MHSAA Football Playoffs – 1st Round

By Matt DeVries / @DeVries_Matt

The time has come. After nine weeks of regular season action, the MHSAA High School Football season has reached the win-or-go-home stage of the season. The Saginaw Valley League was not nearly as competitive as many would have thought at the beginning of the year. However, the cream of the crop rose to the occasion this season and the six teams who qualified for the postseason out the SVL all deserve to be there.

Behind the scenes: Almost gametime for Midland vs Dow on @ESPN1009. #SVL #MHSAAFB pic.twitter.com/i2qa1evEE7

— Matt DeVries (@DeVries_Matt) October 23, 2015

Two of the four matchups involving SVL schools in the 1st Round pit league foes against one another, all of which will be playing eachother for the second time in the span of seven days. Players like Mike Marston, Payton Dewildt, Mike Robb and Kalebb Perry to name a few, will be players to watch and listen for as each of these schools hope to make a push towards Thanksgiving weekend at Ford Field.

DIVISION 1: Davison (5-4) @ Lapeer (9-0), Friday 7pm, US 103.1 FM

This will be Davison’s first trip to the playoffs since 2012 when they were ousted in the 1st Round by Clarkston 41-0. The Cardinals have done what was expected of them. Their wins? Fenton, Saginaw, Southwestern, Bay City Western, Saginaw Heritage. Their losses? Carman-Ainsworth, Powers Catholic, Dow, Lapeer. If you asked me before the season started for game-by-game predictions, this is probably how I would have slated things to shake out.

Davison does have recent playoff runs to their name, making it to the Division 2 semifinals in 2006 and 2008. One thing that has hurt the Cardinals is their enrollment is the highest it has been dating back to 1985 (1,765), which has forced them into Division 1.

Lapeer has lost one game in two seasons, and it was to Clarkston in the 2nd Round of the MHSAA Playoffs last year 23-20. The Lightning have looked unstoppable once again in 2015 going through the regular season with an unblemished record. Their biggest scare was in Week 8 when they downed Carman-Ainsworth 21-14. Lapeer is 2-0 all-time against the Cardinals winning 42-7 last Friday and 38-2 in the regular-season finale last season.

Many may think the Lightning will be a force to be reckoned with this postseason. Why might they stumble? A rematch with Clarkston potentially awaits them in the 2nd Round again this year. Players to watch for Lapeer will be Mike Marston, Eli Hunt, Drew Rubick, Dan Perry.

DIVISION 2: Midland (7-2) @ Dow (8-1), Friday 6:30pm, ESPN 100.9-FM

1976. That was the last time Midland had a losing season, until 2015. The Chemics sputtered through their schedule and went 4-5, snapping a 37-year streak that was 2nd-longest in MHSAA history. They had also made 12 consecutive appearances in the postseason until last year.

This season has gone much different for Eric Methner’s group who, at one point, entered their highly-anticipated matchup against Lapeer undefeated at 6-0. However, losses in two of their final three games knocked them down a few pegs to a #3 seed in their district. I don’t think it would’ve mattered much anyways, seeing as Midland and Dow are so close in proximity, it was likely they would end up meeting in the districts no matter the outcome.

Now 1976 was actually a good year for the Chargers. A very good year, in fact. It was the last time Dow had an undefeated regular season, until 2014 (they also won a state championship that year). The Chargers have seen their most successful run in the school’s history over the last three seasons going 26-5 and earning playoff appearances in each season. However, in 2013 and 2014, they’ve fallen victim to 2nd-Round exits to Midland and Mona Shores (Muskegon).

Jason Watkins’ team led by standouts Bruce Mann (QB/DB), Mike Robb (WR/LB), Devontae Stine (WR/LB), Justin Cook (WR/DB), Johnny Wilson (RB/DB), among others, would likely have a road contest against Fenton (8-1) in the 2nd Round if they get by the Chemics.

Spirit posters on display for @Dowathletics tonight in Midland. #SVL #MHSAAFB pic.twitter.com/pcwVukJkSr

— Matt DeVries (@DeVries_Matt) October 23, 2015

DIVISION 3: Gaylord (6-3) @ Mt. Pleasant (7-2), Saturday 1pm, My 104.3 FM/WMHW 91.5 FM

The Blue Devils are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2007 and just three seasons after going 0-9 in 2012. Out of the Big North Athletic Conference, Gaylord fell to Traverse City Central, Petoskey and Traverse City West this year, with TC Central and Petoskey both playoff qualifiers. The Blue Devils will bring a high-powered offense on the road with them as they’re averaging nearly 34 points per game.

Injuries have been a constant battle for Jason McIntyre and the Oilers this season. Star players Kalebb Perry and Obie Ricumstrict have missed time, but the team as a whole seem to be as healthy as they’ve been all season heading into postseason play. This will be Mt. Pleasant’s 11 playoff appearance in the last 13 seasons and they went as far as the Division 3 state championship game in 2011 before losing 45-7 to Orchard Lake St. Mary’s.

The Oilers enter Saturday afternoon’s affair on a four-game winning streak during which they’ve beaten opponents by an average of nearly 30 points. Back-to-back losses at the hands of Midland and Lapeer sandwiched in the middle of their schedule may be cause for concern. However, key pieces were missing for those matchups. The Oilers may be the team to watch out of the SVL if you’re looking for someone to make a deep playoff run.

DIVISION 4: Powers Catholic (7-2) @ Goodrich (7-2), Friday 7pm, 1470AM WFNT

Since 1999, the Chargers have missed the playoffs just three times (2008, 2010, 2013). They advanced to the 3rd Round of the playoffs last year, albeit in Division 5. With their enrollment back up over 600, Division 4 it is this postseason. A loss to Dow on the road is nothing to be ashamed of, especially when playing them close (35-30). However, what seemed to be an acceptable 27-11 loss at the hands of Flushing to open the season, turned out the Raiders finished the season 4-5 and missed the playoffs after going 9-3 a season ago.

The Martians have found recent success having been a fixture in the Division 4 playoffs since 2008. Out of the Genesee Area Red, Goodrich has had four of their seven wins this season come against playoff teams, including handing Corunna their only loss of the season. The Chargers will be up against a stingy defense when they visit Goodrich Friday night, as the Martians are allowing on average a little over 15 points per game.