1st & Goal: 2026 Week 1 Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
August 27, 2026
If recent numbers hold true this season, 33,000 Michigan high school football players are waking up this this week at the dawn of another season.
The most-played high school sport across the state kicks off again over these next few days, with 184 games tonight, 112 on Friday and six Saturday.
There will be showcases to enjoy, including the Amazon Prep Kickoff Classic at Wayne State, the Battle at the Big House at Michigan, and the Vehicle City Gridiron Classic at Flint’s Atwood Stadium. There are also two rematches of 2025 MHSAA Finals, and we highlight those below among our glances at top games from every region.
The great majority of varsity games are scheduled to be broadcast this weekend on the NFHS Network. Follow the MHSAA Scores page all weekend – and all season – for scores as they’re submitted.
Bay & Thumb
Goodrich (12-1) vs. Frankenmuth (10-2) at Michigan Stadium – Thursday
These two will meet at Michigan Stadium for the second time in four years as this opener continues to set a nice tone for two of the state’s most annually successful programs – the Eagles have reached double-digit wins six straight seasons, and Goodrich has done the same all of the last four. Frankenmuth has a 3-2 edge in this recent series, but Goodrich won last year’s matchup 17-14.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Harbor Beach (14-0) at Cass City (6-4), Belleville (7-3) at Grand Blanc (10-1), Detroit Country Day (4-5) at Saginaw Swan Valley (10-2). FRIDAY Saginaw Heritage (4-5) vs. Mount Pleasant (13-1) at Michigan Stadium.
Greater Detroit
Hudsonville Unity Christian (12-2) at Dearborn Divine Child (13-1) – Friday
This is a rematch of last season’s Division 4 Final, won by Divine Child 23-22 as the teams traded touchdowns and leads during the fourth quarter and the Falcons stopped a Unity two-point conversion try with 6:44 to play and then ran out most of the rest of the clock. That final quarter no doubt has stuck with both programs through the offseason, and this might be the most intriguing game statewide this weekend.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Central (8-3) at Allen Park Cabrini (11-2), Muskegon Mona Shores (5-5) at Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (11-2). FRIDAY Macomb Dakota (7-4) at Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (6-5), Jackson Lumen Christi (11-3) at Detroit Edison (9-3).
Mid-Michigan
DeWitt (14-0) vs. Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills (8-2) at Wayne State – Thursday
The reigning Division 3 Panthers are looking to extend a run that has seen them lose only once over the last two seasons, and after both of those teams ranked among the highest scoring in MHSAA history. DeWitt’s backfield will have some changes as it enters this Amazon Prep Kickoff Classic matchup, but expectations will be high again. Kenowa Hills is coming off a league title and will turn to Michigan prospect Lundon Hampton to again carry a significant offensive load.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Traverse City West (5-5) at Howell (9-2), Lansing Sexton (6-4) at Lansing Everett (5-5), Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (5-5) at Ithaca (8-4). FRIDAY North Muskegon (7-4) at Pewamo-Westphalia (11-1).
Northern Lower Peninsula
East Jordan (7-4) at Charlevoix (8-2) – Friday
These two took last season off from facing each other, but Charlevoix has won their last 10 matchups going back to 2014 and will look to kick things off in a big way again after winning their first eight games a year ago. Like the Rayders, East Jordan has made the playoffs every season this decade and would love to take major momentum into Northern Michigan Football Conference play, which lasts the rest of the regular season as the league is one division with eight league games this fall.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Croswell-Lexington (4-5) at Petoskey (5-4). FRIDAY Freeland (7-3) at Ogemaw Heights (11-2), Novi (3-6) at Traverse City Central (7-5), Mancelona (5-5) at Maple City Glen Lake (9-2).
