Four teams in each division will fight for a chance to play at Ford Field as the Michigan high school football playoffs enters the semifinals.
Division 1
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Rochester Adams (10-2) vs Hudsonville (11-1) @ Okemos High School (OHS Football Stadium)
Adams
- 3rd in OAA Red
- Key Wins: Clarkston, West Bloomfield, North Farmington
- Key Players: Junior QB Nolan Farris, Senior RB Matteo Humbert, Senior S Tommy Offer
Hudsonville
- 1st in Ottawa-Kent Red
- Key Wins: East Lansing, Rockford, Grandville
- Key Players: Senior QB Griffin Baker, Jack Wills TE, Senior WR Carson Dykstra
Both of these teams have exceeded expectations by beating tough competition on their runs to the final four. Both teams present a physical style of play with an emphasis on the run game. Hudsonville enters this game coming off a decisive 35-6 win against Howell in which they avenged their only loss of the season. Adams is coming off a thriller against Grand Blanc. The Highlanders won 21-14 on a game-winning touchdown. Adams has gone through most of the regular season and the gauntlet of this playoff run without their starting quarterback Ryland Watters. Backup quarterback junior Nolan Farris has seamlessly stepped into the starter’s role and propelled the Highlanders forward. Whichever team is able to impose their will on the line of scrimmage will win.
Detroit Cass Tech (10-2) vs Detroit Catholic Central (12-0) @ Troy Athens High School
Cass Tech
- 1st in Detroit PSL
- Key Wins: Ohio McKinley, Detroit King, Dearborn
- Key Players: Freshman QB Donald Tabron, Junior DB/WR Corey Sadler, Senior DB/WR Alex Graham
Detroit Catholic Central
- 1st in Catholic Central
- Key Wins: Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, De La Salle, Detroit King
- Key Players: Senior QB Skyler Hunter, Senior RB/FS Jaden Pydyn, Junior TE/DE Jack Janda
This is a power versus speed matchup between two teams that were expected to be state title contenders. Cass Tech enters this game coming off a 21-14 win against Dakota. The Technicians are looking to appear in their first state championship since the 2016-2017 season in which they capped off an undefeated season beating Detroit Catholic Central in the state final. Detroit Catholic Central is coming off a decisive 35-21 win against Belleville. Despite being undefeated, many may not have expected the Shamrocks to control the game against Belleville. The team has a clear identity of being physical and disciplined and will look to carry that into this game against a Cass Tech team that is built similarly to Belleville.
Division 2
East Lansing (9-3) vs Byron Center (11-1) @ Greenville High School
East Lansing
- 2nd in Capital Area Blue
- Key Wins: Portage Central, Everett, Dexter
- Key Players: Senior RB Jace Clarizio, Senior QB Ben Fletcher
Byron Center
- 2nd in Ottawa-Kent Green
- Key Wins: Muskegon, Morris (Illinois), Northview
- Key Players: Senior WR/CB Isaac Lee, Senior QB Landon Tungate, Senior S/WR Landen Conrad
Keep an eye on the scoreboard in this game as both teams can put up points in a hurry. Byron Center is coming off a 52-14 win against Portage Central while East Lansing is coming off a 49-27 win against Saginaw Heritage. East Lansing beat Byron Center in regionals last season but lost 42-7 to eventual Division 2 state champion, Muskegon. Byron Center will be looking for revenge and a trip to its first Division 2 state championship in school history.
Orchard Lake St Mary’s (9-3) vs Birmingham Groves (12-0) @ West Bloomfield High School
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s
- 4th in Catholic Central
- Key Wins: Brother Rice, Fitzgerald, Portage Northern
- Key Players: Senior OL Antonio Johnson, Senior QB Axel Newell, Senior WR/FS Bryson Williams
Groves
- 1st in OAA White
- Key Wins: Seaholm, West Bloomfield, Harper Woods
- Key Players: Senior QB Ryan Counts, Senior OT Avery Gach, Senior CB Chris Little
Groves beat perineal state championship contender Warren De La Salle Collegiate in regionals and will remain in the Catholic Central division against Orchard Lake St. Mary‘s. Both teams have standout offensive linemen in St. Mary’s Antonio Johnson and Groves' Avery Gach. Both teams have high-powered offenses but St. Mary’s defense has been dominant since week four. Groves is aiming to appear in their first Division 2 state championship in school history. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s is aiming for their first Division 2 state championship appearance since 2004.
