Pallone’s 2023 State Championship Predictions
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It’s kickoff week, which means time for predictions! This is such as fun week of eager anticipation and low-stakes predictions. Here, I’ll be predicting the State Championship winners from Divisions 1-5. Division 1 – Belleville That’s right. I have Belleville…
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Continue ReadingIt’s kickoff week, which means time for predictions! This is such as fun week of eager anticipation and low-stakes predictions. Here, I’ll be predicting the State Championship winners from Divisions 1-5.
Division 1 – Belleville
That’s right. I have Belleville completing the 3-peat in Michigan’s most difficult division. There are a few other teams that can compete, but still, no team is close to the talent at Belleville. Bryce Underwood Bryce Underwood 6'3" | 205 lbs | QB Belleville | 2025 State MI is heading into his 3rd season as the Tigers signal caller, and he’s propelled himself to the #1 ranked prospect in the entire country. Front 7 pieces, such as Jeremiah Beasley Jeremiah Beasley 6'2" | 200 lbs | LB Belleville | 2024 State MI , Nathaniel Johnson, Lamar Fairfax, and Cailin Scott Cailin Scott 5'9" | 185 lbs | LB Belleville | 2025 MI will dominate nearly every team in Michigan. Other skill players like Kevin Simes Kevin Simes 5'9" | 185 lbs | WR Belleville | 2024 State MI , Renzo Jennings Renzo Jennings 5'11" | 175 lbs | DB Belleville | 2024 State MI , and Colbey Reed Colbey Reed 5'10" | 195 lbs | RB Belleville | 2024 State MI round out the best roster in the state.
Division 2 – De La Salle
De La Salle is still the best Division 2 team on paper. Even without several 2023 graduates, De La Salle will be the favorite to win the catholic league and once again sweep the Division 2 playoffs. Muskegon is my definite #2 team in Division 2, and we’re lucky enough to see Muskegon and DLS face off on September 1st. Caledonia is also in the state championship conversation after a Cinderella run to the Division 1 finals last season. A Caledonia-Muskegon playoff matchup is actually quite probable.
Pivoting back to De La Salle, they’ve got all the momentum and talent to build a true dynasty. They still have amazing talent up and down the roster, and even though this is a Division 2 team, the DLS football program may be the largest in Michigan. I feel that DLS should roll to the state finals, and they’ll face a tough matchup in the actual State Title.
Division 3 – Mason
This is the most wide open division. I feel that Mason’s leadership, talent, and overall experience give them an edge against just about any team in D3. Specifically, you have QB Cason Carswell Cason Carswell 6'3" | 180 lbs | QB Mason | 2025 State MI , RB AJ Martel AJ Martel 5'9" | 180 lbs | RB Mason | 2024 State MI , and LB/TE Kaleb Parrish Kaleb Parrish 6'5" | 220 lbs | TE Mason | 2024 State MI leading this team. The best players on Mason are the needle-movers, though I also know they have phenomenal role players and a team chemistry that is unmatched.
As for the rest of D3, I could easily see Detroit MLK, Forest Hills Central, DeWitt, River Rouge, or Zeeland West winning the State Championship. This is truly the most wide-open division in all of Michigan, and it’s going to be extremely fun to watch it play out!
Division 4 – Goodrich
This is another pretty wide-open division, though I have Goodrich earning a state title. This is a team that lives and dies with their physicality, and that’s exactly how they pulled off upsets on the way to last year’s title game. Better yet, they have a good amount of returners alongside great Varsity newcomers such as Jakoby Lagat Jakoby Lagat 5'11" | 190 lbs | RB Goodrich | 2026 State MI .
Other teams I can see winning the title are Whitehall, South Christian, Unity Christian, Portland, and Harper Woods.
Division 5 – GR Catholic Central
This is still Catholic Central’s championship to lose. This team shockingly lost to Gladwin in last year’s playoffs, and the Flying G’s blazed their own trail to a State Championship victory. This season, Catholic Central is more experienced, has one of the best offenses in Michigan regardless of division, and a great defense. The QB/RB Duo of Connor Wolf Connor Wolf 6'3" | 180 lbs | QB Grand Rapids Catholic Central | 2024 State MI and Kellen Russell-Dixon Kellen Russell-Dixon 5'10" | 185 lbs | RB Grand Rapids Catholic Central | 2024 State MI may be the best duo in all of Michigan. New weapons at receiver further complement this unit, and the offensive line is amazing as well.
The #1 challenger of Catholic Central will be West Catholic, who look like a re-emerging dynasty. West Catholic and Catholic Central are destined to face off early on in the postseason, and that should be a legendary game to watch. I’ll have to say, Gladwin, Frankenmuth, and Corunna are other teams that I could see hoisting the championship trophy.