1st & Goal: 2026 Playoffs Week 1 Review
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
November 2, 2026
This time of year sees a lot of dates thrown around as football teams start eagerly awaited championship drives with their first playoff appearances since that one year, their first postseason wins since the last time, and on and on.
We’ve got plenty more to toss into the mix coming out of the first rounds of our 2026 tournament.
Upsets were few this time around, but history was in the making for many, and we glance at several of those below.
11-Player Division 1
HEADLINER Grandville 38, Howell 30 This easily was the biggest stunner in the state, regardless of division, as Howell entered the playoffs one of seven 9-0 teams in Division 1 and with the highest playoff-point average in any division. This was Grandville’s first victory over a team that finished the regular season with a winning record, and the Bulldogs (5-5) advanced to their fifth District Final over the last seven years. Click for more from the Detroit News.
🏈MOST-WATCHED EVENT last week: Grandville upsets Howell in the MHSAA football playoffs. Alex Highland had a 3-yard TD for Grandville. Subscribe & watch all the action on @NFHSNetwork >> https://t.co/MMNs3IcM1v #Football #WatchNow #Stream #NFHSNetwork #MHSAA Powered by @CallSam https://t.co/gS4MAH2zEA
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District Digest Rochester 22, Macomb Dakota 21 A 2-point conversion during the final seconds pushed Rochester (7-3) into a District Final for the first time since 2022 and ended Dakota’s season at 5-5 and short of the District Finals for the first time since 2020. Portage Central 21, Hudsonville 14 The Mustangs (9-1) opened the playoffs with another impressive defensive performance, their seventh allowing 14 points or fewer and also Hudsonville’s second-lowest scoring total this season in finishing 6-4. Oxford 42, Davison 28 The Wildcats (8-2) will play in a District Final for the second time in three seasons after also defeating Davison (7-3) to advance two years ago.
11-Player Division 2
HEADLINER Midland Dow 41, Walled Lake Western 20 The Dow defense provided one of its best performances of another solid season’s worth, holding Western to its fewest points since Week 4. The Chargers also have hit their stride offensively and reached 40 points for the fourth time in five weeks. Click for more from Midland Daily News.
District Digest Livonia Franklin 35, Allen Park 28 Franklin (8-2) pulled a repeat of 2024, downing Allen Park (7-3) by seven points to advance to a District Final against Gibraltar Carlson. North Farmington 27, Ferndale 26 The Raiders (7-3) earned their first playoff win since 2020 and ended Ferndale’s winningest season since 2018 at 7-3. Portage Northern 51, Traverse City West 43 Northern (6-4) earned its first postseason victory since 2022, reaching 50 points for the second time this season to end this one for Saginaw Valley League North co-champion West (6-4).
11-Player Division 3
HEADLINER Battle Creek Central 41, Battle Creek Harper Creek 38 Battle Creek Central’s history against Harper Creek this century isn’t strong, but the Bearcats won’t forget this win over the Beavers (6-4). In the first matchup of the neighbors since 2024, Central (6-4) emerged with its first playoff victory since 2018. Click for more from the Battle Creek Enquirer.
District Digest Redford Thurston 29, Linden 14 Thurston (9-1) earned its first playoff victory since 2019 to go with its outright Western Wayne Athletic Conference championship and now winningest season since 2011 – with an opportunity this week to get to 10 wins for the first time. Cadillac 31, Marquette 19 Cadillac (8-2) avenged a six-point Week 4 loss to Marquette that ended up deciding the Big North Conference title for the Sentinels (6-4). Middleville Thornapple Kellogg 42, Coldwater 34 The Trojans (7-3) won their playoff opener for the second year in a row, ending the fall for a Coldwater team (6-4) that was making its second-straight postseason appearance.
11-Player Division 4
HEADLINER Portland 22, Paw Paw 13 The Raiders (10-0) reached 10 wins for the sixth-straight season, emerging from what was a two-point game during the fourth quarter to hand Paw Paw (8-2) just its second loss. Portland moves on to take on another Wolverine Conference team, champion Edwardsburg, this week. Click for more from WILX.
