Week 9 marks the final week of the Michigan High School Football regular season and we’ve got matchups that are essentially playoff games for teams on the edge. In my view, there are playoff games this week that will decide seasons and I’m incredibly excited to see how they play out. Let’s highlight a game for every division.
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Games to Watch</strong></span>
<strong>Brighton @ Franklin -</strong> This matchup holds big stakes in both Division 1 (Brighton) and Division 2 (Franklin). Brighton comes into this one 4-4 being the last one IN the 2021 playoffs. Brighton will have to win in the trenches with DE <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13203949/Cade-Riddle">Cade Riddle</a> and G <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11216985/Aidan-Webb">Aidan Webb</a> if they want to reach the postseason. As for Franklin, they’re the 3rd to the last team in the DII Playoffs having already faced a grueling schedule that included Belleville. Franklin needs this game, and the difference is going to be in QB [player_tooltip player_id="93663" first="Zac" last="Olesuk"].
<strong>Walled Lake Northern @ Fenton - </strong>WL Northern looks to have a very slim shot at the playoffs, but if Fenton wins, they're in the DII playoffs. Fenton has a no-fly zone led by CB <a class="uni-link--implied" href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11040639">Donovan Miller</a> and <a class="uni-link--implied" href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/10824274">Kristian Kilpatrick</a> making them very good against passing offenses. This is undoubtedly going to be a nice matchup.
<strong>Ionia @ Lakewood - </strong>If either team wins, they're likely in. Lakewood is on the edge of the D5 playoffs, just 3 points behind a playoff spot, while Ionia is currently the second team out of the DII playoffs. Since Ionia is the bigger school, they'll be favored with talent like DE <a class="uni-link--implied" href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11694729">Brandon Grant</a> and DT <a class="uni-link--implied" href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13380862">Chris Smith</a>. Though Lakewood could come out and surprise, earning themselves a playoff spot. They're led by MLB <a class="uni-link--implied" href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11518956">Gavan Shong</a>.