Division 3
Zeeland West (11-1) vs DeWitt (12-0) @ Forest Hills Eastern (Hawk Stadium)
Zeeland West
- 2nd in Ottawa-Kent Gold
- Key Wins: Forest Hills Central, West Catholic, Zeeland East
- Key Players: Senior QB/DB Trey Sloothaak, Senior HB/LB Isaac VanderZwaag, Senior FB/CB Keaton Hendricks
Dewitt
- 1st in Capital Area - Blue
- Key Wins: Haslett, Mason, East Lansing
- Key Players: Senior QB/S Elliott Larner, Senior WR/RB/LB Abram Larner, Junior TE/LB/DE Jacob Schorfhaar
Dewitt has one of the most dynamic offenses in the state led by twins Elliot and Abram Larner. The Panthers score 56.8 points per game so Zeeland West will look to slow the pace of the game down with their deceptive and physical veer offense. Dewitt is looking for its first state championship appearance since 2021 while Zeeland West is aiming for its first trip to Ford Field since 2015. Whichever team can play to their team’s identity will win this game.
Mason (10-2) vs Detroit Martin Luther King (9-3) @ Chelsea High School
Mason
- 1st in Capital Area Red
- Key Wins: Haslett, Jackson, Linden
- Key Players: Senior QB Cason Carswell, Senior LB Logan Doerr, Senior RB/LB Caleb Vaughn
Martin Luther King
- 2nd in Detroit PSL
- Key Wins: Cleveland Heights, Cass Tech, Grosse Pointe North
- Key Players: Sophomore QB Darryl Flemister, Senior WR Damon Stennis, Senior DE/TE Xavier Newsom
These teams are meeting in the semifinals for the fourth straight year with Mason winning last year’s matchup. Mason is coming off a tightly contested 22-17 revenge game against Walled Lake Western in the regionals. The Bulldogs lost to Walled Lake Western earlier in the season but won the game that matters most. King enters this game coming off a dominant 34-0 win against River Rouge. This is a premier quarterback battle as Mason’s Cason Carswell and King’s Darryl Flemister are among the top in the state.
Division 4
Grand Rapids South Christian (8-4) vs Niles (11-1) @ Three Rivers High School
Grand Rapids South Christian
- 5th in Ottawa-Kent Gold
- Key Wins: East Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids West Catholic, Grand Rapids Catholic Central
- Key Players: Senior QB Carson Vis, Senior LB Rowan DeKam, Senior TE Tyler Brinks
Niles
- 1st in Wolverine B
- Key Wins: Edwardsburg, Paw Paw, Portland
- Key Players: Senior RB/Slot/LB Sam Rucker, Senior RB/LB Paul Hess III, Junior OG Brandon Hamilton
Grand Rapids South Christian is coming off a 28-21 win against Whitehall while Niles is coming off a 37-34 win against Portland. South Christian is led by quarterback Carson Vis while Niles has a strong run game in their triple option offense. South Christian is looking to return to Ford Field after losing the state title to Harper Woods last season.
Goodrich (11-1) vs Harper Woods (9-3) @ Stoney Creek High School
Goodrich
- 1st in Flint Metro - Lower
- Key Wins: Corunna, Ortonville Brandon, Fenton
- Key Players: Senior WR/DB Max Macklem, Senior RB/LB Chase Burnett, Senior DB/RB Luke Alward
Harper Woods
- 2nd in OAA White
- Key Wins: Redford Union, Stoney Creek, Divine Child
- Key Players: Junior QB Nate Rocheleau, Sophomore WR Dakota Guerrant, Senior LB Matthew McCraw
This game is a rematch of last year’s semifinals. Harper Woods beat Goodrich 35-24 and went on to win the Division 4 state title. Harper Woods is coming off a dominant 48-3 win against Lutheran North. The Pioneers offense has been dominant throughout the playoffs, scoring over 40 points in each game. Their toughest test will come against the tough and physical Goodrich. The Martians have blown out all but one opponent in their playoff run. They’re coming off a 42-13 win against Haslett. Goodrich has the opportunity to dethrone the defending state champs while Harper Woods is aiming for back-to-back state title appearances.
All of the semifinals games take place Saturday, Nov. 23 at 1 p.m.