Friday Night Lights: Marquee Matchups Headline Week 3 in Michigan High School Football
Week 3 of Michigan high school football brings a slate of marquee showdowns as defending champions, unbeaten programs, and traditional powers collide. From a Catholic League rivalry steeped in tradition to crucial league openers across the OK Red and OAA Red, here are the biggest games under the lights this weekend.
Game of the Week: Catholic League Heavyweight Battle
No. 7 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Prep (2-0) @ No. 10 Warren De La Salle Collegiate (1-1)
- What to watch: This matchup has all the makings of a state playoff preview. St. Mary’s, the defending Division 2 champion, brings its 2-0 start into Warren against a De La Salle team eager to bounce back after a narrow loss to Davison.
- Players to watch:
- St. Mary’s: Wideout Chad Willis stretches defenses vertically, while defensive end Ryan Harrington (Wake Forest commit) anchors the front.
- De La Salle: David Williams, a Central Michigan commit, is one of the state’s top defensive backs, and linebacker Anthony Bitonti is disruptive at the line of scrimmage.
OAA Red Division Supremacy
No. 14 Rochester Adams (2-0) @ No. 4 West Bloomfield (2-0)
- What to watch: Both unbeaten, both stingy. Adams has allowed just 10 points through two games, while West Bloomfield hasn’t surrendered a point in back-to-back shutouts. The Highlanders stunned the Lakers 21-14 last year—can they do it again?
- Players to watch:
- Adams: Senior QB Rino Watters leads an efficient offense coming off a state semifinal run.
- West Bloomfield: Bowling Green commit Travis Robertson commands the offensive line, and Minnesota commit Jeremiah Benson is a defensive game-wrecker in the trenches.
West Michigan Showdown in the OK Red
No. 24 Caledonia (2-0) @ No. 11 Hudsonville (2-0)
- What to watch: The O-K Red race wastes no time heating up as two unbeaten heavyweights square off. Caledonia is coming off a 56-point outburst, while Hudsonville looks to build on its dominant 37-6 victory over East Lansing.
- Players to watch:
- Caledonia: Junior QB Bryce Backus orchestrates a high-octane offense behind a veteran line.
- Hudsonville: RB Owen Haarsma ran for 143 yards and two touchdowns last week, and QB Brady VanLaecke provides balance through the air.
Cass Tech Looks to Stay on Top
No. 1 Cass Tech (2-0) vs. Renaissance (0-2)
- What to watch: The reigning Division 1 champions launch into PSL play after surviving two close calls to start the year. Renaissance, still searching for its first win, lost 56-0 in last season’s meeting.
- Players to watch:
- Cass Tech: Five-star recruit CJ Sadler (North Carolina commit) headlines a star-studded roster.
- Renaissance: QB Keion Boone and versatile athlete Lantz Hairston will need to make big plays against one of the state’s best defenses.
Other Notable Games
- No. 5 Davison (2-0) @ Traverse City Central (2-0): Davison heads north fresh off an emotional win over De La Salle. The Cardinals have owned this matchup in recent years, but the Trojans are off to their first 2-0 start since 2021, powered by a balanced, explosive offense.
- No. 6 Rockford (1-1) @ Grand Haven (1-1): After picking up their first win last week, the Rams enter O-K Red play looking to reestablish dominance. For Grand Haven, linebacker Jonah Broemer is a key play-stopper who could shift momentum if he controls the line of scrimmage.
🔥 Week 3 delivers heavyweight clashes across the state—from Metro Detroit to West Michigan—that could reshape early playoff projections. With rivalries renewed and conference stakes rising, these matchups will set the tone for the fall.
