1st & Goal: 2026 Playoffs Week 2 Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
November 5, 2026
Rematch week often means rivalry week and frequently includes a side of revenge as well when teams earn the opportunity to see each other a second time during the MHSAA Football Playoffs.
Our 11-Player District and 8-Player Regional Finals this season feature notable rematches between rivals and neighbors that will surely rev up those communities. No matter what was on the line the first time around, this time the winner will hoist a mitten trophy – and the team that doesn’t will put away the helmets and pads for the winter.
Tickets for all games are available on GoFan.co, and 70 will be broadcast on MHSAA.tv. Click to follow scores as they are reported and next week’s matchups as they’re determined, and see below for more on a game in each division that could make the most major impact on its bracket.
11-Player Division 1
Grand Ledge (10-0) at East Kentwood (10-0) – Saturday WATCH
The champions of the Capital Area Activities Conference Red and Ottawa-Kent Conference Red, respectively, will meet in a rematch of a 2025 District opener won by East Kentwood 49-15. The Falcons’ closest games this season were 21-point victories over Grandville and Rockford, the latter also defeated by Grand Ledge last week 34-31. That was the Comets’ first game closer than 14 points this fall, and it will be interesting to see if that experience pays off if this matchup is decided by a similarly small margin.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Grand Blanc (10-0) at Clarkston (9-1) WATCH, Rochester (7-3) at Romeo (10-0) WATCH, Rochester Adams (7-3) at Rochester Hills Stoney Creek (8-2) WATCH.
11-Player Division 2
South Lyon East (8-2) at South Lyon (8-2) WATCH
South Lyon defeated rival East during both the regular season and District last season and will attempt to finish a repeat this fall after downing the Cougars 21-10 in Week 7. That win eventually allowed South Lyon to claim a share of the Lakes Valley Conference title and kept East from doing the same, and that victory also was the second in a current string of five that has seen the Lions give up no more than 15 points in a game. East has hit its stride offensively again and opened the playoffs by nearly doubling up Saginaw Heritage.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Muskegon Mona Shores (9-1) at Caledonia (8-2) WATCH, Midland Dow (8-2) at Milford (9-1) WATCH, Temperance Bedford (8-2) at Grosse Pointe South (9-1) WATCH.
11-Player Division 3
Detroit Martin Luther King (7-3) at Harper Woods (8-2) WATCH
Several eyes statewide will be on this District Final thanks to the star power on the field and potential for the winner to end up the eventual Division 3 champion. Both of Harper Woods’ losses were against teams still in this field as well, Chelsea and Mason, and the Pioneers bounced back from a Week 9 defeat to the latter to get past Warren Fitzgerald in its District opener. King lost its final two regular-season games, to Detroit Cass Tech and Cincinnati Moeller, but also bounced back well last week against Grosse Pointe North to earn this opportunity to win a 12th-straight District title.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Redford Thurston (9-1) at Chelsea (10-0) WATCH, Cadillac (8-2) at Mount Pleasant (9-1) WATCH, Warren De La Salle Collegiate (6-4) at Port Huron (10-0) WATCH.
11-Player Division 4
Portland (10-0) at Edwardsburg (10-0) WATCH
CAAC White champion Portland will attempt this week to finish a run through the elite of the Wolverine Conference, having defeated runner-up Paw Paw 22-13 in a District opener to set up this matchup with league leader Edwardsburg. Despite both having plenty of playoff success in the recent past, they’ve never met before, and this matchup will pit a pair of teams known for their offensive efficiency and rushing power, and ability to withstand both on the other side of the ball.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Grand Rapids South Christian (9-1) at Stevensville Lakeshore (9-1) WATCH, Adrian (9-1) at Dearborn Divine Child (9-1) WATCH, St. Clair (8-2) at Detroit Country Day (7-3).
