MHSAA Football Playoffs - Semifinals Are Here!

Huge games this week. The winning team punches their ticket to Ford Field for a chance at the trophy which reads “2013 State Champion.” But I’m getting ahead of myself. That’s the games for next week. Teams need to win the semifinal game this week to get in. For my faithful readers, this year I am able to return to Ford Field to cover the games. I will be hanging online in the Phalanx Forum and writing my articles from the press box. The article recaps of each game will be posted shortly after the games end. Again, I’m getting ahead of myself because that’s after Thanksgiving. Let’s take a look at some of the semifinal games and the 8-player state championship game this week. All games will be played at a neutral location.

8-Player Football State Championship Game

Peck (12-0) vs. Rapid River (12-0) (Friday November 22, 7pm, Greenville High School)

Peck has been somewhat of a surprise this season. They moved to 8-player football last season and had a respectable 7-3 record. This year, they have ripped off 12 straight victories and find themselves in a position to win a state championship. Last week, they got off to a fast start against Lawrence and never looked back. Three plays, three touchdowns (including a punt return score.) Quarterback Tristan Haener completed two of his three passes for 59 yards and two scores. Caleb Dudley caught both of those touchdown passes and rushed 12 times for 20 yards and a score. Cody Abrego had an amazing night. He rushed 13 times for 449 yards and an incredible seven touchdowns. This team has their sights set on winning the third ever state title given out in the newish 8-player football division.

Rapid River has plenty of playoff experience in 8-player football. Last year, they lost in the semifinal to runner up Bellaire. The season before, they lost the championship game to Carsonville-Port Sanilac. Needless to say, they have a lot of experience. It has been the same young man under center each of those seasons. Quarterback Jake Pearson was a very important part of the win last week. He completed two of his five passes for 46 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. Pearson toted the rock 37 times for 359 yards and three scores as well. Pat Pryal caught one pass for a 22 yard touchdown and ran nine times for 37 yards. David Hough caught a 24 yard touchdown pass on his only reception and rushed five times for five yards. This game is going to be a battle. It will be two good offenses with two good defenses, going at it for the biggest prize in Michigan 8-player football.

Division 5 Semifinal

Menominee (12-0) vs. Muskegon Oakridge (11-1) (Saturday November 23, 4pm, Northern Michigan University)

The Maroons of Menominee are having a fantastic season. The closest game they played this season was a 19 point win over Harbor Beach back in Week Three. This game won’t be a cake walk though. Oakridge always has a good team and has won multiple state titles in the 2000’s. Menominee had a nice win last week against Standish-Sterling, 49-27. Quarterback Justin Brilinski completed 14 of 19 passes for 242 yards and three touchdowns. All three touchdowns were caught by Devon Harris, who finished with 116 yards and three touchdowns on eight receptions. Brilinski also ran 15 times for 76 yards. James Brown scored four touchdowns when he ran the ball. The Maroons may have seen Coach Ken Hofer retire a few seasons back, but with Coach Joe Noha they haven’t missed a beat. That is probably due to him roaming the sidelines with Coach Hofer since 1994.

Muskegon Oakridge has enjoyed plenty of success over the years. They also had their legendary coach, Jack Schugars retire in 2011. Just like with Menominee, a longtime assistant stepped up and took over. Coach Cary Harger hasn’t missed a beat and is rolling as well. Last week, the Eagles blasted Millington 31-12. Quarterback Austin Wright completed seven of his 14 passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns while also running 18 times for 105 and a score. Running back James Abriatis carried 18 times for 140 yards. Jerick Wambaugh also found his way into the end zone. This game will be exciting. They last squared off back in 2005, coincidentally in the semifinal, with Oakridge pulling off a 39-29 victory on their way to a state title.

Division 2 Semifinal

Muskegon (11-1) vs. Portage Central (12-0) (Saturday November 23, 1pm, East Kentwood High School)

Muskegon seems to have always been a football powerhouse. Yes, they have had down seasons, but overall, they are the winningest program in the state (if you go back to when they started playing games in the late 19th century.) Last week, the Big Reds took on the Chemics from Midland and played pretty well. Quarterback Deshaun Thrower completed five of his 11 passes for 36 yards and an interception. He ran the ball 17 times for 130 yards and a touchdown. Javauntae Thomas carried 18 times for 55 yards and a score. Tavon Jackson grabbed three passes from Thrower for 21 yards while teammate William Roberson had two receptions for 15 yards. Middle linebacker Will Hunt snagged an interception and took it 67 yards the other way for six points. The defense held Midland to a minus-11 yards rushing on 27 carries for the game. If the defense can come through in the same fashion against Portage Central, then they have a good shot at winning the game.

It’s been a long time since Portage Central has been this far into the playoffs. The last time they made it this far, they ended up losing to Brother Rice in the 1977 State Championship game. This game wasn’t without adversity. On the first play of the game, the Mustangs gave up a 68 yard touchdown run. The starting quarterback Ryan Mergener injured his ankle in the first half. A similar injury forced starting running back Jacob Allan out of the lineup in the third quarter. Mickey Losey came in to play well at quarterback and Paul Lewis came into play for Allan. Allan finished with 12 runs for 49 yard and a score. Mickey Losey completed three of his six passes for 101 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed 12 times for 21 yards and a score. Jerrod Davis came through the game just fine and toted the rock 28 times for 228 yards and three touchdowns to lead all running backs. Matt Capasso only had one reception, but it went for a 25 yard score. This should be a fantastic game between two good squads.

Division 7 Semifinal

Homer (11-1) vs. Detroit Loyola (12-0) (Saturday November 23, 1pm, at Chelsea)

This is uncharted territory for Homer. They have never won a regional title before beating Decatur 26-15 last week. Homer jumped out to an early 13-0 lead, but it wasn’t going to be that easy to beat Decatur. Trojan’s quarterback Alex White threw for 81 yards and two scores, rushed for 72, and nailed two field goals. Dylan Thomas caught a 24 yard TD strike. Teammate Kyle Winchell nabbed a nine yard touchdown pass. Chaz Hopkins was the leading rusher for Homer with 76 yards and had a fumble recovery on defense. Tyler Mosher recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for a score. Homer has gone further than they have ever before, but this next game is going to be tough. All three phases will need to come through for Homer if they want to run out of the tunnel onto Ford Field.

Detroit Loyola is probably upset. Losing the state title game last year to Ishpeming had to have made them angry and hungry for another shot. Last week, they smoked Southfield Christian 50-7. After the first quarter ended, they were ahead 23-0. The offense played very well, but the defense was just as much of a part of the win. Defensive back Keith Graves grabbed two interceptions, one of which he returned 100 yards for a pick six! The offensive line got a lot of credit for the win from Coach John Callahan. Quarterback Garrett Schaller completed zero of his four passes. It was all about the running game for Loyola. Marvin Campbell ran nine times for 201 yards and two scores. Mideyin Wilson rushed five times for 178 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Alan Taylor toted the rock six times for 51 yards and two touchdowns. K-Ce Pinkett carried eight times for 68 yards. All in all, six different running backs had carries for a total of 521 rushing yards! They will be hungry and ready to try and run over Homer.