Division 2 Playoff Preview
The Division 2 Playoffs are on the horizon, and I couldn’t be more excited for it. This bracket is pretty balanced, with a clear frontrunner in every region, but many teams have the tools to brew up an upset. This…
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Continue ReadingThe Division 2 Playoffs are on the horizon, and I couldn’t be more excited for it. This bracket is pretty balanced, with a clear frontrunner in every region, but many teams have the tools to brew up an upset. This article will fully preview the Division 2 Bracket, with detailed analysis about every region.
Region 1
Frontrunner: Mona Shores
I considered putting FHC here, but they and Mona Shores met in last year’s playoffs, with Mona Shores winning 31-7. When you look at Region 1 as a whole, most would agree that Mona Shores is the clear frontrunner to make it to the semifinals. Although, there are teams that may have the gull to dethrone them.
Top Competitors: Reeths-Puffer, East Lansing
RP is an inconsistent team. At their best, they could beat Mona Shores. At their worst, they nearly lose to Zeeland East. If they’re on their A-Game all postseason, I see a semifinal ceiling.
East Lansing is another team that could go far, but like RP, they are inconsistent. Two losses in a row against Grand Ledge and Holt are concerning but wins against DeWitt, Portage Central, and Fenton is impressive.
Dark Horse: Battle Creek Central, Portage Northern, Byron Center
These three teams could shock the world, but it’s unlikely. These teams all have some star pieces but in general, aren’t well-rounded enough to consistently win against the teams above.
Longshots: Traverse City Central
I don’t think these 2021 finalists will make a repeat trip to Ford Field, and I’ll be shocked if they make it out of Round 1. This is a top program but a young team that needs more experience. They’ve had a strong strength of schedule but did not capitalize against some of the best teams in the state.
Top R1 Matchup: Byron Center vs. Portage Northern
I am highly considering attending this matchup (vote on my Twitter!) These are two evenly-matched teams that I’ve wanted to watch but haven’t had the chance to. The winner of this game will face the winner of Battle Creek Central and East Lansing.
Region 2
Frontrunner: Dexter
The Dreadnaughts are heavy favorites to make it out of Region 2. The sheer talent and dominance of this team was extremely impressive, as they swept the Southeastern Red, finishing with a flawless 9-0 record. This team is scary good, but this is also a pretty strong Region. If Dexter makes it to the semis, they will have earned it.
Top Competitors: Midland, Waterford Mott, South Lyon, South Lyon East
I don’t see much skill difference in these teams, and I think all of these teams can hang around with Dexter. Midland is a great 8-1 team with a questionable strength of schedule but is, in general, a very strong team.
Mott, South Lyon, and South Lyon East are all in the Lakes Valley conference. East defeated South Lyon and Mott, Mott defeated South Lyon, while South Lyon lost to both teams by 1 score or less. These three were neck-and-neck teams in the Lakes Valley, and are all battle-tested for the playoffs.
Dark Horse: None
Longshots: Milford, Swartz Creek, Saginaw Heritage
I don’t see these teams getting very far. Whether it’s the strength of schedule or having a daunting Round-1 matchup, these teams have a big hill to climb.
Top R1 Matchup: South Lyon vs. South Lyon East
This is a rematch of a matchup that took place just last weekend. South Lyon East came away with the 27-21 victory, but South Lyon gets another crack at it here. These two teams are bitter rivals and are extremely familiar with one another. This is a true toss-up.
Region 3
Frontrunner: Livonia Franklin
Franklin’s resume is spectacular and worlds better than any other Region 3 team. They torched the entire KLAA East, with the exception of the #1 team in the state, Belleville. They then went on to dominate Northville in the KLAA Crossover, which is a 7-2 D1 program. Franklin will be favored in every matchup until the semifinals.
Top Competitors: Seaholm, Bedford
At their best, Seaholm is a semifinal-contending team. The Maples absolutely steamrolled some teams this season but lost two games against teams that are extremely familiar with them. With an experienced O/D line and lots of great skill players (many in the C/O 2024), this is a team that could go far.
Bedford is a consistently good, sometimes great team. Their win over Saline was phenomenal, and they fully deserved a 2nd place share of the Southeastern Red. Although Farmington may be a formidable opponent.
Dark Horse: Groves, Farmington
Both of these teams are inconsistent, but they have the potential to be great.
Groves sits at 6-3, with a decent strength of schedule. Four of their wins were by one-possession or less, and the other two were blowouts against bad/wildly inconsistent teams. I am extremely confident that Groves will beat Warren Mott, and they’ll probably be met with rival Seaholm in the 2nd-round, with Livonia Franklin being the likely 3rd-round opponent. I think Seaholm has a better shot at beating Franklin, but Groves is just as likely to get there.
Farmington is a inconsistent team. They defeated a undefeated Seaholm, then lost to a 1-7 team the very next week, and lost against a Troy team that Seaholm beat by 52. This is a team of high highs and low lows that will be a underdog in all of their playoff games, but this is still a team that when at their best, can they beat the best.
Longshots: Ferndale, Warren Mott, Crestwood
These three teams had good seasons that can serve as pivotal building blocks for their programs. Though, I don’t see these teams making it past Round 1. I’ve seen crazier upsets before, so we’ll have to see.
Top R1 Matchup: Bedford vs. Farmington
This all depends which team we’ll see from Farmington. We know who Bedford is; a consistently great team with the tools to defeat some of the best teams in the state. Farmington is much of the same, but only when they’re at their best.
Region 4
Frontrunner: De La Salle
Overall, I think this is the weakest region with the #1 State Championship Favorite in it. Sorry to all the other teams, but on paper, De La Salle may have a cakewalk to the semifinals. In addition, it looks like they have a extremely similar playoff path to last season.
Top Competitors: None
Dark Horse: Roseville, Grosse Pointe South
These are the only two teams that might be able to contend with De La Salle. Last year, GPS lost to De La Salle in the playoffs 35-20, while Roseville lost to them 45-14. In another region these teams may be top competitors, but not here.
Longshots: Port Huron Northern, Lakeview, Port Huron, L’Ance Creuse
These may be good teams, but none have a good strength of schedule, and these teams have all been inconsistent at best in the postseason. These teams normally don’t perform well in the postseason, but weirdly enough, these four teams are on the same side of Region 4, therefore, one of these teams will make it to the Final 8.
Top R1 Matchup: Port Huron Northern vs. Lakeview
This should be a great matchup.
Lakeview comes in at 6-3 with a pretty good strength of schedule, while Northern comes in at 8-1 with an easier schedule, but still one 1-loss on the season. This should turn out to be a great MAC Blue vs. MAC White win-or-go-home matchup!