High school football: Dream still alive for five in playoffs

Ten Monroe County Region football teams began a state playoff journey last week.

Five still are alive after the opening round of games.

Those five will be bidding for District championships this week with three of them – Gibraltar Carlson, Flat Rock and Whiteford – playing at home.

Bedford and St. Mary Catholic Central must hit the road.

All of the games are at 7 p.m. Friday with the exception of SMCC, which kicks off an hour earlier Friday.

Bedford (8-2) at Livonia Franklin (9-1)

Division: 2

All-time series: Franklin leads 3-1

Bedford playoff history: This is the seventh straight season Bedford is in the playoffs and 13th time all-time. Bedford is 9-12 in the playoffs.

Franklin playoff history: This is the 14th time the Patriots have qualified for the playoffs, including the eighth consecutive season. The Patriots are 21-13 all-time. Their longest run was reaching the state finals in 2017.

Bedford statistical leaders: Trey Brueggemann 160 carries for 1,299 yards and 7 TDs, 11 kickoff returns for an average of 31.7 yards, 48 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks, returned two interceptions for TDs; Brody Leonhard 9-for-17 for 201 yards and 3 TDs; Tyler Boerst 67 carries for 578 yards rushing 9 TDs; Hunter Poignon 48 carries for 338 yards and 5 TDs; Tommy Huss 4 catches for 127 yards, 4 TDs, 11 sacks and 19 quarterback pressures.

Franklin stats: Cordell Mabins Jr. (5-10, 195) 219 carrues fir 1,463 yards and 24 TDs; Dominic Simpson 38 carries for 305 yards, 8 catches for 102 yards; JD Bates 75-for-108 for 1,013 yards and 12 TDs; Tyler Garrett 36 catches for 567 yards and 8 TDs; Drew Kelbert 9 catches for 128 yards.

Game Notes: Franklin’s only loss was to Belleville, the top ranked team in Division 1. … The Franklin-Bedford winner will face the winner of Birmingham Seaholm (8-2) vs. Birmingham Groves (7-3). Bedford would host Groves but go on the road against Seaholm if they get past Franklin. … Franklin has ended Bedford’s season the last two seasons – both by 35-14 scores. … Franklin coach Chris Kelbert has a 130-115 record over 24 seasons.

Bedford coach John Phillips (third year, 18-9): “This will be our third straight year seeing Franklin in the playoffs. We're looking for our luck to change. They are a big, physical football team, well coached and familiar with our style. We need to play a solid game to be successful.”

Trenton (9-1) at Gibraltar Carlson (9-1)

Division: 3

All-time series: Carlson leads 18-9

Last meeting: Carlson won 27-6 at home on Sept. 16.

Trenton playoff history: Qualified for ninth straight season and 23rd time overall. Reached state semifinals in 1978 and 1998.

Carlson playoff history: Qualified for sixth straight season and 15th time overall. Won first-round game in each of the past two seasons. Playoff record is 4-14.

Trenton statistical leaders: Ty Norgren 61-of-513, 513 yards, 8 TDs, 143 carries, 947 yards, 12 TDs; Nathan Ariganello 103 carries, 726 yards, 3 TDs, 10 catches, 50 yards, 1 TD; Payton Culpepper 77 carries, 496 yards, 7 TDs, 4 catches, 41 yards; Austin Toth 12 catches, 317 yards, 6 TDs; Dominick Calloway 109 tackles; Joaquin Maldonado 98 tackles; Derek Anderson 81 tackles.

Carlson statistical leaders: Eddie Light 63-of-109 for 1,160 yards, 12 TDs; Omari Carter 168 carries, 1,553 yards, 14 TDs; Izaiah Wright 68 carries, 534 yards, 8 TDs; Brendan Scheffler 27 catches, 589 yards, 3 TDs; Timmy Simons 114 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 6 sacks; Jackson Zachary 51 tackles, Joe Krolak 56 tackles; Ben Przytula 36 tackles, 7 sacks.

