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Dearborn Divine Child running back Marcello Vitti (2) takes a handoff into the line during his team's Division 4 Semifinal win over Goodrich.

1st & Goal: 2025 11-Player Semifinals Review

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

November 24, 2025

The pairings are set for the MHSAA 11-Player Football Finals at Ford Field, with seven teams earning opportunities Saturday to finish this fall without a loss – although three of next weekend’s championship games will feature matchups of undefeated contenders.

MI Student AidThe weekend’s Semifinals also saw four reigning champions earn chances at repeat titles, and Dexter earn its first trip to the final weekend of the season for the first time.

It’s a short week because of Thanksgiving, but we’ll be back Wednesday with game-by-game previews of all eight upcoming contests. For now, see below for a glance at all 16 games that got us here.

(Note: Highlights from Saturday's 8-Player Finals will be included in a final football championship "Review" next week.)

Division 1

Detroit Catholic Central 46, East Kentwood 6

The Shamrocks (13-0) will play in their first Final since 2016 after shutting down an East Kentwood offense that had scored  fewer than 35 points only one other time this season. The Falcons (10-3) had reached the Semifinals for the first time since 2014. Click for more from the Detroit Free Press.

Detroit Cass Tech 48, Rochester Adams 22

The reigning Division 1 champion Technicians (13-0) will have the opportunity to play for a first Finals repeat since winning in 2011 and 2012 after continuing a playoff streak of scoring at least 42 points in all four wins. Adams (10-3) finished its season in the Semifinals for the second straight. Click for more from the Detroit News.

Division 2

Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 42, Portage Central 7

St. Mary’s (10-2) will play for a chance to repeat as Division 2 champion after finding its way against a Portage Central defense that otherwise gave up only 64 points this season. The Mustangs finished 12-1, tying their 2013 team for most wins in program history. Click for more from the Oakland Press.

Dexter 41, Birmingham Groves 6

The Dreadnaughts’ Cooper Arendt and Cole Novara continued two of the most incredible statistical seasons in MHSAA history in lifting Dexter (12-1) into its first championship game. The pair connected on four touchdowns in ending Groves’ second-straight Semifinal run at 9-4. Click for more from the Ann Arbor News.

Division 3

Mount Pleasant 41, Lowell 21

Mount Pleasant (13-0) turned in one of its highest-scoring offensive days this season to earn its first trip to the Finals since 2011. Lowell concluded its longest run since 2016 at 10-3. Click for more from the Mount Pleasant Morning Sun.

DeWitt 41, Warren De La Salle Collegiate 20

Traverse Moore scored four touchdowns to help bring DeWitt (13-0) back from a 13-7 halftime deficit and return to the Finals for the first time since 2021. De La Salle (6-7) turned a 1-4 start this season into its fifth Semifinal trip over the last six and after missing a year ago. Click for more from the Lansing State Journal.

Division 4

Hudsonville Unity Christian 45, Vicksburg 17

Unity Christian (12-1) again cleared its playoff opponent by double digits and will return to the Finals after last making the trip in 2021. Vicksburg finished its longest playoff run at 8-5 for the season. Click for more from the Grand Rapids Press.

Dearborn Divine Child 10, Goodrich 7

Divine Child (12-1) put an end both to reigning champ Goodrich’s repeat hopes and 25-game winning streak, handing the lone defeat to an opponent for the second-straight week after downing Harper Woods 10-6 in a Regional Final. The Martians ended 12-1, while the Falcons advanced to their first Final since 1985. Click for more from MLIVE-Detroit.

Division 5

Grand Rapids West Catholic 34, Ogemaw Heights 24

West Catholic (12-1) had slightly fewer yards than Ogemaw Heights, but made them count a little bit more taking a 13-12 halftime lead all the way to earning its first Finals trip since 2022. Collin Abram (two touchdowns) on offense and Jael Djouguem (12 tackles) on defense led the Falcons. Ogemaw finished 11-1 while making its first Semifinal appearance since 2009. Click for more from the Bay City Times.

Pontiac Notre Dame Prep 51, Monroe Jefferson 21

Reigning champion Notre Dame Prep (11-2) will get the chance to win it all again after doing so for the first time a year ago. Several Fighting Irish found the end zone to earn that opportunity, with quarterback Sam Stowe throwing three scoring passes and running for a TD as well. Jefferson finished its first Semifinal season since 1999 at 11-2. Click for more from the Oakland Press.

Division 6

Kingsley 14, Kent City  0

Kingsley (11-2) is headed to Ford Field for the second time in three years after handing Kent City (12-1) its only loss of its winningest season. The teams were tied at halftime, but the Stags’ defense was just slightly more successful during the final two quarters in posting its first shutout this fall. Click for more from the Traverse City Record-Eagle.

