Football Regional Final Preview.

Written Sunday November 9th at 1:15 PM

This will be updated later today for Groves game against either St. Clair Shores Lakeview or Grosse Pointe South. 

 

HARPER WOODS vs Dearborn Divine Child at Westland John Glenn: Saturday 1 PM

The Pioneers really haven't been tested in the first two weeks of the postseason (Macomb Lutheran North, Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy) but this week that changes when Dearborn Divine Child comes back to Beaconsfield Street to play Harper Woods in a rematch that was won by Harper Woods in the district finals 40-21 last season. The Pioneers have a ton of proven stars as mentioned in the blog. The Falcons have a proven quarterback in Drew Sheridan, who is the brother of former Michigan quarterback Nick Sheridan along with running back Marcello Vitti. Both have been very instrumental in their postseason success. This should be a very interesting matchup on Saturday afternoon with the winner likely seeing Goodrich pending if they get by Williamson in the Division Four State Semifinals.

 

GROVES at St. Clair Shores Lakeview: Friday 7 PM

The Jeremiah Whitley show has taken over the Falcons along with a timely defense (Warren Cousino 36-22 in the district finals.) Whitley has had nine touchdowns in two games in the postseason but lets see how this young Groves squad handle going into Macomb County. The Falcons will get the Huskies in a very interesting matchup of two teams with different styles. Groves likes to balance things out while St. Clair Shores Lakeview likes to run the Wing T offense which is a time possession offense. The Huskies will rotate seven different running backs (including Brennan Johnson, Logan Grubb, and Dallas Harris who combined for over 180 rushing yards against Grosse Pointe South) plus they have a quarterback in Gavin McGee who is also very efficient as a runner in the Wing T offense. St. Clair Shores Lakeview has wins over Utica Eisenhower (30-27), Lapeer (21-7), and Port Huron Northern (21-14). They beaten Grosse Pointe South twice including a 25-22 win in week seven and a 24-7 win in the district finals with both games in Grosse Pointe and it was their first district crown in school history. The key to this game is possessions for both teams as mentioned. The Huskies like to limit the opposing team's possessions and play time possession football while the Falcons want to play balanced football. The winner will get Gibraltar Carlson or Dexter in the Division Two State Semifinals. 

 

ADAMS vs Romeo: Friday 7 PM

The Highlanders have been rolling through their city rivals (Rochester, Stoney Creek) this postseason. They will have a rematch with Romeo in the regional finals at Highlander Stadium. Adams beat the Bulldogs 39-7 in week one but Romeo is a much different team than they were from week one. The Bulldogs won the Macomb Area Conference Red crown and is coming off a 56-0 blowout of bitter Macomb Area Conference Red rival Macomb Dakota at Dan Barnabo Field. The Highlanders present a lot of challenges for Romeo. This should be a very interesting game on Adams and Tienken Roads. Whoever wins this game will get Saline or Detroit Cass Tech in the Division One State Semifinals. 

 

CLARKSTON vs Novi Detroit Catholic Central: Friday 7 PM

The Wolves and Shamrocks are no strangers to one another, it was Clarkston that won the Division One State crown at Novi Detroit Catholic Central's expense in 2013 and 2017 at Ford Field. The Wolves have been rolling since the Harper Woods game (lost 27-21) but this will be Clarkston's gravest challenge in form of who the Shamrocks have with multiple players that are Division One bound talents. Novi Detroit Catholic Central has a set of brothers in Samson Gash and Gideon Gash whom both have been dominant this postseason along with an experienced quarterback in Duke Banta. They also have Cedrick Williams who has also made some noise at running back. Novi Detroit Catholic Central has a huge offensive line along with a solid defense. The Shamrocks really haven't been tested this postseason with two blowout wins over Hartland and Brighton. Clarkston has a very experienced team and it's defense has seen quarterbacks in Jaxson Dosh (Davison) and Jake Murrow (Grand Blanc) this postseason. This will be the Wolves gravest challenge but the good news for Clarkston is they have athletes too and the game is at Clarkston not at Novi.