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MHSAA Playoffs: One win away from Ford Field
After three weeks of punishing football played in cold and blustery weather conditions, six football teams from the O-K Conference are just one win away from a trip to Ford Field and the chance to win a state championship over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
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One of those teams will be guaranteed a spot in the Division 3 state title game as defending Division 3 state-champion Caledonia squares off against East Grand Rapids in one semifinal game. All of this weekend's semifinal games are scheduled for 1 p.m. this Saturday. Following is a closer look at the fourth-round playoff games:
DIVISION 1
Rockford vs. Plymouth Canton
It is a rematch of last year's Division 1 state championship game as Rockford (11-1) meets the Chiefs of Plymouth Canton (12-0) in Lansing.
Canton has longed for a chance at redemption against the Rams, and this year's team may be even stronger. The numbers back up that claim, as the Canton offense is putting up 38.3 points per game this season, up from last year's average of 35.9.
Substantial improvement has been made on the defensive side of the ledger, as the Chiefs are allowing 12.1 points this year, down from last year's final number of 18.9 ppg.
A number of familiar faces return for Canton, led by all-state fullback Deshon McClendon. Despite missing five games due to injury this season, McClendon has rushed for over 750 yards.
The Chiefs have a pair of new faces in the backfield in seniors Nick Moores and Antuan Hawkins. A transfer from Detroit Catholic Central, Moores leads the Chiefs in rushing with 1,008 yards while Hawkins, a transfer from Wayne Memorial is another solid running back who has gained close to 700 yards this season.
While the Canton defense has put up better numbers this season, a potential Achilles heel was exposed in the regional final against Saline. Saline scored 36 points against Canton last Saturday as it passed for over 300 yards and three touchdowns.
Rockford enters the game with a balanced attack on offense. Senior quarterback Tom Fusee has completed 84-of-139 passes for 1,401 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Fusee has a number of targets he can throw to, including Callan Sherd, Nick McIntyre, and Michael Mudgett.
Senior Zach Breen leads the Rockford running game as he has rushed for 1,288 yards and scored 18 touchdowns this season.
DIVISION 2
Muskegon vs. Davison
It will be a battle of unbeatens when Muskegon (12-0) heads east to battle the high-octane offense of Davison (12-0).
Davison enters the game with a high-powered spread offense, led by junior quarterback Jared Cowan. Cowan has completed 85-of-150 passes for 1,760 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Senior receiver Jeremy Wilson(6-4, 190) is a Division 1 prospect who can deliver the big play, both on offense and as a kick returner.
Davison also boasts a pair of talented backs in Tim Olds and sophomore Richard Kirksey. Kirksey (6-1, 190) was also one of the top wrestlers in the state as a freshman last winter.
Muskegon will attack via the ground or air. Senor running back Ashton Leggett (5-11, 220) has seen his recruiting interest pick up with a big post-season. Leggett rushed for 176 yards against Bay City Central in the regional title game and has 1,671 yards rushing for the season.
Muskegon quarterback Chris Crawford has passed for 1,150 yards, while super-recruit Ron Johnson has rushed for 335 yards and caught 21 passes for 507 yards this season.
DIVISION 3
Caledonia vs. East Grand Rapids
Last year's state champion Caledonia (10-2) faces its biggest playoff test to date when it takes on East Grand Rapids (11-1) at East Kentwood.
These two powerhouses are quickly building a potential gem of a rivalry. Last year, Caledonia defeated East Grand Rapids 14-7 in the district title game en route to the Division 3 state title.
In coming years, the two teams will be playing each other each season as the Fighting Scots are moving up to the O-K White Conference. This weekend, the two teams are playing for the right to advance to the Division 3 state title game.
Both teams enter the game on a roll and with high-powered ground games.
Caledonia's running game is generating 260 yards rushing per game. Senior Josh Echtinaw leads the ground game with a school-record 1,524 yards rushing and a school record 21 touchdowns. Matt Cavahaugh, who rushed for 100 yards against Stevensville-Lakeshore in the regional title game, is another threat at running back, along with Alex Johnson.
