1st & Goal: 2021 Week 1 Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
August 26, 2021
Welcome to what might be the most anticipated opening weekend in Michigan high school football history.
No one is saying life is back to pre-pandemic normal, of course. But after last football season saw multiple delays, an abbreviated regular season and altered playoff format, it’s hard not to be excited about most things beginning “as they always have” this weekend across our state.
And there are plenty of opportunities to dig in and enjoy.
Check out your local game, or one of those highlighted below – including a number of games from three showcase events, the Battle at the Big House at University of Michigan, the Xenith Prep Kick Off Classic at Wayne State and the Vehicle City Gridiron Classic at Kettering’s Atwood Stadium. There are also plenty of opportunities to tune in from home – more than 150 games will be streamed live on the NFHS Network or by partner Bally Sports Detroit, including two televised live on BSD’s primary cable channel. (Click for details.)
As in seasons past, our weekly football previews will point out intriguing games from every region of the state – opportunities to see a great story unfold no matter where fans live or are visiting that weekend. Records below are from the 2020 season. (Games from the aforementioned showcases are listed in the region of one of the competitors.)
Bay & Thumb
Davison (10-1) vs. Clarkston (7-1), Friday at U-M
A number of teams from the I-75 corridor and particularly the Flint suburbs will be playing showcase games this weekend, and this might be the biggest as well as a preview of a more significant rematch to come. Clarkston’s lone loss last season came by seven to Grand Blanc in a District Semifinal – a week before the Wolves would have faced Davison, which suffered its only defeat at Ford Field against West Bloomfield in the Division 1 championship game. The Cardinals also were Division 1 champs in 2019, with Clarkston most recently making the Finals as Division 1 runner-up in 2018.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Lapeer (3-4) vs. Grand Rapids Catholic Central (10-0) at U-M, Frankenmuth (11-1) vs. Goodrich (6-2) at Atwood Stadium. FRIDAY East Lansing (8-1) vs. Grand Blanc (7-2) at Atwood Stadium, Midland Dow (5-3) vs. Fenton (7-1) at U-M.
Greater Detroit
Detroit Catholic Central (9-1) vs. Clinton Township Chippewa Valley (3-4), Thursday at WSU
This might be the premier matchup of the Wayne State games, and also one where a 2020 record should be ignored when making that argument. Chippewa Valley may have lost four games last season, but those defeats came by a combined 21 points and none by more than nine. DCC, meanwhile, suffered its only loss to Davison, in a Division 1 Regional Final. The Shamrocks were especially tough defensively last fall, giving up 10 points per game, while winning a Detroit Catholic League Central that sent Warren De La Salle Collegiate to the Division 2 championship game.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Canton (8-1) vs. Dearborn Fordson (5-3) at Wayne State, Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (7-2) at Macomb Dakota (6-2). FRIDAY Oak Park (5-6) at Orchard Lake St. Mary's (2-4). SATURDAY Southfield Arts & Technology (3-4) vs. Detroit Cass Tech (8-1) at Wayne State.
Mid-Michigan
DeWitt (12-0) vs. Traverse City Central (9-2), Thursday at U-M
The Panthers are coming off their first Finals championship, claiming the Division 3 title last season, and might be even better on offense this fall with multiple playmakers returning after the team scored at least 37 points in all but one game. Central missed making Ford Field by one win, falling to eventual champion Muskegon Mona Shores in a Division 2 Semifinal. The Trojans scored at least 30 points in all but one game last season and should be a handful in an intriguing Michigan Stadium clash.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Olivet (7-2) at Charlotte (2-5). FRIDAY Freeland (8-2) at Clare (7-1), Fowler (6-3) at Carson City-Crystal (6-2), Lansing Everett (did not play) at Lansing Sexton (did not play).
Northern Lower Peninsula
Reed City (8-0) at Cadillac (7-3), Thursday
Rewind again to when the MHSAA football season concluded at Ford Field, and Cadillac was one of the surprises of championship weekend. The Vikings reached the Finals for the first time, and while being held scoreless by Detroit Country Day in the Division 4 championship game they also put up one of their most impressive defensive performances holding the Yellowjackets to 13 points. Reed City’s story, though, had to feel a little unfinished – after starting out with eight straight wins, the Coyotes’ last playoff game before the COVID-related break in November was canceled, as was their Regional Final when play resumed in January.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Traverse City West (6-2) vs. Midland (8-1) at U-M, Beaverton (6-2) at Lake City (2-4), Houghton Lake (4-3) at Maple City Glen Lake (5-3), Kingsley (8-0) at McBain (6-1).