District Digest Ludington 19, Fruitport 15 The Orioles (8-2) bounced back from a Week 9 loss to earn their first playoff win since 2020. Fruitport finished 7-3, all three defeats by six points or fewer. Stevensville Lakeshore 49, Hastings 44 Lakeshore (9-1) reached nine victories for the first time since 2017 with Kaden Griffiths running for 227 yards and four touchdowns to lead the offense as it matched the high-scoring Saxons (7-3). Macomb Lutheran North 36, Detroit East English 22 The Mustangs (9-1) are headed to a District Final for the third time in four seasons, but East English (7-3) has much to celebrate as well after concluding its winningest season since 2017.
11-Player Division 5
HEADLINER Hopkins 22, Kalamazoo United 21 Hopkins avenged last season’s District-opening loss to the Titans and in doing so handed United (9-1) its only defeat this season. The victory also was Hopkins’ first in the postseason since 2019 and improved the Vikings to 9-1 this fall. Click for more from the Kalamazoo Gazette.
District Digest Berrien Springs 34, Lake Odessa Lakewood 28 (OT) The Shamrocks (9-1) bounced back from a Week 9 loss to hit the road and earn a sixth-straight trip to the District Finals, in doing so ending Lakewood’s most successful season since 2017 at 8-2. Romulus Summit Academy North 34, Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard 27 Summit (7-3) will play for a District title for the fourth time in five years after holding off the Fighting Irish (5-5). Remus Chippewa Hills 42, Muskegon Orchard View 21 Chippewa Hills reached 40 points for the third-straight week in claiming its first playoff victory since 2016. Orchard View, making its first playoff appearance this decade, finished 7-3.
11-Player Division 6
HEADLINER Montrose 45, Durand 42 Montrose (8-2) had doubled up Durand 44-22 in Week 6 on the way to winning the Mid-Michigan Activities Conference title but had to hold on this time to keep its season alive as the Railroaders (6-4) cut the margin substantially before a final drive came up short. Click for more from the Flint Journal.
District Digest Gladwin 40, Harbor Springs 19 Gladwin (6-4) won a matchup of league champions to earn a District Final rematch with Sanford Meridian, which downed the Flying Gs in Week 8. Harbor Springs ended 8-2, tying its winningest campaign since 1999. Midland Bullock Creek 13, Algonac 8 Bullock Creek (6-4) returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2023 and advanced with its sixth win this season holding an opponent to single digits. Algonac finished 6-4, its best since 2017. Marine City 86, New Haven 40 These two combined to tie for the 16th-most points scored in a game by two 11-player teams where the losing team scored at least 40. New Haven finished 6-4, its most successful run since 2006, while Marine City (10-0) reached double-digit wins for the second time in three years.
11-Player Division 7
HEADLINER Jonesville 36, Hanover-Horton 22 Jonesville finished only fourth in the Cascades Conference South this season, losing to overall Cascades champion Hanover-Horton (7-3) 32-14 in Week 6. But Jonesville (6-4) certainly won’t forget the rematch as it defeated Hanover-Horton to reach a District Final for the first time since 2020. Click for more from the Jackson Citizen Patriot.
District Digest Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker 46, Burton Bendle 22 Laker (8-2) ran its winning streak to seven games in handing the lone loss this season to Bendle, which ended 9-1 with its first perfect regular season since 1997. Ravenna 54, Cassopolis 12 Ravenna’s first playoff win since 2022 was arguably its most impressive victory of this fall as the Bulldogs (8-2) tied their high in scoring and shut down a Rangers offense that had topped 45 points seven times during an 8-1 regular season. Harrison 60, McBain 52 These two also made the record book for combined points in one game, with Harrison (8-2) building on its 58 from Week 9 and McBain (7-3) reaching 50 for the fourth time in five weeks despite the loss.
