PLAYOFF PREVIEW: Britton Deerfield, Adrian, Clinton, Hudson, Madison, Onsted and Tecumseh Qualify

By DOUG DONNELLY

Overtime Editor

More than half of the Lenawee County football teams will get at least one more week of action this week when the MHSAA playoffs begin.

Hudson opens the playoffs as the No. 1 team in Division 8. Britton Deerfield and Adrian are the No. 1 seed in their districts and Clinton also gets to host a game as a No. 2 seed.

Madison, Onsted and Tecumseh will all be on the road.

Here’s a preview:

DIVISION 3

Ypsilanti Lincoln (6-3) at Adrian (8-1)

The Maples are enjoying their best season in years. Head coach Joel Przygodski isn’t even sure he saw this season coming.

“I always write a range down, thinking what is best-case scenario and what is the worst-case scenario,” Przygodski said. “I don’t even think I had this written down as best-case. A lot of things have to happen for this to happen. We want to keep this train rolling as long as we can.”

Adrian’s biggest regular season win was against Lincoln in Week 5. Lincoln went into that game undefeated and ranked in the top 10 in the state before the Maples beat them on a last-second field goal.

The Maples suffered just one loss, a 29-12 defeat to Chelsea, as they finished second in the SEC-White Division. Running back Luke Bruggeman has rushed for 1,269 yards. Sophomore Jaxon Dowling has completed 57 percent of his passes for 933 yards. He’s come a long way, Przygodski said.

“Anytime you start a sophomore you are going to go through some growing pains,” he said. “He’s gotten better each and every week. He’s getting more and more comfortable with the offense.”

Bruggeman has been a workhorse back. He’s approaching 200 carries for the season.

“If we can get him out in space, I like our chances,” Przygodski said.

Adrian is home to open the playoffs, something that hasn’t happened for years.

“It’s been 15 years since our last home playoff game,” Przygodski said. “These kids were probably two or three years old the last time. They have no idea what its like for a home playoff game at Maple Stadium and what the crowd will be like. I’m excited for them that they get to experience it. There’s no place like it, especially in late October and hopefully into November.”

DIVISION 4

Tecumseh (6-3) at Divine Child (8-1)

The Indians moved Chance Gormley to quarterback partway through the season and turned the tide on the season. He’s the teams’ top rusher with 787 yards and passer with 507 yards.

“We felt like we were a different team with Chance at quarterback,” Tecumseh coach Greg Dolson said. “Making the move with Chance and getting our defense squared away, we were figuring out who we were and we did that and we’ve been better.”

 Tecumseh went 3-6 last year and turned the tables this year.

“We’re really happy and excited,” Dolson said. “Our season was a grind. From Week 3 to Week 7, it was tough. Four of the five games were on the road and three straight games were on the road. It was tough to get through that. For us to go 6-3 after going 3-6 last year is a big step forward.”

Divine Child’s only loss was to Toledo St. Francis. The Falcons’ biggest win was against Jackson Lumen Christi. 

DIVISION 6

Onsted (4-5) at Lumen Christi (6-3)

This is a true No. 1 vs. No. 32 matchup. Onsted got into the playoffs by beating Division 4 Henry Ford Academy in Week 9 and now they get to face Lumen Christi, who is No. 1 in the Division 6 playoff points. The Titans have won three straight state championships.

“I’ve never played against Herb (Brogan, the Lumen Christi coach),” Onsted coach Randy Hutchison said. “They are going to be an amazing team to play. It’s going to be a great experience for our kids. We’re going to do the very best we can to get prepped and we’ll see what happens.”

The Wildcats have gone 3-1 since Cole Wells stepped into the starting quarterback role due to an injury to Luke Arnold. Both quarterbacks are likely to be available this week.

“Luke just got cleared to play,” Hutchison said.

Running back Connor Kish has been a huge help to Wells as he has taken over the tailback slot in Hutchison’s offense. He rushed for a school record 320 yards against Madison in Week 8. 

DIVISION 6

Madison (5-4) at Ecorse (7-2)

Trojan coach Scott Gallagher started breaking down film on Ecorse Sunday night.

