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Clarkston's Desman Stephans II dives for the end zone during his team's 33-10 Division 1 playoff win over Romeo.

1st & Goal: 2023 Playoff Week 1 Review

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

October 30, 2023

The first weekend of MHSAA Football Playoffs sees the initial field of 288 teams cut in half, with 144 moving on either to District Finals in 11-player or Regional Finals in the 8-player divisions.

MI Student AidBut it’s a milestone weekend for many as well.

Football is the one MHSAA Tournament team sport requiring contenders to qualify for the postseason. That’s an accomplishment in itself, of course.

But making it then also opens the door for more – and so while we listed plenty of highlights below for championship hopefuls moving on, we also included plenty of context on what those that advanced and some that did not also achieved by making it this far.

11-Player Division 1

HEADLINER Grandville 22, Hudsonville 21 Only two Division 1 playoff games were decided by fewer than 21 points, and Grandville (8-2) came back from two touchdowns down to finish a season sweep of the Eagles (5-5) after previously defeating them 44-37 in Week 5. The win earned the Bulldogs a rematch with Rockford. Click for more from Michigan Sports Radio.

District Digest Macomb Dakota 10, St. Clair Shores Lakeview 7 This was Division 1’s only other close game, and Dakota (8-2) earned the opportunity to play for a third-straight District title while Lakeview closed 7-3. West Bloomfield 42, Rochester Adams 14 The Lakers (8-2) finished a season sweep of their Oakland Activities Association Red rival after Adams (6-4) swept them in 2021 and won last year’s lone meeting. Detroit Cass Tech 35, Westland John Glenn 14 The Technicians (7-3) went on the road and ended John Glenn’s most successful season since 2009 at 7-3.

11-Player Division 2

HEADLINER White Lake Lakeland 28, Milford 21 Lakeland (7-3) edged Lakes Valley Conference rival Milford (6-4) by seven points for the second week in a row, this time with the last-second heroics of Trevor Tschudin creating one of the first round’s most memorable highlights. Click for more from the Oakland Press.

District Digest Birmingham Seaholm 56, Birmingham Groves 49 Seaholm quarterback Colton Kinnie was among the stars as the Maples also held off Groves for the second week in a row after also winning by seven, 21-14, in Week 9. Midland Dow 14, Midland 7 This Week 9 rematch also saw the same winner but by a much closer score as Dow (6-4) had defeated the Chemics (5-5) 29-9 the first time around. Gibraltar Carlson 42, Livonia Churchill 35 Carlson (9-1) withstood a significant challenge from Churchill, which finished 4-6 and doubled its win total from 2022.

Petoskey's Seth Marek (0) catches a pass from quarterback Joseph McCarthy that he takes into the end zone.

11-Player Division 3

HEADLINER Coopersville 14, East Grand Rapids 13 Coopersville (8-2) hasn’t received enough statewide buzz for its success this season, but this one should gain the Broncos some notice. The win gave them eight for the first time since 2007 as they’ve added to their total now for the third straight season, and Coopersville’s only losses this fall were by a point to Spring Lake and three to undefeated Grand Rapids West Catholic, both during the first half of September. This one over the Pioneers (7-3) was clinched with a two-point conversion try stop. Click for more from the Grand Rapids Press.

District Digest Stevensville Lakeshore 20, St. Joseph 15 After falling to St. Joseph (6-4) in Week 7, 35-0, Lakeshore (6-4) bounced way back and also ended a three-game losing streak in advancing. DeWitt 56, Fenton 28 DeWitt (7-2) defeated Flint Metro League Stripes champion Fenton (6-4) and earned a rematch with Week 2 opponent Mason. Auburn Hills Avondale 34, Holly 24 Avondale (9-1) is enjoining its winningest season since 2012 and earned its first playoff victory since that year. The Bronchos (6-4) completed their winningest season since 2011.

11-Player Division 4

HEADLINER Harper Woods 20, Croswell-Lexington 13 Harper Woods (7-3) ended the regular season with the highest playoff-points average in Division 4, but Croswell-Lexington (7-3) entered this game’s fourth quarter with the lead before the Pioneers scored to move ahead for good. The playoff victory was Harper Woods’ first since 2019 as it continues an impressive rebound from finishing 3-6 a year ago. See below for more from the D Zone.

