Prep Zone: District previews
December 16, 2011
Five undefeated teams, one that is ranked No. 1 in its division, plus another reigning MHSAA football champion are among those that will be featured in tonight's Prep Zone games streamed live on FoxSportsDetroit.com.
Here’s a look at this week’s Prep Zone matchups, along with links to media coverage heading into the games. All kick off at 7 tonight, and all also will be archived for on-demand viewing at MHSAA.tv.
DIVISION 4: Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (10-0) at Marine City (10-0)
Make it eight straight seasons Marine City has won at least 10 games, and 12 of the last 13. The top-ranked Marines also will try to knock Notre Dame Prep out of the playoffs for the second time in three seasons. That won’t come easily. The No. 6 Fighting Irish have set a school record for wins and are enjoying their best season since 1984 – and a strong turnaround from last season’s 4-5 finish, including a 47-13 toppling of No. 7 Marysville last week. Add in the four wins from last season, and Notre Dame Prep hasn’t lost in more than a calendar year. Marine City is riding the legs of senior running back Anthony Scarcelli, who has gained for 1,363 of the team’s 3,052 rushing yards and scored 25 touchdowns on the ground. Fighting Irish quarterback Danny Durkin is a dangerous two-way threat – he was 10 for 13 passing for 183 yards and two touchdowns, and ran for 150 more yards and two more scores in the Marysville win. The key could be Notre Dame Prep's defense; it’s giving up just 7.2 points per game.
Read more in the Port Huron Times-Herald.
DIVISION 4: Grand Rapids Catholic Central (9-1) at Zeeland West (10-0)
The reigning MHSAA champion Cougars are rolling again with nine straight wins since falling to East Grand Rapids on opening night – a streak that opened with a shutout and then seven straight games giving up just seven points in each. But No. 2 Zeeland West presents arguably their toughest challenge. The Dux should have some added motivation after losing to Grand Rapids Catholic 50-42 in a 2010 District final. Quarterback Miles Morrissey is again directing the No. 4 Cougars’ high-powered passing offense, with Kevin Vicari among top targets. Zeeland West again has made its run doing exactly that – chewing up yards on the ground, as evidenced by their six rushing touchdowns (and the majority of 404 total yards) in last week’s playoff-opening win against Grand Rapids South Christian.
Read more in the Holland Sentinel and at Fox17online.
DIVISION 6: Leslie (8-2) at Grass Lake (10-0)
For these teams, it might seem like just yesterday they were sharing the field. Actually, it was only two weeks ago that Grass Lake iced a perfect regular season with a 36-28 win over the Blackhawks. Leslie was one of only three teams that gave the Warriors a challenge during that 9-0 run. The Blackhawks are being carried one last time by a group of seniors that took over after the team’s last MHSAA Finals appearance, in 2008, went 0-9 as sophomores but improved to 6-4 last fall. Senior quarterback Brendon Smith tossed the 80-yard scoring pass that beat Manchester 34-32 last week, and all-stater Kyle Bryson is his top receiver. Grass Lake does its damage on the ground, led by Frank Vuocolo and his 1,360 yards and 13 touchdowns.
DIVISION 7: Saranac (9-1) at Pewamo-Westphalia (10-0)
Pewamo-Westphalia won and Saranac was runner-up in the 10-team Central Michigan Athletic Conference, although the pseudo-championship game wasn’t nearly as close as one might’ve expected – the Pirates won 28-0. A closer game might benefit the Redskins, who have won their last four games and five overall by eight or fewer points. P-W has relied on a senior-strong group of skill players to score its most points in at least a half century, with running back Alex Thelen and quarterback Justin Thelen leading the way on that side of the ball. Saranac has continued to build this fall after last season’s historic run ended with the team’s first playoff berth since 1978. The Redskins have won three more games this fall under new coach Terry Johnson, and tonight he can lead them to their first playoff victory ever.
Read more in the Ionia Sentinel-Standard.
