detroit Denby (8-1) at Detroit Southeastern (6-3). Den B 34, South of Eastern 19.

DISTRICT 2

Milan (4-5) at Flat Rock (6-3). Flat Rock Speedway 39, Milan Dragway 14.

Romulus (5-4) at Romulus Summit Academy North (7-2). Summit Meeting 28, Not Summit 15.

Division 6

REGION 1

DISTRICT 1

Boyne City (5-4) at Gladstone (7-2). Gemstone 32, Boiiiing 14.

Grayling (6-3) at Negaunee (7-2). Nagging 30, Gray Line 21.

DISTRICT 2

Mason County Central (5-4) at Kingsley (7-2). Kingsley Inn 27, Mason County Eastern 18.

Lake City (6-3) at Manistee (7-2). Ken Kott High 34, Town Pump Saloon 21.

REGION 2

DISTRICT 1

Montague (4-5) at Reed City (6-3) Kevin Reid City 22, Goo Goo Dolls17.

Kent City (7-2) 39.000 at Hart (8-1). Heart Attack 24, Clark Kent 21.

DISTRICT 2

Midland Bullock Creek (6-3) at Clare (7-2). Clareon 27, Kali (Itchy) Burch High 23.

Central Montcalm (5-4) at Chesaning (8-1). Chestnuts 37, Remain Calm 19.

REGION 3

DISTRICT 1

Olivet (3-6) at Constantine (8-1), Saturday, 1 p.m. Constantinople 37, Olive Garden 12.

Buchanan (6-3) at Kalamazoo Hackett (5-4). Buck Buchanan 20, Hackett Fieldhouse 13.

DISTRICT 2

Lansing Catholic (3-6) at Michigan Center (7-2). Center of Michigan 28, Dantonio Catholic 13.

Ida (5-4) at Ovid-Elsie (5-4). Over Easy 22, I’d A Rather Be in Philadelphia 14.

Central Catholic Fighting Irish running back Tyler Morgan (7) fights into the end zone against the Warren De La Salle Pilots in a Catholic High School League football game at Gallagher Stadium on Sept. 15, 2023 in Toledo.
Central Catholic Fighting Irish running back Tyler Morgan (7) fights into the end zone against the Warren De La Salle Pilots in a Catholic High School League football game at Gallagher Stadium on Sept. 15, 2023 in Toledo.

REGION 4

DISTRICT 1

Clinton Township Clintondale (4-5) at Almont (8-1), Saturday, 1 p.m. Almond Joy 41, Clinton’s Tail 23.

Clawson (7-2) at Warren Michigan Collegiate (9-0). Collegiality 39, Claussen Pickles 32.

DISTRICT 2

Detroit Pershing (5-4) at Ecorse (7-1). Of Course 27, General 20.

Detroit Old Redford (8-1) at Detroit Edison (6-3), Saturday, 4 p.m. Thomas Edison 21, Old Benedictine 20.

Division 7

REGION 1

DISTRICT 1

Benzie Central (5-4) at Menominee (7-2), Saturday, 1 p.m. Nominate Me 34, Bonsai 20.

Traverse City St. Francis (4-4) at Charlevoix (8-1). Majerle City St. Esper 29, Charlie’s View 23.

DISTRICT 2

Hemlock (3-6) at Beaverton (6-3). Beaver Dam 35, Poison 16.

Houghton Lake (5-4) at McBain (5-4). McPain 42, Not in the UP Houghton 16.

REGION 2

DISTRICT 1

Union City (6-3) at North Muskegon (9-0), Saturday, 1 p.m. North of Muskegon 22, State of the Union 19.

Schoolcraft (7-2) at Lawton (8-1). Law Town 36, School’s Out 24.

DISTRICT 2

Perry (5-4) at Pewamo-Westphalia (8-1). Pewamo Will Fail You 37, Perry A. Farrell 19.

Laingsburg (4-5) at Bath (6-3). You Need A 28, Lamesburg 19.

