1st & Goal: 2024 Week 8 Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 18, 2024
It all comes down to this weekend for several of this football season's league title races across Michigan.
As one might expect at this late date, Week 8’s schedule is filled with clashes that will be remembered for decades by those who are part of them over the next two days.
All but one of our featured matchups have league championship implications, as do several more that will be played this week across both peninsulas.
Games listed below are tonight unless noted, with results posting as they are reported all weekend on the MHSAA Scores page. Updated standings also are available by clicking the schools on the score list, and every division’s playoff points summary updates as well as scores are received.
Bay & Thumb
Frankenmuth (7-0) at Freeland (7-0) WATCH
Another year, another opportunity for these two to play for a Tri-Valley Conference title. The Red championship is again on the line, as is Frankenmuth’s 65-game league winning streak going back to 2014. The Eagles have defeated Freeland in five straight, including 38-13 last season when both entered undefeated as well. The Falcons’ defense has been exceptional this season, with four shutouts and no more than six points given up in a game before allowing 27 last week to Bay City John Glenn. The Eagles will counter with an offense that hasn’t scored fewer than 41 points since a season-opening 22-0 shutout of Goodrich.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY North Branch (5-2) at Almont (7-0) WATCH, Goodrich (6-1) at Fenton (7-0) WATCH, Grand Blanc (6-1) at Davison (6-1), Clare (6-1) at Pinconning (5-2) WATCH.
Grater Detroit
Detroit Cass Tech (5-2) vs. Detroit Martin Luther King (6-1) at Ford Field WATCH
This is another annual rematch, for the Detroit Public School League City title, with these two playing each other for the second time in the same season for the fifth-straight year. King won the first meeting this season 18-12 in overtime in Week 4, and over the last four years the winner of the first game has won the rematch as well three times – including Cass Tech claiming both a year ago. The Technicians’ defense has remained stellar, giving up just six points with two shutouts in its three games since the first loss to the Crusaders, while King has two shutouts as well over its last three games.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Clarkston Everest Collegiate (7-0) at Royal Oak Shrine Catholic (6-1), Dearborn Fordson (5-2) at Belleville (7-0) WATCH, Gibraltar Carlson (6-1) at Allen Park (6-1), Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard (5-2) at Macomb Lutheran North (6-1) WATCH, Detroit Central (5-2) vs. Detroit Denby (5-2) at Ford Field WATCH.
Mid-Michigan
Brighton (6-1) at Howell (7-0) WATCH
Howell has already clinched a share of the Kensington Lakes Activities Association West championship thanks to last week’s 35-21 win over Novi. But Brighton can mash things up tonight, as a Bulldogs win would create a three-team title share between Howell, Brighton and Novi. The Highlanders and Bulldogs have split their last four meetings, with Howell winning last year’s 43-7. Brighton’s only loss this fall was 37-34 to Novi in Week 4 – but the Bulldogs also have shown the ability to pull out a close win with one-point victories over Northville and Plymouth.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Ogemaw Heights (6-1) at Harrison (7-0), Lansing Sexton (4-3) at Portland (7-0), Lansing Catholic (5-2) at Olivet (5-2) WATCH, Walled Lake Western (7-0) at Mason (6-1).
Northern Lower Peninsula
East Jordan (5-2) at Frankfort (6-1) WATCH
These two will hold out hope for a Mancelona win over Maple City Glen Lake in Week 9 – a victory by the Ironmen next week would give tonight’s winner a share of the Northern Michigan Football League Legacy title. But in the meantime, Frankfort and East Jordan also are setting up playoff position, with Frankfort entering this week No. 15 on the Division 8 playoff points list and East Jordan just one spot behind at No. 16. A home playoff game very well could be on the line, and every little advantage counts as these two have played four straight games decided by six or fewer points – including the Red Devils’ 38-36 victory in East Jordan a year ago.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Oscoda (5-2) at Boyne City (5-2) WATCH, Montague (3-4) at Manistee (4-3) WATCH, Bay City Western (2-5) at Traverse City West (4-3) WATCH, Kalkaska (2-5) at Kingsley (5-2) WATCH.
Southeast & Border
Clinton (6-1) at Hudson (6-1) WATCH
The Lenawee County Athletic Association title comes down almost completely to this matchup, as these two are tied atop the standings with two league games to play and the winner tonight clinching a share of the championship. Clinton won it outright last year, with Hudson finishing runner-up thanks to a 29-0 Redwolves victory in the regular-season finale. The Tigers’ lone loss this season came to still-undefeated Fowler, and they haven’t been challenged much since. Clinton also opened with a defeat, to also still-undefeated Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central, and since has advanced through four wins by 10 or fewer points.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Bronson (5-2) at Springport (6-1) WATCH, Brooklyn Columbia Central (3-4) at Hanover-Horton (7-0) WATCH, Grass Lake (4-3) at Leslie (7-0) WATCH, Manchester (5-2) at Michigan Center (3-4) WATCH.
