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Top 25 HS Teams – De La Salle, Hudsonville enter with three losses
1. Birmingham Brother Rice (8-0): The Warriors keep rolling along and can now center their attention on Orchard Lake St. Mary’s in the Prep Bowl and the state playoffs.
2. Clarkston (8-0): One more victory and the Wolves will guarantee themselves home-field throughout the playoffs
3. Muskegon (8-0): The Big Reds haven’t been challenged lately but will be this week as they face Muskegon Mona Shores for the O-K Black Division title, and a city championship.
4. Detroit Cass Tech (8-0): Cass Tech showed mettle last week. The Technicians trailed Detroit East English Village Prep 12-0 before claiming a 19-12 victory. This comeback and its game against Detroit King on Friday will do much to prepare the Technicians for the playoffs.
5. Detroit King (8-0): King’s toughest game came against Port Huron (22-10) in the opener. Its game against Cass Tech will tell us just how good the Crusaders are.
6. DeWitt (8-0): The Panthers handled Portland 30-14 with Chase McPhee at quarterback. When Jacob Johnson returns at quarterback is still unknown.
7. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (7-1): The Eaglets have won two straight since losing to Brother Rice. On Saturday they get a rematch and continue to prepare for the state playoffs.
8. Zeeland West (8-0): West was to have been challenged by Byron Center last week. West won 62-21. The Division 3 champions are averaging 55 points a game.
9. Lansing Sexton (8-0): The Big Reds have answered the call all season. Last week’s 21-12 victory over Lansing Everett (5-3) is a case in point.
10. Midland Dow (8-0): Dow blitzed Saginaw 58-0 last week and looks to end the regular season on the right foot with a victory over Midland.
11. Lapeer (8-0): Coach Mike Smith got what he was looking for last week – a competitive game. Lapeer defeated Flint Carman-Ainsworth 34-31 in overtime and the character that win helped to build promises to prove valuable come playoff time.
12. Dearborn Fordson (8-0): Not sure how to read the Tractors despite their spotless record. Few games have been competitive but nevertheless this is an experienced and talented team.
13. Muskegon Mona Shores (7-1): Quarterback Tyree Jackson is not alone in putting up big numbers. Running back DeOntay Moffett topped the 1,000-yard rushing mark (for the season) last week.
14. Caledonia (6-2): The Fighting Scots pasted Lowell 33-0 last week and could be ranked higher. Let’s not forget Mona Shores handed Caledonia a 40-7 loss earlier this season.
15. West Bloomfield (7-1): The only thing missing from this team is a resume. The Lakers have never won a playoff game but when you watch them play its obvious this team is capable of making a long playoff run.
16. East Kentwood (7-1): The Falcons have been on the cusp of breaking through as one of the elite Division 1 teams recently. Is their 35-3 victory over Rockford last week the game that gets them over that hump? The next two weeks will help answer that.
17. Oak Park (6-2): In know. The Knights lost to Southfield last week and often good teams that experience a downturn late in the season continue to slide. Look for Oak Park to rebound and play better heading into the playoffs.
18. Walled Lake Western (7-1): The Warriors are improving week to week and its 20-17 loss to Waterford Mott on Sept. 26 seems like a long time ago.
19. Macomb Dakota (6-2): Like Oak Park, the Cougars suffered a league loss last week (19-12 to Sterling Heights Stevenson) and just like Oak Park that loss occurred on the road. Dakota has been around the block once or twice. It knows how to bounce back.
20. Farmington Hills Harrison (7-1): After two lopsided victories a crossover with one of the top teams in the OAA Red Division is just what the Hawks need to get ready for the playoffs.
21. Hudsonville (5-3): It’s more important to play well at the end of the season than it is in the middle. A victory over Grandville this week will give the Eagles momentum heading into the playoffs.
22. Southfield (6-2): The Blue Jays have the talent to make a playoff run. Their two losses could easily been reversed. The 20-16 victory over Oak Park might be the tonic needed to make that playoff push.
23. Warren De La Salle (5-3): When the Pilots officially make the playoffs this week (they play Detroit Pershing on Saturday) there will be a number of teams, whether it’s in Division 1 or 2 that will hope they’re not seeded with them.
24. Sterling Heights Stevenson (6-2): If De La Salle is seeded in Division I these Titans could be the team it plays in the first round. If that’s the case, fans will see two of Macomb County’s top defenses go toe to toe.
25. Saline (7-1): The Hornets have won seven straight. That’s on the plus side. But only one of those opponents (Monroe) is a playoff team. No question this is a good team. We just don’t know how good yet.
