Preview: Camden-Frontier battles Lenawee Christian in the MHSAA 8-player D2 playoffs

CAMDEN — Ask any prep football coach with a team outside of the MHSAA postseason and they would probably relish in the opportunity to face one of their regular season opponents for a rematch in round one of the playoffs.

2023 MHSAA Football Playoffs: Every division and matchup for round 1

The two remaining Hillsdale County prep football teams head into the 8-player Division 2 postseason with that same scenario ahead of them this Friday night. For both Pittsford and Camden-Frontier, their opportunity on Friday night includes the chance at sweet revenge but also to knock out two of the top teams in round one of the MHSAA playoffs.

Camden-Frontier and head coach Rob Wickham head to Adrian Lenawee Christian for one half of the Region 4 semifinal. Pittsford travels to Climax-Scotts on the opposite side of the regional bracket. Both Hillsdale County programs lost to their playoff opponents earlier in the regular season.

Playoff matchups set: How C-F and Pittsford earned their playoff berths

Let's preview Camden-Frontier's matchup with Adrian Lenawee Christian this Friday in the MHSAA prep football postseason tournament.

Game Day Information

This regional semifinal matchup will be played at Lenawee Christian Schools. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. this Friday, Oct. 27.

The heat wave continues the rest of the week, with temperatures looking to stay consistently in the mid 70's going into Friday night. There's a chance for rain but the skies look to be a lot clearer than the semifinal being held in Climax.

Tickets are available for the semifinals via the GoFan website. Tickets cost $7 dollars. All fans must purchase tickets for MHSAA postseason events and all tickets must be purchased online.

Last Matchup

Adrian Lenawee Christian dominated a Week 3 matchup with Camden-Frontier during the regular season. The 44-8 final saw senior Sam Lutz run for 115 and throw for 150 yards for the Cougars. This included a 41-yard touchdown scamper.

The Cougars could have added more to the scoreboard, with two touchdowns being called back due to holding penalties.

Brayden Miller was the lone bright spot for Camden-Frontier's offense. Miller led the way with 17 carries for 109 yards and one 2-point conversion. Senior career reception record holder Worm Wickham had five catches for 26 yards and one receiving touchdown from quarterback Logan Legett.

Kaiden Conroy had 10 tackles for the Camden-Frontier defense.

Overall, Camden-Frontier was moving the ball well, but self-inflicted wounds ended any chance they had at upsetting the current No. 1 ranked team in 8-player D2 football. Camden-Frontier could not sustain drives and could not execute in the red zone.

Camden-Frontier Keys to Victory

The most basic, simple goal coach Rob Wickham and Camden-Frontier should have entering their playoff matchup with LCS is to stop Sam Lutz.

Camden-Frontier's head coach told the Daily News in Week 3 that his team was able to match the Cougars' physicality, but that was not enough to slow down Lutz and his dual-threat capabilities.

However, this is a very different Camden-Frontier team than the one that met LCS in Week 3. Brayden Miller will be the main leader of the Camden-Frontier defensive attack. The senior will be tasked with helping lead his teammates against the onslaught of weapons the Cougars possess.

Camden-Frontier must make life difficult for the Cougar senior if they want to pull off the upset against the potential state title contenders. That's easier said than done, as no one has been able to do that so far this season. Their closest game came in Week 9 against Kingston, where the 7-2 Cardinals lost to the Cougars in a 48-28 final.

The C-F defense will have to create opportunities to get after Lutz early in the game, through schemes or through designed blitzes. It may result in an untimely big play, but if Camden-Frontier can force a few mistakes or turnovers, things begin to look easier for C-F.

Camden-Frontier's second key to victory will be to control the flow of the game, or at the very least take advantage of every offensive opportunity they get.

Camden-Frontier's offense comes close to averaging near 300 rushing yards a game in their six wins this season. When they lose games, the running game usually is absent. Their success starts with dual-threat quarterback Logan Leggett. Leggett's return after injury helped the team win their last three games of the season.

The senior is set to play this Friday night, and he should have the duo of Kayden Hanning and Kaiden Conroy at running back to help in the efforts against Lenawee Christian. Camden-Frontier must take advantage of their red zone opportunities by limited self-inflicted penalties and turnovers. They can do that with a run game that is effective.

The final key to victory for Camden-Frontier will be to make a big play, more than likely several big plays. You can't take down the No. 1 ranked team in the land without finding ways to strike when your opponent least expects it. Camden-Frontier will have to look senior Worm Wickham's way multiple times on Friday night.

The senior receiver has the size and speed to make a difference in the offensive game plan for Camden-Frontier. He holds the current school record for career receptions. He had 125 yards and two touchdowns in in the final game of the regular season.

Prediction

Even if Camden-Frontier manages to pressure Sam Lutz into mistakes, match LCS physically with their rushing offense and make big plays with playmakers like Worm Wickham, it might not be enough to overcome the strengths that LCS possesses on both sides of the ball that have turned them into a state title contender in 2022.

Most will not expect Camden-Frontier to pull off an upset after losing 44-8 to the Cougars in the regular season.

Regardless, Camden-Frontier and coach Rob Wickham are the first in line with an opportunity to end the state title hopes of Lenawee Christian. That alone is enough of a reason to believe Camden-Frontier will be able to have chances to turn this likely first round double-digit win for LCS into a fight the Cougars weren't expecting.

However, LCS should be able to put enough points on the board to stay on track with their postseason goals, at least for this week.

Prediction: Adrian Lenawee Christian 48, Camden-Frontier 28

This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Picks: Camden-Frontier faces LCS in the MHSAA 8-player D2 playoffs