1st & Goal: 2025 Week 1 Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
August 27, 2025
If you’re looking for storylines for this weekend’s Michigan high school football openers, you’ve landed just in time for launch of the 2025 season.
There will be 305 games played this weekend with at least one Michigan team – 258 tonight, 46 Friday and one Saturday. Several of the most intriguing will play out at traditional Week 1 showcase events – the Amazon Prep Kickoff Classic at Wayne State and Vehicle City Gridiron Classic at Flint’s Atwood Stadium – but those are just the start of the newsy and noteworthy.
This weekend’s slate also includes two matchups of teams that ended last season playing for MHSAA 11-player championships in Detroit, and a third between a reigning Michigan champion (Detroit Cass Tech in Division 1) and an Ohio state runner-up (Toledo Central Catholic). One of the state's longest running rivalries also gets a reboot.
The great majority of varsity games are scheduled to be broadcast this weekend on the NFHS Network. Click the names of the events bolded above for specific broadcast landing pages for those showcases.
Like most, we’re still at the start of learning about this season’s contenders. But every game has a story, and tune in each week for details building up the biggest matchups all over Michigan. All games are tonight unless noted, and follow the MHSAA Scores page all weekend for scores as they’re submitted.
Bay & Thumb
Frankenmuth (13-1) at Goodrich (13-1)
This is one of those matchups of teams that ended last season at Ford Field, as Goodrich is the reigning Division 4 champion and Frankenmuth finished Division 5 runner-up. This will actually be the fifth-straight season they’ll meet in an opener; Frankenmuth has a 3-1 advantage in the recent series coming off a 22-0 win a year ago. Both teams graduated substantial star power from their backfields and lines, likely making this a high-profile debut for several players expected to fill more significant roles at the varsity level this fall.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Marysville (8-2) at Almont (9-1), Mount Pleasant (6-5) at Saginaw Heritage (8-4). FRIDAY Marine City (10-3) at Armada (10-2), Cass City (7-4) at Harbor Beach (11-1).
Greater Detroit
Clarkston (7-4) vs. Belleville (10-2) at Wayne State
The post-Bryce Underwood era will begin at Belleville after he quarterbacked the team to Ford Field three of the last four seasons. He and the Tigers defeated Clarkston 35-28 in their opener a year ago at Wayne State, and Belleville’s only other loss of the season came in a Regional Final. Clarkston will attempt to avenge that 2024 defeat keyed in part by an offense that features power up front and a notable passing attack as well.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Walled Lake Western (11-1) at Milford (7-3), Davison (7-3) at Roseville (7-3). FRIDAY Warren Michigan Collegiate (9-2) at Clarkston Everest Collegiate (9-2), Detroit Cass Tech (12-2) vs. Toledo Central Catholic (14-2) at Wayne State.
Mid-Michigan
Haslett (8-4) at DeWitt (12-1)
These two combined for 111 points in their opener last season, a 69-42 DeWitt win, and the scoreboard should be ready again as both return playmakers considered among the best in the state – Haslett’s Kory Amachree and DeWitt’s Trav Moore. Both also are coming off nice playoff runs last fall – DeWitt reaching the Division 3 Semifinals and Haslett winning a Division 4 District championship – adding further anticipation to a rivalry renewed despite the Panthers’ dominance in the matchup over the last two decades.
Keep and eye on these THURSDAY Dexter (10-1) at Brighton (8-3), Lansing Catholic (10-4) at Williamston (3-7), Lansing Everett (6-4) at Lansing Sexton (5-5), Detroit Country Day (3-6) at Portland (11-1).
Northern Lower Peninsula
Maple City Glen Lake (9-2) at Traverse City St. Francis (7-4), Friday
These two are facing off for the first time since 2021, with the Lakers coming off their best season since a 2019 run to Ford Field and the Gladiators also looking to build on a District championship game appearance after most recently reaching the MHSAA Finals in 2022. They were both champions in the Northern Michigan Football League last fall – Glen Lake outright in the Legacy and St. Francis sharing the title in the Legends.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Howell (11-1) at Traverse City West (6-4), Midland (9-2) at Cadillac (4-6). FRIDAY Sault Ste. Marie (1-8) at Cheboygan (4-5), Edwardsburg (7-4) at McBain (9-2).
