FLINT – We should see more competitive games this week – at least in many cases – after some pretty bad blowouts during the first round of the Michigan high school football playoffs.
This week’s winners will earn the right to play for a regional title and will be three victories away from winning a state championship.
One Flint-are team is already in the third round after Beecher received a forfeit victory in Division 8 because Harbor Beach had COVID-19 issues. Another 17 Flint-area teams will take the field Friday night to try and join the Bucs in the regional finals.
There are 15 games involving Flint-area teams this week and we’ve got the winners in all of them for you. We went in-depth on predicting eight games and offered scores for the rest.
But before we move on, let’s take a bow for our second-best week of the season during the opening round. The only games we didn’t correctly predict last week were Mount Pleasant-Powers Catholic and Byron-Bendle.
Last week: 23-2 (.920)
Season: 72-13 (.847)
Now, the picks:
Coach Clint Alexander has led Grand Blanc to five straight victories. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | Mlive.com
Grand Blanc at Clarkston
Grand Blanc has won five in a row, including its first playoff game since 2012, but this is going to be the Bobcats' stiffest test since defending Division 1 state champion Davison handed them a 46-21 loss in Week 2.
Grand Blanc has an explosive offense led by quarterback Ty Brotebeck, whose weapons include Elijah Jackson-Anderson, Jaylen Johnson and kicker Dylan Hertzberg, who booted two field goals last week and is also one of the country’s top punters.
But Clarkston also has a potent offense led by two of the top offensive linemen in Michigan. Notre Dame recruit Rocco Spindler (6-4, 295) has been No. 1 on MLive’s top 50 players in Michigan all season and the top 10 also includes tackle Garrett Dellinger (6-6, 280) who will play at LSU next season.
That means this one could come down to how well each team’s defense plays.
Clarkston was No. 4 in the final Associated Press rankings of the season and Grand Blanc received honorable mention.
Prediction: Clarkston 28, Grand Blanc 24
Swartz Creek at Traverse City Central
Swartz Creek has been one of the biggest surprises in the Flint area this season after posting a 1-8 record last year. The Dragons (5-2) have won a playoff game for the first time in school history after beating Carman-Ainsworth last week and their only losses were to solid Kearsley and powerful Fenton.
But this week is going to a stiff test for Swartz Creek.
Traverse City Central (5-2) is ranked No. 38 in MLive’s Top 50 – Swartz Creek didn’t make it – and the Trojans' only loss was 42-16 to No. 9 Macomb Dakota.
On top of that, the Dragons will not only be 200 miles from home but Traverse City is always a difficult place to play although restricted attendance should limit TC’s home-field advantage, which can sometimes resemble a college football game.
Prediction: Traverse City Central 27, Swartz Creek 20
Lake Fenton at Williamson
Williamston will be well rested after receiving a forfeit victory last week from Owosso, which has had an outbreak of COVID-19 that closed down in-person classes as well as all sports.
The Hornets' only loss came in the regular season finale to Division 3 Mason, which is 7-0 and received honorable mention in the final Division 4 rankings.
Lake Fenton is coming off a nice 36-34 win over Charlotte in a game that wasn’t decided until Max Muenzer intercepted a game-tying 2-point pass in the fourth quarter. The Blue Devils also have a couple of nice offensive weapons in QB Reid Shumaker and running back Andrew Heron.
But will that be enough?
Prediction: Williamston 32, Lake Fenton 28
Jaconb Ranney and North Branch is 7-0 entering the second round of the football playoffs. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Croswell-Lexington at North Branch
This is a rematch of Week 2, when North Branch won 27-20. That was the Broncos' closest game of the season.
Croswell-Lexington’s top players include junior quarterback Jake Townsend, who has passed for 13 touchdowns and almost 1,000 yards, and senior defensive end Tyler Sergent, who was honorable mention All-State last season.
But North Branch (7-0) has a roster that is filled with talent that includes Drake Deshetsky (6-2, 225), sophomore quarterback Will Damaska, running back Brandon Martin and two-way end Wyatt Howe (6-3).
North Branch’s depth is the difference.
Prediction: North Branch 28, Croswell-Lexington 21
Hamady will take a 4-3 record into this week's regional semifinal game. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Hamady at Warren Collegiate
This was a tough draw for Hamady.
The Hawks (4-3) have won at least one playoff game in three of the last five years and two of their three losses came to a pair of top 10 teams, Millington of Division 6 and Beecher of Division 8.
But Dakari Betts & Co. will have their hands full with a Warren Collegiate defense that has pitched four shutouts, allowed a total of 18 points all season and hasn’t given up more than six points in any game.
Prediction: Warren Collegiate 35, Hamady 12
Durand at Detroit Edison
Durand made a statement last week with a 50-0 win over Detroit Collegiate Prep.
Sure, Detroit Collegiate has been blown out in most of its games this season but 50 points is still 50 points. And let’s not forget that goose egg on the back end of the score.
QB Trent Boisclair and the Railroaders are moving on to the third round for the first time in school history. But it won’t be easy.
Prediction: Durand 23, Edison 20
William Watkins returned a fumble for a Davison TD in last week's playoff win over Lapeer. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | Mlive.com
Rochester Adams at Davison
Adams took a 2-4 record into last week’s game against unbeaten Rochester and came away with a 39-7 victory behind a big game from sophomore quarterback Parker Picot.
But the Highlanders have beaten Rochester 23 straight times dating back to 1996 so last week’s outcome – and Rochester’s record – might be a bit misleading.
Adams will be stepping up in competition this week against a powerful lineup that includes quarterback Brendan Sullivan, running back Carter Cryderman, receiver Dion Brown Jr. and linebacker Harry Unger.
Davison moves on in pursuit of its second straight Division 1 state title.
Prediction: Davison 40, Rochester Adams 7
Goodrich at Ortonville Brandon
We saved our Game of the Week for last because this has the makings of a dandy as both teams have 6-1 records and are loaded with talent on both sides of the ball.
It’s a rematch of Week 2, when Brandon won 41-28.
Goodrich’s Tyson Davis is a three-time, first-team All-State selection who has played receiver, running back, quarterback and defensive back for the Martians while also returning kicks. He’s as electrifying a player as you’ll find in Division 4 -- or anywhere else, for that matter.
Goodrich quarterback Aidan Rubio is going to play basketball in college but he’s proven to be a genuine prospect at the next level in football if he chose to take that route.
Brandon has a dangerous quarterback in junior Micah Miller, Jawon Slater and Brayton MacQueen are solid running backs, and linebacker Peyton Gulledge anchors a defense that blanked St. Clair 57-0 last week.
Prediction: Brandon 35, Goodrich 33
New Lothrop has never missed the playoffs under head coach Clint Galvas. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
And the rest ...
North Farmington at Fenton
Prediction: Fenton 28, North Farmington 20
Bay City Western at Linden
Prediction: Linden 20, Bay City Western 14
Bay City Central at Kearsley
Prediction: Kearsley 38, Bay City Central 14
Richmond at Corunna
Prediction: Corunna 37, Richmond 22
Chesaning at Montrose
Prediction: Montrose 44, Chesaning 6
Mt. Morris at Millington
Prediction: Millington 38, Mt. Morris 21
Bendle at New Lothrop
Prediction: New Lothrop 42, Bendle 8
MORE:
Beecher gets forfeit win because of COVID issue
Vote for Flint-area Player of the Week
Flint-area second-round playoff times, dates
Discussions ongoing for football state finals sites
MHSAA hopes teams play it safe with COVID forfeits
Owosso forfeits first-round playoff game
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