1st & Goal: 2026 Playoffs Week 2 Review
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
November 10, 2026
We’re entering the third week of these 2026 MHSAA Football Playoffs, and at least a handful of teams have reached this stage of the season for the first time since before their current players were born.
This week's "Review" highlights some of those below, along with other notable accomplishments both for teams advancing to this week’s rounds but also those whose seasons have come to a close.
11-Player Division 1
HEADLINER Northville 17, Saline 14 Division 1 provided the biggest stunner of the week for the second straight as the Mustangs (9-2) handed the first and only loss to Saline (10-1). Both were league champions this fall, but Saline had reached the Regional Finals a year ago and hadn’t had a game closer than 14 points this fall. Click for more from the Ann Arbor News.
District Digest East Kentwood 42, Grand Ledge 21 The Falcons (10-1) advanced from this meeting of undefeated teams, ending the Comets’ season for the second straight. Clarkston 27, Grand Blanc 26 Grand Blanc (10-1) led 20-7 at halftime, but Clarkston (10-1) came back to end the previously undefeated Bobcats’ season also for the second consecutive year. Rochester Hills Stoney Creek 21, Rochester Adams 7 The Cougars (9-2) avenged a Week 7 loss to the Highlanders (7-4), ending an eight-game losing streak against their rivals.
11-Player Division 2
HEADLINER Livonia Franklin 17, Gibraltar Carlson 6 Franklin (9-2) clinched its first District title since 2022 by handling Carlson (10-1) its only loss of the season. The Marauders entered the matchup averaging 35 points per game, but the Patriots held their opponent to single digits for the third time over the last four weeks. Click for more from the Detroit News.
District Digest Milford 31, Midland Dow 19 The Mavericks (10-1) claimed their first District championship since 2006, ending a seven-game winning streak by the Chargers (8-3) as they sought to repeat as District winners. Muskegon Mona Shores 49, Caledonia 35 Mona Shores (10-1) has scored 49 points in both of their playoff games to outpace their high-powered opponents including this time the Fighting Scots (8-3). South Lyon 55, South Lyon East 32 The Lions (9-2) finished a season sweep of the rival Cougars (8-3), extending their winning streak in the series to four after winning both matchups last year as well.
11-Player Division 3
HEADLINER Harper Woods 20, Detroit Martin Luther King 6 Harper Woods ran its District title streak to four seasons in a row with this one, its first in Division 3, holding King (7-4) to its lowest-scoring output of the season. The loss also ended the Crusaders’ District championship streak at 11. Click for more from the Detroit Free Press.
District Digest Warren De La Salle Collegiate 27, Port Huron 10 The Pilots (7-4) handed Port Huron (10-1) its only loss to advance to what will be another highly anticipated matchup this week with Harper Woods. Middleville Thornapple Kellogg 41, St. Joseph 13 After last year reaching the District Finals for the first time since 2020, the Trojans took the next step with their first District championship since 2001 and ended St. Joseph’s run at 8-3. Chelsea 51, Redford Thurston 14 The Bulldogs claimed their first District title since their Division 4 championship season of 2021, ending Thurston’s winningest season in 15 years at 9-2.
11-Player Division 4
HEADLINER Portland 35, Edwardsburg 17 The Raiders ran their District championship streak to six with this win in a matchup of undefeated teams. Portland (11-0) outscored the Eddies 21-0 during the second half and for the game held Edwardsburg (10-1) to its fewest points scored this season. Click for more from the South Bend Tribune.
District Digest Macomb Lutheran North 48, Marysville 20 Lutheran North (10-1) clinched its third District championship over the last four years, downing a league co-champion in Marysville (6-5). Hudsonville Unity Christian 49, Ada Forest Hills Eastern 23 Unity Christian repeated as a District champion and ended Forest Hills Eastern’s winning season since 2015 at 9-2. Detroit Country Day 35, St. Clair 13 The Yellowjackets (8-3) returned to the playoffs this season for the first time since 2022 and now have their first District title since that season as well, as they ended St. Clair’s return to the postseason after the Saints (8-3) missed last year’s playoffs.
