Michigan high school football conference predictions: PSL, Catholic, OAA, MAC, Downriver

The Free Press begins its Michigan high school football conference previews with the kickoff of the 2024 season Thursday.

Below are predicted division order of finish for each conference via a coaches poll, plus the games to watch and players to know for the 2024 MHSAA football season.

This season looks a touch different from a competition standpoint, with 56 teams changing divisions (1-8) from last season.

Here is part 2. Wednesday's part 1 tackled the KLAA, LVC, WWAC, Huron, Southeastern, Charter School, Independent and team independents.

Detroit Public School League football predictions

Blue Division

Predicted finish: 1. Detroit King; 2. Detroit Cass Tech; 3. East English Village; 4. Southeastern; 5. Renaissance; 6. Mumford; 7. Henry Ford; 8. Detroit Western.

Why King: Although rival Cass Tech won two close games over King last year, the Crusaders are the coaches’ pick after playing deep into November the past three seasons. Sophomore QB Darryl Flemister has found his groove as the successor to Dante Moore (now at Oregon). WR Damon Stennis and RB Michael Dukes are legitimate offensive threats, and Willie Fletcher and Xavier Newsome are brutes on the D-line. Even with Tyrone Spencer departing for East Kentwood, Crusaders new head coach Terel Patrick served on Spencer’s staff for the past 15 seasons, so Patrick says the transition has been smooth. As usual, Cass Tech and its stable of blue-chippers will try to disrupt King’s momentum. All the other division teams are a couple steps behind.

Gold Division

Predicted finish: 1. Denby; 2. Central; 3. Pershing; 4. Cody; 5. Northwestern; 6. Communication/Media Arts; 7. Douglass; 8. Osborn.

Why Denby: While the Tars were expected to contend in their first season in the Gold Division last year, winning the city championship over Central in a one-point thriller was a program-defining victory, and coach Zach Carr is optimistic his squad can capitalize on that momentum. The Tars are blessed with size across the board, and return two impact players in multi-sport athlete Shawntez Bowie and junior QB Chris Kendrick. You can’t count out Central, though, as coach Jimmie Macon’s program has played in six of the past seven PSL finals (winning five times), and has reached the state playoffs in each of the past 10 seasons.

Top players: Cass Tech junior ATH Corey Sadler, King DL Willie Fletcher, King DE Xavier Newsome, Denby ATH Shawntez Bowie, Central WR Calondrey Hardey, Cass Tech DE John Baker (Toledo commit), King sophomore QB Daryl Flemister, Cass Tech junior OL Kahlief Canty, Cass Tech S Derrick Jackson (Kent State), Denby junior QB Chris Kendrick, Cass Tech DE Logan Howell (Miami of Ohio), Pershing RB/LB Kenjuan Davis, Cass Tech ATH Lamont Wilcoxson, Cody junior RB/DE Marquise Williams, Southeastern OL/DL Tyrell Williams, Cass Tech ATH Cashus Shivers.

Top games: As usual, the neighborhood showdown pitting King at Cass Tech (Sept. 20) should determine the PSL Blue Division regular-season champion, with a probable rematch happening in the city championship game Oct. 18. Before that, both teams will be battle-tested — Cass plays its first two contests on the road at Rockford and Canton (Ohio) McKinley, while King hosts Cleveland Heights (Ohio) and Warren De La Salle in the first two weeks. In the Gold Division, 2023 finalists Denby and Central don’t play in the regular season, but Pershing hosts Denby on Sept. 19. Central has a favorable division schedule with five home games, but the Trailblazers will be tested against non-league opponents Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (Friday), Clinton (Sept. 6) and Marine City (Oct. 25).

Extra credit: Last year, Cass became the first school since 2013-14 to win consecutive PSL titles, escaping with a 24-23 win over King at Ford Field. Either King or Cass has won the past 12 city championships. Until Cass broke the pattern during that span with a two-game sweep over the Crusaders last year, King had captured the odd-year games while Cass won in even years.

