Prep Zone: District previews
November 4, 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.).
Flashback 100: 8-Player Football Finals Right at Home at Superior Dome
November 22, 2024
The MHSAA 8-Player Football Finals will be played Saturday for the eighth time at the Superior Dome at Northern Michigan University in Marquette — though that run of eight seasons has not been consecutive.
The MHSAA began sponsoring playoffs for 8-player football in 2011, initially with just one division. The first championship game was played at the Superior Dome, where Carsonville-Port Sanilac defeated Rapid River to claim the title.
From 2012 to 2016, Greenville High School hosted the Finals. In 2017, 8-player split into two divisions and the Finals returned to the Superior Dome, where two division champions were crowned in 2017, 2018, and 2019. The COVID-delayed 2020 8-Player Finals were played at the Legacy Center in Brighton, before the champonships returned in 2021 to Marquette, where they have since remained.
To recap: one year in Brighton, five years in Greenville, and this marks the eighth year at the Superior Dome.
Powers North Central is the only team to win a Final at all three locations. The Jets are undefeated in 8-player championship games, with five titles to their name — two in Greenville, two at the Superior Dome, and one in Brighton.
The Superior Dome, which opened in 1991, is the largest wooden dome in the world. It’s a geodesic dome, meaning its structure is based on a polyhedron lattice. You might recognize this design from the Spaceship Earth exhibit at Epcot. The dome stands 143 feet tall, has a diameter of 536 feet, and covers more than five acres. Its retractable artificial playing surface serves as the home field for the Northern Michigan University football, women’s lacrosse, and women’s track & field teams.
8-Player Football Finals at the Superior Dome
2011: Carsonville-Port Sanilac over Rapid River 59-20 (recap)
2017 Div. 1: Central Lake over Deckerville 32-30 (recap)
2017 Div. 2: Crystal Falls Forest Park over Portland St. Patrick 54-12 (recap)
2018 Div. 1: Morrice over Pickford 44-16 (recap)
2018 Div. 2: Rapid River over Onekama 30-18 (recap)
2019 Div. 1: Colon over Suttons Bay 26-24 (recap)
2019 Div. 2: Pickford over Portland St. Patrick 48-15 (recap)
2021 Div. 1: Adrian Lenawee Christian over Suttons Bay 31-20 (recap)
2021 Div. 2: Powers North Central over Colon 63-0 (recap)
2022 Div. 1: Martin over Merrill 74-24 (recap)
2022 Div. 2: Powers North Central over Mendon 66-26 (recap)
2023 Div. 1: Marin over Indian River Inland Lakes 30-26 (recap)
2023 Div. 2: Adrian Lenawee Christian over Marion 36-18 (recap)
Previous "Flashback 100" Features
Nov. 15: Leland Career Helps Set Stage for Glass' International Stardom - Read
Nov. 8: Future Baseball Pro Led Escanaba's Legendary Football Title Run - Read
Nov. 1: Michigan High School Baseball Trio Provide World Series Voices - Read
Oct. 25: Before Leading Free World, Ford Starred for Champion GR South - Read
Oct. 18: Mercy Links Legend Becomes World Golf Hall of Famer - Read
Oct. 11: Fisher Races to Finals Stardom on Way to U.S. Olympic First - Read
Oct. 4: Lalas Leaves High School Legacies on Ice & Pitch - Read
Sept. 27: Tamer's History-Making Run Starts in Dexter, Continues to Paris - Read
Sept. 20: Todd Martin’s Road to Greatness Starts at East Lansing - Read
Sept. 13: James Earl Jones, Dickson High Hoops to Hollywood Legend - Read
Sept. 6: Pioneers' Unstoppable Streak Stretches 9 Seasons - Read
Aug. 30: Detroit dePorres Rushes to 1995 Class CC Football Championship - Read