We have hit that magical time of year again that we like to call the playoffs in the MHSAA. We will go through and give you a closer look at some games we feel are the best. We will have our staff Josh Abeare, Jason Kirby, Natalia Terleckyj, and a guest pick the winner of each matchup.
This week’s guest picker is Chad Bonmon. Bonmon wrapped up his third season as the Head Coach at Lincoln Park High School and fourth year on staff.
Unless noted, all games will be played on Friday, October 27, 2023, at 7 PM.
Division 1
Brighton (5-4) at Northville (8-1)
This is a rematch of a week three game that saw Northville come out on top with a final of 24-10. This will be the 38th all-time meeting between the two schools, with Northville leading the series 26-10-1.
Abeare: Northville
Kirby: Northville
Nat: Northville
Bonmon: Brighton
Detroit Catholic Central (7-2) at Novi (7-2)
This will be the first meeting for the two schools since 2020, when they met in the second round of the playoffs when Catholic Central won 37-0. This will be the fifth meeting between the two schools. Detroit Catholic Central leads the series 5-0.
Abeare: Detroit CC
Kirby: Novi
Nat: Detroit CC
Bonmon: Detroit CC
Ann Arbor Huron (5-4) at Belleville (9-0)
The last time these two met was in 2021 in the pre-district game. That closely contested game saw Belleville come out on top 14-10. This will be just the third time the schools meet, with the series sitting at 1-1.
Abeare: Belleville
Kirby: Belleville
Nat: Belleville
Bonmon: Belleville
Ann Arbor Pioneer (6-3) at Saline (8-1)
This is another rematch from the regular season, which went to Saline as they beat Pioneer 56-0 back in week three. This will be the 30th meeting between the conference foes. Saline leads in this series 20-9 all-time. Saline is on a 12-game winning streak vs Pioneer dating back to September 14, 2012.
Abeare: Saline
Kirby: Saline
Nat: Saline
Bonmon: Saline
Rochester Adams (6-3) at West Bloomfield (7-2)
In week five, these two schools met up and saw West Bloomfield win 36-32. These two have met 26 times coming into this game, with Adams leading the series 16-10.
Abeare: West Bloomfield
Kirby: Rochester Adams
Nat: West Bloomfield
Bonmon: West Bloomfield
Dearborn Fordson (5-4) at Southfield Arts & Technology (8-1)
First ever matchup between the two schools. Previous playoff best for Southfield was a loss in the 2016 regional to Utica Eisenhower. Fordson’s best was winning the state title in 1993.
Abeare: Southfield A&T
Kirby: Southfield A&T
Nat: Southfield A&T
Bonmon: Southfield A&T
Detroit Cass Tech (6-3) at Westland John Glenn (7-2)
This is the first-ever matchup between the two schools. The best finish for Cass Tech was winning the state title three times in 2011,2012 and 2016. The best finish for John Glenn was a loss in the 1993 state finals.
Abeare: Cass Tech
Kirby: Cass Tech
Nat: Cass Tech
Bonmon: Cass Tech
Division 2
Milford (6-3) at White Lake Lakeland (6-3)
We have another rematch of teams. This time, it’s back-to-back, with Lakeland winning in the regular season final 14-7. In this, the 53rd all-time meeting between the two schools, and Lakeland has the series lead 27-25.
Abeare: Milford
Kirby: Milford
Nat: Milford
Bonmon: Milford
Birmingham Groves (6-3) at Birmingham Seaholm (8-1)
A cross-town rivalry and a rematch from the regular season final happens at Seaholm. Seaholm got away with the victory in the regular season, 21-14. The cross-town rivals will meet for the 69th time, with Seaholm leading the series 43-25.
Abeare: Groves
Kirby: Seaholm
Nat: Seaholm
Bonmon: Groves
Livonia Franklin (6-3) at Waterford Mott (7-2) Saturday October 28 3:00 PM
This will only be the second meeting between the two teams, with Franklin winning the last meeting in the 2021 playoffs by a final of 43-26.
