Portage Central running back Nolan Bloomquist (2) celebrates a touchdown during a football game at Portage Central High School on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. Portage Central advanced to the second round of the playoffs, scoring 22 unanswered points in the second half to defeat Portage Northern 28-12.Devin Anderson-Torrez | MLive.com
KALAMAZOO, MI – With the first round of Michigan’s 2024 high school football playoffs in the books, the stakes have only elevated in Round 2.
District titles will be on the line this weekend.
Nine Kalamazoo-area teams will be battling it out for those bronze and mitten-shaped trophies this Friday and Saturday, as two-time defending state champion Martin holds the area’s longest title streak at four years.
Headlining Southwest Michigan’s most intriguing game comes in Division 2, where SMAC rivals Mattawan and Portage Central will collide at McCamley-Knight Field. The Mustangs took down the Wildcats in a Week 5 slugfest (7-0), but Mattawan has since played its best football as of late –– they’re winners of five straight games.
Central, though, has also played well, as they’ve ripped off wins in seven of its last eight games including a 28-12 playoff-opening rivalry victory over Portage Northern last week. Mattawan’s playoff victory last week was perhaps more impressive, a 27-21 win over a Lansing Everett team playing some of its best football as of late.
Another rivalry battle lies in Division 7 as No. 7-ranked Schoolcraft visits Lawton. The Eagles snapped a five-game losing streak to the Blue Devils with their Week 6 win (17-3), and have banked on a talented crop of young players including sophomore quarterback Jack DeVries and junior running backs TJ Luteyn and Cooper Howard to win their last seven games. Lawton has knocked Schoolcraft out of the playoffs in each of the last two years, though.
In Division 5, Kalamazoo United gets an opportunity for a district title against Berrien Springs, a team the Titans defeated 20-16 in their regular season opener. United has won six of its last seven games including signature wins over Constantine and Parchment, using the talents of athletes like juniors Keegan McCue and Jackson Herder to play its best football as of late.
Constantine will collide with Olivet in Division 6 rematch of last year’s pre-district game, a contest in which the Falcons rolled to a 42-18 victory. The Falcons got a huge revenge win over Parchment last week but have battled through an up-and-down season –– they lost three of four games down the stretch of their regular season, including a Week 9 loss to Lawton.
And while it might not be the matchup they were anticipating, Decatur still has a golden opportunity to win its first district championship in Division 8 since 2013 on Friday night against Saugatuck. The Trailblazers upset state-ranked White Pigeon last week in a thriller (24-22), and could pose a true threat to the No. 9-ranked Raiders. Decatur and Saugatuck last collided in 2015, a game in which the Trailblazers won 50-20.
Lastly, two-time defending state champion and No. 5-ranked Martin will travel to No. 7-ranked Mendon on Saturday afternoon in a regional championship full of intrigue. The Hornets own perhaps one of the most high-octane offenses in 8-player football this year, as they shattered their own single-season scoring record (647) and single-game scoring record (87). But Martin flexed its championship DNA by knocking off No. 1-ranked Gobles last week (52-22) and have perhaps the best quarterback in 8-player –– all-state senior Gavin Meyers accounted for six of the Clippers seven touchdowns last week.
Check out all the matchup information ahead of this week’s Round 2 Kalamazoo-area playoff slate below.
Preston Shackelford (8) looks for a receiver during a high school football game at Portage Central High School on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023. Portage Central won the game over Mattawan, 41-14. (Kimberly Moss | For MLive.com)Kimberly Moss | For MLive.com
Division 2: Mattawan (7-3) at Portage Central (7-3)
Where: McCamley-Knight Field
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Series history: Portage Central leads 20-6
Playoff point comparison: Portage Central 62.222, Mattawan 61.222
Kalamazoo United quarterback Jackson Herder (7) runs the ball during a football game at Parchment High School on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. Kalamazoo United won 35-13, clinching the SAC-Lakeshore conference championship.Devin Anderson-Torrez | MLive.com
Division 5: Berrien Springs (7-3) at Kalamazoo United (8-2)
Where: Soisson-Rapacz-Clason Field
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Series history: Series is tied 5-5
Playoff point comparison: Kalamazoo United 49.222, Berrien Springs 43.111
Constantine running back Cooper McGee (21) celebrates after winning a high school football game at Schoolcraft High School on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. Constantine beat Schoolcraft 31-29 in overtime.Devin Anderson-Torrez | MLive.com
Division 6: Constantine (7-3) at Olivet (8-2)
Where: Olivet High School
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Series history: Constantine leads 5-4
Playoff point comparison: Olivet 47.778, Constantine 38.556
Schoolcraft's Cooper Howard Caiden (7) runs the ball during a high school football game at Schoolcraft High School on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. Schoolcraft won the game over Lawton, 17-3. (Kimberly Moss | For MLive.com)Kimberly Moss | For MLive.com
Division 7: Schoolcraft (9-1) at Lawton (8-2)
Where: Packer-Armstrong Field
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Series history: Schoolcraft leads 29-21-1
Playoff point comparison: Lawton 40.333, Schoolcraft 37.931
Decatur players mess around at the Dome Sports Center in Schoolcraft, Michigan on Wednesday, July 23, 2024, for the second day of MLive’s Kalamazoo High School Football Media Day.Devin Anderson-Torrez | MLive.com
Division 8: Saugatuck (7-3) at Decatur (9-1)
Where: Raider Field
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Series history: Series is tied 3-3
Playoff point comparison: Decatur 39.819, Saugatuck 33.000
Scenes from Martin football's 52-22 playoff-opening win over Gobles on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024 from Gobles High School.(Matthew Ehler | MLive.com)
8-Player Division 1: Martin (8-1) at Mendon (8-1)
Where: John Schwartz Field
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When: 1 p.m. Saturday
Series history: Martin leads 4-3
Playoff point comparison: Mendon 34.889, Martin 34.083
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