Last year, Warren De La Salle’s football team didn’t win a single game in its division.
This year, the Pilots have a chance to be state champs.
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What a difference a year makes, huh?
De La Salle will take on Livonia Franklin in the Division 2 state championship game on Friday at 1 p.m. at Detroit’s Ford Field.
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It’s been a long journey to the title game for both teams.
De La Salle, coming off a 2016 campaign in which the Pilots missed the playoffs and suffered their first losing season since 2005 (according to michigan-football.com), opened the season with a 36-6 setback to Lowell.
But De La Salle regrouped to win its next five games by a combined margin of 203-42, and the Pilots have rolled ever since. They advanced to the finals by knocking off two-time defending Division 2 state champion Detroit Martin Luther King 14-13 in last week’s semifinals.
“I think they have mental toughness,” said De La Salle coach Mike Giannone, whose team didn’t win a game in the Catholic League Central Division last season but bounced back this year to win the league crown. “They have the endurance.”
Similarly, Franklin has shown fortitude in its trek to the finals.
The Patriots lost two of their first four games. But they haven’t lost since Week 4, and they’ve avenged each of their losses.
Franklin knocked off Livonia Stevenson 35-21 in the regular season finale, and the Patriots defeated Livonia Churchill 21-19 in the district round.
Franklin has found another gear in the second half of the season. The Patriots have averaged 29.5 points in their last six games. Running backs Julius Simmons and Isaac Moore key the ground game.
“They mix it up pretty well offensively,” Giannone said. “A lot of misdirection.”
Franklin will face a stern test in a De La Salle defense that has allowed only 11.7 points per game and recorded three shutouts.
Cornerback Josh DeBerry, defensive back Jacob Dobbs and lineman Mike McGinnity anchor the defense.
“I think they’ve been playing as a unit,” Giannone said. “The chemistry has been really good. They’re talking to each other out there.”
Senior quarterback Luke Pfromm directs the offense. Pfromm passed for one score and ran for another in the Pilots’ semifinal triumph last week.
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“He’s done a nice job,” Giannone said. “He’s a leader that the kids have confidence in.”
Cordell Tanneyhill and Evan Vaillancourt power a De La Salle running game that has controlled the clock and helped the Pilots dominate time of possession.
“That’s what we’ve been trying to do,” Giannone said.
It’s proved a winning formula so far for the Pilots, who have turned things around from year ago.
“It’s exciting,” Giannone said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re playing for Division 1 or Division 2. The kids set some goals at the beginning of the season and now they have a chance to attain them.”
Division 1
West Bloomfield (11-2) vs. Clarkston (11-2). The two teams met in the regular season.
Clarkston won back-to-back Division 1 state championships in 2013-14. West Bloomfield is making its first state finals appearance. West Bloomfield defeated Clarkston 37-16 in the regular season. Quarterback Bryce Veasley passed for four touchdowns in that game. Veasley, a Bowling Green commit, has two talented targets in wide receivers A.J. Abbott and Taj Mustapha, both of whom are Wisconsin bound. Michael Fluegel and Josh Cantu power Clarkston’s running game. Prediction: West Bloomfield
Division 2
Warren De La Salle (11-2) vs. Livonia Franklin (11-2). De La Salle won the 2014 Division 2 state title under former coach Paul Verska. Current Pilots coach Mike Giannone won state titles with Macomb Dakota in 2006 and 2007. Livonia Franklin won the Class A state title in 1975. Sophomore quarterback Jacob Kelbert, who made a key play in the Patriots’ regional victory over Flushing, is the son of Franklin coach Chris Kelbert. Prediction: De La Salle
Division 3
Farmington Hills Harrison (10-3) vs. Muskegon (13-0). Muskegon is No. 15 in USA Today’s national rankings, is averaging 53.4 points per game and is going for a sixth state championship. The Big Reds lost in the state finals last year. Coach John Herrington, who is the all-time winningest coach in MHSAA history, leads Harrison. The Hawks have won 13 state championships under Herrington. There’s plenty of talent on the field: Notre Dame recruit Ovie Oghoufo paces Harrsion, while quarterback La’Darius Jefferson directs Muskegon’s high-powered offense. Prediction: Muskegon
Division 4
Grand Rapids Catholic Central (13-0) vs. Edwardsburg (12-1). Grand Rapids Catholic Central will try to repeat as state champion -- and its fourth state title overall. Catholic Central offensive tackle Jalen Mayfield has committed to Michigan. Edwardsburg will make its first appearance in the state finals. Prediction: Grand Rapids Catholic Central
Division 5
Saginaw Swan Valley (12-1) vs. Grand Rapids West Catholic (11-2). Saginaw Swan Valley has won 12 straight since losing its season-opener to Zeeland East. Grand Rapids West Catholic will try for its fifth straight state title. The Falcons only two losses this season have come to Jackson Lumen Christi (a state finalist in Division 6) and Grand Rapids Catholic Central (a state finalist in Division 4). Those losses came by a combined total of five points. Prediction: Grand Rapids West Catholic
Division 6
Ithaca (13-0) vs. Jackson Lumen Christi (11-1). Ithaca will make its seventh state championship game appearance in eight years. The Yellowjackets won in 2015 and from 2010-2013, and they were runners-up in 2014. Jackson Lumen Christi won the state title last season, and the school is going for its 10th state championship. Ithaca has outscored its four playoff opponents by a combined score of 159-30, and Jackson Lumen Christi is averaging 46.8 points in the postseason. Prediction: Ithaca
Division 7
Pewamo-Westphalia (12-1) vs. Saugatuck (10-3). Pewamo-Westphalia won the Division 7 state title last season and was the runner-up in 2015. The Pirates are rolling after defeating Lake City 51-8 in the semifinals. Saugatuck, which finished second in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Lakeshore Division, is making its second appearance in the state finals. The Indians were runners-up in Division 8 in 2010. Prediction: Pewamo-Westphalia
Division 8
Saginaw Nouvel (13-0) vs. Ottawa Lake Whiteford (13-0). Saginaw Nouvel will try for the school’s fourth state title. The Panthers won the Division 7 crown in 2011 and consecutive Division 6 championships in 2006 and 2007. Ottawa Lake Whiteford was the Division 8 runner-up last year, and the Bobcats are averaging 53.5 points per game. They have scored 50 or more points in three of their four playoff games. Prediction: Ottawa Lake Whiteford
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