East Grand Rapids also features a highly productive ground game. Senior running back Kelvin Grady leads the Pioneer ground game with 1,760 yards, while fullback Luke Glendening has added 1,216 yards rushing.
Michigan State commitment Darrell Davis-Budanauro anchors a solid offensive line for the Pioneers.
East can also strike in the air behind senior quarterback DeMarcus Grady. Grady, headed to Northern Illinois on a football scholarship, completed all six of his passes during the first half of East's regional championship win against Cadillac.
DIVISION 4
DeWitt vs. Coopersville
DeWitt (11-1) brings a potent passing game to the turf at Jenison when it takes on a Coopersville (10-2) team that just keeps finding ways to win. .
DeWitt enters the game with an offense that is putting up 33.8 points per game. Junior quarterback Dan VanDreumel is a dangerous dual-threat, having completed 132-of-218 passes for 1,663 yards and 14 touchdowns, and running for 1,243 yards (6.9 avg.) and 12 touchdowns.
VanDreumel has a number of targets to throw to, led by Julian Horn, a speedy wideout with 4.38 speed in the 40-yard dash. Sam Celentino is another dangerous receiver, while Zachary Blankenship is a productive receiver out of the backfield. Blankenship also provides a threat as a running back, with 932 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns.
Coopersville will look to control the ball with a strong running game, led by senior D.J. VanDyke. VanDyke came back from an injury to lead the Bronco ground game with 140 yards rushing on 28 carries in the regional title win against West Branch Ogemaw Heights. Fullback Paul Adema and junior wingback Tim Jewell are other running threats for the Broncos.
Zeeland West vs. Highland Park
The other half of the bracket sees a pair of teams that love to run. Zeeland West (11-1) brings their high-powered wing-T offense into the game while Highland Park brings a power-based ground game to the artificial-turf field at Jackson High School.
The Polar Bears are a power-ground-based team, led by senior running back Darius Johnson. The 6-foot-1, 220-pound Johnson, who runs a 4.7 40-yard dash, has committed to Indiana University. Johnson has carried the ball 176 times this season for 1,534 yards (8.7 avg.) and 14 touchdowns. In Highland Park's 36-0 defeat of previously undefeated Marine City in the regional finals, Johnson rushed for 113 yards on 19 carries, scoring a touchdown and three two-point conversions.
Highland Park, which enters the game averaging 34.1 points per game, is far from a one-man attack. Sophomore quarterback Ian Thomas is a dangerous dual-threat athlete who has passed for 900 yards and thrown 14 touchdowns.
The Polar Bears, however, love to pound the ball behind a massive offensive line that includes three 300-pounders and two other linemen who weigh 270 and 255 pounds.
Zeeland enters the game averaging 43.2 points per game. Unlike Highland Park, which relies on power, the Dux attack with quickness, deception, and precision blocking.
West is averaging 400+ yards rushing per game, with four backs having at least 750 yards rushing.
Junior fullback Andy Plaska leads that ground game with 1,241 yards, followed by Aaron Raap with 1,059, quarterback Aaron VanDenBelt with over 800 yards, and Ryan VanDordt with more than 750 yards rushing.
DIVISION 5
Hillsdale vs. Madison Heights Madison
After falling behind by 12 points at the end of the first quarter against Allendale, Hillsdale (12) roared back with 32 unanswered points to remain unbeaten.
This week the Hornets face undefeated Madison Heights Madison (12) and super junior running back DeAndre Johnson, who has been on fire during the playoffs.
Johnson, a University of Michigan recruit, has rushed for over 2,400 yards and 32 touchdowns this season.
Focusing all your attention on Johnson, however, can be costly as fellow running back DeCarlos Montgomery is averaging over 10 yards per carry and has rushed for over 1,000 yards.
Hillsdale counters with an explosive shotgun spread offense that has been piling up the points this season.
The Hornets, who average 39 points per game, are led by a dangerous dual-threat quarterback in senior Mike Blanchard. Blanchard has completed 120-of-180 passes for 1,646 yards and 25 touchdowns against just five interceptions all season.
