LocalSportsJournal.com
MUSKEGON–A total of 14 high school football teams from the Local Sports Journal coverage area will be hitting the practice field on Monday to begin preparation for next weekend’s opening round of the playoffs.
Each of the eight divisions feature 32 teams that will be vying for a spot in the state finals on Thanksgiving weekend at Ford Field in Detroit.
Since 2020, playoff teams were determined strictly by playoff points. Gone is the automatic berth for teams that win a minimum of six games.
Here are the first-round matchups for area teams:
(All games are Friday, 7 p.m.)
Division 2
Reeths-Puffer (6-3) 56.056 at Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central (9-0) 73.000
Traverse City Central (5-4) 60.222 at Mona Shores (7-2) 65.667
Division 3
Sparta (6-3) 45.222 at Muskegon (7-2) 67.667
Cedar Springs (5-4) 48.944 at Coopersville (6-3) 53.111
Division 4
Big Rapids (7-2) 43.667 at Whitehall (9-0) 63.667
Ludington (7-2) 48.222 at Fruitport (7-2) 53.000
Division 5
Shepherd (6-3) 39.000 at Oakridge (8-1) 58.000
Howard City Tri County (7-2) 42.667 at Belding (8-1) 56.667
Division 6
Elk Rapids (6-3) 34.222 at Gladstone (7-2) 54.222
Manistee (6-3) 40.556 at Boyne City (9-0) 44.889
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Montague (3-6) 35.444 at Reed City (8-1) 52.889
Kent City (7-2) 39.667 at Muskegon Catholic Central (7-2) 40.444
Division 7
Lake City (5-4) 28.444 at Ithaca (8-1) 44.222
Ravenna (6-3) 36.667 at North Muskegon (8-1) 41.000
Division 8
White Cloud (6-3) 28.000 at Beal City (9-0) 40.667
Carson City-Crystal (8-1) 30.667 at Fowler (8-1) 36.778
