It is now playoff time, which means I’ll be picking local playoff games for the next five weeks (well, I hope to). From now until the end of the playoffs, I will be making picks on ALL the games in the state. For the playoffs, the games are in order by Division and District order. (For state finals week, games are listed in order of the way they will be played Friday and Saturday.)
This, being state finals week, is the final edition of Jerrod’s Game Picks for the 2011 High School season, but I plan to make college bowl picks when bowl season comes around, so stay tuned for that! Thank you for allowing me to share my High School knowledge with you this season and look forward to this returning in 2012!
Last Week: 12-4 (.750)
Season: 333-85 (.797)
Friday Games
Division 8
Mendon (13-0) vs. Fowler (11-2)
About the Teams
Mendon Hornets: John Schwartz, Head Coach
Points Scored: 598
Points Allowed: 97
Road to Ford Field: def. Saint Joseph Lake Michigan Catholic (45-0), def. Muskegon Catholic Central (28-21), def. Climax-Scotts (35-10), def. New Lothrop (34-13).
Fowler Eagles: Craig Koenigsknecht, Head Coach
Points Scored: 449
Points Allowed: 201
Road to Ford Field: def. Fulton-Middleton (35-15), def. Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (24-21), def. Beal City (34-18), def. Saint Ignace LaSalle (45-8).
Game Analysis
Mendon Players to Watch: Chance Nightingale (QB), Tyler Harris (RB), Tanner Cook (RB/Defense), Cody Bingaman (TE/Defensive), Cody Henckel (WR), Cody Ross (Defense).
Fowler Players to Watch: Dustin Wirth (QB), Mitch Thelen (RB), Codey Schafer (WR), Kevin Koenigsknecht (Defense), Tyler Koenigsknecht (Defense).
Prediction: Mendon 38, Fowler 10. Despite Fowler being two points from being 13-0, they haven’t met a team deep like Mendon. Mendon, by far, plays the tougher schedule and has the state experience that Fowler does not. And if not for Hudson, Mendon might be making its fourth straight state title run. Fowler’s only chance in to wear Mendon out on offense, as many Hornets on defense play offense.
Division 2
Birmingham Brother Rice (9-4) vs. Lowell (12-1)
About the Teams
Birmingham Brother Rice Warriors: Al Fracassa, Head Coach
Points Scored: 345
Points Scored: 173
Road to Ford Field: def. North Farmington (34-8), def. Farmington Hills Harrison (30-7), def. Southfield (16-6), def. Detroit Martin Luther King (27-26).
Lowell Red Arrows: Noel Dean, Head Coach
Points Scored: 453
Points Allowed: 185
Road to Ford Field: def. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central (13-7), def. Muskegon (36-7), def. Fenton (35-14), def. Walled Lake Western (42-35).
Game Analysis
Birmingham Brother Rice Players to Watch: Chayne Lacanaria (QB), Nick Rao (QB), Devin Church (RB), Brian Roney (WR), Joe Warner (WR).
Lowell Players to Watch: Gabe Dean (QB), Josh Addington (RB), Blake Lyman (WR), Luke Digham (WR), Pierce Watson (Defense), Jake Stehley (Defense), Garett Stehley (Defense).
Prediction: Lowell 31, Birmingham Brother Rice 21. While Brother Rice may have faced the toughest schedule in the state and went 5-4, they don’t have the offensive depth to beat Lowell. Lowell has resorted to pass a little more this year then usual and if you’ve played them before, that’s different. Brother Rice’s offense has to beat Lowell’s defense. They have a chance: Lowell has given up 185 points this year.
Division 6
Constantine (11-2) vs. Ithaca (13-0)
About the Teams
Constantine Falcons: Shawn Griffith, Head Coach
Points Scored: 453
Points Allowed: 303
Road to Ford Field: def. Hartford (28-21), def. Schoolcraft (37-30), def. Grass Lake (42-25), def. Ecorse (45-44).
Ithaca Yellowjackets: Terry Hessbrook, Head Coach
Points Scored: 566
Points Allowed: 109
Road to Ford Field: def. Byron (56-6), def. Montrose (28-13), def. Montague (22-19), def. Iron Mountain (28-0).
Game Analysis
Constantine Players to Watch: Tom Reed (QB), Payton White (RB), Ben Mallo (RB), Jeff Steiner (RB/Defense), Justin Bontrager (TE), Brandon Edwards (TE), Ben Barber (Defense), Chase Niblock (Defense).
