We are back with our District Finals picks. This week, we have a guest picker as Taylor head coach Michael Pitts joins the guys. Last week both Jason and Josh finished with identical 18-5 records.
Division 1
Clarkston (8-2) at Davison (9-1)
Clarkston vs Davison, these two teams have seen each other two other times in the last two years, with both teams taking a game each. This year’s game saw Davison come away with a 28-21 victory. This is a second straight rematch for both teams as they both played and beat opponents from week eight last week. Can Clarkston make it out of Districts for the first time since 2018, or will this Davison team make it out for the first time since 2020? We will find out Friday, November 4, at 7 pm.
Coach Pitts: Clarkston
Jason: Clarkston
Josh: Davison
Rochester (6-4) at Rochester Adams (9-1)
Cross-town rivals Rochester and Rochester Adams meet for a second time this season. This rivalry has seen Adams win every game since 1997. Adams also leads the all-time series 38-14. Rochester will look to end their losing streak vs Adams on Friday, November 4, at 7 pm.
Coach Pitts: Rochester Adams
Jason: Rochester Adams
Josh: Rochester Adams
Saline (8-2) at Belleville (10-0)- Game of the Week
Saline and Belleville will meet for the sixth time and the first since 2019. Saline leads the all-time series 4-1. In the last meeting, which came in the 2019 playoffs saw, Belleville won 49-10. For Belleville, it’s another week, another distraction for Belleville as their coach Jermain Crowell was suspended by the school a day before the game. Can Belleville overcome this suspension? Will Saline be able to make it 5-1 over Belleville? Find out Friday, November 4 at 7 pm.
Coach Pitts: Belleville
Jason: Belleville
Josh: Belleville
Detroit Catholic Central (7-2) at Northville (8-2)
Both teams are coming off two good wins a week ago. For Catholic Central, they had to come from behind versus a good Dearborn team. For Northville, they had to do the exact thing they did in week eight: hold off a good Novi team. Find out which powerhouse can overcome the other this week. Kick-off is set for 7:30 pm on Friday, November 4.
Coach Pitts: Northville
Jason: Detroit Catholic Central
Josh: Northville
Detroit Cass Tech (7-3) at Southfield Arts & Technology (7-2)
A rematch from week one. The first time these two met this season, it went to Southfield 56-54 in overtime. The game did have to be paused the first time as there was an issue with fans in the stands. Can we get through an entire game here with no issues? Cass Tech hopes to upset the number one team in their district after beating West Bloomfield a week ago. Southfield hopes for more of the same from week one. Whoever holds on could see themselves playing in the state semifinals in a few weeks. Who you got? Kick-off is set for Saturday, November 5, at 1 pm.
Coach Pitts: Cass Tech
Jason: Cass Tech
Josh: Cass Tech
Caledonia (9-1) at Rockford (10-0)
A week nine rematch that saw Rockford shock a lot of people and blow out Caledonia. Caledonia is going to want blood this time around, as they have been considered one of the best teams in the state up until that game. This game gives this rivalry a whole new meaning as kick-off is set for 7 pm on Friday, November 4.
Coach Pitts: Caledonia
Jason: Caledonia
Josh: Caledonia
Grand Ledge (8-2) at Holt (7-3)
Grand Ledge and Holt meet up again after an exciting week three matchup saw Holt get a 14-6 win. Grand Ledge had a convincing 38-3 win over Brighton in their week one playoff win; as for Holt, they had a close win over Heartland 14-7. Will Grand Ledge be able to get revenge, or will Holt be able to get their footing back? Find out November 4 at 7 pm.
Coach Pitts: Grand Ledge
Jason: Grand Ledge
Josh: Grand Ledge
Division 2
Portage Northern (7-3) at East Lansing (7-3)
Last week East Lansing’s defense pitched a shutout as they beat Battle Creek Central 24-0. On the other hand, Portage Northern put up 44 points over Byron Center in the week one playoff win. Can East Lansing’s defense hold tough against the high-power offense? We will find out Friday, November 4, at 7 pm.
Coach Pitts: Portage Northern
Jason: East Lansing
Josh: East Lansing
South Lyon (7-3) at Dexter (10-0)
South Lyon was able to beat rival South Lyon East for the second week in a row last week. That one, however, took double overtime to pick a winner. Dexter welcomed in Milford, but there were no worries as Dexter was able to give their starters the fourth quarter off as they rolled to a 45-15 win. Who takes this one? Will Dexter’s stars be too much, or can South Lyon find a way to get by the stars? Kick-off is Friday, November 4, at 7 pm.