PHOTO
Zeeland West's Brad Mesbergen will be among those trying to outrun Grand Rapids Catholic Central in tonight's District final (Photo courtesy of the Holland Sentinel.).
1st & Goal: 2024 Week 4 Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
September 19, 2024
We’re steadily moving toward the midpoint of this football regular season, but league races already could begin sorting themselves out with at least a few of our premier matchups this week.
Two of our highlighted games – in Detroit and the Upper Peninsula – decided league championships a year ago. We’re still figuring things out this fall, of course, but several more games to watch this week appear to have similar potential.
All games listed below are tonight unless noted, with results as they are reported posting all weekend on the MHSAA Scores page – and updated standings also available by clicking the schools on the score list.
Bay & Thumb
Croswell-Lexington (2-1) at North Branch (3-0) WATCH
North Branch went from co-champion of the Blue Water Area Conference in 2022 to 4-5 overall a year ago, but the Broncos appear primed for another run. They’ve yet to give up a point while scoring a combined 179 over their three victories, although Croswell-Lexington should provide their toughest challenge so far. The Pioneers did lose a tough 14-0 matchup with Armada to start their BWAC schedule two weeks ago, but won last season’s meeting with North Branch 34-14 and rebounded last week with a 41-20 win over Richmond.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Millington (3-0) at Cass City (2-1) WATCH, Saginaw Heritage (2-1) at Davison (2-1), Clare (3-0) at Gladwin (2-1), Freeland (3-0) at Flint Powers Catholic (2-1) WATCH.
Greater Detroit
Detroit Martin Luther King (2-1) at Detroit Cass Tech (2-1) WATCH
The Public School League’s most competitive rivalry is set for its latest installment with Cass Tech ranked No. 4 in Division 1 and King No. 3 in Division 3. Cass won both meetings last year, 14-7 and 24-23, and actually has won three straight in the series with an anticipated rematch likely in the PSL championship game at the end of this regular season. Both are already tested with wins over top Ohio teams and losses against Michigan title contenders, Cass to Rockford and King to Warren De La Salle Collegiate.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Detroit Catholic Central (3-0) at Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (2-1) WATCH, Clarkston (2-1) at Rochester Adams (3-0) WATCH, Macomb Dakota (3-0) at Sterling Heights Stevenson (3-0) WATCH, Toledo Central Catholic, Ohio (3-1) at Warren De La Salle Collegiate (3-0).
Mid-Michigan
Owosso (3-0) at Corunna (3-0) WATCH
Aside from a 12-year stretch when these neighbors met on opening night, and even with those games included, it’s been a while since this matchup has had this kind of punch. Corunna has won the last five between them, all by at least 21 points, and the Cavaliers are on the move again after last season’s Division 5 runner-up finish. But Owosso already has as many wins as a year ago, and one more this fall will guarantee the Trojans their best finish since 2012.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Parma Western (3-0) at Hastings (3-0), Newaygo (3-0) at Howard City Tri County (3-0), Holt (2-1) at Grand Ledge (2-1) WATCH, Durand (2-1) at Ovid-Elsie (3-0) WATCH.
Northern Lower Peninsula
Boyne City (2-1) at Kingsley (2-1) WATCH
Kingsley has bounced back from a two-point loss to Reed City in its opener to look very Kingsley-like, last week rushing for a school-record 668 yards in a win over Grayling, according to the Traverse City Record-Eagle. Boyne City also opened with a loss but quickly has bounced back, avenging a 2023 defeat to Charlevoix last week 45-21. Kingsley won last year’s matchup 64-13, but this time these two are back in the same league, the Northern Michigan Football League’s Legends division.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Charlevoix (1-2) at East Jordan (3-0) WATCH, Grand Blanc (2-1) at Traverse City West (3-0) WATCH, Frankfort (2-1) at Johannesburg-Lewiston (2-1) WATCH, Cheboygan (2-1) at Kalkaska (1-2) WATCH.
