MHSAA football playoffs 2024: Semifinal predictions

Mick McCabe
| Special to Detroit Free Press

11-player Michigan high school football playoffs We reached the semi-final stage and SOS came with good news.

There are some great matchups on Saturday, none better than Division 1 Detroit Cass Tech vs. Novi Detroit Catholic Center.

The biggest appeal of this game is that it will be played at Troy Athens, home to the best concession stand in North America as well as Michigan.

There’s no other place in the state that features items like pulled pork sandwiches, pulled pork nachos, Italian sausage with peppers and onions, Philly cheesesteaks, cheeseburgers, double cheeseburgers, pizza and hot dogs.

Part of the resistance is Bobby D Burger, named after former athletic director Bob Dowd. The burger, which SOS calls a heart attack on a plate, includes pulled port and coleslaw.

There are also cheese crackers, cheese nachos, root beer floats, ice cream sundaes, and pops from a dispenser, including Diet Coke and Cherry Coke, which SOS likes to mix.

Honestly, it’s overwhelming at first glance.

“People will come and say: ‘Oh my God, do you have all this?’ “We’ve been contacted by some of the other schools and I tell them we didn’t develop this overnight,” said Anne Hallberg, who runs the show for the Athens Boosters Club.

“That’s at least two decades of building upon building; we’re lucky enough to have people who have dedicated themselves and continued the work that other guys started all those years ago.”

You can imagine which match SOS will be attending as he hopes to continue his reliable predictions.

SOS was 23-9 in the quarterfinals but should have been much better.

After a great start to Friday’s matches, SOS cleaned up the mouse the following day. Eight of SOS’ nine losses came on Saturday, leaving SOS wondering what’s in store for them this week with all the matches played on Saturday.

Having advanced to the semifinals, the Know-It-Alls have a 177-47 playoff record (79%) and are confident of having all eight teams playing at Ford Field next weekend.

If you choose to participate in the CC-Cass match, the SOS will be easy to find. He’ll be the guy hanging out at the concession stand.

All games are on Saturday at 13:00 unless otherwise stated.

Part 1

Hudsonville (11-1) vs. Rochester Adams (10-2) at Okemos. Adams was great, losing his starting quarterback and then rallying around backup Nolan Farris, who didn’t play like a backup. Hudsonville avenged its only loss last week by defeating Howell and now moves on to the finals. Vote: Ice Cream 27, The Addams Family 25.

Detroit Cass Tech (10-2) vs. Novi Detroit Catholic Center (12-0) at Troy Athens. CC and Cass Tech have teamed up to produce some classic playoff games over the years. CC won the match of the year last week by knocking out Belleville with great offense and defense. Cass Tech is rolling behind freshman QB Donald Tabron II, who has outstanding targets like Alex Graham and others. Corey Sadler Jr. Vatican 28, Momma Cass 20.

Part 2

East Lansing (9-3) vs. Byron Center (11-1) in Greenville. Byron Center QB Landon Tungate can beat you with his arm or his legs, rushing for 151 yards last week. We knew East Lansing had a strong running game, but Ben Fletcher is a good passer and Darryle Geter III is a receiver and catcher on defense. Lord Byron 37, East Izzo 34.

Orchard Lake St. St. Mary’s (9-3) vs. Birmingham Groves (12-0) in West Bloomfield. After defeating Warren De La Salle, Groves moved to St. It remained in the Central Division of the Catholic League to beat St. Mary’s. Groves has the best lineman in the state in Avery Gach, but St. St. Mary’s can counter that with standout Antonio Johnson. Groves also has running backs Mario Campoy-LoVasco and Noah Sanders, but St. Mary’s defense, led by Charles White, dominates. Orange Grove 21, St. Mary’s by the Lake 20.

Chapter 3

Zeeland West (11-1) vs. DeWitt (12-0) at Forest Hills Eastern. The lowest point total for DeWitt was 42, and the Panthers have a 56.8 point average. The Larner brothers (QB Elliott and receiver/running back Abram) have the most dynamic offense in the state. Now all the Panthers have to do is figure out who has the ball in West’s salami hiding offense. DeWhat 47, Zeeland’s Best 31.

