Each year Gary, Frank and Chris make their playoff picks for Michigan High School football. They will pick a Final Four, State Champion and a Sleeper. Read on to find out what the guys think.
Division 1
Chris:
Final Four: Rockford, Belleville, Lake Orion, Chippewa Valley
Champion: Rockford
Sleeper: Novi Catholic Central
Frank:
Final Four: Rockford, Belleville, Lake Orion, Chippewa Valley
Champion: Belleville
Sleeper: John Glenn
Gary:
Final Four: Rockford, Belleville, Lake Orion, Southfield
Champion: Lake Orion
Sleeper: Dakota
Division 2
Chris:
Final Four: Muskegon, Caledonia, Allen Park, De La Salle
Champion: De La Salle
Sleeper: Dexter
Frank:
Final Four: Muskegon, Caledonia, Waterford Mott, De La Salle
Champion: De La Salle
Sleeper: Dexter
Gary:
Final Four: Muskegon, Caledonia, Groves, De La Salle
Champion: De La Salle
Sleeper: Groves
Division 3
Chris:
Final Four: Gaylord, East Grand Rapids, Mason, River Rouge
Champion: Mason
Sleeper: Lowell
Frank:
Final Four: Mt. Pleasant, Zeeland West, Mason, Riverview
Champion: Mason
Sleeper: Parma Western
Gary:
Final Four: GRFHC, Zeeland West, Mason, River Rouge
Champion: Mason
Sleeper: East Grand Rapids
Division 4
Chris:
Final Four: Whitehall, Portland, Goodrich, Harper Woods
Champion: Portland
Sleeper: Divine Child
Frank:
Final Four: Whitehall, Niles, Chelsea, Harper Woods
Champion: Whitehall
Sleeper: Paw Paw
Gary:
Final Four: Whitehall, Niles, Chelsea, Harper Woods
Champion: Harper Woods
Sleeper: Hastings
Division 5
Chris:
Final Four: Gladwin, GRCC, Notre Dame Prep, Flat Rock
Champion: GRCC
Sleeper: Kingsford
Frank:
Final Four: Frankenmuth, Grand Rapids West Catholic, Notre Dame Prep, Flat Rock
Champion: GRWC
Sleeper: Kingsford
Gary:
Final Four: Frankenmuth, GRCC, Corunna, Flat Rock
Champion: GRCC
Sleeper: Belding
Division 6
Chris:
Final Four: Kingsley, Clare, Ida, Michigan Collegiate
Champion: Michigan Collegiate
Sleeper: Olivet
Frank:
Final Four: Gladstone, Hart, Constantine, Michigan Collegiate
Champion: Michigan Collegiate
Sleeper: Michigan Center
Gary:
Final Four: Kingsley, Constantine, Clare, Almont
Champion: Clare
Sleeper: Ida
Division 7
Chris:
Final Four: Menominee, Pewamo-Westphalia, Millington, Lumen Christi
Champion: Lumen Christi
Sleeper: Benzie Central
Frank
Final Four: Menominee, Lawton, Millington, Lumen Christi
Champion: JLC
Sleeper: Schoolcraft
Gary:
Final Four: Menominee, Pewamo, Millington, JLC
Champion: JLC
Sleeper: TCSF
Division 8
Chris:
Final Four: Iron Mountain, Ubly, Whiteford, Everest
Champion: Whiteford
Sleeper: East Jordan
Frank:
Final Four: Iron Mountain, Ithaca, Whiteford, Everest Collegiate
Champion: Whiteford
Sleeper: Beal City
Gary:
Final Four: Iron Mountain, Ubly, Whiteford, Everest
Champion: Ubly
Sleeper: Beal City
Thanks for picking our Schoolcraft Eagles as a sleeper pick, Frank!
That’s a great call by Frank.
Only reason I didnt include them, is the Eagles have a very tough road. Frankly(no pun intended) the toughest road of anyone in D7.
Final 4 and state final champions picks
Division 1 semifinals
Rockford over Belleville
Lake Orion over Chippewa Valley
Finals Rockford over Lake Orion
Division 2 semifinals
Muskegon over Byron Center
De La Salle over Dexter
Finals Muskegon over De La Salle
Division 3 semifinals
Forest Hills Central over East Grand Rapids
Mason over River Rouge
Finals Forest Hills Central over Mason
Division 4 semifinals
Niles over Whitehall
Harper Woods over Goodrich
Finals Niles over Harper Woods
Division 5 semifinals
West Catholic over Frankenmouth
ND prep over Flat Rock
Finals West Catholic over ND prep
Division 6 semifinals
Kingsley over Clare
Michigan Collegiate over Constantine
Finals Kingsley over Michigan Collegiate
Division 7 semifinals
Lawton over Menominee
Clinton over Millington
Finals Clinton over Lawton
Division 8 semifinals
Ubly over Iron Mountain
Whiteford over Everest Collegiate
Finals Ubly over Whiteford
Flat Rock should make it to the semifinals if none of the teams run the T.