District Digest Hastings 30, Charlotte 28 The Saxons (8-2) held on to defeat the Orioles (6-4) for the third-straight playoffs and sixth consecutive season overall. Big Rapids 27, Spring Lake 20 (OT) Big Rapids moved to 9-1, reaching nine wins for the first time since 2009 by getting past Spring Lake (7-3) in overtime. Chelsea 49, Tecumseh 35 Chelsea moved to 9-1 as its offense responded repeatedly before pulling away just a bit at the end of finish a season sweep of Tecumseh (5-5).

11-Player Division 5

HEADLINER Muskegon Oakridge 13, Belding 7 Oakridge (7-3) ran its winning streak this fall to four with a playoff win over Belding for the second-straight season. The Eagles handed Belding (8-2) its first loss since Week 2 by stopping an offense that averaged 44 points per game entering the weekend and hadn’t scored fewer than 38 since that previous defeat. Click for more from CatchMark SportsNet.

District Digest Detroit Southeastern 38, Detroit Denby 20 Southeastern (7-3) had tied for second in the Detroit Public School League Blue and over the last two weeks handed Ecorse its only regular-season loss and then downed PSL Gold champion Denby (8-2). Birch Run 37, Saginaw Swan Valley 15 Birch Run (6-4) earned its first playoff win since 2010 and guaranteed its winningest season since 2014 in avenging a 14-10 Week 8 loss to the Vikings (5-5). Corunna 45, Flint Hamady 7 Corunna (10-0) won the only first-round matchup of undefeated teams as a defense that’s given up only 5.9 points per game this fall continued to dominate against the Hawks (8-1) – who hadn’t given up a point since Week 6.

11-Player Division 6

HEADLINER Hart 44, Kent City 22 After reaching the playoffs for the first time (not counting COVID-shortened 2020), Hart now has its first playoff win as well as the Pirates (9-1) put up 44 or more points for the fourth straight game. Connor Edwards ran for 204 yards and three touchdowns in helping to end Kent City’s eighth-straight winning season at 7-3. Click for more from CatchMark SportsNet.

District Digest Midland Bullock Creek 22, Clare 19 Bullock Creek (7-3) has followed up two straight sub-.500 seasons with its winningest since 2007, throwing for the game-clinching touchdown during the final minute to get past Clare (7-3). Lansing Catholic 35, Michigan Center 34 Lansing Catholic (4-6) was one of only three three-win teams to reach the playoffs, and the Cougars made it count in upsetting Michigan Center (7-3) to make it seven consecutive seasons with at least one postseason win. Detroit Edison 22, Detroit Old Redford 0 Edison (7-3) secured the winningest season in program history by ending Old Redford’s winningest season all-time at 8-2.

11-Player Division 7

HEADLINER North Muskegon 27, Union City 14 The West Michigan Conference Rivers champion Norsemen (10-0) claimed this matchup of league title winners, ending the season for Big 8 Conference champ Union City (6-4). North Muskegon also reached double-digit victories for the first time since 1986. Click for more from the Muskegon Chronicle.

District Digest Charlevoix 31, Traverse City St. Francis 7 Charlevoix (9-1) avenged its lone loss, 41-40 to St. Francis (4-5) in the season opener, and the nine wins are the program’s most since going undefeated in 1977, according to Michigan-Football.com. Bath 16, Laingsburg 14 Bath (7-3) guaranteed its winningest season since 2000 by avenging a 17-6 Week 6 loss to the Wolfpack (4-6). Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central 10, Detroit Loyola 7 (OT) Drew Harris drilled a game-winning field goal to add to SMCC’s combined 17-6 record in the playoffs over the last seven seasons. Loyola finished 4-6, an improvement of three wins from a year ago.

11-Player Division 8

HEADLINER Ithaca 28, Fowler 27 These two traded scores to the end before Ithaca (10-0) stopped a two-point conversion try during the final minutes to remain undefeated and also reach double-digit wins for the second-straight season. Both offenses scored the most the opposing defenses had given up this fall, as Ithaca still has allowed only 7.3 ppg and Fowler finished having given up just 8.1. Click for more from the Mount Pleasant Morning Sun.

District Digest Hudson 40, Addison 0 This was another of the weekend’s stunners as Hudson (8-2) bounced back from two straight losses to hand Addison (9-1) its only defeat. Ishpeming 20, East Jordan 6 After starting this season 1-3, Ishpeming (7-3) long ago guaranteed its first winning season since 2019, and with this victory ended East Jordan’s winningest season since 1999 at 8-2. Allen Park Cabrini 35, Sterling Heights Parkway Christian 27 Cabrini (5-5) was 2-7 just a year ago but has won three straight games this month and in this one avenged a 50-21 Week 2 loss to Parkway (7-3).