CHANGE: Every Michigan high school football team competing in a new division in 2024

Catholic League football predictions

Central Division

Predicted finish: 1. Toledo Central Catholic; 2. Detroit Catholic Central; 3. Warren De La Salle; 4. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s; 5. Toledo St. John’s Jesuit; 6. Birmingham Brother Rice.

Why Central Catholic: The Fighting Irish have won two straight state championships in Ohio and 31 consecutive games (Ubly has the top active streak in Michigan at 14). If running the table during its first year in the rugged Central Division wasn’t enough, Central Catholic manhandled Cass Tech in the Prep Bowl at Ford Field. Central Catholic has two of Ohio’s most explosive juniors in CB Victor Singleton and TE/P Preston Fryzel, each of whom already have multiple offers from FBS programs. As usual, the division will be a meat-grinder: Division 2 state finalist De La Salle (which gave Central Catholic its closest game last year) returns seven starters on each side of the ball, Detroit Catholic Central is a team on the rise under second-year head coach Justin Cessante, and St. Mary’s has several players in the sights of college recruiters. And did we mention Brother Rice hired away Aaron Marshall, who guided Southfield A&T to the Division 1 state title last season?

AA Division

Predicted finish: 1. Jackson Lumen Christi; 2. Dearborn Divine Child; 3. U-D Jesuit; 4. Toledo St. Francis de Sales.

Why Lumen Christi: The Titans are two-time reigning Division 7 state champions (they’ve opted up into Division 6 this fall) and their ground game is nearly impossible to stop. Tailback Kadale Williams (Central Michigan commit) — who rushed for 276 yards and three TDs in last year’s state title game — will be featured out of the backfield once again, although Lumen Christ must overcome the graduation losses of its offensive tackles. If any coach can figure out a way to get past that issue, it’s Herb Brogan, who has won 11 state championships in 43 seasons, and is one of three coaches in Michigan to eclipse the 400-victory mark. He won’t try to fix what isn’t broken.

Intersectional-1 Division

Predicted finish: 1. Detroit Loyola; 2. Macomb Lutheran North; 3. Ann Arbor Fr. Gabriel Richard; 4. Riverview Gabriel Richard; 5. Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook; 6. Grosse Pointe Woods University-Liggett.

Why Loyola: While Loyola isn’t the deepest nor most experienced team this division has to offer, the Bulldogs have earned their pedigree playing up in the AA for the past 11 seasons, and should find a move into Intersectional-1 a better fit in terms of team size and athleticism. Tee Sims’ squad will be led by Raylon Murry, a returning all-city pick at middle linebacker. Should Loyola slip up, several other teams are circling like sharks: defending division champ Lutheran North is coming off its best season in 25 years, Riverview Richard made the Division 8 semifinals last year (as well as the final four in basketball), and University-Liggett hired former NFL Pro Bowl MVP Andre Rison as its head coach.

Intersectional-2 Division

Predicted finish: 1. Clarkston Everest Collegiate; 2. Marine City Cardinal Mooney; 3. Madison Heights Bishop Foley; 4. Allen Park Cabrini; 5. Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes; 6. Royal Oak Shrine.

Why Everest: The numbers don’t lie. The Mountaineers have made the state playoffs in every season of their existence and are 31-3 in the eight seasons they’ve played in the Intersectional-2, winning six division titles and four Prep Bowls. They’re also not afraid to play anybody, and will test themselves in non-league games against small-school powers Warren Michigan Collegiate, Ubly and Ottawa Lake-Whiteford, banking on enough wins in Catholic League play to return them to the postseason. Although many of the other Intersectional-2 teams are showing upward momentum, they still have a long way to go in order to play at Everest’s level.

