Saturday's Top Games

Birmingham Brother Rice v. Novi Detroit Catholic Central  - The biggest rivalry game in Michigan high school  sports bar none.  Earlier in the season I was thinking Rice – they top CC in the skills position department -, but CC's absolute dominance of its competition so far, is pushing towards picking the Shamrocks. The fact that the epic battle for bragging rights is on cc's home field and the fact that it hasn't won this annual grudge match since 2002, are all major factors in my pick too.  CC is not as flashy as Rice, just extremely tough-minded and fundamentally-sound across the board.  The way I see it, only a great game by Rice senior QB Frankie Popp can save the Warriors from defeat – which is very possible.  The Shamrocks greyhound-like backfield Niko Palazetti and Anthony Capatina run for a TD apiece and Sam Landry hits John Jakubik for a late score that proves the difference.

CC 27 B-Rice 20

Warren De La Salle v. Orchard Lake St. Mary's –De La Salle is undefeated and ranked in the top ten in the state. Starting off the year a big goose egg and 2, St. Mary's is desperate for a win to keep their season from flat-lining. Since I'm not convinced of De La Salle's superiority – the Pilots lost a lot from last season's CHSL title squad – I'm going to say desperation wins out in this one. Eaglets QB Robert Bolden is too much of a cold-blooded assassin in the pocket to let the OLSM faithful down when they need him the most. Bolden throws for 275 and three scores and leads the Eaglets to the upset.

OLSM 24 DLS 17

Marine City Cardinal Mooney v. Royal Oak Shrine – Get busy my main man, Brance Kampe! Paired together with his top target, fellow junior Burtrum Marks, the Knights have one awesome tandem of killer B's.

Shrine 38 MC Cardinal Mooney 13

Waterford Our Lady of The Lakes v. Riverview Gabriel Richard – How good is junior signal caller Mike Sullivan for the Lakers? He's pretty darn good, if you ask me.  To take it even further, I guarantee, before it's all said and done, his career passing statistics will be at the top of the WOLL record books.