Game notes: Carlson and Trenton met in the opening round of the 2018 playoffs and Trenton pulled out a 22-21 upset after the Marauders won 35-24 in the regular season … Carlson beat the Trojans 27-2 in the playoffs last season. … Carlson is trying to make school history. It has never won more than one playoff game in a season and has never captured a District title. … A win would give Carlson another home playoff game against Jackson (6-4) or Mason (10-0).

Trenton coach Reggie Glon (second year 14-6): “Carlson is an outstanding football team that will not beat itself. They play a very physical brand of football and are very disciplined. We will need to match their intensity and discipline to win the game. The kick game will be very important.”

Carlson coach Jason Gendron (first year, 9-1): “Trenton has been playing good football down the stretch. They were co-champions of the Downriver League (with Carlson) for a reason. … They've moved some bodies around since we last played. From what we've seen, more players are going both ways for them now. … Both teams like to run the football. The winner of this game will be determined by which team controls the line of scrimmage.”

Summit Academy (8-2) at Flat Rock (7-3)

Division: 5

All-time series: Flat Rock leads 2-1

Last meeting: Summit won a first-round playoff game 55-6 in 2020

Summit playoff history: Qualified for fourth straight season and fifth time in school history. Playoff record is 4-4.

Flat Rock playoff history: Qualified for the sixth time. Playoff record is 3-3. Won state championship in 1976.

Summit’s top players: Jeremiah Dallas-Martin has scored 10 TDs while playing quarterback, running back and receiver, fullback-middle linebacker Michael Bethune leads the team in tackles and “gets all the dirty yards” on offense, Quinten Goodloe, Desmond Murphy.

Flat Rock statistical leaders: Graham Junge 180-of-271 for 2,150 yards, 26 TDs, 35 carries 140 yards, 3 TDs; Brian Booms, 128 carries, 610 yards, 9 TDs, 14 catches, 58 yards, 60 tackles; Joey Godfrey, 92 carries, 364 yards, 5 TDs, 18 catches, 196 yards, 2 TDs. 68 tackles; Aaron Salazar, 61 catches, 737 yards, 8 TDs; Corey Lannon, 47 catches, 602 yards, 11 TDs; Rocco Breslin 23 catches, 384 yards, 4 TDs.

Game notes: Summit first qualified for the playoffs in 2007, then did not make it again until the current four-year stretch of qualifying. The Dragons have seen a lot of the Huron League in the playoffs. This is their second meeting with Flat Rock. They have played Grosse Ile twice and Milan once. … Flat Rock has never lost a home playoff game. Last week’s win over Dundee is the first time the Rams have played a postseason game at Marv Mittlestat Field. … The Huron League went 3-3 in the first round of the playoffs this season.

Summit coach Matt Swain (fifth year 35-14): “They look good, look like team with a lot of grit. I like what I see on film. They play hard and execute. We have to match with their intensity and fight for every yard, every inch.”

Flat Rock coach Buck Reaume (eighth year, 30-42): “Summit is very big up front and fast. They have several different players who carry the ball, and three different QBs who they rotate in and all of them run hard. Summit has shown the ability to go big and pound the ball but also can spread it out and throw it around. We will need to take care of the ball offensively and limit their big-play ability when we are on defense.”

SMCC (5-5) at Detroit Central (10-0)

Division: 7

All-time series: First meeting.

Detroit Central playoff history: This year marks the 20th time Central has qualified for the playoffs. It is 13-19 overall.

SMCC playoff history: SMCC is in the playoffs for the 27th time all-time, most in Region history. The Falcons are 55-25 all-time in playoff games.

Detroit Central statistical leaders: Javeion Lewis 132-for-171 attempts for 2,924 yards and 21 TDs, 76 carries for 652 and 11 TDs; 28 tackles and 2 pass breakups on defense; Dontez Hicks 137 carries for 1,294 yards rushing, 30 receptions for 928 yards, four return touchdowns, 84 tackles, 10 sacks; Tristan Duncan 53 tackles, 10 sacks, 19 tackles for loss; DeCarlos White 17 carries for 283 yards rushing, 14 receptions for 205 yards.