REGION 3

DISTRICT 1

Burton Bendle (4-5) at Montrose (6-3). Monstrosity 18, Bend it Like Beckham 14.

Detroit Central (4-5) at Grosse Pointe Liggett (7-2). Leggings 29, Central Casting 18.

DISTRICT 2

Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port (5-4) at Millington (9-0). Corky’s School 31, Pigeon Droppings 13.

Sandusky (6-3) at Cass City (7-2). Cedar Point 26, Cass Corridor 21.

REGION 4

Jackson Lumen Christi head football coach Herb Brogan addresses his team after he picked up the 400th win of his storied career with a 35-7 victory over Dearborn Divine Child on Sept. 22, 2023 at Jackson Lumen Christi High School.
Jackson Lumen Christi head football coach Herb Brogan addresses his team after he picked up the 400th win of his storied career with a 35-7 victory over Dearborn Divine Child on Sept. 22, 2023 at Jackson Lumen Christi High School.

DISTRICT 1

Grass Lake (6-3) at Jackson Lumen Christi (8-1). Aluminum Foil 38, Goose Lake 14.

Manchester (7-2) at Napoleon (8-1). Bonaparte 21, Manchester United 14.

DISTRICT 2

Blissfield (5-4) at Clinton (8-1). Clinton Inn 37, Hathaway House 16.

Detroit Loyola (4-5) at Monroe St Mary Catholic Central (5-4). Ray Lauwers High 31, Loyal Fan 20.

Division 8

REGION 1

DISTRICT 1 Maple City Glen Lake (5-4) at Iron Mountain (9-0). Izzo’s Mountain 37, Glen Luck 21.

Ishpeming (6-3) at East Jordan (8-1), Saturday, 2 p.m. Jordan River 20, Not Westwood 17.

DISTRICT 2

Frankfort (7-2) at Beal City (8-1). Bradley Beal 35, Dempsey’s Cottage 28.

Muskegon Catholic Central (5-4) at Evart (7-2). MCC-ABE 23, Ever After 19.

REGION 2

DISTRICT 1

Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary (6-3) at New Lothrop (8-1). My New Lollipop 31, Michigan Lutheran Cemetery 14.

Fowler (8-1) at Ithaca (9-0). Mythical 39, Foul or Fair 26.

DISTRICT 2

Burton Bentley (7-2) at Ubly (9-0). Bubbly 41, Bentley Hybrid 21.

Marlette (7-2) at Harbor Beach (8-1). Harbor Patrol 20, Harvey Marlatt 18.

REGION 3

DISTRICT 1

Saranac (5-4) at Saugatuck (7-2). Sasquash 31, Ben Tower High 21.

Centreville (5-4) at White Pigeon (9-0). Stool Pigeon 37, Center Stage 23.

DISTRICT 2

Sand Creek (5-4) at Ottawa Lake Whiteford (9-0). A White Ford Bronco 41, Sandy Beach 18.

Hudson (7-2) at Addison (9-0). Addison Liposky 37, Hudson Birkett 25.

REGION 4

DISTRICT 1

Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest (5-4) at Clarkston Everest Collegiate (7-2). Mt. Everest 28, North by Northwest 14.

Arts & Technology Academy of Pontiac (6-3) at Marine City Cardinal Mooney (5-4), Saturday, 1 p.m. Cardinal Moody 28, Pontiac Tech 10.

DISTRICT 2

Allen Park Cabrini (4-5) at Sterling Heights Parkway Christian (7-2). Runaway Christian 37, The Alma Mater 21.

Mount Clemens (5-4) at Riverview Gabriel Richard (5-4). Cardinal Dearden South 31, Roger Clemens 20.

Mick McCabe (err, Son of Swami) is a former longtime columnist for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at mick.mccabe11@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @mickmccabe1. Save $10 on his new book, “Mick McCabe’s Golden Yearbook: 50 Great Years of Michigan’s Best High School Players, Teams & Memories,” by ordering right now at McCabe.PictorialBook.com

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan high school football: Predictions for first round of playoffs