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A Hudsonville Unity Christian defender wraps a Forest Hills Eastern ball carrier Friday.

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. 

MI Student AidThis 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.

DeWitt’s Krew Koutsoubos (30) brings down Coopersville’s Champ Kelly during a 54-21 Division 3 District Final win.

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.

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.

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.)

This graphic includes helmets of all 16 teams playing at the 2025 11-Player Football Finals.

1st & Goal: 2025 11-Player Finals Preview

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

November 26, 2025

Matchups of undefeated contenders will kick off and conclude this weekend’s 11-Player Football Finals at Ford Field, with one more unbeaten-vs.-unbeaten matchup in the middle of Sunday among headliners this championship weekend.

MI Student AidWith Michigan State playing Maryland on Saturday at Ford Field, the eight MHSAA championship games will be split between Friday and Sunday:

Friday, Nov. 28
Division 8 – Harbor Beach (13-0) vs. Hudson (13-0) – 9:30 a.m.
Division 4 – Dearborn Divine Child (12-1) vs. Hudsonville Unity Christian (12-1) – 12:30 p.m.
Division 6 – Kingsley (11-2) vs. Jackson Lumen Christi (10-3) – 4 p.m. 
Division 2 – Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (10-2) vs. Dexter (12-1) – 7 p.m. 

Sunday, Nov. 30 
Division 7 – Schoolcraft (11-2) vs. Menominee (13-0) – 9:30 a.m.
Division 3 – Mount Pleasant (13-0) vs. DeWitt (13-0) – 12:30 p.m. 
Division 5 – Grand Rapids West Catholic (12-1) vs. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (11-2) – 4 p.m. 
Division 1 – Detroit Cass Tech (13-0) vs. Detroit Catholic Central (13-0) – 7 p.m. 

All eight championship games will be streamed live on the NFHS Network and available for listening from the MHSAA Network. Links to purchase tickets and more are available on the Football page.

Below is a glance at all eight matchups. Statistics are through Semifinals unless noted.

Detroit Catholic Central & Detroit Cass Tech helmetsDivision 1

DETROIT CATHOLIC CENTRAL
Record/Rank: 13-0, No. 1
Coach: Justin Cessante, third season (32-4)
League finish: First in Catholic High School League Central
Championship history: 10 MHSAA Finals titles (most recent 2009), seven runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 46-6 over No. 8 East Kentwood in Semifinal, 42-13 over No. 5 Clarkston in Regional Final, 29-14 over Division 2 No. 1 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, 26-14 over Division 3 No. 5 Detroit Martin Luther King, 27-14 over Toledo Central Catholic.
Players to watch: WR/DB Samson Gash, 6-1/185, sr. (971 yards/14 TDs receiving); QB Duke Banta, 6-4/210, jr. (2,222 yards/27 TDs passing); TE/DL Jack Janda, 6-6/250, sr. (42 tackles/15 tackles for loss/10 sacks); OL/DL Benny Eziuka, 6-3/300, sr.
Outlook: The Shamrocks will return to the Finals for the first time since 2016 and after reaching the Semifinals last season. They’ve won 25 of their last 26 games – that Semifinal loss to Cass Tech the only defeat during that time – and this season have not allowed an opponent to get closer than 12 points. Gash is committed to Michigan State and made the Division 1-2 all-state first team last season, and senior Cedric Williams (1,146 yards/12 TDs rushing) helps provide balance on offense. Janda and Eziuka are part of a dominating defensive front for a group allowing only nine points per game. Eziuka is committed to Penn State and Janda has several high-major Division I scholarship offers.

DETROIT CASS TECH
Record/Rank: 13-0, No. 2
Coach: Marvin Rushing, fourth season (37-9)
League finish: First in Detroit Public School League Blue
Championship history: Four MHSAA Finals titles (most recent 2024), one runner-up finish.
Best wins: 42-28 over No. 6 Saline in Regional Final, 35-19 and 27-22 over Division 3 No. 5 Detroit Martin Luther King, 28-27 over Toledo Central Catholic.
Players to watch: SE/DB Corey Sadler Jr., 5-11/186 sr. (1,406 yards/19 TDs receiving); LB Marcus Jennings, 6-3/209, sr.; QB Donald Tabron II, 6-4/192, soph. (2,394 yards/30 TDs passing); OL Khalief Canty Jr., 6-5/298, sr. (Statistics through Regional Finals.)
Outlook: Cass Tech is seeking its first repeat Finals championship since winning back-to-back Division 1 titles in 2011 and 2012. The Technicians also have won 23 straight games – including 17-14 over DCC in their Semifinal a year ago. Sadler, committed to North Carolina, and Tabron are the best-known playmakers, but sophomore Julian Taylor showed what he could do in the 48-22 Semifinal win over Rochester Adams, running for 178 yards and five touchdowns to bring his season rushing totals to 845 and 19, respectively. Sadler also has five punt return, two kick return and an interception return for touchdowns this fall. He and Canty both made the Division 1-2 all-state first team last season. Canty has committed to Missouri, and Jennings has committed to Pittsburgh.

