Logo
A Davison defender applies pressure as Lapeer takes to the air Friday.

1st & Goal: 2023 Week 6 Review

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

October 2, 2023

We have our first league champions of the 2023 football season, and setups for several deciding matchups to come over the next week or two.

MI Student AidExplanations of many of those make up most of our “Week 6 Review” – but with playoff selection now just three weeks away, you’ll notice our attention has become focused as well on those races for the 32 qualifying spots in our MHSAA 11-player divisions and top 16s that make the 8-player brackets.

The state rankings mentioned frequently below are Michigan High School Football Coaches Association polls. The playoff-point averages are tracked by the MHSAA and used to determine the postseason fields – and discussion of movement on those lists will be prevalent through the rest of the regular season.

Bay & Thumb

HEADLINER Almont 30, Croswell-Lexington 20 Almont set itself up to clinch a share of the Blue Water Area Conference title this week or next by moving into first place alone in this matchup of co-leaders heading into the weekend. The Division 6 No. 2 Raiders (6-0) also tied their win totals of both of the last two seasons as they made another move toward potentially their best finish since 2019. Croswell-Lexington (5-1), No. 8 in Division 4, will be rooting for Richmond this week and Yale next to deal Almont a loss that would set up a possible shared league title. Click for more from the Port Huron Times Herald.

Watch list Fenton 40, Linden 32 After sharing the Flint Metro League Stripes title with Linden and Swartz Creek last season, Fenton (5-1) clinched a share of this season’s championship and left Linden (4-2) holding out hope for a share if Flushing can upset the Tigers this week.

On the move Chesaning 28, Ovid-Elsie 19 Chesaning (5-1) can clinch a share of the Mid-Michigan Activities Conference title this week or next after stopping Ovid-Elsie (3-3) in its attempt to reset the standings. Marine City 36, Madison Heights Lamphere 13 Marine City (5-1) clinched a share of the Macomb Area Conference Silver championship with one more league game to play, sending Lamphere to 4-2. Grand Blanc 44, Lapeer 26 The Saginaw Valley Red is a two-team race with Grand Blanc (4-2) and Davison the only teams left undefeated in league play, and Lapeer (4-2) joining Saginaw Heritage with a second league loss and tied for third.

Greater Detroit

HEADLINER Macomb Dakota 31, Romeo 19 The Macomb Area Conference Red is one of the most monitored leagues in the state every season because of the powerful Division 1 contenders that traditionally emerge – and four have a chance to emerge as league champion this month. Romeo entered the weekend alone in first, but now four teams are 3-1 in league play with one game to go and co-champions guaranteed with those four teams facing off across two matchups this week. Click for more from the Macomb Daily.

Watch list Gibraltar Carlson 28, Trenton 23 Carlson (5-1) lined itself up to face Allen Park in Week 8 for some piece of the Downriver League title, as those two teams are left as undefeated in league play – although Trenton (4-2) could break things up a bit as the Trojans face Allen Park this week.

On the move Belleville 35, Westland John Glenn 8 Belleville (6-0) and Week 8 opponent Dearborn Fordson remain alone atop the Kensington Lakes Activities Association East after the Tigers dealt John Glenn (5-1) this first loss. Clarkston 44, West Bloomfield 36 After an 0-2 start, Clarkston (4-2) has won four straight and set itself up to face Lake Orion this week for a winner-take-all matchup in the Oakland Activities Association Red. The win also pushed the Wolves from 10 spots behind West Bloomfield (4-2) to three ahead on the Division 1 playoff points list. Detroit Voyageur 34, Detroit Edison 32 The Cougars (4-2) bounced back from a Week 5 loss to deal a second straight to Edison (4-2), which entered the week ranked No. 9 in the Division 6 coaches poll. The win also brought Voyageur back into the Division 6 playoff picture at No. 25 on the playoff points list after it had fallen back to No. 34.

Mid-Michigan

HEADLINER Corunna 35, Goodrich 7 This has to rank at or near the top of the wins Corunna (6-0) has piled up over its recent resurgence, as it not only guaranteed the Cavaliers a share of the Flint Metro League Stars title but also handed the first loss to the No. 2-ranked team in Division 4. Corunna, ranked No. 5 in Division 5, led 28-0 at halftime on the way to its first win over the Martians (5-1) since 2016. Click for more from the Flint Journal.

