West Michigan Regional Finals Games to Watch
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This week, half of our remaining teams will move onto the state semifinals, while the other half will go home. We have a great slate of West Michigan matchups, mainly in the Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo areas. Check out the…
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Continue ReadingThis week, half of our remaining teams will move onto the state semifinals, while the other half will go home. We have a great slate of West Michigan matchups, mainly in the Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo areas. Check out the top regional finals matchups to watch in West Michigan.
#4 Grand Blanc @ #1 Rockford (D1)
It’s only right that these two teams are meeting for a chance at the semifinals. The writing has been on the wall for a long time, with one of the best quarterbacks in the state, Rockford’s Zak Ahern Zak Ahern 6'2" | 175 lbs | QB Rockford | 2022 State MI , and one of the best running backs in the state, Grand Blanc’s Elijah Jackson-Anderson Elijah Jackson-Anderson 5'9" | 180 lbs | RB Grand Blanc | 2022 State MI . Both of these teams are very comparable in terms of points per game and points against, and both teams are coming in at 11-0. This is going to be fun to watch.
Players to watch – Zak Ahern Zak Ahern 6'2" | 175 lbs | QB Rockford | 2022 State MI , Kade Kostus Kade Kostus 6'3" | 245 lbs | DL Rockford | 2022 State MI , Samuel Watts, Elijah Jackson-Anderson Elijah Jackson-Anderson 5'9" | 180 lbs | RB Grand Blanc | 2022 State MI , Dylan Hertzberg, Cross Dobbs Cross Dobbs 6'3" | 205 lbs | LB Grand Blanc | 2022 MI
#4 Traverse City Central @ #3 Caledonia (D2)
Out of every regional matchup, this is the one I’ll be attending. This matchup showcases one of the frontrunners for Michigan High School Football player of the year, Traverse City Central’s Joshua Burnham Joshua Burnham 6'3" | 205 lbs | LB Traverse City Central | 2022 State MI . On the other side is the home team, Caledonia as they’re at the program’s peak, just having beat the defending state champions, Mona Shores, 49-12. Both of these teams are good enough to win it all, but only one can advance to the state semifinals.
Players to watch – Joshua Burnham Joshua Burnham 6'3" | 205 lbs | LB Traverse City Central | 2022 State MI , Samuel LaLonde, Kadyn Warner, Andrew DeVries Andrew DeVries 6'2" | 270 lbs | OL Zeeland East | 2022 State MI , Mason McKenzie, Caleb Paarlberg
#27 Parma Western @ #22 St. Joseph (D3)
Both of these teams stack up well against one another, with St. Joseph having the better offense, but Parma Western having the better defense. They both have one common opponent, Mattawan, and they both won by 15 points. The winner of this one will either face DeWitt or Cedar Springs for a chance to move onto the state championship.
Players to watch – Connor Savenas, Jackson Lane, Joseph Sicurello, Mitch Williams, Nolan Wheeler, Cole Wilcox
#16 Grand Rapids South Christian @ #3 Edwardsburg (D4)
Both of these teams have been pretty great all year. Edwardsburg is 11-0 with their closest game being a 34-point win. Grand Rapids South Christian on the other hand stands at 8-3 with a much more difficult strength of schedule. This matchup is very hard to predict since there are no common opponents, with both teams being from two very different areas, though I believe this game will be very close.
Players to watch – Colton Schreur Colton Schreur 5'11" | 190 lbs | LB Grand Rapids South Christian | 2022 MI , Robbie Laidler, Cayden Dykema, Logan McColley, Brett Allen, Jacob Pegura