11-Player Division 5
Negaunee (6-4) at Kingsford (10-0) – Saturday WATCH
Kingsford proved itself to be undoubtedly the best team in the Upper Peninsula during the regular season, especially with wins during the final two weeks over Menominee and Marquette. But the Flivvers’ closest game this fall – and in fact, one of only three decided by single digits – was 21-16 over Negaunee in Week 4. The Miners have played several tough teams in nail-biters this season, defeating Marquette by two and losing to Calumet, Kingsford, Menominee and Iron Mountain by a combined 19 points.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Hopkins (9-1) at Grand Rapids West Catholic (8-2) WATCH, Imlay City (8-2) at Saginaw Swan Valley (9-1) WATCH, Ida (8-2) at Monroe Jefferson (9-1).
11-Player Division 6
Gladwin (6-4) at Sanford Meridian (10-0) WATCH
The Jack Pine Conference division champs will meet for a second time in four weeks, and this is hardly the mismatch their records might seem to indicate. Meridian has been outstanding, 10-0 for the first time since 2015 and defeating six playoff teams to get here, including Gladwin 28-13 in their league crossover Oct. 16. But look at who the Flying Gs have played as well; they’ve defeated four playoff teams and lost to four more, and they opened their postseason last week with a 40-19 win over Northern Michigan Football Conference co-champion Harbor Springs.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Traverse City St. Francis (7-3) at Kingsley (10-0) WATCH, Montrose (8-2) at Marine City (10-0) WATCH. SATURDAY Clinton (9-1) at Detroit Edison (9-1) WATCH.
11-Player Division 7
Ithaca (9-1) at Millington (10-0) WATCH
Millington has shined on both sides of the ball in reaching 10-0 for the third time in four seasons, and the defense has made arguably the bigger impression. The Cardinals have given up more than 16 points only once, to Ubly which is also still alive, and their success in stopping Ithaca could decide this power-packed matchup. The Yellowjackets have scored at least 35 points in every game but one – their 29-26 loss to still-undefeated Beal City in Week 9 – and Ithaca also gave up only 26 points total over its other eight games this fall.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Ottawa Lake Whiteford (8-2) at Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central (9-1) WATCH. SATURDAY North Muskegon (9-1) at Schoolcraft (8-2) WATCH, Ravenna (8-2) at Constantine (9-1) WATCH.
11-Player Division 8
Springport (9-1) at Decatur (10-0) WATCH
Springport’s Week 3 loss to Beal City is the only defeat between these two teams, who together have put together impressive two-year stretches – Springport is a combined 20-2 with two Big 8 Conference titles, and Decatur a combined 17-3 with a pair of Southwest 10 Conference championships. They do have one shared opponent this fall; Decatur defeated Vermontville Maple Valley 22-6 last week and Springport downed the Lions 21-14 in Week 4. But that’s just another sign of their similar strengths – both teams have multiple-touchdown wins over quality opponents, and both also have shut down the majority of offenses they’ve faced. This could be low-scoring and close.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Unionville-Sebewaing (8-2) at Ubly (7-3) WATCH, East Jordan (8-2) at Beal City (10-0) WATCH. SATURDAY Clarkston Everest Collegiate (9-1) at Royal Oak Shrine Catholic (9-1) WATCH.
8-Player Division 1
Deckerville (9-1) at Dryden (10-0) WATCH
Dryden’s most successful season since 2008 already includes a 44-38 win over Deckerville in Week 5 that ended up deciding the Big Thumb Conference Blue title, and a repeat result would give the Cardinals their first Regional title since 1996. Deckerville is more familiar with this stage of the postseason, as the Eagles are seeking a fourth-straight Regional title, but they must show they can further slow down a Dryden attack that averages 55 points per game and has gone over 80 twice.
Other Regional Finals FRIDAY Ishpeming (8-2) at Pickford (8-2) WATCH, Colon (9-1) at Climax-Scotts (8-2), Blanchard Montabella (9-1) at Merrill (9-2) WATCH.
8-Player Division 2
Gaylord St. Mary (10-0) at Lake Linden-Hubbell (10-0) – Saturday WATCH
Both teams are chasing history with this titanic matchup. Lake Linden-Hubbell last won a Regional title just a few seasons ago, in 2023, but an 11th win would give the Lakes their most since their Class D championship season of 1997. Gaylord St. Mary is playing to reach 11 for the first time since 2002 – when the Snowbirds won their most recent Regional title. Lake Linden-Hubbell has played only one single-digit game this fall and follows an offense that has reached 42 points in all 10. St. Mary has played only one single-game digit too and will attempt to match Lakes scores with an attack that’s reached 50 points seven times.
