Michigan high school football: Can't miss players, games in 2018

Detroit Free Press staff

The 2018 high school football season kicks off next week across Michigan. But who are the can't-miss players? What about those can't-miss games you need to circle your calendar for?

Detroit Free Press special writers Perry A. Farrell, Wright Wilson, Keith Dunlap and Tom Lang break down the conferences and the games to watch this season:

Catholic High School League

Can't-miss players: De La Salle WR/CB Josh DeBerry; Brother Rice DE Max Saylor (Central Michigan); Cranbrook WR Kobi Russell (Colgate), De La Salle OG/DT Danny Motowski (CMU), Bishop Foley RB/LB Kendel Taylor (Navy).

Can't-miss game: Six days prior to the league’s Prep Bowl championship matchups at Ford Field on Oct. 20, Catholic Central hosts De La Salle in the Boys Bowl and it could provide a top-division championship preview.

Warren De La Salle players celebrate with the MHSAA Division 2 championship trophy after defeating Livonia Franklin 42-6 at the Ford Field in Detroit, Friday, November 24, 2017.

Charter School Conference

Can't-miss players: Harper Woods Chandler Park WR/DB Emari O’Brien, Warren Michigan Collegiate WR/CB Jimeire Cannon, Michigan Collegiate WR/LB Reggie Nobles, Southfield Bradford DT Victor Nelson, Chandler Park QB Marquez Steele.

Can't-miss games: For each of the Charter’s nine years of existence, either Chandler Park or Michigan Collegiate has taken the league crown. There’s no reason to think otherwise this fall. The two will square off for the Eastside Hard Hat Trophy (and probably the championship) on Oct. 12 at Madison Hts. Bishop Foley.

More:

Michigan high school football top 25 players: OLs lead the way

Son of Swami predicts 2018 season

Detroit Public School League

Can't-miss players: Cass Tech RB/LB Jared Mangham (Colorado); King QB Dequan Finn (CMU); Cass Tech OLB Devin Nicholson (EMU); King S Marvin Grant (Purdue); King WR/LB Jalen McGaughy (Northern Illinois).

Can't-miss game: King and Cass Tech are the PSL’s two marquee programs and should be on a collision course to meet in the PSL Division 1 championship on Oct. 19.

Gibraltar Carlson running back Brandon Stewart fights off a tackle from Woodhaven's Thomas Conley. The Marauders, with second-year coach Jack Giarmo, are expected to be atop the Downriver League this fall.

Downriver League

Can't-miss players: Gibraltar Carlson QB-TE/LB Ian Stewart, Trenton QB Jay Solano, Wyandotte WR/S Keshawn Stanley, Brownstown Woodhaven DT Dorian Wesley, Woodhaven WR/SS Colin Czajkowski, Carlson RB/LB Brandon Stewart, Allen Park WR/DB Jakob Marsee, Taylor RB Jeremiah Lampkin.

Can't-miss games: With 10 teams in the conference, there are no non-league games. If Woodhaven escapes unscathed after playing Carlson and Wyandotte in the first two weeks, the Warriors will distance themselves from the pack. If not, look for the Oct. 12 Carlson at Wyandotte game to decide things Downriver.

Huron League

Can't-miss players: Milan WR/DB Tristen Hines, Riverview QB Dominic Wood, Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central TE/LB Sam Cousino, Milan RB Hunter Aeschbacker, Flat Rock TE/MLB Michael Simons, SMCC RB/DB Nick Marino, Riverview RB/LB Kyle Naif.

Can't-miss games: In the Huron League, it’s often about the match-ups more than the talent level of teams. But look for the results of Milan at SMCC (Aug. 31), SMCC at Riverview (Sept. 7) and Riverview at Milan (Sept. 14) to influence the final standings.

Belleville high schools Andre Seldon runs by Edsel Ford high schools Kahlid Saeed for a touchdown during first half Friday, September 8, 2017 at Edsel Ford high school in Dearborn, MI.

Kensington Lakes Activities Association

Cannot-miss players: Belleville OT Devontae Dobbs (Michigan State); Belleville CB Julian Barnett (Michigan State); Belleville CB Andre Seldon (Michigan); Fordson OL Mahdi Hazime; John Glenn QB Chad Stevens; Churchill QB Drew Alsobrooks.