Top players: St. Mary’s LB Charles “DJ” White (Michigan State commit), St. Mary’s ATH Bryson Williams (Michigan State), St. Mary’s TE Jayden Savoury (Michigan State), U-D Jesuit DL Zachary Green (Army), Lumen Christi RB/KR Kadale Williams (Central Michigan), De La Salle junior WR/KR Damion King, Catholic Central ATH Jaden Pydyn (Army), St. Mary’s OL Antonio Johnson, Toledo CC junior CB Victor Singleton, Divine Child junior RB/S Marcello Vitti, Toledo CC junior TE/P Preston Fryzel, Catholic Central OL Benny Eziuka, Catholic Central OL Danilo Guberinich (Western Michigan), Riverview Richard ATH Joey Calhoun (Air Force), De La Salle LB Dalton Drogosh, Lutheran North OT Chris Gottschalk, De La Salle QB Sante Gasperoni, Lutheran North QB-WR/DB Hudson MacDonald, Brother Rice junior QB Brady Thomas, Toledo CC DT Curtis Strode, Riverview Richard QB Nick Sobush, Lumen Christi QB Timmy Crowley.

Top games: De La Salle will be primed for its Sept. 20 rematch with Toledo CC by opening the year against Davison in the Prep Kickoff Classic (Aug. 29) and following that up at Detroit King (Sept. 6). Also in Week 2, Toledo CC is at Detroit CC, Riverview Richard travels to Muskegon Catholic, and Everest hosts Ubly. Key division games: In the Intersectional-1, Loyola at Lutheran North at Detroit Mercy (Sept. 20), Lumen Christi at Divine Child for AA supremacy (Sept. 27), and Catholic Central hosts De La Salle in the annual Boys Bowl (1 p.m. Sept. 29). Down the stretch, Traverse City St. Francis visits Lumen Christi on Oct. 11 and Catholic Central hosts King on Oct. 25.

Extra credit: This is the 50th season of the MHSAA football playoffs, and fans have seen at least one Catholic League representative play in the finals during 45 of the first 49 years. Last year, there were two: Lumen Christi won Division 7, while De La Salle was a Division 2 finalist. And that doesn’t even factor in Ohio, where Toledo Central Catholic won Division III honors last fall. Lumen Christi now has 12 state titles, which ties for the best total in the CHSL with the former Detroit St. Martin de Porres.

More: Here are Michigan's top high school football programs of all time

Oakland Activities Association football predictions

Red Division

Predicted finish: 1. West Bloomfield; 2. Lake Orion; 3. Clarkston; 4. Oxford; 5. Rochester Adams.

Why West Bloomfield: Few divisions around the state have top-to-bottom strength like the OAA Red, but the Lakers are favored after making the deepest playoff run last year (Division 1 semifinals) and boasting a stable of blue-chippers. Skill players abound — Elisha Durham caught 41 passes for 1,124 yards and 11 TDs; Kamren Flowers accounted for 1,066 all-purpose yards and 14 TDs, while Josh Tate added 310 yards and two TDs. There will be some rebuilding among West Bloomfield’s defense, though. Lake Orion — picked middle of the pack last year — ran the table and won the division, so the Dragons have earned respect. And even though Oxford was not picked among the favorites, it returns all but one starter and could shake things up with an upset.

White Division

Predicted finish: 1. Birmingham Groves; 2. Harper Woods; 3. Rochester; 4 (tie). Rochester Stoney Creek and Southfield A&T.

Why Groves: Both Southfield A&T and Harper Woods are defending state champions, but it looks to be Groves’ turn in the spotlight. The Falcons are skilled, experienced, and will run behind the state’s second-ranked college prospect in OT Avery Gach (Michigan commit). Noah Sanders and Mario Campoy-Lovasco form a pick-your-poison backfield, but WRs Chris Little and Nick Hardy are equally explosive. Although Groves extended their playoff streak to 10 seasons last year, seeing two league rivals capture state titles motivated Coach Brendan Flaherty’s team to play toward that level. Harper Woods and Southfield have just too many graduation losses hurting their chances to repeat.

Blue Division

Predicted finish: 1. Birmingham Seaholm; 2. Oak Park; 3. North Farmington; 4. Troy; 5. Farmington; 6. Bloomfield Hills; 7. Troy Athens.