11-Player Division 8
HEADLINER East Jordan 42, Iron Mountain 35 East Jordan held on to earn its fourth District Final trip over the last five seasons. Both offenses gave the opposing defenses arguably their toughest tests this fall, East Jordan’s 42 points the most Iron Mountain (7-3) had given and the Mountaineers’ 35 points one shy of tying the most surrendered by the Red Devils (8-2). Click for more from Upper Michigan’s Source.
District Digest Fowler 43, Manchester 16 The Eagles (7-3) had lost three of their last four games but found their stride to defeat Cascades Conference North co-champ Manchester (7-3). Southfield Bradford Academy 34, Burton Atherton 14 Bradford (7-3) reached seven wins for the first time since 2016, also earning its first playoff win since a decade ago while ending Atherton’s season at 6-4. Unionville-Sebewaing 36, Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Central 22 USA (8-2) has reached eight wins for the first time since 2016 and will play Ubly a second time after winning the first matchup in Week 6. Nouvel came back from a 1-2 start to finish 5-5.
8-Player Division 1
HEADLINER Colon 33, Bridgman 20 Colon (9-1) made its return to the playoffs count, as the Magi impressively held off Bridgman in their first postseason appearance since 2022. Bridgman (8-2) hadn’t scored fewer than 28 points this season, and the 20 actually tied the high-scoring Bees’ fewest since Week 3 of 2023. Click for more from the Sturgis Journal.
Regional Roundup Dryden 60, Kingston 16 The Cardinals’ magnificent run now includes its first playoff appearance and postseason win since 2008 as Dryden (10-0) also reached double-digit wins for the first time since that fall. Ishpeming 36, Rudyard 14 The Hematites (8-2) also returned to the playoffs with a solid win after missing the postseason a year ago, ending Rudyard’s run at 7-3. Climax-Scotts 49, Concord 40 Climax-Scotts (8-2) ended Concord’s first playoff trip this decade in another of the weekend’s highest-scoring matchups.
8-Player Division 2
HEADLINER Grand Rapids Sacred Heart 50, Marion 30 The Falcons (9-1) earned the first playoff win of their three-year football history, and it was a big one as Marion (9-1) was undefeated and had given up only 86 points over eight games all season. Sacred Heart’s offense has been that impressive most of the fall, with this its sixth-straight game scoring at least 49 points. Click for more from the Cadillac News.
Regional Report Lake Linden-Hubbell 44, Powers North Central 25 Lake Linden-Hubbell (10-0) has reached double-digit wins for the first time since 2016 thanks to defeating North Central (7-3) by an almost identical score as when they first faced off in Week 5. Marcellus 50, Litchfield 36 The Wildcats (7-3) earned their first playoff victory since 2020 while ending Litchfield’s first playoff season since 2011 at 8-2. Gaylord St. Mary 55, St. Ignace 6 Few teams have impressed defensively as substantially as the Snowbirds (10-0), who didn’t give up a point this fall until Week 7 and have allowed only 20 total, this time stopping a Saints offense that had reached 60 four times during an 8-1 regular season.
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PHOTOS (Top) Muskegon Mona Shores' Kevin White Jr. (15) breaks past a pair of Traverse City Central defenders during his team's 49-42 win in Division 2. (Middle) Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary quarterback Zach Scharrer (4) looks for an open receiver during the second quarter of his team's 31-8 win over Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart in Division 8 on Saturday. (Mona Shores/TC Central photo by Tim Reilly. MLS photo by Kolleth Photography.)
Brown Enjoys Legendary Debut to Start 2nd Season Directing Erie Mason's Attack
By
Doug Donnelly
Special for MHSAA.com
August 30, 2022
ERIE – Vaughn Brown never worried about replacing a legend. He just wanted to be the Erie Mason starting quarterback.
After a solid rookie season last year, Brown has started out his junior year with a bang. In the Eagles’ season opener Friday, Brown threw eight touchdown passes during the first half, tying a state record, and his right arm has Erie Mason fans thinking a third-straight playoff season is possible.
“It was one of those nights,” Brown said. “Everything was going well. It kept working. It didn’t matter what we did, they couldn’t stop it.”
