Week 7 Michigan HS football preview: 7 matchups with conference title implications

Novi (5-1) vs Howell (6-0)

Novi is perfect in conference play this season, with its lone loss in Week 1 against non-conference foe SH Stevenson. The Wildcats went 6-1 last season in conference play, en route to a third straight playoff appearance. They have only made the playoffs five times since 2011, but the Panthers are certainly riding a recent hot streak that is continuing this fall.

Perfect in conference play and on the season, Howell has already reached playoff qualification for the first time since 2021. The Highlanders suffered a number of close losses last season, including a 14-6 loss against Novi. The two teams are now locked in a battle for conference supremacy as both high-flying offenses face off in what promises to be an entertaining and physical battle.

Clarkston (4-2) vs. Lake Orion (4-2)

A lot would have to go right for either of these two teams to win the conference title outright, as Clarkston has a loss against Rochester Adams, and Lake Orion has lost to both Oxford and West Bloomfield, yet beat Adams.

This conference might be a little bit of a mess, but it’s because all the teams are playoff-caliber. This tight race will likely come down to a play or two, and we could have a crazy tie scenario. Clarkston has only missed the playoffs once since 2003, while the Dragons have had sporadic playoff appearances since 2014. Both teams are capable of a long postseason run, but which one will come up with a clutch conference win?

Macomb Dakota (6-0) vs. Eisenhower (5-1)

Eisenhower lost its first game of the season last week, falling to 3-1 in conference play. They have the chance to bounce back against undefeated Dakota and sneak into a share of the conference crown. The Eagles have been a playoff staple over the past 25 years, hardly missing a single postseason during that time. A win this week could provide the confidence needed for a long playoff run.

Dakota has just been humming along this fall, outsourcing its opponents 222-52 through six games. The Cougars have only allowed double-digit points in one game (17 against Fordson in Week 1), so their defense should be up for the challenge. This is Dakota’s 24th straight playoff appearance, dating back to 2001. This should be a true grudge match.

Milford (6-1) vs. Walled Lake Western (6-0)

Both teams enter the game undefeated in conference play. All Walled Lake Western’s wins have come against conference foes, while Milford’s one blemish came against non-conference Divine Child. WL Western has a crazy 325-49 point differential. The Warriors have scored at least 42 points in every game, and they have not allowed more than 21 points in a game.

Milford has outscored its opponents 187-53, including two straight shutout victories. Both teams are in amazing form. It will be interesting to see if it’s a high-scoring affair as their season point totals suggest, or if suffocating defense will win out in a physical, brutal matchup.

West Bloomfield (3-3) vs. Oxford (4-2)

Two more teams competing against Clarkston, Lake Orion and Rochester Adams for the conference title. Oxford is 2-1 in conference play, while West Bloomfield is 1-2, but both remain in contention for at least a share of the conference crown.

West Bloomfield hasn’t really been able to gain lasting momentum, starting out 1-2, but turning things around with a 2-1 record the last three weeks. The Lakers have scored over 180 points this season, but have also allowed 125 points, proving they can be susceptible to some high-scoring games. The Wildcats have a very low-scoring offense, having scored just 136 games this week. This could turn into a gritty grudge match between two teams hungry for a share of the state title and better their playoff seeds.

Fenton (6-0) vs. Flushing (5-1)

Looking for its first perfect regular season since 2020, Fenton enters the week perfect in conference play with one key matchup remaining. The Tigers have kept games relatively close, outsourcing opponents by just over 100 points through six victories. Fenton has only missed the playoffs once since 2007, so a conference title will further bolster an already tremendous program.

A one-point loss to Linden is the only thing standing in Flushing’s way of perfection. Fenton beat Linden by three, so that would indicate this should be a tight matchup. Flushing has already scored 232 points, but have only allowed 49 points with a stifling defense. The Raiders already have three shutout victories this season, and they now have a chance to use their elite combination of stingy defense and explosive offense to earn a share of the conference title.

Allen Park (6-0) vs. Trenton (4-2)

Trenton didn’t appear to be in the mix after starting the season with two straight losses (both in conference play as well), however, a win over top-ranked Gibraltar-Carlson has changed the conference dynamic. The Trojans have outscored opponents by over 100 points this season, a nice rebound after a shaky start to the fall. With a fourth straight playoff appearance locked up, Trenton is hoping to continue pushing for a conference title.

Now atop the conference standings, Allen Park outmuscles teams while allowing just 40 points through six games. Elite defense is always a positive in important games, but Allen Park takes it to the next level by allowing just 13 points combined in their last four games. The Jaguars have reached the playoffs every season since 2009, proving they are one of the state’s elite programs.