Southeast & Border
Rockford (8-3) at Saline (10-2) – Friday
These two Division 1 powers will lock up on opening night for the second-straight season after Saline coach Kyle Short led the Hornets to a 37-28 opening win over his alma mater a year ago. Saline went on to reach the Regional Finals before falling to eventual Division 1 runner-up Detroit Cass Tech, while Rockford is coming off a run that ended with a District Final loss to rival Hudsonville.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Harper Woods (11-1) at Chelsea (9-2), Brighton (7-4) at Dexter (12-2). FRIDAY Hudson (13-1) at Hanover-Horton (9-3), Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central (8-3) at Ottawa Lake Whiteford (8-2).
Southwest Corridor
Kalamazoo United (9-3) at Constantine (6-4) – Thursday
These rivals are meeting after United won the Southwestern Athletic Conference Lakeshore and Constantine finished second a year ago, thanks to a Titans 34-7 win in Week 6. The SAC is playing as only one division this fall, with all nine games against league opponents, and this matchup could set an early tone in what should be a highly-competitive league race.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Jenison (4-6) at Kalamazoo Central (6-4), Caledonia (4-5) at Portage Northern (7-3), South Haven (5-4) at Lawton (8-3). FRIDAY McBain (8-3) at Edwardsburg (6-4).
Upper Peninsula
Escanaba (9-2) at Kingsford (7-4) – Thursday
A 21-18 win over Kingsford in last season’s opener no doubt helped propel Escanaba early on the way to its best finish since 2018, and was the program’s first win over the Flivvers since 2019. Although the longtime Great Northern Conference rivals now go separate ways for league play, this one could still end up playing out this season as a matchup among two of the best north of the Mackinac Bridge.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Negaunee (6-4) at Marquette (6-4), West Iron County (4-5) at L’Anse (5-5). FRIDAY Marinette, Wis. (6-4) at Menominee (14-0), Houghton (2-7) at Calumet (7-3).
West Michigan
East Grand Rapids (9-3) at Lowell (10-3) – Thursday
After arguably losing a little bit of its punch for a few seasons, this annual rivalry game will have a lot of eyes again with EGR coming off its winningest season since 2017 and Lowell its best since 2016. The Red Arrows won last year’s matchup 40-7, breaking the Pioneers’ previous three-year hold on the series.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Hudsonville (11-1) at Byron Center (7-4). FRIDAY Paw Paw (6-4) at Big Rapids (10-2), Zeeland West (8-4) at Cedar Springs (8-2), Grand Rapids West Catholic (13-1) at Grand Rapids Northview (5-4).
8-Player
Blanchard Montabella (11-2) at Martin (13-0) – Thursday
This is another 2025 championship game rematch, as Martin downed Montabella 52-8 in last season’s Division 1 Final. The Clippers have won three of the last four Division 1 titles, and despite graduating some significant playmakers return 1,000-yard rusher Seth Toris. Montabella also returns some of its best on both sides of the ball. The Mustangs plan to return to 11-player football in 2027, but will finish this run through 8-player with one of the most competitive early-season schedules all-time as they also take on reigning Division 2 champ Portland St. Patrick in Week 2.
Keep an eye on these THURSDAY Pittsford (7-3) at Britton Deerfield (9-2). FRIDAY Climax-Scotts (8-3) at Concord (5-4), Hillman (6-4) at Indian River Inland Lakes (9-1). SATURDAY Merrill (8-3) at Newberry (6-3).
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PHOTO The sun rises on the new stadium turf at Pewamo-Westphalia this summer. (Photo by James Pivarnik.)
Saginaw United Era Begins with Memorable Welcome, Game-Like Atmosphere
By
Paul Costanzo
Special for MHSAA.com
August 13, 2024
SAGINAW – James King wanted to reward his Saginaw United players Monday for their hard work throughout the summer.
He wanted to make a moment for them on the first day of practice for a new program, so they held it under the lights at Saginaw High and invited the public to come watch.
They deserved it, and for what they’re trying to accomplish, they needed it.
But when the moment came, the first-year coach and former Saginaw Arthur Hill star found it was quite a moment for himself, as well.
