Last week, we ranked the 64 regional finalists of the Michigan high school football playoffs.
The field has been pared in half. Now it’s time to slot the 32 teams left standing.
Some very good teams were eliminated in the regional round, notably New Lothrop, which fell in a 36-35 classic vs. Pewamo-Westphalia.
Make sure you dive into these rankings and let us know in the comment section where we misfired and what you think we got right. A nice, little debate – remaining civil – is what we’re after.
Hope to see you in the comments.
32. Ubly (10-2)
Division: 8
Last week’s result: Beat Saginaw Nouvel, 56-36, in regional finals
This week’s game: State semifinals vs. Beal City (11-1), 1 p.m. Saturday at Mount Pleasant High School
The Bearcats have had little trouble scoring points in the playoffs, averaging 40 per game. That task looks a little tougher this week against a Beal City squad basically playing in its backyard.
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31. Beal City (11-1)
Division: 8
Last week’s result: Beat Ishpeming, 27-14, in regional finals
This week’s game: State semifinals vs. Ubly (10-2), 1 p.m. Saturday at Mount Pleasant High School
The Aggies are back in the state semifinals for the first time since 2014 and they’re again playing at a familiar place: Mount Pleasant Community Memorial Stadium, where they took down Ishpeming last week.
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30. Fowler (11-1)
Division: 8
Last week’s result: Beat Royal Oak Shrine Catholic, 33-0, in regional finals
This week’s game: State semifinals vs. Reading (11-1), 1 p.m. Saturday at Battle Creek Harper Creek
Little surprise that the Eagles would dispatch Royal Oak Shrine without much trouble. That’s night-and-day compared to the challenge this week against Reading, which played Pewamo-Westphalia much closer than Fowler did.
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29. Onsted (10-2)
Division: 6
Last week’s result: Beat Hillsdale, 12-0, in regional finals
This week’s game: State semifinals vs. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central (10-1), 1 p.m. Saturday at Ypsilanti Lincoln
The Wildcats picked a good time to pitch their first shutout of the season. Prior to that, they hadn’t allowed fewer than 12 points in any game this season. They’ll need to be on their game this week, however, to have any kind of chance against Monroe St. Mary.
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28. Iron Mountain (12-0)
Division: 7
Last week’s result: Beat Traverse City St. Francis, 21-7, in regional finals
This week’s game: State semifinals vs. Pewamo-Westphalia (12-0), 7 p.m. Friday at Superior Dome
Sometimes it’s hard to tell just how good some of the Upper Peninsula teams are, given the fact that us trolls down here are a bit cut off what’s going on up there. But there’s no better barometer for Iron Mountain than to see how the Mountaineers matchup up against P-W this week.
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27. Maple City Glen Lake (11-1)
Division: 6
Last week’s result: Beat Calumet, 15-14, in regional finals
This week’s game: State semifinals vs. Montague (10-2), 1 p.m. Saturday at Clare
Kudos to the Lakers for making the long trip to the U.P. and Copper Harbor region, and coming away with a hard-fought win over the Calumet Copper Kings. They face a different challenge this week against a balanced and improving Montague squad.
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26. Cass City (11-1)
Division: 7
Last week’s result: Beat Detroit Loyola, 6-0, in regional finals
This week’s game: State semifinals vs. Jackson Lumen Christi (11-0), 11 a.m. Saturday at Novi
The Red Hawks showed something by beating Detroit Loyola in the regional finals. The task only gets tougher this week, when they face Lumen Christi. Cass City has been great on defense all season, allowing double-digit points just once in a 16-14 loss to Division 6 regional finalist Montrose.
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25. Flint Powers Catholic (10-2)
Division: 4
Last week’s result: Beat Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, 12-9, in regional finals
This week’s game: State semifinals vs. Detroit Country Day (12-0), 1 p.m. Saturday at Howell’s Parker Middle School
The Cardiac Chargers definitely have had fans on the edges of their seats the last two weeks, winning 12-9 in the regional finals and 13-12 in the district finals. Points will be at a premium again this week against a Country Day squad that has allowed only 67 points all season.
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24. Almont (12-0)
Division: 5
Last week’s result: Beat Saginaw Swan Valley, 25-14, in regional finals
This week’s game: State semifinals vs. Detroit Denby (10-2), 1 p.m. Saturday at Walled Lake Central
Seems like a tale of two seasons for the Raiders – both of them good. The regular season featured nothing but blowouts. The playoff season has been tight game after tight game. They’d better prepare for another tough one this week.
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23. Reading (11-1)
Division: 8
Last week’s result: Beat Adrian Lenawee Christian, 26-21, in regional finals
This week’s game: State semifinals vs. Fowler (11-1), 1 p.m. Saturday at Battle Creek Harper Creek
A reader on last week’s “ranking the remaining 64 playoff teams” suggested that the Rangers be rated higher than they were. They were ranked 43rd, which is not bad for a Division 8 program. No question, Reading is a legit team, as the lone loss was 14-0 to Pewamo-Westphalia in the opener.