Dexter & Orchard Lake St. Mary's helmetsDivision 2

DEXTER
Record/Rank: 12-1, No. 5
Coach: Phil Jacobs, ninth season (65-30)
League finish: Second in Southeastern Conference Red
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 56-42 over No. 6 Gibraltar Carlson in Regional Final, 41-27 over No. 4 South Lyon in District Final, 42-28 over Division 4 No. 6 Chelsea, 50-27 over Brighton.
Players to watch: QB Cooper Arnedt, 5-11/170, sr. (4,308 yards/52 TDs passing); WR Cole Novara, 5-8/155, sr. (2,098 yards/28 TDs receiving); LB Nathan Gersh, 6-2/225, sr.; OL/DL Mateo Kipke, 6-6/240, sr.
Outlook: Arnedt to Novara has become the most successful passing duo in MHSAA history, with Arnedt needing 125 yards and four touchdowns to tie single-season records in those categories and Novara setting state records for yardage, receptions (118) and touchdowns catches. That’s come against a schedule that also included Division 1 No. 6 Saline, the only team to defeat the Dreadnaughts. Jacobs took over a program in 2016 that had lost 32 straight games, and after going 0-9 his first season turned it into a state power that made the playoffs for the first time in 2018. Junior running back Brady Arbaugh has run for 949 yards and 13 touchdowns to give the offense another dimension, and Iowa State commit Owen Winder (6-7/290) at left tackle is among those leading the way. Gersh made the all-state first team last season, and Novara made the second.

ORCHARD LAKE ST. MARY’S
Record/Rank: 10-2, No. 1
Coach: Jermaine Gonzales, fourth season (29-17)
League finish: Tied for second in CHSL Central
Championship history: Nine MHSAA Finals titles (most recent 2024), six runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 42-7 over No. 3 Portage Central in Semifinal, 42-7 over No. 10 Midland Dow in Regional Final, 35-14 over Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice in District Final, 49-10 over Division 3 No. 7 Warren De La Salle Collegiate, 36-21 over Toledo Central Catholic.
Players to watch: QB Jabin Gonzales, 6-2/202, jr. (1,881  yards/24 TDs passing, 7 TDs rushing); WR/DB Lorenzo Barber, 5-9/176, jr. (643 yards/11 TDs receiving, 6 TDs rushing); DL Ryan Harrington, 6-5/215, sr.; RB/DB Camari Patterson, 5-10/186, sr.
Outlook: St. Mary’s also is seeking to repeat, after most recently doing so with three straight Division 3 titles from 2014-16. The Eaglets’ first loss this season was to DCC, and in the District Final they avenged their second defeat, to Brother Rice. Harrington made the Division 1-2 all-state first team last season and has committed to Wake Forest, and he and Patterson (Western Michigan) are among standouts on a defense that has allowed just 35 points over four playoff wins. Sophomore running back Jamari Givhan (866 yards/6 TDs rushing) adds additional balance to the offense, and 6-foot-3 junior Chad Willis (649 yards/6 TDs receiving) is another valuable target in the passing game.

