Final destination check-in: Football finalists ready to clash for coveted titles

Nearly four months ago, close to 700 schools across the state began preparation to play on the prep football season’s final weekend. Only eight of those schools have reached the plateau.

The MHAA football state finals are set for Ford Field in Detroit Nov.25-26 with several intriguing matchups.

There are eight schools that carry perfect records into the state finals, four which are involved in games that feature unbeatens on both sides. There are also two four-loss teams that are trying to win state titles as teams that reached the postseason as part of the 22 schools that were at-large qualifiers.

There are always plenty of scenarios and storylines when it comes to the state finals.

Who will finish as the last team standing in each of the state’s eight divisions? There’s only one way to find out.

Reminder: All Games are live on FOX Sports Detroit-PLUS for those who won’t be able to make the trek down to Ford Field in Detroit.

(Picks this Season, 99-29, .777).

DIVISION 1: DETROIT CASS TECH (10-3) VS. NOVI DETROIT CATHOLIC CENTRAL (12-1), 1 p.m. Saturday: Second-ranked Catholic Central is one of the most dominant large schools dating back to the 1980s. Cass Tech made a Cinderella run to the finals this season. The glass slipper won’t fit after this game.

PICK: Catholic Central by 7.

BIRMINGHAM BROTER RICE (9-4) VS. LOWELL (12-1), 1 p.m. Friday: Don’t let the records you, as both team play tough schedules. Seventh-ranked Rice has posted a few upsets along the way, including a win over top-ranked Farmington Harrison in the district finals. Lowell, ranked second, lost in the finals last year to Harrison and is now on the redemption trail which ends with a state title this year.

PICK: Lowell by 2.

DIVIISON 3: ORCHARD LAKE ST. MARY’S (11-2) VS. MT. PLEASANT (13-0), 7:30 p.m. Saturday: Is this the baseball finals or football finals? Regardless, Mt. Pleasant has had a magical season, while St. Mary’s has played a brutally tough schedule and is trying to make up for last year’s finals lost to East Grand Rapids, the same team Mt. Pleasant beat in the semifinals. St. Mary’s is making its fourth appearance in the finals in five years, but there is something about chasing a perfect season.

PICK: Mt. Pleasant by 1.

DIVISION 4: MARINE CITY (13-0) VS. ZEELAND WEST (13-0), Friday, 7:30 p.m.: This could be one for the ages, the top two ranked unbeaten teams meeting for the state championship. The question here is, can No. 2 Zeeland West stop Marine City’s offensive machine? The Mariners could have made a run in D-1 or D-2. They are that good.

PICK: Marine City by 7.

DIVISION 5: FLINT POWERS CATHOLIC (9-4) VS. LANSING CATHOLIC (13-0), Saturday, 4:30 p.m.: Top-ranked Lansing Catholic will escort Cinderella Powers to the ball and will leave with a perfect season.

PICK: Lansing Catholic by 10.

DIVISION 6: CONSTANTINE (11-2) VS. ITHACA (13-0), Friday, 4:30 p.m.: Ithaca was the state champions last season and is back with a undefeated record and the No. 1 ranking this season. Sounds good enough for a repeat party.

PICK: Ithaca by 8.

DIVISION 7: PEWAMO-WESTPHALIA (13-0) VS.SAGINAW NOUVEL CATHOLIC (12-0), Saturday, 10 a.m.: Another matchup featuring undefeated teams. Nouvel entered the postseason ranked No. 1 in the state and P-W was ranked sixth.

Nouvel keeps its No. 1 standing in the only poll that matters thanks toits third title in six seasons.

PICK: Saginaw Nouvel Catholic by 6.

DIVISION 8: MENDON (13-0) VS.FOWLER (11-2), Friday 10 a.m.: Top-ranked Mendon vs. No. 9 Fowler, two small-school programs long accustomed to winning. Mendon is 10-1 all-time in state finals games, while Fowler is 4-2 in the finals, although it’s been 13 years since the last title. Mendon makes it title No. 11.

PICK: Mendon by 7.

(Stick’s Picks is prep seer for the AdaVan Media Group’s www.northoaklandsports.com and a 19-year veteran journalist in suburban Detroit. He can be reached at dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com. Follow us on Twitter @LocalSportsFans and on over a dozen social media networks.)

REPORTING SCORES

Varsity coaches are urged to report varsity results in a timely fashion by e-mail to senior editor Dan Stickradt at dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com or results@northoaklandsports.com, or by calling the sports nightline recording at (248) 812-1053. Deadlines are normally midnight each day.

High schools and colleges in the NorthOaklandSports coverage region include Auburn Hills Avondale, Auburn Hills Oakland Christian, Auburn Hills Christian Academy, Clarkston, Clarkston Everest Collegiate, Clarkston Springfield Christian, Holly, Lake Orion, Lake Orion Baptist, Lake Orion Shalom Baptist, Ortonville Brandon, Oxford, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, Rochester, Rochester Adams, Rochester Stoney Creek, Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest, Troy, Troy Athens, Troy Bethany Christian, Troy Christian Leadership Academy, Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes, plus Rochester College, Oakland University and Oakland Community College.

The NOS sports desk will also publish information on club, youth and recreation teams with local or regional interest.

PHOTOS: Have courtesy action photos that who wish to contribute? Please feel free to e-mail photos in a color j-peg format to senior editor Dan Stickradt at dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com .Please include all pertinent information, incluing photographer, link back to web site, date, location and competing schools or teams in the photos and the identification of each athlete in each photo.

VIDEO: Have courtesy action videos or interview videos that who wish to contribute? Please feel free to e-mail the imbed codes for video or web-link to senior editor Dan Stickradt at dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com. Please include all pertinent information, including videographer, link back to web site, date, location, competing schools or teams in the video and the identification of each athlete in the video.

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