Division 3 Semifinal Preview: Dewitt vs Muskegon

Two of the winningest programs in the state will clash once again with a trip to the State Finals on the line. Last year, Muskegon outlasted DeWitt 28-21 before falling to River Rouge in the State Championship. DeWitt is playing in its third-straight semifinal and is looking to make its first trip to the State Finals since 2013. Both teams have high-level athletes on both sides of the ball, making for what should be another great matchup. Below, I’ll get into the top prospects for each team, keys to the game, and my prediction. <em><strong>Playoff Road</strong></em> Muskegon (9-1 OK Geen): Pre-District: Defeated Greenville 56-7, District Semi: Defeated Cedar Springs 34-12, District Final: Defeated Marquette 47-21, Regional Final: Defeated East Grand Rapids 24-0. DeWitt (10-0 CAAC Blue): Pre-District: Defeated Jackson Northwest 55-0, District Semi: Defeated Waverly 52-0, District Final: Defeated Mason 43-0, Regional Final: Defeated Stevensville Lakeshore via Forfeit. <em><strong>Top Prospects</strong></em> <h6>[player_tooltip player_id="29950" first="Tayvid" last="Elmore"], OL, Muskegon</h6> <h6>[player_tooltip player_id="30158" first="Myles" last="Walton"], WR, Muskegon</h6> <h6>Jacarri Kitchen, RB, Muskegon</h6> <h6>[player_tooltip player_id="29610" first="Amari" last="Crowley"], QB, Muskegon</h6> <h6>[player_tooltip player_id="29605" first="Julius" last="Sims"], DB, Muskegon</h6> <h6>Tyreese Oaks, DB, Muskegon</h6> <h6>[player_tooltip player_id="29953" first="KyRen" last="Geller"], OL, DeWitt</h6> <h6>[player_tooltip player_id="30211" first="Tommy" last="McIntosh"], WR, DeWitt</h6> <h6>Tyler Holtz, QB, DeWitt</h6> <h6>[player_tooltip player_id="30092" first="Andrew" last="Debri"], LB, DeWitt</h6> <h6>Lukas Bresser, DB, DeWitt</h6> <h6>[player_tooltip player_id="30098" first="Grant" last="Uyl"], RB/LB, DeWitt</h6> <h6>Nicholas Flegler, DB/WR DeWitt</h6> <em><strong>Keys To The Game</strong></em> DeWitt enters this game having shutout five of their nine opponents this year. Grand Ledge was the only team that was able to provide a pulse against the Panthers, scoring 38 points in a 26-point loss in week two. On film, DeWitt’s defense overpowers its opponents with their physicality. On offense, the Panther’s multi-dimensional attack can score with any team in the state. Muskegon will provide a different test as they’re undoubtedly be the best team DeWitt will face up to this point, with athletes littered across the board on both sides of the ball. Muskegon’s offense, led by [player_tooltip player_id="29610" first="Amari" last="Crowley"] and Jacarri Kitchen, has a unique blend of speed and power, making them one of the hardest offenses to gameplan around. They have the ability to score in a hurry, and the poise to put together a time-consuming scoring drive. Defensively, the Big Reds have arguably the best secondary in the state led by [player_tooltip player_id="30158" first="Myles" last="Walton"] and Tyrese Oaks. My best guess is big plays and turnovers will be two of the main deciding factors in this game, seeing both teams have multiple athletes that can hit the home run. <em><strong>Prediction: </strong>Muskegon 21, DeWitt 20</em>