1st & Goal: 2026 Playoffs Week 3 Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
November 12, 2026
There are only 64 teams remaining in the 11-Player Football Playoffs, and most have been here before – so it’s not shocking at this late date that those remaining may have seen each other in the not-so-distant past.
Six of the eight 11-Player Regional Finals we highlight below are rematches from last season’s playoffs, and a handful of other matchups this weekend will see teams meet again either after facing off in the postseason last year or in league play earlier this fall.
That familiarity with the competition doesn’t transfer over to this weekend’s eight 8-Player Semifinals participants. But half those remaining teams have played in Finals at Superior Dome over the last two years and two more have made the trip to Marquette this decade – so the majority have experienced at least a little of what’s next if they prevail.
Games listed below are Friday unless noted. Tickets can be purchased at GoFan.co, and all 36 will be streamed live as well on the NFHS Network.
8-Player Division 1
Deckerville (10-1) vs. Pickford (9-2) – Saturday at Cadillac WATCH
After avenging its lone loss of the season last week against Dryden, the Eagles will play in a Semifinal for the fourth straight season in a rematch of the 2024 Division 1 Final won by Deckerville 30-28. Pickford missed the Semifinals last season but is back for the third time in four years and led by another dual-threat quarterback in senior Carter Rye (1,279 yards/16 TDs passing, 727 yards/9 TDs rushing).
Colon (10-1) vs. Blanchard Montabella (10-1) – Saturday at Greenville WATCH
Colon’s return to contention after three years missing the playoffs has seen the Magi win 14 of their last 15 games going back to last season, with the only loss along the way to Mendon – which is playing in a Division 2 Semifinal this weekend. Montabella is seeking to add the crowning step to this playoff run after finishing Division 1 runner-up a year ago, led in part by some of last year’s standouts including senior quarterback Gabe Kauffman, receiver Austin Jensen and defensive back Noah Carlson.
8-Player Division 2
Gaylord St. Mary (11-0) vs. Portland St. Patrick (11-0) – Saturday at Cadillac WATCH
Gaylord St. Mary’s first run to the Semifinals since 2002 in 11-player has been a product of dominance on both sides of the ball – and it’s impossible to overlook either. The offense has topped 50 points seven times in 10 games (one win came by forfeit) and the defense has allowed 34 points total. St. Patrick is the reigning Division 2 champion and may provide the Snowbirds with their toughest challenge to date – although there is an intriguing mutual opponent to consider, with St. Pat a 10-point winner over Pickford in Week 6 and St. Mary a 42-0 winner over Pickford in Week 8.
Britton Deerfield (9-2) vs. Mendon (11-0) – Saturday at Ypsilanti Lincoln WATCH
Mendon is seeking to return to the Finals for the first time since 2022 and once again can run the ball with anyone in the state with seniors Zak Iobe (1,299 yards, 29 touchdowns) and Xavior Zinsmaster (1,090 yards, 20 TDs) and junior Logan Stuart (699 yards, 12 TDs) all averaging more than nine yards per carry. Britton Deerfield, also playing in its second Semifinal over the last three seasons, fell to Mendon by only four points when they last played a year ago and can also chew up yards on the ground led by senior Trevor Karpinski (1,347 yards, 20 touchdowns, 11.2 yards per carry).
11-Player Division 1
Detroit Catholic Central (10-1) at Clarkston (10-1) WATCH
This is a rematch of a 2025 Regional Final won by eventual Division 1 champion DCC 42-13, and Clarkston’s only loss since was in Week 8 to Harper Woods, which is still playing in Division 3. The Shamrocks’ only loss over the last two seasons came Week 9 to Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, still alive in Division 2. The Shamrocks have navigated the last five weeks without injured starting quarterback Duke Banta, with Peyton Sofran stepping in to impressively shoulder the load.
Other Regional Finals FRIDAY Northville (9-2) at Detroit Cass Tech (11-0) WATCH, Rochester Hills Stoney Creek (9-2) at Romeo (11-0) WATCH. SATURDAY Portage Central (10-1) at East Kentwood (11-0) WATCH.
11-Player Division 2
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (8-3) at Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (9-2) WATCH
These Catholic High School League Central rivals met in Week 5, with reigning Division 2 champion St. Mary’s posting a 48-20 victory. The Eaglets’ only losses this fall are by a combined 16 points, and while they took two (to Toledo Central Catholic and Detroit Catholic Central) after the win over the Warriors, they’ve also come back with two resounding victories to open the playoffs. But Brother Rice’s performance since that first OLSM meeting also has been notable; the Warriors also lost to TCC but defeated DCC to finish the regular season, and they’re no doubt recalling last season when they defeated St. Mary’s in league play but lost the District Final rematch.
Other Regional Finals FRIDAY Muskegon Mona Shores (10-1) at Byron Center (9-2) WATCH, South Lyon (9-2) at Milford (10-1) WATCH, Livonia Franklin (9-2) at Grosse Pointe South (10-1) WATCH.