Southeast & Border
Napoleon (2-1) at Manchester (3-0) WATCH
After posting its best finish last season since 2015, Manchester is continuing to make nice strides under first-year leader and previously-successful Addison coach Joshua Lindeman. The Flying Dutchmen’s start includes a 20-8 win over Lindeman’s former team in Week 2, and this weekend provides an opportunity to break a five-game losing streak against Napoleon, which defeated Manchester in the regular season and playoffs both of the last two seasons. Napoleon fell to much-improved Onsted to start this fall but has two wins to roll into this Cascades Conference East opener.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Ann Arbor Huron (2-1) at Dexter (2-1), Riverview Gabriel Richard (3-0) at Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard (3-0). FRIDAY Hudson (2-1) at Onsted (2-1) WATCH, Clinton (2-1) at Blissfield (2-1) WATCH.
Southwest Corridor
Decatur (3-0) at White Pigeon (3-0) WATCH
Decatur is 3-0 for the first time since 2014 and handed Petersburg Summerfield its only defeat with a 30-27 Week 2 win. The Raiders also have been among few to have success against White Pigeon since the formation of the Southwest 10 Conference in 2017, most recently winning their 2022 matchup before White Pigeon took last year’s 36-12. The Chiefs’ regular-season winning streak is up to 16 games as they look to repeat as league champion.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY South Haven (2-1) at Constantine (3-0), Vermontville Maple Valley (2-1) at Union City (3-0) WATCH, Paw Paw (3-0) at Vicksburg (2-1) WATCH, Allegan (2-1) at Kalamazoo United (2-1).
Upper Peninsula
Negaunee (3-0) at Kingsford (3-0) WATCH
Last season’s 13-12 win was Negaunee’s first over Kingsford, according to a Marquette Mining Journal report, and ended up eventually gaining the Miners a shared Western Peninsula Athletic Conference Copper title with the Flivvers as the teams went on to finish a combined 18-5. Negaunee was one of few opponents to slow Kingsford’s attack last year, and that defensive flex has continued as the Miners have given up only 14 points over their first three games this fall. Kingsford has been even better, allowing just eight points so far.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Calumet (2-1) at Menominee (3-0) WATCH, Bark River-Harris (1-2) at Gwinn (2-1), Ishpeming Westwood (1-2) at Houghton (1-2), Iron Mountain (3-0) at West Iron County (1-2) WATCH.
West Michigan
Byron Center (3-0) at Muskegon Mona Shores (3-0) WATCH
Byron Center’s recent surge and move into the Ottawa-Kent Conference Green this season has added serious intrigue to this matchup. The Bulldogs won 10 games last season for the third time over the last eight seasons and have continued to pick up steam, with a 43-20 win over East Kentwood in Week 2 especially notable. Mona Shores, meanwhile, has navigated one of the toughest opening slates with wins over Grand Blanc, River Rouge and Flint Hamady – all on the road.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Zeeland East (2-1) at Zeeland West (3-0) WATCH, Grand Rapids Northview (3-0) at East Grand Rapids (2-1) WATCH, Rockford (3-0) at Hudsonville (2-1) WATCH, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central (3-0) at Hudsonville Unity Christian (3-0).
8-Player
Ishpeming (3-0) at Pickford (3-0)
Ishpeming’s move to 8-player football this season got its biggest boost yet with last week’s 50-28 win over Gaylord St. Mary, but the Hematites can establish themselves among championship contenders over their next two games. First up is Pickford, a Division 1 semifinalist a year ago, before a Week 5 meeting with last season’s Division 1 runner-up Indian River Inland Lakes. Pickford hasn’t been challenged much yet, although a 40-12 win over Powers North Central always will be impressive.
Keep an eye on these: FRIDAY Alcona (3-0) at Atlanta (3-0) WATCH, Deckerville (3-0) at Brown City (3-0),
Kingston (3-0) at Mayville (2-1). SATURDAY Morrice (3-0) at Portland St. Patrick (3-0).
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PHOTO Harrison Township L'Anse Creuse's Donovan Rey (3) breaks through an opening during his team's 54-20 win over Macomb L'Anse Creuse North last week. (Photo by Adam Sheehan.)