SMCC statistical leaders: Cole Jondro 101 carries for 727 yards and 7 TDs; Evan Marcon 66 carries for 566 yards, 9 TDs; Drew Harris 43 carries for 287 yards; Carson Kinsey 66 carries for 262 yards, 8-for-28 passing for 165 yards; Patrick Lipford 2 catches for 93 yards; Mathis Lymond 24 extra points; Brock Cousino 89 tackles; Riley DeSarbo 7 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.

Game Notes: Jimmie Macon is in his 31st season coaching football and on his second stint at Detroit Central. He coached the Blazers from 2011 to 2014 and returned in 2018. … The Blazers have tied the school record for wins in a season this year at 10. … The SMCC-Central winner will play the Napoleon (10-0) vs. Manchester (6-4) winner in the Regional finals. … SMCC would host the Regional final if Manchester pulls an upset.

SMCC coach Adam Kipf (eighth year, 60-26): “They possess a lot of speed. They run their pass routes very well and their quarterback can deliver the ball anywhere. We have to be physical up front and establish the line of scrimmage and take care of the football – no turnovers.”Detroit Central coach Jimmie Macon (seventh year at Detroit Central 44-24, 30 years of coaching 172-120): This team has been together for several years. We have the experience of a quality team understanding what it takes to win. SMCC is a team that has a winning tradition. Their style of play is disciplined and physical – four downs and a cloud of dust, working the clock and keeping their opponents off the field. Our goal is to get multiple three-and-outs and make them play defense 75 percent of the game.”

Riverview Gabriel Richard (7-3) at Whiteford (10-0)

Division: 8

All-time series: First meeting

Whiteford playoff history: Qualified for the 23rd time, have been in the playoffs a school-record 11 straight seasons, playoff record is 27-21.

Gabriel Richard playoff history: Qualified for the 9th time. The Pioneers won a district title in 2018 and are 7-8 all-time in the playoffs.

Whiteford statistical leaders: Shea Ruddy 51-for-84 for 1,063 yards, 18 TDs and 3 interceptions, 60 carries for 534 yards, 11 TDs; Jake Iott 103 carries for 824 yards, 17 TDs and 27 two-point conversions, 153 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 7 sacks; Hunter DeBarr 102 carries for 837 yards rushing, 14 catches for 352 yards and 6 TDs; Drew Knaggs 70 carries for 408 yards; Kolby Masserant 16 catches for 347 yards; Ryin Ruddy 12 catches for 242 yards.

Richard statistical leaders: Tyler Morehouse (6-3, 210) leads the Richard receivers with 5 touchdown receptions. Nick Wisniewski has 10 passing TDs and seven rushing TDs. Aramis Lackey leads the team in rushing with more than 600 yards and 8 TDs. Joey Calhoun is also over the 600-yard mark.

Game notes: Whiteford has scored 500 points this season, an even 50.0 points per game. Richard has been a big-play team, too, and its defense has been sparked by 21 interceptions. … The Whiteford-Richard winner will face the winner of the Reading (8-2) vs. White Pigeon (7-3) game. ... Whiteford will host the game if it beats Gabriel Richard.

Whiteford coach Todd Thieken (first year, 10-0): “We need to continue to produce on offense and keep the ball away from them. They are explosive on offense. We need to eliminate the big play."

Gabriel Richard coach Dionte Allen (first year, 7-3): “Whiteford is solid, and they are disciplined. We have to read our keys and tackle. The defensive line and offensive line are the keys to this game. I told my guys that they have to seize the moment. We are a young team. We don’t have a freshmen team or JV team, so all of my guys are varsity. They’ve gotten better because they’ve gotten to play more.”

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: High school football: Dream still alive for five in playoffs