Three Holland-area teams have made the playoffs and all three will hit the road for first-round matchups this weekend.
Here is a look at the matchups.
Zeeland West at Niles
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31
WHERE: Niles High School
RECORDS: Zeeland West 6-3, Niles 9-0
LAST WEEK: Zeeland West lost 28-16 to Grand Rapids West Catholic, Niles beat Edwardsburg 21-12
SERIES HISTORY: First meeting
PLAYOFF STREAK: Zeeland West 16 years in a row, Niles four years in a row
LAST YEAR: Zeeland West won Division 3 state title, Niles lost to Goodrich in Division 4 state finals
SCOUTING REPORT: The Vikings went through the regular season unscathed, including wins over perennial playoff powers like St. Joseph, Stevensville Lakeshore, Paw Paw and Edwardsburg. They earned home-field advantage and this will be the most marquee first-round matchup in the state in any division. The defending D3 state champ against the defending D4 runner-up. Both teams have had no problem putting points on the board. The game will come down to who can put together a couple of stops on defense and force a turnover.
PREDICTION: Niles 24, Zeeland West 22.
Zeeland East at St. Joseph
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31
WHERE: St. Joseph High School
RECORDS: Zeeland East 6-3, St. Joseph 5-4
LAST WEEK: Zeeland East beat Hamilton 28-21, St. Joseph lost to Portage Central 40-8
SERIES HISTORY: Zeeland East leads 2-0
PLAYOFF STREAK: St. Joseph 11 years in a row, Zeeland East three years in a row
SCOUTING REPORT: Both teams have had strong season and lost to perennial powerhouses. St. Joseph lost to Niles, Edwardsburg, Portage Northern and Portage Central. Meanwhile, the Chix lost to Zeeland West, Unity Christian and South Christian. On paper it should be a pretty even matchup. But with all the injuries the Chix have endured, especially four what looked like knee injuries last week, it will be an uphill battle on the road. The Chix will need to force some turnovers and find some holes in the Bears’ secondary.
PREDICTION: St. Joseph 31, Zeeland East 21.
Holland Christian at Unity Christian
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31
WHERE: Jenison High School
RECORDS: Holland Christian 5-3, Unity Christian 8-1
LAST WEEK: Holland Christian beat Grand Rapids Christian 35-22, Unity Christian lost 34-25 to Pontiac Notre Dame Prep
SERIES HISTORY: Unity Christian leads 11-10
PLAYOFF STREAK: Holland Christian two years in a row, Unity Christian two years in a row
SCOUTING REPORT: Unity Christian only lost to Notre Dame Prep this year, while beating perennial powers Whitehall, Schoolcraft, Zeeland East, Zeeland West, Forest Hills Central and South Christian. The Crusaders have only been held to fewer than 35 points twice all season. The Maroons defense will have to find a way to slow down the offensive fire power, while also keeping up offensively.
PREDICTION: Unity Christian 34, Holland Christian 20.
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Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: High school football playoff scouting reports, predictions for trio of Holland-area teams
Reporting by Dan D’Addona, Holland Sentinel / The Holland Sentinel
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