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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.

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. 

MI Student AidWe’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. 

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. 

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.

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.) 
 

Smith Takes on Next Challenge at Everett

August 6, 2018

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

LANSING – On a frequently stormy Monday in the shadow of iconic Archie Ross Stadium, the sun broke in for the end of Lansing Everett’s first football practice – just in time for coach Mike Smith to remind his players they have an opportunity to accomplish great things this fall.

Senior Noah Smith knows it. He may have been a first-grader in 2007 when Mike Smith left one of the state’s top Division 1 programs at Holt, but he’s heard plenty about those Rams – who finished the coach’s tenure with 25 straight league wins over four seasons and a District title.

Noah Smith was following mid-Michigan football much more closely in 2013, when Mike Smith took over an Eaton Rapids program that had never made the playoffs and immediately led the Greyhounds to two postseason appearances in his first two seasons.

“I knew that at Eaton Rapids, he came in and changed the program – and when I heard that he was coming here, I was hoping he would do that here,” Noah Smith said.

And Noah’s reaction after Monday’s first session?

“He’s going to change the program,” Smith adamantly added.

It’s not that easy, and even over-the-top to say Mike Smith has made it look that way. But it’s also impossible to argue with his work over the last 30 years.

The Detroit Denby and Michigan State University graduate took over a Dansville team in 1989 coming off a 1-8 finish and led the Aggies to a combined 32-6 run over four seasons including two they finished at 9-1.

After a one-year stop at Eaton Rapids in 1993 (the Greyhounds went 5-4, their last winning season before 20 straight below .500), Smith moved on to Holt in 1994, taking a Rams varsity that hadn’t won more than six games since 1981 to the Class A championship game in 1995. Holt was 98-54 over his 15 seasons with the Rams.

Smith left to assist at Olivet College, then assisted at Grand Ledge for a season before returning to Eaton Rapids in 2013 and leading the Greyhounds to 7-5 and then 8-4 records over his first two seasons – and a 25-26 run overall while navigating a league that has sent three of its six teams to Ford Field over the last eight seasons.

Add it up, and the first four high school varsities (including Eaton Rapids twice) that Smith has taken over were a combined 8-28 the year before – and a combined 24-15 his first seasons. All told, Smith enters this fall at Everett 160-90 for his career and raring for this next challenge and the greater opportunities to educate that come with it.

“I love to teach. I love this part about, it’s not just the football,” Smith said. “It’s about doing something for someone else, the greater good, the whole thing like that. I just really, really enjoy coaching. But it’s not just that – it’s the teaching as well.”

Everett welcomes Smith coming off a 1-8 finish a year ago after former coach Marcelle Carruthers – who turned the program into a local power over 17 seasons – stepped down in the spring to become principal at Lansing Eastern.

Smith had 25 players on the field Monday, with three more for sure on the way, and he expects to end up with a roster in the low 30s – and with junior varsity and freshman teams as well, the freshman team possibly the largest of the three.

Smith also took over as the school’s athletic director in January. He knew his athletes coming into the first practice, but not as football players – and he admitted to being a little nervous Sunday night as he readied for another start.  

Noah Smith said his classmates were a little anxious as well when Mike Smith was hired. But that’s eased as they’ve become familiar with their jolly new leader who long has been known for matching intensity with playfulness and genuine care for his athletes.

Noah Smith is entering his fourth season on varsity and earned all-league honors as a receiver last season in the Capital Area Activities Conference Blue. Mike Smith’s “calmer” approach caught his attention Monday, even as the new coach did make vocal points on occasion.

“It brings us together even more. You realize that he’s there. He’s actually coaching us. He’s a real coach for us,” Noah Smith said.

Mike Smith said he’s watching this week to see who shows up every day and works hard every day – another part of the culture he’s bringing from his previous stops.

Noah Smith knows it will be sinking in “when people start listening all the time instead of most of the time. We listen, I can honestly say we listen, but we need to listen all the time instead of most of the time because most of the time’s not going to cut it.”

This first practice was over by noon, and Mike Smith already was enjoying what he saw about 100 yards in front of him – players on both sides of assistant Jacob Wyatt, chatting up the former Sexton and Eastern Michigan standout on their way to the locker room.

“If you do the right thing every day, the game’s going to take care of itself,” he said. “You need to know what kind of offense and defense to run and put your kids in the best spots to be successful. (But) the other thing I’ve always stressed to my teams, this team can’t be my team. It’s gotta be your team. When you can get the kids all playing for each other, you’ve got yourself there.”

PHOTOS: (Top) First-year Lansing Everett football coach Mike Smith talks with his team at the end of their first practice of this season Monday. (Middle) A row of Vikings line up during a kickoff drill. (Photos by Geoff Kimmerly.)