11-Player Division 3
DeWitt (9-2) at Mount Pleasant (10-1) WATCH
This is a rematch of last season’s Division 3 championship game, won by DeWitt 54-20, and while the Panthers have a pair of losses this time both came to league champions. Those defeats, to Mason and Grand Ledge, were the only two games DeWitt didn’t score at least 44 points this season. Mount Pleasant’s strength also has been its ability to score points; the Oilers have won all of their games (except for a loss to Traverse City West) by double digits and outlasted Cadillac 56-41 last week.
Other Regional Finals FRIDAY Middleville Thornapple Kellogg (8-3) at Zeeland West (9-2) WATCH, Mason (10-1) at Chelsea (11-0) WATCH, Warren De La Salle Collegiate (7-4) at Harper Woods (9-2) WATCH.
11-Player Division 4
Dearborn Divine Child (10-1) at Goodrich (11-0) WATCH
This is also a rematch from last season’s playoffs, as Divine Child edged the Martians 10-7 in a Division 4 Semifinal on the way to winning the title the following weekend. Divine Child has lost only once since, to Division 3 Regional finalist Warren De La Salle Collegiate in Week 8. Goodrich’s perfect run to this point has included nine games scoring at least 42 points but perhaps more notably eight games giving up seven points or fewer. The offense had succeeded similarly before being shut down by the Falcons a year ago, but the Martians’ defense has taken another step this fall.
Other Regional Finals FRIDAY Hudsonville Unity Christian (7-4) at Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills (10-1) WATCH, Portland (11-0) at Grand Rapids South Christian (10-1) WATCH, Detroit Country Day (8-3) at Macomb Lutheran North (10-1) WATCH.
11-Player Division 5
Saginaw Swan Valley (10-1) at Frankenmuth (10-1) WATCH
This longtime rivalry has really caught fire again the last two seasons, and Frankenmuth’s 41-22 Week 8 victory decided the Tri-Valley Conference Red championship in favor of the Eagles. Frankenmuth already has won one rematch this playoffs, downing Armada last week after also defeating the Tigers in Week 9, but must remain wary of a Vikings defense that held its four other playoff opponents this fall to an average of 9.8 points per game.
Other Regional Finals FRIDAY Negaunee (7-4) at Ogemaw Heights (9-2) WATCH, Romulus Summit Academy (8-3) at Monroe Jefferson (10-1) WATCH. SATURDAY Berrien Springs (9-1) at Grand Rapids West Catholic (9-2) WATCH.
11-Player Division 6
Marine City (11-0) at Almont (11-0) WATCH
These lower Thumb powers have met only three times during the playoff era, all since 2015, and with Almont winning all three meetings including last year’s 27-0 in a District Final. But the scenario is a little different for Marine City this time around. The Mariners entered the 2025 meeting having lost two of their last three games, and this time they are undefeated and coming off downing Mid-Michigan Activities Conference champion Montrose to advance. Almont, meanwhile, finds itself in a familiar place coming off a third-straight perfect regular season and entering this matchup having scored 41 or more points in four straight wins.
Other Regional Finals FRIDAY Sanford Meridian (11-0) at Kingsley (11-0) WATCH, Belding (9-2) at Jackson Lumen Christi (9-2) WATCH. SATURDAY Ecorse (10-1) at Detroit Edison (10-1) WATCH.
11-Player Division 7
Ithaca (10-1) at Pewamo-Westphalia (10-0) WATCH
P-W’s road to get here turned east instead of west this season, but the Pirates have arrived in a rematch as well after defeating Ithaca 42-21 in a Regional Final a year ago. The bracket this time saw both P-W and the Yellowjackets take on some of the best from the Thumb and Saginaw over the first two rounds. Ithaca found its stride again after losing to Beal City in Week 9, impressively downing previously undefeated Millington 39-16 last week, and that also was the Yellowjackets’ eighth win this season over a playoff team. The Pirates have faced a similarly rigorous slate, defeating seven playoff teams while playing one fewer game.
Other Regional Finals FRIDAY Jonesville (7-4) at Ottawa Lake Whiteford (9-2) WATCH. SATURDAY Charlevoix (8-2) at Menominee (10-1) WATCH, Ravenna (9-2) at North Muskegon (10-1) WATCH.
11-Player Division 8
Clarkston Everest Collegiate (10-1) at Madison Heights Madison (9-2) – Saturday WATCH
Madison is playing in a Regional Final for the second straight season, and after advancing last year with a 22-17 District Final win over Everest. The Eagles’ only losses this fall were to Division 4 Macomb Lutheran North and Division 6 Ecorse – both playing for Regional titles as well this week – and they defeated six playoff teams on the way back to this round. Everest is undefeated since falling to another Division 8 Regional finalist Ubly in Week 1, and downed another league champion Royal Oak Shrine Catholic last week for the second time in three weeks – the only losses Shrine took this fall.
Other Regional Finals FRIDAY Ubly (8-3) at New Lothrop (10-1) WATCH, Springport (10-1) at Hudson (10-1) WATCH. SATURDAY Bark River-Harris (9-2) at Beal City (11-0) WATCH.