Abeare: Mott
Kirby: Franklin
Nat: Mott
Bonmon: Mott
Livonia Churchill (4-5) at Gibraltar Carlson (8-1)
This will be the first matchup between the two teams. The best-ever finish for Churchill has been losses in the regional round three times in 2004, 2019, and 2020. Carlson’s best finish has been four losses in the district final game in 2022, 2021, 2017, and 2006.
Abeare: Churchill
Kirby:Churchill
Nat: Churchill
Bonmon: Carlson
Dexter (6-3) at Allen Park (8-1)
Yet again, this is another first-time matchup for this first round of the playoffs. The best finish for Allen Park came in 1995 and 2003, as they made it to and lost the state final. The best finish for Dexter came last year when they lost in the state semifinal.
Abeare: Dexter
Kirby: Dexter
Nat: Dexter
Bonmon: Allen Park
Warren Cousino (6-3) at Warren De La Salle Collegiate (7-2)
This will be only the second meeting for the two schools separated by two miles. The last meeting came in 2002 in the playoffs and saw De La Salle win that matchup by a final of 14-0.
Abeare: De La Salle
Kirby: De La Salle
Nat: De La Salle
Bonmon: De La Salle
Detroit U of D Jesuit (6-2) at Warren Mott (6-3)
This will be the first meeting for the two schools. The best finish for U of D was two state semifinal appearances in 1999 and 2001. The best finish for Mott came in 2020 when they made it to the regional.
Abeare: U of D
Kirby: U of D
Nat: U of D
Bonmon: U of D
Division 3
Linden (4-5) at Mason (9-0)
For Mason and Linden, this will be the fourth meeting. The other three meetings have also come in the playoffs, with Mason holding a 2-1 series lead. The last time these two met was in 2014, which was a Mason victory by a final of 28-13.
Abeare: Mason:
Kirby: Mason
Nat: Mason
Bonmon: Mason
Fenton (6-3) at DeWitt (6-2)
This is the first meeting for the two schools. The best finish for DeWitt came in 2020 when they won the state title. Fenton has made it to the regional round three times for their best finish.
Abeare: DeWitt
Kirby: DeWitt
Nat: Fenton
Bonmon: DeWitt
Detroit Martin Luther King (4-5) at Port Huron (7-2)
These two teams have met twice, with King taking both back in 2013 and 2014. This will be the team’s first time meeting in the playoffs, with the other two games coming in the regular season.
Abeare: King
Kirby: King
Nat: Port Huron
Bonmon: King
River Rouge (5-4) at Southgate Anderson (7-2)
These two have met four previous times, with the series tied at two games apiece. These schools last met in 2002, a game that River Rouge won 35-6.
Abeare: River Rouge
Kirby: River Rouge
Nat: River Rouge
Bonmon: River Rouge
Trenton (5-4) at Riverview (8-1)
This will be the 27th meeting between the two schools. Trenton leads the series 15-11, with the last meeting coming in 2017, a game that Riverview won 34-7.
Abeare: Riverview
Kirby: Riverview
Nat: Riverview
Bonmon: Riverview
Division 4
Croswell-Lexington (7-2) at Harper Woods (6-3)
This is the first time these schools have met. Harper Woods has made it to the regional round twice, in 1995 and 2007. The best finish for Croswell-Lexington came in 2008 when they made it to the state semifinal.
Abeare: Harper Woods
Kirby: Harper Woods
Nat: Croswell-Lexington
Bonmon: Harper Woods
Detroit East English (5-4) at Carleton Airport (8-1)
This is the first time these two schools will have met. Airport has made it to the regionals twice, in 2002 and 2005. Since it opened in 2012, Detroit East English has made it to the regional round twice. The first came in 2012, and the other in 2015.
Abeare: Airport
Kirby: Airport
Nat: Airport
Bonmon: Airport
Dearborn Divine Child (5-4) at Redford Union (7-2)
These two schools have met once before in the 2016 playoffs, where Divine Child came out on top by a final of 31-7.
Abeare: Divine Child
Kirby: Divine Child
Nat: Redford Union
Bonmon: Divine Child
Division 5
Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard (7-2) at Dearborn Heights Robichaud (6-3)
This is the first time that these two schools have met. In 1990, Robichaud won the state title, which was their best finish. A semifinal appearance in 2012 is the best finish for Gabriel Richard.