“I didn’t know too much about them except when I coached at Lenawee Christian, we went to their place and got waxed, 50-3,” Gallagher said. “That was a Saturday afternoon game.”

Madison is in the playoffs for just the fourth time in school history. They played a tough schedule – all of their losses were to playoff teams with a combined record of 29-7.

The biggest concern going into the post-season isn’t Ecorse but the health of quarterback Brian Dopp.

“He’s still slowed,” Gallagher said. “We’re going to have to decide if we want to take a limited Brian or go with someone else. We’ll figure out who that will be depending on what we see from Ecorse.”

If Dopp can’t go, Cam Barber and Derrell Tillman are the two options to take his place.

“We’re excited,” Gallagher said. “They have worked hard for this. It hasn’t happened a whole lot here, so these guys had this as one of their goals. We’re battle tested. We’ve seen our fair share of good teams. We’ll be ready for anything.”

DIVISION 7

Whiteford (8-1) at Clinton (7-2)

The Bobcats have won seven straight and come to Clinton with the highest scoring offense in the state.

They have a 1,000-yard rusher in Brek Ruddy and a three-year starting quarterback in Tre Eitniear. Four weeks ago, they added a two-time All-Ohio running back Rocco Pillarelli to the lineup and he has rushed for 586 yards and nine touchdowns – and is averaging 21.7 yards per carry.

“I know what they do,” Clinton coach Casey Randolph said. “I haven’t seen them with the transfer kid, other than a few clips. They run that offense very well and I expect them to be able to do a little bit more adding that young man. It’s going to be a good game.”

Clinton’s losses were to Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central and Hudson. They beat a strong Division 6 Ida team and have stuck to their run-first offense, although quarterback Gradyn Whelan does have 908 yards passing and 10 touchdowns. Clifford Jones has rushed for 836 yards and Whelan has added 403.

A sophomore, Whelan made his first career start as a freshman in the first round of the playoffs, a 38-32 win over Whiteford last season.

“We know each other,” Randolph said. “We respect each other. It’s going to be a good, hard-hitting football game. They are a great program.”

DIVISION 8

Centreville (5-4) at Hudson (9-0)

The Tigers get to host the first three rounds at Thompson Field if they keep winning.

“We are excited to be home,” Hudson coach Dan Rogers said. “It will be a great atmosphere.”

Hudson has been ranked No. 1 for several weeks in the Michigan Sportswriters Football poll and are the No. 1 Division 8 school in playoff points. Rogers doesn’t think they are the favorite, though.

“Beal City (defending champion) is the favorite,” Rogers said. “They have to be until somebody beats them. That’s how I see it.”

The Tigers have had an outstanding regular season. They have two 1,000-yard rushers in Beckett Campbell and Grayson Bills and a quarterback who has thrown for more than 500 yards in Colt Perry. Bills is a big-time receiving threat (8 catches for 276 yards) and has five interceptions on defense.

“He takes the opponent’s best receiver and locks him down,” Rogers said. “He’s done a great job in coverage.”

Campbell has turned into an All-State candidate at running back. He’s averaging 12.6 yards per rush and has scored 22 rushing touchdowns.

“He works really hard,” Rogers said. “It might be a surprise to some, but not us or him. He’s had an outstanding season.”

8-PLAYER, DIVISION 2

Pittsford (7-2) at Britton Deerfield (8-1)

Another first-round rematch from last year. The Wildcats are 7-2 and won the Southern Central Athletic Association Blue Division, but lost 60-22 to Britton Deerfield in Week 1. 

In fact, over the three previous meetings, BD has scored 68, 60 and 60 points against the Wildcats.

“We are very familiar with them and they are familiar with us,” BD coach Erik Johnson said. “This is our fourth meeting in two years. Our JV teams play each other twice a year. Our middle school teams play each other.”

Pittsford will have its hands full with the BD offense that is piling up big numbers week after week. A big, experienced offensive line has cleared the way for five running backs that have at least 400 yards rushing.

“It all starts with those guys,” Johnson said, listing starting lineman Julyn Day at center, guards Owen Bates and Andrew Bunker and tight ends Henry Bates and Alex Anspach. All of them are seniors.

It will be BD’s first home playoff game on its new turf field.