Gibraltar Carlson is the *only* team in the Monroe County Region to finish the regular season UNDEFEATED, wrapping up their second straight perfect run after taking down Allen Park on Friday. While some teams locked in their playoff spots with huge wins, others are gonna be sweating it out until Sunday night when the Michigan High School Athletic Association drops those official pairings. It was a wild final week, folks, let’s get into it!
Carlson Fights Back, Secures Downriver League SIXTH Straight Title
Seriously, Carlson is just built different. They secured sole possession of their *sixth straight* Downriver League championship with that 17-10 victory over Allen Park. Think about that: six straight! It wasn’t easy either. Freshman quarterback Austyn Lawrence was out with an injury, but senior Cole Federoff, who’s been sidelined since Week 3 himself, made a heroic return to lead the Marauders.
And what a comeback it was! They stared down a 10-0 deficit, but just like coach Jason Gendron said, “We had to weather the storm and emotion.” You love to hear that grit! He added, “Defense settled in and shut them down. Offense was able to do enough to secure the win for us. We won the middle 8 with a touchdown before half and field goal coming out of half to tie it up.” That’s pure coaching right there, knowing how to swing momentum. Grayson Malec had himself a night with a touchdown catch and a massive interception late in the game, but it was Brennan Hudson who punched it in with a 26-yard run in the fourth quarter for the winning touchdown. What a finish!
SMCC, Whiteford, Ida Punch Their Playoff Tickets With Statement Wins
While Carlson was busy being perfect, several other teams secured their spots in the dance. St. Mary Catholic Central just absolutely dominated Hanover Horton 42-6. Sophomore QB Brady Reinhardt was back from a hand injury and he didn’t just impress, he *exploded* for two rushing touchdowns and two passing touchdowns! Brenton Carter and Vince Harris were on the receiving end of those TD passes, while Cole Reinhardt and Cam Cousino also ran for scores. An 8-1 regular season for the Falcons, and get this: it’s their 10th consecutive playoff appearance! That’s a dynasty in the making.
Then you got Whiteford. They finished with a mind-blowing seven consecutive wins after starting the season 0-2. Talk about a turnaround! They destroyed Sand Creek 62-6, despite Sand Creek getting on the board first. The Bobcats also claimed sole possession of the Great Lakes Conference title in its inaugural year. And Brek Ruddy? That dude went OFF, running for 247 yards and 5 touchdowns. Hunter Massingill and Tre Eitniear added rushing TDs, and backup QB Beckett Emch even threw a 17-yard scoring pass to George Thompson. What an absolute clinic.
Ida also locked up their playoff spot, holding off Pinckney 49-40. They jumped out to a 13-0 lead, saw Pinckney tie it up in the third, then responded with two quick touchdowns to cruise to their seventh win of the season. Grant Pfeiffer, Nick Miller, and Justin Crozier each ran for two touchdowns, with Carson Weeman adding another. Connor Watterworth booted five PATs. These 7-2 Blue Streaks had a rushing attack that just wouldn’t quit, with Pfeiffer (192), Crozier (114), and Miller (106) all topping 100 yards, and Weeman close behind with 78. Pfeiffer and Miller also led the defense with 8 tackles each. Total team effort!
So yeah, some teams are celebrating, but for others, the anxiety is REAL until Sunday night when the MHSAA drops those playoff pairings. Jefferson got knocked from the ranks of the unbeaten, but Bedford should still be in good shape. Monroe, Flat Rock, and New Boston Huron had to win to guarantee their spots, but now they’re just waiting. Who’s in? Who’s out? We’re all gonna be glued to our screens. Stay hyped, Monroe County, because the postseason is about to get WILD!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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