The Michigan high school football playoffs are underway and here’s a list of the most competitive matchups in the first round.

Part 1

Clarkston (6-3) vs Lake Orion (6-3) @ Lake Orion High School (Dragon Stadium)

-Clarkston:

• 4th in OAA Red

• Notable Wins: Oxford, West Bloomfield and Utica Eisenhower

• Key Players: Junior S/RB/WR Lukas Boman, Junior RB/LB Griffin Boman, Sophomore QB Alex Waszczenko

Lake Orion:

• 2nd in OAA Red

• Key Wins: Northville, Adams and Clarkston

• Key Players: Senior QB Tristan Hill, Senior WR Jahmari Cooper, Senior WR Kyle UK

This is a matchup between two rivals in the OAA Red division. Lake Orion defeated Clarkston in Week 7 (20-13) and the Wolves will be looking for revenge in this game. The teams have identical records and are as evenly matched as possible. The rivalry between these two schools increases the chances of this play-off match.

Dearborn (5-4) vs Dearborn Fordson (5-4) @ Fordson High School (Charles Jestice Field)

Dear born:

• 4th in KLAA East

• Key Wins: Livonia Franklin, Stevenson, Novi

• Key Players: Senior OL Yuseph Mustafa, Senior RB Ihsan Chami, Senior WR/CB Adam Saad

-Fordson:

• 3rd in KLAA East

• Key Wins: Dearborn, Stevenson, Glenn

• Key Players: Senior WR Mstafa Aljanaby, Senior RB Khalil Bandar, Sophomore OL Murtadha Allabbah

This is a matchup between two rivals in the KLAA East division. Fordson defeated Dearborn in week 5 (14-7). The teams have identical records, with Fordson picking up another win in league play. Tough, physical play can be expected in this rivalry playoff matchup.

Davison (7-2) vs Oxford (6-3) @ Cardinal Stadium – Davison

– Davison:

• 3 in the South Saginaw Valley.

• Key Wins: Heritage, East Lansing, Grandville

• Key Players: QB Jaxson Dosh, Senior TE/WR Payton Kokaly, Senior RB AJ Hill

Oxford:

• 1st in OAA Red

• Key Wins: Harper Woods, Lake Orion, Adams

• Key Players: Senior RB/MLB Luke Johnson, Senior QB Jack Hendrix, Senior WR Jake Champagne

Oxford finished first in the OAA Red and is looking to exit the region for the first time since 2001. Davison is looking for another deep playoff run after falling one win away from a state championship last season. This game is a battle of Oxford’s formidable defense against Davison’s powerful offense.

Saline (6-3) vs Northville (6-3) @ Tom Holzer Field – Northville

Brine:

• 2nd in SEC Red

• Key Wins: Lake Orion, Brighton, Bedford

• Key Players: Junior TE Lincoln Keyes, Junior QB Tommy Carr, Senior LB Coleman Ross

Northville:

• 2nd in KLAA West

• Key Wins: Novi, Fordson, Hartland

• Key Players: Senior DB Drew Rankin, Junior QB Cooper Derkach, Junior RB Max DeFore

Saline is loaded with top-tier talent all over the field and has dominated nearly every team on their schedule. The Hornets have lost three games due to ineligible players in the squad but are looking to perform well in the play-offs. Northville finished second in the tough KLAA West division and bounced back with four straight wins after starting the season 2-3. The Mustangs reached the sectional last season and are looking to make another run at the playoffs.

Part 2

Roseville (7-2) vs Grosse Pointe South (9-0) @ Grosse Pointe South High School

Roseville:

• 2nd in MAC White

• Notable Wins: Romeo, West Bloomfield, Utica

• Key Players: Senior DB/RB Desmond Straughton, Senior QB Jordan Simes, Senior WR Eric Slater

Grosse Pointe South:

• 1st in MAC White

• Key Wins: Romeo, Roseville, Anchor Bay

• Key Players: Senior OL/DL Sawyer Weisbrodt, Senior WR Vincent Vachon, Senior QB Jack Lupo

This game is a matchup between the two best players in the MAC White. Grosse Pointe South had beaten Roseville 38-21 earlier in the season and the Panthers were looking for revenge. Grosse Pointe South maintained its dominance all season long, defeating its opponents by wide margins. Roseville’s high-powered offense is led by quarterback Jordan Simes and Mr. Football candidate Desmond Straughton.