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PHOTOS (Top) Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice's Tyler Trusel (3) breaks from the line during his team's Week 9 win over Detroit Catholic Central. (Middle) Corbin Kanitz (3) smashes into the end zone for a score in Ogemaw Heights' Week 3 victory over Clare. (Brother Rice/DCC photo by Olivia B. Photography. Ogemaw Heights/Clare photo by High School Sports Scene.)
As Grayling Navigates Changes, Hunter Provides Reliable Impact in Return
By
Tom Spencer
Special for MHSAA.com
September 12, 2025
Changing.
That may be the best description of the Grayling High School football team this year. Fairly big changes have already occurred, more are ahead, and at least one is already scheduled for next fall.
Grayling, off to a 1-1 start, has a new head coach – Michael Kososky, who served as an assistant for the Vikings the past 10 years, has taken over the helm. He started as a defensive backs assistant and became the defensive coordinator in his fourth year. Kososki replaced Eric Tunney, who stepped down after a 2-7 finish last year.
The latest change for the Vikings is losing junior running back Gregory Martin for the season with a neck injury. That happened during last week’s 36-6 win over Benzie Central. The game was stopped with 3:22 remaining after Martin was taken off the field by emergency medical staff. Kososky said he hopes Martin will return for track in the spring and next football season.
What didn’t change much this year is the Vikings’ schedule. They lost five games last year to playoff teams. One of those five is not on the schedule this year, but Maple City Glen Lake, another returning playoff qualifier, has been added. Grayling hopes to compete for the Northern Michigan Football League Legends title one more time, as the Vikings will be playing in the Northern Shores Conference beginning next season.
Perhaps the biggest change for the Vikings this year is senior Daniel Hunter lining up on both sides of the line of scrimmage. That was not the case last year as he battled a complication-riddled ankle injury suffered his during a basketball game as a sophomore center.
The injury, first diagnosed as an ankle sprain, kept him off the basketball court last winter as a junior.
“I ended up finishing that (2023-24) basketball season on it, and I got it checked out again because it was not getting better,” said Hunter, who plays wide receiver and defensive end. “They found out that there was a bone fracture, a talus bone.”
Even though it’s a very small bone, the talus plays a big role in one’s ability to stand and move. Injuries and damage to the talus can take longer to heal and have a higher risk of complications than those to other bones.
Doctors told Hunter he could either play on it and delay surgery or undergo an immediate procedure. Because he was advised he likely couldn’t damage it further, Hunter chose to play summer basketball and football last fall before scheduling surgery.
“I decided to play on it throughout the summer and then into my junior year of football so I wouldn't miss out,” Hunter said. “I got surgery on it after football season and sat out my junior year of basketball.”
That football season was wrought with pain for the Hunter. He played in all but one of the Vikings’ games though.
“I only ended up playing one way — I only played on offense for the season,” he said. “It was pretty tough. Game day adrenaline helped.”
Kososky vividly recalls Hunter overcoming pain to play every down he could.
“He took it as far as he could take it,” Kososky said. “He was a kid that never missed a practice. Even if he decided to sit out that day because his ankle was throbbing, he wasn't taking the day off.”
So far this season, Hunter has six receptions for 71 yards. Now moving from linebacker to defensive end, he also has one tackle for a loss, a forced fumble, two assists and one sack.
“Daniel is an impact player on both sides of the line of scrimmage,” Kososky said. “He put a little bit of size on over the spring and summer. So it suits him real well at defensive end.”
Kososky, who played football for Mio High School and Northern Michigan University, points to Hunter as a shining example of the culture he’s trying to instill in the Grayling football program.
“There are a couple staples that I brought here to Grayling, and I kind of just refocused them this being my first year,” Kososky said. “We have a mantra we talk about each and every day: DEAD. It's dedication, effort, attitude and discipline, and Daniel holds those standards.”
Kososky has significantly reduced the size of the Vikings’ playbook this season.
“The way we do one thing is the way we do everything,” he said. “Instead of running as many plays as possible, we’re focused on being really efficient and perfect at what we have in front of us.”
Grayling has a couple of significant league road games coming up, and both Kososky and Hunter are really looking forward to them. Tonight the, Vikings will take on Kingsley, and next week Traverse City St. Francis.
Kingsley is 1-1 this season, and St. Francis is 2-0. Hunter hasn’t experienced a win over either conference foe during his high school career.
“I think a win over Kingsley would feel really good because I have lost to them every time we played them,” Hunter said. “I did end up sitting out a game last year, and that was St. Francis, and I have to get that win before I graduate.”
Regardless of the outcomes against the Stags and Gladiators, Kososky will keep focused on teaching life skills.
“Wins will help put you on the map and everything like that, but what my kids learn from the program I think is more important,” said Kososky, who also teaches special education and math at Grayling. “I can go back to many seasons that that I've coached and we were 3-6 and 4-5, and I'm going to be honest, the kids out of those groups probably are more successful in life than some of the teams that have gone undefeated. It’s how successful we are after the game of football, not during the game of football.”
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) Grayling’s Daniel Hunter wraps up a Benzie Central player during an incompletion in Week 2. (Middle) Hunter points to his team’s sideline after the play. (Photos by Mylie D’Amour.)