Ithaca Players to Watch: Travis Smith (QB), Garrett Miniard (RB/Defense), Charles Schnetzler (WR), Jared Evers (WR), David Brown (WR), Tyler Gibson (Defense), Luke Bunting (Defense).
Prediction: Ithaca 38, Constantine 17. Sorry Falcons, the run stops here no matter what, but in a loss. Ithaca will defend its Division 6 title. Ithaca is tough, period. It doesn’t matter top gun Alex Niznak graduated last winter, they have reloaded. Big difference is defense: Ithaca has given up just over 100 points, Constantine–over 300. Plus, Ithaca passes. Constantine can’t stop it. Besides, Ithaca saw the Wing-T last year in the finals.
Division 4
Marine City (13-0) vs. Zeeland West (13-0)
About the Teams
Marine City Mariners: Tony Scarcelli, Head Coach
Points Scored: 553
Points Allowed: 196
Road to Ford Field: def. Croswell-Lexington (45-21), def. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (55-31), def. Detroit Crockett (15-7), def. Grosse Ile (45-6).
Zeeland West Dux: John Shillito, Head Coach
Points Scored: 569
Points Allowed: 178
Road to Ford Field: def. Grand Rapids South Christian (49-7), def. Grand Rapids Catholic Central (43-21), def. Paw Paw (53-12), def. Comstock Park (30-6).
Game Analysis
Marine City Players to Watch: Adam Kroll (QB/Defense), Anthony Scarcelli (RB), Jamie Salisbury (RB), Aaron Loconsole (Defense).
Zeeland West Players to Watch: Clay Coutney (QB), Kyle Kujawa (RB), Derek Postma (RB), Brad Mesbergen (RB/Defense), Jake McKellar (Defense).
Prediction: Zeeland West 37, Marine City 24. Zeeland West will win their second state championship this weekend in just the short time the school has been open. The Wing-T has given the Mariners fits in previous games this season. Although the stats point to an even game both ways, Zeeland West has the offensive size and fire power to win. Although star defensive player Josh Blanton is injured, he will earn his ring: as a leader on the sideline.
Saturday Games
Division 7
Pewamo-Westphalia (13-0) vs. Saginaw Nouvel (12-0)
About the Teams
Pewamo-Westphalia Pirates: Brad Weber, Head Coach
Points Scored: 464
Points Allowed: 122
Road to Ford Field: def. Ravenna (33-7), def. Saranac (24-13), def. Watervliet (20-14), def. Hudson (22-14).
Saginaw Nouvel Panthers: Michael Boyd, Head Coach
Points Scored: 525
Points Allowed: 90
Road to Ford Field: def. Coleman (63-14), def. Blanchard Montabella (62-6), def. Harbor Beach (28-0), def. Traverse City Saint Francis (14-3).
Game Analysis
Pewamo-Westphalia Players to Watch: Justin Thelen (QB/Defense), Alex Thelen (RB), Josh Nurenburg (WR), Cameron Trierweiler (WR), Lane Simon (Defense), Collin Nurenburg (Defense), Gavin Smith (Defense).
Saginaw Nouvel Players to Watch: Joe Buchalski (QB), Bennett Lewis (RB), Gabe Augustin (RB), Ty Jacobs (WR), Nick Hammis (WR), Josh Buchalski (WR), Tyler Jacqmain (Defense), Clae Henderson (Defense), Mitch Jacqmain (Defense).
Prediction: Saginaw Nouvel 37, Pewamo-Westphalia 17. Look, I know Pewamo-Westphalia beat Hudson last week, but Hudson wasn’t as good as hyped. Meanwhile, Saginaw Nouvel struggled with Traverse City Saint Francis, winning 14-3 but winning for the second time over them this year. And while Pewamo will put up the points on the run, Nouvel will score both ways: offense and defense. Nouvel wins after wearing the Pirates down.
Division 1
Detroit Cass Tech (10-3) vs. Detroit Catholic Central (12-1)
About the Teams
Detroit Cass Tech Technicians: Thomas Wilcher, Head Coach
Points Scored: 320
Points Allowed: 123
Road to Ford Field: def. Livonia Churchill (35-6), def. Dearborn Fordson (33-7), def. Warren DeLaSalle (6-0), def. Utica Eisenhower (6-3).