Mason (10-2) vs. Detroit King (9-3) at Chelsea. This was the fourth year in a row these teams met in the semi-finals, and the second year in a row they met at Chelsea. Mason won last season but things will be different this time as King has won three out of four. The King of Wishful Thinking 27, Mason Jars 20.

Chapter 4

Grand Rapids South Christian (8-4) will face Niles (11-1) in Three Rivers. Niles had a big victory last week by beating Portland. Sam Rucker leads the Vikings’ offense and defense. Niles’ flex-bones triple-option offense creates a great ground game, but South Christian has Carson Vis at quarterback and all he does is make big play after big play. Forward Christian Soldiers 44, Nils Lofgren 39.

Harper Woods (9-3) vs. Goodrich (11-1) at Rochester Hills Stoney Creek. This is a rematch of last season’s 35-24 Harper Woods semifinal win. WR/DB Max Macklem and RB/LB Chase Burnett are two-way standouts for Goodrich and are good, solid players. But Harper Woods can counter with guys like sophomore WR Dakota Guerrant, freshman WR DeAndre Bidden, and third-year QB Nate Rocheleau, and that train will keep rolling for a while. Harper Weeds 37, Goodyear 28.

Chapter 5

Grand Rapids Catholic Central (8-4) vs. Frankenmuth (12-0) at Mount Pleasant. This is CC’s ninth straight semifinal appearance, and if this matchup looks familiar, it is. CC beat Frankenmuth 35-0 last season and by the same score in 2021. They also played in the 2020 final, which CC won 48-21. Frankenmuth is undefeated and ranked No. 1, while CC has four losses. So can you choose against CC? Chicken Dinners 37 Catholic in Grand Rapids? 29.

Flat Rock (10-2) vs. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (10-1) at Westland Glenn. Flat Rock’s Graham Junge is the best quarterback in the state you’ve never heard of. He had an outstanding season. But Prep QB Sam Stowe is also talented and the Prep team’s defense is loaded. Preppies 32, Flat Rock Speedway 20.

Chapter 6

Boyne City (10-2) vs. Lansing Catholic (9-3) in Clare. Alex Fernandez is playing like former Catholic great Cooper Rush, who led the Cougars back to the semifinals. Boyne was hugely impressive last week, rallying from a 14-0 deficit, but there’s no coming back from that if the Ramblers go down 14 points this week. Dantonio Catholic 21, Boooiiiiiiing 16.

Jackson Lumen Christi (11-1) vs. Marine City (10-2) in Novi. All is well, Marine City are back in the semi-finals thanks to Paul Muscat and Lyncoln Osterland. And Lumen Christi is here for the fourth straight year, aiming for its third straight state title and 14th overall record. Good luck handling Lumen’s Kadale Williams. Aluminum Foil 33, Marine Biology 22.

Episode 7

North Muskegon (11-1) vs. Millington (11-0) at Lansing Eastern. North Muskegon won’t have six turnovers again, so Cullen Bartos will have to be at his best. Millington will counter with Truk Terbush, who SOS considers the best player in school history, unless you count the legendary Nick Baumgardner. Corky’s School 24, Not Muskegon 21.

School vehicle (11-1). Monroe St in Battle Creek Harper Creek Noon vs. St. Mary Catholic Center (12-0). Schoolcraft’s Jaden Reiber is a two-way performer and QB Jack DeVries isn’t playing like a sophomore. St. It’s almost impossible to stop Mary’s because with Ian Foster, Drew Harris and Cole Reinhart, you can’t stop them all. And Brady Hines fumbles running the ball to CC. Ray Lauwers High School 35, No Schools 30.

Chapter 8

Beal City (10-2) vs. Fowler (12-0) in Ithaca. Beal City’s Drew Block can win a game for you offensively – by running for yards – or defensively – with timely tackles and any tackles. Fowler can counter with QB Jacob Halfmann, who is a major threat both running the ball and defensively. Foul or Fair 28, Bradley Beal 26.

Decatur (11-1) vs. Riverview Richard (10-1) in Jackson. Two straight trips to the state semifinals is a tremendous accomplishment for Richard, led by Nick Sobush and Derek Lesko. All he has to do now is find a way for his defense to stop the run against Cameron Cropsey; which is something no one else can do. Da Catur 27. Cardinal Dearden South 24.

Mick McCabe (err, SOS) is a former columnist for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at: [email protected]. 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 now at McCabe.PictorialBook.com