DeWitt & Mount Pleasant helmetsDivision 3

DEWITT
Record/Rank: 13-0, No. 1
Coach: Rob Zimmerman, 27th season (275-55)
League finish: First in Capital Area Activities Conference Blue
Championship history: Division 3 champion 2020, six runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 41-20 over No. 7 Warren De La Salle Collegiate in Semifinal, 59-7 over Grand Ledge, 21-3 over Haslett.
Players to watch: QB/DB Traverse Moore, 6-0/195, sr. (2,115 yards/29 TDs rushing, 870 yards/12 TDs passing); WR/DB Jadon Bender, 6-0/182, sr. (307 yards/5 TDs receiving, 24 tackles/7 interceptions); RB Channing Ridley, 6-0/192, soph. (1,098 yards/15 TDs rushing); OL/DL Drew Rumsey, 6-2/285, sr.
Outlook: The Panthers are making their third trip to Ford Field over the last six seasons, having also finished Division 3 runner-up in 2021. With Central Michigan commit Moore leading the way, they’ve piled up points all season at least 50 eight times. DeWitt is defeating its opponents by an average of 40 points per game with only one single-digit margin, and averaging 9.7 yards per play. The defense doesn’t get as much attention but also has held opponents to single digits eight times. Rumsey made the all-state second team last season, and Moore and Bender earned honorable mentions. Sophomore Vincent Rose is another important offensive threat; he’s made 86 of 88 extra-point attempts and five field goals with a long of 40 yards.

MOUNT PLEASANT
Record/Rank: 13-0, No. 2
Coach: Jason McIntyre, 20th season (168-52)
League finish: First in Saginaw Valley League North
Championship history: Division 3 runner-up 2011.
Best wins: 28-14 over No. 8 East Grand Rapids in Regional Final, 42-0 over No. 9 Gaylord in District Final, 63-39 over Division 2 No. 10 Midland Dow, 28-13 over Traverse City Central.
Players to watch: QB/DB Xavier Creguer, 6-0 jr. (1,548 yards/20 TDs passing, 927 yards/8 TDs rushing); FB/LB Grahm Phillips, 5-10 sr. (452 yards/9 TDs rushing); WR/LB Jack Mozurkewich, 6-2 sr. (272 yards/7 TDs receiving); OL/DL Kaed Wheeler, 6-3 jr. (Statistics through Regional Finals.)
Outlook: Mount Pleasant has cleared all of its opponents by at least 10 points this fall and made a nice jump after falling in District Finals the last four seasons. The Oilers handed Dow its only loss of the regular season and Gaylord its lone defeat all fall. Mozurkewich caught two more touchdown passes in the Semifinal win, and senior receivers Riley Olson (445 yards/4 TDs receiving) and Isaiah Rodriguez (395/5) have been two more reliable targets for top playmaker Creguer. Lowell in the Oilers’ 41-21 Semifinal win was the first opponent since Dow in Week 3 to score more than 17 points on the Mount Pleasant defense. Total, the team has 23 seniors, with seven starting on offense and five on defense.

Hudsonville Unity Christian & Dearborn Divine Child helmetsDivision 4

HUDSONVILLE UNITY CHRISTIAN
Record/Rank: 12-1, No. 4
Coach: Craig Tibbe, 23rd season (144-95)
League finish: First in Ottawa-Kent Conference Gold
Championship history: Division 5 champion 2018, Division 4 runner-up 2021.
Best wins: 52-14 over No. 10 Big Rapids in Regional Final, 14-6 over Zeeland West, 40-19 over Division 7 No. 7 Schoolcraft.
Players to watch: QB/DB Justin Febus, 5-9/155, sr. (979 yards/16 TDs rushing, 1,014 yards/18 TDs passing); RB/LB Lucas Elliott, 6-3/190, sr. (698 yards/6 TDs); RB/LB Jared DeVries, 5-11/200, sr. (622 yards/7 TDs); OL/DL Levi Offringa, 6-0/246, sr. (Statistics through Regional Finals.)
Outlook: Unity Christian is a combined 22-2 over the last two seasons, its only loss a year ago in a District Final and the only defeat this fall in Week 9 to Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, which will play this weekend seeking to repeat as the Division 5 champ. The Crusaders have won all of their playoff games by double digits relying again on a crushing T-offense rushing attack that is averaging 331 yards on the ground per game. Unity Christian also has capitalized on nearly two turnovers per game and has more interceptions this season than passing touchdowns allowed (12 to 11).

