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District Final Playoff Preview and Picks

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

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