Week Nine - Do or Die

No big intro this week. I’m going to get right into it and profile eight games, seven of which have league title implications.

Detroit
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s vs. Birmingham Brother Rice (at Ford Field)

OLSM won the first game 40-21 on September 21. Brother Rice is looking to win the second. In the first game, they weren’t able to do much according to legendary coach Al Fracassa, but he thinks they are beatable. Getting the “W” would be a huge boost for either team as they enter the playoffs. This game between two very good football squads will be a great game to watch.
Implications: Winner takes the Catholic League Central Division Crown

Detroit Denby vs. Detroit King (At Detroit Northwestern)

Detroit Denby has two losses on the season; one versus Brother Rice and the other versus Detroit King. Now they will get a rematch versus one of the teams they lost to. Not only did they lose to them this year, they lost in the championship game last season as well. Detroit King has a great running back in Darrin Williams. He can hide behind his huge linemen with his 5’7” stature and bust the long runs. That’s a deadly combination. The game will have the clock moving with both teams expected to run the ball more than they pass it.
Implications: Detroit Public School League Division A City Championship

Allen Park Cabrini vs. Pontiac Notre Dame (at Ford Field)

Cabrini has a great season going so far. They have won the big games and, well, they’ve won them all. In league play, they’ve given up a total of 13 points. Notre Dame Prep has done well this season also. They don’t have the record that Cabrini has, but they still are playing for something this late in the season and have already made the playoffs.
Implications: Catholic School League Intersectional Championship

Detroit Northwestern vs. Detroit Osborn (at Detroit Northwestern)

Northwestern running back Deandre James and defensive back Raphael Fairchild both had strong games last week against Detroit Douglass in the PSL playoffs. Osborn has only one loss in league play, and that was to Northwestern. They get a chance to rematch and get a little revenge for the loss. Heck, this season has been great of Osborn in that they have their first winning season in 17 years.
Implications: Detroit Public School League Division B Championship

North
Cedarville vs. Iron Mountain North Dickinson (at Cedarville)

Neither team looked ahead and took care of business this past week. Now we have a great showdown in the U.P. North Dickinson blasted Rapid River 42-0 (35-0 at the half) and Cedarville squeaked out a win 14-12 over Pickford. I read that Cedarville played pretty bad, but you know they’ll be up for the game this week. It’s strange to me that these two teams, 200 miles apart, are in the same league. All that matters is two tough teams battling.
Implications: Mid Eastern Football League Championship

West Coast
Battle Creek Harper Creek vs. Jackson Lumen Christi (at Withington Community Stadium, Jackson High School)

Lumen Christi kicked some butt in their 22nd consecutive victory over Coldwater, winning 21-3. In their second year playing in the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference and their first in the East Division, they have a tough match this Friday with Battle Creek Harper Creek. Lumen Christi quarterback Nate Russler had 109 yards rushing and two touchdowns in the winning effort last week. After scoring a total of zero points in their first two games, the Beavers have stormed back into the playoffs and a shot at the conference title. They did what all football coaches want; to improve every week and become a better football team. Derrick Gentile had an amazing 399 yards passing last week in their victory.
Implications: Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference East Division Championship

Comstock vs. Richland Gull Lake (at Richland)

Great games are all over the state this weekend. Both of these squads are very evenly matched. Heck, the two quarterbacks have known each other for years. Last week, Gull Lake overcame four turnovers and multiple penalties to get the 21-11 victory over Plainwell. Comstock kicked some butt and beat Three Rivers 36-0. It should be a fantastic game that will come down to who makes the mistake at the crucial time.
Implications: Wolverine B Conference Championship.