By Greg Chrapek
Wyoming-Kentwood News Today Contributor
greer@wktv.org
A trio of area football teams will continue their seasons this weekend as the MHSAA state playoffs begin. East Kentwood, South Christian and Godwin Heights all qualified.
South Christian and Godwin Heights begin their playoff road Friday evening, while East Kentwood takes the field Saturday afternoon.
East Kentwood, which finished the regular season with a perfect 9-0 record and is one of the top-ranked teams in Division 1, plays host to Brighton at 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon at Falcon Stadium.
The Bulldogs of Brighton, members of the Kensington Lakes Activities Association Gold Division, bring 5-4 record. They finished third in their league, behind first-place Howell and Hartland.
Led by quarterback Dominic D’agosta, who has passed for over 1,000 yards this season, the Bulldogs have an offense that is putting up 36.4 points per game. They also have a solid offensive line anchored by senior tackle Jack Carlson, a Michigan State commit. Defensively, Brighton allows 20.7 points per game.
East Kentwood counters with a high-powered offense that is putting up 48.7 points per game. The Falcons can strike in a variety of ways with an offense that features plenty of balance. Defensively, Kentwood is allowing 17.8 points per game.
The winner of the Kentwood/Brighton game moves on to the district championship, where it plays the winner of Rockford and Grand Ledge.
(Image Courtesy: South Christian)
South Christian vs. Marshall
South Christian begins its playoff trail by hosting Marshall at 7 p.m. in Hudsonville.
Marshall, making its first appearance in the playoffs since the 2020 Covid season when every team in the state qualified, brings an 8-1 overall record. The Redhawks won the Interstate 8 Conference at 6-0.
Marshall enters the game with an offense putting up 40.7 points per game. Defensively, the Redhawks allow 20.8 points per game.
The lone blemish on Marshall’s record came against Sparta, who beat them 20-14 in Week 5.
South Christian also enters the game with an 8-1 overall record. The Sailors, who won the OK Gold Conference at 5-0, are well-tested. They have a 6-1 record against teams that qualified for the playoffs this season. South’s lone loss was a 44-34 setback against Grand Rapids West Catholic.
The winner of the South Christian and Marshall game moves on to the District Championship to play the winner of the Hastings at Stevensville-Lakeshore game.
(Photo Courtesy: WKTV)
Godwin Heights at West Catholic
Godwin Heights is playing in the state playoffs for the second consecutive season. The Wolverines travel to West Catholic to play the Falcons Friday at 7 p.m.
They finished 7-2 overall and second in the OK Silver at 6-2. The Wolverines also enter the playoffs on a roll winning its last four games.
Godwin enters the playoffs with a potent offense that averages 31.2 points per game. The Wolverines also have a solid defense that allows 20.6 points per game.
West Catholic is the defending Division 5 state champion. The Falcons turned in a 7-2 regular season record and and were co-champions of the OK White at 4-1.
The Falcons average 35.4 points per game. Quarterback Will Smith leads the Falcons with 1,445 yards and 13 touchdowns. Defensively, the Falcons allow 25.7 points per game.
The winner of the Godwin Heights/West Catholic game heads to the District Championship against the winner of the Kalamazoo United and Hopkins game.