Written Friday August 12th at 6:00 PM
Here are the matchups heading into week one. These aren't picks yet or the rankings that comes on the Blue preview show.
West Bloomfield vs Sterling Heights Stevenson at Wayne State: The Lakers have always had expectations and this season is no different. They have made the postseason eight straight years. West Bloomfield didn't make it back to Ford Field after falling to Adams in the regional finals last season. They should be no strangers to playing against the Macomb Area Red Division. West Bloomfield beat Utica Eisenhower in the regular season finale at Sweinhart Field last season. Donovan Edwards who is now at Michigan had the game of his life at Runkel Field in a stunning 63-6 blowout of the Titans in the 2020 postseason. It’s the second meeting between the two schools. Sterling Heights Stevenson has made the postseason three straight years but fell to Belleville in the Division One State Semifinals last season. This should be a really interesting matchup at Wayne State but West Bloomfield better be careful.
Orchard Lake St. Marys at Adams: The Highlanders should be hungry for more success after making the Division One State Finals last season. They have the majority of their team coming back despite losing some key players to graduation. Adams coach Tony Patritto should be no stranger to playing against George Poritt led Orchard Lake St. Marys programs or the Catholic League itself. The Eaglets have a new coach in former Michigan standout Jermaine Gonzales. Even though it’s the first meeting between these two schools but Patritto should know them quite well prior to coming to Adams.
Clarkston vs Davison at Michigan: This is the sixth meeting between the schools and a rematch of a 29-26 Wolves victory over the Cardinals last season in Ann Arbor. Clarkston has won all five meetings against Davison whether it was in the regular season or in the postseason. The Cardinals will have to deal with Ethan Clark. Clark had a monster game against them last season. Davison has not fared well against the OAA where they are 0-7 since 2010 (Adams doesn’t count because they had to miss that game because of COVID.) Clarkston needs to be careful despite having Michigan experience. The Cardinals have a tough schedule and getting a win like this against them would make their season.
Lake Orion at Utica Eisenhower: This is the 11th meeting between the two schools. The Dragons and Eagles are no strangers to each other whether it is in the regular season or especially in the postseason. Utica Eisenhower beat Lake Orion 27-20 in the 2019 postseason but the Dragons have gotten the best of the Eagles in 2008, 2010, 2012 in the postseason and last season’s 33-7 blowout. Utica Eisenhower has Preston Crumm back at quarterback while Lake Orion should be much improved defensively. The coaching matchup is very interesting between Chris Bell and Chris Smith. This could be a low scoring game with both teams usually have stout defenses. It should be very interesting at Sweinhart Field.
Stoney Creek at Detroit Mumford: This will be the first meeting between the Cougars and the Mustangs. Stoney Creek was supposed to play Port Huron but the Big Reds are playing Grand Rapids Catholic Central instead at Michigan. Detroit Mumford is 6-10 in the last two years. The Mustangs are playing a much tougher schedule against the OAA in their first two weeks. The Cougars have a veteran team. This should be very interesting in Detroit.
Oxford at Romeo: These two schools are no strangers to each other having played each other since 2014. The Wildcats are 7-25 overall and 2-4 in the last six games against the Bulldogs. Oxford fell 34-13 to Romeo on the blue turf last season. The game was closer than the score indicated. The Bulldogs have a ton of proven experience coming back. The Wildcats are very young. Oxford has not fared well at Dan Barnabo Field. It should be very interesting to see what happens
Harper Woods at Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy: This is the second meeting between these two city rivals in what is dubbed “The Backyard Brawl.” The Pioneers won 15-12 over the Eagles in 2009. Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy forfeited their year last season but they were 6-2 technically. Harper Woods has a ton of proven players coming back. The Pioneers need to be on upset alert especially going up against a program that is much better than their record indicates.
Southfield Arts and Tech vs Detroit Cass Tech at Lawrence Tech: This is a really interesting rematch of two programs that know each other quite well. The Technicians won 49-22 over the Warriors at Wayne State. The Warriors defense was a complete disaster allowing 346 points which was the most in school history last season. Southfield Arts and Tech has a high octane offense led by quarterback Isiah Marshall. Detroit Cass Tech has athletes too and they are stout as well. They have made the postseason 15 of the last 16 years. This should be a shootout at Lawrence Tech. Which defense shows up should win this game.
Bloomfield Hills at Seaholm: This is the first meeting between the Blackhawks and Maples since 2017 when Bloomfield Hills won 21-19. Seaholm won the first meeting 38-21 in 2014. This is a very interesting matchup of two different styles. The Blackhawks are more of a spread team while the Maples are more of a veer team. The quarterback matchup is very intriguing between CJ Jackson of Bloomfield Hills and Colton Kinnie of Seaholm. Whoever wins the battle of intangibles wins this game.
