By: Jonathan Szczepaniak | Metro | Published November 5, 2024
METRO -- The march towards a state championship is in full swing for high school football teams around the state, and week one didn’t disappoint with the dramatics.
From explosive offenses to nail-biting finishes, it had all the makings of what playoff football embodies – the dramatics of a win or go home scenario.
Below is a recap of week one of the Michigan High School Athletic Association football playoffs.
Rochester Adams handles Stoney Creek, sets up rematch with Clarkston
There was a lot of uncertainty with how the Rochester Adams offense was going to operate without junior quarterback Ryland Watters, who was injured in the middle of the season, but the run game and defense continues to step up each week.
The Highlanders handled Rochester Hills Stoney Creek 44-14, showing a different side to their Oct. 11 battle where Adams won 21-13.
The highlight of the night was a one-handed interception by senior defensive lineman Rowan Kawa, who made the athletic grab and bulldozed his into the endzone for a 3-yard pick-six.
Adams will now host Clarkston, who the Highlanders beat earlier this season 28-10, in the district championship game.
Last time the two teams met, Watters rushed for 190 yards and had three total touchdowns to propel the Highlanders to a win.
If it's anything like the 36-33 regional matchup in 2022 where Clarkston came away with the win, fans will be in for another classic game between the two schools Nov. 8 at Adams High School.
Detroit Catholic Central blanks Livonia Stevenson 33-0
As the unbeaten Shamrocks have been all season, both sides of the ball were completely dominant in a 33-0 win over Livonia Stevenson.
Senior Jaden Pydyn had nine carries for 89 yards and two touchdowns while senior Lee Krueger also added a rushing score.
Junior Samson Gash continued his stellar 2024 campaign, returning a kickoff for a touchdown. Senior quarterback Skyler Hunter connected with senior Casmer Moir for a 40-yard touchdown in the win as well.
The Shamrocks will now host West Bloomfield in the district championship Nov. 8, which hasn’t been kind to DCC as of recent. Since 2018, DCC has played West Bloomfield twice in the playoffs and is 0-2 – most recently being in 2021 when the Lakers won 35-21.
West Bloomfield finds offensive rhythm in 49-14 win over Novi
It’s fair to say the Lakers’ 4-5 regular season record was nowhere near expectations, but there were signs of life as the regular season came to a close.
West Bloomfield had a nice 34-3 win over a tough Birmingham Seaholm squad, and then followed it up with a 49-48 loss to Roseville, which saw the offense really come to life.
It was a matter of which West Bloomfield team was going to show up, and West Bloomfield junior quarterback Jamal Shakespear was more than ready.
Tallying three rushing touchdowns, one of which being a 73-yarder, Shakespear was untouchable all night while senior quarterback Beau Jackson also connected with senior wideout Elisha Durham for a 61-yard touchdown.
Defensively, West Bloomfield was nearly perfect as senior Josh Tate had a fumble recovery for a touchdown, senior Corey Pittman had a 50-yard pick-six, and senior Jaiden Allos also tallied an interception.
West Bloomfield is playing its best football right now, and it’s just in time for a matchup with one of the best teams in the state – Detroit Catholic Central.
Macomb Dakota runs through Utica 31-0
Dakota did to Utica exactly what they’ve done all season – run the ball until the other team proves they can stop it.
Sophomore Jeramiah Aaron led the way with 13 carries for 75 yards and a score while senior Brady Hamby continued to prove why he’s one of the most dominant running backs in the state, rushing only five times for 75 yards and a score. Senior quarterback Jadon Ford also added a rushing touchdown in the win.
The Cougars will have a shot at revenge when they host Utica Eisenhower Nov. 8 in the district championship, which will be a rematch of Oct. 11 when Eisenhower won 21-14 to clinch a share of the MAC Red title.
Both teams last met in the playoffs back in 2022 with Dakota handling Eisenhower 28-0.
Eisenhower avoids upset alert with 44-21 win over Romeo
With senior running back Bryce Hurley sidelined due to injury and coming off a 29-point loss to Clarkston, there was some skepticism surrounding what kind of Eisenhower team we’d see against a Romeo squad that was improving at the right time.
Eisenhower senior running back Mason Korn put all of that to bed, rushing five times for 124 yards and three touchdowns while senior Jack Bullock had two passing touchdowns in the win. Senior wideout Conner Temple also had 91 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Eisenhower will now have another chance to prove they’re the best team in the MAC Red when they face Macomb Dakota Nov. 8 at Dakota High School.
