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1st & Goal: 2021 Week 8 in Review

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

October 18, 2021

Week 8 showed the potential to end up arguably the most jaw-dropping this football regular season – and it’s fair to say the action met expectations.

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As teams continued playing for league titles and positioning for one of 288 playoff spots, we saw the usual share of dominating performances – but also a couple of headline-making comebacks, an important overtime win, and more unexpectedly a handful of games determined by two-point conversion stops.

The playoff field will be selected in six days, and we’ll talk more about that soon. For now, here are many of the most intriguing results and notes from the weekend that was:

Bay & Thumb

HEADLINER Grand Blanc 30, Lapeer 6 The Bobcats (8-0) are Saginaw Valley League Red champions for the first time, clinching a share of the title with their first win over Lapeer (6-2) since joining the SVL in 2018. While Grand Blanc’s offensive standouts often get much of the attention, the defense stopped a Lightning offense averaging 46 points per game – and the Bobcats now have held their last five opponents to seven points or fewer. Click for more from the Flint Journal.

Watch list Croswell-Lexington 30, Armada 14 The Pioneers (7-1) finished their first perfect run through the Blue Water Area Conference since 2012, and this win over Armada (6-2) was the closest of six league victories on the field (the seventh was a forfeit win).

Remember this one Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker 21, Bad Axe 20 The Greater Thumb Conference West finished with a three-way shared championship between these two and Reese after Laker (6-2) stopped the Hatchets (7-1) on a late two-point conversion attempt.

More shoutouts Mount Pleasant 31, Bay City Western 16 The Oilers (8-0) clinched a share of the SVL Blue title, avoiding what would have been a three-way tie for first had Western (6-2) won. Lake Fenton 42, Fenton 6 The Blue Devils (7-1) won this Flint Metro League crossover, also its first matchup with the Tigers (4-4) since 2005.

Greater Detroit

HEADLINER Detroit Martin Luther King 21, Detroit Cass Tech 15 The Crusaders (7-1) made it a season sweep over Cass Tech with this comeback win in the Detroit Public School League Blue championship game. The Technicians (5-3) led 15-0 at halftime, but King scored 21 unanswered points during the second half including the eventual game winners on Lynn Wyche-El’s interception return for a touchdown with 6:50 to play. Click for more from the Detroit Free Press.

Watch list Dearborn 13, Dearborn Fordson 10 The Pioneers (6-2) guaranteed their best record since 2016 and helped give the Kensington Lakes Activities Association East standings a final reshuffling that saw Belleville emerge as the outright champ. Fordson (6-2) and Livonia Churchill also had been tied for first entering the weekend; Churchill (6-2) lost to Livonia Stevenson 13-6.

Remember this one Redford Union 34, Melvindale 14 After three straight seasons of missing on a league title by a win, the Panthers closed the Western Wayne Athletic Conference schedule undefeated (7-1) when a win by Melvindale (5-3) would’ve created a three-way tie for first.

More shoutouts Detroit Central 30, Detroit Pershing 0 The Trail Blazers (8-0) picked up their third shutout in six games on the field this season to win the PSL Gold championship against Pershing (5-3), which hadn’t given up a point in three straight games. Clarkston Everest Collegiate 27, Royal Oak Shrine 13 This winner-take-all matchup for the Detroit Catholic League Intersectional #2 championship went to the Mountaineers (7-1), who ran their league title streak to five. Runner-up Shrine fell to 4-4 overall.

Mid-Michigan

HEADLINER Hartland 21, Canton 0 The Eagles (7-1) locked up a shared KLAA West title in impressive fashion, with their fourth shutout this fall also the first time Canton (5-3) hadn’t scored a point since a 2006 Division 1 Semifinal. Hartland and Howell are co-champs, and Hartland also moved to seven wins for the first time since 2014. Click for more from the Livingston Daily Press & Argus.

Watch list Howell 21, Brighton 14 The Highlanders (7-1) went ahead for good during the game’s final minutes to clinch their KLAA West share, moving to seven wins for the first time since 2010 with their first victory over Brighton (4-4) since 2017.

