We're down to the final eight in the Division 1 state boys soccer tournament, and by a show of hands, how many felt the last three Oakland County teams remaining would be Novi, Birmingham Groves and Walled Lake Central? Yes, not many hands have been raised, Kosmo knows. In fact, it's shocking that no team from the mighty OAA Red is left standing, but that's more of a product of those teams being lumped into the same district than them being overrated or anything silly like that. However, that is definitely the case now despite the fact that all three were under the radar for most of the season. Novi is ALWAYS good, but even the Wildcats didn't return a lot going into this season. However, the Wildcats and head coach Brian O'Leary just keep getting it done. Don Nakashima has been quite a striker and Nick Oakley continues to get it done in the clutch. Birmingham Groves returned a lot of players going into this season, but it didn't even win its own league, the OAA White. However, the Falcons got by a good Berkley team in districts before beating Macomb L'Anse Creuse North on Tuesday in a regional final. A trip to the state semifinals is definitely doable with a game against Utica Ford on tap on Thursday in the regional final. Finally, there's Kosmo's old buddy, Ike the Vike. The Vikings didn't have a great regular season, but are right there now following an overtime win over Traverse City Central in a regional final on Thursday. Beat Grand Blanc on Thursday at Troy, and the Vikings are right there in the state semifinals. Who would've thunk it? Then again, that can be said for all three teams going into Thursday.