Watch list Pewamo-Westphalia 27, Fowler 14 After losing its opener to still-undefeated North Muskegon, P-W has won its last five and sits atop the Central Michigan Athletic Conference standings with two league games to play. Fowler (5-1) had defeated the Pirates last season to create a three-way CMAC shared title between those two and Laingsburg.

On the move DeWitt 41, Grand Ledge 38 The last two meetings between these two have come down to seven points or fewer, with last year’s Grand Ledge win helping the Comets (5-1) share the Capital Area Activities Conference Blue title and this year’s DeWitt win knocking Grand Ledge out of first place while keeping the Panthers (3-2) in the mix. Beal City 30, Evart 16 The matchup for first place in the Highland Conference went to Beal City (6-0), which can clinch with another win over the next two weeks while second-place Evart (4-2) will need help to get a share. New Lothrop 34, Montrose 8 New Lothrop’s MMAC title hopes dimmed with a Week 2 loss to Chesaning, but the Hornets (5-1) are up to No. 9 in Division 8 playoff-points average with two wins over Division 6 schools and this one over the Division 7 Rams (4-2).

Northern Lower Peninsula

HEADLINER Charlevoix 30, Elk Rapids 7 The Division 7 No. 9 Rayders (5-1) continued to roll through Northern Michigan Football Conference Leaders play, clinching a share of the league title with their fifth-straight win overall this season. Charlevoix can finish the championship outright in Week 8 at Tawas, and its final three regular-season opponents are combined 3-15 – making a fourth-straight season reaching eight wins look like a growing possibility. Click for more from the Petoskey News-Review.

Watch list Petoskey 36, Cadillac 21 There’s definitely work to do over the next three weeks for Petoskey (4-2) to make the playoffs, but the Northmen have guaranteed their best finish since 2018 – the last time they’d defeated Cadillac (3-3). They sit No. 23 on the Division 3 playoff points list.

On the move Benzie Central 31, Boyne City 24 The Huskies (3-3) will need Tawas’ help to catch a share of that Leaders title, but in avenging last season’s 51-35 loss to Boyne City (2-4) they’ve moved closer to possibly earning their best finish since 2018. Lake City 28, McBain 22 (2OT) The Trojans (4-2) defeated McBain (4-2) by six points for the second-straight season, this time helping them hold steady at the No. 23 spot on the Division 6 playoff points list. Ogemaw Heights 47, Flint Powers Catholic 9 Ogemaw Heights (5-1) ran its winning streak to five as it heads into this week’s NMFC Legends decider against Kingsley.

Southeast & Border

HEADLINER Michigan Center 32, Grass Lake 27 Michigan Center’s next two weeks will be massive, but the Cardinals earned that billing. By avenging last season’s 36-29 loss to Grass Lake (4-2), Michigan Center (5-1) upped what’s at stake in this week’s matchup with Napoleon as those share the lead in the Cascades Conference East – and with third-place Manchester waiting in Week 3 with its only loss to Napoleon. Click for more from JTV.

Watch list Parma Western 21, Battle Creek Harper Creek 6 The Panthers (6-0) also have set up a matchup of league co-leaders, downing third-place Harper Creek (4-2) on the way to this week’s meeting with Hastings for first in the Interstate 8 Athletic Conference.

On the move Jackson Northwest 23, Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard 14 Northwest (3-3) has made massive strides the last two seasons, and this win has to rank up there as AAGR (5-1) had dominated its first five opponents. Adrian 22, Jackson 9 This Adrian win, along with Chelsea’s over Tecumseh, gave Chelsea a share of the Southeastern Conference White title – although if Jackson (4-2) defeats Chelsea this week, those two and possibly Adrian all could share the championship. Saline 43, Ann Arbor Huron 7 Saline (6-0) held onto its one-game lead in the SEC Red and sent Huron (3-3) into a third-place tie. The Hornets finish the league schedule with the seventh and eighth-place teams as they look to claim what would be a ninth Red title over the last decade but after finishing second a year ago.

Southwest Corridor

HEADLINER Constantine 50, Allegan 14 Five of six teams in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Lakeshore are .500 or better, and Constantine is leading the way at 5-1 and as one of three contenders that have started league play 2-0. The Division 6 No. 7 Falcons scored their season high in bringing some separation to the league standings by sending Allegan to 4-2. Click for more from the Kalamazoo Gazette.

