DIVISION 8
Mio (7-2) at Beal City (9-0), Friday 7 p.m.
Beal City has one of the most productive offenses in the state as the Aggies are averaging 58.9 points per game. The Aggies can strike through the air with quarterback Kurt Gross who has thrown for over 1,000 yards or hammer away via the ground with running backs Ty Rollin and Hayden Huber.
Mio has a solid team with a potent offense of its own but the Thunderbolts don’t face the type of competition Beal City has. The Aggies reached the D8 state title game last year and are focused on a return trip this year.
HSSS prediction: Beal City 47, Mio 20
Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart (6-3) at Coleman (7-2), Friday 7 p.m.
These two teams met two weeks ago with Sacred Heart using a big goal-line stand to help earn a 23-21 victory. The Irish have a strong offense led by quarterback Dustin Neyer who is a threat both running and passing. Running back Austin Neyer is another key contributor who who picked up 97 yards rushing against Coleman. Coleman has a high-powered offense of its own and enters the game averaging 45.8 points per game.
HSSS prediction: Coleman 31, Sacred Heart 29
Fulton-Middleton (5-4) at Muskegon Catholic Central (7-2), Friday 7 p.m.
Fulton qualified for the playoffs with a 5-4 record but their reward is a trip to Muskegon to face D8 football powerhouse Muskegon Catholic Central. Fulton punched its playoff ticket with a big 43-7 win against Burton Bendle last week. Sophomore quarterback Jacob Litwiller and senior running back Tyler Spade lead the way for the Fulton offense.
Muskegon Catholic features a rugged defensive team that is allowing just 8.4 points per game. The Crusaders have two losses but those two losses came against Division 2 playoff qualifier Muskegon Mona Shores (25-16) and Division 4 playoff qualifier Grand Rapids Catholic Central (16-13) during the first two games of the season. Since then Muskegon Catholic has reeled off seven straight wins and scored 41 points or more in all seven wins.
HSSS prediction: Muskegon Catholic 48, Futon-Middleton 6
Baldwin (7-2) at Fowler (7-2), Friday 7 p.m.
Fowler finished the season ranked in the top 10 in Division 8 and opens the playoffs at home against a Baldwin team that can score points in bunches. Baldwin averages 37.7 points per game but has not faced the type of competition Fowler faces on a weekly basis.
Fowler’s two losses have come to an unbeaten Mendon team and once-beaten D7 Pewamo-Westphalia. Fowler is led by junior running back Austin Cook who has totaled over 900 yards rushing this season. The Eagles had plenty of rebuilding to do this season but have done a solid job of reloading.
HSSS prediction: Fowler 28, Baldwin 14
Saginaw Lutheran Michigan Seminary (7-2) at New Lothrop (8-0), Friday 7 p.m.
Lutheran Seminary has faced one buzzsaw this year in Ithaca and opens the playoff facing another one in New Lothrop.
New Lothrop has a high-powered offense that is putting up 53.5 points per game. The Hornets can strike in a variety of ways led by junior quarterback Ben Muron who is effective running and passing. Running back Taylor Krupp has been hammering out chunks of yardage. New Lothrop’s biggest weapon is senior Amari Coleman who is a threat to go the distance every time he catches a pass or returns a punt. The Hornets also boast a punishing defense that has allowed just 7.3 points per game. New Lothrop prepped for the playoffs last Friday by defeating then unbeaten Pewamo-Westphalia 47-33.