Welcome to the second season, prep pigskin fans.
Kosmo might not know better without his cave wall calendar. Is this really Michigan weather? Are we sure it’s that time?
A farewell from your all-knowing one to teams like Country Day, Clawson and the D8-ers like Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes who just barely missed out on the cut. It’s tough to enjoy the conditions when the dream is over, but for those who landed on the right side of the top 32, come right this way.
It never works out quite like we think, though, kinda like walking out of the cave and into public with your pants on backwards. Not that Kosmo has ever done that. Really, it was just an example.
The point is that some divisions appear to be wide-open and for the taking. Howell proved that no one is untouchable in Division 1 by dropping the illustrious Belleville in Week 9, where Kosmo was sub-standard and went 4-3 on picks.
It’s time for Kosmo to sharpen up. The crystal ball has never looked clearer for the first round of the playoffs, though. Jackets and sweatpants or not, here we go.
Clarkston at Lake Orion — There’s usually a humdinger of an OAA Red matchup the magicians over at MHSAA conjure up to open up the postseason, and here’s our humdinger. Both teams played in higher scoring contests than the one against each other in Week 7 when long possessions that could be finished with points were about all it took to get ‘er done. Kosmo says: Lake Orion
Farmington at Lakeland — Here’s another one Kosmo has circled. The Falcons’ fell to Lake Orion in a non-division game, then to the pair of OAA Blue teams that finished above them (Seaholm, North Farmington), but otherwise took care of business this year, including a 34-22 tune-up victory at Crestwood. Similarly, the Lakers finished third in the LVC and only lost to the two teams that ended 1-2 (WL Western, Milford) in the league, as well as Lapeer. Kosmo says: Lakeland
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s at North Farmington — The Raiders can’t possibly end the year in more heartbreaking fashion than last, when they closed the regular season by losing in triple OT to Bloomfield Hills, 50-49. They started this year with a pair of losses, too, before winning five of their last six. It’s hard to find too much fault in the Eaglets’ three losses to the top-3 teams in the CHSL Central, which came by a combined 16 points. Kosmo says: Orchard Lake St. Mary’s
Stoney Creek at Rochester Adams — Drink it up, folks, it’s a first-round rivalry matchup. First-year head coach Rick Powell led the Cougars to wins in four of their last five to get them here. Adams, on the other hand, rebounded from a Week 6 heartbreaker at Oxford to win three in a row, including 21-13 against Stoney back on Oct. 11. It’s a pickle, Rick. Kosmo says: Adams
West Bloomfield at Novi — Who wants it more? Kosmo knows that these programs didn’t lose to all slouches, but Novi enters hosting this game on a three-game losing streak. Kosmo believed in West Bloomfield to close the regular season on a high note, but the Laker fell at Roseville, 49-48, and didn’t win two in a row at any time this year. Kosmo says: West Bloomfield
Milford at East Lansing — One of the best matchups in D2 as East Lansing and Milford finished 11th and 13th, respectively, in points. Of the Trojans’ three defeats, one was to Hudsonville (No. 4 in D1) and another to DeWitt (No. 1 in D3). The Mavericks only loss in the past six weeks was to WL Western, and they finished the regular season with a real quality ‘W’ over Lakeland, 35-29. Kosmo says: Milford
Royal Oak Shrine at Warren Michigan Collegiate (Saturday, 2 p.m.) — Even with a 55-0 shutout of Detroit CMA to finish the regular season 7-2, the Knights had to sweat it out last weekend and were just on the right side of qualification in D6, so cheers to you, Shrine, for a great turnaround year after going 1-8 last fall. It was the best year for the program since going to regionals back in 2019. Unfortunately for them, the Cougars, ranked No. 3, appear to be a tough nut to crack having only lost to Clarkston Everest, 27-24, back in opening week. Kosmo says: Warren Michigan Collegiate