Other Regional Finals FRIDAY Britton Deerfield (8-2) at Bay City All Saints (9-1) WATCH. SATURDAY Grand Rapids Sacred Heart (9-1) at Portland St. Patrick (10-0) WATCH, Marcellus (7-3) at Mendon (10-0) WATCH.
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PHOTO Southfield Bradford’s Dalon Lyons carries the ball during his team’s 30-0 Week 2 win over Detroit Pershing. (Photo by Olivia B. Photography.)
Young's Magic Will be Missed in Muskegon
By
Tom Kendra
Special for MHSAA.com
January 10, 2018
Muskegon High School’s historic Hackley Stadium was not an easy place for Gene Young to navigate in recent years, with his hulking 6-foot-6 frame slowed by neuropathy in both feet and worsened this past fall by a nasty infection on his left heel.
But few people have ever been more positive than Young, a giant – literally and figuratively – in the Muskegon area sports, broadcasting and education communities who died on Jan. 2 at the age of 76.
Young was determined to make it up to the Hackley Stadium press box back on that August day last fall, to broadcast the Big Reds’ opening game against Ann Arbor Pioneer with myself and play-by-play man Larry Taylor on Muskegon radio station WMUS-FM 107.9 – kicking off his 39th year as the voice of high school football on the lakeshore.
The first challenge was parking.
“Tommy, pull into that lot across from the gate. I know the people working there,” said Young, who seemingly knew everybody, everywhere.
Gene rolled down his window and I couldn’t hear his exact words, but I know he gave $10 instead of the $5 charge (the proceeds were going to help out Muskegon’s minor sports programs). He also put a smile on that parking lot attendant’s face and made him feel like the most important part of the entire game-day operation.
That’s the Gene Young magic.
The next hurdle was crossing Sanford Street and getting into the stadium.
Back in his heyday, Gene was a fantastic athlete, a standout big man and 1959 graduate of Muskegon Heights High School, who accepted a basketball scholarship to Central Michigan University and played on the varsity basketball team as a freshman. He transferred to Otero Junior College in Colorado for one year, before playing his final two years for Weber State University in Utah, coached by NBA legend Dick Motta.
But this past fall, crossing the street was getting to be a challenge.
The gate attendant spotted him making his way slowly across Sanford with his cane and began undoing the padlocked gate. Young never needed to show a press credential in the Muskegon area, as he and his buddy Jim Moyes had been the voice and the spirit of Muskegon-area high school sports since they first started working together in 1978. The two filled their broadcasts with memories and insights brought in from their deep knowledge of Muskegon’s sports history.
As Gene and I were let in, many of the fans who still had to wait snickered a bit. Gene diffused the situation quickly, as only he could.
“We’re big time; we’re with ESPN,” he deadpanned.
The next part of the journey is walking down the dark tunnel and up a short ramp where you then experience that first glimpse of the hallowed ground at Hackley Stadium – it’s a moment that Muskegon locals would equate with going around “the curve” near Pere Marquette Park and seeing that first view of Lake Michigan, or an 8-year-old’s first visit to Disneyland. As he plopped down on the handicap bench up front to rest, no one knew it would be his final time to experience that thrill.
Shame on me for not appreciating that moment as I should have, because I was nervously scurrying up the bleachers to set up our radio equipment.
When I glanced down, Gene was holding court on that bench as a steady stream of folks stopped by to shake his hand.
Some of them were old education friends like Roger Hoekenga, a retired Muskegon Public Schools administrator who stopped to talk about retirement. Gene began his teaching and coaching careers at Muskegon Reeths-Puffer, but is best known for his 26-year run as the Director of Community Education, Adult Education and Recreation at Fruitport. Upon his retirement, he specialized in helping school boards make good hires for superintendent and other administrative positions.
Terri Clock, the lone woman on the Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame board, then stopped to visit for a few moments. One of Gene’s crowning achievements had been his tireless work for the local sports hall, taking over as president in 1994 and serving in that role until his death.
