Two of Michigan’s 28 unbeaten teams heading into Selection Sunday, Detroit Catholic Central and South Lyon, are entering the opening round of the state playoffs in very different situations.

For South Lyon, it means immediately replaying a rivalry matchup with South Lyon East, just one week after defeating the Cougars 28-6 at home.

This time around, things differ from 2022 when the same schools met in Week 9 and then again in the postseason opener. That year, South Lyon dropped the regular-season meeting 27-21 but turned around to beat the Cougars 30-27 in district play. To be fair, the gap between the two teams was much smaller then.

Still, the Lions know they must stay focused, as beating any rival twice in a row is never easy.

“I’m not a fan, never have been, of playing the same opponent the following week, but I wasn’t shocked,” said Lions head coach Jeff Henson after seeing East on their playoff bracket. “It’s happened before. The number of D2 teams in our region makes it an easy matchup. We have a ton of respect for East. Jacob (Topp) does a great job. It’s a crosstown rivalry — they know us, we know them, and they’ll give us their best shot.

“You look at our group, there are quality programs. Dexter’s solid, Livonia Franklin’s always strong and joins our league next year. It’s exciting to see new opponents.”

Henson is used to the challenge of guiding an unbeaten team into the playoffs, having done it in 2018 and 2021 — the latter ending with a state semifinal run. “This is our third time, and every one is different,” he said. “This senior class deserves a ton of credit. They started as sophomores when we went 2-7 and took their lumps. Last year we won four games, but we were competitive in nearly all of them. This group defines perseverance.”

Together with a junior class that hasn’t lost a game at any level, the Lions have fully embraced change. Henson and his staff shifted from their usual spread Wing-T to a traditional under-center Wing-T system. “Our kids have bought in, and it fits our personnel perfectly,” Henson said. “But we can still go back to spreading it out when necessary — it’s still part of our playbook.”

While many might point to back-to-back road wins over playoff teams Walled Lake Western and Waterford Mott as defining moments, Henson believes the opening win over Lakeland, 42-14, was the real spark.

“That first game was crucial,” he said. “Not just for league standings but to prove our system worked and that the players believed in it. We faced our four toughest opponents on the road — Lakeland, Milford, Western, and Mott — and took on a mindset of proving ourselves weekly. The kids really embraced that.”

Meanwhile, Catholic Central entered the postseason with big expectations, though nothing was guaranteed — especially with a tough Prep Bowl matchup against Detroit King on Saturday night.

“We’ve had games where we didn’t finish how we should’ve, but I thought we played a really good team (Saturday),” said Shamrocks head coach Justin Cessante after a 26-14 win. “It was a full team effort. The defense bent but didn’t break, and the offense stepped up when it had to. We just need to learn how to close games out when we’re in control. That’s what championship teams do, and we’re getting there. You learn from those big leads, because strong programs will make you pay.”

Few doubted the Shamrocks’ talent or their potential to finish at Ford Field, especially with quarterback Duke Banda and his offensive weapons. But the biggest question mark — the offensive line — has turned into a strength.

“There are four new starters up front, and we’re still averaging over 30 points per game,” Cessante said. “Our four juniors — Eric Anderson, Joshua Peters, Ryan Richardson, and Austin Woodlock — along with Benny Eziuka, have really stepped up.”

He also praised senior safety Beckett Glynn and running back Cedric Williams for embodying the team’s relentless mentality. Catholic Central will first face Hartland, with the winner meeting Brighton or West Bloomfield. The Shamrocks ended the Lakers’ season last year with a 41-14 district title win.

“We expected Hartland, so we’ve started prep for them,” Cessante said. “West Bloomfield could be next, and there’s always tension from last year. Hartland’s a tough, disciplined team with an interesting scheme, so our alignment and focus must be sharp. That’s the beauty of playoff football — you see familiar faces and fresh ones. We haven’t played Hartland since 2012.”

As for the path back to Ford Field, Cessante added, “I’ve been part of seven state title games as a player and coach. There are always constants — the harder you work, the luckier you get. How hard you play determines the breaks you earn, but nothing about it comes easy.”