Round 1 Playoff matchups to watch in Southeast Michigan
This Friday the playoffs kickoff and we have a bounty of great games to watch in the Metro Detroit area. From giants facing off against one another to unfamiliar foes, this is going to be an incredibly fun week of…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThis Friday the playoffs kickoff and we have a bounty of great games to watch in the Metro Detroit area. From giants facing off against one another to unfamiliar foes, this is going to be an incredibly fun week of High School Football. Let’s check out the top 6 games in the area.
Games to Watch
Cass Tech @ Fordson (D1) – This is THE game to watch in southeast Michigan, hands down. This matchup has top talent on both sides of the ball, with two programs that can definitely win the state championship. Cass Tech’s only losses were against King, one of the best programs in the state, with one more loss while they had many players sitting due to covid. As for Fordson, they’re looking elite sitting at 7-2 with one of the top athletes in the state, Antonio Gates Jr Antonio Gates Jr 6'3" | 185 lbs | WR Fordson | 2022 State MI .
Fordson players to watch: WR Antonio Gates Jr Antonio Gates Jr 6'3" | 185 lbs | WR Fordson | 2022 State MI , T Ka’Marii Landers Ka’Marii Landers 6'4" | 290 lbs | OL Fordson | 2022 State MI , C Fayez Al-Ziyadi Fayez Al-Ziyadi 6'0" | 280 lbs | OL Fordson | 2022 MI , WR Mohammed Sayed
Cass Tech players to watch: T Jackson Pruitt Jackson Pruitt 6'3" | 260 lbs | OL Cass Tech | 2022 State MI , DT Deone Walker Deone Walker 6'7" | 315 lbs | DL Cass Tech | 2022 State MI , DL Jalen Thompson Jalen Thompson 6'3" | 245 lbs | DL Cass Tech | 2023 State MI , G Masai Reddick Masai Reddick 6'4" | 285 lbs | OL Cass Tech | 2022 State MI , CB Nate Briggs Nate Briggs 5'8" | 160 lbs | DB Cass Tech | 2022 State MI
Oxford @ Clarkston (D1) – Two opponents very familiar with one another will face off in a win-or-go-home battle. Earlier this season, Clarkston came away with the victory 20-17, and this matchup should be just as competitive. Clarkston finished the season 8-1, earning 2nd place in the OAA Red while Oxford finished 5-4, earning 3rd place.
Clarkston players to watch – RB Ethan Clark, QB Mike DePillo Mike DePillo 6'5" | 200 lbs | QB Clarkston | 2022 State MI , G Cole Dellinger Cole Dellinger 6'4" | 280 lbs | OL Clarkston | 2023 State MI , MLB Caleb Stalworth
Oxford players to watch – RB Tate Myre, TE Austin Witt, QB Brady Carpenter, OLB Jacob Welc
Waterford Mott @ Berkley (D2) – These are two unfamiliar teams facing off against each other in what I expect to be a great game. These teams are from comparable leagues (OAA Blue vs Lakes Valley) and offer similar talent. This should be a fun one to watch.
Mott players to watch – CB Ashton Tong Ashton Tong 6'3" | 180 lbs | WR Waterford Mott | 2022 MI , G CJ Aldred, QB Kalieb Osborne
Berkley players to watch – RB Jake Domzalski, DT Sean McKenzie, QB Zach Maurice
Walled Lake Western @ Lakeland (D2) – These teams were supposed to play one another during the regular season, but it got called off due to covid. Both squads come in at 6-3, with very similar offensive and defensive statistics. If you’re in the White Lake area, this is surely a great matchup to watch.
Western players to watch – LB Aidan Vaughan Aidan Vaughan 6'4" | 220 lbs | ATH Walled Lake Western | 2022 MI , QB Drew Viotto Drew Viotto 6'4" | 220 lbs | QB Walled Lake Western | 2023 State MI , WR Darius Taylor Darius Taylor 5'8" | 150 lbs | RB Walled Lake Western | 2023 State MI
Lakeland players to watch – SB Reed Jabiro, QB Tate Farquhar, DE Dillon Gacki
River Rouge @ Harper Woods (D3) – Here’s another matchup against two excellent teams with the potential to go far in the postseason. River Rouge, although ranked lower in the playoffs, comes into this one as the slight favorite. Rouge finished the season 6-2 with losses against De La Salle and St. Ignatius (OH). Harper Woods on the other hand comes in 7-2 with losses against De La Salle and St. Mary Prep. Needless to say, this one’s going to be great. If you’re in the Detroit area, this is an excellent one to watch
River Rouge players to watch – TE Davonte Miles Davonte Miles 6'5" | 256 lbs | DL River Rouge | 2022 State MI , WR Nicholas Marsh, QB Jalen Holly Jalen Holly 6'0" | 160 lbs | WR River Rouge | 2022 State MI , MLB Jonathan Marshall
Harper Woods players to watch – WR Tay’shawn Trent Tay’shawn Trent 6'4" | 205 lbs | WR Eastpointe | 2022 State MI , ATH Christion Stokes Christion Stokes 6'0" | 180 lbs | ATH Harper Woods | 2022 State MI , QB Vinny Booth Vinny Booth 6'3" | 190 lbs | QB Harper Woods | 2022 State MI , FS Jacob Oden Jacob Oden 6'0" | 185 lbs | DB Harper Woods | 2024 State MI
Riverview @ Allen Park (D3) – Last but not least we have undefeated Riverview facing off against 7-2 Allen Park. The reason Riverview isn’t ranked higher is because of their strength of schedule, which was not as good as most other programs. Though they’re still a great team who hasn’t even smelled a loss up to this point, and this is going to be a great test. As for Allen Park, They have the home field advantage at 7-2 with losses against great teams in Harper Woods and Woodhaven.
Riverview players to watch – QB Preston Thompson Preston Thompson 6'1" | 175 lbs | QB Riverview | 2022 MI , TE Landon Kincaid, RB Reece Wakeman
Allen Park players to watch – G Gabe Craig, RB Sunerio Hamilton, QB Ethan Gajewski Ethan Gajewski 6'2" | 200 lbs | QB Allen Park | 2022 MI