Jackson Lumen Christi 25, Almont 19 (3OT)

This came down to the most dramatic ending of the weekend, as both contenders went scoreless during the first overtime and couldn’t convert after touchdowns during the second before Lumen (10-3) scored in the third and kept Almont (12-1) out of the end zone. Click for more from the Jackson Citizen Patriot.

Division 7

Menominee 32, Pewamo-Westphalia 28

The Maroons (13-0) came back from a 21-6 halftime deficit and scored the game-winner with 24 seconds to play to earn a second trip in three seasons to Ford Field. The Pirates (11-1) were held to their fewest points this season and had given up only 86 over their first 11 games before Menominee broke through. Click for more from Upper Michigan’s Source.

Schoolcraft 43, Clinton 14

Schoolcraft will play in its first championship game since 2001 after scoring this game’s first 37 points. The Eagles (11-2) put up their third-most points in a game this season and held Clinton (10-3) to its fewest since opening weekend. Click for more from the Kalamazoo Gazette.

Division 8

Harbor Beach 40, Bark River-Harris 0

Harbor Beach (13-0) earned its second shutout of a season during which the Pirates are giving up only eight points per game, this one to earn a first trip to Ford Field since 2012. Bark River-Harris completed its first Semifinal season since 2003 at 10-2. Click for more from the Huron Daily Tribune.

Hudson 67, Allen Park Cabrini 14

Hudson will return to the Finals for the second time in five years with a chance for a second undefeated championship run this decade. The Tigers (13-0) topped 60 points for the fifth time this season but second week in a row in ending Allen Park Cabrini’s longest tournament run and winningest season at 11-2. Click for more from the Adrian Daily Telegram.

DeWitt's Traverse Moore (2) follows a blocker during the Panthers' Division 3 win over Warren De La Salle Collegiate.

MHSAA.com's weekly “1st & Goal” previews and reviews are powered by MI Student Aid, a division within the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP). 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 scholarship and grant programs that help make college Accessible, Affordable and Attainable for you. Click to connect with MI Student Aid and find more information on Facebook and Twitter @mistudentaid.

PHOTOS (Top) Dearborn Divine Child running back Marcello Vitti (2) takes a handoff into the line during his team's Division 4 Semifinal win over Goodrich. (Middle) DeWitt's Traverse Moore (2) follows a blocker during the Panthers' Division 3 win over Warren De La Salle Collegiate. (Divine Child/Goodrich photo by Terry Lyons. DeWitt/De La Salle photo by Kolleth Photo.)

Drive for Detroit: Playoff R3 Review

November 14, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

We’ve reached the final two weeks of another Michigan high school football season. Our field of 272 teams four weeks ago is down to only 34. And some of these key games are coming down to every last inch and minute.

Six of nine divisions this weekend saw at least one winner emerge by three or fewer points. Edwardsburg and Chelsea went to overtime. Detroit Cass Tech and Saline entered undefeated and ended only a point apart.

See below for a glance at those two games and all 32 11-player Regional Finals and both 8-player Semifinals, with links to media coverage of notable results in each division. 

Division 1

Detroit Cass Tech 43, Saline 42

It was hard to expect more from a matchup of undefeated Division 1 powers than what these two delivered Friday. Cass Tech (12-0) won an incredible seventh straight Regional championship in part on the running of Donovan Johnson, who gained 285 yards and scored four touchdowns on the ground – which balanced out nicely 241 yards and five running scores by Saline’s Connor Hibbard. The Hornets finished 11-1 for the second straight season after winning a third straight District title. Click for more from the Detroit News.

Other Regional Finals:

Detroit Catholic Central 28, Grandville 14 – This run has made it hard to remember that the Shamrocks (12-0) had a rare down year only two years ago, finishing 4-5; Ottawa-Kent Conference Red co-champion Grandville (10-2) was the latest playoff opponent to not come within two touchdowns of DCC, but did finish with its most wins since 1996.

Romeo 41, Clarkston 7 – The reigning Division 1 champion Bulldogs (9-3) needed a little time to really get rolling this fall, but like DCC they’ve also beaten all three playoff opponents by double digits; Clarkston (9-3) did finish two wins better than a year ago.

Utica Eisenhower 42, Southfield Arts & Technology 7 – The Eagles (12-0) have guaranteed their best record since 2003 with their first Regional title since 2011 after a second-straight five-touchdown win this postseason; Southfield Arts & Technology finished its inaugural season a strong 8-4.

Division 2

Lowell 22, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central 19

Lowell’s climb against the Rangers wasn’t as steep as when the Red Arrows came back from a 17-point deficit to win their first meeting in Week 7. But Lowell still needed to score last – on a touchdown run by quarterback David Kruse six seconds into the fourth quarter – get ahead of Forest Hills Central for good. The second straight Regional title gave Lowell (12-0) that many wins for the second straight season as well; Forest Hills Central (9-3) finished off one of the best rebound runs statewide after going 2-7 in both 2014 and 2015. Click for more from the Grand Rapids Press.

