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
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
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
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
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)
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), Rochester Hills Stoney Creek (9-2) at Romeo (11-0). SATURDAY Portage Central (10-1) at East Kentwood (11-0).
11-Player Division 2
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (8-3) at Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (9-2)
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), South Lyon (9-2) at Milford (10-1), Livonia Franklin (9-2) at Grosse Pointe South (10-1).
11-Player Division 3
DeWitt (9-2) at Mount Pleasant (10-1)
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), Mason (10-1) at Chelsea (11-0), Warren De La Salle Collegiate (7-4) at Harper Woods (9-2).
11-Player Division 4
Dearborn Divine Child (10-1) at Goodrich (11-0)
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), Portland (11-0) at Grand Rapids South Christian (10-1), Detroit Country Day (8-3) at Macomb Lutheran North (10-1).
11-Player Division 5
Saginaw Swan Valley (10-1) at Frankenmuth (10-1)
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), Romulus Summit Academy (8-3) at Monroe Jefferson (10-1). SATURDAY Berrien Springs (9-1) at Grand Rapids West Catholic (9-2).
11-Player Division 6
Marine City (11-0) at Almont (11-0)
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), Belding (9-2) at Jackson Lumen Christi (9-2). SATURDAY Ecorse (10-1) at Detroit Edison (10-1).
11-Player Division 7
Ithaca (10-1) at Pewamo-Westphalia (10-0)
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). SATURDAY Charlevoix (8-2) at Menominee (10-1), Ravenna (9-2) at North Muskegon (10-1).
11-Player Division 8
Clarkston Everest Collegiate (10-1) at Madison Heights Madison (9-2) – Saturday
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), Springport (10-1) at Hudson (10-1). SATURDAY Bark River-Harris (9-2) at Beal City (11-0).
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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.)
Notre Dame Prep Seniors Leave Legacy in Leading Irish to Historic Heights
By
Keith Dunlap
Special for MHSAA.com
December 11, 2025
DETROIT – Understandably, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep head football coach Pat Fox couldn’t even get the words out before getting choked up.
At the start of the postgame press conference following his team’s 42-14 loss to Grand Rapids West Catholic in the Division 5 championship game Nov. 30, Fox tried to introduce several members of a historic senior class.
Then, the reality set in that he wouldn’t get to coach them again.
“I love my kids, and it’s hard to say goodbye,” Fox said while fighting back tears.
With a Division 5 championship last year and a runner-up finish this fall, Notre Dame Prep has likely established itself as a perennial contender with such a great foundation laid during Fox’s 12 years at the helm.
But to Fox’s point, it certainly will be hard for future players at the school to top the standards set by this year’s senior class.
Notre Dame Prep had never advanced to an MHSAA Final before the last two years and wasn’t a program known for sustained playoff runs.
“They were (32-5) as a group,” Fox said, referring to the team’s combined record the last three years.
What made it even harder for Fox was that he has known those seniors since they were starting kindergarten at the school.
Fox recited a story about how quarterback Sam Stowe, who threw for more than 5,000 yards combined over the last two seasons, took something from his sister during a holiday concert at the school when they were young kids, and Stowe’s sister tried tackling him to get it back.
Standouts such as linebacker Brody Sink, who has signed with Miami (Ohio), wideout Drake Roa, running back Ben Liparoto, and linemen Henry Ewles and Jack Williams also have been in the building with Fox for seemingly their whole lives and last year helped deliver Fox and the school their first Finals championship.
“I’ve known all of them since they were little boys,” Fox said.
Sink said if there was a turning point where the seniors knew they could help take the program to heights never before attained, it came when they were sophomores.
“My sophomore season, we had a great team, a great quarterback and great players,” Sink said. “We ended up losing to a really good Corunna team (in a District Final). But I didn’t hang my head. I knew we’d come back next year. We had a great (senior) class coming back last year and knew it would be something special for the next two seasons. We stayed the course, and it was a very special last two years.”
After going 9-1 two years ago, Notre Dame Prep went 12-1 last fall and 11-3 this season.
Through it all, the group became heroes to younger kids in the school, who regularly came up to them in the halls to say congratulations or just chat.
“It’s pretty cool,” Stowe said. “I used to be that kid too, looking up to all the Notre Dame Prep quarterbacks. To be that guy, you have to appreciate it and I’m totally humbled to be in the spot where I’m at today.”
Fox did say that before the senior class arrived at the varsity level, the program was “knocking on the door for a while” of becoming a state power, citing a close loss in Districts to eventual Division 4 champion Detroit Country Day in 2020 as one example.
Ultimately, it was this senior class that busted through that door, and now Fox hopes those younger players will take the torch and keep the program among the best in the state.
“You would hope they do,” Fox said. “But every year is different and every challenge is great. We have great kids.”
Keith Dunlap has served in Detroit-area sports media for more than two decades, including as a sportswriter at the Oakland Press from 2001-16 primarily covering high school sports but also college and professional teams. His bylines also have appeared in USA Today, the Washington Post, the Detroit Free Press, the Houston Chronicle and the Boston Globe. He served as the administrator for the Oakland Activities Association’s website from 2017-2020. Contact him at [email protected] with story ideas for Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Pontiac Notre Dame Prep quarterback Sam Stowe (15) throws a pass during the Division 5 Final while protected by lineman Adrian Fernandez (56). (Middle) Fighting Irish coach Pat Fox leads his team – including Henry Ewles (72) and Brody Sink (7) – off the field.