Michigan high school football: Week 8 game predictions
The incursion is over and the Son of Swami has survived.
The SOS household was invaded from the western flank in Highland Park (Illinois) last weekend when Daughter of SOS, MD, brought her three kids to lovely Allen Park to give Runner Dude some quiet time as the Oct. 15 tax deadline neared.
Soon after they arrived, Daughter of SOS, MD, bolted to meet up with a med school buddy, leaving SOS and Mrs. SOS alone with the three rascals.
Since it was Friday night, SOS figured he would take the two boys, Beckett, 9, and Kellan, 6, to a high school football game, because what else is there to do on a fall Friday night in Michigan?
Teagan, 4, chose to stay home to have a dance party with Mrs. SOS.
SOS decided to see the Homeboys play against Trenton and got out his phone as he approached the gate so he could scan whatever to purchase three tickets.
But a lovely woman intervened.
“You don’t have to do that,” she said. “You are over 65, aren’t you?”
Listen, SOS told her, SOS is so far past 65 he doesn’t even remember being 65.
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“That’s fine,” she said. “You don’t have to pay if you’re a senior citizen, and these two are free.”
SOS would have happily paid admission, but he knew he would more than make up for it, because where the grandkids are involved nothing is free.
The concession stand — also known as the “session stand” according to the adorable Grech girls — is strategically located close to the front gate so there was no way the grandkids were letting SOS get to the stands without a stop to load up on junk.
They each demanded a piece of pizza and a Gatorade. They asked for popcorn until they spotted the cotton candy.
SOS finally made it to the stands, where Beckett intently watched the game. Kellan? Not so much. By the end of the first quarter, he wanted popcorn.
While Beckett asked good questions and made timely observations about the game, Kellan kept asking for popcorn, but only seven or eight times.
At halftime, SOS and the kiddies made their way back to the concession stand for popcorn ... until they noticed all of the candy possibilities. So the demand was for Skittles.
As the halftime mist began to pick up and the Homeboys seemed to take control of the game early in the third quarter, SOS decided it was time to vamoose before he had to remortgage his house to pay for another trip to the concession stand.
All in all, it was a good weekend. Kellan wore his Lions shirt Sunday to guarantee a Lions win while Beckett continued to wear the Steph Curry jersey he has worn every day since SOS gave it to him for his birthday in June.
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It has been a slow recovery process from the weekend, but Mrs. SOS was scheduled to leave Thursday to visit the newest of the two granddaughters in the Seattle bureau while SOS stays here to preview the state’s top games this weekend.
MHSAA Week 8 football game predictions
All games Friday at 7.
Rockford (7-0) at Grandville (6-1). The winner of this one will get a bundle of playoff points, which translates into several home playoff games. Rockford and its 105-player roster hasn’t been challenged this season. Quarterback Drake Irwin is an accurate passer, and running back Ryan Ahern is difficult to stop, thanks to Rockford’s offensive line. The Rockford defense is rock solid and will have to be that and more if it expects to stop running back Jayden "Tank" Terry. Grandville QB Cash Ruff can take the pressure off Terry with his running and passing. Rockford Files 27, Grand Villa 19.
Detroit King (4-3) vs. Detroit Cass Tech (5-2) at Ford Field. Cass beat King ,14-7, in Week 4 and this one is a tossup. Much depends on the health of Cass sophomore QB Corey Sadler, who lines up at a variety of positions and can make plays at all of them. Cass will be back at Ford Field for a Week 9 game against Catholic League Central Division champ Toledo Central Catholic, while King will finish at Cincinnati Moeller so this is pretty much a must-win for the Crusaders. Momma Cass 20, King of Wishful Thinking 16.
Northville (7-0) at Novi (6-1). Northville has beaten Novi five times in their past six meetings, including twice last season. Reed Blake-Thomas leads an excellent Northville defense while QB Isaac Pace can get the ball to Cullen Murphy, who also excels on defense, to jumpstart the offense. Novi QB Caleb Walker has improved steadily this season and is quite efficient. Boden Fernsler is the receiver you have to cover in the clutch. Northville Downs 23, Number Six 20.
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Allen Park (7-0) at Gibraltar Carlson (7-0). Carlson’s 31-10 loss to Carlton Airport on opening night sent SOS for a loop. But the Marauders have been sensational ever since, although they needed to squeeze out a 28-23 win over Trenton, which SOS blames on the Shot Doctor, Max Bailey. Joe Krolak is a good QB and Izaiah Wright is a sensational running back, which translates into a long night for the Jaguar defense. But Braylon Orsette is an exceptional option quarterback and he can be difficult to corral. SOS Homeboys 37, Carl’s Son 35.
Mason (7-0) at Walled Lake Western (7-0). This could be a state playoff preview because a long playoff run is expected from both teams. SOS isn’t sure how good the Lakes Valley Conference is, but Western QB Jaxon Lippert is good enough to beat you with his arm or his legs. Mason’s Cason Carswell is one of the top junior quarterbacks in the state. He doesn’t throw a lot of passes, but the ones he does are caught; and Kaleb Parrish and Derek Badgley are top-notch receivers. Mason Jars 37, Best Western 33.
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 @mickmccabe1. Order his book, “Mick McCabe’s Golden Yearbook: 50 Great Years of Michigan’s Best High School Players, Teams & Memories,” now at McCabe.PictorialBook.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: MHSAA football: Week 8 game predictions from Son of Swami
