Written Sunday September 28th at 12:45 PM
These are the MHSAA district matchups. Also History Now host Anthony Taormina will break down these districts and locations in future updates.
District 6 at Lapeer
8. Flint Carman Ainsworth vs 1. CLARKSTON
5. Flushing vs 4. Grand Blanc
6. Lapeer vs 3. OXFORD
7. Davison vs 2. LAKE ORION
TRAIN INSIGHT: This district (probably my favorite one because of the teams involved) looks like Clarkston will be the overwhelming favorite having only one loss but that one loss was to Oxford (2-1) who is on the other side of the bracket. Clarkston is on pace to win the OAA Red and will be a tough out for anyone who plays them especially with the experience they have back from last year's team. Grand Blanc and Flushing tied each other but whoever wins that game will have no easy task in the second round. It looks like we are heading to an LO/Oxford second round matchup. LO won the first matchup 3-1 and if any indication of their past soccer battles have been, it will be another physical and emotional classic. Right now Clarkston is overwhelming favorite but look for either Grand Blanc or Flushing to give them a battle in the second round and either LO or Oxford to give them a battle in the district final.
District 7 at Hartland
5. Milford vs 4. Walled Lake Central
5. Milford/4. Walled Lake Central vs 1. Hartland
6. WEST BLOOMFIELD vs 3. Walled Lake Northern
7. NORTH FARMINGTON vs 2. Lakeland
TRAIN INSIGHT: In this district, Hartland stands out as the overwhelming favorite having only one loss also they play in the usually competitive KLAA West. West Bloomfield has been in the middle of the pack of the OAA White while North Farmington won the OAA Blue in their final year in the OAA. WB and WLN played each other in the first game of the regular season in which WLN won. North Farmington is going to have a tough task with Lakeland but at the same time the OAA has always been more competitive than the Lakes Valley so there is a potential upset. Hartland is the favorite in this district and for good reason.
District 8 at Novi Detroit Catholic Central
5. FARMINGTON vs 4. South Lyon
5. FARMINGTON/4. South Lyon vs 1. Livonia Stevenson
6. Novi vs 3. Northville
7. South Lyon East vs 2. Novi Detroit Catholic Central
TRAIN INSIGHT: This is a two team district with Livonia Stevenson and Novi Detroit Catholic Central. Farmington who finished last in the OAA White and is leaving for the Lakes Valley matches up fairly well against a decent South Lyon team. The winner however, will play Livonia Stevenson for in Farmington's case a future Lakes Valley rivalry game. Despite Livonia Stevenson being the number one seed, Detroit Catholic Central is the favorite here. They have played a much tougher schedule and is a traditional power in playoff soccer, not to mention it is on their home field which always helps.
District 12 at Grosse Pointe South
8. Detroit Renaissance vs 1. Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit
5. Detroit Cass Tech vs 4. Dearborn Fordson
6. Grosse Pointe South vs 3. Dearborn
7. FERNDALE vs 2. Detroit Western
TRAIN INSIGHT: Ferndale is in the middle of the pack of the OAA Blue having competitive games with North Farmington, Avondale, and Pontiac while crushing the other three Blue schools. Ferndale should get by Detroit Western. I'm saying that because the OAA is a more competitive league in soccer than the PSL but Detroit Western did tie Troy Athens 4-4 and is one of the best teams in the PSL which could be very interesting. The second round matchup will be much tougher with having to play either the MAC's Grosse Pointe South or the KLAA's Dearborn. Both of whom are quality teams. U-D Jesuit is the favorite in this district with their path a little bit easier.
