D1-D3 Picks-Regional Finals

Written Thursday November 8th, at 8:15 PM

All Games are 7 PM Friday without mentioned if otherwise.

DIVISION 1:

REGION 1:

ROCKFORD AT CLARKSTON: (Saturday 1 PM.): The Rams will travel all the way east from Rockford to Oakland County. The Wolves have a big line and a good running back. Rockford is well Rockford with its multiple player-personal and Ram tough mentality. Clarkston blew out Grand Blanc 35-19 last week while Rockford came back from two touchdowns to stun Holland West Ottawa 35-28. The edge will go to Clarkston being at home in a wild one. PICK: CLARKSTON 35, ROCKFORD 28.

REGION 2:

NOVI DETROIT CATHOLIC CENTRAL AT PLYMOUTH: (Saturday 1 PM.) This is a rematch of the 2010 regional finals in which the Wildcats stunned the Shamrocks 9-7 in Novi. Last week the Shamrocks beat Walled Lake Northern and Plymouth beat unbeaten Livonia Churchill. The bad news for Plymouth this time around is Kyle Brinza is not coming back through those doors and Catholic Central is going to get its revenge in Wayne County. PICK: NOVI DETROIT CATHOLIC CENTRAL 17, PLYMOUTH 6.

REGION 3:

DETROIT CASS TECH AT SALINE: The defending division one state champions are talented once again but they are 1-1 outside of Wayne County. This will be a tough test for the Hornets but the good news is that Detroit Cass Tech has to travel to Saline. Dearborn had Detroit Cass Tech trailing at the half last week but the Technicians won 42-23. The Hornets won 31-17 over Ann Arbor Pioneer last week. This game will go down to the wire with the Hornets pulling off the shocker in the state in the Hornet’s nest. PICK: SALINE 34, DETROIT CASS TECH 31.

REGION 4:

MACOMB DAKOTA AT LAKE ORION: The Cougars and Dragons are meeting for the fourth time in history. The Cougars eliminated L’Anse Creuse North 42-17 while the Dragons survived Utica Eisenhower 10-7. Both teams are eventually matched with speed and talent along with good defenses. Both teams are also good in the second half. I think Lake Orion being at home will keep Macomb Dakota’s offense off the field long enough to get this win. PICK: LAKE ORION 24, MACOMB DAKOTA 14.

DIVISION 2:

REGION 1:

MUSKEGON AT MIDLAND (Saturday 1 PM): This is a match up of two state power houses. The Big Reds are going east to US-10 to face the Chemics. Muskegon survived Lowell 15-13 last week while Midland blew out Traverse City Central 28-16. Both teams have talent but Muskegon has the big game experience from playing teams like Rockford and Holland West Ottawa on a consistent bases. The Chemics played Canton earlier in the season and beat them but edge goes to Muskegon. PICK: MUSKEGON 31, MIDLAND 21.

REGION 2:

CALEDONIA AT MATTAWAN: The Fighting Scotts have been living on dangerous territory in this match up. Caledonia beat East Lansing 23-22 in overtime last week The Wildcats come in at 10-1 after blowing out Portage Central 42-21 last week. This should be a good one but the edge will be to Mattawan being at home. PICK: MATTAWAN 35, CALEDONIA 24.

REGION 3:

BIRMINGHAM BROTHER RICE AT WALLED LAKE WESTERN: This will be an interesting game for both Warriors. Birmingham Brother Rice is the defending division two champions while Walled Lake Western was not the Walled Lake City or the Kensington Lakes Champs. Well edge is to the Warriors but the orange and black in a two touchdown game. PICK: BIRMINGHAM BROTHER RICE 35, WALLED LAKE WESTERN 21.

REGION 4:

OAK PARK AT WYANDOTTE ROOSEVELT: The Knights and Bears are going to battle this week in Wyandotte. Roosevelt won 9-0 over Taylor Truman last week while the Knights went to overtime to eliminate Southfield 19-12. I think the Bears will get some points but I like Oak Park getting it done on the road in Wayne County. Let’s remember folks that the Knights are 1-0 in Wayne County and soon will be 2-0. PICK: OAK PARK 28, WYANDOTTE ROOSEVELT 12.

DIVISION 3:

REGION 1:

ST. JOHNS AT DEWITT: This is a rematch of Capital Area Conference Red Division rivals. DeWitt beat St. Johns 34-20 at St. Johns in the regular season, eventually winning the Capital Area Conference Red Division Championship. The Panthers blocked an extra point attempt in a six overtime victory to stun Linden 45-44 last week. The Red Wings beat Owosso 21-13 last week. This will be an interesting match up but the edge will go to the Panthers. PICK: DEWITT 28, ST. JOHNS 20.

REGION 2:

GRAND RAPIDS CHRISTIAN AT STEVENSVILLE LAKESHORE (Saturday 1 PM): This is a match up of two dangerous and high scoring teams even though Lakeshore is unbeaten coming in, this will be the toughest game of the season for them. The Eagles won 62-44 last week over Zeeland West. The Lancers blew out Hamilton 48-28 setting up this match up. This will be a high scoring affair but I like Grand Rapids Christian in this match up. PICK: GRAND RAPIDS CHRISTIAN 56, STEVENSVILLE LAKESHORE 53.

REGION 3:

TECUMSEH AT BATTLE CREEK HARPER CREEK: The Indians and the Beavers will meet in an east against west game. Battle Creek Harper Creek won 26-10 over Plainwell to get here while Tecumseh blew out Milan 26-6. These two teams have not met in the playoffs but the will in Battle Creek. The edge will go to the Beavers being at home in a close one over the Indians. PICK: BATTLE CREEK HARPER CREEK 27, TECUMSEH 24.

REGION 4:

DETROIT EAST ENGLISH VILLAGE PREP AT ORCHARD LAKE ST. MARYS (Saturday 1 PM): The Eaglets and Bulldogs will meet on the red turf. St. Mary’s beat Avondale 49-14 last week. Detroit East English Village Prep went up to St. Clair County and destroyed St. Clair 63-7. This could be a shootout but I like St. Mary’s to score more and hold East English Prep more in a shootout. PICK: ORCHARD LAKE ST. MARYS 56, DETROIT EAST ENGLISH VILLAGE PREP 35.