Can't-miss game: Belleville and Franklin, two likely playoff teams will face off on Oct. 12.

Lakes Valley Conference

Can't-miss players: Walled Lake Western OL Spencer Brown (MSU); Walled Lake Central LB Joey Brincat; Lakeland RB Robbie Tracy; Walled Lake Western QB Sam Johnson (Boston College).

Can't-miss game: Not surprisingly, Walled Lake Western at Lakeland. The two teams, which tied for predicted finish in the coaches' poll, meet up on Sept. 28.

More:Michigan high school football: Ranking the top 25 teams in the state

Macomb Area Conference

Can't-miss players: Chippewa Valley LB Marcel Lewis (MSU); Chippewa Valley WR/RB/DB David Ellis (CMU); Chippewa Valley QB Tommy Schuster; Warren Mott WR/DB Trevon Madison; Warren Mott OT/DE John Lulaj; Port Huron Northern TE/OLB Braiden McGregor; Port Huron Northern RB Theo Ellis; Warren Woods Tower QB Matt Bills; East Detroit WR Davion Watkins; Madison Heights Madison QB Austin Brown; Madison Heights Madison OT Chauncey Ernest; Centerline QB/FS Nick Hastings; Centerline DE/TE Davon Sears; Lamphere OL/DL Joe Heaslip.

Can't-miss games: Sept. 7: Chippewa Valley vs. Utica Eisenhower; Sept: 7: Grosse Pointe South vs. Warren Mott; Sept. 14: Madison Heights Madison vs. Marine City; Sept. 14: Eastpointe East Detroit vs. Warren Woods Tower; Sept. 28: Warren Mott vs. Clinton Township Chippewa Valley; Sept. 28: Fraser vs. Port Huron Northern; Oct. 12: Port Huron Northern vs. Roseville; Oct. 12: Centerline vs. Madison Heights Lamphere.

Michigan Independent Athletic Conference

Can't-miss players: Parkway RB/LB Maurice Hutchinson; Oakland Christian TB/LB Luke McConnell; Parkway OT/DE Bryce Perko.

Can't-miss game: Oakland Christian turned the tables on Parkway in a pre-district playoff game last year, so the Eagles have circled Oct. 5 on their calendar, when the two meet again at the Auburn Hills Community Center.

Detroit East English high schools Elija Griffin is tackles River Rouge high schools Reggie Pearson Jr. during first half action Saturday, August 26, 2017 at Tom Adams Field in Detroit.

Michigan Metro Athletic Conference

Can't-miss players: River Rouge DE-OLB Ruke Orhorhoro (Clemson); River Rouge RB/CB/KR Daraun McKinney (Northern Illinois); Harper Woods Slot/DB Jordan Anderson (Bowling Green); Harper Woods WR/CB Elija Griffin (Toledo); Ecorse DE Shandon Smith (Northwood).

Can’t-miss games: River Rouge has had a chokehold on the MMAC recently, but Harper Woods hired Detroit East English Village coach Rod Oden and many of his players followed him over. The two schools — by far the most skilled in the league — meet at Harper Woods Sept. 28.

Oakland Activities Association

Can't-miss players: West Bloomfield OLB Lance Dixon (Penn State); West Bloomfield WR Tre Mosley; Oak Park QB Dwan Mathis (Ohio State); Oak Park OG Justin Rogers; Clarkston OL/DL Garrett Dellinger; Clarkston OL/DL Rocco Spindler.

Can’t-miss games: Aug. 31: West Bloomfield at Clarkston; Sept. 7: Farmington Hills Harrison at Oak Park; Sept. 14: Rochester Adams at Clarkston.

More:Prep Kickoff Classic tickets on sale for August event

Southeastern Conference

Can’t-miss players: Saline RB Brendan Munday; Chelsea WR Hunter Neff; Ypsilanti Lincoln RB/DB Trevon Davis.

Can’t-miss games: Chelsea at Pinckney, Aug. 31; Temperance Bedford at Saline, Sept. 14. Chelsea at Ypsilanti Lincoln, Sept. 14.

Western Wayne

Can’t-miss players: Romulus RB KaVon LaCroix; Romulus LB/RB Malik Morgan, Romulus; Redford Thurston RB Leonard Funchess

Can’t-miss games: Romulus at Redford Thurston, Oct. 5; Redford Thurston at Redford Union, Oct. 12.