Last Week's Record: 4-1 Season Record: 113-43
Division 1
Detroit Catholic Central vs. Detroit Cass Tech
There is no question that Catholic Central will be out for some revenge after suffering one of the worst losses in team history to the Technicians in last years state title game. But these two teams are both different from what they were last season, so there is a chance that you can expect a very different outcome. The Shamrocks have thrown records out the window since the playoffs started as they entered with a record of 5-4, but have beaten four teams with a combined record of 35-7. In those four playoff games, the Shamrocks have outscored opponents by a combined 128-45, behind its old school brand of offense and some smash mouth defense.
X-Factor: Catholic Central defensive back Jon Malone. Malone had one of, if not the best postseason performance in the state last week with big plays on defense, offense and the return game. But the senior defensive back will be tested quite a bit on Saturday afternoon, facing quarterback Jayru Campbell and a very high-powered Cass Tech offense.
Catholic Central Will Win If: The Shamrocks will win the Division 1 state title if they are able to play their brand of offense and use several time consuming scoring drives to keep the ball away from the Cass Tech offense, while the defense can keep frustrating quarterbacks, like it has throughout the playoffs.
PREDICTION: Catholic Central 21, Cass Tech 17
Division 2
Birmingham Brother Rice vs. Muskegon
This was the match-up that just about everybody expected to see when the playoffs started as both teams cruised through the regular season aside from a minor bump along the way. The Warriors have slowly become one of the most diverse offensive teams around with the two-headed rushing attack of Brian Walker and Shon Powell along with quarterback Cheyne Lacanaria, who has given Brother Rice a legitimate threat through the air. Defensively, Brother Rice has been dominant in every way possible since the playoffs began, allowing just 19 points in the past three games, but will face what might be the best offense they will have seen all year long.
X-Factor(s): Brother Rice quarterback Cheyne Lacanaria and wide receiver Corey Lacanaria. If Muskegon can find a way to slow down the rushing attack, it could come down to the brotherly QB-WR connection to help the offense find a way to keep moving the ball down the field.
Brother Rice Will Win If: The Warriors will win its second straight Division 2 state championship if they are able to slow down a very dangerous Muskegon rushing attack, which features fullback John King, who has rushed for over 1,500 yards on the year to go along with 20 touchdowns. If they can slow him down, then there is a good chance for a repeat on Friday.
PREDICTION: Brother Rice 24, Muskegon 14
Division3
Orchard Lake St. Mary's vs. Grand Rapids Christian
There really haven't been many teams that have been able to keep St. Mary's out of the state game over the course of the past 13 years, the Eaglets have simply been dominant in the four games prior to Ford Field and that was the case once again in 2012. The Eaglets will look to slow down a Grand Rapids Christian team that has scored over 50 points three times this season, including a 68 point effort in a win over Zeeland West in the district finals. Look for the St. Mary's run game, behind Grant Niemiec and Parker McInnis to help set up a very underrated passing game to find holes in the Grand Rapids Christian defense.
X-Factor(s): St. Mary's quarterback Matt Linehan and wide receiver Jalen Watts-Jackson. Just like with Brother Rice, if the running game gets shut down, then the offense will look to find another way to move the ball, and could turn to Linehan and the Eaglet passing attack. With receivers like Watts-Jackson along with Van Jefferson, Tyson Smith and Co. it's unlikely that any team would be able to stop both the rushing attack and the passing game.
St. Mary's Will Win If: The Eaglets will win their second consecutive D-3 title if the defense can continue its dominant ways, as St. Mary's has held eight of its opponents this season to 10 points or less. The key to slowing down the Grand Rapids Christian will be to slow down quarterback Alex Van De Vusse, who has thrown for over 3,000 yards this year, nearly half of which has gone to receiver Drake Harris. If the Eaglets can stop that duo, they'll be hoisting another D-3 trophy.
PREDICTION: St. Mary's 35, Grand Rapids Christian 28
Division 4
Birmingham Detroit Country Day vs. Grand Rapids South Christian
This will be a match-up of two of the most potent offenses that Division 4 had to offer in 2012 as both teams have scored 30 or more points seven times this season, including blowout wins on their way to Ford Field in the postseason. Country Day's offense has proven to be too much to handle for most of the team's it's played during its postseason run, with running back Richie Wilson, who has rushed for over 1,200 yards and 30 touchdowns on the season along with quarterback Tyler Wiegers, who is another top college prospect (along with Wilson) for the class of 2014. Look for the defensive line, anchored by coveted lineman Poet Thomas to put plenty of pressure on the high-powered South Christian passing attack.
X-Factor: Country Day wide receiver Maurice Ways. While the Country Day rushing attack behind Wilson and fullback Gianmarco Rea has been dominant all season long, the Yellowjacket offense has used the run game to set up big plays in the passing game with Wiegers and Ways throughout the season, and you should expect to see more of that at Ford Field on Friday night.
Country Day Will Win If: The Yellowjackets will be holding a state title for the first time since 1999, if they are able to continue to pick up big chunks of yard in the run game behind Wilson and Rea, while putting pressure on the South Christian passing attack behind sophomore quarterback John Wassink, who has totaled over 3,000 yards on the second this year.
PREDICTION: Country Day 42, South Christian 28
Four More Non-Oakland County Predictions:
Division 5
Grand Rapids West Catholic vs. Portland
The Portland offense has been as good as it gets since the playoffs started, averaging over 40 points per game in the postseason, while West Catholic has found a way to sneak out wins since entering the postseason with a 6-3 record. But the Portland rushing attack should prove to be too much for West Catholic on Saturday.
PREDICTION: Portland 31, West Catholic 21
Ithaca vs. Constantine
Ithaca will look to make it two straight state wins over Constantine, while also staying perfect on the season and should do just that behind quarterback Travis Smith, who has thrown for over 2,000 yards, while rushing for just under 1,000 on the season as well.
PREDICTION: Ithaca 49, Constantine 28
Ishpeming vs. Detroit Loyola
Loyola's season has been as close to perfect as you will find this season, as the Bull Dogs have outscored their opponents 571-88. Loyola has rushed for nearly 5,000 yards as a team this season and really hasn't had much of a challenge presented to them so far, and I don't think that will change on Saturday.
PREDICTION: Loyola 49, Ishpeming 21
Beal City vs. Harbor Beach
Both teams have two of the best offenses that you will find in Division 8, as both have scored over 50 points multiple times this season, but it will be Harbor Beach who will win its first ever state championship on Friday.
PREDICTION: Harbor Beach 38, Beal City 35
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