Other Regional Finals:

Walled Lake Western 61, Fenton 21 – The Warriors (11-1) scored their season high to win a second straight Regional title and end a nine-game winning streak for Flint Metro League champion Fenton (9-3).

Detroit Martin Luther King 21, Temperance Bedford 7 – The reigning Division 2 champion Crusaders (10-2) have beaten all of their playoff opponents this time by at least 14; Bedford (9-3) gave King one of its closest games and finished five wins better than a year ago.

Birmingham Groves 44, Grosse Pointe South 10 – Groves (11-1) earned its first Regional title and attained 11 wins for the first time as well, running for 428 yards led by Ernest Allen’s 157 and Collin Heard’s 101; South (8-4) improved a win from last year and doubled its total from only two years ago.

Division 3

Edwardsburg 42, Chelsea 40 (OT)

The Eddies’ substantial run of success this decade now includes a second Regional title in three seasons and the first 12-win season in program history – and Edwardsburg (12-0) earned them by holding off a comeback by Chelsea and stopping a two-point conversion try in overtime. The Eddies’ last Semifinal appearance, in 2014, came in Division 4. Chelsea (11-1) was Division 3 runner-up last season and finished this two-year run a combined 23-3. Click for more from the South Bend Tribune.

Other Regional Finals:

Muskegon 62, Byron Center 7 – The O-K Black champ Big Reds (9-3) won their fourth Regional title in five seasons while ending the winningest season for O-K Green champ Byron Center (10-2) since 2000.

Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 35, DeWitt 28 – The Panthers (10-2) led into the third quarter before St. Mary’s (8-4) outscored them 21-7 in the fourth to win a third straight Regional title.

Dearborn Divine Child 28, Allen Park 21 – The Falcons (10-2) continued another of the state’s great comeback seasons, adding a 10th win and Regional title for the first time since 1985 after going 4-5 a year ago; Allen Park (11-1) finished a win better than last season and with its most since 2004 in winning a second straight District title.

Division 4

Detroit Country Day 28, Corunna 13

Country Day won its third straight Regional title and fourth in five seasons by holding the Cavaliers to 133 yards of total offense and getting some key tosses from quarterback Jalen Graham (10 of 15 passing for 123 yards and a touchdown). The Yellowjackets (12-0) jumped out to a 21-7 lead and now have their most wins in a season since 1995. Corunna (9-3) continued its climb from 2-7 two seasons ago to 8-2 last year and this fall its most wins since 2002. Click for more from the Oakland Press.

Other Regional Finals:

River Rouge 57, Adrian 20 – The Panthers (11-1) have won their playoff games by 61, 12 and now 37 points on the way to a second straight Regional title; Adrian finished its rebound season 7-5 after three straight 2-7 seasons and four straight with sub-.500 records.

Grand Rapids Catholic Central 34, Escanaba 0 – The Cougars (11-1) are in their first Semifinal since their championship season of 2010 and with their third shutout in four weeks; Escanaba (9-3) can celebrate another jump in its revival after improving from 5-5 a year ago with its most wins since 1989.

Hudsonville Unity Christian 36, Lake Odessa Lakewood 16 – The Crusaders’ first Regional title came in part on the legs of running back Alec Headley, who averaged 16.1 yards per carry gaining 177 of 424 rush yards total for Unity Christian (10-2); Lakewood’s winningest season ended at 10-2 as well.

Division 5

Frankenmuth 28, Ithaca 20

Frankenmuth (11-1) won its first Regional title since 1997 by handing Ithaca (11-1) only its third loss over the team’s last 100 games and first not in an MHSAA championship game since 2009. The Eagles are 48-8 over their last five seasons but had made only one other Regional Final appearance since their last win at that level of the tournament. Three Frankenmuth runners had at least 99 yards on the ground, led by Kris Roche with 161, as the team came back from a 14-0 deficit. Click for more from the Saginaw News.

Other Regional Finals:

Menominee 40, Reed City 14 – The Maroons (11-1) won their fifth Regional title in seven seasons with a fourth straight game scoring 40 or more points; Reed City (11-1) hadn’t given up 40 in a game since its 2014 Regional Final, but did finish with its most wins in a season ever.  

Grand Rapids West Catholic 40, Berrien Springs 7 – The Falcons (10-2) have survived three road games to also win a seventh straight Regional title, continuing their travels by ending a third straight playoff season for the Shamrocks (8-3).

Algonac 38, Ida 22 – Last season Ida won its first Regional title; this time Algonac (11-1) celebrated its first Regional championship by downing the Bluestreaks (10-2).