Southwest Corridor
Kalamazoo United (6-1) at Parchment (6-1)
This is a winner-take-all for the Southwestern Athletic Conference Lakeshore championship, and both are bringing significant momentum into this matchup. Parchment downed last season’s champion Constantine last week 51-30 and has given up 46 points total this season not counting its 48-16 loss to Dowagiac in Week 3. United’s loss also came in Week 3, 27-18 to Lawton, and the Titans otherwise have allowed just 41 points this fall with the majority also coming during a 33-21 win over Constantine. United has defeated Parchment in six straight, including the last five as league opponents, but only 30-28 a year ago.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Kalamazoo Central (5-2) at Mattawan (4-3), Buchanan (4-3) at Dowagiac (5-2), Portage Northern (4-3) at Kalamazoo Loy Norrix (5-2) WATCH, Saugatuck (5-2) at Lawton (5-2) WATCH.
Upper Peninsula
Kingsford (7-0) at Menominee (7-0)
Kingsford and Menominee also met last season with league title implications, and the Flivvers’ 41-32 victory resulted in a shared Western Peninsula Athletic Conference Copper title between Kingsford and Negaunee, while the Maroons finished tied for third. This time, it’s winner take all. Menominee is coming off a 34-19 win over Negaunee, while Kingsford got its 29-27 Negaunee win in Week 4 and hasn’t been challenged much the last few weeks. The Flivvers have three shutouts and are giving up only seven points per game, a notable detail as Menominee is averaging 50 points per game.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Iron Mountain (7-0) at Manistique (4-3) WATCH, Houghton (3-4) at Negaunee (5-2), Bark River-Harris (4-3) at West Iron County (3-4) WATCH. SATURDAY Cadillac (4-3) at Marquette (5-2).
West Michigan
Holland Christian (6-1) at Grand Rapids Northview (7-0)
A week after what has to be considered one of the most memorable wins in program history, Northview must finish the job in the Ottawa-Kent Conference Black against another contender enjoying one of its best seasons in some time. The Wildcats are coming off a 12-3 win over always-powerful Grand Rapids Catholic Central, and Holland Christian’s only defeat came to the Cougars 42-18 the week before. The Maroons rebounded off of that loss with a one-point win last week over one-win Middleville Thornapple Kellogg, but now have a chance at a shared league title if they can prevail tonight – although there haven’t been many down moments for Northview during a run that’s also included wins over Southeastern Conference White champion Chelsea and East Grand Rapids to start the league schedule.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Coopersville (5-2) at Big Rapids (6-1) WATCH, Muskegon (3-3) at Byron Center (6-1), Hamilton (5-2) at Grand Rapids West Catholic (5-2), Decatur (6-1) at Hopkins (6-1) WATCH.
8-Player
Pickford (7-0) at Norway (6-1) WATCH
This may end up just the first of multiple meetings between these two this season – they played each other during the regular season and playoffs a year ago – but this matchup carries much more significance than their first last fall as the winner tonight will earn a share of the Great Lakes Eight Conference East title. Pickford is the reigning champ, but Norway played in the GLEC West last season and won that division in similarly dominant fashion. The Panthers did claim both of their 2023 meetings, 40-18 and then 34-16 in a Division 1 Regional Final, and they are averaging 54 points per game and allowing just under seven. But Norway might provide the greatest challenge yet, having kicked things up a notch offensively with an already high-caliber offense averaging 45 points a game.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Mendon (7-0) vs. Climax-Scotts (6-1), Pittsford (6-1) at Waldron (5-2), Bellaire (6-1) at Indian River Inland Lakes (7-0) WATCH, Bay City All Saints (6-1) at Kinde North Huron (6-1) WATCH.
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PHOTO Grand Rapids Northview's Jalen Gant (1) works to break a tackle against East Grand Rapids during a Week 4 win. (Photo by Michigan Sports Photo.)
After Lean Years, Ubly Returns to Regional
By
Paul Costanzo
Special for MHSAA.com
November 9, 2016
Aaron Klama sat in the stands in 2008 watching his brothers play for Ubly in the Division 7 championship game at Ford Field.
Klama was 10, and Ubly was at the peak of the strongest decade in program history. Even though his brothers and their teammates lost against Traverse City St. Francis, Klama remembers wanting to be like them. Wanting to have the same opportunity to play on that field.
