Nine Teams in MHSAA Football Playoffs Picture … For Now

Lumen Christi Catholic High School and Western High School are two of the local teams expected to be in the Michigan High School Athletic Association playoffs this season. Photo by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports.

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

By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports

(October 21, 2022 9:46 AM) Last year Napoleon High School finished the regular season with a 6-3 record, but didn’t make the Michigan High School Athletic Association playoffs.

Coach Derek Shell was disappointed, but said his team would have to go 9-0 next year.

The Pirates are within one Big Eight/Cascades Conference championship win away from going 9-0.

They are securely in the playoffs this year with an 8-0 record heading into week nine.

Nine teams are in the top 32 of their division heading into week nine. The top 32 teams advance to the playoffs based on points and strength of schedule.

Jackson and Western are in the top 25 in Division 3 and could use wins to secure spots.

Stockbridge is 36th in Division 6 with a 5-3 record and could really use a victory to hopefully make the playoffs.

Division 7 is full of area teams as Lumen Christi is fourth, Napoleon is eighth, Homer is ranked 19th, Manchester is 22nd, Grass Lake is two spots behind the Flying Dutchmen and Jonesville is 32nd.

Addison is 27th in Division 8 with a 4-4 record.

Playoff opponents with be announced on Sunday at 6 p.m. on Bally Sports Detroit.

Under the playoff format beginning in 2020, teams will earn 60 points for beating a Division 1 school, 55 for beating a Division 2 school, 50 for beating a Division 3 team, all way to 25 points for beating a Division 8 opponent. As for the bonus points, teams will reap rewards from scheduling high-quality, bigger schools.

The system was changed to reward teams who play tough non-conference schedules.

The top 32 teams in each of the eight divisions make the Michigan High School Athletic Association playoffs. The tournament starts with a four-team district round, regionals, quarterfinals, semifinals, and state championships on Friday Nov. 25 and Saturday Nov. 26. Approximately 60 teams are in each of the eight divisions.

Here are the playoff points heading into the ninth and final week of Michigan High School football.

Division 3 playoffs

22. Jackson (4-4), 46.625

25. Western (5-3), 45.661

——

46. Northwest (4-4) 32.500

Division 6 playoffs

——

36. Stockbridge (5-3) 29.750

40. Hillsdale (3-5) 28.482

50. Michigan Center (3-5) 24.000

54. Columbia Central (1-7) 20.00