Why Seaholm: The Maples have been at the top of the Blue in both seasons since the OAA adopted a four-division scheme, and Jim DeWald’s squad should contend once again — even with the addition of former White teams Farmington and Bloomfield Hills expanding the Blue to seven schools. Despite significant graduation losses, the Maples should fill the holes with a hard-working and dedicated senior class, and they will bring in rising juniors that were undefeated at the JV level in 2023. The top returning starters are two-way linemen Matt Erne and Magnus Branstrom, and LBs Alejandro Rauth and Penn Roberts. Seaholm may take time to establish who will be its starting QB, although it should be sorted out by the time the Maples have to face their top divisional challengers.

Gold Division

Predicted finish: 1. Auburn Hills Avondale; 2. Ferndale; 3. Royal Oak; 4. Berkley; 5. Pontiac.

Why Avondale: Last year, the Yellow Jackets beat all OAA Gold opponents by 25 or more points, were the lone league team to have a winning record in non-divisional games (5-2) and were the only squad to score a win against someone from a larger division (25-20 over Oak Park). Six players return on each side of the ball, including running backs Justin Sykes, Cooper Voeffray and Alijah Grigsby, and linebackers Bryce Thomas, Earl Arrington and Jacob Manley. The Yellow Jackets will be fast and athletic, particularly on defense, and since coach Bob Meyer returns for a second year, Avondale can concentrate early on performing rather than installing new schemes.

Top players: Groves OT/DL Avery Gach (Michigan commit), West Bloomfield WR Kamren Flowers, West Bloomfield WR Elisha Durham, Groves RB Noah Sanders, Groves DB Chris Little (Grand Valley), Harper Woods DL Bryant Weatherspoon, Stoney Creek OT Spencer Beckeman, West Bloomfield OT Jay Gardenhire, North Farmington DL Brendan Rice, Groves DB Mario Campoy-Lovasco, West Bloomfield QB Beau Jackson, Harper Woods RB Colby Bailey, West Bloomfield ATH Jaiden Allos, Troy WR Jaielen Peacock, Harper Woods LB Matthew McCraw (Ferris St.), Harper Woods OL Jevon Jones, Avondale RB/DB Justin Sykes, West Bloomfield RB Josh Tate, Seaholm OL/DL Matt Erne, Harper Woods sophomore WR Dakota Guerrant, Clarkston junior RB/LB Griffin Boman, Lake Orion QB Tristan Hill.

Top games: OAA schools were instructed to schedule non-league opponents for the first week, and the Red Division schools did not disappoint: Lake Orion is at Northville, Chippewa Valley visits West Bloomfield, Rochester Adams is at Romeo, and Oxford travels to Utica Eisenhower, all games Friday. The next day, Belleville and Clarkston square off at Wayne State (4 p.m.). Top regular-season rivalry games include Lake Orion at Oxford (Sept. 20), West Bloomfield at Clarkston (Sept. 27), Avondale at Ferndale (Sept. 27) and Seaholm at Groves (Oct. 25). Other contests of intrigue include West Bloomfield at Groves (Sept. 6), Harper Woods at Detroit Catholic Central (Sept. 13) and Saline at Lake Orion (Oct. 25).

Extra credit: Among all conferences statewide, the OAA has one of the strongest reputations for postseason success. It has produced eight state champions and seven more state finalists in the past 15 years, and has also sent at least one team as far as the semis in 21 of the past 23 seasons. After Southfield and Harper Woods claimed their first state titles in 2023, the league has had nine schools win the top trophy — Clarkston, Lake Orion, Oxford, Rochester Adams, Troy, West Bloomfield and the now-closed Farmington Harrison.

More: Michigan high school football: Mick McCabe's top 10 teams for 2024 season

Macomb Area Conference football predictions

Blue Division

Predicted finish: 1. Port Huron; 2. Port Huron Northern; 3. Warren Mott; 4. Warren Cousino; 5. Fraser; 6. Utica Ford.