There’s plenty of work for Klama and his Ubly teammates left to do, but after some rough years for the program, the Bearcats are 11-0 and two wins from getting back to the pinnacle of high school football in Michigan.
“I feel like it’s amazing just being able to possibly be in the same shoes as my brothers,” Klama, a senior offensive and defensive tackle for Ubly, said. “Hopefully I’ll be able to push my team further than they even went. But everything has just been amazing this year.”
Ubly is in the middle of its best season since 2010. It will play at 1 p.m. Saturday against New Lothrop at Chesaning High School in a Division 7 Regional Final. A win sends the Bearcats to the Semifinals for the first time since 2009 and the fifth time in school history. All four of the previous trips came between 2003 and 2009, during a 12-year playoff streak for Ubly that stretched through 2012.
That streak ended in 2013, when the current seniors were freshmen. Ubly was 3-6 during both the 2013 and 2014 seasons.
“We had a couple years where numbers were really down,” Ubly coach Dave Kaufman, who took over the program in 2011, said. “In (2013 and 2014), we were playing with 14 to 16 kids. We had some small senior classes.
“It was tough. We’re used to being in the 20s, and the first couple years our numbers were pretty good. We had some small senior classes, and the injury bug kicked our butt, too. When you’re down in numbers as it is, that’s when you’re starting to bring up freshmen and sophomores.”
That included running back Derek Brown, who started as a freshman for the Bearcats and has rushed for 1,000 yards in each of his four seasons. It included Klama, running back and defensive back Nate Keller and several others who were playing at the varsity level as sophomores.
As much as it may have hurt at the time, getting that experience is paying dividends now.
“I think (having players play as underclassmen) helped,” Kaufman said. “I think it also helps that we have a really good senior group. Some of these kids have been playing for three or four years, and that definitely helps.”
In 2015, Ubly was back in the postseason, finishing the year 7-3 and turning the program back in the right direction. What happened between the end of that season and the beginning of this one is what Ubly’s players credit for their current success.
“Everybody was in the weight room all winter, and everybody wants to win on the team,” Keller said. “We didn’t just have two guys in the weight room; it was 15 or 16 guys in there, busting their butts.
“We had guys that would be telling everybody to get into the weight room, because we want to win more than anybody. We had a few leaders that told everybody to get in there.”
After struggling as underclassmen, turning things around in 2015 and setting the tone with a strong offseason prior to this fall, Ubly had high hopes entering its Week 1 game against a tough Unionville-Sebewaing opponent.
Then the Bearcats fumbled on their first offensive play.
“It was kind of like, ‘We can only go up from here, I guess,’” Keller said. “I think that just fueled the fire. We were ready to play from there.”
Ubly responded, and won 28-18, showing its coach something in the process.
“That could have went the wrong way there,” Kaufman said. “That told me a lot about my team right there.”
His team showed him more in a 21-16 win against Cass City, a game in which the Bearcats trailed during the second half. A 54-34 win against Vassar had Ubly sitting at 3-0 after a stretch Kaufman said he would have been happy to finish 2-1.
Ubly rolled through the Greater Thumb Conference East, outscoring opponents by an average of 37.4 points per game. It has picked up playoff wins against Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port and Unionville-Sebewaing, setting itself up for the matchup with a tough New Lothrop team.
Ubly is back where it expects to be, and it has done it the same way it did during the 2000s, by wearing on its opponents with a strong run game out of the T-formation and a strong defense.
Ubly has rushed for 3,500 yards and 51 touchdowns this season, taking advantage of an offensive line (including tight ends) that features five seniors. Brown has led the way with 1,188 yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground, while senior Jonathon Brandel has 861 yards and 14 touchdowns -- adding four receiving scores plus two interception returns and one punt return for touchdowns. Keller and junior quarterback Matt Maikzrek have combined for nearly 1,000 yards and 14 more rushing touchdowns.
“We have no problem chugging away, eating up clock,” Kaufman said. “When teams haven’t faced (the T-formation) in a little bit, they struggle a little bit with the keys. We try to hide the football as well as we can, and we’re happy getting three, four or five yards a crack. There’s not a better defense than an offense that stays on the field.”
Ubly’s offense is a lot like its attitude through the rough times – just keep moving forward.
“As we walk through the locker room every day, we have a little billboard that says, ‘Those who stay will become champions,’” Klama said. “We slap it on the way out. The coaches even told us that if we stay and work hard, we weren’t going to regret it. They always taught us about loyalty and determination.”
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) Ubly's Casey Sweeney breaks through a pack against Unionville-Sebewaing this season. (Middle) Jonathan Brandel carries the ball for the Bearcats. (Photos courtesy of the Ubly yearbook staff.)