MHSAA State Finals Preview: Cadillac vs Detroit Country Day
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Many expected the number one ranked team in Division 4 to be the favorite heading into this state title game. Cadillac had other plans, knocking off undefeated Edwardsburg, sending the Vikings to its first state championship in the MHSAA playoff…
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Continue ReadingMany expected the number one ranked team in Division 4 to be the favorite heading into this state title game. Cadillac had other plans, knocking off undefeated Edwardsburg, sending the Vikings to its first state championship in the MHSAA playoff era. Detroit Country Day is less of a surprise, returning to the state finals a year after they lost the Division 4 state championship to Grand Rapids Catholic Central 44-0.
Both Cadillac and Detroit Country Day are known for their physical style of play, as both teams made it to the state finals on the backs of an efficient run game and dominant efforts in the trenches. Detroit Country Day’s defense hasn’t surrendered a point in two straight games, while Cadillac’s methodical run offense has produced eight touchdowns in the same timeframe, setting up for what should be an entertaining state championship. Below I’ll get into the top prospects, keys to the game, and my prediction.
Playoff Road
Cadillac (8-2, Big North Conference): Pre-District: Bye, District Semi: Defeated Alma via Forfeit, District Final: Defeated Sault Ste Marie 34-14, Regional Final: Defeated Forest Hills Eastern 27-23, Semifinal: Defeated Edwardsburg 28-26.
Detroit Country Day (8-2, Independent): Pre-District: Defeated Henry Ford 41-12, District Semi: Defeated Notre Dame Prep 21-14, District Final: Defeated Lamphere 20-10, Regional Final: Defeated North Branch 38-0, Semifinal: Defeated Williamston 12-0.
Top Prospects
Carson Raasio, OL, Cadillac
Ryan Wood, OL/DL, Cadillac
Collin Johnston, LB, Cadillac
Carter Harsh, DB, Cadillac
Dan Gray, DB, Cadillac
Kaleb McKinley, ATH, Cadillac
Aden Gurden, ATH, Cadillac
Caleb Tiernan Caleb Tiernan 6'7" | 280 lbs | OL Detroit Country Day | 2021 State MI , OL, Detroit Country Day
Will Leggon Will Leggon 6'3" | 270 lbs | DL Detroit Country Day | 2021 State MI , OL, Detroit Country Day
Joe Miller Joe Miller 5'10" | 190 lbs | LB Detroit Country Day | 2021 MI , LB, Detroit Country Day
Danny MacLean Danny MacLean 6'0" | 195 lbs | DB Detroit Country Day | 2021 State MI , DB, Detroit Country Day
Brandon Mann Brandon Mann 6'4" | 225 lbs | QB Detroit Country Day | 2022 State MI , QB, Detroit Country Day
Keys To The Game
Fueled by the motivation of last season’s blowout loss in the state finals, Detroit Country Day has been locked in with their sights of its first state championship since 1999. Meanwhile, Cadillac, earning nail-biting wins in each of the previous two games is playing with house money at this point.
Cadillac’s gameplan will most likely involve figuring out a way to stop the multi-dimensional efforts of Country Day’s quarterback Brandon Mann Brandon Mann 6'4" | 225 lbs | QB Detroit Country Day | 2022 State MI . Standing at 6’3″, 200 lbs, Mann has the size and strength to create problems for opposing defenses. While he’s largely considered a bigger threat to run the ball, he has the ability to create plays with his arm. Putting pressure on Mann and keeping him contained will be crucial to limiting the number of scoring opportunities Detroit Country Day has.
Cadillac upset No.1 Edwardsburg with long, drawn-out drives that ended in points. Their ability to milk the clock and end their drives with touchdowns not only created momentum for the Vikings but also proved to be a crushing blow for the Eddies. Cadillac’s Aden Gurden and Kaleb McKinley will need to provide another dynamic performance for Cadillac to put points on the board against arguably the best defense they’ve faced this season. In what figures to be a low-scoring game, I’m expecting Country Day’s defense to rise to the occasion and help capture the Yellow Jacket’s first state championship in over 20 years.
Prediction: Detroit Country Day 20, Cadillac 12