FNV Division 5-8: Final Four, Champion and Sleeper Picks
Here are the FNV Staff picks for the MHSAA Football playoffs for Divisions 5-8. Let us know what you think in the comments sections down below.
We posted this back before the playoffs. Let’s see how we are doing.
Division 8
Chris
Final Four :Everest Collegiate, Centreville, Unionville-Sebewaing, Beal City
Sleeper: Detroit Southeastern-the Jungaleers have an elite QB and a possible recipe capable of beating the elite teams in D8.
Champion: Beal City-the Aggies last won a state title in 2009 and have a good nucleaus returning from last year’s team which fell to Reading in the title game last season.
Gary
Final Four: Johannesburg-Lewiston, Ubly, Centreville, Everest Collegiate
Sleeper: Hudson-The Tigers play in a tough league with bigger schools.
Champion: Centreville-D8 has 5 teams, in my opinion, that all have an equal shot at winning it. Ask 5 different people and you might get 5 different answers. Only 2 of those will make it out of a Regional.
Frank
Final Four: Clarkston Everest, Addison, Iron Mountain, Flint Beecher
Sleeper: West Iron County- The Wykons went 6-0 without a lot of fanfare.
Champion: Clarkston Everest. The Mountaineers have shown that they are on another planet after throttling Riverview Gabriel Richard in the Catholic League Championship.
Division 7
Chris
Final Four: Schoolcraft, New Lothrop, Cass City, McBain
Sleeper: SMCC-tough to call the defending D6 champions a sleeper, but this year has been a total rebuild for the Falcons.
Champion: Schoolcraft-Elite QB separates the Eagles from a field of 10 or more capable of winning the title.
Gary
Final Four: Traverse City St. Francis, Pewamo-Westphalia, New Lothrop, Schoolcraft
Sleeper: Jackson Lumen Christi-Hard to believe the Titans would be a sleeper but at 2-4, they qualify.
Champion: Schoolcraft-I could have gone with a few teams here but the Eagles have it all and are extremely balanced. Will be on the road in the Regional.
Frank
Final Four: New Lothrop, Schoolcraft, Ithaca, Traverse City St. Francis
Sleeper: Riverview Gabriel Richard-The Pioneers have the talent, but can they get over getting thumped by Clarkston Everest in the Catholic League Championship?
Champion: Ithaca. The Yellow Jackets are on a revenge tour after getting bounced in Round 1 last season.
Division 6
Chris
Final Four: Michigan Collegiate, Jonesville, Montague, Glen Lake
Sleeper: Sanford Meridian- it would most likely take a miracle for the Mustangs to emerge from the district, but if they do, watch out.
Champion: Montague-if the Wildcats can get out of a tough district, they should be the favorites in D6.
Gary
Final Four: Menominee, Montague, Constantine, Erie-Mason
Sleeper: Glen Lake- With the loss of Head Coach, still making waves. Will be a tough out.
Champion: Montague-True blue blood in Division 6. Battle-tested. Been my #1 all year long, not going to change now. Excluding the Finals, toughest games might be in round 2 or 3.
Frank
Final Four: Maple City Glen Lake, Muskegon Catholic Central, Constantine, Blissfield
Sleeper: Jonesville-The Comets dethroned Reading in the Big 8, and their only loss was to Division 4 power Edwardsburg
Champion: Muskegon Catholic Central. Defense wins championships, and the Crusaders have only allowed a scant 18 points all season.
Division 5
Chris
Final Four: Kingsley, Grand Rapids Catholic Central, Lansing Catholic, Frankenmuth
Sleeper: Muskegon Oakridge-the Eagles have lost to Whitehall and Montague. Those teams could very well win State titles this year.
Champion: Grand Rapids Catholic Central-the Cougars are the favorites, but unlike last year, this is no cakewalk. In my opinion, 5 of the top 10 teams in D5 are in their district.
Gary
Final Four: Reed City, Grand Rapids Catholic Central, Lansing Catholic, Frankenmuth
Sleeper: Grosse Ile-The Red Devils can win their district. Things get tougher from there but strange things can happen.
Champion: Grand Rapids Catholic Central-Some consider the Cougars a top 10 team in the entire state. D5 should be no problem, right?
Frank
Final Four: Grand Rapids Catholic Central, Lansing Catholic, Frankenmuth, Kingsley
Sleeper: Kalamazoo Hackett-I’ve kind of been driving the Fighting Irish bus all season, as they have been in my top ten regularly
Champion: Grand Rapids Catholic Central. The Cougars return a boatload of talent from last year’s team that won it all in Division 4. Need I say more?
Looking forward to an exciting football season this year. Hopefully everything will be back to normal. Nothing like Friday night lights. What's all of your early preseason champion picks. I'm sure Riverview will be in the mix in the Huron league.
We will be coming out with our schedule analysis very soon.
Team Previews will also be in the mix.
2021 SMCC SCHEDULE
Week 1 home against Almont
Week 2 home against GI
Week 3 at Airport
Week 4 at Milan
Week 5 home against Riverview
Week 6 at Flat Rock
Week 7 at New Boston Huron
Week 8 at Jefferson
Week 9 home against Clarkston Everest Collegiate
Tough schedule like usual for the Falcons. I am predicting a 6-3 record with losses to Milan, Riverview and Huron. CEC will not be a cakewalk at all.
Everest most likely won't happen. Catholic League Championship is always week 9. They have been in it 3 years straight.
Chris
Does that mean SMCC could be left with an open date late or does it go to the next Catholic League team available? I don't know much about the CL, I am guessing that would be one of the Gabriel Richard's ?
Well the last 3 years Riverview GR has been the opponent for Everest in the CHSL Championship. I’m not sure who the opponent would be.
Illustrating once again why Gary is my go to guy for all questions Division 8.
Ill be honest Don, it was basically a coin flip between Sand Creek, Centreville and Clarkston.
I watched the entire game between SC and Centreville. What stood out to me most was how the undersized D-line
of Centreville more than held their own. Great D8 game, single wing vs double wing veer action.
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Looking forward to an exciting football season this year. Hopefully everything will be back to normal. Nothing like Friday night lights. What's all of your early preseason champion picks. I'm sure Riverview will be in the mix in the Huron league.
We will be coming out with our schedule analysis very soon.
Team Previews will also be in the mix.
2021 SMCC SCHEDULE
Week 1 home against Almont
Week 2 home against GI
Week 3 at Airport
Week 4 at Milan
Week 5 home against Riverview
Week 6 at Flat Rock
Week 7 at New Boston Huron
Week 8 at Jefferson
Week 9 home against Clarkston Everest Collegiate
Tough schedule like usual for the Falcons. I am predicting a 6-3 record with losses to Milan, Riverview and Huron. CEC will not be a cakewalk at all.
Everest most likely won't happen. Catholic League Championship is always week 9. They have been in it 3 years straight.
Chris
Does that mean SMCC could be left with an open date late or does it go to the next Catholic League team available? I don't know much about the CL, I am guessing that would be one of the Gabriel Richard's ?
Well the last 3 years Riverview GR has been the opponent for Everest in the CHSL Championship. I’m not sure who the opponent would be.
Illustrating once again why Gary is my go to guy for all questions Division 8.
Ill be honest Don, it was basically a coin flip between Sand Creek, Centreville and Clarkston.
I watched the entire game between SC and Centreville. What stood out to me most was how the undersized D-line
of Centreville more than held their own. Great D8 game, single wing vs double wing veer action.
SC had a fantastic year.