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22. Montague (10-2)
Division: 6
Last week’s result: Beat Sanford Meridian, 48-14, in regional finals
This week’s game: State semifinals vs. Maple City Glen Lake (11-1), 1 p.m. Saturday at Clare
Seems that the Wildcats keep getting a little better each week. That’s definitely what you’re after this time of the year. Before they try to knock off Glen Lake Saturday, maybe they should thank them – the Lakers’ win over Calumet very likely saved Montague from a trip to the U.P.
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21. Detroit Denby (10-2)
Division: 5
Last week’s result: Beat Dearborn Heights Robichaud, 40-18, in regional finals
This week’s game: State semifinals vs. Almont (12-0), 1 p.m. Saturday at Walled Lake Central
Outside of Detroit King, Denby has not played the toughest schedule you’re ever going to see. Having said that, they’ve outscored everybody not named King by a combined 337-35 margin. That’s impressive no matter what.
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20. Lansing Catholic (11-1)
Division: 5
Last week’s result: Beat Kalamazoo United, 40-13, in regional finals
This week’s game: State semifinals vs. Kingsley (12-0), 1 p.m. Saturday at Greenville
For being located in the state’s capitol city, it sure seems like Lansing Catholic gets a little lost in the shuffle when looking at state-title contenders. But here are the Cougars, a legit threat to take home a state championship for the first time since 1985.
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19. Kingsley (12-0)
Division: 5
Last week’s result: Beat Freeland, 43-21, in regional finals
This week’s game: State semifinals vs. Lansing Catholic (11-1), 1 p.m. Saturday at Greenville
Looks like it’ll be a contrast of styles when Kingsley takes on Lansing Catholic in the semis. The Stags are a physical group, which has had a lot of success running the ball and stopping the run. The Cougars have been known to throw it around the yard. Should be a fascinating matchup Saturday.
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18. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central (10-1)
Division: 6
Last week’s result: Beat Montrose, 36-7
This week’s game: State semifinals vs. Onsted (10-2), 1 p.m. Saturday at Ypsilanti Lincoln
The Falcons appear to be positioning themselves for another state-championship shot. It’s been a little bit – 2014 to be exact. They lost regional heartbreakers in 2017 and 2018, but not in 2019, as they blew the doors off Montrose in the second half.
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17. Hudsonville Unity Christian (9-3)
Division: 4
Last week’s result: Beat Paw Paw, 38-17, in regional finals
This week’s game: State semifinals vs. Grand Rapids Catholic Central (11-1), 1 p.m. Saturday at Jenison
The Crusaders have been playing as well as anybody in Division 4 – with the exception of GRCC, it appears. Unity has a tall order this week, but if they can get through it, then they’ve got a legit chance to go back-to-back in state titles after winning it all in D-5 a year ago.
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16. DeWitt (10-2)
Division: 3
Last week’s result: Beat Edwardsburg, 35-14, in regional finals
This week’s game: State semifinals vs. Muskegon (12-0), 1 p.m. Saturday at East Kentwood
DeWitt went down to Edwardsburg and put a pounding on the Eddies, 35-14. Whoa, where did that come from, Panthers? Is this the same team that lost to Portland (29-27) in Week 2 and to East Lansing (21-2) in Week 5?
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15. Chelsea (12-0)
Division: 3
Last week’s result: Beat Allen Park, 28-27, in regional finals
This week’s game: State semifinals vs. River Rouge (11-1), 1 p.m. Saturday at Dearborn
If the Bulldogs are to capture their first-ever state championship, then they will have earned it. They have to go through River Rouge this week, then should they survive that, they’d very likely face Muskegon in the state finals.
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14. Birmingham Seaholm (9-3)
Division: 2
Last week’s result: Beat Port Huron, 44-28, in regional finals
This week’s game: State semifinals vs. Detroit King (10-2), 3 p.m. Saturday at Novi
The Maples were blown out by Birmingham Groves, 35-14, in Week 8. Since then, they’ve been on a roll, including getting revenge on Groves 42-7. In the playoffs, they’re averaging 47 points per contest.
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13. Detroit Country Day (12-0)
Division: 4
Last week’s result: Beat Milan, 24-6, in regional finals
This week’s game: State semifinals vs. Flint Powers Catholic (10-2), 1 p.m. Saturday at Howell’s Parker Middle School
The Yellowjackets have allowed double-digit points in only two games, and that was 12 to both Warren Michigan Collegiate and Harper Woods. Country Day’s points-scored vs. points-allowed differential through a dozen games is 431-67. You’ll win a lot of games doing that.
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12. Sterling Heights Stevenson (8-4)
Division: 1
Last week’s result: Beat Detroit Cass Tech, 9-7, in regional finals
This week’s game: State semifinals vs. Davison (10-2), 1 p.m. Saturday at Troy Athens
It’s somewhat rare to see a four-loss team, with three blowout defeats, make its way to the semifinals. But that’s what the Titans have done. They’ve been winning the close games since Week 9, going 4-0 with a combined margin of 15 points.
