The Cranbrook Football team watched the MHSAA playoff pairings show on Sunday.
(G. Davis- Photo Credit)
The Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Cranes (5-3) will play the Harper Woods Pioneers (4-4) in the first round of the State Playoffs.
256 teams are chosen to be in the State Playoffs, 6 wins automatically qualifies a team for a playoff spot. If there are not 256 teams with 6 wins, then 5 win teams are admitted based on playoff point rankings.
Divisions are constructed from the enrollment parameters adopted in 1999 by the MHSAA. Playoff points are based on a combination of team record and strength of schedule, and are used to determine home teams during the District and Regional rounds.
This is the last year of this selection formula; a new system will take effect next season in 2020.
The Cranes drew the Pioneers in Division 4 of the playoffs. Both teams are located in Region 4, District 2 of the bracket. The Pioneers are the 3-seed in the bracket; the Cranes are the 2-seed.
The winner of this game will face the winner of the Country Day (8-1) vs. Chandler Park (4-4) game. Country Day is the 1-seed; Chandler Park is the 4-seed. Both teams are also in Region 4, District 2.
From these 4 teams, the winner will be the District 2 champion.
District 1 contains Milan (9-0), Romulus Summit Academy North (7-2), Redford Union (7-2), and Carleton Airport (5-4). The District 1 champion will play the District 2 champion to determine the Regional champion.
There are 4 regions in Division 4. These 4 teams will square off in a semifinal round, with winners advancing to Ford Field for the Division 4 State Championship.
The Cranes are poised to make a good run in the playoffs, after a district semi-final loss last year to Farmington Hills Harrison.
As the Cranes gathered to watch the state playoff pairings Sunday night, Head Coach Ben Jones stressed preparation.
“It’s exciting to be in the playoffs, it’s a reward for all your hard work in the regular season. We now have a new task- focusing on our playoff opponents. We will prepare like any game, but our preparedness will make the difference in our performance.”
Cranbrook will be the home team. Game details are forth coming; please look for detailed announcements on CranNet, www.cranbrookfootball.com, on Twitter (@CranbrookFB), or on Facebook at the Cranbrook Football page.
Go Cranes!