Coach Pitts: Dexter
Jason: Dexter
Josh: Dexter
Temperance Bedford (8-2) at Livonia Franklin (9-1)
Bedford and Franklin meet in the playoffs for the second straight year. Last year Franklin beat Bedford 35-14, and the game was at Bedford. This year the game is at Franklin. Can Bedford repay the favor this year? Find out Friday, November 4 at 7 pm.
Coach Pitts: Franklin
Jason: Franklin
Josh: Bedford
Warren De La Salle Collegiate (9-1) at Roseville (8-2)
De La Salle is looking to make it back to a quarter-final after a win versus Roseville. Roseville will look to catch De La Salle lacking, as they haven’t been the best defensively. Will Roseville cause a massive upset in the second round? Find out Friday, November 4 at 7 pm.
Coach Pitts: De La Salle
Jason: De La Salle
Josh: De La Salle
Division 3
DeWitt (7-3) at Mount Pleasant (9-1)
DeWitt will travel north to Mount Pleasant as they look to make it to a third straight final. Mount Pleasant will look to slow down Bryce Kurncz, who had six touchdowns last week (two rushing, two passing, and two receiving). Mount Pleasant’s defense will look to keep up the shutout from last week. Will the Bryce Kurncz led DeWitt Panthers be too much for Mount Pleasant? Find out Friday, November 4 at 7 pm.
Coach Pitts: DeWitt
Jason: Mount Pleasant
Josh: DeWitt
Jackson (6-4) at Mason (10-0)
Mason is closing in on another deep playoff run if they can get by Jackson. This Mason team is battle tested and might be too much for a Jackson team. That’s the defense has been up and down. Can Jackson stand up to the test, or will Mason use their might to overtake Jackson and see a second straight quarter-final appearance? Kick-off is November 4 at 7 pm.
Coach Pitts: Mason
Jason: Mason
Josh: Mason
Trenton (9-1) at Gibraltar Carlson (9-1)
Trenton and Carlson will meet to see who is the true champion of the Downriver League. Trenton will look to lean heavily on quarterback Ty Norgren, while Carlson will lean on running back Omari Carter. Which team will come out of this Downriver League tilt? Kick-off is November 4 at 7 pm.
Coach Pitts: Carlson
Jason: Carlson
Josh: Trenton
Allen Park (6-4) at Detroit Martin Luther King (6-3)
Allen Park will travel to Detroit for the second straight year to face off against Martin Luther King. Dante Moore will look to end Allen Park’s season again, and it might not be that hard with the worst defense Allen Park has had in years. Allen Park will lean on running back Owen Alvarez to try and win this one.
Coach Pitts: Detroit MLK
Jason: Detroit MLK
Josh: Detroit MLK
Division 4
Orchard Lake St Mary’s (4-5) at Madison Heights Lamphere (8-2)
Orchard Lake, at 4-5, is still the scariest team in the playoffs. With a quarterback visiting Purdue and a wide receiver who just started playing this year and already has big-time offers, they are a team to be scared of. Lamphere’s is an all-around phenomenal team, and they will look to end this Cinderella run of Orchard Lake. Find out if the all-around team can move on or if Cinderella still has time. Kick-off is November 4 at 7 pm.
Coach Pitts: Lamphere
Jason: Orchard Lake
Josh: Orchard Lake
Tecumseh (10-0) at Riverview (10-0)
In a battle of 10-0 teams, something has to give. This might be Riverviews best team and best shot at a state title. Tecumseh has one of the highest-scoring offenses in the state. Is Riverview going to be too physical, or can Tecumseh battle through? Kick-off is set for 7 pm on November 4.
Coach Pitts: Riverview
Jason: Tecumseh
Josh: Riverview
Livonia Clarenceville (6-4) at Dearborn Divine Child (8-2)
A rematch of a week five game that saw Divine Child come away with a 15-8 victory. Clarenceville has had an up-and-down year; they lost to each team they played that made the postseason, but when push came to shove, they got the win in the first round. Can Clarenceville’s playoff win last week spark a fire under a team that had lost to the best teams they played all year? Kick-off is set for 7 pm on November 4.
Coach Pitts: Divine Child
Jason: Divine Child
Josh: Divine Child
Division 5
Romulus Summit Academy North (8-2) at Flat Rock (7-3)
After hosting their first playoff game last week, Flat Rock wants to do it again as they are hosting Summit for a district final. History will be made tonight as both teams are looking for their first district title in school history. Will Summits’ defense hold strong, or will Flat Rocks’ offense be too tough to handle? Kick-off will be at 7 pm on November 4.
Coach Pitts: Summit
Jason: Flat Rock
Josh: Flat Rock