Orchard Lake St Mary's beats North Farmington 42-7, chance to complete neighborhood sweep
The Eaglets took care of business against North Farmington behind rushing touchdowns from senior Richard Goike (3), senior Darrin Jones Jr. (2), and sophomore Jabin Gonzales (1), and now will have a chance to complete the neighborhood sweep over Farmington Nov. 8 at Farmington High School. Jones led the way with six rushes for 111 yards in the win.
St. Mary’s has as much talent and athleticism as anyone will face, and a strength of schedule, courtesy of the CHSL, that puts most teams to shame, so don’t be surprised if the Eaglets are primed for a playoff run.
Birmingham Groves and Seaholm both come out on top, set up 2023 district rematch
They have got to stop running into each other like this.
With Birmingham Groves taking care of business in a 49-14 win over Ferndale and Seaholm beating Warren Mott 59-29, there’s yet another installment of playoff football between Groves and Seaholm.
Since 2018, Groves is 3-2 against Seaholm in the playoffs with the Maples getting the last laugh in 2023, winning 56-49 in a thriller.
Groves has the most current win in a 35-0 victory over Seaholm just two weeks ago, which was the widest margin of victory in the rivalry since 2019.
Any time the two teams square off, especially with what’s at stake, expect a gridiron classic.
Groves senior quarterback Ryan Counts has impressive dual-threat ability while senior running backs Noah Sanders and Mario Campoy-Lovasco need no introduction with what they can bring to the field. The Groves defensive effort is also no joke with seniors Chris Little and Avery Gach leading the way.
Seaholm’s senior-led core of Penn Roberts, Nathan Walsh, Finn Rouland, and Alejandro Rauth will look to give Groves everything they have.
The two teams will go head-to-head Nov. 8 at Groves High School.
Warren De La Salle eliminates Port Huron Northern in 49-0 win
De La Salle senior Sante Gasperoni threw two touchdown passes to junior Damion King IV and senior Dalton Drogosh while the Pilots had four rushing touchdowns courtesy of Gasperoni (2), junior Micah Walker (1), and freshman Grayson Thurston (1).
For the first time in four seasons, De La Salle won’t play Roseville as Grosse Pointe South knocked the Panthers out of playoff contention.
South stayed unbeaten this season with the 27-26 win over Roseville, and will bring a balanced offensive attack along with a hard-nosed defense to the Pilots Nov. 8 at South High School.
De La Salle has reached the state finals in four straight seasons, winning two.
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep advances with 49-19 win over Williamston
The Notre Dame Prep offense kept its hot streak going as junior quarterback Sam Stowe threw for 142 yards and three touchdowns with senior Joey DeCasas hauling in two and Colin Whalen adding one.
Senior Billy Collins led the rushing attack with 11 carries for 143 yards while senior Drew Heimbuch had five carries for 45 yards and a score.
Notre Dame Prep now sets up a district championship rematch with Corunna, who defeated Notre Dame Prep 28-17 last year.
Cobb, Hazel Park handle St. Clair Shores South Lake 41-22
Hazel Park sophomore Elijah Cobb put on a show, tallying five total touchdowns (3 passing and 2 rushing) with 155 passing yards and 15 carries for 145 rushing yards.
Junior running back Montrell Parker continued to be a force on the ground, rushing 22 times for 160 yards and a score.
Junior Will Eddy, junior Lathan Chambers, and freshman Braylon Davis all had a receiving touchdown in the win.
Hazel Park (7-3) now has its highest win total since 2010, and will be a team to watch as the playoffs continue with its high-powered offense.
Davis, Stacy lead Liggett offense in 41-14 win over Bath
University Liggett junior quarterback Nikkos Davis threw for 221 yards and three touchdowns, continuing a stellar junior campaign.
Senior running back Gary Stacy rushed 20 times for 164 yards and three touchdowns while senior wideout Santino Cicarella led all receivers with five receptions for 151 yards and a touchdown. Junior Liam Kurtz and freshman Julius Barnett each had a receiving touchdown in the win.
University Liggett will now face Leslie for the district championship title Nov. 9 at Liggett High School.
RH Lutheran Northwest moves on in 40-14 win over Cardinal Mooney
Lutheran Northwest senior running back Ben Cairns tallied two touchdowns runs while juniors Raymond Losier and Andrew Lemke each added a rushing touchdown.
Lemke and senior wideout Brock Carpenter connected for a touchdown as well.
Junior Mark Mantay had two interceptions and Lemke also tallied an interception in the win.
Lutheran Northwest will face Detroit Loyola Nov. 8 in the district championship.