EDWARDSBURG — Edwardsburg will make its inaugural trip to the state football finals, while Grand Rapids Catholic Central will be trying to win its second consecutive Division 4 title at Ford Field in Detroit Friday night.

The Eddies (12-1) advances to the state championship game for the first time in school history with a 32-21 win over River Rouge in Jackson on Saturday.

The Cougars (13-0) will defend their title following a 24-0 victory over Escanaba in Traverse City.

Edwardsburg did not throw for a single yard in beating the Panthers on Tony Dungy Field at Withington Stadium.

Instead, the Eddies ran the ball 73 times for 435 yards.

Grand Rapids Catholic Central also had a good day on the ground, led by Nolan Fugate, who ran for 262 yards and scored three touchdowns on 43 carries.

Fugate now has 2,698 yards on the season and 32 touchdowns. He has more than 4,000 career rushing yards.

The Cougars will be attempting to win the school’s fourth state championship after also taking titles in 2010 and 1987.

On its way to the 2010 championship, Grand Rapids Catholic Central defeated Edwardsburg 46-31 in the semifinals.

“They have been there,” said Edwardsburg coach Kevin Bartz about the Cougars. “They are undefeated again this season. They have their leading rusher in school history. They are well coached and well disciplined. They have played a fair share of ‘T’ teams over time, so they will have a good idea of what to do against us.”

Being that the Eddies are making their first trip to Detroit, Bartz and his staff will be not only preparing against the Cougars, but the “awe” of playing in Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions.

“We are going to get there plenty early enough,” he said. “We are going to settle in and watch the game before us. It is the awe factor of seeing the place for the first time. I think our kids were pretty comfortable going to Jackson yesterday (Saturday). A lot of those kids have already been in big games and are not intimidated by anybody. It was good to see that.

“The newness of going to the big stage is there, but I think this is one of those teams that does not get really hyped up. I do not think it will be a problem for them. They are really a pretty low-key group. They are business-like. A lot of these kids spend time studying film and breaking down stuff themselves. So, they have a pretty good idea of what to expect. It is not just us (coaches) telling them that this is what they have to watch for. They have a pretty good idea before we get to them.”

Edwardsburg seniors Matt Hepler and Nick Bradley said they are excited about the prospect of playing in Detroit.

“We came together,” said Hepler, the Eddies’ starting quarterback. “We have a good team. We have a good mess. We have been playing for a long time. Now we have to start watching film tonight actually because we have one less day to prepare. Really, we just have to go to state, have a good time and work hard. It feels amazing that we won this one. I cannot even imagine what that day is going to feel like. I am so excited.”

“Last year we were so close and to now punch our ticket to Ford Field is a feeling like no other,” Bradley, who led the Eddies in rushing in the semifinals with 103 yards, said. “It is going to be an amazing feeling. I am already looking forward to it.”