By Terry Foster
WHMI.com
No Brighton. No Hartland.
But the biggest shocker heading into the second week of playoff football is there is no Howell.
Howell (9-1) became the first No. 1 seed to lose to an eight-seed under the new playoff format when the Highlanders fell two yards short in a 38-30 loss to Grandville (5-5). It was shocking. It was stunning.
Maybe it should not have been. Grandville played the second toughest schedule in the state. The gauntlet included games against Detroit Cass Tech (10-0), East Kentwood (10-0) and Caledonia (8-2), teams that remain alive in the state playoffs.
“There were times we looked at our schedule, and we knew our non-conference games would get us ready for the playoffs,” Grandville coach Eric Stiegel said. “We knew we just had to survive it while keeping our minds on moving forward.”
DJ Hardman (143 yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns) and Jayce Hopewell (114 yards and three touchdowns) led a Grandville attack that rushed for 319 yards. Many teams cannot practice defending against Howell’s Wing-T. Grandville can because it runs the Wing –T also.
Howell fell behind 38-14 but sliced the lead to 38-30. The Highlanders drove to the two-yard line and gave the ball to star player Bryce Kish. However, Grandville linebacker Jaden King blew up the play and stopped Kish short of the goal line.
With Howell, Brighton and Hartland eliminated WHMI continues its prep football coverage in the Jungle when South Lyon (8-2) plays host to bitter rival South Lyon East (8-2) Friday in the Jungle.