Watch list Niles Brandywine 30, Dowagiac 7 Brandywine may be only 2-4, but the Bobcats moved up from No. 46 to 33 on the Division 7 playoff-points list by stunning Division 5 Dowagiac (4-2). Brandywine has another Division 5 opponent next in Benton Harbor.

On the move Berrien Springs 35, Buchanan 14 This win, combined with Brandywine’s over Dowagiac, put Berrien Springs (3-2) alone in first place in the Lakeland Conference – and after a 20-14 loss to Buchanan (3-3) last season cost the Shamrocks the league title. Richland Gull Lake 27, Benton Harbor 16 Gull Lake (4-2) already has bettered its record from a year ago, and with two wins over the next three weeks would post its best finish since 2009. Paw Paw 35, Edwardsburg 0 The Red Wolves (6-0) ended a 15-game losing streak against the rival Eddies (3-3) sending them out of first place in the Wolverine Conference while maintaining a tie for the top spot with Niles.

Negaunee's Ian Engstrom (5) tries to catch a pass just a little bit out of his reach.

Upper Peninsula

HEADLINER Menominee 44, Gladstone 26 One down, two to go as Western Peninsula Athletic Conference leader Menominee began a difficult three-game run against the three teams that entered the weekend tied for second in the league. Following Landan Bardowski among others, the Maroons (6-0) scored the most points Gladstone had given up in a game since 2017 – although Gladstone (4-2) also did some fine work offensively against a Menominee defense that had allowed just six points total over the first five weeks. Click for more from RRN Sports.

Watch list Marquette 38, Escanaba 20 After playing an old rival as part of a new league, Marquette (3-2) is tied for second in the Big North Conference but more notably has equaled last season’s win total and sits among the top 32 on the Division 3 playoff-points list for the second-straight week.

On the move Calumet 17, Houghton 16 The Copper Kings (2-4) broke a three-game losing streak and now have 10 spots to climb to qualify for the Division 6 playoffs, but with some valuable opportunities to do so. Iron Mountain 55, Manistique 14 The Mountaineers (6-0) clinched a share of the West-PAC Iron championship with another big performance; they have won all of their games by at least 40 points. Sault Ste. Marie 50, Maple City Glen Lake 7 Sault Ste. Marie (4-2) bounced back from a Week 5 loss to Marquette to hold steady among the top 32 on the Division 4 playoff-points list, while Glen Lake (3-3) remains among the qualifying group in Division 8.

West Michigan

HEADLINER Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central 20, East Grand Rapids 0 There was notable reshuffling in the Ottawa-Kent Conference White over the weekend, as the league has six teams 4-2 or better and four tied for first thanks in part to FHC’s shutout of the Pioneers. The Rangers (5-1), No. 2 in Division 3, now share the top spot with EGR (5-1), Lowell and Byron Center. Click for more from the Grand Rapids Press.

Watch list Spring Lake 35, Allendale 28 The O-K Blue has five teams at 4-2 or better, with Grand Rapids West Catholic alone at the top after Spring Lake (5-1) rebounded from a Week 5 loss to GRWC to hand Allendale (5-1) this defeat. But Spring Lake also just became Allendale’s biggest fan – Allendale gets West Catholic this week.

On the move Lowell 38, Byron Center 28 Matching Forest Hills Central, Lowell also fought back into the O-K Blue race as these two join FHC and EGR as 3-1 in the league and 5-1 overall. Muskegon 49, Zeeland East 14 The Big Reds (4-2) have won four straight to start the O-K Green schedule and set up this week’s meeting with co-leader Zeeland West. Impressive as well, Muskegon’s last three opponents, including East, are 4-2. Caledonia 30, Hudsonville 0 Division 2 top-ranked Caledonia (5-1) has followed up its loss to Rockford two weeks ago with two power-packed wins, in this one handing Hudsonville (4-2) its first shutout since 2012.

8-Player

HEADLINER Adrian Lenawee Christian 73, Mendon 20 Lenawee Christian (6-0) put up 63 of those points in the first half, fully justifying its top ranking in Division 2 – and the Cougars could be considered the top team in all of 8-player as Division 1 top-ranked St. Ignace joined No. 2 Mendon (5-1) in losing for the first time over the weekend. Sam Lutz ran for four touchdowns and threw for four more for the Cougars, while Jack McCaw ran for 210 yards and three scores for Mendon. Click for more from the Adrian Daily Telegram.