A collection of Martin defenders wrap up a Marcellus ball carrier.

8-Player Division 1

HEADLINER Gobles 50, Mendon 14 Gobles’ first 8-player playoff win in its fourth season since switching formats was one to remember, as the Tigers (8-2) avenged last year’s 36-6 regular-season loss to Mendon and also ended the season for the 2022 Division 2 runner-up Hornets (7-3). Gobles earned a rematch with last season’s Division 1 champion, Martin, after defeating the Clippers 53-16 in Week 4. Click for more from the Kalamazoo Gazette.

Regional Roundup Indian River Inland Lakes 22, Alcona 6 This matchup of league champions went to the Ski Valley Conference’s Inland Lakes (9-1), which held the North Star League Big Dipper’s Alcona (8-2) to well below its average of 51.4 ppg heading into the weekend. Martin 44, Marcellus 18 The Clippers (8-2) are undefeated since that Gobles loss and earned the rematch by winning this rematch with Marcellus after also downing the Wildcats (7-3) in Week 8. Marcellus capped its winningest season since 1998. Kingston 46, Merrill 6 Kingston (8-2) ended the season for the 2022 Division 1 runner-up Vandals (8-2), coming back off a Week 9 loss to earn its first playoff victory since 2019.

8-Player Division 2

HEADLINER Powers North Central 54, Posen 20 The three-time reigning Division 2 champion isn’t done yet. Despite suffering its first defeats this fall since 2019, North Central (8-2) is off to another big playoff start after hitting the road and dealing Posen (8-1) its only loss to reach the Regional Finals for the fifth-straight season. Click for more from the Escanaba Daily Press.

Regional Roundup Marion 64, Bay City All Saints 14 Another matchup of league champions saw West Michigan D League title winner Marion (9-0) remain undefeated by downing the North Central Thumb League Stripes’ All Saints (7-3). Lake Linden-Hubbell 27, Crystal Falls Forest Park 6 In a repeat of 2022, Lake Linden-Hubbell (7-3) won the playoff rematch with Forest Park (7-3) after falling during the regular season, this time avenging a 36-28 defeat. Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart 34, Au Gres-Sims 0 Au Gres-Sims (7-3) averaged 50 points per game this season, but Sacred Heart’s defense lowered its average allowed to 16.4 with its second shutout of the fall as the Irish moved to 9-1.

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 X (Twitter) @mistudentaid.

PHOTOS (Top) Clarkston's Desman Stephans II dives for the end zone during his team's 33-10 Division 1 playoff win over Romeo. (Middle) Petoskey's Seth Marek (0) catches a pass from quarterback Joseph McCarthy that he takes into the end zone. (Below) A collection of Martin defenders wrap up a Marcellus ball carrier. (Top photo by Chris Mudd/National Photo Scout. Middle photo by Cara Kamps. Below photo by Gary Shook.) 

Brayden Lape takes the field as Grass Lake’s quarterback.

After Finding Fame on 'The Voice,' Lape Making Name at Home as Grass Lake's QB1

By Doug Donnelly
Special for MHSAA.com

September 12, 2023

GRASS LAKE – Brayden Lape made a national name for himself while competing on Season 22 of “The Voice” on NBC. 

Southeast & BorderOn Friday nights in south-central Michigan, the Grass Lake junior is becoming Mr. Quarterback.  

“I’ll kid with him all of the time,” Grass Lake head coach Randy Cole said. “I tell him, ‘I want you to be known as a quarterback.’ He’s off to a good start.” 

Lape has directed the Warriors offense during a 3-0 start to the season. In his second as the Grass Lake starting quarterback, Lape is more confident and ready for the heart of the schedule in the expanded Cascades Conference. 

“He’s kind of your classic, tall quarterback with a big arm,” Cole said. “He can move and is athletic, but he’s mainly a pocket passer.” 

Through three games, Lape has thrown for 729 yards while completing nearly 70 percent of his passes. Ten have gone for touchdowns. His favorite targets have been Bryant Cook (13 receptions for 263 yards) and Robert Anderson (14-190). He’s completed passes to six receivers. 

“I think this year is a year that we have taken pride in our offense,” Lape said. “We have a lot of threats. It’s hard to stop.” 

