This week we are bringing you a double dose of coverage as we will be at Cass Tech vs Belleville Friday night, and at De La Salle vs Birmingham Groves on Saturday afternoon.
Game One
Two state powers meet for the second time and will go head-to-head for the right to win a State Title. This is the first Friday Night Lights game for the semifinal round.
Belleville enters as the defending division 1 state champs and wants to show its might. Belleville is averaging 51 points a game this season which is better than a year ago. Their defense is equal to last year, only giving up 11 points this season. The last two weeks have challenged Belleville having to play Detroit Catholic Central and Saline. Neither game was close in the end, but Saline hung in there for a little more than a half. Add in an injury to starting Quarterback Bryce Underwood, which was suffered in the win over Saline, and with Head Coach Jermain Crowell still suspended, these playoffs have been anything but easy for the Belleville Tigers. However, this could be what the team needs to fuel the fire.
If we want to talk about an uneasy road, take a look at who Cass Tech has had to play. They have had to face off against one of the toughest playoff schedules to get here as they’ve faced the number five-ranked West Bloomfield, ten-ranked Southfield A&T, and three-ranked Dakota. The challenge doesn’t get easier as they now face the number one ranked team. Will the senior leadership of Leeshaun Mumpfield be able to help guide Cass Tech to its first state championship since 2016?
Is Cass Tech a team of destiny, or will Belleville make a second straight appearance in the State Championship? This is the only Friday Night game this week. Kickoff is set for 7 pm.
Game Two
Our Saturday game this week takes us to Troy Athens as De La Salle takes on Birmingham Groves.
We know the story of De La Salle; they have one of if not the best Quarterbacks in the state with senior Brady Drogosh, and that offense can be deadly, as they have already scored more points than they did a year ago. Their defense has been phenomenal as well, as they’ve only given up 20 points once this year, which was in their lone loss versus Brother Rice in week four. They will look to make it to their third straight finals and fourth in their last five years.
Groves has been a surprise this season after finishing the last two seasons with a combined 5-13 record; they are 9-3. Of the three losses, two of them came versus playoff teams. If they want to beat this senior-led De La Salle team, the defense will need to be better than the 17 points per game they have been giving up this season.
Can De La Salle make it three straight, or will Groves punch their ticket to their first-ever final after coming up short in 2016. Find out who will punch their tickets to Ford Field this weekend.