Southeast & Border
New Lothrop (11-0) at Jackson Lumen Christi (5-5), Thursday
These two have made a combined six trips to Ford Field with five championships over the last five seasons. New Lothrop is coming off its second Division 7 title in three seasons in January, while Lumen Christi was stopped short in the Regional Finals – a week before it would have met New Lothrop with a Finals bid on the line. This is also an intriguing matchup between the state’s longest-serving and third-winningest football coach, Lumen’s Herb Brogan (373-89 over 42 seasons), against a younger leader on the path to join the all-time greats in Clint Galvas (129-15 over 13).
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Ithaca (8-1) at Hudson (4-4). FRIDAY Ottawa Lake Whiteford (6-3) at Blissfield (8-1), Michigan Center (6-2) at Homer (5-3), Saline (8-2) vs. Hudsonville (5-3) at U-M.
Southwest Corridor
Portage Central (3-5) at Stevensville Lakeshore (6-3) , Thursday
After not awarding a league champion last season because of the abbreviated regular-season schedule, the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference gets rolling immediately with two frequent contenders facing off. Central and Lakeshore didn’t play last season, but Central has won two straight in the otherwise-annual series.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Lake Odessa Lakewood (3-4) at Battle Creek Pennfield (5-4), Grand Ledge (5-3) at Coldwater (5-2), Cassopolis (2-5) at Schoolcraft (9-2). FRIDAY Battle Creek Lakeview (5-3) vs. Battle Creek Harper Creek (5-3).
Upper Peninsula
Negaunee (6-4) at Iron Mountain (7-2), Thursday
Once the regular season finally got started last fall, the Upper Peninsula proved quickly captivating as the status of best team north of Mackinac Bridge seemed to change hands weekly. Iron Mountain was the last remaining in the playoffs, reaching the Division 8 Regional Finals and missing the Semifinals with a one-point defeat. Both of these teams stand to be in the conversation again not only across the peninsula and statewide but more locally as the Western Peninsula Athletic Conference Copper (and Silver) reinstates league play after also not awarding a 2020 champ.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Gladstone (2-4) at Calumet (4-4), Bark River-Harris (5-3) at Gwinn (4-4), Houghton (2-3) at Ishpeming Westwood (5-2), Sault Ste. Marie (6-3) at St. Ignace (1-6).
West Michigan
Edwardsburg (9-1) at Montague (12-0), Thursday
The anticipation for this matchup should rival any this weekend including for the games being played at the three opening showcases. Montague put together one of the most impressive 2020 runs in any division on the way to claiming the Division 6 title but enters this fall with a new coach and quarterback. Edwardsburg missed returning to Ford Field with a two-point loss to Cadillac in a Division 4 Semifinal and likely would have reached double-digit wins for a sixth-straight season if not for the abbreviated schedule.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Zeeland West (5-1) at East Grand Rapids (6-4), Muskegon Mona Shores (12-0) at Lowell (4-4). FRIDAY Grand Rapids South Christian (8-2) at Grand Rapids Christian (4-4), Hudsonville Unity Christian (7-0) at Hopkins (5-2).
8-Player
Gaylord St. Mary (7-2) at Pickford (7-2), Friday
These two won’t see each other again when the playoffs roll around – Pickford is in Division 1 this season and St. Mary in Division 2. But if recent history serves, this opener could be a primer for the kind of matchup both could earn a few months from now. Pickford made the Regional Finals last season and has pushed at least that far into the playoffs the last five seasons. Gaylord St. Mary is coming off two straight Regional Finals trips, both in Division 1 as well before moving into Division 2 for this fall.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Mendon (6-2 in 11-player) at Vandercook Lake (4-2). FRIDAY Merrill (6-2) at Marion (8-2), Wyoming Tri-unity Christian (3-5) at Martin (8-2), Onaway (6-1) at Indian River Inland Lakes (8-2).
PHOTO: Football stadium lights, like these last season at Muskegon High School, will brighten the sky again for the 2021 season beginning this weekend. (Photo by Tim Reilly.)
Flint Elite Beginning to See Results as Program Continues to Grow
By
Paul Costanzo
Special for MHSAA.com
September 4, 2025
Deion Wright isn’t shy about his early feelings for the Flint Elite football program he watched as a middle schooler.