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11. Jackson Lumen Christi (11-0)
Division: 7
Last week’s result: Beat Schoolcraft, 35-30, in regional finals
This week’s game: State semifinals vs. Cass City (11-1), 11 a.m. Saturday at Novi
The Titans survived a bit of a scare Friday against Schoolcraft, building a 35-6 lead before they allowed the game’s next 24 points. Schoolcraft was the one team on Lumen Christi’s side of the bracket that could pose the most problems, and the Titans got through it.
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10. Pewamo-Westphalia (12-0)
Division: 7
Last week’s result: Beat New Lothrop, 36-35, in regional finals
This week’s game: State semifinals vs. Iron Mountain (12-0), 7 p.m. Friday at Superior Dome
You kind of figured that whichever team survived the P-W vs. New Lothrop game, would stand a very good chance of rolling into the finals to face Jackson Lumen Christi. The Pirates should be fine vs. Iron Mountain, but you wonder about the emotional aspect after the dogfight last Friday.
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9. Davison (10-2)
Division: 1
Last week’s result: Beat Utica Eisenhower, 35-7, in regional finals
This week’s game: State semifinals vs. Sterling Heights Stevenson (8-4), 1 p.m. Saturday at Troy Athens
Feels like many left Davison for dead after the Cardinals lost two of the last three regular-season games, including a 22-0 blanking by De La Salle in Week 7. But they’ve looked like a different team in the playoffs. Something has definitely clicked.
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8. Brighton (10-2)
Division: 1
Last week’s result: Beat Hudsonville, 35-20, in regional finals
This week’s game: State semifinals vs. Belleville (12-0), 1 p.m. Saturday at Howell
The Bulldogs have played fairly sounds defense all season with the one big exception being the Week 9 loss to Dearborn Fordson, 46-35. Fordson is the closest thing to Belleville that Brighton has seen, and that’s still not the same thing.
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7. Muskegon Mona Shores (10-2)
Division: 2
Last week’s result: Beat Portage Northern, 28-23, in regional finals
This week’s game: State semifinals vs. Walled Lake Western (11-1), 1 p.m. Saturday at Okemos
The Sailors lost some top-flight talent from last year’s team that rolled into the Division 2 state finals before falling to De La Salle. Just shows the type of program Mona Shores has, as the Sailors are one win from returning to Ford Field.
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6. Walled Lake Western (11-1)
Division: 2
Last week’s result: Beat Livonia Churchill, 21-14, in regional finals
This week’s game: State semifinals vs. Muskegon Mona Shores (10-2), 1 p.m. Saturday at Okemos
One of the more stunning scores in last year’s playoffs was Walled Lake Western’s 43-0 loss to Midland in the regional finals. Perhaps that’s one of the Warriors’ big motivators this season, because they have not shown any signs of being that team anymore.
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5. River Rouge (11-1)
Division: 3
Last week’s result: Beat Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, 49-14, in regional finals
This week’s game: State semifinals vs. Chelsea (12-0), 1 p.m. Saturday at Dearborn
Few teams – and perhaps only Muskegon – posted a more impressive regional finals win than River Rouge. The Panthers blasted Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, confirming what everybody already knew: They’re pretty talented.
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4. Grand Rapids Catholic Central (11-1)
Division: 4
Last week’s result: Beat Cadillac, 42-7, in regional finals
This week’s game: State semifinals vs. Hudsonville Unity Christian (9-3), 1 p.m. Saturday at Jenison
The Cougars are on fire, having outscored their three playoff opponents by a combined 113-14. Going back five games, GRCC has outscored opponents a combined 203-21.
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3. Detroit King (10-2)
Division: 2
Last week’s result: Beat Detroit U-D Jesuit, 49-21, in regional finals
This week’s game: State semifinals vs. Birmingham Seaholm (9-3), 3 p.m. Saturday at Novi
King is the odds-on favorite to take home the state championship – this is no big mystery. Seems like the Crusaders are due for a tight game, though. Does Seaholm have enough to provide one?
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2. Belleville (12-0)
Division: 1
Last week’s result: Beat West Bloomfield, 27-22, in regional finals
This week’s game: State semifinals vs. Brighton (10-2), 1 p.m. at Howell
Belleville finally met its match against West Bloomfield after breezing through the first couple rounds of the playoffs. The Tigers responded to the challenge against a very good team, which can only help them going forward.
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1. Muskegon (12-0)
Division: 3
Last week’s result: Beat East Grand Rapids, 49-10, in regional finals
This week’s game: State semifinals vs. DeWitt (10-2), 1 p.m. at East Kentwood
The “D Zone” tweeted over the weekend something to the effect that Muskegon is not even on the same level as Belleville and that the Big Reds haven’t played anybody since Week 2. That’s bold, at best. Mona Shores and East Grand Rapids are good teams, as is Cedar Springs. Just because Muskegon won handily in those games does not mean those teams are bad. The Big Reds are just that good.
Further reading:
What’s ahead and what to know for high school football state semifinals
Vote for best quarterback left in the playoffs
Vote for Michigan high school football player of week from regional finals