Who will wear the crowns?
Breaking down Division 1 & 2 finalists
The 2022 Michigan high school football playoffs culminate with the state final games on Friday and Saturday at Ford Field.
Here is a look at the four of the teams vying for the state championship:
DIVISION 1, 1 P.M. SATURDAY
Caledonia (12-1)
Colors: Purple and Gold
Nickname: Fighting Scots
How they fared in the playoffs: Beat Grandville, 48-26; Rockford, 14-13 (2OT); Grand Ledge, 42-14; Clarkston, 21-0.
Key players: QB Mason McKenzie; RB Brock Townsend; HB/OLB Derek Pennington; OG/NG Carlo Aybar.
Strength: The Fighting Scots have played well on both sides of the ball. They have had an explosive spread offensive attack all season averaging 40 points per game. Caledonia has allowed just over 14 points per game.
Weakness: Stopping the run is probably the biggest concern for Caledonia, which was involved in a couple of shootouts with Grandville. The Fighting Scots avenged their lone loss of the season against Rockford (38-15) with a two-overtime playoff victory.
Coach Derek Pennington: “We’re a good football team. It starts with our quarterback Mason (McKenzie) and he has some really good dudes around him.”
Belleville (13-0)
Colors:
Nickname:
How they fared in the playoffs: Beat Brownstown Woodhaven, 48-0; Saline, 62-44; Novi Detroit Catholic Central, 33-10; Detroit Cass Tech, 29-28 (OT).
Key players: QB Bryce Underwood; LB/RB Jeremiah Beasley; OG/DT Jeremiah Warren; DB/WR Dennis Crawford.
Strength: With the sophomore Underwood at the controls, the Tigers possess a high-powered offensive attack averaging 50 points per game. Meanwhile, the defense has been consistent allowing just under 11 points per game. Another strong trait is the team’s togetherness and camaraderie.
Weakness: Belleville’s Achilles Heel this season has been penalties, while trying to minimize turnovers. The more meaningful the games, the more critical those penalties become.
Interim coach DeJuan Rogers: “When things go wrong and we’re dealing with adversity, we’re able to keep playing and keep performing instead of, ‘Oh, we just can’t get this play,’ or we’re dropping our heads, stuff like that. In previous years when things haven’t gone our way, you could tell it was starting to get to them. But with this team, they just keep going, keep going, next play, next play. And I think that drives us.”
Orange and Black
Tigers
DIVISION 2, 2 P.M. FRIDAY
Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central (13-0)
Colors: Forest Green and White
Nickname: Rangers
How they fared in the playoffs: Beat Muskegon Reeths-Puffer, 32-6;
Coming this week!
This is the fourth of four previews of the 16 teams headed to Ford Field for this weekend’s Michigan high school football finals. (Go to freep.com/sports/high-schools to catch up on the others.) The schedule:
Monday: Division 7 (Jackson Lumen Christi, Traverse City St. Francis) and Division 8 (Ubly, Ottawa Lake Whiteford).
Tuesday: Division 5 (Gladwin, Frankenmuth) and Division 6 (Negaunee, Grand Rapids West Catholic).
Wednesday: Division 3 (Detroit King, Muskegon) and Division 4 (Goodrich, Grand Rapids South Christian).
Today: Division 1 (Caledonia, Belleville) and Division 2 (Warren De La Salle, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central).
Muskegon Mona Shores, 33-21; East Lansing, 21-17; Dexter, 20-17.
Key players: OG/DE Crandall Quinn; LB Ray Cargill; WR/DB Ty Hudkins; RB/LB J.T. Hartman, RB/LB.
Strength: The Rangers have stood out defensively allowing just a shade over a touchdown per game, including three shutouts. They have also run the ball effectively while averaging just over 30 points per game. Weakness: Remaining healthy is the main concern for Forest Hills Central during its playoff run. The Rangers have used two quarterbacks during the playoffs in starter Justin Osterhouse and backup Mason McDonald, who can also play wide receiver.
Coach Tim Rogers: “They’re very unselfish and there are no egos on this team. They just do what is asked of them and do it to the best of their ability, and they don’t worry about who gets the credit.”
Warren De La Salle (12-1)
Colors:
Nickname:
How they fared in the playoffs: Beat Grosse Pointe South, 37-7; Roseville, 37-7; Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse, 55-7; Birmingham Groves, 43-15.
Key players: QB Brady Drogosh; DE Mason Muragin; RB Brett Roeser; LB James McDonald.
Strength: The team’s depth and ability to stay focused while getting better each week have carried the defending state champion Pilots this season. Despite surgeries and some issues with injuries, they have been able to plug holes develop players with their deep roster.
Weakness: While teams will try and take away things from the Pilots’ offensively, the key is trying to stay balanced and stay away from being one-dimensional with just the run game led by Roeser and Drogosh. Coach Dan Rohn: “They’re still hungry. Even though they won it last year, having 43 seniors on the team and knowing what it takes, is really important. Our entire focus all season is not about who we’re playing, but more about us. And I think our kids have bought into that. We play a lot of guys and it makes a lot of guys better.”