“The first couple of years it was tough,” said Wright, who entered Flint New Standard Academy in sixth grade. “There were a couple times where I was begging my dad to let me transfer.”
Wright did not transfer, and as the Flint Elite Warriors – a cooperative program between New Standard and Madison Academy in Burton – came under the direction of coach Paul Carmona, Wright and his classmates have seen the benefits of sticking it out.
That started with some late-season success a year ago, and continued in a massive way this past Friday, when the Warriors defeated Erie Mason 46-20 as part of the Vehicle City Gridiron Classic at Atwood Stadium.
“It felt amazing,” said Wright, who threw five touchdown passes in the win. “It brought back memories, a lot of memories, and I’m glad I could do it one more time with my teammates. It brought back memories from Pop Warner, and from being (at Vehicle City) last year watching the games. We weren’t invited, but I went and watched. It was a great opportunity that we were presented, and we had to make the most of it.”
The win at Atwood is the first step in what Flint Elite is hoping can be a special season. The program is in its sixth year as a co-op, and second back playing a varsity schedule after some growing pains. The Warriors previously dropped to JV only and forfeited all varsity games in 2023, and had 26 freshmen on the varsity team in 2024.
But, with seven of those freshmen starting on offense alone – four along the offensive line – the Warriors showed growth through a 3-6 season, playing several tight games and going 3-1 over their final four.
Now, 11 offensive starters and nine on defense are back for the varsity, and the program has grown to the point where it has a JV team as well.
“When I came in, it was just trying to change the culture,” Carmona said. “There were not a lot of guys that realized what it takes to win in football. But we tried to change the mentality of everyone, that they’re student-athletes first, and good kids first. We’re trying to get them to be good kids – open doors, ‘Yes, sir,’ ‘Yes, ma’am,’ – and if we can win some football games along the way, I’m happy doing that. Last year was tough for us, they were learning what it took to play varsity football. But we ended last year with a couple wins, and that got us excited for the next year.”
At the heart of this turnaround are five seniors who have seen all the ups and downs. That includes Warriors quarterback Wright, receivers Jeffrey Turner, Razach Spillers and DiGion Perkins, and running back Patrick Isaacs. Some of those seniors also have been part of the basketball turnaround for Flint Elite, as the team won its first District and Regional titles this past season.
“(Wright) has been a QB his whole life, and he was here as a freshman and sophomore when things were rough,” Carmona said. “He loves Flint Elite, and loves being a part of the New Standard Academy. I’m happy for this senior group to be able to see the other side of the stick now.”
There’s plenty of work still to be done, of course, and that starts with a Genesee Athletic Conference opener Friday night at Genesee.
“We think pretty highly of what we’re trying to do around here,” Carmona said. “I know everyone says state championship, and that’s the ultimate goal, but we wanted to build it up: win a conference championship, make the playoffs, just stuff the school has never done before. We’re teaching these kids how to win, what it takes to win and the work you have to put in. We saw that the talent was there. The sky is the limit for these young men. I’ve got guys that are trying to pursue playing football at the next level.”
Wright is one of those, and this past Friday, he received his first college football offer.
“It felt great – it came as a shock,” Wright said. “I was talking to my dad and our athletic director came up and told me. It was just a shock. I saw the pride on my dad’s face once he told me. When my teammates found out, they were really hype.”
It was a special moment for Wright on a day full of them, and those have been made even more special because of what he and his teammates have gone through, together.
“It’s great that I’m still here with people I’ve known my whole life,” he said. “It’s a great feeling knowing that I’m able to accomplish things not only with my football teammates, but people I’ve grown up with. I know their whole story. We’re a family.”
Paul Costanzo served as a sportswriter at The Port Huron Times Herald from 2006-15, including three years as lead sportswriter, and prior to that as sports editor at the Hillsdale Daily News from 2005-06. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Genesee, Lapeer, St. Clair, Sanilac, Huron, Tuscola, Saginaw, Bay, Arenac, Midland and Gladwin counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Flint Elite’s Phil Matthews carries the ball with a defender approaching. (Middle) Warriors quarterback Deion Wright throws a pass during warmups. (Below) Flint Elite takes a photo together after winning its Vehicle City Gridiron Classic matchup with Erie Mason. (Photos courtesy of the Flint Elite football program.)