Division 7
Area Teams to Watch
Harrison: Harrison is back in the playoffs for a second consecutive season after turning in a 7-2 record for the second straight year. The Hornets opened the season with a big win against Leroy-Pine River with losses coming against Sanford-Meridian and Gladwin. Harrison is averging 37.3 points per game. The Hornets open the playoffs hosting 3-6 Morley-Stanwood.
Ithaca: Ithaca is in the playoffs for the 17th straight season. The Yellowjackets were on a roll early in the season reeling off five straight wins before falling to Saginaw Valley Lutheran 23-22. The Yellowjackets then fell in the final two weeks of the season to Division 8 powers Fowler and Beal City. Ithaca is averaging 38 points per game on offense. Junior quarterback Gibson Rondy has passed for over 1,200 yards and eight touchdowns. Sophomore Greyson Merchant has rushed for over 400 yards and nine touchdowns. The Yellowjackets are young but have enough playmakers to make a run. A rematch at Valley Lutheran awaits in the first round of the playoffs.
Leslie: Leslie turned in a 5-4 record this season and is in the playoffs for the second straight season. The Black Hawks have no problems putting points on the scoreboard as they are averaging 36.6 points per game. Leslie features a potent passing game on offense as junior quarterback Joel Cranmore has passed for over 1,700 yards and 14 touchdowns. Braydin Johnson is the top receiving target and is also a playmaker on defense. Leslie opens the playoff making the trip to Monroe to face a 7-2 Monroe St. Mary’s squad.
Millington: Millington is making its 21st straight postseason appearance this season and the first one where it enters the playoffs as a defending state champion. The Cardinals went 7-2 this season but the playoff experience will be invaluable. The Cardinals like to run the ball and they have plenty of balance and depth at running back. Millington is averaging 31.3 points per game while the defense is allowing 15.7 points. The Cardinals open the playoffs hosting Burton Bendle and a possible state title game rematch with Monroe St. Mary’s looms in the regional final.
Morley-Stanwood: the Mohawks are in the playoffs with a 3-6 record meaning that their schedule has been a blockbuster. Morley dropped a pair of games to Division 6 foes Kent City and Central-Montcalm who went a combined 16-2 this season. The Mohawks averaged 20. Points per game this season and played some tight games including a two-point loss to D6 Harbor Springs and a three-point loss to Leroy-Pine River. Morley opens the playoffs at Harrison.
Pewamo-Westphalia: The postseason streak has hit 21 years in a row for the Pirates and this year’s squad may be playing in the playoffs right up to the end of the month. Pewamo-Westphalia went 8-0 during the regular season, averaging a whopping 46.8 points per game while allowing just 3.1 points on defense. The Pirates play a swarming brand of defense while the offense is multi-dimensional around quarterback Ty Thelen who has passed for over 800 yards and 22 touchdowns and rushed for close to 600 yards and 12 more scores. The Pirates kick off the playoffs by hosting Ravenna.
Saginaw Valley Lutheran: Valley Lutheran is turning in a memorable year. The Chargers finished the season with a perfect 9-0 record and won the conference title highlighted by a dramatic 23-22 win against Ithaca and a 27-20 win against Nouvel Catholic. The Chargers are putting up 34.7 points per game on offense while the defense is allowing 10.1 ppg. The playoffs start a second season and Valley Lutheran will hook up with Ithaca again for an opening-round rematch that should be fun.
Saranac: Saranac is in the playoffs for a third straight year as it put together a 7-2 regular-season record. The lone two losses came against long-time conference powerhouses Pewamo-Westphalia and Fowler. Saranac is a well-balanced squad averaging 29.3 points per game while allowing 15.4 points per game on defense. The Red Hawks open the playoffs with a trip to the lakeshore to face a 6-3 North Muskegon squad.
Top D7 Contenders: Menominee (9-0), Saginaw Valley Lutheran (9-0), Pewamo-Westphalia (8-0), Charlevoix (8-1), Ottawa Lake Whiteford (8-1), Schoolcraft (7-2), Lawton (7-2), Monroe St Mary (7-2), Millington (7-2), Ithaca (6-3).
Preview: Division 7 will be no picnic as solid schools can be found throughout the state. In the top half of the bracket, Menominee and Charlevoix will battle it out for a regional title while undefeated teams Pewamo-Westphalia and Saginaw Valley Lutheran will go at it for another regional. The lower half of the bracket has rival Lawton and Schoolcraft in one region while last year’s D7 finalists Millington and Monroe St. Mary are joined by a solid Ottawa Lake Whiteford in another regional.
HSSS Division 7 State Final Prediction: Pewamo-Westphalia 30, Schoolcraft 27
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