High School football semifinal matchups set: a full breakdown

When the playoffs began three weeks ago, each of the MHSAA's eight divisions started with 32 teams.

Now, only four teams remain in each bracket.

The semifinal matchups are set across the state with only one weekend remaining until the road to Ford Field comes to fruition.

Division 1
Rockford vs. Detroit Catholic Central
Detroit Cass Tech vs. Lake Orion
Last year, Catholic Central and Cass Tech met in the state finals. The road to get back to Ford Field looks similar for both teams. The Shamrocks beat Plymouth with ease Saturday, 28-7, but will face a Rockford team who held off one of the state's best teams this year in Clarkston. The Techinicians have ridden a train of consistency through the playoffs, outscoring opponents 98-40 in three games. Lake Orion won an offensive shootout against Macomb Dakota to advance to the semifinals. Where Rockford and CC will find themselves in a defensive battle, expect Cass Tech and Lake Orion to combine for at least 70 points.

Division 2
Birmingham Brother Rice vs. Wyandotte Roosevelt
Muskegon vs. Caledonia
Muskegon remains the top team in the state after rolling over Midland, 49-21 Saturday. Brother Rice and Roosevelt have taken different paths to this point, but have both been carried by their defenses. The defending state champion Warriors have managed to take advantage of opponents' mistakes to win each of its three playoff games in blowout fashion. Roosevelt, on the other hand, has one its past two games by an average margin of 6.5 points.

Division 3
Orchard Lake St. Mary's vs. Battle Creek Harper Creek
DeWitt vs. Grand Rapids Christian
Reigning state champion St. Mary's beat what was perceivably their toughest test on the road to a title, topping Detroit East English, 42-24 Saturday afternoon.

Division 4
Detroit Country Day vs. Saginaw Swan Valley
Comstock Park vs. Grand Rapids South Christian
Country Day is the lone team left from southest Michigan in Division 4. DCD topped Grosse Ile, 47-14 Saturday, moving on to the semifinals for the third straight season. Swan Valley has beaten its opponents in the playoffs by a combined score of 82 points. Last year, Comstock Park fell to Zeeland West in the semfinals.

Division 5
Portland vs. Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard
Menominee vs. Grand Rapids West Catholic
Three of the four remaining teams in Division 5 are 11-1, with Grand Rapids West Catholic the lone team at 9-3. West Catholic beat Menominee in the quarterfinals last year, before losing in the semifinals to Lansing Catholic.

Division 6
Shelby vs. Ithaca
Constantine vs. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central
Shelby won a 26-22 thriller over Negaunee Saturday, and will face an Ithaca team who has won its trio of postseason games by an average of 31 points. Monroe St. Mary CC finds itself in familiar territory, and will face a Constantine team with a high-powered offense. Constantine has scored 40 or more points in its last three games.

Division 7
Detroit Loyola vs. Flint Beecher
Ishpeming vs. Pewano-Westphalia
Loyola's storybook growth to a Division 7 power continues this year, after a 32-9 win over Deerfield last weekend. Loyola will get its most trying matchup this week, against Flint power Beecher on Saturday.

Division 8
Harbor Beach vs. Muskegon Catholic Central
St. Ignace La Salle vs. Beal City
Beal City has stomped over each opponent to get to the semifinals against La Salle. St. Ignace won its quarterfinal against Felch North Dickinson by only six points. Muskegon Catholic Central remains the favorite in Division 8.