“That was probably one of the most emotional walkouts I’ve ever took,” King said. “To go back and come back out and kind of breathe it in was like, ‘Damn.’ This was me at one point, following another coach as a leader of a program that I helped lead and build at Arthur Hill from nothing to (Saginaw) Valley champs and the playoffs two years in a row. But (Monday) was probably my most emotional walkout. I didn’t know my playoff game was going to be my last game, so I didn’t have that emotional walkout. That was very emotional.”
Monday was the opening day for fall sports practices in Michigan, and nearly 100,000 student-athletes were expected to be taking practice fields across the state. Some schools began during the earliest morning hours, going under the lights at midnight, while many others had more typical early-morning or afternoon practices.
In Saginaw, where the new season is also part of a new era with the opening of Saginaw United High School, King created a game-like atmosphere for his players, complete with specialists warming up early and the team running onto the field with music playing and fans cheering them on.
“This is for them,” King said while pointing toward his players. “Everybody is here for them. I told them, ‘You worked all summer to get through Hell Week and once you get through Hell Week, this is it. This is football season. It’s August. Nothing else matters in the world to me. It’s football season.’ And these kids have absolutely bought into that, and this is what those kids deserve. They deserve their community, their family, their friends to be able to come out and support them. This is big for them.”
The energy was certainly there for the players.
“We’re just happy to be here for real,” junior receiver Dion’Quavis Hardy said. “New season, new coaches, so we’re excited to see how this program is going to be this year.”
For the past three seasons, Arthur Hill and Saginaw High have combined forces as a co-op during football season. That co-op has finished a combined 0-27 over the past three seasons, but on Monday, it was stressed that this is a clean slate and a chance to build a program from scratch.
“New coaches, new players, new everything,” junior quarterback Jordan Allen said. “We’re a brotherhood, like a family. One big happy family.”
King added that the program is 0-0, and this group of players represents a beginning, not a continuation of that co-op.
“We’re Saginaw. It’s Saginaw United. We’re the Phoenix. We’re rising,” he said. “This is for Saginaw, and these kids deserve it. This community absolutely deserves it. I’m going to bleed (Arthur Hill) blue and gold for the rest of my life, but on top of that blood now is black and silver, and that will never change. This city will absolutely love what we’re doing, and the Phoenix represents everything that we’re about to accomplish and what we’re doing right now, not only as a football team, but as a community and as a school.”
Saginaw will play in the Saginaw Valley League Red and is listed as a Division 2 school, based on an enrollment count of slightly more than 1,200 students.
With its football complex still under construction, it is practicing and playing at Saginaw High this season. But six of the Phoenix’s nine regular-season games will be played on the road, including the opener Aug. 29 at Freeland.
Turnout has been good throughout the summer, as King said there are about 85 players from freshmen through varsity, and as many as 15 others who could be in the mix as the season starts. He expects the Saginaw United freshmen team to have more than 30 players, a good sign for the future.
While that group has been turning up for workouts, it’s also been showing up the community, as King said the team has participated in 12 events throughout the city during the spring and summer. It’s the program’s way of giving back, and, for King, another way to help his players grow off the field.
“No. 1 for me is our youth,” he said. “And this is our youth, and I’m able to give back the way people gave back to me. Without the coaches I had, I could tell you right now, I wouldn’t be where I’m at. And that’s what I want to be, that’s what all our coaches want to be for them. This coaching staff, I couldn’t ask for more. It’s the most dedicated program I could ask for.”
Paul Costanzo served as a sportswriter at The Port Huron Times Herald from 2006-15, including three years as lead sportswriter, and prior to that as sports editor at the Hillsdale Daily News from 2005-06. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Genesee, Lapeer, St. Clair, Sanilac, Huron, Tuscola, Saginaw, Bay, Arenac, Midland and Gladwin counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Saginaw United players take to the field at the former Saginaw High on Monday for their first practice as a new school and program. (Middle) United coach James King joins his players in walking out to the field. (Below) Phoenix players play catch during their first practice. (Photos by Paul Costanzo.)