Utica at Rochester: This is the 25th meeting between the Falcons and the Chieftains. Rochester has won three straight and won the 2012 and 2013 meetings by a combined 66-21 including a 28-14 victory in 2013. Utica’s last win over the Falcons was in 1979 when they won 26-0. The Chieftains have been improving, they made the postseason last season. Rochester should have their hands full in this game at Rochester Stadium.
Groves at North Farmington: These are two teams that are trying to turn around tough seasons and losing streaks. The Raiders lost six straight games which caused them to miss the postseason for the first time in three years. North Farmington’s last win came against Groves when they won 49-0 at Ron Holland Field. The Falcons missed the postseason for the first time in eight years last season. Groves wants to get back to where they have been. This is the 18th meeting between the two schools with the Raiders holding a 10-7 season series edge. This should be an interesting matchup of two star players going at it between Alex Shelby of North Farmington and Zach Rogers of Groves. This game should be tight at Ron Holland Field.
Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit at Oak Park: These two neighborhood rivals are no strangers to one another. They are separated by only four miles and are in the same district for boys basketball almost every year. The Knights are 2-1 against the Cubs. These two teams have met in the postseason, Oak Park won 27-21 at Hazel Park in the 2020 district finals and 26-17 in the first round in 2016. Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit won 14-8 in the district finals in the 2013 postseason. This should be a very interesting matchup in Knight Valley.
Troy Athens at Fraser: This is the first meeting between the two schools. The Red Hawks have a new coach in Tom Cook taking over the program. Troy Athens is 12-64 since 2012 but won five games last season. Fraser is coming into this season with high expectations. The Ramblers are 10-7 with two postseason appearances. They were 10-35 since 2015 prior to the two years. The Red Hawks are a different team. This should be a very interesting matchup.
Troy at Macomb L’Anse Creuse North: This is the first meeting between the two schools. It has been a strong two years for the Colts. Troy is 12-6 in that span. The last time they took on a Macomb County opponent they were embarrassed 33-0 on regional television in the first round of the postseason by Chippewa Valley. The Crusaders are 0-14 in the last two years and 7-33 since 2016. This should be a cakewalk for the Colts but if not then let the criticism began.
Ypsilanti Lincoln at Farmington: Coach Jason Albrecht was looking for a solid program and found a very familiar opponent. This is the second ever meeting between the Falcons and the Railsplitters. Farmington won 35-14 in Ypsilanti in 2019. The Falcons look to have a bounce back year after going 4-12 in the last two seasons. Ypsilanti Lincoln is 13-21 since 2017. This should be a very interesting matchup at Falcon Field.
Milan at Berkley: The Bears are 12-6 with two postseason appearances in the last two years. Berkley will be a much different team according to Coach Sean Shields. Berkley is trying to get to their goal which is a league crown which looks very manageable. The Bears should be tested against a very good Milan program. The Big Reds have made the postseason 15 of the last 18 years. Milan is 35-8 since 2018. This is going to be a very tough matchup at Hurley Field to say the least.
Ferndale at Macomb L’Anse Creuse: This will be the first meeting between the two schools. It was a very rough year for the Eagles which was un Coach Eric Royal like. They were not the same program since losing to Royal Oak last season. Ferndale heads into Macomb County to take on Macomb L’Anse Creuse. The Lancers have made the postseason three straight years and is 18-10 in that span. This is going to be a very difficult matchup for the Eagles.
Royal Oak at Holly: This is going to be a really interesting matchup and a battle of new coaches between Dustyn Truitt at Royal Oak and Billy Keenest at Holly. Keenest is no stranger to the OAA coaching at Troy Athens and Berkley and is an Oxford alumni as well. Truitt is a Farmington alumni which makes this matchup the more interesting. The quarterback battle should be very interesting between Hudson Siddle and Ashton DeHart. The Ravens have Mekahi Jenkins which gives them an edge up front. This should be a classic battle up front as both teams are trying to get off to good starts with their new teams.
Avondale at Warren Cousino: This is the seventh meeting all time between the Yellow Jackets and the Patriots but the first meeting since 2001. Warren Cousino is 6-37 since 2017. Avondale is 11-15 in their last three years. On paper this looks like a mismatch but you never know.
Madison Heights Bishop Foley at Pontiac: This is the first meeting between the Phoenix and the Ventures. Pontiac was supposed to take one Detroit Osborn in what would had been a much easier matchup but instead went with a much tougher matchup against Madison Heights Bishop Foley. The Ventures are well coached under Coach Brian Barnes. This will not be an easy matchup for Coach Ken Wade and company but the good news it’s at home.
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