Division 3 Semifinal Preview
The Division 3 playoffs are quickly coming to a close, and we have four teams who are no stranger to the semifinal round. In fact, King, Mason, and DeWitt were all here a year ago, while Muskegon reached this round…
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Continue ReadingThe Division 3 playoffs are quickly coming to a close, and we have four teams who are no stranger to the semifinal round. In fact, King, Mason, and DeWitt were all here a year ago, while Muskegon reached this round in 2020. These should be two extremely competitive games with a ton on the line. This is the point in the postseason where many players make real names for themselves and rise to the occasion!
Muskegon vs. DeWitt
A battle against two historic powerhouses and two programs that are no stranger to Ford Field. From the outside looking in, Muskegon will be favored, but you can never count DeWitt out. Both coaching staffs are elite and always extremely well-prepared.
If both teams play to their peak, Muskegon will win this game. Other than a loss to De La Salle and a 1-possession win against Reeth’s Puffer early in the season, the Big Reds have been on their A-Game. Sure, they lost a two-point game against Zeeland West in week 5, but they just beat them to secure this semifinal spot. Their playmakers, especially on defense, need to make plays.
DeWitt has a young team, and they had a shaky start to the season, eventually finishing 4th in the Capital Blue. Despite the 4th place finish, DeWitt is the only Capital Blue team still playing. They started the season 3-3, then had two bye-weeks as Okemos and Everett could not field a team. After the byes, DeWitt has played and won their last 5, outscoring opponents 230-126. Needless to say, their defense isn’t what it’s been in years past, but the offense has found a way to get going.
King vs. Mason
This is a rematch of one of last year’s semifinal matchups, where King came away with the 46-0 victory. Undoubtedly, King will be favored, but I think this will be a much closer game. I don’t think King is as good as they were last year, while Mason has improved since last season.
In order for Mason to win this game, WR Derek Badley and Sophomore QB Cason Carswell need to have great games. Mason sports one of the best offenses in the state, but they haven’t played the most difficult schedule. Even so, they are 13-0 with just under 45 PPG. This team has to be extremely confident, and they’ll surely need it moving forward. The coaching staff will also need an excellent gameplan for King’s explosive offense.
King needs to play King Football. As long as they settle down and focus on the task at hand, they should be fine. Before anything else, this means dominating the line of scrimmage and playing a clean game. No penalties; just focus. It should be interesting to see who, if anyone, stands out in this game for King.