Playoff Primer: Four football teams play for district titles this weekend

The prep football playoffs enter the district final round this weekend in and around the state of Michigan.

Locally, four teams are competing for district titles in Mt. Pleasant, Ithaca, Beal City and Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart Academy.

Here's a quick preview of each district-finale.

Division 3

Mt. Pleasant (6-4) at Petoskey (10-0), 7 p.m. Friday

Mt. Pleasant has been playing its best football of the season in recent weeks as the Oilers posted 38 points in a week nine 38-35 win over Linden to secure a playoff spot. Then, last week, the Oilers defeated long-time rival Cadillac 36-22 in their D3 playoff opener.

In order to pull off the upset Friday the Oilers will need to continue to post plenty of points and get some defensive stops.

Petoskey comes into the game ranked fourth in Division 3 and is unbeaten on the season. The Northmen defeated Bay City John Glenn 61-21 in their playoff opener last week.

Historically speaking Mt Pleasant and Petoskey have played against one another six times dating back to 2011 with the Oilers leading the all-time series 5-1. The Oilers also hold a 3-1 advantage in the playoffs.

These two last met in the playoffs in 2018 with the Oilers winning 35-6.

The Oilers average 27 points per game offensively and allow 20 points defensively.

Petoskey averages 42 points per on offense and allows 12.

Offensively the running-back trio of Cole Phillips, Brogan Parks and Torry Gagne have been exceptionally good in recent weeks. Phillips has run for 198 yards on 33 carries in the last two weeks. Gagne also popped off a 128-yard showing in week nine while Parks has been super-solid in short yardage. On the outside Easton Day, Riley Olson, Clay Molyneux, Zay Rodriguez and Jack Mozurkewich have each had some big catches for the Oilers.

Quarterback Ian Deromedi has also been spot-on as he's gone 31-for-40 passing for 366 yards and four scores in the last two weeks.

Division 7

Pewamo-Westphalia (8-2) at Ithaca (10-0), 7 p.m. Friday

This Division 7 district final features two of the best programs in mid-Michigan dating back a good 15 years.

Since 2010 Ithaca has won five state titles while landing runner-up twice. During this same time frame Pewamo-Westphalia has won four state championships and finished runner-up twice.

The hosts Jackets are the top-ranked team in D7 while the Pirates are ranked ninth going in.

Ithaca ran past Saranac 42-7 last week while Pewamo-Westphalia defeated host Montrose 42-12.

For the season the Jackets average 44 points per game while allowing only nine on defense. They have rushed for 2,227 yards and 35-rushing TDs while throwing for 1,811 yards and 26 touchdowns.

The Pirates average 40 points per game on offense and allow 11 defensively.

Ithaca has been led by the excellent one-two punch of running back Nathan Mikesell and quarterback Jackson Conn as they've both had phenomenal seasons. Between them they have combined for 68 touchdowns and over 4,200-yards of offense.

These two programs have also met three times previously with Pewamo-Westphalia winning two of the three match-ups. The last time they met was in 2021 with the Pirates winning 42-7 in an opening-round D7 playoff game.

Division 8

Beal City (8-2) at Maple City Glen Lake (9-1), 7 p.m. Friday

Sometimes the match-up numbers jump off the page and grab your attention and such is the case here.

For the season Beal City has posted 393 points while allowing only 85.

Conversely, Maple City Glen Lake has posted 381 points of offense while allowing 81. Thus, in short, this Division 8 district final appears to feature two evenly-matched teams.

The Aggies, who are ranked seventh in Division 8, routed Frankfort 47-0 last weekend in their playoff opener and have been very good all season long. Their two losses came to highly-ranked McBain in week three by a final of 29-25 and to Reed City 18-14 in week nine. Beal City was right there in both ball games though, losing both late.

Statistically speaking Beal City has had an explosive offense all season long as it has posted 28–scoring drives of three plays of less (14 one-play drives; 7 two-play drives; 7 three-play drives).

Moreover the Aggies have nine touchdowns of 50-yards or more; 17 touchdowns of 40-yards or more and 23 touchdowns of 25-yards or more.

If the Aggies can hit for a couple big plays Friday it could go a long ways towards advancing.

The Lakers are ranked fourth in Division 8. They defeated Mancelona 38-14 last week and have been pretty much dominant all season long. Their lone loss came to Reed City in week four by a final of 28-14.

These two programs have met twice in the playoffs with Beal City winning both games. Beal City topped Maple City Glen Lake 20-0 in 1992 and 8-0 in 1985.

Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart Academy (7-3) at Morrice (9-1), 1 p.m. Saturday

These two conference rivals met back on Oct. 11 in week seven with the Morrice Orioles defeating the host Irish by a final of 38-6.

However, at that time, Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart was dealing with numerous injuries that have since healed. In short, this time around, the Irish should benefit from this fact.

Last week the Irish pulled off a stunning upset as they defeated top-ranked Grand Rapids Sacred Heart Academy via a last-minute field goal, winning 24-21 on the road. Quarterback Jason Boge has been very good all season at both running the ball and throwing it.

For the season Sacred Heart Academy averages 36 points per while allowing 21 on the defensive side.

Morrice, which is ranked seventh in the state, averages 41 points per game on offense and 11 points per on the defensive side. The Orioles only loss came to highly-ranked Portland St. Pats by a final of 29-12 in week four. The Orioles defeated Portland St. Pat's 28-22 last weekend in their playoff opener.

SHA leads the all-time series with Morrice 10-7.