District 13 at Seaholm
8. SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH vs 1. TROY
5. ROYAL OAK vs 4. BERKLEY
6. GROVES vs 3. SEAHOLM
7. Birmingham Brother Rice vs 2. BLOOMFIELD HILLS
TRAIN INSIGHT: This district maybe the most challenging district in the state, potentially having five quality teams having a chance to win the district. Bloomfield Hills and Royal Oak are 1-2 respectively in the OAA White with both teams entertaining the state rankings. Seaholm has more than held their own in the OAA Red. Obviously playing the rival, Groves anything can happen. Troy and Berkley have both held their own in the OAA Red this season as well. Troy will get by Southfield A&T who had a big OAA Blue win recently over Harper Woods. Royal Oak and Berkley is a rivalry game that can go either way. Seaholm/Bloomfield Hills has a chance to be interesting should they both meet in the second round but don't count out Groves on being a spoiler. Whomever Troy gets between Berkley and Royal Oak, it will be a great game. It's hard to pick a winner in this district but when in doubt, go with the home team, in case Seaholm.
District 14 at Troy Athens
5. Sterling Heights vs 4. Warren Mott
5. Sterling Heights/4. Warren Mott vs 1. TROY ATHENS
6. Fraser vs 3. Warren Cousino
7. Roseville vs 2. Sterling Heights Stevenson
TRAIN INSIGHT: The Red Hawks should be the overwhelming favorite here, they host the district. Only Sterling Heights Stevenson can really give them a game being competitive with Utica Eisenhower (only losing 3-2) and beating Dakota by forfeit. Athens does struggle at times but in this primarily Macomb County District. Athens should get by this district pretty convincingly.
District 15 at Rochester
5. ADAMS vs 4. STONEY CREEK
5. ADAMS/4. STONEY CREEK vs 1. Utica Eisenhower
6. Utica vs 3. ROCHESTER
7. Utica Henry Ford II vs 2. Romeo
TRAIN INSIGHT: Traditionally this district is one of the toughest districts in the state however, with the recent struggles of the Rochester schools. This looks like it will be a Ike/Romeo district final. Rochester is more than capable of competing with anyone. Rochester has had a lot of ties lately but they do have home field and should get by Utica heading into the second round with Romeo. Adams and Stoney Creek is also an interesting matchup. The state champs lost a lot from last year and has had a tough year in the OAA Red but it is still Adams, one of the best coached teams in the state of Michigan. Stoney has also been near the top of the OAA White competing against Bloomfield Hills and Royal Oak. In their only matchup, Adams beat Stoney 2-0 but it's challenging to beat a team twice. Whoever wins that game will get to play Utica Eisenhower, a team that seemingly reloads year after year. The district is at Rochester but going with Utica Eisenhower to win the district.
District 28 at Walled Lake Western
5. WATERFORD MOTT vs 4. PONTIAC
5. WATERFORD MOTT/4. PONTIAC vs 1. Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood
6. AVONDALE vs 3. Orchard Lake St. Marys
7. WATERFORD KETTERING vs 2. Walled Lake Western
TRAIN INSIGHT: Both OAA Blue teams have been in the middle of the pack in the division this year. Pontiac has had a great year beating several good teams, tying Avondale, and beating Ferndale. Pontiac will play Waterford Mott who will come into the OAA next year. This has the potential to become a great soccer rivalry alongside Ferndale and could preview many battles for years to come. The winner however, will play Cranbrook Kingswood in the second round who is the number one seed. Avondale has a tough first round match up just they had last year with Orchard Lake St. Mary's. OLSM competes in the dangerous Catholic League and often has to go against DeLaSalle and CC. OLSM also won the district last year as a three seed. WL Western should get by Kettering who has surprisingly struggled this season before coming into the OAA next year as well but they do own a win over Avondale and tied Ferndale which helps. OLSM is the favorite in this district despite being the three seed and it being at WL Western.
District 30 at Dearborn Divine Child
5. Warren Fitzgerald vs 4. Madison Heights Lamphere
5. Warren Fitzgerald/4. Madison Heights Lamphere vs 1. Hamtramck
6. Redford Thurston vs 3. Garden City
7. OAK PARK vs 2. Dearborn Divine Child
TRAIN INSIGHT: Very tough matchup for Oak Park going against a very good Dearborn Divine Child team. Will be another great learning experience for the Knights. Divine Child will be the favorite in this district despite Hamtramck being the one seed. Divine Child is at home and has played a much tougher schedule.
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