De La Salle Collegiate (6-2) vs Port Huron Northern (7-2) @ Port Huron (Memorial Stadium)

De La Salle College:

• 3rd in Catholic Central

• Key Wins: Davison, Detroit King, St. Mary’s Prep

• Key Players: Junior QB/LB/P Anthony Bitoni, Senior RB Michael Lopez, Senior CB Isaiah Jones

North Huron Port:

• 1st in MAC Blue

• Key Wins: Warren Mott, Chippewa Valley, St. clair

• Key Players: Junior TE Lincoln Watkins, Senior QB Ty Fletcher, Junior WR/S Vasili Kasparian

De La Salle looks to return to the state championship after losing to Muskegon in the finals last season. The Pilots are in rhythm as they enter this game with three wins in a row. Port Huron Northern started the season 0-3 but has since won seven straight games and finished first in the MAC Blue. The Huskies are playing extremely hot against a team with a championship history.

Warren Mott (7-2) vs Birmingham Seaholm (6-3) @ Seaholm High School (Maple Field)

Warren Mott:

• 3rd in MAC Mavi

• Notable Wins: Grosse Pointe Northern, Cousino, Warren Fitzgerald

• Key Players: Senior QB Mike Kronner, Senior CB/WR Wesley Gilmore, Senior WR/CB Juan Chaney

-Seaholm:

• 2nd in OAA Blue

• Key Wins: Farmington, Avondale, Troy

• Key Players: Senior RB/S Penn Roberts, Senior QB Finn Rouland, Senior RB/CB Sean Emerson

Seaholm started the season with six wins in a row but had won three in a row by the end of the season. Maples has a physical style of play that focuses on running and controlling time of possession. Mott has a high-powered offense led by one of the OAA’s best dual-threat quarterbacks. The Marauders are looking to do better in the playoffs after losing in the first round last season.

Orchard Lake St Mary’s (6-3) – North Farmington (6-3) @ North Farmington High School

Orchard Lake St. Mary’s:

• 4th in Catholic Central

• Key Wins: Brother Rice, Fitzgerald, Portage Northern

• Key Players: Senior OL Antonio Johnson, Senior QB Axel Newell, Senior WR/FS Bryson Williams

North Farmington:

• 1st in OAA Blue

• Key Wins: Farmington, Seaholm, Troy

• Key Players: Senior QB Terrance James, Senior OL/DL Brendon Rice, Senior WR Lorence Woodley

This matchup is a battle between two powerful offenses. North Farmington went undefeated in the OAA Blue league and is making the playoffs for the first time since the 2020-2021 season. The Raiders have an explosive offense with dangerous playmakers in space. Orchard Lake St. St. Mary’s scored more than 21 points in all but one game. Both teams have good offenses, so the game may come down to who turns the ball over more.

Chapter 3

Zeeland East (5-4) vs Zeeland West (8-1) at Zeeland Stadium

Zealand East:

• 4th in Ottawa-Kent Gold

• Notable Wins: Southern Christian, Hamilton, Wyoming

• Key Players: Senior RB Eli Walcott, Senior LB Will Stehouwer, Sophomore QB Will Drnek

West Zeeland:

• 2nd in Ottawa-Kent Gold.

• Key Wins: Forest Hills Central, West Catholic, East Zeeland

• Key Players: Senior QB/DB Trey Sloothaak, Senior HB/LB Isaac VanderZwaag, Senior FB/CB Keaton Hendricks

This game is a rivalry match between two of Western Michigan’s best teams. Zeeland East wants to take revenge after Zeeland West won their match in week 4 (28-13). Both teams play with a physical style focused on running the ball and are able to score points quickly. The Dux are looking to make a deep run after falling one win away from a Division 3 state title last season.

River Rouge (4-4) v Southgate Anderson (7-2) @ Southgate Anderson High School

Rouge River:

• Notable Wins: Center Line, St. Johns Jesuit, Glenn

• Key Players: Senior QB McKale McDowell, Senior DL ​​Jordin Farrow, Senior DL ​​Creg Johnson

Southgate Anderson:

• 4th in Lower River.

• Key Wins: Trenton, Lincoln Park, Edsel Ford

• Key Players: Senior QB Jackson Sage, Senior WR/S Thomas Laskowski, Senior LB/RB Conner Ensign

Last season’s Division 3 state champion River Rouge had a season plagued by injuries to key players but still made the playoffs. The team’s championship history makes them a challenge in the play-offs, but Southgate Anderson enters this game on the back of four straight wins. The Titans lost to the Panthers (47-14) in the first round of the playoffs last season and are looking for revenge.

All of the games on this list will be played on Friday, November 1 at 19.00.