Detroit Catholic Central in Novi leads the Associated Press Division 1 football poll, receiving all five first-place votes heading into Week 9.
The Shamrocks are 8-0. Northville, which is 7-1, received one point in the poll’s “others receiving votes” category.
Catholic Central, the defending Division 1 state champion, faces Brother Rice at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at Ford Field in the annual Catholic High School League Prep Bowl, according to the league’s announcement. Brother Rice enters at 6-2.
The Shamrocks are coming off a 42-0 victory over Toledo St. Francis de Sales, State Champs Network reported.
Catholic Central received 50 points in the AP poll published by the Midland Daily News. Detroit Cass Tech was second with 44 points, followed by East Kentwood with 38. Both teams are 8-0.
Catholic Central played its Oct. 9 victory over Orchard Lake St. Mary’s without senior starting quarterback Duke Banta, who had injured his collarbone the previous week.
Peyton Sofran moved from receiver to quarterback, and the Shamrocks overcame a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to win 27-20, the Detroit Free Press reported. Banta said after that game he hoped to return for the playoffs.
Northville closes the regular season at unbeaten Howell at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, according to its MaxPreps schedule.
Howell is 8-0 and ranks fifth in the AP Division 1 poll with 30 points.
The Mustangs’ only loss came Oct. 2 against Dearborn Fordson, 14-10. They followed it with a 30-7 road victory over Belleville on Oct. 9 and a 55-21 home win over Salem on Oct. 16, according to MaxPreps.
The MHSAA playoff selection show begins at 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, on the NFHS Network. The 11-player district playoffs begin Oct. 30, with state championship games scheduled for Nov. 27-28 at Ford Field.