11-Player Division 5
HEADLINER Negaunee 20, Kingsford 14 Even with four losses this season, Negaunee (7-4) looked like a dangerous opponent for the undefeated Flivvers (10-1) – and indeed proved to be in avenging a 21-16 loss from Week 4. The District title was the Miners’ first since 2022 and the win also ended a three-game losing streak against Kingsford. Click for more from My UP Now.
District Digest Romulus Summit Academy 30, Detroit Denby 28 Summit (8-3) has strung together 10 straight winning seasons and now has its first District championship as well after hanging on against a Denby team (7-4) that hadn’t given up more than 14 points in a game this fall. Saginaw Swan Valley 29, Imlay City 12 Swan Valley has reached 10-1 for the second-straight year and now will face Frankenmuth, which dealt the Vikings their lone loss in Week 8. Imlay City finished 8-3 and has plenty to celebrate after having won a combined 11 games over the previous five seasons. Grand Rapids West Catholic 45, Hopkins 14 West Catholic clinched its fourth District title over the last five seasons by downing another league champion in Hopkins (9-2).
11-Player Division 6
HEADLINER Detroit Edison 26, Clinton 24 Edison held off a Clinton second-half comeback attempt to repeat as a District champion and claim its third title over the last four seasons. The Redwolves (9-2) had reached the Division 7 Semifinals a year ago. The Pioneers (9-1), who haven’t lost since Week 1, earned a rematch with Ecorse and won the first meeting between those two 30-20 in Week 7. Click for more from the Detroit News.
MAKING PLAYS WHEN NEEDED 🔥 Detroit Edison defeated Clinton 26-24 to earn the MHSAA District Title. They move on to play Ecorse this week! Delivered by @hungryhowies https://t.co/uRsV0MhdbB
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 9, 2026
District Digest Marine City 37, Montrose 29 The Mariners (11-0) won another matchup of league champions, ending Montrose’s season at 8-3. Belding 28, Olivet 20 Belding (9-2) clinched its first District title since 2017 with its fifth win (and second in a row) by nine points or fewer. Olivet ended its 18th-straight playoff season at 7-4. Ecorse 26, Warren Michigan Collegiate 6 As noted above, Ecorse (9-1) earned a rematch with Edison after getting past another rival in Michigan Collegiate (5-5) for the second time this season and third in a row going back to last fall.
11-Player Division 7
HEADLINER Ithaca 39, Millington 16 Ithaca’s high-powered offense scored the most points the Cardinals (10-1) gave up this season. Yellowjackets quarterback Gibson Rondy ran for 144 yards and a score and threw for 183 and another touchdown as Ithaca (10-1) won its fourth District title over the last five seasons. Click for more from the Mount Pleasant Morning Sun.
Ithaca (10-1) hands Millington (10-1) their only loss of the season in the Div. 7 District Finals 39-16 @ABC12WJRT https://t.co/udOVQKUaVh
— Justin Dierkes (@DierkesTV) November 7, 2026
District Digest Ottawa Lake Whiteford 38, Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central 34 Whiteford (9-2) avenged a 37-28 Week 1 loss to the Falcons (9-2) to clinch its first District title since 2023. Jonesville 52, Union City 30 The Comets (7-4) continued their hot streak with a fifth-straight win and first District title since 2002 after starting this season 2-4. Union City finished 8-3. Ravenna 42, Constantine 12 Ravenna has found its scoring stride; its first District title since 2016 came with its third straight game of scoring at least 42 points after the Bulldogs did so only once during the regular season. Constantine (9-2) had given up only 19 points combined over its previous six games.
11-Player Division 8
HEADLINER Springport 34, Decatur 22 Springport (10-1) handed Decatur its first and only loss of the season, in doing so repeating as a District champion and setting up a Regional rematch with Hudson, which ended the Spartans’ playoff run a year ago. The Raiders’ 10-1 finish pushed its record over the last three seasons to a combined 28-6. Click for more from WOOD TV.
District Digest Bark River-Harris 38, Maple City Glen Lake 13 The Broncos (9-2) clinched a second-straight District title with a second playoff win over Glen Lake (8-3) in two years after also edging the Lakers in a Regional Final last fall. Clarkston Everest Collegiate 24, Royal Oak Shrine 14 Everest (10-1) finished a season sweep of Shrine after also defeating the Knights (9-2) in a Week 9 Prep Bowl matchup 34-7. Ubly 32, Unionville-Sebewaing 8 Ubly (8-3) made five weeks make a big difference, avenging a 30-16 loss to USA (8-3) from Week 6 that decided the Big Thumb Conference Black championship.
