Pre-District Playoff Picks

With the first week of the playoffs it means we are back to the picks. This time around we are adding to the picks, as we are bringing in the voice of @BSN_sideline Jason Kirby to help with the picks. 

Division 1

Region 4 District 1

Canton (6-3) at Saline (9-0)

Canton comes into this one off losses to Fordson, Howell, and Heartland all of which made the playoffs this season. They will run into the undefeated Saline which will be no easy task. Saline Sophomore Quarterback CJ Carr has led the team with 2.8 touchdowns per game during the regular season, while Canton’s defense  has allowed 26.3 points per game. 

Josh: Saline

Jason: Saline

Ann Arbor Huron (8-1) at Belleville (8-1) 

With Both teams having one loss this game will be one to watch. Hurons’ only loss this year came at the hands of Saline. While Belleville’s came to Livonia Churchill. On offense Belleville hasn’t missed a beat this season with the addition of Freshman Quarterback Bryce Underwood scoring 48.3 points per game on average in the regular season. 

Josh: Belleville

Jason: Belleville

Region 4 District 2

Detroit Cass Tech (6-3) at Dearborn Fordson (7-2)

The most dangerous four seed in the whole playoffs is Cass Tech and they are heading to Fordson for a rematch of last year’s district final. Cass Tech won that one as they were able to keep Antoino Gates Jr in check. While both teams returned a lot however, Cass did lose the King brothers’ who were key in that game both on offense and defense. 

Josh: Cass Tech

Jason: Cass Tech

Dearborn (6-3) at Woodhaven (8-1)

In another rematch of a district final game from a year ago Dearborn will once again travel to Woodhaven. For Woodhaven they ran into speed bumps along the way in the Downriver League as it took a final second touchdown to Syracuse commit Cornell Perry to beat Allen Park, and a loss to Carlson in week 9 spoiled a perfect season. For Dearborn they changed coaches and look like a different team than the one that played at Woodhaven last season. 

Josh: Dearborn 

Jason: Woodhaven

Division 2

Region 3 District 2 

Dearborn Heights Crestwood (6-3) at Livonia Churchill (7-2)

As the only team to beat Belleville this season Churchill looks like a strong contender to get out of the region. Crestwood will have something to say about that though as they are coming off their best season since 2018-19, excluding the Covid-19 season, where they went 8-1 in the regular season. 

Josh: Churchill

Jason: Churchill

Livonia Franklin (4-5) at Temperance Bedford (7-2)

After backing into the playoffs thanks to a forfeit victory over John Glenn, Franklin is a team with nothing to lose and that makes them dangerous. Bedford on the other hand came into the season with high hopes, and after a 7-2 season they are looking for a way to keep it going behind Quarterback Brendan Hammer. 

Josh: Bedford

Jason: Bedford 

Region 4 District 2 

Detroit U-D Jesuit (4-5) at Warren De La Salle (8-0)

Someone at the MHSAA must not like Jesuit as this is the third time in four weeks and a second time in six days these teams will play each other. It is tough to beat a team three times, but in the two games this season De La Salle has outscored Jesuit 93-21.

Josh: De La Salle

Jason: De La Salle

Division 3 

Region 1 District 1  

Ionia (5-4) at DeWitt (8-1)

DeWitt is looking to make it back to Ford Field for the second straight season, but first up is a matchup with Ionia. Outside of a hiccup against Portland in week 2 DeWitt has looked like the same dominant team from last year. Ionia also played Portland this season and met the same fate as DeWitt.

Josh: DeWitt

Jason: DeWitt

Region 4 District 1

Warren Fitzgerald (8-1) at Detroit Martin Luther King (8-1)

Fitzgerald is traveling to meet possibly the best team in the state in MLK. Then add in that they play in possibly the toughest district in the state any of these teams could make it to the State title. While Fitzgerald has 22 more points per game than King, that can be attributed to King getting two wins by way of forfeit.

Josh: MLK

Jason: MLK 

River Rouge (6-2) at Harper Woods (7-2)

Both of these teams had ups and downs this season. As Rouge has looked beatable for the first time in years. For Harper Woods it’s been a flip of a coin in what you get from them, but with Rouge on the clock they will still need their “A game” to by them. 

Josh: River Rouge

Jason: Harper Woods 

Region 4 District 2

Trenton (5-4) at Carlson (8-1)

These two league foes will meet for a second time this season. In the first meeting between the two teams Carlson won 28-27 however, Carlson was missing four of its best players, including Runningback Cody Britt, during the game but now with them back it should be a different game for the Marauders. 

Josh: Carlson

Jason: Carlson 

Game of the Week

Riverview (9-0) at Allen Park (7-2)

Allen Park and Riverview will meet for the third time in the last four years. In each of those meetings Allen Park has won the game and made it Regional both times. Could it happen again? For Riverview they head into the playoffs after losing their starting Quarterback Preston Thompson to injury a week ago. Can they run their offense without Thompson at the helm? 

Josh: Allen Park 

Jason: Allen Park