Prep Zone: Regional Final Previews
November 10, 2011
Two top-ranked teams and four of the best from metro Detroit highlight tonight's Prep Zone football games streamed live on FoxSportsDetroit.com.
This is the final week of home field advantage for any opponent. Next week’s Semifinals and 8-player Final all will be played at neutral sites. The winners of two of tonight’s Prep Zone games will meet in a Division 1 Semifinal on Nov. 19.
Here’s a preview of all four Prep Zone games. All kick off at 7 p.m., and all also will be archived for on-demand viewing at MHSAA.tv. (Rankings below by The Associated Press' panel of media voters.)
DIVISION 1: Walled Lake Central (8-3) at Utica Eisenhower (10-1)
Utica Eisenhower entered the postseason ranked No. 3 and is playing in its second straight Regional Final, with its best offensive output since finishing MHSAA runner-up in 2003. That 30-points-per-game effort is led by a pair of juniors – quarterback Joe Zerafa has thrown for 1,301 yards and 12 touchdowns, and junior running back Shane King has rushed for 687 yards and 12 scores. But the Eagles’ strength might be on defense. They haven’t given up a point since the first weekend of October, and have five shutouts total this season with senior linebacker Ray Shepler just two tackles from 100. Unranked Walled Lake Central, meanwhile, might be one of the surprises of this round after knocking out reigning state champion Lake Orion and then No. 8 Clarkston to open the playoffs. But remember, the Vikings did make the Division 2 Semifinals last season. And they are led again by senior quarterback Zac Leimbach, a master running the team’s option offense. He’s rushed for 1,610 yards and 21 touchdowns and thrown for 931 yards and six more scores.
Click to read more from the Detroit Free Press and Mlive.com.
DIVISION 1: Detroit Cass Tech (8-3) at Warren DeLaSalle (9-2), at St. Clair Shores Lake Shore
Considering five Cass Tech defensive players have committed to sign with Division I college programs in February – including hard-hitting linebacker Royce Jenkins-Stone (Michigan) – it’s not surprising that the Technicians haven’t given up more than 18 points in a game since opening night, or more than seven in a game since mid-October. DeLaSalle’s records aren’t always flawless like others going into the playoffs, thanks in part to a tough Catholic League schedule. But the Pilots are playing in their fourth-straight Regional final and were ranked No. 5 in the final Division 2 regular-season poll before moving into Division 1 for the postseason. Those losses came to still-alive Detroit Catholic Central and Orchard Lake St. Mary, so guys like senior quarterback Shane Morris (1,658 yards, 19 TDs passing) and senior running back/safety Mike Abiragi (the team's leading rusher and tackler) have seen their share of star-studded opponents.
Click to read more from Mlive.com.
DIVISION 5: Dowagiac (10-1) at Lansing Catholic (11-0), at Holt Junior High
Lansing Catholic senior quarterback Cooper Rush continues to ascend MHSAA records lists in just about every passing category. His 2,792 yards this fall are good for 17th for one season, and his 33 touchdown passes are tied for 16th. Senior receiver Matt Macksood has caught 69 of those tosses for 1,094 yards and 15 touchdowns, and run for 750 yards and 10 more scores. Both have done that damage in 10 games, with the top-ranked Cougars’ 11th win a forfeit. Dowagiac’s defense could be up to the challenge though – the No. 9 Chieftains haven’t given up more than 14 points in a game this season. They’ve doubled their win total from 2010 and hit double-digit victories for the first time since 1996. Although leading tackler D.J. Hunt has missed all but the beginning of the playoff run with an injury, defensive ends Dontrell Tucker and Carl Grant combined for five sacks against Hopkins last week. They’ll be counted on to keep the rush on Rush.
Click to read more from the Lansing State Journal, Niles Daily Star and South Bend Tribune.
DIVISION 7: Harbor Beach (11-0) at Saginaw Nouvel (10-0)
Top-ranked Nouvel is off to its strongest effort since winning back-to-back MHSAA titles in 2006-07. The Panthers are averaging 48 points per game and scored fewer than 40 only twice, keyed by a pair of seniors – running back Bennett Lewis has rushed for 1,463 yards and 22 touchdowns, and quarterback Joe Buchalski has thrown for 1,000 yards and 18 scores. Harbor Beach, tied for the No. 7 spot, comes in with much less fanfare. But the Pirates have been here before, winning 12 games in 2007 and 10 in 2003. Junior Sloan Klaski will be a focal point – he leads the team with 146 tackles, and also 1,011 yards and 19 touchdowns running the ball. As a team, Harbor Beach averages 262 yards on the ground and could ride that in an attempt to keep Nouvel's offense off the field. The Pirates rise at crunch time: four of their last seven wins were by 12 points or fewer.
Click to read more from the Huron Daily Tribune and Saginaw News.
(Photo courtesy of Terry McNamara Photography.)
Highlight Reel: Friday Football Finals
November 28, 2015
By John Johnson
MHSAA Communications Director
Champions were crowned Friday (Nov. 27) in four divisions of the 2015 MHSAA 11-Player Football Playoffs – presented by the Michigan Army National Guard – at Ford Field in Detroit.
Below are highlight clips from every game plus links to watch them in full.
Division 8
Muskegon Catholic Central 7, Waterford Our Lady 0
Senerius To Senerius – Waterford Our Lady threatened several times in the first half, including late, when Clay Senerius hit Devin Senerius for a 30-yard gain.
Crusaders Go On Top – The only score of the Division 8 title game came early in the fourth quarter when Muskegon Catholic Central's Christian Martinez ran it in from 8 yards out.
Watch the whole game and order DVDs by Clicking Here.
Division 2
Detroit Martin Luther King 40, Lowell 38
Dean’s Second TD For Lowell – Lowell jumped out to a 24-7 lead late in the first half on this 3-yard run by Max Dean, his second score of the game.
Incredible Finish - Corley Winning TD – On the final play of the game, Detroit King's Donnie Corley hauls in a 40-yard TD pass from Armani Posey to give the Crusaders the win over Lowell for the MHSAA Division 2 title.
Watch the whole game and order DVDs by Clicking Here.
Division 6
Ithaca 27, Clinton 20
Sexton Takes It To The House – Clinton scored the first 13 points of the Division 6 Football Final against Ithaca. Here's the second touchdown on a 56-yard run by Mathew Sexton early in the third quarter.
Ithaca Takes The Lead – Ithaca's run of 27 unanswered points included this 18-yard pass from Jake Smith to Spence DeMull in the third quarter. The Yellowjackets added the PAT and never trailed again.
Watch the whole game and order DVDs by Clicking Here.
Division 4
Zeeland West 40, Flint Powers Catholic 14
Dux Take Flight – Zeeland West QB Casey Brinks was 4 for 4 passing for 103 yards against Flint Powers, getting half of that yardage on this pass to Tyler Thompson in the first quarter. This pass set up the Dux’ first TD.
Sargent Hits Brcic For Six – Noah Sargent makes a nice TD pass on the run to Luke Brcic for Flint Powers Catholic against Zeeland West in the Division 4 Final.
Watch the whole game and order DVDs by Clicking Here.
The MHSAA Football Finals are sponsored by the Michigan National Guard.
PHOTO: Ithaca quarterback Jake Smith dives ahead for an extra yard during the Division 6 Final.