8-Player Division 1
HEADLINER Deckerville 62, Dryden 22 Deckerville reversed its 44-38 Week 5 loss to the Cardinals to clinch a fourth-straight Regional title. The Eagles (10-1) topped 60 points for the first time since Week 2 of last year in ending Dryden’s most successful season since 2008 at 10-1. Click for more from the Huron Daily Tribune.
Regional Roundup Pickford 28, Ishpeming 22 Pickford left for a new league this fall and didn’t see Ishpeming (8-3) during the regular season, but the Panthers (9-2) capitalized on this opportunity and extended their 8-player record over the Hematites to 4-0. Colon 30, Climax-Scotts 20 After returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2022, the Magi (10-1) clinched their first Regional title since 2021 by adding to a 32-8 Week 4 win over Climax-Scotts (8-3). Blanchard Montabella 54, Merrill 36 Montabella (10-1) also won a league rematch, adding this win over Merrill (9-2) to a 60-20 victory in Week 7.
8-Player Division 2
HEADLINER Gaylord St. Mary 32, Lake Linden-Hubbell 14 St. Mary (11-0) returned from the northern Upper Peninsula with arguably its best win of an impressive last four weeks, handing the Lakes (10-1) their only defeat. The Snowbirds most notably slowed down an LL-H attack that hadn’t scored fewer than 42 points in a game, and in doing so claimed their first Regional title since 2002. Click for more from the Petoskey News-Review.
Regional Roundup Portland St. Patrick 47, Grand Rapids Sacred Heart 14 The Shamrocks (11-0) repeated as Regional champions in part by slowing down a Sacred Heart offense that had scored at least 49 points in six straight games. The Falcons finished 9-2. Mendon 60, Marcellus 14 The Hornets (11-0) ground out 427 rushing yards and took advantage of four turnovers to win a third Regional title in five years and end Marcellus’ run at 7-4. Britton Deerfield 36, Bay City All Saints 8 The Patriots clinched their second Regional title in three seasons, winning a matchup of league champions and ending All Saints’ run at 9-2.
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PHOTOS (Top) A Hudsonville Unity Christian defender wraps a Forest Hills Eastern ball carrier Friday. (Middle) DeWitt’s Krew Koutsoubos (30) brings down Coopersville’s Champ Kelly during a 54-21 Division 3 District Final win. (Unity Christian/Forest Hills Eastern photo by Michigan Sports Media. DeWitt/Coopersville photo by TCP Photography.)
Grisdale to be Honored for 40 Seasons on Call for Cheboygan Football
By
Tom Spencer
Special for MHSAA.com
September 13, 2024
When Jason Friday was in high school, there were two types of football fans in Cheboygan.
Folks either went to watch the Cheboygan Chiefs play under the lights, or they listened to the game on the radio called by play-by-play announcer Mike Grisdale.
Well, not much has changed. Friday, a 1992 Cheboygan grad, is now the school’s athletic director. And Grisdale is in the middle of his 40th season on the air.
What is changing tonight, though, is Cheboygan will officially dedicate the stadium press box to Grisdale in a special pregame ceremony before the Chiefs (1-1) take on Elk Rapids (1-1).
Former Cheboygan coaches, Grisdale’s family and people who have worked with him on the radio over the years will be on hand for the ceremony.
“We were able to get Dan Miller, George Blaha, Ken Kal and Dan Dickerson — radio broadcasters for all four Detroit sports — to record statements that we will play over the public address system,” said Friday. “Mike will be presented a smaller version of the plaque that we will be hanging in the press box, and he will have a chance to talk.”
Naming the press box after Grisdale has been in the works for more than a year, Friday noted. Grisdale first learned of the plan when he was interviewing Friday during halftime of a football game last year.
“Jason surprised me on the air,” Grisdale recalled. “I was shocked, but honored and thankful.”