DEARBORN DIVINE CHILD
Record/Rank: 12-1, No. 7
Coach: Chris Laney, fourth season (34-13)
League finish: Tied for first in CHSL AA
Championship history: Two MHSAA Finals titles (most recent 1985), one runner-up finish.
Best wins: 10-7 over No. 2 Goodrich in Semifinal, 10-6 over No. 1 Harper Woods in Regional Final, 17-13 over Division 6 No. 2 Jackson Lumen Christi.
Players to watch: RB/S Marcello Vitti, 6-0/190 sr.; WR/S Giancarlo Vitti, 5-10/165, jr.; QB Drew Sheridan, 6-1/170, soph.; WR/CB Antonio Solares-Vitti, 6-3/185, sr. (No statistics submitted.)
Outlook: Divine Child will play for a Finals championship for the first time since 1985 after defeating a pair of undefeated contenders (Harper Woods and Goodrich) the last two weeks and losing only to Toledo St. Francis de Sales, by seven points in Week 7. The defense has been tough to beat all season – giving up 6.9 points per game – but really moved to the forefront with those most recent playoff wins. Offensively, Divine Child is dangerous on the ground and through the air, with nearly identical yardage and touchdowns attacking both ways. Marcello Vitti will play next for Iowa, and Solares-Vitti is committed to Eastern Michigan.

Pontiac Notre Dame Prep & Grand Rapids West Catholic helmetsDivision 5

PONTIAC NOTRE DAME PREP
Record/Rank: 11-2, No. 4
Coach: Pat Fox, 12th season (89-36)
League finish: Does not play in a conference.
Championship history: Division 5 champion 2024.
Best wins: 51-21 over No. 9 Monroe Jefferson in Semifinal, 42-28 over No. 3 Frankenmuth in Regional Final, 34-25 over Division 4 No. 4 Hudsonville Unity Christian, 21-12 over Division 6 No. 6 Marine City, 63-38 over Division 6 No. 8 Traverse City St. Francis.
Players to watch: RB/CB Ben Liparato, 5-9/160, sr. (924 yards/12 TDs rushing); WR/CB Drake Roa, 6-3/190, sr. (950 yards/17 TDs receiving); QB/LB Sam Stowe, 6-5/205, sr. (2,498 yards/38 TDs passing); WR/LB Brody Sink, 6-4/200, sr. (784 yards/13 TDs receiving). (Statistics through Regional Finals.)
Outlook: After winning its first championship a year ago, Notre Dame Prep will attempt to repeat with a pair of the same standouts leading the way. Stowe at quarterback and Sink at linebacker both made the all-state first team last season and are pacing units that have been outstanding again, with the offense topping 500 points for the second-straight season and the defense posting two shutouts to start the playoffs and slowing Frankenmuth and Jefferson the last two weeks. Among additional two-way standouts, senior running back Anthony Tartaglia had 710 yards and 10 touchdowns rushing through the Regional Final and also starts at linebacker. Sink will play next at Miami (Ohio).

GRAND RAPIDS WEST CATHOLIC
Record/Rank: 12-1, No. 2
Coach: Landon Grove, fourth season (43-7)
League finish: First in O-K White
Championship history: Seven MHSAA titles (most recent 2022), two runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 34-24 over No. 7 Ogemaw Heights in Semifinal, 21-20 (OT) over No. 1 Grand Rapids Catholic Central in District Final, 28-16 over Zeeland West.
Players to watch: QB Grady Augustyn, 6-1/190, sr. (2,154 yards/20 TDs passing); RB/DB Connor Olszewski, 5-11/195, sr. (1,129 yards/12 TDs rushing); TE/LB Jael Djouguem, 5-10/170, jr.; OL/DL Jacob Timmer, 6-7/275, sr.
Outlook: West Catholic is back in a Division 5 Final for the first time since claiming five straight from 2013-17 and after winning in Division 6 in 2022. A key was getting past rival Grand Rapids Catholic Central, which had ended West Catholic’s last two seasons with playoff losses. Timmer, who will play next at Central Michigan, made the Division 5-6 all-state first team last season and leads a blocking unit that’s also cleared the way for junior Collin Abram (1,182 yards/16 TDs rushing). Senior kicker Landon Smith also is a returning all-state first-teamer and has connected on 49 of 53 extra-point attempts and eight field goals.