Remember this one East Lansing 27, Grand Ledge 12 Even with one of the state’s most impressive schedules, East Lansing (5-3) had fallen back in the Division 2 playoff field. But this win over the Division 1 Comets (6-2) sent the Trojans back into a comfortable spot, from No. 19 to tied for No. 10 in D2 with a game to play.

More shoutouts Olivet 20, Williamston 19 The Eagles (6-2) won a matchup of league champs, as the best from the Greater Lansing Activities Conference held off a comeback attempt by the Hornets (5-3), one of three teams that shared the title in the Capital Area Activities Conference Red. Beal City 14, Sand Creek 12 A late replacement game for both became a memorable one as Beal City (7-1) held on while on the road at Sand Creek (5-3).

Northern Lower Peninsula

HEADLINER East Jordan 22, Harbor Springs 14 (2OT) The Red Devils (6-2) held on to set up this week’s winner-take-all with Frankfort for the championship in the Northern Michigan Football Conference Legacy division. Additionally, East Jordan (5-2) has tied its most wins for a season since 2003 and put itself in position to move into the Division 7 playoff field sitting No. 36 with a game to play. Click for more from the Petoskey News-Review.

Watch list Cadillac 10, Portland 7 Not that anyone questioned if Cadillac (6-2) would be a player again in the Division 4 playoffs next month – but this win on the road at Division 5 No. 6 Portland reinforced that the Vikings and their dynamic defense will be in the mix.

Remember this one Traverse City Central 56, Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice 13 Not only did the Trojans (7-1) reach 56 points for the fifth time in eight games this fall, but they did so against a Brother Rice team that moved to 5-3 and hadn’t given up more than 30 points in a game in nearly two calendar years.

More shoutouts Charlevoix 28, Mancelona 20 The Rayders (7-1) reached seven wins for the third season in a row and moved up to No. 11 in Division 7, while Mancelona (5-2) remains in position to join the field as well at No. 26. McBain 44, Manton 20 The Ramblers (5-3) can breathe a bit easier also in Division 7 after moving up four spots to No. 24 with this win over the Rangers (3-5).

Southeast & Border

HEADLINER Saline 42, Dexter 40 This was Saline’s closest Southeastern Conference Red game since 2016, but the Hornets managed to extend their league winning streak to 45 in clinching the championship outright. The teams traded touchdowns during the final minute, but the decider came a few minutes earlier when Saline was able to stop a Dexter two-point conversion try that would’ve tied the score at 35-35. The Dreadnaughts fell to 5-3. Click for more from the Ann Arbor News.

Watch list Chelsea 24, St. Joseph 14 The Bulldogs (8-0) have been among the top three teams in Division 4 all fall and moved back into the No. 1 spot with this win over the Division 3 Bears (5-3).

Remember this one Addison 52, Napoleon 34 The Panthers cemented the outright Cascades Conference championship and in moving to 8-0 have their most wins in a season since 2006. Napoleon (5-3) had given up only 98 points total coming into the weekend.

More shoutouts Jackson Lumen Christi 33, Parma Western 0 The Titans (7-2) sent Western (5-3) into fourth place and earned one of three shares of the Interstate 8 Athletic Conference championship, with Hastings and Battle Creek Harper Creek also winning this weekend to tie for first. Reading 20, Homer 6 This wasn’t for a league title, but Big 8 Conference runner-up Reading (6-2) bumped up five spots in Division 8 to No. 13 with the win over the Division 7 Trojans (5-3).

Southwest Corridor

HEADLINER Constantine 32, Kalamazoo United 14 The Falcons (8-0) clinched a share of the Southwestern Athletic Conference Lakeshore championship, continuing their season-long streak of double-digit wins while handing Kalamazoo United (5-3) its lone league loss. The championship is Constantine’s third straight, and it can claim the title outright this week against winless Coloma. Click for more from FOX 17.