Grisdale, a 1979 Cheboygan grad, is humbled noting there are so many people who contribute to the radio broadcasts and football program. He remembers listening with his father to Jorden James and Bob Martin call Chiefs games when some of the older kids from the neighborhood were playing high school football.
“I have just been so fortunate to do it for this long and have become the go-to guy for historical information and perspective,” Grisdale said.
Grisdale, who has also done nearly 1,000 Chiefs basketball games on the air, along with some hockey and soccer, said his interest in sports goes back to his childhood.
Grisdale grew up in Cheboygan with three brothers in a neighborhood full of kids. Sports were a big part of their lives — collecting baseball cards, listening to the Detroit Tigers on the radio, and playing basketball, kickball and wiffle ball.
Grisdale, who also hosts a Saturday morning radio show from a local restaurant called “Coaches Corner,” vividly recalls trying to keep a scorebook while listening to high school basketball games on WCBY radio and dreaming of becoming the next Blaha, or Ernie Harrell, Bob Ufer, or Bruce Martin - four legendary broadcasters of Michigan professional and college sports.
While at Central Michigan University earning a broadcasting degree, Grisdale got extensive of on-air experience on student stations. He worked on Cheboygan radio stations during summers.
Some of his fondest memories of Chiefs broadcasts have come from the locations where they’ve played.
“I have enjoyed having the opportunity to cover games at places like the Pontiac Silverdome, Palace of Auburn Hills, Crisler Arena and the Breslin Center,” Grisdale said. “You remember the exciting moments and big games”
The 40 years on the air, along with earlier turns covering Marshall and Albion football and basketball games, are really just a blur to the highly-revered radio personality.
“The seasons just seemed to run together,” Grisdale said. “There were many, many times when the weather and the long road trips took their toll.”
Grisdale played football at Cheboygan High School and was an offensive end and a defensive safety on a 9-0 squad his senior year in 1978. He caught three touchdown passes that season. He also held for extra points, collecting snaps from his brother Mark, the Chiefs’ long-snapper.
Mike Grisdale doesn’t hesitate to point out the best player he covered was fullback Shannon Scarborough from the 1991 team that reached the Silverdome – “The all-stater was strong and fast and played both ways,” he noted. But Grisdale has loved all the players and teams over the years. “I do it because I enjoy promoting the kids, keeping the traditions alive, seeing the community come together, good sportsmanship, and being part of a team.”
Friday, who also has broadcast multiple games alongside Grisdale over the years, has enjoyed Grisdale’s efforts to promote every player.
“Kids always love to hear their name on the radio,” Friday said. “What I think he does better than anyone is to make sure the offensive and defensive linemen are consistently mentioned — those boys in the trenches often get overlooked, but not with Mike on the call.”
When Cheboygan installed NFHS Network cameras, the athletic department sought to successfully connect Grisdale’s radio broadcast through the video feed.
“That has been a huge bonus and something that many community members have told me they appreciate,” Friday said.
Grisdale, who also works part-time for Black Diamond Broadcasting in its Cheboygan studios and serves Mackinaw Health System based in St. Ignace as its marketing director, has no plans to end his broadcasting career.
“As long as our local radio station can keep the tradition alive and I am still around, it would be my privilege to keep it going,” Grisdale said.
Cheboygan High School games are carried on WCBY (Cheboygan) 1240 AM, 100.7 FM and 98.1 FM, and streaming at BigCountryGold.com.
Tom Spencer is a longtime MHSAA-registered basketball and soccer official, and former softball and baseball official, and he also has coached in the northern Lower Peninsula area. He previously has written for the Saginaw News, Bay County Sports Page and Midland Daily News. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Manistee, Wexford, Missaukee, Roscommon, Ogemaw, Iosco, Alcona, Oscoda, Crawford, Kalkaska, Grand Traverse, Benzie, Leelanau, Antrim, Otsego, Montmorency, Alpena, Presque Isle, Cheboygan, Charlevoix and Emmet counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Mike Grisdale, right, and partner Nate King broadcast a Cheboygan game from Central Michigan University. (Middle) The Cheboygan stadium press box will be dedicated to the longtime broadcaster. (Below) Grisdale is on the call for another Chiefs game. (Photos provided by Grisdale and the Cheboygan athletic department.)