Written Sunday December 20th at 1:00 AM
Updated to include Volleyball-Tuesday December 29th at 7:15 PM
I will also have this preview on the ONTV blog as well but these are the previews for the remaining OAA schools left in the State Playoffs for Football and State Quarterfinals for Volleyball. We won't do picks just yet but this is an early idea to know how things look with the matchups.
Volleyball-Quarterfinals start January 12th.
Clarkston vs Grand Blanc at Lapeer: It has been sort of a resurrecting year at Clarkston and Coach Kelly Pinner. The Wolves had to beat their arch Lake Orion in the district final and cruised in the regionals to get to this point. Clarkston does have Claire Nowicki among others on their roster along with a ton of proven experience but they haven't been back to Battle Creek since 2011 with mostly their losses coming to the Dragons in the district rounds. Grand Blanc is in their first State quarterfinal in school history but earned their first regional title since 1997 after beating Traverse City West in five games. The Bobcats do have some key players that Clarkston will need to keep an eye on in Remi Madison, Amyah Clark, Taylor Ringwelski, Brianna Gervers, and Kate Walter. Madison had 22 kills, 18 digs, and two blocks and an ace against Davison in the district final and was very instrumental against Traverse City Central in the regional finals. Gervers had 27 kills against the Cardinals in the district finals while Ringwelski added 13 digs in that matchup. It should be an interesting game but experience favors Clarkston especially with the schedule they have played. Usually the northern and mid-Michigan schools when they run into an Oakland County power they tend to struggle like what happened with Flushing and Mount Pleasant when they had to play Lake Orion. It might happen here for the third straight year.
Football-Regional Finals start January 9th, State Semifinals January 16th, State Finals January 22nd-23rd.
North Farmington at Traverse City Central: This will be the second all-time meeting between North Farmington and Traverse City Central with the first meeting being in 1978 when they met in a Class A Final in which the Trojans beat the Raiders 20-14. North Farmington before “the pause” were playing their best football of the season winning six of their last seven games and had put 44 points in their two games against Waterford Kettering and Fenton. The Raiders have had a long layoff even before “the pause” with South Lyon forced to forfeit because of COVID-19 earning themselves their first district title in school history. Coach John Herstein’s team has a strong batch of experience in quarterback Jacob Bousmara along with running back Justin Whitehorn and wide receiver Aaron Rice. Traverse City Central hadn’t really been tested in the Big North all season. The Trojans had a very interesting non-league game when they went to Macomb Dakota where they fell 42-16 in week five. That loss to the Cougars has really motivated Coach Eric Schugars’s team which they have dominated in those games since. The Trojans postseason path hadn't really been that challenging with two blowout victories at Thirlby Field however that all changed when they went south into Midland and played the previously unbeaten Chemics. They had to overcome 30-22 at Midland Community Stadium in the district finals. Traverse City Central features lineman and Western Michigan commit Carson Briggs. Briggs has been the anchor for the Trojans pistol offense all season long up front along with proven skill players in quarterback Josh Burnham, running back Austin Bills, and wide receivers Carson Hall, Carson Bourdo. North Farmington hasn’t won a regional title since 1978 while Traverse City Central hasn’t won a regional title since 1988. Both teams are loaded with proven experience at the skill positions. Line play favors the Trojans though. Also what hurts the Raiders is that they will be making the long four hour bus ride up I-75 to M-72 and then toward 13th and Pine Street. This should be a very interesting game at Thirlby Field.
Oak Park at Livonia Churchill: It has been a very odd and strange season for the Knights and Coach/Athletic Director Greg Carter. They came into the postseason at 0-6 but thanks to the Groves mess they really ended the season at 1-5. Oak Park has made a ton of noise this postseason with them now they are whole (fully healthy) after winning three straight postseason games which they stand at 4-5 currently. The Knights have been road warriors in the postseason. They had to beat Grosse Pointe South, Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit, and Wyandotte to get to the regional finals. Oak Park does have some proven players in quarterback James Burnley, Michigan State commit running back Davion Primm, Toledo commit wide receiver/safety Jaylen Mines, and Michigan State commit lineman Rayshawn Benny. The Knights have seen great quarterbacks this season and they will see another one in Concordia commit Gavin Brooks. Brooks has had a great season for the Chargers and Coach Bill DeFillippo whom runs a zone read offense. Livonia Churchill also has other talented players besides Brooks in running back Alyante Williams and wide receiver Bayley Brooks. Both were instrumental in their 36-28 victory over Livonia Franklin in the district finals. The Chargers had some very good wins in the Kensington Lakes East Division including beating Livonia Franklin twice but losses to Dearborn Fordson and Belleville as well. This game looks to be a shootout in the making as both teams are liabilities defensively which that makes Carter nuts since he is a defensive guy. Also both teams are stout on the offensive side of the football as well with proven playmakers and talented quarterbacks in Burnley and Brooks. It should be fun in Livonia and Oak Park has traveled through Macomb and Wayne counties in the postseason.
Romeo at West Bloomfield: The Lakers before “the pause” sent a huge statement to the State and Division One with a stunning 63-6 blowout at Runkel Field over Sterling Heights Stevenson in the district finals. This will be the second all-time meeting with the Bulldogs with the first in 2000 where West Bloomfield won 41-21 in the Swamp. Romeo started the year at 1-4 but have won four straight including a 45-27 victory at Stoney Creek in which their defense caused seven turnovers against a very good Cougars ground attack. The Bulldogs are well coached under Coach Kurt Reinas and play in the always tough Macomb Area Red Division. Romeo is solid defensively led by linebacker Weston Jones and Central Michigan commit in defensive end Michael Heldman. Romeo’s defense will be tested especially with going up against players like running back Donovan Edwards, quarterback Alex Short, lineman Amir Herring, among others in a very stout West Bloomfield offensive attack. Romeo’s offense has been up and down despite scoring 45 points led by running back Brian St. Clair. The Bulldogs offense will be severely challenged by a Lakers defense that has only allowed nine points in six weeks. Romeo whom is a physical team is going to have more than their hands full against Coach Ron Bellamy’s team in the Swamp.
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