Watch list Newberry 46, St. Ignace 40 Newberry (5-1) has won a playoff game each of the last three seasons and is hardly an unknown – but St. Ignace (5-1) had won all but one of its games this fall by double digits, making this an even more impressive result.

On the move Brown City 60, Mayville 0 This was another matchup of undefeated teams, and Brown City now sits alone atop the North Central Thumb League Stars with Mayville (5-1) and Kingston a game back. Crystal Falls Forest Park 36, Lake Linden-Hubbell 28 With Lake Linden-Hubbell (3-3) dealing Powers North Central a loss two weeks ago, the Great Lakes Eight Conference West has a different look at the top for the first time in a while with Norway leading the way but Forest Park (5-1) also in the mix if the Knights trip up. Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart 25, Fulton 18 The Irish (6-0) have a one-game lead on Portland St. Patrick in the Mid-State Activities Conference with this win over Fulton (4-2) joining a Week 3 one-pointer over the Shamrocks as key reasons why.

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) Grand Blanc's Jimmy Lacy (13) applies pressure as Lapeer takes to the air Friday. (Middle) Negaunee's Ian Engstrom (5) tries to catch a pass just a little bit out of his reach. (Top photo by Terry Lyons, middle photo by Cara Kamps.)

The Ironwood Daily Globe announces the local team’s win over Detroit Redford as the paper’s lead headline.

Undefeated, Unscored-Upon Ironwood Journeys Downstate to Complete 1925 Run

By Ron Pesch
MHSAA historian

November 20, 2025

Port Huron’s bold challenge of Flint Central and Grand Rapids Union for acclaim as “Michigan’s best high school football team” during the fall of 1925 meant an unexpected opportunity in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

During the first fall season of school sports under Michigan High School Athletic Association leadership – and half-century before the MHSAA Football Playoffs were introduced – small towns with schools possessing smaller enrollments also cried for recognition and aimed to join in the fun.

For schools, fans, and newspapers, MHSAA classifications conveniently offered a means to subdivide claims on the state title. Acknowledging that they could seldom compete successfully against the larger schools in football, that certainly couldn’t stop them from declaring themselves Class B or Class C gridiron champs.

Undefeated in contests since the middle of the 1923 season, Ironwood High – located in the Upper Peninsula in Michigan’s western-most city – ran through final preparations for the upcoming season with a game against the local alumni. A common practice at many schools, the preseason matchup gave head coaches like Ironwood’s veteran Robert O. ‘Bob’ Black a peek at his squad’s potential against a “friendly” opponent. The preps downed the “Old Timers,” 19-6.

Among Black’s weapons was his team captain, John ‘Cutz’ Cavosie, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound senior with impressive skills in all aspects of the game.

“Capt. Cavosie was true to the form of the last two seasons and gives indications of coming through this season with even greater flying colors than he did a year ago,” noted the Ironwood Daily Globe in coverage of the contest. “He punished the alumni with his driving attack.”

The Red Devils officially opened their 1925 slate with a game at Superior, Wis., on Friday, Sept. 25. Missing from the roster, however, was Cavosie. While the news was, no doubt, gossiped about on the streets of town, there was no explanation in the Globe.

Ironwood’s John Cavosie.Meanwhile, seven miles away on the front page of the local newspaper, The Bessemer Herald, readers learned some detail:

“John Cavosie, captain and star fullback of the Ironwood high school football team, left the squad this week after an altercation with the coach and has turned in his uniform.”

His absence from the team was apparent.

According to the hometown Globe, “Neither team showed anything but early season football,” but the Superior Evening Telegram’s coverage told another story:

“A field goal missed by inches cost Superior Central High school victory in the opening game of the season here yesterday and the two teams struggled to a scoreless tie.”

“Superior’s attempt to score … came in the final quarter after the two teams had battled on even terms through 45 minutes of play.”

 With the ball on Ironwood’s 20-yard line, the Superior quarterback stepped back for a dropkick, but the ball sailed just left of the left upright.