Watch list Battle Creek Lakeview 44, Stevensville Lakeshore 29 After a Week 7 loss to Mattawan severely hampered Lakeview’s chances in the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference, the Spartans (5-3) bounced back quickly to keep Lakeshore (6-2) – tied for first heading into the game – from claiming a share of the title.  

Remember this one Portage Central 41, Battle Creek Central 16 Despite losing its season opener to Lakeshore, Portage Central didn’t lose again in SMAC play and clinched the title with this win over the Bearcats (3-5) – who remain in contention for a Division 3 playoff spot.

More shoutouts Three Rivers 28, Plainwell 20 Two weeks ago, Three Rivers (5-3) was one spot outside the potential Division 4 playoff field. But wins over Sturgis and now Plainwell have the Wildcats back up to No. 22 – and tied there with the Trojans (5-3). Vicksburg 35, Paw Paw 13 The Bulldogs (7-1) have moved up in Division 4 four straight weeks and now sit No. 4 with Paw Paw (5-3) at No. 25 in the same potential field.

Upper Peninsula

HEADLINER Ishpeming Westwood 50, Bark River-Harris 8 Co-leaders in the Western Peninsula Athletic Conference divisions met for an intriguing tune-up before both play for league championships this week. The Copper’s Westwood (7-1) came away with its seventh game this season holding its opponent to eight points for fewer as it prepares for Negaunee this week. Bark River-Harris (5-3) will see Ishpeming for the outright Iron title and might be rooting for Westwood this week too as the Broncos need as many playoff points as possible to move up in the Division 8 field. Click for more from the Marquette Mining Journal.

Watch list Marquette 28, Traverse City West 15 Receiving one of the biggest rankings boosts this week was Marquette (6-2), which moved up 14 spots to No. 12 in Division 3 with this win over the Division 1 Titans (6-2).

Remember this one Calumet 30, Hancock 0 While most eyes will be on the Westwood/Negaunee matchup, Calumet (6-2) moved into position to claim a share of the Copper title as well and will face L’Anse to finish the league schedule.

More shoutouts Negaunee 26, Houghton 6 The Miners (7-1) moved up the Division 6 rankings for the third-straight week, up to No. 11 while also setting up this week’s matchup with Westwood. Kingsford 35, Petoskey 21 The Flivvers (5-3) received a nice bump to No. 15 in Division 5 with a solid win over the Division 3 Northmen (3-5).

West Michigan

HEADLINER Grand Rapids Catholic Central 41, Cedar Springs 40 After the Red Hawks (6-2) led for the majority of the first three quarters, GRCC went ahead to stay with 2:32 to play in the third – but not without a dramatic finish. Cedar Springs scored with 38 seconds left to pull within a point of the lead, but the Cougars (8-0) stopped the two-point conversion try and clinched a share of the Ottawa-Kent Conference Gold title. Click for more from the Grand Rapids Press.

Watch list Muskegon Catholic Central 24, Centreville 16 The Crusaders (7-1) moved up to a season-best No. 6 in Division 7 by getting past Division 8 then-No. 7 Centreville and scoring more points than defensively-dominant Centreville had given up over the last five games combined.

Remember this one Whitehall 34, Montague 14 This result created a three-team shared West Michigan Conference championship with these two and Muskegon Oakridge, and for Whitehall much more with context. It was the Vikings’ first win over Montague since 2014, and the league title is the program’s first since 1999.  

More shoutouts Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central 31, Byron Center 0 The Rangers (7-1) clinched a share of the O-K White championship while avenging last season’s 35-14 loss to the Bulldogs, who shared the 2020 title with FHC. Hudsonville Unity Christian 69, Coopersville 7 The Crusaders (8-0) clinched a share of the O-K Blue championship and sent Coopersville (5-3) into a tie for fourth place.

Marion/Vestaburg football

8-Player

HEADLINER Lake Linden-Hubbell 36, Crystal Falls Forest Park 6 The Lakes (6-2) threw a bit of a curveball into this week’s anticipated Great Lakes Eight Conference West title decider, knocking Forest Park (7-1) out of a tie for first place and in doing so helping leader Powers North Central to a share of the championship. Although it’s out of the league race, Lake Linden-Hubbell also may end up making the playoffs in large part because of this win – the Lakes moved up three spots to No. 12 in Division 2.  Forest Park faces North Central this week and still has a chance to earn a GLEC West share. Click for more from the Iron Mountain Daily News.

