We have officially reached the last week of the High School Football season and the road to Ford Field ends this weekend. All games will take place at Ford Field home of the Detroit Lions. Games will happen on Saturday November 24 and Sunday November 25 with Divisions 2,4,6, and 8 on Saturday and 1,3,5,7 will take place Sunday. Our staff, Josh Abeare, Jason Kirby, and Natalia Terlikyj, will make our picks along with our special guest picker Tom Hoover.
Tom Hoover is a Hall of Fame coach who has 33 years of experience. Hoover just wrapped up his second year as the Head Coach at New Boston Huron.
Last week, Josh finished with a 11-1 Record, Jason had a 9-3 week, Nat finished with a 9-3 record, and Coach Marten had a 8-4 week. That brings the season totals to Josh at 71-23, Jason at 58-36, Nat at 61-33, and our guest pickers at 66-28.
Division 1
Southfield Arts & Technology (12-1) vs Belleville (13-0) Sunday 7:00 PM
In what could be the best game of the weekend, the Belleville Tigers will take on the Southfield A&T Warriors. Last week, Belleville beat Davison 63-21, and Southfield A&T beat West Bloomfield 40-35. This is the first time that the two schools have met.
The Belleville Tigers have been to Ford Field and have won the State Title the last two years. Leading the way for Belleville under center will once again be Bryce Underwood. Underwood has led the Tigers to the previous two championships, and in those games, he is 27 for 46 passing for 439 yards and five touchdowns, and he has 211 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries. While this is the third year for Underwood, it is the first year for new Head Coach Calvin Norman. Norman is the third coach in the last three years for the Tigers. Norman takes over for DeJuan Rogers, who guided the Tigers to their second title last year after Jermain Crowell was suspended. While Underwood is the face of this Belleville run, players like Kevin Simes and Jeremiah Beasley will have to play a significant role if they want to win a third straight title. Players you might not know for Belleville are kicker Brayden Lane and Running Back Colbey Reed. Lane just broke a state record of 207 point after tries(PATs) with his 208th. On the other hand, Reed finished the semifinals with 228 yards and four touchdowns on 13 carries.
The Warriors of Southfield A&T are looking for their first-ever State Title. The Warriors are led by Head Coach Aaron Marshall, who is in his third season. Under center for the Warriors is Kansas Commit Isiah Marshall. On the season, Marshall has completed 173 of his 263 passing attempts for 2833 yards and 39 touchdowns. He also has 1373 yards and 11 touchdowns on 121 carries. The majority of Marshall’s passes went to Tashi Braceful. Braceful pulled in 61 receptions for 921 yards and 13 touchdowns. Xavi Bowman and Mathias Davis are other players to watch this week as Davis leads all other rushers with seven touchdowns, and Bowman has ten touchdowns and 769 yards on 35 receptions.
Josh: Belleville
Jason: Belleville
Nat: Belleville
Coach Hoover: Belleville
Division 3
Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central (12-1) vs Mason (13-0) Sunday 12:30 PM
Last Week, Mason beat Detroit King 26-20, and Forest Hills Central edged out Zeeland West 18-14. This will be the first time that Mason and Forest Hills Central will meet.
Forest Hills Central is back in the championship game for a second season. They lost in the Division Two championship a year ago to De La Salle. Senior Ty Hudkins and JT Hartman will look to bring what they learned from last year’s game to help their team win the State Title this year. Hudkins is a two-way star for Forest Hills Central. On the season, Hudkins has 983 total yards and seven touchdowns. Hartman has 1232 yards and 17 touchdowns on 163 carries.
Mason will be led into battle by Junior Quarterback Cason Carswell. Carswell has completed 148 of his 212 passes for 2371 yards and 30 touchdowns. He’s also rushed 57 times for 294 yards and three touchdowns. AJ Martel has been the lead back for Mason, carrying the ball 144 times for 1293 yards and 25 touchdowns. It’s been Kaleb Parrish and Tyler Baker on the receiving end of things, as they have combined for 1209 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Josh: Mason
Jason: FHC
Nat: Mason
Coach Hoover: Mason
Division 5
Grand Rapids Catholic Central (12-1) vs Corunna (13-0) Sunday 4:00 PM
Last week, Grand Rapids Catholic Central beat Frankenmuth 35-0, and Corunna beat Flat Rock 49-0. These two have met one other time. That matchup was back in 1979, a game that Catholic Central won 40-20.
Catholic Central is looking for their seventh State Title since 2010. The man responsible for that success is Head Coach Todd Kolster. Leading Kolster’s team on the field is Senior Quarterback Connor Wolf. Wolf has thrown for 2385 yards and 23 touchdowns on the season. Wolf has also rushed for an additional 406 and seven touchdowns. Leading the way for the rushing attack has been Kellen Russell-Dixon. Russell-Dixon has gained 1560 yards and 22 touchdowns. He also has another three touchdowns and 332 yards.
Corunna is looking for their first-ever State Title. Corunna is in this spot, thanks to the family connections. The family connections come thanks to two sets of Brothers. Those are the Bower Twins (Tarick and Wyatt) and the Edington Brothers( Bryce and Jaden). Wyatt Bower is the starting Quarterback for Corunna. Wyatt has completed 97 of 140 passes for 2191 yards and 25 touchdowns. He has also run it 72 times for 943 yards and 15 touchdowns. Jaden Edington is the other runner that Corunna leans on heavily, as he has rushed for 920 yards and 16 touchdowns. Wyatt’s favorite target has been his brother Tarick. Wyatt has found Tarick 41 times for 18 touchdowns and 1289 yards to keep the brotherly connection alive in Corunna.
Josh: GRCC
Jason: GRCC
Nat: Corunna
Coach Hoover: GRCC
Division 7
Menominee (11-2) vs Jackson Lumen Christi (12-1) Sunday 9:30 AM
Last week, Menominee beat North Muskegon 32-21, and Lumen Christi beat Millington 35-7. These two teams last met in the 2007 State Finals. That game went to Menominee by a final of 21-7.
Menominee is looking for their first State Title since that 2007 season. However, they were last in the big game in 2016. Leading Menominee into battle will be Quarterback Trevor Theuerkauf. Theuerkauf has passed for 21 touchdowns and 1606 yards. His favorite target has been his brother, Tanner Theuerkauf. The Theuerkauf brothers have connected 20 times for 362 yards and seven touchdowns. Tanner has also played a role in the rushing attack for Menominee, as he has 15 touchdowns and 991 yards on the season. However, Landan Bardowski has been the primary runner for Menominee, as he has 25 touchdowns on 1343 yards.
Lumen Christi is going for their 11th title since 1996. After winning the title last year, they are back to defend their state title. Tim Crowley will lead them into battle this year. Crowley has completed 69 passes for 1133 yards and ten touchdowns. Crawley’s favorite target has been Gabe King, who’s pulled in 31 receptions for 414 yards and four touchdowns. Lumen Christi’s running attack has been the driving force. Kadale Williams and Isaac Rehberg are the main focuses of the Lumen Christi attack. Williams has gone for 1502 yards and 27 touchdowns. On the other hand, Rehberg has gone for 389 yards and 12 scores this year.
Josh: Lumen Christi
Jason: Lumen Christi
Nat: Lumen Christi
Coach Hoover: Lumen Christi