According to Evening Telegram coverage, late in the second quarter, Ironwood had overlooked a prime chance to dropkick a field goal inside Superior’s 25, opting instead for an end run that failed: “That was Ironwood’s one and only chance to score. … Never again did (they) get within striking distance of the Superior goal.” An earlier attempt at a placement kick had gone wide. Cavosie’s absence was likely the reason for the dismal showing by the Red Devils. His importance to the team would soon be vividly illustrated.

A Legend is Born

While no details of mended fences appeared in print, according to the Globe, “the ‘Red’ Grange of the Upper Peninsula” was back for the team’s second game of the season against Menominee, two weeks later. Cavosie put on a show, notching four touchdowns on the afternoon including on runs of 42, 51, and 67 yards. Late in the game, facing a third-and-25 from just beyond the 50, Cavosie took a pass from center, “stepped back, apparently to punt,” but instead booted a stunning 55-yard dropkick for the game’s final three points in a 41-0 win. The news of the kick, which tied a national record for distance, would travel far beyond the Peninsula.

Next up were shutouts of Hurley, Wis., 47-0, and Hancock, 19-0.

Proud of the local team’s accomplishment, in early November, George Haggerson – president of the University of Michigan Alumni Club of the Gogebic Range – contacted state director of athletics Alden W. “Tommy” Thompson. Seeking broader recognition for Ironwood, he inquired about the possibility of the Red Devils playing a worthy opponent in a season-ending contest. Thompson suggested contact with Detroit, Jackson, Flint, or Grand Rapids high schools.

Ashland, Wis., was defeated 24-0 on Saturday, Nov. 7. Ironwood then squared off with Norway on Armistice Day. Expecting a tight matchup, an outstanding crowd turned out at Oliver Field in Ironwood for the game. Instead, Ironwood trounced the visitors, 34-0.

Ironwood football coach R.O. Black, from the school’s 1925 yearbook.Ironwood was unbeaten and unscored upon, and three days later the Globe announced a firm date for a game downstate. Coach Black’s team would play Redford High School at Northwestern Field in Detroit on Thanksgiving Day.

The choice to travel to the Lower Peninsula to seek out statewide recognition would be an expensive one. Donations to cover the trip – approximately $1,200 – came from local businesses and professional men. They included a donation from a Menominee resident. In a long-distance phone call from the head of a large wholesaling house, Frank St. Peter wanted to relay a specific message to Haggerson, some 200 miles away:

“The Ironwood team will be representing more than Ironwood when it goes to Lower Michigan on Thanksgiving. I consider she will be representing the entire Peninsula. Put me down for $50 to help cover the expenses.”

The trip to Detroit

This was a historic trip – the first for an Ironwood gridiron team to the Lower Peninsula. For locals, train travel would be from Ironwood to Chicago, then after a brief wait, to Ann Arbor, where they stayed Wednesday night. On Thursday morning, the team would head to Detroit by bus.

Among those traveling to Detroit for the game was Haggerson. Many other current residents, as well as former Gogebic Range citizens “living in Detroit, Lansing and Ann Arbor” were expected to make the trip. A crowd of 1,500 was at Ironwood’s Chicago and Northwestern railway station Tuesday night for a rousing sendoff for the 18 members of the team, Coach Black, assistant Max Newcomb, and various school personnel.

According to the Detroit News, Redford had “lost its first game of the season to Detroit Northeastern, 12-6, but since then has been unbeaten in nine games,” with a scoreless tie against Birmingham. Redford had scored 203 points against 24 for its opponents, with Northeastern and Detroit Southwestern “the only schools to score on the suburban eleven.”

“The only record that surpasses that boasted by Redford is the achievement of Ironwood,” stated Thursday morning’s Detroit Free Press, “and the meeting of these two teams should be one of the outstanding high school games in the state.”

The contest was to determine the Class B championship of Michigan.

Back in the U.P.

Those staying in Ironwood could get game detail at the Ironwood Memorial building. A crowd of 1,800 to 2,000 were on hand as returns were relayed by telephone from the Globe office, where Associated Press play-by-play bulletins would arrive quarterly by telegraph, instead of as the game progressed.

“The students gave their cheers the same as they did on the field at games here this season,” stated the Globe, “and the audience was keyed up to high pitch throughout the game.”

Ironwood fans celebrate after the win over Redford. The exploits of Cavosie were on the lips of everyone.

Newspaper reports claimed Ironwood supporters said he was as great as the immortal George Gipp – an All-American on Knute Rockne’s famous undefeated 1920 Notre Dame team – when “The Gipper” played in the Peninsula at Calumet High School.