Division 6

Leroy Pine River 42, Ravenna 14

The mood had to be a little low for Pine River heading into the playoffs coming off two straight losses, but you’d never be able to tell. The Bucks (9-3) – also just 4-5 last season – won their first Regional title in a big way over Ravenna (9-3), a traditional power but also a nice comeback story coming off a 3-6 finish in 2015. Click for more from the Big Rapids News.

Other Regional Finals:

Maple City Glen Lake 14, Calumet 0 – The Lakers (10-2) reached 10 wins for the first time since 2001 with their first Regional title since 1996, ending the first 10-win season ever for Calumet (10-2), which was coming off its first District title since 2006.

Millington 22, Detroit Central Collegiate 20 – The Cardinals (11-1) came back from a 20-0 halftime deficit to win their first Regional title since 2010 and third since 2009; Central Collegiate (7-5) capped a third straight playoff season with its most wins since 2010.

Jackson Lumen Christi 49, Napoleon 6 – The Titans (10-2) won their first Regional title since 2009 by ending Napoleon’s winningest season since 2002 and longest playoff run ever at 9-3.

Division 7

Pewamo-Westphalia 17, Traverse City St. Francis 14

Arguably the most anticipated game statewide this side of Division 1 saw the reigning Division 7 runner-up Pirates (12-0) overcome a second straight undefeated opponent. The Gladiators (11-1) became the first team to hold P-W running back Jared Smith to fewer than 100 yards since his sophomore season two years ago, but the Pirates’ defense held St. Francis to its fewest points since last year’s Regional Final win over Boyne City. Click for more from the Traverse City Record-Eagle.

Other Regional Finals:

Ubly 22, New Lothrop 13 – Make this now the Bearcats’ best season since 2009 as they won their first Regional title and 12 games for the first time since that year; Ubly (12-0) got rushing and receiving touchdowns from Jonathan Brandel as it ended New Lothrop’s seventh straight 10-win season at 10-2.

Cassopolis 51, Concord 14 – The Rangers (11-1) set a program record for wins with their first Regional title by scoring the most points Concord (9-3) had given up since Week 8 of 2014; the Yellowjackets did finish this season with their most wins since 2001.

Detroit Loyola 36, Hudson 13 – The Bulldogs (10-2) attained a sixth straight 10-win season by beating a third league champion in three playoff games; Hudson (10-2) had won a share of the Lenawee County Activities Association title and was making its first Regional Final appearance since 2011.

Division 8

St. Ignace 14, Norway 12

The Saints (11-1) have had only two other close games this season, but secured their second straight Regional title relying on a defense that has given up only 131 points this season and only 38 over three playoff games. Norway, playing for its first Regional title since 2006, also shined defensively holding down a St. Ignace offense averaging 42 points per game heading into the day. The Knights finished 9-3, making a significant jump from 2-7 a year ago. Click for more from the Sault Ste. Marie Evening News.

Other Regional Finals:

Muskegon Catholic Central 35, Frankfort 0 – The reigning Division 8 champion Crusaders (12-2) earned their second straight shutout of the playoffs by holding Frankfort (11-1) scoreless for the first time since 2013.

Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary 28, Royal Oak Shrine 7 – The Cardinals (10-2) clinched a third-straight 10-win season and second Regional title in three seasons; Shrine (9-3) did accomplish a nice bounce-back from 4-5 last season to win its first District title since 2008.

Ottawa Lake Whiteford 38, Climax-Scotts 18 – These two have met two straight postseasons as undefeated teams, and Whiteford (12-0) has won both meetings; the Bobcats made up for three turnovers by getting 100-plus yards rushing from both Logan Murphy and Jesse Kiefer and holding Climax-Scotts (11-1) to its fewest points since the teams met in the same round a year ago.  

8-Player

Powers North Central 62, Pickford 22

The reigning champion Jets (12-0) earned their return to the MHSAA Final with 40 first-half points and 506 total yards while possessing the ball only 14 minutes. Running back Bobby Kleiman gained 123 yards on only eight carries, scoring three time on the ground, and also caught three passes for 98 yards and a score. The Panthers did finish their winningest season since 1991 at 10-2. Click for more from the Iron Mountain Daily News.

Deckerville 36, Wyoming Tri-unity Christian 6

The Eagles won a matchup of undefeated teams to set up another this weekend, handing Tri-unity Christian (11-1) its first and only loss of the fall. Deckerville (11-0) was held to its fewest points since Week 1, but still hasn’t allowed an opponent to score more than 12 this season. The Eagles had fallen in Semifinals the last two seasons. Click for more from the Huron Daily Tribune.

PHOTO: Pewamo-Westphalia running back Jared Smith breaks into an opening as Traverse City St. Francis defenders converge. (Click to see more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)