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Track Michigan high school football playoff brackets on road to Ford Field

More than a dozen Muskegon-area teams gear up for start of the postseason.

The Michigan High School Athletic Association released playoff matchups for football teams across the state on Sunday, Oct. 24, during a live selection show on Bally Sports Detroit.

Playoff brackets were revealed, including more than a dozen Muskegon-area teams competing in 11-player football across many of the eight divisions.

The state championships are scheduled for Friday, Nov. 26, and Saturday, Nov. 27, at Ford Field in Detroit.

Below are the brackets for Divisions 1-8 of 11-player football. They will be updated each week and posted at catchmarksports.com as the playoffs progress. The 11-man playoffs consist of five rounds: District semifinals, district finals, regional finals, semifinals and state finals.

Editor’s note: CatchMark SportsNet’s Zach Zweigle created the bracket graphics.

DIVISION 1

No Muskegon-area teams appear in the Division 1 bracket. However, some standouts include Rockford and Grand Blanc, which would square off in a regional matchup if things go their way.

DIVISION 2

Mona Shores (7-2) takes on Forest Hills Central (8-1) this Friday in the opening game of the playoffs. Warren DeLaSalle (8-0) is on the opposite side of the bracket, and the Dan Rohn-coached Pilots appear to be the favorites to win the title. They opens against U-D Jesuit (4-5).

DIVISION 3

Muskegon (8-1) matches up with familiar foe Lowell (4-5) in the first round at historic Hackley Stadium. Aside from a Week 2 loss to Division 1 power Detroit Cass Tech, the Big Red machine has been largely unstoppable. A potential regional final showdown with reigning state champ and recent rival DeWitt (8-1) awaits, as well as a possible rematch with Zeeland West (6-2) in the semifinals. Heavyweight Detroit King (8-1) awaits on the other side of the bracket and appears to be the overall favorite in this division.

DIVISION 4

Whitehall (7-2) will try to regroup from last week’s loss at Reed City and hits the road again, heading to Sparta (7-2) for the first round of the Division 4 playoffs. In the same district, Fruitport (4-5) travels to Cadillac (7-2). In the same region, Spring Lake (6-3) has a tough test at Grand Rapids Christian (6-3). Hudsonville Unity Christian (9-0) is considered by many to be the favorite in Division 4, and the Crusaders are in the same region of the aforementioned teams.

DIVISION 5

Oakridge (7-2) will embark on its 17th-straight playoff run by hosting Big Rapids (5-4) Friday night. The Eagles appear to be the favorite in the district, although Howard City Tri County (8-1) looks to have something to say about that. Tri County hosts Grant (4-5) in another Friday opener. The other district in that region is absolutely loaded, featuring the Grand Rapids Catholic Central (9-0), Comstock Park (9-0) and Grand Rapids West Catholic (7-2).

DIVISION 6

Montague (6-3) kicks off its Division 6 title defense with a home game Friday night against Central Montcalm (5-4), which is coming off a lopsided loss at Ravenna. The other game in that district pits Reed City (8-1), which defeated Whitehall last week, and Manistee (5-4). A Montague at Reed City district final seems likely. On a statewide level, Lansing Catholic (8-1) and Constantine (9-0) are teams to watch.

DIVISION 7

West Michigan Conference rivals North Muskegon (4-5) and Ravenna (6-3) kick things off Friday in a Division 7 opener, which has been selected as the CatchMark SportsNet Game of the Week. In the same district, Muskegon Catholic Central (8-1) hosts Delton Kellogg (5-3). A district final pitting MCC vs. the North Muskegon/Ravenna winner would have a lot of local interest. Traverse City St. Francis (9-0), Pewamo-Westphalia (9-0) and Jackson Lumen Christi (8-1) are among the favorites in D7.

DIVISION 8

If you don’t care much about the Michigan/Michigan State game Saturday afternoon, then Phillips Field in Muskegon Heights could be an option. Holton (5-4) visits Muskegon Heights Academy (5-4) at 1 p.m. Saturday in what should be a fun first-round matchup in Division 8. In the same district, White Cloud (4-5) visits Carson City-Crystal (8-1) on Friday night. On a statewide level, Ubly and Hudson are two of the teams to watch, both with 9-0 records.

Related reading:

Sizing up Muskegon-area first-round matchups

Whitehall, Montague hit ‘reset’ with pizza, playoff selection watch parties

Montague hosting, Whitehall traveling for first round of playoffs

Two from West Michigan Conference, 5 from Muskegon-area appear in final AP polls

Lead writer for CatchMark SportsNet and Web Services leader for CatchMark Technologies.

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