Division 2
Area Teams to Watch
East Lansing: The Trojans finished the season strong with wins in their final three games to clinch a playoff spot. While the Trojans have a 4-5 record, a look inside the numbers points to a team that faced a loaded schedule. The five losses came against teams that went a combined 42-3 this season including losses against 9-0 Portage Central, Hudsonville and DeWitt. The Trojans also fell to 8-1 Davison and 7-2 Grand Ledge. The Trojans took on all comers and are ready for anyone they face in the playoffs. A young squad, East Lansing is led on offense by running back Baylor Schanski. East Lansing opens the playoffs at 7-2 White Lake Lakeland.
Lansing Everett: Lansing Everett is back in the playoffs for a third straight season. It has been an up and down season for the Vikings who started off with four straight wins before suffering three straight losses against 9-0 Grand Blanc, Grand Ledge and East Lansing. The Vikings then topped Holt before falling to DeWitt in week nine. Everett features one of the premier running backs in the state in Javari Funchess who is headed to Ferris State but has been battling through injuries late in the season. The Vikings open the playoffs with a tough road trip to 9-0 Portage Central in the first round.
Midland Dow: The Chargers of Midland Dow feature one of the most prolific offenses in the state. The Chargers are putting up 40.2 points per game and are led by standout quarterback Wynn Diegel and wide receiver Ben Marinik. The lone loss Dow suffered this season was a 63-39 loss against unbeaten Mt. Pleasant. Dow has posted wins against both Traverse City Central and Traverse City West, who are playoff teams, and defeated 6-3 Fenton 38-6. Dow opens the playoffs hosting 5-4 Waterford Mott with the winner playing the winner of East Lansing/White Lake Lakeland.
Top D2 Contenders: Portage Central (9-0), South Lyon (9-0), Gibraltar Carlson (9-0), Dexter (8-1), Midland Dow (8-1), Muskegon (6-3), Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (6-2), Birmingham Brother Rice (5-4).
Preview: The chase for the title in Division 2 is definitely a wide-open contest. On the top half of the bracket, Portage Central is 9-0 but will face plenty of rugged hurdles. Traditional powers like Muskegon (6-3), Birmingham Brother Rice (5-4) and Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (6-2) may not have glittering records but they have faced rugged schedules and have the talent to get to Ford Field. Midland Dow is also in the mix in the upper half of the bracket. In the lower half of the bracket, South Lyon and Gibraltar Carlson are both 9-0 and Dexter is 8-1 with the lone loss coming against Saline.
HSSS Division 2 State Final Prediction: Muskegon 26, Dexter 21
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