An outstanding athlete, Blanchard has also rushed for 1,412 yards and scored 18 touchdowns this season. Blanchard has a variety of targets to throw to led by Scott Lantis who has hauled in 50 passes for 667 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Mitchell Gabriele and Brandon Siakel are two other dangerous receivers who have combined for 43 receptions for 755 yards and 13 touchdowns. The Hornets can also strike on the ground. Along with Blanchard gashing opposing defenses on keepers, running back Kyle Kolasa has carried the ball 144 times for 1,244 and 11 touchdowns..
DIVISION 6
Suttons Bay vs. Saginaw Nouvel
The rugged defense of Suttons Bay (12-0) will be put to the test when it hosts unbeaten Saginaw Nouvel (10-0).
Nouvel boasts a punishing running back in senior Nic Birnbaum. Birnbaum pounded out 179 yards and five touchdowns against St. Charles in the regional final against St. Charles.
Suttons Bay boasts one of the top defenses in the state. Strong safety Jordan Peplinski and linebacker Casey Drew are the ringleaders of that defense.
Peplinski also leads the offense with 1,145 yards rushing and 19 touchdowns. Junior running back Anthony Stewart has also eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark with 1,025 yards.
Montague vs. Inkster
On the other side of the bracket is the storybook team of the playoffs.
Montague finished the season with a 5-4 record but has blasted three highly-rated teams so far. After thumping undefeated Kalamazoo Christian 35-7 in the opener, the Wildcats have defeated Hartford (27-0) and a Constantine team (37-7) that had been putting up huge numbers.
The leader for the Wildcats has been running back Riley Hughes. Pound-for-pound possibly the best players in the state, the 5-6, 160-pound Hughes has rushed for 1,973 yards and 26 touchdowns this season.
The Wildcats face their toughest task yet against an Inkster (11-1) team led by former
Detroit dePorres coach Greg Carter who has a team loaded with talented athletes on both sides of the ball.
DIVISION 7
Grass Lake vs. Ubly
When the pundits talk about the top senior quarterbacks in the state, the name of Austin Cole is seldom heard.
Cole, the starting quarterback at Grass Lake (10-2), located 15 miles east of Jackson, has not been recognized by the recruiting gurus, but he is a winner who has Division 1 size and a rocket arm.
The 6-foot-3, 190-pound Cole is the son of a high school coach (Grass Lake coach Randy Cole) and has started since his freshman season. Last year Cole passed for 2,059 yards and 18 touchdowns.
This year, Cole has led the Warriors to the brink of a berth in the state finals after a thrilling 18-6 win at No. 1 ranked Fulton-Middleton.
Grass Lake also received a huge effort from running back Skyler Stoker who rushed for 286 yards and three touchdowns against Fulton-Middleton. The Warriors also boast a sizable offensive line led by senior tackles Dennis Brown (6-6, 310) and Kris Moyer (6-0, 240) and center Tom Niehaus (6-0, 225).
Grass Lake's potent spread offense will go against Ubly (10-2) Saturday in Rochester.
DIVISION 8
Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes vs. New Lothrop
Last year, Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes (10-2) came from behind to defeat an undefeated New Lothrop (12-0) team in the semifinals en route to winning the D8 state title. This year the Hornets of New Lothrop are looking for payback.
The undefeated Hornets have a high-scoring offense that is averaging 363 yards of offense per game out of their shotgun-spread formation. Quarterback Mike Vincke has completed 131-of-203 passes (65%) for 1,896 yards and 16 touchdowns, one score shy of the school record he set last season.
Vincke put on an outstanding show in the regional title win over Deckerville when he completed 15-of-21 passes for 226 yards and a touchdowns and ran for 68 yards and another score. Vincke's favorite target is Dennis Emmenderfer who has hauled in a school-record 50 passes for another school record 824 yards and eight touchdowns.
Roger Emmenderfer keys the ground game with 1,029 yards and 29 touchdowns. Emmenderfer picked up 179 yards and a pair of touchdowns against Deckerville.
Lakes counters with a ball-control offense and stingy defense. Senior running back Jake Sawicki (5-8, 170) has rushed for 1,828 yards and 28 touchdowns running behind the dual tight-end set. Junior running back Jim Clifford has added 700 yards rushing while quarterback Jeff Glynn has completed over 50% of his passes for over 1,000 yards.