Southeast & Border
Fowler (12-1) at Hudson (10-2)
The Eagles won this season-opening matchup 20-6 a year ago and this time head to Hudson after ending last fall with a one-point Division 8 Semifinal loss to eventual champion Beal City. After losing to Fowler in Week 1 last season, Hudson didn’t fall again until its Division 7 Regional Final against Schoolcraft – which capped its longest playoff run since winning the Division 8 title in 2021.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central (13-1) vs. Clinton (7-4) at Adrian College, Ottawa Lake Whiteford (5-5) at Blissfield (4-6), Flushing (7-3) at Ann Arbor Pioneer (5-5), Jackson (4-6) at Parma Western (6-4).
Southwest Corridor
St. Joseph (9-2) at Niles (12-2), Friday
This is another season-opening rematch, and last year's game was referred to frequently – after St. Joseph's 30-7 win, Niles didn't lose again until falling to Goodrich in the Division 4 championship game. In fact, the Vikings gave up only 27 more points during the regular season. The Bears went on to enjoy a successful fall as well, sharing their league's championship before falling to eventual Division 3 champion Zeeland West in a District Final.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep (9-3) at Berrien Springs (7-4), East Lansing (9-4) at Portage Central (8-4), Lawton (8-3) at Decatur (11-2), Union City (9-2) at Parchment (7-3).
Upper Peninsula
Marquette (6-3) at Negaunee (6-4)
This matchup of Upper Peninsula neighbors is a rivalry restored, resparking a series that goes back to 1894. These two faced off 141 times – still ranking third-highest for total games played between two Michigan teams – before taking a break after the 2017 meeting with Negaunee leading the series 70-60-11. The Miners have strung together six straight playoff seasons, while the Sentinels just missed the playoffs last year but finished second in the Big North Conference for the second season in a row.
Keep and eye on these THURSDAY Kingsford (9-1) at Escanaba (5-4), East Jordan (8-3) at Manistique (4-6), Houghton (4-5) at Iron Mountain (11-1). FRIDAY Menominee (10-2) at Marinette, Wis. (2-7).
West Michigan
Byron Center (12-2) at Hudsonville (12-2)
This is another matchup of teams that finished their 2024 playoff runs at Ford Field, Hudsonville runner-up in Division 1 and Byron Center in Division 2. Even with both graduating significant star power after last spring and turning to new quarterbacks this fall, this seems the perfect time for this matchup. Hudsonville's double-digit win total last year was its first since 2007, and Byron Center is a combined 22-4 over the last two seasons.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Grand Blanc (9-3) at Muskegon Mona Shores (9-2), Pewamo-Westphalia (9-3) at North Muskegon (11-2), Saline (7-4) at Rockford (7-3), Hudsonville Unity Christian (10-1) at Whitehall (8-4).
8-Player
Britton Deerfield (10-2) at Pittsford (8-3)
This was another of the most high-powered openers a year ago, as Britton Deerfield won 68-58 to kick off the program’s best season. The Patriots later advanced to the Semifinals for the first time with a 60-26 rematch win over the Wildcats, who otherwise claimed a league championship and lost just once more over the remainder of their season.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Climax-Scotts (8-2) at Gobles (9-1), Bridgman (5-4) at Martin (8-2), Powers North Central (9-2) at Munising (6-4), Mendon (10-2) at Suttons Bay (6-3).
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PHOTO Grand Ledge takes the field during a home game last season. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)
Inspired by Dad's Memory, Lawrence's Vasquez Emerges After Family Losses
By
Pam Shebest
Special for MHSAA.com
January 16, 2024
LAWRENCE — While COVID-19 affected many students in different ways, it definitely made an impact on Austin Vasquez.
As a freshman at Lawrence High School during the pandemic, Vasquez lost his grandmother Theresa Phillips to cancer on March 25, 2021.
Two days later, on March 27, his father Tom Vasquez, died of complications from COVID. And on April 19 that spring, his grandfather Darrell “Gene” Phillips also lost his fight against the coronavirus.
“There is no way (to cope). You just have to keep on moving,” Austin said. “It’s what (my dad) would want me to do.
“He was my biggest (influence) in sports. He talked to me about never giving up – leave everything you’ve got.”
That is just what Vasquez is doing in the midst of his three-sport senior year.
He is the top wrestler at the school, competing at 175 pounds with a goal of making the MHSAA Tournament. He was a versatile contributor on the football field this past fall, and he’s planning to join the baseball team this spring.
He’s 8-3 with six pins on the mat this winter after a busy summer of camps and tournaments. Those experiences helped lessen the nerves he’d felt during matches previously, and now he’s wrestling with an outlook of “everything to gain and nothing to lose.”