Jackson Lumen Christi & Kingsley helmetsDivision 6

JACKSON LUMEN CHRISTI
Record/Rank: 10-3, No. 2
Coach: Herb Brogan, 46th season (431-96)
League finish: Tied for first in CHSL AA
Championship history: 14 MHSAA Finals titles (most recent 2024), three runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 25-19 (3OT) over No. 1 Almont in Semifinal, 27-12 over No. 8 Traverse City St. Francis, 41-6 over Division 4 No. 7 Dearborn Divine Child, 54-34 over Division 5 No. 4 Pontiac Notre Dame Prep.
Players to watch: QB Benny Gaston, 6-0/185, jr. (1,594 yards/12 TDs passing); RB/LB Paul Sattler, 6-1/190, sr. (1,250 yards/14 TDs rushing); FB/LB Sean Walicki, 6-0/205, sr. (629 yards/9 TDs rushing); TE/DE Isaac Maki, 6-3/185, sr.
Outlook: Lumen Christi is playing for a fourth-straight Finals championship and second-straight in Division 6 after winning in 2021 and 2022 in Division 7. Brogan is the second-winningest coach in MHSAA football history, tying and then moving past Brother Rice legend Al Fracassa (430 wins) over the last two weeks. Two of Lumen’s losses this season came to teams playing for championships this weekend – Notre Dame Prep and Lombard Montini Catholic from Illinois – and the third defeat came to Grand Rapids Catholic Central during a 2-3 start to the season. Lumen hasn’t given up more than 19 points in a game since that Week 3 loss to the Cougars.

KINGSLEY
Record/Rank: 11-2, No. 5
Co-Coaches: Tim Wooer, 17th season (145-44); Jason Morrow, second season (18-5)
League finish: Second in Northern Michigan Football Conference Legends
Championship history: Two MHSAA Finals titles (most recent 2023)
Best wins: 14-0 over No. 4 Kent City in Semifinal, 18-14 (Regional Final) and 24-6 over No. 9 Reed City, 57-6 over No. 8 Traverse City St. Francis in District Final, 44-18 over Division 7 No. 4 Charlevoix.
Players to watch: TE/LB Colton Goethals, 6-1/195, sr. (420 yards/8 TDs receiving); QB/LB Tucker Dreves, 6-1/175, sr. (1,046 yards/13 TDs passing); FB/OL/DL Isaiah Cosgrove, 5-9/190, sr. (739 yards/6 TDs rushing); FB/DB Gavin Lewis, 5-9/160, sr. (1,023 yards/14 TDs). (Statistics through Regional Final.)
Outlook: Kingsley has navigated one of the toughest playoff roads in any division, and the Charlevoix win closed the regular season. The St. Francis victory in the District Final avenged a one-point loss to the Gladiators in Week 5, and the Stags’ only other loss came to Division 3 Gaylord, which finished 10-1 this fall. Goethals made the Division 5-6 all-state second team last season and keys a defense that hasn’t given up more than 21 points in a game and has allowed 34 total over four playoff wins. Cosgrove has been the team’s second-leading rusher, but is starting at right guard along with his spot at defensive end.

Menominee & Schoolcraft helmetsDivision 7

MENOMINEE
Record/Rank: 13-0, No. 1
Coach: Chad Brandt, fourth season (40-10)
League finish: First in Western Peninsula Athletic Conference Copper
Championship history: Three MHSAA Finals titles (most recent 2007), three runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 32-28 over No. 3 Pewamo-Westphalia in Semifinal, 49-6 over No. 9 McBain in District Final, 49-14 over Kingsford.
Players to watch: QB/DB Tanner Theuerkauf, 6-3/185, sr. (1,379 yards/22 TDs passing); RB/DB Dawson Bardowski, 5-9/165, sr. (516 yards/6 TDs receiving); RB/DL Clayton Miller, 5-11/190, sr. (1,132 yards/22 TDs rushing); OL/DL Ryan Marzian, 6-0/240, sr. (Statistics through Regional Final.)
Outlook: Menominee is making its second trip to Ford Field over three seasons, most recently finishing Division 7 runner-up in 2023, and after an impressive comeback win over  P-W in the Semifinal. The Pirates were the only team this season to score more than 17 points on the Maroons, and Menominee’s 32 points were the most P-W gave up this fall. Once known for its run-heavy single-wing offense, Menominee attacks with plenty of balance and spreads it around on the passing side with three receivers catching at least four touchdowns this fall. Senior nose guard Blake Paasch and Theuerkauf were among the team’s leading tacklers in its 34-30 loss to Lumen Christi in the 2023 Final.

