We have finally made it. Thanksgiving weekend and the State Finals. Before we jump into our coverage of this week’s games we want to say thank you for joining us on this ride.
After a hard long road for these teams through the up’s and the down’s of the season they have battled, and now end their seasons at Ford Field in Detroit. We have first-timers, teams trying to defend titles, and teams making it back for the first time in years.
Last Week Prediction Record
Josh: 7-0
Jason: 6-1
Hoover: 6-1
Season prediction record
Josh: 30-11
Jason: 30-11
Division 1
Belleville (12-1) vs Rochester Adams (13-0)
Rochester Adams is undefeated and making it to their second state finals appearance, and first since they won it in 2003. Adams got here off the back of Quarterback Parker Picot and his brother Linebacker Tait Picot. In last week’s win over Grand Blanc, the Brothers combined for 5 touchdowns as Parker threw for four and Tait had a pick-six, and as Tait said about playing without his brother “We’re gonna go out there and do the best we can and have some fun while doing it.” In playing on the Thanksgiving holiday Parker said “We are all amped up and if anything even more excited to play.” Averaging 34.5 points a game and giving up 15 points to opponents in the playoffs will bode well for this Adams team.
Belleville comes into this one riding a 10 game winning streak to help them make it to their first finals appearance. Freshman Quarterback Bryce Underwood has been able to step right in and not let Belleville miss a beat as they have tap tap tapped all over their opponents in the playoffs averaging 27 points a game while only giving up 10 points on average in the playoffs.
This will be a battle of the defense. Which one will reign supreme?
Josh: Belleville
Jason: Rochester Adams
Division 2
Traverse City Central (12-1) vs Warren De La Salle Collegiate (12-0)
De La Salle is back in the finals for the seventh time and a second time in less than a year. This year they will look to reverse course from last year when they lost to Mona Shores 25-19. Quarterback Brady Drogosh has led the high-powered offense this season, and according to him, the Thanksgiving holiday won’t get in the way of their ultimate goal saying “We are practicing early on Thanksgiving,” that won’t cut into their family time later that day. Drogosh finished by saying “We’ll be ready.”
For Traverse City Central who is traveling close to four hours for the team’s fifth appearance. The last time Traverse City Central was in finals was in 1988 when they beat Detroit Catholic Central. With the game for Traverse City Central being at 1 pm Friday the team is headed to Detroit at 1 pm on Thanksgiving, but as Carson Bourdo said “There is no other place we would want to be than going to states with our brothers for a chance to win a championship.”
Will staying close to home and with family play a big part in what De La Salle can do? Or will one last team bonding trip pay off for Traverse City Central? Only time will tell.
Josh: De La Salle
Jason: De La Salle
Division 3
DeWitt (12-1) vs Detroit Martin Luther King (12-1)
Playing down the road in what could be a de facto home game Detroit King is looking for their fifth state title in what will be their eighth appearance. Playing down the road could either help or be a distraction to King, however, Quarterback Dante Moore said “We will be locked in ready to go regardless of opponent,” when asked following the Semifinal game about making it back to States.
For DeWitt, they are back looking for their second title in as many years. After a season that saw DeWitt hold serve they are going to face their toughest opponent yet, but as Quarterback Ty Holtz said “We’re preparing for this game like every other game this season.” Holtz went on to say “Staying locked in is the most important thing for us,” and with eight returners on offense and a few guys back on defense that shouldn’t be an issue for DeWitt.
The last time these two met was for the right to play in the 2018 State Finals, and that game was won by King by a final of 34-21. Will history repeat itself and give King their fifth title in school history, or will the veteran leadership of DeWitt be enough for them to get their second title?
Josh: DeWitt
Jason: King
Division 4
Hudsonville Unity Christian (13-0) vs Chelsea (13-0)
Hudsonville Unity Christian is making their second appearance in the State Finals. In their first appearance back in 2018 they won it all. Could this time be the same? With them averaging 64 points a game it’s possible they can get it done.
Chelsea is making their third appearance in the State Finals, but have yet to win one. They are looking to finally break out and win one. Holding opponents to 18 points a game will help them try to slow down the high-powered offense of Hudsonville Unity Christian.
Josh: Hudsonville
Jason: Chelsea
Division 5
Marine City (13-0) vs Grand Rapids Catholic Central (13-0)
Grand Rapids Catholic Central is back in the finals for the ninth time. This is the third straight appearance for the Cougars of Grand Rapids Catholic Central. They are already two-time defending champions; can they be three-time state champs?
Marine City enters their fourth appearance in the finals, and are looking for their third win.
Josh: Grand Rapids Catholic Central
Jason: Grand Rapids Catholic Central
Division 6
Warren Michigan Collegiate (11-2) vs Lansing Catholic (12-1)
Warren Michigan Collegiate is making their first State Finals appearance. For them, this is a culmination of a good season. Averaging 36.5 points per game gives them a great chance but it’s been their defense which has given up 16 points a game that has kept them on this roll.
For Lansing Catholic, this is their fifth appearance in the finals, and are looking to win it again after winning it in 2019. After a week 9 loss to Pewamo-Westphalia, who is playing in the Division 7 finals, they have righted the ship by only allowing 8.5 points on average in the playoffs.
Will the high power offense of Warren Michigan Collegiate be able to get the upper hand, or will the defense of Lansing Catholic stand tall?
Josh: Lansing Catholic
Jason: Warren Collegiate
Division 7
Lawton (13-0) vs Pewamo-Westphalia (13-0)
Pewamo-Westphalia is making its sixth appearance in the state finals and looking for its fourth title in school history. Scoring 36 points on average gives them a great shot at winning it, and allowing 12 points to opponents gives them a high octane offense and a defense that can slam the door.
Lawton comes into this one as a first-time state finalist, and they have shown signs of slowing down. They started strong, but with just squeaking by last week against Lumen Christi they may need an extra shot of adrenaline to get through this one.
Is Pewamo-Westphalia’s experience going to be too much for a Lawton team that is making their first trip to Ford Field, or can Lawton dig deep and find a way to pull this one out?
Josh: Pewamo-Westphalia
Jason: Lawton
Division 8
Beal City (12-1) vs Hudson (13-0)
Following a week one loss Beal City has run the table and enters their ninth state final. They will look to win the school’s first football championship since 2009 when they beat Forest Park. Scoring 30 points per game may not be enough to overcome Hudson.
Hudson enters their fifth final, and first since 2010. On the season they have held opponents to a touchdown per game, but a high-powered offense will give them plenty of opportunities to score and score often.
Josh: Hudson
Jason: Hudson