Division 4 is sleeping on Airport….
Harper Woods is going to be a tall task. Even Divine Child in District Finals won’t be easy. We shall see.
With zero playoff wins since 2005, if Im Airport, I wouldn’t sleep on anyone either.
Airport has at least two playoffs wins since 2005. I believe they won a playoff game in 2007 and again in 2020.
2007. C’mon get it right Gary lol.
Meant 2007.
I believe Airports JV won playoff games in 2006-2013
you people ever gonna give this up, hasn’t been funny for years
What did I say?
I don’t think anyone is “sleeping” on Airport. They pick a “sleeper” as a longer shot to win for fun. Honestly, with HW in that district it will be one of the most difficult to win. HW could make a playoff run in D1 as proven by their schedule filled with D1 /D2 playoff teams. Just enjoy this 1 game at a time, all anyone can do
HW is in a different district than Airport.
Same Region however.
Gary not sure if your “what did I say” comment was directed to me, but I wasn’t talking to you, I was talking to the dude who made the Airport JV joke
Right my bad…..it would be the district champion taking on HW. A district championship is a good thing don’t get me wrong, but all 4 of these teams in this district are “dead men walking” vs HW. Now HW is shady, but it is what it is
Sorry but AP needs to worry about DC. They are most likely better than everyone in the HL. Riverview and the T has always gave them problems. But they are good and played teams like JLC really tough. Beat Milford. I don’t see it as a great march up for AP. I don’t think AP will be able to run the ball. And they will not just get beat over the top. AP will have to out coach DC to win. Should be fun tj see what happens???
So can someone tell me how the week 1 game went between Carlson and Airport? I wasn’t there, but I imagine Airport ran the ball well. What stood out? What was Carlson struggling with? It was a pretty thorough beating by the score, but how do you beat Carlson then lose to Flat Rock? No disrespect to a good D5 team, but we all know Flat Rock would not stand a chance vs Carlson, so the old “if A >B, then B>C just doesn’t add up here. Just curious, trying to make sense of things here. I do know week 1 is the best chance to upset a team, but Airport can say they are better than Carlson, right? Manno y manno they won.
The key to the game was Airport shutting down Carlson’s run game. Except for one long TD run in the first half, Airport did a great job stopping the run. After throwing a pick on I believe the first drive Nye settled in and had a nice game, including a couple big runs. Nothing fancy Airport won the battle of the line of scrimmage on both sides.
I’d be worried about DC. Very strong line and a sophomore running back with offers from just about everyone in the country. They don’t have any bad loses. Good team that’s played a much stronger schedule. Can’t overlook anyone.
As an Airport fan I’m not overlooking anyone. Take away the covid year we haven’t won a playoff game since 2007. I do think this team can make a run, but first things first. Right now the only team that has my attention is East English Village.
I get it focusing on English Village but imho I don’t see them coming within 30 points of Airport. You guys should keep the DC/RU matchups on nhfhs on your phones during your game to see who you will play.
If Airport starts pulling away I’ll probably checkout the Divine Child game.
I thought FR, AP, and RV based on their fans on here already booked overnight stays at Ford Field. Yet no one any of our local teams making it there. That’s sad, lack of confidence, or our local teams just sure not as good as the rest of the field. Any ways good luck to all our local schools in the show. Give ‘em hell and make some noise!
Whiteford is a local team
Gary,
Just add River Rouge to the teams you cover! We are independant so no league to cover. New fan base to the site. Talent to talk about for days.
Nobody likes us downriver can’t get in a leauge that way and they hate us in Detroit and further. We could use the love!
Your type of team make up is counter intuitive to what the Huron league represents. You send busses all over southeast Michigan picking kids up from various school districts. You recruit like a college program. No Huron league team operates this way, we coach up what we get and the system prevails. RR just doesn’t fit our niche.
This is a fact. Good call Peaky Blinders.
GO BUCS!!!!!!!!!!!!