Quoting Detroit Times reports on the game, the Globe reported the crowd was so large, “that the supply of tickets gave out, and many fans were admitted without the necessary pasteboards, fully 6,000 witnessing the contest.”

Weather conditions were ideal. According to A.P. reports, “overcast sky and southerly wind combined” with “solid underfooting to assure a snappy contest” – with “no alibis for the loser.”

Cavosie lived up to the hype. Pregame, the A.P. stated he wowed the crowd during warm-ups “toeing numerous punts against the wind. Many of them drove 55 yards against the breeze.”

Ironwood scored on its opening drive but was held at bay for the remainder of the first half. The second half was a different story.

A long touchdown pass from Cavosie started the scoring. The Red Devils scored four times during the fourth quarter, twice the results of intercepted passes. In the end, Ironwood destroyed Detroit Redford, 47-0.

“The story of the game is largely a story of John Cavosie,” stated the Free Press. “He hurled passes from any angle and almost any kind of a formation for long gains and was instrumental in every score credited to his team.”

“Cavosie can run and plunge. He can kick and pass. He can tackle and block,” stated the A.P. reporter, “… his kicking was a revelation to the fans. One time standing on the six-yard line he kicked over the safety man’s head at the 40-yard line and the ball rolled dead on the one-yard strip. His passes were accurate and well timed.

“The team it showed Redford at Northwestern field, Detroit yesterday deserves consideration as one of the best in Michigan in any class.”

At the end, Ironwood claimed the Class B state championship of Michigan with a 6-0-1 mark, outscoring opponents 212-0. A new standard for the school’s athletic teams was set.

A drawing of two students playing football, from Ironwood’s 1926 yearbook.Ironwood’s share of receipts for the game totaled $681.90. “The small quota,” according to the Globe, “was due to the fact that the game was played on municipal property and a charge could not be made on the property itself. A shortage of tickets further accounted for the small gate receipts.”

Upon its return home, the team was honored across multiple receptions. Details not captured in game reports were shared with classmates, former Red Devils athletes, and local fans, as the town celebrated its football heroes. A special focus was shone upon the linemen by A.D. Chishom, a member of the board of education, in his speech honoring the team. Praise for Coach Black and Assistant Newcomb flowed freely.

Come December, George M. Lawton named Cavosie to the Detroit Times first-team all-state squad. The A.P. placed him on its all-state second team, naming Cecil Turner of Port Huron on its first team.

Cavosie’s dropkick, notched against Menominee, was listed among American football historian Parke H. Davis’s “National List of Record Scoring Plays of 1925” - the lone high school entry on the list. “There is not a college team in the country that he could not make as fullback,” raved Davis - the nation’s ‘godfather of sports statistics.’

Ironwood students had started the school year on Sept. 6, wandering the halls of a freshly-built school building. Yearbook staff kindly chronicled the happenings of the school year with a fantastic sense of humor.

“September 7: Students learn more about the building. It takes them only fifteen minutes to find right classrooms.”

“September 26: The teachers, like children with new toys, use their new telephones all the time.”

“October 10: Gym students make appearance in the corridor in middies and bloomers. They are kindly presented with a piece of Miss Dougan’s mind.”

“November 30: Students hold assembly to rejoice over victory over Redford.”

Come the end of the school year, the senior members of the team, and their classmates, became the first to graduate from the new Luther L. Wright High School.

“June 14-18: Senior week. Class Play, Class picnic ‘n everything. Commencement. We say goodbye to the school, the students, the faculty.”

The district’s first superintendent, Wright had recently completed a term as Michigan’s State Superintendent of Schools. Ground had broken for the new building on May 1, 1924. Designed by Croft & Boerner of Minneapolis, Minn., it replaced the first building named in Wright’s honor.

Over 100 years later, it is proudly still in use today.

PHOTOS (Top) The Ironwood Daily Globe announces the local team’s win over Detroit Redford as the paper’s lead headline. (2) Ironwood’s John Cavosie. (3) Ironwood football coach R.O. Black, from the school’s 1925 yearbook. (4) Ironwood fans celebrate after the win over Redford. (5) A drawing of two students playing football, from Ironwood’s 1926 yearbook. (Photos gathered by Ron Pesch.)