Mid/Northern Michigan Semi-Final Predications

Week 13!

Wow. This High School football season has flew by but there’s still two more weeks left of action and it ought to be good!

All these teams have to at least won eight games this season with most winning ten or eleven at this point. Every team is one game away from making it to Ford Field and that’s in the back of everyone’s mind right now.

Time for some predictions!

Division 5

Greenville HS

Swan Valley (11-1)

Vs Reed City (11-1)

Reed City making their first ever State Semi-Final appearance a week after knocking off perennial UP power Menominee come into this game with a new test against a high powered Swan Valley offense which has seemingly got better against the better teams. Both teams have weapons but I think Reed City has the best athlete in Phillip Jones. This might come down to who the last team with the ball. Reed City 42, Swan Valley 37. Winner advances to D5 State Championship vs the winner of Frankenmuth/West Catholic.

Fenton HS

West Catholic (10-2)

Vs Frankenmuth (12-0)

West Catholic simply wins at this time of year. They’ve been in the Semi-Finals every year since 2010 and made it to the finals every year but one winning all but one and winning every the title every year since 2013. Wow. Frankenmuth comes into it’s second consecutive Semi-Final and has remained the only unbeaten D5 team. West Catholic had a scare last week against Portland and their two losses came to teams still playing in D4 and D6 but I don’t think they are quite as dominant this year. This should be the State Championship game. Frankenmuth 22, West Catholic 21. Winner advances to D5 State Championship vs the winner of Reed City/Swan Valley.

Division 6

Mt. Pleasant HS

Traverse City St. Francis (11-1)

Vs Ithaca (12-0)

Defense wins championships should be the saying in the St. Francis locker room. Although they gave up a season high in points last week giving up 26 to Millington they seem to remain stout on defense all throughout the regular season and into the playoffs. They’ve allowed double digit points just THREE times this season. Ithaca also has a stout defense at times but it’s been the offense they rely on as they haven’t scored less than 33 points in a game this season which was last week against a good Montague team. This one is going to be a great one but the culture of winning in Ithaca with Joey Bentley finds away again. Ithaca 28, St. Francis 26. Winner advances to D6 State Championship vs the winner of Jackson Lumen Christi/Michigan Collegiate.

Division 8

NMU Dome

Iron River West Iron County (11-1)

Vs Saginaw Nouvel (12-0)

I know little to nothing about any of Iron River’s opponents this season but I know Frankfort has been had a good offense the last couple years and was held to just 20 points last week by the Wykons. It looks as if Iron River also relies on stout defense and a “good enough” offense. Nouvel erupted for 54 points in a win over Lincoln-Alcona last week in a team that struggles with the pass. Nouvel is making a long trip up but will come back over the Mighty Mack with a ticket punched to Ford Field though. Nouvel 26, Iron River 16. Winner advances to D8 State Championship vs the winner of Mendon/Ottawa Lake Whiteford.