“He is the hall of fame. When Dick Hedges (the first president of the MASHF) passed away, Gene took over and that was his baby,” said Moyes, who delivered a powerful eulogy at Young’s funeral service on Jan. 6. “He put hours and hours into making our hall of fame the best one. Everything was always first class with Gene.”
The equipment was all set up, and I had already done a test call with the station – and my partner was still sitting on that bench.
I just shook my head and smiled. His friends and family (and especially his wife, Sandy) were used to “Gene speed” – whether it was making his way past all of the characters at the bar to get to our table for lunch every Friday, or visiting with each of the workers on his way to the pool at the health club, or shaking everyone’s hand after church on Sunday.
Muskegon head coach Shane Fairfield also stopped quickly to chat, thanking Gene for sending him a note of encouragement all four times his teams lost in MHSAA championship games (Fairfield told me at Gene’s visitation that he received another note this year after the Big Reds won the Division 3 title). Then, finally, Gene had a brief word with Muskegon star quarterback La’Darius Jefferson, who experienced Gene’s handshake grip, which he kept locked on until he was ready to let you go.
Only then did he start his trek up the 28 concrete rows to the Hackley Stadium press box, which included two or three more stops to rest/visit with Muskegon and Ann Arbor Pioneer fans, before he finally got to his spot at 6:25 p.m. – 5 minutes before air time.
“Tommy Kendra, I picked up some good information down there,” he said.
Those words struck me that day, and I learned a valuable lesson. As I sat there alone in the middle of the press box, sweating profusely, bored and isolated, poring over relatively meaningless stats that I already knew by heart, I realized that he was doing it the right way.
I’ve determined that the best way to honor and remember my dear friend and mentor is to never be in too big of a rush to get into the press box, to get a seat at the lunch table or a treadmill at the gym. Take it a little slower. Be interested in other people. Figure out a way to use your God-given gifts to help them. Brighten their day. And, in the process, learn a few things and gain a new perspective.
That’s the Gene Young magic.
Tom Kendra worked 23 years at The Muskegon Chronicle, including five as assistant sports editor and the final six as sports editor through 2011. E-mail him at [email protected] with story ideas for Muskegon, Oceana, Mason, Lake, Oceola, Mecosta and Newaygo counties.
***
Ludington’s Beckman Came Home, Gave Back
Rod Beckman never really got away from high school sports.
Beckman, who died on Dec. 20 at the age of 69 after a five-year battle with cancer, is remembered as one of the best all-around athletes to ever come out of Shelby High School – good enough to earn a Division I basketball scholarship to Oklahoma State University and later shift gears and play three years of professional baseball in the Detroit Tigers organization.
Then Beckman went back to high school, in a way, as the voice of Ludington High School sports for 40 years, from 1972 to 2012, at radio station WKLA in Ludington, where he worked as a popular disc jockey by day.
Beckman also made an impact on high school sports as a well-known and respected baseball and softball umpire in Mason County for more than 25 years.
Ultimately, Beckman stayed involved in sports throughout his life as an outlet for his competitive nature and a way to spend quality time with family and friends. His passion for basketball and baseball later gave way to fast-pitch softball and golf, but he also did his share of bowling, hockey and racquetball. Beckman is a member of the Mason County Sports Hall of Fame.
Beckman used his popularity and name recognition to help others right up until his death.
In September, Beckman hosted the Rod Beckman Cancer Charity Golf Classic, which raised more than $70,000 for the Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital Cancer Patient Assistance Fund and The Optimist Childhood Cancer Campaign.
Beckman is survived by his wife of 21 years, Traci.
– Tom Kendra
PHOTOS: (Top) Gene Young, left, with his most recent broadcasting team of Larry Taylor (second from left) and Tom Kendra, and halftime guest Justin Abdelkader of the Detroit Red Wings, during a 2016 game. Young was working for iHeart Media station WMUS-107.9 FM in Muskegon. (Middle) The legendary broadcast duo of Young, left, and Jim Moyes, call the Class D championship game in 2002. (Below) Young poses in front of the Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame displays at the L.C. Walker Arena in downtown Muskegon. Young served as president of the MASHF for the past 24 years.