Why Port Huron: The Red Hawks have plenty of experience back, notably on defense where seven starters are returning. Junior DE Joey Gilbert, senior DB Jaden Jacobs are two of the notable returnees on that side of the ball. Offensively, look for senior QB Jaxon Rowe, senior RB Jaylen Young and senior RB Owen Palmer to thrive in expanded roles after seeing a lot of action last year. The offensive line returns three players, including all-league performer Joey Seppo.

Bronze Division

Predicted finish: 1. Clawson; 2. Hazel Park; 3. Warren Lincoln; 4. Clinton Township Clintondale, 5. New Haven; 6. Madison Heights Madison.

Why Clawson: The Trojans went unbeaten in league play last year, and figure to be a good bet to win another league crown with eight starters back on offense and six on defense. The entire offensive line returns, led by seniors Jacob MacCallum, Roy Spielbusch, juniors Shane Dunlap, DaShawn Williams, and sophomore Damian Diaz. McCallum, Spielbusch, Williams and Dunlap will also be key players along the front seven on defense. Junior WR/DB Jordan Davenport and sophomore WR/DB Steven Chapman are returning starters who’ll lead the skill positions.

Gold Division

Predicted finish: 1. Grosse Pointe North; 2. Warren Fitzgerald; 3. Madison Heights Lamphere; 4. St. Clair Shores Lake Shore; 5. Warren Woods Tower; 6. Sterling Heights.

Why Grosse Pointe North: The Norsemen should have a stout defense, starting up front along the line with seniors Evan Bainbridge, Terry Smith, and Caleb Rivera returning. Senior Jack Kezhaya leads the linebackers, while Martez Jones and Caleb Green are back in the secondary. Offensively there is inexperience, but look for junior RB King Jackson to step up as a productive player.

Red Division

Predicted finish: 1. Macomb Dakota; 2. Utica Eisenhower; 3. Romeo; 4. New Baltimore Anchor Bay; 5. Sterling Heights Stevenson; 6. Clinton Township Chippewa Valley.

Why Dakota: If games are indeed won up front, then it will be hard for anyone to match the size and strength the Cougars possess. The offensive line is led by 6-foot-8, 300-pound Michigan State commit Justin Bell, 6-2, 285 tackle Nick Battaglia and guard Brenden Meehan. Senior QB Jadon Ford returns and he’ll have a couple of senior wideouts to throw to in Dylan Beitelshees and Austin Aranowski. Defensively, the linebacking unit is as good as anybody’s with future college players Brady Hamby (Ferris State) and DiMari Malone (Michigan State) patrolling things. Other returning starters defensively are senior linemen Tyler Torey, Logan Criteser and Aidan Lindsay, and defensive backs Elijah Goins and Arnez Sanders.

Silver Division

Predicted finish: 1. Marine City; 2. Marysville; 3. St. Clair; 4. St. Clair Shores South Lake; 5. Center Line; 6. Eastpointe.

Why Marine City: Marine City is the gold standard in the MAC Silver. This year should be no exception, especially with junior QB Lyncoln Osterland back for his third season as starter. He threw for more than 1,300 yards and 14 touchdowns last year. Senior linemen Noah Northrup and Derek Michoff are back to protect Osterland and provide holes in the running game, while senior DE/TE Collin Gabler, senior ATH Paul Muscat and senior LB Cooper Letson are back for their third seasons on varsity.

White Division

Predicted finish: 1. Grosse Pointe South; 2. Roseville; 3. St. Clair Shores Lakeview; 4. L’Anse Creuse; 5. Utica; 6. L’Anse Creuse North.

Why Grosse Pointe South: The Blue Devils return eight starters on defense from a unit that allowed seven points or fewer in nine games last year, led by senior LB Lex Wilson, a three-year starter. Senior LB Josh Lemanski and senior DB Noah Hart are other three-year starters back for South. The offense will have youth and inexperience along the line, but South has the luxury of a veteran QB back in three-year varsity performer Jack Lupo. Leading receiver Vince Vachon also returns.

