Football Frenzy preview: District titles at stake

Above on Behind the Frenzy, Football Frenzy correspondents Dean Holzwarth and Andrew McDonald and News 8 sports reporter Lainey Gerber discuss last week’s district seminfinals, Grandville’s upset of Rockford and the down-to-the-wire matchup between Hudsonville and East Kentwood, and look ahead at the district finals this week.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — It’s district finals week as area high school football teams look to clinch championships and move one step closer to Ford Field.

Here is a closer look at a few key games involving area teams.

DIVISION 1

GRANDVILLE BULLDOGS (6-4) AT HUDSONVILLE EAGLES (9-1)

The biggest upset of the district semifinals was in Rockford, where the host Rams suffered a season-ending loss to O-K Red rival Grandville.

The Bulldogs posted an impressive 24-14 road win, avenging an earlier 36-20 loss to Rockford in Week 3. It was Grandville’s first win over the Rams since 2019. It had lost the last eight in a row in the series.

The Bulldogs, who started the season 0-3, will have the opportunity to avenge another one of its regular-season losses when it travels to Hudsonville.

The Eagles avoided a scare in their semifinal game against visiting East Kentwood to move into a district final. Hudsonville needed a last-second field goal to defeat the upset-minded Falcons, 25-23.

The Eagles extended their winning streak to nine games and will look to beat Grandville for the second time after a 35-16 win in Week 7.

Hudsonville has now won nine games in a season for the first time since 2007 and leads the all-time series (18-17-2) with Grandville.

DIVISION 2

BYRON CENTER BULLDOGS (9-1) AT MONA SHORES SAILORS (9-1)

Byron Center is hoping for a bit of redemption as it travels to Mona Shores for the second time this season.

The Bulldogs hope for a different result as the Sailors handed them their only loss of the season in Week 4, 14-12.

Byron Center handed previously unbeaten Northview a 38-17 loss in a district semifinal. The Bulldogs used a big third quarter to set up the rematch against the Sailors.

Meanwhile, Mona Shores’ defense continued to impress as it blanked Traverse City West, 28-0. It was the third shutout in the last four games for the Sailors, who lost to Muskegon in last year’s district final.

DIVISION 4

SOUTH CHRISTIAN SAILORS (6-4) AT UNITY CHRISTIAN CRUSADERS (10-0) (at Grandville)

Top-ranked Unity Christian opened the state tournament with a resounding 63-20 win over Hamilton and will have a rematch against O-K Gold foe South Christian.

The Sailors knocked off Holland Christian 35-7 in their district semifinal.

South Christian and senior quarterback Carson Vis have advanced to the state finals the past two seasons, but will need a better defensive effort against the Crusaders.

Unity rolled to a 50-21 win over the Sailors in Week 7 and is averaging 44 points per game.

DIVISION 5

CATHOLIC CENTRAL COUGARS (6-4) AT WEST CATHOLIC FALCONS (7-3)

A former City League rivalry will be renewed on Friday night as Catholic Central and West Catholic meet for a district title.

The Cougars, last year’s Division 5 state champions, lost four regular-season games for the first time since 2009. They blanked Hopkins last week, 28-0.

West Catholic, which outlasted Muskegon Oakridge, 32-14, in its district semifinal, is eyeing redemption from last year’s season-ending loss to the Cougars.

Catholic Central edged the Falcons 30-28 in last year’s regional finals en route to Ford Field.

This will be the 54th meeting in the series. The two teams have combined for nine state titles since 2016.

News 8 is also sending crews to these matchups: