Troy Athens to Face Romeo in First Playoffs Since 2004

All levels of the football team celebrated "Selection Sunday" together with a big pizza party as Athens found out it would be playing  Romeo this weekend in the school’s first playoff appearance since 2004.

Selection Sunday

Selection Sunday is one of the most exciting days of the high school football season – and it doesn't even involve any actually football games.

On the “Selection Sunday” program that aired on FOX Sports Detroit, football teams across the state found out the full list of qualifiers and pairings.

Teams that played nine games this season and had six wins automatically qualified (five wins for teams that played eight games). On the show, it was revealed that 234 teams automatically qualified this year, the lowest number ever.

This was good news for teams like Brother Rice and Avondale that finished on the bubble with just five wins. The field for the playoffs is 256 teams, so 22 teams that didn’t automatically qualify were able to get in.

Qualifying teams are divided into eight divisions of 32 schools each based on school size. There are four regions of eight teams in each division and within those regions there are two districts of four teams.

All times and dates for first round games will be announced by the MHSAA on Monday. Games will be played on Friday and Saturday.

Athens 'surprised' but ready for Romeo

Along with their families and Red Hawks cheerleaders, Athens (7-2) found out it would be playing be playing Romeo (7-2).

“We were kind of surprised, kind of had the mindset we were going to play (Macomb) Dakota,” Red Hawks head coach Josh Heppner said. “But it’s kind of nice, cause I had the opportunity to work with their big starter over there, Sam Brunner, he’s an excellent football player and athlete.”

Brunner is the Bulldogs tight end who is headed to Bowling Green on a full scholarship.

Heppner and his coaching staff won’t be starting from scratch when they prepare for the first round this week. Beside Brunner, the team has film of Romeo’s game with Troy from earlier in the season.

“We have some familiarity cause they played Troy week one, so we had some film on those guys,” Heppner said. “Things change as the season progresses, but we have a base idea of what the team is all about.”

The Bulldogs solid offensive line thas helped them rattle off six straight wins.

One advantage Romeo will have this weekend is its postseason experience. The school is making its seventh straight playoff appearance in a row. 

Heppner’s team will be riding some momentum of its own. The Red Hawks are coming off wins against Southfield and Troy.

“We just have to continue this thing we have going,” Heppner said. “It’s just staying focused and keeping a level head. We can’t let hype of playoffs get to us.”

If Athens wins, it would face the winner of the game between Macomb Dakota (6-3) and Utica Eisenhower (8-1).

More high school football playoffs matchups

For a complete list of pairings, see this MHSAA list.