Playing football is more than a side gig for Lape, a three-sport athlete at Grass Lake. Cole watched him grow up from a tall, lanky kid with a rocket arm in middle school to a more mature passer in high school. Lape took a lot of snaps as a freshman and moved into the starting role as a sophomore.  

This year his confidence level is at an all-time high. 

“I have my guys now, the guys I’ve played with since I was little,” Lape said. “In my freshman and sophomore years it was awesome to play with older kids, guys who were bigger, faster, and stronger than me. You know you are getting better with every snap. Being able to play a little bit as a freshman helped me. I was able to get the varsity experience.” 

Grass Lake has a rich football tradition with 16 playoff appearances over the last 18 seasons including 12 straight from 2005-16, a Division 7 runner-up finish in 2006 and five more District titles over the last two decades plus more recently finishes of 8-2 in 2018 and 9-2 in 2019.

The last couple of years, however, Lape said, the Warriors weren’t playing as well as they should have. 

“The past two years we weren’t as good as we should have been,” he noted of the team’s 2-7 and 5-5 finishes in 2021 and 2022, respectively. “Last year we lost a game we probably shouldn’t have in the first round of Districts.” 

Grass Lake started this season with wins over Royal Oak Shrine Catholic, Hanover-Horton and Jonesville. The schedule coming up looks daunting, however, with 2-1 East Jackson this week 3-0 Napoleon the next, and 3-0 Manchester down the road.  

The Cascades Conference has expanded to 12 teams and split into East and West divisions. Grass Lake is in the East, which currently has three undefeated teams – the Warriors plus Napoleon and Manchester. 

Lape said the different look to the conference has added something fun to the schedule. 

“It’s something new. We get to play some new teams we haven’t seen before, but we still have our rivals,” he said. “It gives us some different looks. The end goal is to go far in the playoffs. You can go undefeated and lose the first round of Districts and that’s that. You’re out. 

“We have to step up, especially in these next few games,” Lape added. “We cannot settle right now with being 3-0.” 

Lape has done an amazing job balancing high school sports with his other passion – music. 

Lape performs this summer at the Jackson County Fair. While home during COVID-19, he picked up the guitar and began performing. His family encouraged him to audition for “The Voice” and he earned a spot on the show, eventually becoming part of Blake Shelton’s team. After finishing fifth in the competition and capturing the attention of fans nationwide, Lape released his debut single, “Hand It to Ya.” 

This past summer he went on a mini tour of the Atlantic Coast, including a stop in Maine, and played locally at venues like Meckley’s Farm and the Jackson County Fair. He released his second single, “Feels Like the First Time,” just before football practice started in August.  

The son of Kari Ann and Bryan Lape said he has found a way to balance music with sports – all while remaining focused on schoolwork at Grass Lake. 

“This summer I got to play some great gigs,” he said. “My family has really helped me with that. We’ve built out a schedule. I’m busy, but I still have a chance to be a kid.” 

Lape draws parallels between football and music, especially the hard work and dedication it takes to be successful at both. 

“One thing that I’ve realized is singing is not something that is easy,” he said. “It is something that has a lot of tiny things that you don’t see on the outside. If you are pursuing a career, there’s a lot to do.” 

One of those things is being active on social media and engaging with fans. He does that himself.  

Lape said his Grass Lake teammates are his best supporters.  

“They have their little funny comments, but they are just messing around,” he said. “The guys on my team are wanting what is best for me. They really want me to succeed. They listen to my music and let me know things they like and things they thought would be cool. For me, a guy starting his musical career, it’s really helpful.” 

Lape has no plans to give up sports or music. He’s found a way to make both work.  

“You only go to high school once,” he said. “I can only play high school football for these four years. You only get this high school experience once. I am going to continue my music, post as often as I can and play sports. I’m still a kid. I’m still a high school kid.”

Doug DonnellyDoug Donnelly has served as a sports and news reporter and city editor over 25 years, writing for the Daily Chief-Union in Upper Sandusky, Ohio from 1992-1995, the Monroe Evening News from 1995-2012 and the Adrian Daily Telegram since 2013. He's also written a book on high school basketball in Monroe County and compiles record books for various schools in southeast Michigan. E-mail him at [email protected] with story ideas for Jackson, Washtenaw, Hillsdale, Lenawee and Monroe counties.

PHOTOS (Top) Brayden Lape takes the field as Grass Lake’s quarterback. (Middle) Lape performs this summer at the Jackson County Fair. (Top photo by Austin Childs, middle photo courtesy of Brayden Lape.)