Watch list Rogers City 36, Mio 28 The 8-player format is suiting the Hurons (8-0) well in their first season. Rogers City is up to No. 5 in Division 1 with this win over the Thunderbolts (6-2) arguably its best.

Remember this one Rudyard 27, Gaylord St. Mary 0 This could have playoff qualification impacts for both teams. The Snowbirds (5-3) fell from No. 13 to No. 17 in Division 2, and Rudyard (6-2) moved up from No. 18 to No. 13 in Division 1.  

More shoutouts Kinde North Huron 50, Peck 18 The Warriors (8-0) clinched the outright North Central Thumb League Stripes championship, their second straight, while sending Peck to 5-3. Marion 36, Vestaburg 16 While the Eagles (7-1) moved into the No. 2 spot in Division 2, Vestaburg (5-3) fell to two spots out of the Division 1 field with similarly situated Bear Lake on the schedule this week.

Second Half’s weekly “1st & Goal” previews and reviews are powered by MI Student Aid, a part of the Office of Postsecondary Financial Planning located within the Michigan Department of Treasury. MI Student Aid encourages students to pursue postsecondary education by providing access to student financial resources and information. MI Student Aid administers the state’s 529 college savings programs (MET/MESP), as well as scholarship and grant programs that help make college Accessible, Affordable and Attainable for you. Connect with MI Student Aid at www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid and find more information on Facebook and Twitter @mistudentaid.

PHOTOS (Top) Grand Blanc's Elijah Jackson-Anderson (2) charges into the Lapeer defense behind his blockers Friday. (Middle) A Pewamo-Westphalia ball carrier is wrapped up by a Bath defender during the Pirates' 41-0 win. (Below) A Vestaburg defender wraps up a Marion ball carrier. (Photos by Terry Lyons, Christine McCallister, and High School Sports Scene, respectively.)

Drive for Detroit: Playoff Week 1 Review

November 4, 2019

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Everything starts fresh in the playoffs. It’s not supposed to matter which teams have dominated during the regular season or won the first time when two rivals are set to meet again.

When coaches need a little help convincing their players of any of that, they should remember this first weekend of the 2019 postseason.

Upsets abounded, rematches reversed, and a few brackets saw some serious shake-up during the Pre-District and Pre-Regional rounds in 11- and 8-player, respectively.

Our weekly review, playoff edition, glances at some of the results from every division as we move one step closer to Ford Field and the Superior Dome.

"Drive for Detroit" is sponsored by MI Student Aid.

11-Player

Division 1

HEADLINER Macomb Dakota 34, Clinton Township Chippewa Valley 13 The reigning Division 1 champion Big Reds (9-1) had won 23 straight games including three during that time over rival Dakota, but this year’s first meeting was an indication of what might be possible. Chippewa Valley won the Week 6 meeting only 27-21, and unlike last year – when the Big Reds won the regular-season game by seven and the playoff rematch by 41 – Dakota flipped the result for perhaps the biggest upset from a weekend full of them. Click for more from the Macomb Daily and see highlights below from State Champs Sports Network.

District Digest East Kentwood 38, Rockford 12 This nearly overtook the above for biggest upset statewide. A week after Rockford (8-2) downed East Kentwood 17-7 to lock up the Ottawa-Kent Conference Red title, the Falcons (6-4) stormed back to hand the Rams their earliest playoff exit since 2002. Belleville 49, Saline 10 This matchup of 2018 semifinalists went Belleville’s way big as the Tigers (10-0) achieved double-digit wins for the third straight season and held the Hornets (8-2) to their fewest points this season. Detroit Cass Tech 24, Grosse Pointe South 17 The Technicians (6-4) may have made the playoffs as an additional qualifier, but they always are tough to beat in the postseason and advanced to the District Finals for the 12th straight year. The Blue Devils finished 7-3. Davison 35, Romeo 21 The Cardinals (8-2) bounced back from a Week 9 loss to Lapeer and also a first-round playoff exit a year ago to get past Romeo (7-3) and earn a rematch this week with the Lightning.

