Catholic Central vs. Gladwin Semifinal Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Will Grand Rapids Catholic Central make its 6th State Title in the past seven years? Or could Gladwin pull off the upset? This is an intriguing semifinal matchup that most will write off as another clear-cut CC victory, but I believe Gladwin has the pieces to compete with the goliath. This article will outline a few stats, headline some players, and discuss what each team needs to do to compete at Ford Field next weekend. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Quick Stats</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td></td><td>Catholic Central</td><td>Gladwin</td></tr><tr><td>Record</td><td>11-1</td><td>12-0</td></tr><tr><td>Points Per Game</td><td>40.8</td><td>47</td></tr><tr><td>Points Against Per Game</td><td>8.25</td><td>8.4</td></tr><tr><td>Best Win</td><td>54-0 vs. Port Huron</td><td>33-27 vs. ND Prep</td></tr><tr><td>Playoff wins</td><td>Hackett Cath, Berrein Springs, Portland</td><td>Ogemaw Hgts, Kingsford, Oakridge</td></tr><tr><td>Strength of schedule (D5)</td><td>A-</td><td>B-</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Not all undefeated or near-undefeated records are created equal, and this is a great example. Frankly, the Jack Pine league is heavily interior to the OK-Gold. Though, Gladwin absolutely dominated the league. The 2nd-place finisher in Jack Pine, Clare, lost to Gladwin 38-0. 3rd-place Meridian lost to Gladwin 58-7, and so on. This is a special team that <span style="text-decoration: underline;">wins in the trenches</span>, which is incredibly important. I can't tell you how many times I've seen some D5 schools get tumbled because they couldn't compete up front. This team can. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Catholic Central needs no introduction and does not need to be explained. This has been the most consistent team in the state for many years, and they keep reloading with talent. Not only do they usually dominate the trenches, but they have multiple skill players that are simply on a different level than most of D5. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>S/WR | Kaden McDonald | Gladwin</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I've mentioned Kaden a few times while talking about this matchup. I truly think he'll be the most important player on the field for Gladwin, as he consistently plays at a high level on both sides of the ball. He's an athlete, and he'll be a key combo of IQ, speed, and grittiness against a state powerhouse. Look for Kaden to be very involved in the offense and a KEY player on the defensive side of the ball against a great passing offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>QB | [player_tooltip player_id='188030' first='Connor' last='Wolf'] | Catholic Central</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wolf has proven himself this year, but he won't be satisfied without a ring. CC plays a much more difficult schedule than most D5 programs, and with the body of work Wolf put in over the offseason, he's battle-tested for the postseason. Elite ball placement and great fundamentals and is a true student of the game. He's the most important player on CC, and this is where he proves his state ranking. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>G/DT | Linclon McKinnon | Gladwin</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The big 6'2, 240lb lineman will have to lead the charge in the trenches for Gladwin. It's going to be a war in the trenches, and I hope Lincoln is ready for it. The big man has been a force in the playoffs and throughout the season, using his size and strength to his advantage. Sometimes he can get a bit high, so staying low and the general fundamentals are going to be huge with him. With his back against the wall during his senior season, let's see how he performs! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TE/DE | [player_tooltip player_id='407398' first='Nathan' last='VanTimmeren'] | Catholic Central</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>VanTImmeren could be a big mismatch for the Gladwin defense. Because let's be real, how many D5 teams have to gameplan for a dominant 6'5" TE? He's had a string of great performances in the playoffs on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball, and I expect him to be heavily involved once more this Saturday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->