MHSAA Football Playoffs - Regional Championship Results

Are we having fun yet? It’s nearly time to get to Ford Field for the state finals! We are not there yet though; there is last week’s Regional Championship

Are we having fun yet? It’s nearly time to get to Ford Field for the state finals! We are not there yet though; there is last week’s Regional Championship to recap before we can move to the semifinals. Last week had some close games, some blowouts, and a few surprises. A little bit of fun for everyone! Now, there are only four teams left in each division. The winners are still practicing, although it’s probably for shorter periods because the sun is down so early. Let’s see who is still in it and who is getting the singlets and ear guards out.

Portland 45 Flint Powers Catholic 28

This game surprised many. People were talking about Powers winning back to back titles in Division 5. It was not the case as Portland rode a huge second half scoring surge and capitalized on Flint Power’s mistakes (typically what Powers does to the other team.) Powers turned the ball over six times in the game, and it’s almost impossible to do that and win a game. Portland quarterback Tanner Allison completed seven of his 13 passes for 146 yards and two scores while also running 10 times for another 21 yards and another score. Caleb Hickling was the leading rusher with 21 carries for 138 yards. Jacob Kimmell ran 12 times for 86 yards and two scores. Austin Brand and Jacob Pohl each grabbed two receptions and scored a touchdown, getting 63 and 60 yards, respectively. For Flint Powers Catholic, Garrett Pougnet completed 15 of his 28 passes for 262 yards and a score while also getting a score with his legs. Nick Sullivan was the leading running back with nine runs for 128 yards and two touchdowns. Prescott Myers hauled in six passes for 136 yards but Brooks Morgan was the only receiver to find the end zone (two caches, 32 yards.) Portland will host Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard in the semifinal game at Howell.

Detroit Cass Tech 21 Saline 14

It was a close game. Saline had a chance to win it, after recovering an onside kick with just under a minute to play in the game. On the first play from scrimmage after that, they threw an interception and the game was over. It was a great game for them considering that three players from Cass Tech will be playing Division 1 collegiate football in the fall. Cass Tech is a very good football team and deserves to be playing in the semifinal. Quarterback Jayru Campbell completed seven of his 14 passes for 68 yards. Mike Webber ran 16 times for 160 yards and two scores and also caught a four yard reception. Garey Hosey ran 14 times for 59 yards. Deon Drake only carried the ball three times, but did find the end zone. Damon Webb caught three balls for 27 yards while Jordan Lewis caught three balls for 37 yards. On the Saline side, quarterback Tyler Palka completed seven of his 17 passes for 76 yards and ran 16 times for 85 more and scored his team’s lone touchdown. Kevin Gross ran seven times for 20 yards and hauled in a 13 yard reception. Caleb Luckett grabbed three balls for 31 yards. Gage Hammond ran the ball twice for one yard, but his big contribution to the team was kicking field goals of 20 and 27 yards. Detroit Cass Tech will play Lake Orion at Troy Athens HS.

Muskegon Catholic Central 28 Mendon 6

If you ask Mendon coach John Schwartz what happened, he will put it in very simple terms. “Bottom line is, and I hate saying it this time of year, they just played a h*** of a lot harder than our kids did.” MCC jumped out to a 21-0 halftime lead and never looked back. Quarterback Zach Campbell completed two of his seven passes for 41 yards and a score while also running 11 times for another 64. Both running backs, Tommy Scott and Jessie Anderson, each ran 18 times for 144 yards. The difference is that Scott found the end zone three times. Cari Campbell caught one pass for a 26 yard touchdown. For Mendon, quarterback Nick Eberstein completed 10 of his 21 passes for 126 yards and ran 11 times for 38 more. Tyler Harris, who had been fantastic in the district final, was contained all day. He finished with 15 yards on 13 runs and four receptions for 17 yards. Mitchell Coler scored the team’s lone touchdown and ran four times for 76 yards (the scoring run was 67 yards.) Robert Riley caught three passes for 56 yards to lead his team in receiving. MCC will play Harbor Beach at Alma College on Saturday.

Grand Rapids Christian 31 Stevensville-Lakeshore 7

The win gave Grand Rapids Christian their first ever regional championship. It wasn’t an easy win though. The wind was hitting 35mph at times so they could only throw the ball at specific times during the game. The game was tied 7-7 at halftime, but two plays after the half began, they scored and never looked back. Quarterback Alex Van De Vusse completed 16 of his 25 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns. Future Spartan Drake Harris (who had over 1,500 receiving yards on the season) caught a 49 yard touchdown strike from Van De Vusse and finished with five receptions for 88 yards. Seth McIntosh led the rushing attack with 13 attempts for 96 yards and a touchdown. Joel Schipper hit all of his extra points and a 25 yard field goal. Davaris Collier returned an interception for a 34 yard touchdown to finish the scoring in the fourth quarter. For Stevensville-Lakeshore, quarterback Johnny Nate completed 11 of his 29 passes for 86 yards. Zak Drake ran the ball eight times for 42 yards and the lone score. Harold Wiggins caught four balls for 46 yards. Grand Rapids Christian will play DeWitt this week at East Kentwood HS.