Division 2

HEADLINER Detroit U-D Jesuit 34, North Farmington 21 The Cubs (7-3) did win the Detroit Catholic League AA title this fall, but had to beat Dearborn Divine Child a second time Week 9 to make the playoffs as an automatic qualifier. So on paper, they may not have been expected to hand North Farmington (9-1) its first and only loss – although digging deeper, it’s key to remember Jesuit’s defeats were to annual powers Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, Detroit Catholic Central and Warren De La Salle Collegiate – valuable preparation for games of this magnitude. Click for more from the Oakland Press.

District Digest Farmington 12, Oak Park 6 The Falcons (8-1) fell short of winning the Oakland Activities Association Blue because of a four-point loss to North Farmington, but they’ll play for a District title after this win over the OAA White champion Knights (8-2). Midland Dow 27, Traverse City Central 24 The Chargers (7-3) are riding as hot a streak as any team in the state and followed up a league title-clinching win Week 9 by edging the Big North Conference champion Trojans (8-2). Muskegon Mona Shores 20, Midland 13 The Sailors (8-2) began a march they hope leads to a second-straight trip to Ford Field with a second straight win over the Chemics (8-2) after also defeating them in last year’s Semifinal. Port Huron 27, Port Huron Northern 21 The Big Reds (7-3) broke a three-game losing streak against their crosstown rival as they continued their best season since 2014. Northern (8-2) had won the first meeting Week 7, 29-26, but lost star defensive end Braiden McGregor to a season-ending injury in that victory.

Division 3

HEADLINER St. Johns 17, Mason 7 The Redwings (7-3) have made nice strides under first-year coach Andy Schmitt this fall, with their best record since 2015. But they’ve also made big improvements over just the last five weeks – St. Johns had fallen to Mason 46-7 in Week 5, and the Bulldogs (9-1) went on to achieve their first undefeated regular season. The rematch win gave the Redwings a 6-2 advantage on Mason since the teams became part of the same league in 2014. Click for more from the Lansing State Journal and see highlights from WILX.

District Digest DeWitt 21, East Lansing 13 On the other side of the District from St. Johns, DeWitt (8-2) avenged its only Capital Area Activities Conference Blue defeat by downing the Trojans (7-3) in a matchup of two of the three teams that shared the league title. Flint Kearsley 20, Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice 19 The Hornets (8-2) made their first playoff game since 1998 count winning a game that saw both teams score during the final minutes. Rice finished 6-4. Cedar Springs 34, Mount Pleasant 7 The Red Hawks (9-1) will play for a District title for the third-straight season after opening the playoffs for the second straight with a win over the Oilers (7-3). Zeeland West 38, Zeeland East 7 The Dux (9-1) avoided the rematch upset that had occurred between these rivals in the playoffs three of the last seven years, finishing a season sweep of the neighboring Chix (5-5).

Division 4

HEADLINER Sparta 35, Muskegon Orchard View 0 This looked on paper like potentially one of the first round’s best matchups, and Sparta (9-1) showed up big in its first playoff game since 2013. The Spartans not only handed Orchard View (9-1) its lone loss, but shut out an offense averaging 40.7 points per game entering the weekend. See highlights below from FOX 17.

District Digest Grand Rapids South Christian 31, Grand Rapids Christian 28 The Sailors had given Grand Rapids Christian (7-3) one of the latter’s two closest O-K Gold games, losing by just seven Week 7. South Christian (6-4) avenged that 27-20 defeat, hanging on after a late Eagles score. Cadillac 35, Escanaba 12 The Vikings’ first playoff win since 2013 came at Escanaba (7-3) against a team that had won three straight District titles. Cadillac (6-4) heads back over the Bridge this week to Sault Ste. Marie. Fowlerville 29, Goodrich 28 (OT) The Gladiators (7-3) went for a 2-point conversion after its overtime touchdown and knocked out a league champion in the Martians (7-3). Milan 14, Carleton Airport 13 The Big Reds (10-0) narrowly escaped joining the list of those who suffered rematch downfalls, getting past Airport (6-4) for the second time in three weeks after winning the Week 8 meeting 20-6.