Detroit Catholic Central Shamrocks: Thomas Mach, Head Coach
Points Scored: 356
Points Allowed: 116
Road to Ford Field: def. Northville (56-6), def. Canton (21-14), def. Ann Arbor Pioneer (21-0), def. Rockford (23-20).
Game Analysis
Detroit Cass Tech Players to Watch: Jayru Campbell (QB), Royce Jenkins-Stone (RB), Deon Drake (RB), Lile Ruben (WR), Lewis Jordan (WR).
Detroit Catholic Central Players to Watch: Kyle Cooper (QB), David Houle (RB), Anthony Darkangelo (RB), Zach Bock (RB), David Racey (WR), Matthew Donath (WR/Defense), Aaron Hess (Defense), Alex Kozlowski (Defense).
Prediction: Detroit Catholic Central 28, Detroit Cass Tech 14. The Shamrocks are back and ready to beat Cass Tech, who hasn’t been this far before. Catholic Central will play smash-mouth football and that is also something, in the playoffs, that Cass Tech hasn’t seen. Cass Tech will spread out Catholic Central and has hard runners, but you have to win both ways and I don’t believe Cass Tech can stop a hard running team. DCC is making Ford Field look like their hockey team does at state: home on Thanksgiving weekend.
Division 5
Flint Powers Catholic (9-4) vs. Lansing Catholic (13-0)
About the Teams
Flint Powers Catholic Chargers: Bob Buckel, Head Coach
Points Scored: 317
Points Allowed: 214
Road to Ford Field: def. Frankenmuth (35-13), def. Millington (28-7), def. Hemlock (26-0), def. Almont (27-10).
Lansing Catholic Cougars: Jim Ahern, Head Coach
Points Scored: 573
Points Allowed: 245
Road to Ford Field: def. Olivet (55-41), def. Portland (50-33), def. Dowagiac (61-13), def. Grand Rapids West Catholic (42-35).
Game Analysis
Flint Powers Catholic Players to Watch: Garrett Pougnet (QB), Drew Fortier (RB), Prescott Myers (WR), Danny Meissner (WR), Ethan Wiskur (WR/Defense), Danny O’Brien (Defense), Chris Koenigsknecht (Defense).
Lansing Catholic Players to Watch: Cooper Rush (QB), Matt Macksood (WR), Jack Swain (WR/Defense), Conor Bartlett (WR), Devin Fogel (Defense), Dan Liesman (Defense).
Prediction: Lansing Catholic 48, Flint Powers Catholic 28. Lansing Catholic will score a state championship, as no one…I repeat NO ONE, has been able to neutralize their passing attack. When Cooper Rush breaks records in multiple playoff games in multiple categories, you know it’s going right. Needless to say to win, Flint Powers has to keep the Lansing Catholic offense off the field. Even if they do, Lansing Catholic can strike quick. No one stops the Lansing Catholic offense: but the refs and the final whistle.
Division 3
Orchard Lake Saint Mary’s (11-2) vs. Mount Pleasant (13-0)
About the Teams
Orchard Lake Saint Mary’s Eaglets: George Porritt, Head Coach
Points Scored: 426
Points Allowed: 151
Road to Ford Field: def. Detroit Pershing (56-6), def. Redford Thurston (62-20), def. Linden (49-7), def. Battle Creek Harper Creek (14-10).
Mount Pleasant Oilers: Jason McIntyre, Head Coach
Points Scored: 522
Points Allowed: 222
Road to Ford Field: def. Cadillac (45-10), def. Petoskey (35-28), def. East Lansing (28-20), def. East Grand Rapids (38-37).
Game Analysis
Orchard Lake Saint Mary’s Players to Watch: Spencer McInnis (RB), Grant Niemiec (RB).
Mount Pleasant Players to Watch: Ryan Elliott (QB), Michael Tweh (RB), Colton Odykirk (WR), Dustin Lee (Overall Player).
Prediction: Mount Pleasant 31, Orchard Lake Saint Mary’s 24. Look, I realize Orchard Lake Saint Mary’s is making its third straight finals appearance, but Mount Pleasant has been clutch in the spotlight this year. After spending a couple years as a hurdle to East Grand Rapids’ playoff runs, Mount Pleasant finally broke through, on a late field goal to beat the Pioneers last week. Mount Pleasant has to shore up defensively against the heavy run Eaglets, but they should control the line of scrimmage. East Grand Rapids was a stern test for the Oilers, who score a close, but hard fought championship.