District Finals Feature Two Rematches, a Clash of Top Football Programs

Friday Football Feature  – A kickoff for your weekend high school football 

By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports

(November 4, 2022 10:02 AM) Tonight’s Michigan High School Athletic Association district football championships feature a pair of rematches and a clash of two of the top football programs in the state of Michigan.

Jackson High School will travel to Mason to face the undefeated Bulldogs in a contest scheduled to start at 7 p.m. 

The Vikings (6-4) would probably forget the first matchup against Mason in week eight – a 35-6 loss at MHS. 

But Jackson has won two games in a row to advance to tonight’s Division 3 district final. 

First-year coach Antonio Parker believes in his players and the work they have put in this season.

“All year long we talked about overcoming adversity,” Parker said after a thrilling opening-round win over Western last Friday. “I believed in my seniors all day, every day, and twice on Sunday.”

Mason (10-0) was ranked No. 3 in Division 3 in the file Associated Press ranking for the season.

Lumen Christi (7-3) will host Hudson (9-1) in an intriguing Division 7 matchup.

The Tigers are a perennial top-10 program in Division 8 before moving back up to Division 7 this season.

Hudson is the defending D-8 state champions and won a Division 7 state championship in 2010.

A sign outside of the team’s football stadium – Thompson Field – reminds fans of the Tigers’ 72-game winning streak. It was the longest winning streak in the country at the time.

Hudson lost to Ishpeming 38-22 in the 1975 state finals – the first playoffs in MHSAA history. 

The Tigers run the Wing-T offense keeping fans and opposing defenses wondering who has the football.

Lumen Christi has 11 state titles in various divisions and classes in Michigan high school football. 

Opponents of Lumen Christi have received a dose of Derrick Walker lately. The Lumen Christi running back ran for four touchdowns in a 41-6 win over Homer last week.

The Titans are on a seven-game winning streak and giving up less than nine points per game during that period. 

Cascades Conference foes Manchester (6-4) and Napoleon (10-0) high schools will face one another at NHS in another Division 7 district final tonight beginning at 7 p.m.

Napoleon survived a Saturday night special against Manchester 30-25 in week three to take control of the Cascades Conference.

The Pirates’ last district title came in 2016 and Manchester last won a district championship in 2009.

Napoleon has been riding the legs of running back Bart Laretz and the throwing arm of Grant Bradley.

The Pirates’ defense has shut out its last two opponents. 

The passing combination of Kannon Duffing to Jaxon McGuigan has been very successful for the Flying Dutchmen this season. 

The district final is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at NHS. 

So, get out there and enjoy the Indian summer weather tonight and watch a high school football game. 

Check your local school’s athletic site for ticket information as most have gone to online ticket ordering for playoff games.