Division 5

HEADLINER Almont 30, Richmond 20 The Raiders traveled to Richmond (8-2) for the second time in four weeks and came home victorious again against the team it defeated previously to clinch a share of the Blue Water Area Conference title. Almont (10-0), which then won the league outright, also reached double-digit wins for the second-straight season and will play this week for what would be its first District title since 2014. Click for more from the Port Huron Times Herald.

District Digest Kalamazoo United 16, Berrien Springs 12 The Titans (6-4) are surging, claiming a share of their league title Week 9 against previously-unbeaten Schoolcraft and this week ending the season for another undefeated team in the Shamrocks (8-1). Lansing Catholic 28, Olivet 21 The Cougars (9-1) got past Olivet (8-2) in the first round for the third-straight year to again earn a chance to avenge its only loss against rival Portland. Dearborn Heights Robichaud 29, Dundee 28 A fourth-quarter score gave the Bulldogs (8-2) their first playoff win since 2015 and sent Dundee to 5-5, still tying its winningest season since 2012. Whitmore Lake 45, Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard 28 The Trojans (8-2) earned their first postseason win since 2006 by avenging a 22-20 Week 5 loss to the Fighting Irish (5-5).

Division 6

HEADLINER Sanford Meridian 19, Ithaca 14 Talk about perseverance. The Mustangs (7-3) are in the playoffs for the first time since 2015 and after three straight sub-.500 seasons. During their last three-year playoff stretch from 2013-15, they were eliminated by Ithaca (8-2) twice. And Meridian also put this win together on the road and coming off its third loss over the final five weeks of the regular season. Click for more from the Mount Pleasant Morning Sun and see highlights below from MI Sports Now.

District Digest Menominee 48, Ishpeming Westwood 18 The Maroons (7-3) moved to 24-8 in playoff contests this decade and appear to be heating up with at least 47 points for the third straight game, this total the most given up by Westwood (7-3) since 2013. Harrison 38, Clare 6 The Pioneers (8-2) rarely lose during the Jack Pine Conference season, but Harrison (6-4) came back from a 42-40 Week 3 defeat to win this rematch 38-6. Constantine 58, Niles Brandywine 8 The Falcons’ best season since 2014 now includes a share of a league title and handing the only loss to Brandywine (9-1). Constantine (8-2) increased its points per game average to 42.3. Millington 21, Flint Hamady 14 The Cardinals (6-4) extended their playoff season streak to 16 as an additional qualifier, then opened the postseason by defeating a league champion in Hamady (7-2).

Division 7

HEADLINER Riverview Gabriel Richard 17, Clinton 14 The Pioneers won on a field goal as the final seconds ticked off the clock. Gabriel Richard (8-2) has had a nice run over the last five years and will play in its fourth District Final during that time and third straight. But this still likely was considered a slight upset with Clinton (9-1) undefeated for the regular season for the fifth time in eight years and having beaten all but one of its opponents this fall by double digits. Click for more from the Adrian Daily Telegram.

District Digest Charlevoix 32, Harbor Springs 0 The Rayders (7-3) won in the playoffs for the first time with their first shutout of the season and after also defeating Harbor Springs (6-4) 47-27 in Week 9. McBain 14, Oscoda 12 The Owls (8-2) were playing for their first playoff win since 2000, but McBain (6-4) held on to book a return trip to the District Finals. Lawton 7, Centreville 3 These teams combined to gain only 384 yards and punt seven times, which made sense since Lawton (10-0) gives up 7.8 points per game and Centreville (6-4) gave up 8.6 per game this fall. Detroit Loyola 26, Detroit Central 12 After facing six eventual playoff qualifiers during the regular season, Loyola (5-4) made the prep pay off in handing Central (8-2) its first defeat since Week 1.

