Rapid Reaction: 2024 Playoff Matchups

By Gary Hauf, Chris Schultz, and Frank Vajcner

With all of the playoff matchups having been announced, the guys offered a couple of quick takes on those matchups involving eight of the blog teams that qualified.

Division 2

Bedford at Carlson

Chris: I like the Marauders here, but I believe the Kicking Mules have played a much tougher schedule and may give Jason Gendron’s squad a good game. Teams like Saline, Dexter and St Francis are most likely better than anyone on the Marauder schedule. The winner will get a winnable game in the District Final with Allen park/Livonia Franklin on the other side of the bracket.

Frank: On paper, this looks like a mismatch, as Carlson has far more explosive playmakers than Bedford does. But if there is any hope for the Mules, it’s that Trenton, who runs a similar offense to Bedford, was able to beat the Marauders not long ago. Another interesting fact about this is that Carlson’s principal, Jessica Shultz, is married to Bedford’s superintendent, Dr. Carl Shultz.

Gary: At first glance, with the season Carlson is having, you would think this game might be over by half. However, the SEC Red is certainly a better conference than the Down River League. I think Bedford hangs in this game, with Carlson pulling away in the 4th quarter. Some might even say this could be an upset special. We will see!!

Division 3

Riverview at Trenton

Chris: This is a great match up and should be a barn burner. Riverview is obviously loaded, but Trenton’s Reggie Glon has proven what kind of coach he is since he arrived Downriver. This looks to be a pick’em game. River Rouge and Southgate Anderson are on the other side of the bracket. I like either teams chances aginst the winner in the district final.

Frank: It’s a rematch of last year’s first round, only this time, it will be Trenton with home field advantage. The Trojans have won six of their last seven games, and came within a whisker of winning seven in a row. Despite losing star RB Ian Adams to an injury, the Pirates have plenty of depth at that position, and an experienced QB in Lucas Thompson.

Gary: Fantastic match-up here!! Backyard Rivals?.. well they should be. Two similarly built teams. Tough kids, great coaches, teams built to try and beat you up with physicality. I have no idea who is going to win this game, I really don’t. Should be a last possession type thing. Don’t turn it over or you may find yourself sitting at home week 11.

Divison 5

Detroit Denby at Flat Rock

Chris: I like this match up for the Rams. While Denby has been a solid program for a good decade, this is not the team they boasted in 2018 or 2019. The Rams simply have to much size talent and depth. The district final could be interesting. I think the Rams can handle Summit, but have some concern if they have to play a speedy, well-coached (Ricky Gonzalez) Detroit Voyageur team.

Frank: The Rams appear to have a nice path to the State Semifinals (assuming they don’t run into anyone who runs the Full House T). The last time that Denby faced a Monroe County team was 2018, when they squeaked by Ida in the second round. Here’s an interesting fact: both teams have a combined 1-5 record against teams in this year’s playoffs.

Gary: Flat Rock has an excellent path to a state semi-final. It could not have worked out any better. That doesn’t mean they won’t be challenged however. I don’t think that challenge will come in this game. I would put the Rams as a 3-4 touchdown favorite over the Tars. Week 11 might provide a better match-up for the Rams.

Division 6

Dearborn Advanced Tech at Ida

Chris: I have been high on Ida all season and believe they have enough talent to make a run. Advanced Tech is an interesting match up for the Bluestreaks. The Lakers have excellent speed and good size upfront. Laker Head Coach Lonnie Burkes is familiar with Ida as he was the D-Line coach at River Rouge when they beat Ida in the 2015 D5 semi-finals. (for the record, I will be rooting hard for Advanced Tech as I started the program back in 2018 with a JV team). JLC will most likely await the winner as the Titans have opted up from D7 this season.

Frank: If you love a feel-good story, the Lakers are making their first playoff appearance while playing a nine-game schedule (yes, they made it in 2020 during COVID, but that was a six-game schedule). Oddly enough, they faced Ida back then, and got their doors blown off 56-12. The Blue Streaks have been on fire since dropping a heartbreaker to Hudson in Week 3, thanks to a powerful ground attack led by senior RB Dean Thomas. Unfortunately for both teams, the other side of the bracket has a monolith waiting in Jackson Lumen Christi.

Gary: Well Chris, congrats on your Mighty Lakers on making the playoffs!! Unfortunately they find themselves having to travel to Hemelgarn Field, to take on a top 5 team in D6. I don’t see this one as being competitive for long. Ida is just too powerful. Could Ida be caught looking ahead to a district final game vs Lumen Christi?? Maybe this allows ATA to hang early, but Ida is surely the favorite here.

Divison 7

Blissfield at SMCC

Chris: This Falcon team appears to have everything needed to make a Ford Field run. They have size, speed, skill, depth, discipline and coaching. Blissfield enters at 4-5 and let’s face it, this isn’t 2007. Clinton or Whiteford await in the district final and with JLC opting up a division, the winner of this district could be playing Thanksgiving Day weekend although I expect Hudson will have something to say about that in the semi-final.

Frank: These two schools have some history in the postseason with each other, as they met five times in the 2000’s, but have not met since 2009. This is another matchup that looks like a mismatch on paper, as the Falcons have a lot of firepower on both sides of the ball, compared to the Royals, who don’t have anywhere close to the depth.

Gary: SMCC is firing on all cylinders after crushing a power house program in Country Day. Blissfield did what they had to do in week 9, getting the victory over Dundee. If SMCC takes care of the ball and does not get caught looking ahead, this one has the potential to be a blow out.

Whiteford at Clinton

Chris: I’ve used the term “Heart of a Champion” all season to describe the Bobcats and I won’t stop now. I saw these two teams scrimmage back in August and it should be a great game. The winner will most likely be rewarded with SMCC in the district final and quite frankly, who wouldn’t want to see Whiteford and SMCC meet? Well…maybe the Clinton faithful.

Frank: In the last year of the Tri-County Conference, two former conference foes will meet up at Wegner Field in Clinton. The Red Wolves, while not appearing as strong as they have been in previous years, are still tough on home turf. The Bobcats, who have moved up to Division 7 for the first time since 2012, have played a murderous road schedule with a lot of travel. This will be the second shortest road trip of the season for Todd Thieken and company.

Gary: These two teams scrimmaged back in August.. I was there. I came away thinking Clinton looked to be the better team.. not by a wide margin however. As of Monday, I am leaning towards Whiteford to take this one. It will be close anyway you slice it, but I think the versatility of the Bobcats gets it done. Wonderful opening round game.

Division 8

Manchester at Summerfield

Chris: Who would have thunk back in August that the Bulldogs would go 8-1 and that it would include a victory at Whiteford? Not this guy, but Summerfield has made a believer out of me and I am excited to see how far they can go. Riverview Gabriel Richard will most likely await the winner. The Pioneers are talented, but have limited depth

Frank: The Bulldogs are not only back in the playoffs for the first time since 2021, but will be hosting a game for the first time since 2015. Some consider the Dawgs to be a sleeper in Division 8. In the first year of the Josh Lindeman era, the Flying Dutchmen went 7-2 while averaging 36.4 points per game, AND their first year of running the Full House T offense. Both teams faced each other in a scrimmage before the season.

Gary: Good game here. Summerfield has a pretty nice path. If they happen to get by the Flying Dutchmen, Riverview Gabriel Richard awaits. I hope we get to see that one. But after that, the winner of that game would be the favorite to make it to Ford Field. Summerfield to Ford Field? I believe it can happen. But the Bulldogs have a tough one, off the bat, in Manchester.