Dundee @ Robichaud

Dundee vs Dearborn Heights Robichaud Preview

Dundee makes their return to the playoffs for the first time since 2012, while Robichaud makes their second straight appearance. This will be the seventh postseason trip for the Vikings, while it marks the 13^th trip to the postseason for the Bulldogs.

Dundee Vikings (5-4, 4-3 LCAA)

Last Playoff Win: Oct. 28,2011 (def. Columbia Central 27-20)

The Vikings qualified for the playoffs for the first time under Kyle McElvany, after just missing out in 2015 and 2018. Dundee’s full house T offense has a three-headed monster in the backfield in Luke Williams (975 rushing yards, five TDs), Stoney Buell (692 yards, six TDs), and Blaze McBee (723 yards, five TDs). Williams (282 receiving yards, 3 TDs) is the most dangerous receiving threat out of the backfield and has averaged 11 yards per touch (rushing and receiving) on offense. QB Matt Vann can be effective with his arm (828 passing yards, 8 TDs), and his feet (204 rushing yards, 3 TDs). Besides Williams, Vann will also look to throw the ball to TEs Ty Schroeder (303 receiving yards, 3 TDs) and Elek LaPalme (142 yards, TD). Hunter Carlson has been steady at kicker (10-12 PAT, 1-1 FG).

A physical defense is headlined by a vicious pass rush. LB Schroeder (83 tackles, 14 sacks, 4 forced fumbles) set the school record for sacks. Fellow LB Buell (116 tackles, 7 sacks, forced fumble) leads in tackles. Other names to watch on the defense are DL Dennis Root (31 tackles, 6 sacks), LB Carlson (47 tackles, five sacks), and DBs Kyle Ott (67 tackles, sack, forced fumble, 2 interceptions) and McBee (48 tackles, 2 interceptions, forced fumble). As a unit, the Vikings have 41 sacks on the season.

Dearborn Heights Robichaud (7-2, 6-1 Western Wayne Athletic Conference)

Last Playoff Win: October 30, 2015 (def. Columbia Central 50-37)

Robichaud is 2-for-2 in terms of qualifying for the playoffs under second-year coach Donny Scott. The Bulldogs will operate out of a spread offense, led by sophomore QB David Williams. Williams has been super-efficient through the air (1872 passing yards, 20 TDs, 2 INTs). His favorite targets are senior WR Cameron Underwood (47 catches, 863 yards, 12 TDs) and junior Ky’shaun Jackson (29 catches, 709 yards, 7 TDs). When the Bulldogs run the ball, they will go with a “thunder and lightning” approach in senior De’shawn Prather (531 rushing yards, 4 TDs) and sophomore Sykunie Watson II (498 yards, 5 TDs)

Defensively, the Bulldogs are led by junior LB Andrew Thomas (60 tackles, 7 sacks), senior LB Cor’vonta Ballard (50 tackles, 9 sacks), and DBs Underwood (5 INTs) and Williams (4 INTs, TD).

FNV Thoughts: This is a tale of two completely different teams. Dundee is run first offense that relies on a physical defense. Robichaud has a balanced offense with an explosive QB and receivers, but will run the ball 60% of the time with any of three RB’s. While this is the # 1 vs #4 seed, this is a pick’em game.