Division 8

HEADLINER Flint Beecher 52, Clarkston Everest Collegiate 25 Beecher (6-3) worked through a 1-2 start and then an open Week 7 to reach the postseason, then kickoff off the playoffs by handing the Mountaineers (8-1) their only defeat. The teams had also met in the playoffs last year, a 22-14 Buccaneers District Final win, and this time Beecher took off for its highest-scoring game of the fall.

District Digest Lake Linden-Hubbell 36, West Iron County 14 The Lakes’ first playoff win since 2016 improved them to 7-3 and avenged a 24-16 Week 6 loss to the Wykons (7-3). Saginaw Nouvel 33, Merrill 13 Three straight losses at the end of the regular season forced Nouvel (6-4) to win Week 9 to have a chance at earning an additional qualifier spot, and now the Panthers are on a two-win streak after downing the Vandals (6-4). Reading 38, Mendon 0 The reigning Division 8 champ Rangers (9-1) started this playoff run with their fourth shutout over the last five weeks, ending Mendon’s season at 7-3. Sand Creek 52, Addison 24 The Aggies (8-2) finished third in a strong Tri-County Conference and earned the league more fame by doubling up the Cascades Conference-winning Panthers (7-3).

8-Player

Division 1

HEADLINER Gaylord St. Mary 48, Pellston 6 The Snowbirds (5-5) quickly ended Pellston’s first playoffs, locking down an offense that averaged 42.4 points per game. The Hornets’ only other defeat this fall came against Hillman as they finished 8-2 to end a streak of 22 straight sub-.500 seasons. Next up for St. Mary is Suttons Bay, which it beat on the field by a point in Week 6. Click for more from the Gaylord Herald Times.

Regional Roundup Mio 34, Mayville 22 The Thunderbolts (9-1) extended their first 8-player season with their first playoff win since 2010, ending what tied for the winningest season for Mayville (6-4) since 1987. Kingston 58, Mesick 22 The Cardinals (8-2) made their first Regional Final since 2014 by defeating a league champion in Mesick (7-3), which concluded its winningest season since 1995. Martin 28, Bellevue 0 The Clippers (10-0) reached double-digit wins for the first time since 1987 with their first playoff victory since 2007, handing Bellevue (6-4) its first shutout since 2016.

Division 2

HEADLINER Powers North Central 46, Crystal Falls Forest Park 28 These rivals were two of the top seven teams in Division 2 by playoff point average, with North Central tied for the top spot. After falling in the teams’ first meeting 34-8, Forest Park scored first in the rematch but couldn’t keep pace with a Jets offense averaging 53.3 points per game. Click for more from the Escanaba Daily Press.

Regional Roundup Onekama 22, Wyoming Tri-unity Christian 20 The reigning Division 2 runner-up escaped a quicker exit against former league foe Tri-unity (5-5), which had beaten the Portagers (7-3) by two when they last met a year ago. Pickford 57, Engadine 12 The reigning Division 1 runner-up earned its second win this season over Engadine (8-2), which lost only to Pickford (9-1) this fall. Climax-Scotts 26, Brethren 6 The Panthers (8-2) bounced back from a two-point Week 9 loss to unbeaten Martin with a nice win over a Brethren team that strung together back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time and finished this fall 5-5.

Second Half’s weekly “Drive for Detroit” previews are powered by MI Student Aid, a part of the Office of Postsecondary Financial Planning located within the Michigan Department of Treasury. MI Student Aid encourages students to pursue postsecondary education by providing access to student financial resources and information. MI Student Aid administers the state’s 529 college savings programs (MET/MESP), as well as scholarship and grant programs that help make college Accessible, Affordable and Attainable for you. Connect with MI Student Aid at www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid and find more information on Facebook and Twitter @mistudentaid.

PHOTO: After breaking a couple of tackles and almost getting pushed out of bounds, Menominee's Keagan Moore dives for the end zone and scores. (Photo by Cara Kamps.)