We are back with our picks for the District Final round of the playoffs. This week, we are joined by Tom Hoover, a Hall of Fame Head Coach and current Head Coach of New Boston Huron.
Round Up
Last week, our experts were joined by Lincoln Park High School Head Coach Chad Bonmon. Here is how everyone did in the picks.
Bear: 16-4
Nat: 15-5
Kirby: 14-6
Chad Bonmon: 20-0
Division 1
Brighton at Howell
This will be the 51st meeting between the two schools, with Brighton leading the all-time series 27-23. The last time these two teams met was back in Week 8, a game that Howell won 36-14.
Bear: Howell
Nat: Howell
Kirby: Brighton
Tom Hoover: Howell
Saline at Belleville
This will be the eighth time these two schools have met, with Saline holding a 4-3 lead over Belleville. Although they hold the 4-3 lead, Belleville has won the last three meetings, including last year’s game, which was a 65-14 final.
Bear: Belleville
Nat: Belleville
Kirby: Belleville
Tom Hoover: Belleville
West Bloomfield at Detroit Catholic Central
This will be the third time that West Bloomfield will face Detroit Catholic Central. The previous two meetings were won by West Bloomfield. The last time they met was in 2021, a game West Bloomfield won 35-21.
Bear: CC
Nat: CC
Kirby: CC
Tom Hoover: CC
Dearborn at Detroit Cass Tech
This will be the third time the two schools have met, with Cass Tech winning the last two. The last time they met was in 2016, with Cass Tech winning that meeting 24-7.
Bear: Cass Tech
Nat: Cass Tech
Kirby: Dearborn
Tom Hoover: Cass Tech
Division 2
Byron Center at Muskegon Mona Shores
This will be only the second meeting between the two schools. The only other meeting came earlier this year when Mona Shores won 14-12.
Bear: Mona Shores
Nat: Mona Shores
Kirby: Mona Shores
Tom Hoover: Byron Center
East Lansing at Dexter
This will be the first meeting between the two schools.
Bear: Dexter
Nat: Dexter
Kirby: Dexter
Tom Hoover: Dexter
Orchard Lake St Mary’s at Farmington
This will be the first meeting between the two schools.
Bear: OLSM
Nat: Farmington
Kirby: OLSM
Tom Hoover: OLSM
Livonia Franklin at Gibraltar Carlson
This will be the first meeting between the two schools.
Bear: Carlson
Nat: Franklin
Kirby: Franklin
Tom Hoover: Carlson
De La Salle at Grosse Pointe South
This is the fourth time these teams have met, with De La Salle winning all three previous meetings. The last time the two teams met was in the 2022 playoffs, a game that De La Salle won 40-0.
Bear: De La Salle
Nat: De La Salle
Kirby: De La Salle
Tom Hoover: De La Salle
Division 3
Lowell at DeWitt
This will be the first meeting between the two schools.
Bear: DeWitt
Nat: DeWitt
Kirby: DeWitt
Tom Hoover: DeWitt
Linden at Mason
This will be the fifth time these schools have met, with Mason holding a 3-1 lead over Linden. The last time they met was in the playoffs last season, a game that Mason won 45-20.
Bear: Mason
Nat: Mason
Kirby: Mason
Tom Hoover: Mason
River Rouge at Riverview
This is the fifth time the two schools have met, with River Rouge winning all four previous matchups. The last time they played was in the 2023 playoffs, a game that River Rouge won 49-27.
Bear: Riverview
Nat: Riverview
Kirby: River Rouge
Tom Hoover: Riverview
Grosse Pointe North at Detroit Martin Luther King
This will be the third time the two schools have met with Detroit Martin Luther King holding a 3-0 lead. The last game was in the 2023 playoffs, a game that MLK won 49-0.
Bear: MLK
Nat: MLK
Kirby: Grosse Pointe North
Tom Hoover: MLK
Division 4
Haslett at Chelsea
This will be the eighth time that the two schools have met, with Haslett holding a 5-2 lead. The last time they met was in the District final game a year ago, a game that Haslett won 30-22.
Bear: Chelsea
Nat: Chelsea
Kirby: Chelsea
Tom Hoover: Haslett
Dearborn Divine Child at Harper Woods
This will be the second time these two schools have met. The last time they faced off was in 2018, with Harper Woods winning 46-7.
Bear: Harper Woods
Nat: Harper Woods
Kirby: Harper Woods
Tom Hoover: Harper Woods
Division 5
Belding at Frankenmuth
This will be the first meeting between the two schools.
Bear: Frankenmuth
Nat: Frankenmuth
Kirby: Frankenmuth
Tom Hoover: Frankenmuth
Grand Rapids Catholic Central at Grand Rapids West Catholic
This will be the 54th all-time meeting between the two Grand Rapids Schools, with Catholic Central holding a 32-19-2 record against their rival. The last time these two played was in the playoffs last season, and Catholic Central edging out West Catholic 30-28.
Bear: GR West Catholic
Nat: GR West Catholic
Kirby: GR West Catholic
Tom Hoover: GR West Catholic
Voyageur at Flat Rock
This will be the first meeting between the two schools.
Bear: Flat Rock
Nat: Voyageur
Kirby: Flat Rock
Tom Hoover: Flat Rock
Division 6
Ida at Jackson Lumen Christi
This is only the second time that these two will face off, with the last game coming in 2011. In that one, Lumen Christi won 35-9.
Bear: Lumen Christi
Nat: Lumen Christi
Kirby: Lumen Christi
Tom Hoover: Lumen Christi
Division 7
Clinton at Monroe St Mary Catholic Central
This will be the 11th meeting between the two schools, with St Mary Catholic Central holding an 8-2 series lead. The last time these two met was in the district finals a year ago, a game that Clinton won 22-14.
Bear: SMCC
Nat: SMCC
Kirby: SMCC
Tom Hoover: SMCC
Division 8
Manchester at Riverview Gabriel Richard
This will be the second time the two schools have met. The last time they met was in 2020, with Gabriel Richard winning that game 46-21.
Bear: Gabriel Richard
Nat: Gabriel Richard
Kirby: Gabriel Richard
Tom Hoover: Gabriel Richard