DETROIT — The football season continues for 11 CHSL squads as the Michigan high school football playoffs begin this weekend, Friday evening and Saturday afternoon, Nov. 1 and 2.
For only the fourth time in the last 25 years, Novi Detroit Catholic Central will be on the sidelines. The Shamrocks' 4-5 record didn’t fit into the MHSAA guidelines for inclusion.
Warren De La Salle, the defending Division 2 champion, will open against Birmingham Groves, whom the Pilots beat last year in the semifinal round.
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Prep has regained its winning formula from two years ago, when it completed a three-year Division 3 championship streak.
Clarkston Everest, the CHSL’s only unbeaten team, opens against Flint Beecher, who defeated the Mountaineers a year ago for a district title.
Here’s where and when CHSL teams will be in action. Put on some warm duds and take in a game or two.
FRIDAY, NOV. 1 (all games 7 p.m.)
Division 2
Warren De La Salle (5-4) @ Birmingham Groves (7-2) at Beverly Hills Falcon Field
The Pilots’ 14th playoff since 2000, including three state championships; beat Groves last year in semifinal 28-0; common opponent: Groves beat West Bloomfield 24-17; De La Salle lost to West Bloomfield 16-8.
Division 3
Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (6-3) @ Flint Kearsley (7-2)
20th playoff in past 21 years for Rice; 3-1 this fall vs. four other playoff teams; Kearsley’s first winning record since 2003 and first playoff since 1998.
Division 5
Ann Arbor Fr. Gabriel Richard (5-4) @ Whitmore Lake (7-2)
The Fighting Irish are in their 10th playoff in the past 11 years, Whitmore Lake in its 10th all time. They know each other well: they’ve had 14 encounters on the gridiron with Gabriel Richard holding a 10-4 advantage, including a 22-20 squeaker back on Sept. 27.
Division 7
Riverview Gabriel Richard (7-2) @ Clinton (9-0)
Richard’s fifth playoff in last six years; 3-1 record in past pre-district games; Clinton’s first perfect record since 1954; won games by average score of 47-18.
Madison Heights Bishop Foley (6-3) @ Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port (6-3) at Laker Football Field, Pigeon
The villages of Elkton, Pigeon and Bay Port (combined population about 2,500) are located 108 miles north from Bishop Foley in the Thumb area near Saginaw Bay. Bay Port holds an annual Fish Sandwich Festival whose unofficial motto is "Where the fish caught the man.” Which team will catch a break in this game?
Detroit Loyola (4-4) @ Detroit Central (8-1) at Woodrow “Woody” Thomas Stadium, Detroit
Loyola’s 14th playoff in last 18 years (state champ 2014); Central’s ninth in last 11 years. They met in the 2017 season opener, won by Central 32-8. Five of Central’s victories were shutouts.
Division 8
@Clarkston Everest Collegiate (8-0) vs. Flint Beecher (5-3)
Everest is a perfect 7 for 7 in playoff appearances; it had the CHSL’s only perfect record; it was a repeat CHSL Prep Bowl champ; to make it all more perfect would be to avenge the 22-14 loss to Beecher in last year’s District game.
SATURDAY, NOV. 2
Division 2
University of Detroit Jesuit (6-3) @ North Farmington (9-0), 1 p.m.
Cubs’ seventh playoff, North Farmington’s eighth. U of D Jesuit reached semifinals in 2001 and 1999. North Farmington’s first perfect season since 1965. Its offense averaged 36 points a game, a challenge for U-D’s defense that limited opponents to a 10-points per-game average.
Division 3
@Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (8-1) vs. Marysville (6-3), 1 p.m.
After winning three state titles in a row, then bottoming out for two years, the Eaglets are back for 23rd playoff appearance after winning the CHSL Central Division crown. Marysville is in its 25th playoff; 5-9 in last 14 pre-district contests.
Division 4
@Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood (5-3) vs. Harper Woods (4-4), 2:30 p.m.
The Cranes closed with a three-game winning streak to make it to the playoffs for the sixth straight time. Harper Woods won its last two games to even its record at 4-4.
Division 8
@ Royal Oak Shrine (7-2) vs. Ottawa Lake Whiteford (5-4), 1 p.m.
Shrine is in its 18th playoff in last 20 years; Ottawa Lake in its 16th in 20 years. Against common opponents this fall: Shrine beat Adrian Madison 45-35, Whiteford won 42-14. Shrine lost to Britton-Deerfield 30-14, Whiteford won a shoot-out 58-56. They’ve never played each other; that’s the one that counts the most.