The Eagles beat Saranac, 50-14. Brown threw a 61-yard touchdown pass on the second play of the game and had three TDs in the first quarter. He tossed five more in the second quarter to become just the second player in state history to have eight touchdown passes in a half.
“Watching film, we knew what their corners and safeties would do,” Brown said. “On the second play of the game, Korbin Herrera went deep and just ran right past a guy. I dropped back, and I knew right then it was going to be a good day. I threw it, and he ran under it and scored. It was a great play.”
Getting into the Erie Mason passing record book is no easy feat. That’s because the quarterback who Brown replaced last year was Noah Beaudrie, now playing at Mount Union College.
Beaudrie was a four-year quarterback at Erie Mason and put up some stunning numbers. As a senior in 2020, Beaudrie accumulated more than 1,000 yards rushing and passing. Over his four seasons, he completed 371-of-647 passes for 5,747 yards and 56 touchdowns. He ran for another 4,503 yards and 59 touchdowns.
He earned all-state honors and had multiple college offers before landing at Mount Union, one of the most storied small-college football programs in the nation.
As a sophomore, Brown had the unenviable task of taking over for Beaudrie. He said he never felt like he had to replace Beaudrie, just help his team win.
“I knew Noah,” Brown said. “He was super good to me and helped me along the way. I just came into the season just wanting to help last year’s seniors win games. I didn’t care about stats. I never really have cared about that. The stats never crossed my mind.”
Brown grew up just across the state line in Toledo, Ohio, and moved to Erie Mason before he was in the seventh grade. He was part of the Eagles program when Beaudrie was setting record after record.
“He was a good mentor. He helped me along the way. Noah was a great athlete and an amazing player in general,” Brown said.
“Me and him play a different type of game. He’s more athletic than me. He liked to run. I’d rather stay in the pocket and throw the ball 100 times a game than run.”
Erie Mason head coach Steven Bower said Brown has grown into the quarterback position and as a team leader. During the summer Brown never missed a chance to work out, lift weights or get in time with his receivers.
“He’s the poster child for our program. He does everything,” Bowers said.
“I hate missing stuff. I enjoy being there and being around the guys,” Brown said.
During the offseason, Bowers had some of his players go through leadership training. Bowers called it “captain’s classes.” Brown was one of the players to go through the training.
“The kids have done a good job of listening to him and following him,' Bowers said. “He sets the standard for everyone.”
Brown was a four-sport athlete last year, playing basketball in the winter and pulling double duty in the spring by playing baseball and running track.
“Vaughn is a tremendous athlete and leader,” Erie Mason basketball coach Kevin Skaggs said. “In a summer game he had to defend a 6-foot-5 post player in one scrimmage. He outworked, outran, and out rebounded him. He’s a tough, tough kid.”
Brown (6-0, 170) plays down his basketball abilities.
“I’m one of those guys who just goes out there, plays defense and rebounds and helps the team win,” Brown said. “I might ride the bench, but I’ll push people in practice and do the best I can.”
Brown said he gets his work ethic from his parents, Allen and Paige Brown, both Ohio natives. His dad was an all-state defensive lineman in high school.
“My parents have always instilled in me hard work. They’ve always told me I had to earn everything,” Vaughn Brown said.
“My mom and dad have driven me to so much stuff over the years. I can’t count how many times they gave me rides to sports. My mom would get off work early, and my dad took me places. I’m very grateful for that.”
Brown said he had never heard of Erie Mason before his parents bought a home in the community. Now he lives right across the street from the school.
Brown finished Friday’s game with 13 completions on 19 attempts for 358 yards. He completed passes to six receivers.
“We have five or six guys who are great receivers,” he said. “Friday gave us a lot of confidence. All our guys just played so well. The line blocked great, and the guys made some great catches. I’m excited about what’s to come.”
Doug 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) Erie Mason quarterback Vaughn Brown pulls away from a Saranac tackler during Friday’s season opener. (Middle) Brown rolls right during the win at Olivet College. (Photos by Amy Brighton South.)