SCHOOLCRAFT
Record/Rank: 11-2, No. 7
Coach: Dan DeVries, first season (11-2)
League finish: First in Southwestern Athletic Conference Valley
Championship history: Three MHSAA Finals titles (most recent 2001), three runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 43-14 over No. 5 Clinton in Semifinal, 22-14 over Hanover-Horton in Regional Final, 26-0 (District Final) and 18-14 over Lawton.
Players to watch: RB/DB T.J. Luteyn, 5-11/180, sr. (681 yards/8 TDs rushing); WR/DB Drew Enright, 6-1/185, sr. (858 yards/13 TDs receiving); QB/P Jack DeVries, 6-2/180, jr. (2,290 yards/30 TDs passing); OL/DL Brody Epple, 6-3/200, sr.
Outlook: Schoolcraft is making its first Finals trip since that most recent championship season, and doing so under first-year coach Dan DeVries, who was promoted after four seasons coaching the junior varsity and played on the 1994 team that finished Class C runner-up. The Eagles’ only losses were early to Hudsonville Unity Christian – playing in the Division 4 Final – and in the regular-season finale to Division 5 Kalamazoo United. Schoolcraft has nearly identical yardage and touchdown totals rushing and passing, with several contributors to both parts of the attack.

Hudson & Harbor Beach helmetsDivision 8

HUDSON
Record/Rank: 13-0, No. 1
Coach: Dan Rogers, sixth season (58-11)
League finish: First in Lenawee County Athletic Association
Championship history: Two MHSAA Finals titles (most recent 2021), three runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 67-14 over No. 5 Allen Park Cabrini in Semifinal, 68-22 over No. 6 Springport in Regional Final, 44-8 over No. 8 Fowler, 38-0 over Berrien Springs, 32-16 over Division 7 No. 5 Clinton.
Players to watch: RB/DB Beckett Campbell, 5-7/160, soph. (2,345 yards/37 TDs rushing); RB/DB Grayson Bills, 5-9/165, sr. (1,790 yards/25 TDs rushing, 4 TDs receiving); QB/DB Colt Perry, 5-7/155, sr. (637 yards/9 TDs passing, 4 TDs rushing); OT/DE Koen Hinzman, 6-7/285, jr.
Outlook: Save for an 8-3 win over Division 6 Ida in Week 2, Hudson has dominated this season from start to near-finish, defeating its opponents by an average of 41 points. Bills made the all-state first team as a running back last season and is joined by Campbell; they combined for most of the team’s 450-plus rushing yards in the Semifinal win. As a team, the Tigers have run for nearly 5,300 yards this fall, which would rank third all-time heading into this weekend. Seniors Malachi Marshall (6-4/245) and Colton Natale (6-0/255) also start on both the offensive and defensive lines, and senior flanker Devon Brigman has nearly 500 yards and eight touchdowns rushing to augment Campbell and Bills’ efforts.   

HARBOR BEACH
Record/Rank: 13-0, No. 3
Coach: Troy Schelke, 29th season (220-90)
League finish: First in Big Thumb Conference Black
Championship history: Division 8 champion 2012, Class C runner-up 1991.
Best wins: 40-0 over Bark River-Harris in Semifinal, 26-15 over No. 2 Beal City in Regional Final, 41-7 over Division 7 No. 10 Millington, 43-14 over Division 7 No. 8 Ottawa Lake Whiteford.
Players to watch: QB/LB Caden Bucholtz, 6-1/225, sr. (960 yards/21 TDs rushing, 753 yards/10 TDs passing); RB/S Benson Harper, 6-0/180, sr. (308 yards/3 TDs rushing, 178 yards/3 TDs receiving); C/DE Peyton Roggenbuck, 6-3/220, sr.; OT/DT Noah Mellendorf, 6-3/245, sr.
Outlook: Harbor Beach has seemed on the verge of this moment with two straight perfect regular seasons and with its only 2023 losses during the regular season and playoffs to eventual Division 8 champion Ubly. The closest an opponent has gotten to the Pirates this season was 11 points, and they’ve won their playoff games by an average of nearly 38. Harper made the Division 7-8 all-state first team last season, and Bucholtz earned an honorable mention. While Bucholtz directs the offense, Harbor Beach has several contributors including as well senior fullback Rogan Messing (697 yads/10 TDs rushing), senior running back Keagun Potestivo (495 yards/11 TDs rushing) and 6-5 senior tight end Skiler Kruse (293 yards/5 TDs receiving).

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