And Vasquez said he feels his dad’s presence as he prepares for competition.
“Before every match, before every game, I just think about what my dad would be telling me,” he said. “Everything he’s always told me has taught me to get better.
“In life, I still remember everything he taught me. He was definitely a great man, and I want to be like him someday.”
Wrestling also has made Vasquez more in tune with his health.
His sophomore season he went from 230 pounds to 215, and by his junior year was down to his current 175.
“I just wanted to be healthier, not just for wrestling,” he said. “I started going to the gym every night, watched my calories, and from there grew (taller).
“Now I’m at 6-(foot-)2, and I don’t know how that happened,” he laughed.
Lawrence coach Henry Payne said Vasquez always has a positive attitude and helps the other wrestlers in the program.
“When he notices a kid next to him doing a move wrong, he’ll go over and show him the right way,” Payne said. “We have a lot of young kids that this is their first year, and he’s been a good coach’s helper.”
The coach’s helper gig will continue after graduation.
"Next year we’re hoping to open up a youth program here, and I got him and an alumni that graduated last year and is helping the varsity team this year (Conner Tangeman) to take over the youth program for us,” Payne said.
On the football team, Vasquez was a jack of all trades.
“He started at guard, went to tight end, went to our wingback, went to our running back. He was trying to get the quarterback spot,” football coach Derek Gribler laughed.
Vasquez said there is no other feeling like being on the field, especially during home games.
“Wrestling is my main sport, but I’d do anything to go back and play football again,” he said. “I just love it.”
Although the football team struggled through a 1-8 season, “It was still a really fun season,” Vasquez said. “Everybody was super close. Most of us never really talked before, but we instantly became like a family.”
Vasquez had the support of his mother, Heather, and four older sisters: Makaylah, Briahna, Ahlexis and Maryah. He also found his school family helped him get through the end of his freshman year.
“(My friends) were always there for me when everything was going on,” he said. “I took that last month off school because it was too hard to be around people at that time.
"Every single one of them reached out and said, ‘Hey, I know you’re going through a rough time.’ It really helped to hear that and get out of the house.”
The family connection between Vasquez and Lawrence athletic director John Guillean goes back to the senior’s youth.
“I was girls basketball coach, so I coached his sisters,” Guillean said. “I remember him when he was pretty young. I knew the family pretty well. I knew his dad. He was pretty supportive and was there for everything.”
Vasquez said that freshman year experience has made him appreciate every day, and he gives the following advice: “Every time you’re wrestling, it could be your last time on the mat or last time on the field. Treat every game and every match as if it’s going to be your last. If you’re committed to the sport, take every chance you have to help your team be successful.”
Gribler has known Vasquez since he was in seventh grade and, as also the school’s varsity baseball coach, will work with Vasquez one more time with the senior planning to add baseball as his spring sport.
“When we talk about Tiger Pride, Austin’s a kid that you can put his face right on the logo. His work ethic is just unbelievable,” Gribler said. “Everything he does is with a smile. He could be having the worst day of his life, and he’d still have a smile on his face. He pushes through. It’s tough to do and amazing to see.”
The coach – who also starred at Lawrence as an athlete – noted the small community’s ability to rally around Vasquez and his family. Lawrence has about 150 students in the high school.
“It goes beyond sports,” Gribler said. “Austin knows when he needs something he can always reach out and we’ll have his back, we’ll have his family’s back. It’s not so much about winning as it is about the kids.”
Vasquez is already looking ahead to life after high school. He attends morning courses at Van Buren Tech, studying welding, and returns to the high school for afternoon classes.
“I’d like to either work on the pipeline as a pipeline welder or be a lineman,” he said, adding, “possibly college. I would like to wrestle in college, but let’s see how this year goes.
“I’m ready to get out, but it’s going to be hard to leave this all behind.”
Pam Shebest served as a sportswriter at the Kalamazoo Gazette from 1985-2009 after 11 years part-time with the Gazette while teaching French and English at White Pigeon High School. She can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Calhoun, Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Lawrence senior Andrew Vasquez, right, wrestles against Hartford this season. (2) Vasquez works on gaining the advantage in a match against Mendon. (3) From left: Lawrence wrestling coach Henry Payne, athletic director John Guillean and football and baseball coach Derek Gribler. (4) Vasquez also was a standout on the football field. (Wrestling and football photos courtesy of the Lawrence athletic department. Headshots by Pam Shebest.)