Players to watch: Port Huron DE Joey Gilbert, QB Jaxon Rowe; Port Huron Northern TE Lincoln Watkins, ATH Amir Morelan; Warren Cousino WR/DB Aaron Logan; Warren Mott WR/DB Wes Gilmore; Fraser WR/DB Jackson Sines; Clawson OL/DL Jacob MacCallum, OL/DL Roy Spielbusch; Grosse Pointe North OL Jason Hubbell, Grosse Pointe North RB King Jackson; Warren Fitzgerald DB Myron Hardy, WR/DB Demontae Edwards; Warren Woods Tower RB/DB Kordae Howard; Macomb Dakota OL Justin Bell, LB Dimari Malone, LB Brady Hamby, OL Nick Battaglia, DE Tyler Torey; Utica Eisenhower RB/DB Bryce Hurley, WR Conner Temple, OL/DL Mike Dziaeula; Anchor Bay RB Isaiah Domey, WR/DB Gerry Hanson III; Chippewa Valley Sr. WR Deshaun Lanier; Marysville FB Corbin Scheffler, QB Zach Winston; Marine City QB Lyncoln Osterland; Grosse Pointe South Sr. LB Lex Wilson; Roseville ATH/DB Desmond Straughton; Roseville QB Jordan Simes.

Top games: While every game in the Red Division will feel like a league championship game, it’ll likely be hard to top Oct. 11 when Dakota and Eisenhower will hook up at Swinehart Field. That day will also produce a critical matchup in the Gold when Grosse Pointe North travels to Warren Fitzgerald in a game between two teams that shared the league title along with Warren Cousino last year. The rivalry game between Port Huron and Port Huron Northern on Oct. 27 at Port Huron will likely go a long way in deciding who wins the Blue, while Roseville’s visit to Grosse Pointe South on Sept. 27 might be the de facto league title game in the White.

Downriver League football predictions

Predicted finish: 1. Gibraltar Carlson; 2. Allen Park; 3. Trenton; 4. Woodhaven; 5. Wyandotte; 6. Southgate Anderson; 7. Lincoln Park; 8. Taylor; 9. Dearborn Edsel Ford.

Why the top three: Carlson and Trenton were given high rankings by coaches based on the two players mentioned next, and Allen Park for its program’s pedigree.

Top players: Virtually every coach indicated junior RB Izaiah Wright (1,965 yards rushing last year, 31 TDs, multiple D-1 offers) of Carlson and RB/WR Ashton Rooney of Trenton are the league’s best. Others to watch: Carlson QB Joe Krolak (1,069 yds passing, 626 yds rushing), TE Drew Sikora, DE Hayden Higgins, DT Chase Towns (265 pounds, 49 tackles); Allen Park RB Quintin Liepe, TE/DE Justin Payne, OG Aidan Powell, DL David McKinney, LB Carlos Sanchez, DB Weston Glei, DB Kaidon Boyd; Trenton FB Drew Carson, OL Colby Kramp, OL Ben Laws, TE Davis Gray, DL Nolan Rose, LB Ansel Fater, LB Brock Culpepper; Anderson QB/DB Jackson Sage, WR/DB Thomas Laskowski, RB/LB Connor Ensign, RB/LB Logan Lynn; Woodhaven R/DB Maurice Tyler, DB Nick Henson, junior RB Isaiah Ibrahim, LB Nathan Scaggs; Wyandotte OL/LB Steven Andreone, WR/DB Alex Emory, junior RB/DB Thomas Villarreal; Lincoln Park TE/DE Sean Bailey, RB/LB Jamir King, WR/DB Javion Cornett Tillman, RB/LB Brandon Gray and WR/DB Omari Harvey.

Top games: Carlson vs. Trenton (Week 6) in a clash of the titans; Woodhaven vs. Carlson, Allen Park vs. Trenton, Allen Park vs. Southgate and Woodhaven vs. Wyandotte.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: MHSAA football predictions 2024: PSL, Catholic, OAA, MAC, Downriver