Abeare: Robichaud
Kirby: Robichaud
Nat: Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard
Bonmon: Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard
Detroit Denby (8-1) at Detroit Southeastern (6-3)
Meeting 46 times before, Denby and Southeastern last played in the 2021 season. In that game, Southeastern came out on top by a final of 49-0.
Abeare: Denby
Kirby: Denby
Nat: Denby
Bonmon: Denby
Milan (4-5) at Flat Rock (6-3)
Conference rivals will meet in the playoffs. Meeting 42 times, it’s Milan who has the Rams by the horns as they lead the series 30-12. Flat Rock has won the last two games over Milan, including a 49-21 victory in week six this year.
Abeare: Flat Rock
Kirby: Flat Rock
Nat: Flat Rock
Bonmon: Flat Rock
Romulus (5-4) at Romulus Summit Academy North (7-2)
Playing three previous times with Summit Academy taking all three meetings. The last meeting for the two schools came in 2021, with Summit coming out on top 19-12.
Abeare: Romulus
Kirby: Summit
Nat: Summit
Bonmon: Summit
Division 6
Detroit Pershing (5-4) at Ecorse (7-1)
This will be the first-ever meeting between these two. Pershing has made it to the regional round twice before but lost in 2001 and 2004. Ecorse made it to the semifinals in 2011, but lost by one.
Abeare: Ecorse
Kirby: Ecorse
Nat: Ecorse
Bonmon: Ecorse
Clawson (7-2) at Warren Michigan Collegiate (9-0) Saturday October 28 1:00 PM
This will be the first time that these two have met. Clawson made it to the regional round in 1993 and hasn’t made it out of the district round since then. Michigan Collegiate has been to the state finals in 2021 but lost to Lansing Catholic Central.
Abeare: Michigan Collegiate
Kirby: Michigan Collegiate
Nat: Michigan Collegiate
Bonmon: Michigan Collegiate
Detroit Old Redford (8-1) at Detroit Edison (6-3) Saturday, October 28 4:00 PM
These two teams have never met before. Old Redford has never made it out of the district round, and the only time they made it to the district final game was in 2014. Edison has made it to the playoffs twice and only made it to the district finals in 2020.
Abeare: Edison
Kirby: Edison
Nat: Old Redford
Bonmon: Edison
Division 7
Grass Lake (6-3) at Jackson Lumen Christi (8-1)
These two teams have never met before. Grass Lake’s best finish came in 2006 when they lost in the state finals. Lumen Christi is a powerhouse and has won the state title 12 times, including three in a row for 2016-2018. Their last championship came last year.
Abeare: Lumen Christi
Kirby: Lumen Christi
Nat: Lumen Christi
Bonmon: Lumen Christi
Detroit Loyola (4-5) at Monroe St Mary Catholic Central (5-4)
This is the first time these two teams have met, for St. Mary’s Catholic Central won the state title three times, with their last coming in 2019. Detroit Loyola won the state title in 2014, their best post-season outcome.
Abeare: SMCC
Kirby: Loyola
Nat: Loyola
Bonmon: SMCC
Detroit Central (4-5) at Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett (7-2)
This will be the first time that these two will meet. Detroit Central made it to the semifinals in 1980. However, they did lose, which is their best finish to date. For University Liggett, they made it to the regional round once, which was in 1997 in a game that they lost.
Abeare: Liggett
Kirby: Liggett
Nat: Liggett
Bonmon: Liggett
Division 8
Allen Park Cabrini (4-5) at Sterling Heights Parkway Christian (7-2)
Cabrini and Parkway Christian have met three previous times in which Parkway Christian has won two of the three games. They last played a week two matchup that saw Parkway Christian beat Cabrini 50-21.
Abeare: Cabrini
Kirby: Parkway
Nat: Parkway
Bonmon: Parkway
Mount Clemens (5-4) at Riverview Gabriel Richard (5-4)
The last game on our picks list is another first-time matchup for the two schools. The best finish for Mt. Clemens is a regional round game in 1992. Gabriel Richard has also made it to the regionals; however, that one is more recent, as they made it in 2018.
Abeare: Gabriel Richard
Kirby: Mt. Clemens
Nat: Mt. Clemens
Bonmon: Gabriel Richard