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.)
Sadler Primed for Big Finish to Championship-Filled Cass Tech Career
By
Keith Dunlap
Special for MHSAA.com
August 22, 2025
DETROIT — For C.J. Sadler, it all started with a token of generosity from a neighbor he calls “Mr. Johnson” when Sadler was just 7 years old.
Sadler recalls how Mr. Johnson – the grandfather of childhood friend Jalen Johnson, who went on to star at Belleville – paid for his for his initial registration for Detroit’s Police Athletic League.
Sadler said the elder Johnson noticed his aggressiveness while out playing with an older kid in the neighborhood, and saw something in Sadler that made him believe he was ready to give football a try.
So Mr. Johnson forked over $250 to help get Sadler enrolled in the youth football league.
“I’ll never, ever forget that,” Sadler said of Mr. Johnson, who has since passed away. “He’s the reason I’m doing this now.”
What Sadler is doing right now is establishing himself as one of the elite high school players in the Midwest.
A senior wideout/defensive back for 2024 Division 1 champion Detroit Cass Tech, Sadler is widely considered the state’s best player going into this season.
On Friday, he committed to play next for Bill Belichick at North Carolina, primarily because the Tar Heels will give him the opportunity to play on both sides of the ball in college.
“I definitely can pull it off,” Sadler said. “I know it’s college, and it’s the next level. But I told coaches I want to play both sides, and that’s what I want to do. Whatever I’ve got to do to do it, I’m going to do it.”
Anyone who watched Sadler during last season’s 42-20 win over Hudsonville in the Division 1 championship game sure knows what he can do on the field.
Sadler caught six passes for 47 yards and two touchdowns, finishing off a season that saw him catch 51 passes for 1,043 yards and 14 touchdowns total.
Defensively, he had three solo tackles and played his usual lockdown pass coverage in the secondary.
Sadler is entering this fall as a four-year varsity player, but he spent the first two years playing a lot of quarterback for the Technicians.
But when current quarterback Donald Tabron came into the fold as a freshman last year, Sadler approached Cass Tech coach Marvin Rushing with an idea.
“He was one of the gentlemen who approached us and said, ‘Hey, I think the team may actually flow better if Don is in the lead,’” Rushing said. “We had the opportunity to be more dynamic with him out on the edge. Obviously preparing for the next stage and college football, it was less wear and tear on him. He was fundamental and paramount in being able to transition because if your players resist, it’s hard to have that growth in the program.”
Before last season, Sadler made it a point to take the promising Tabron under his wing and help him get adjusted to varsity football and the tradition-rich program that is Cass Tech.
“He knows a lot about the game of football, and he knows a lot about Cass Tech football,” Tabron said. “He was just giving small tidbits when I need it and giving me small pieces of information to learn.”
After some initial growing pains, Tabron matured enough to help Cass Tech win another Division 1 title.
With the quarterback now a year older and more comfortable as a sophomore, Tabron to Sadler figures to be one of the most lethal passing combinations in the state.
Rushing said the biggest emphasis for Sadler has been taking care of his body and getting it ready for the next level, focusing on his flexibility, nutrition and hydration, which only enhances an incredible appetite to win.
“He despises losing, and it becomes contagious,” Rushing said. “Weight room, basketball, football. You could be playing video games with the guy. He doesn’t want to lose.”
Sadler actually has two state championship rings at Cass Tech, as he was a reserve as a freshman on Cass Tech’s basketball team that won the Division 1 title in 2023. He said he still communicates with the star of that team, Darius Acuff, who will be a freshman at Arkansas this year.
“That’s my brother,” Sadler said. “I just talk to him about his college life right now, and he’s telling me.”
A big senior season, a collegiate career and maybe even a professional opportunity down the road all are on the table for Sadler’s future.
No doubt, Mr. Johnson is above smiling and proud of it all.
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) Detroit Cass Tech’s C.J. Sadler (1) stretches into the end zone for a touchdown during last year’s Division 1 Final at Ford Field. (Middle) Sadler has recently committed to continue at North Carolina.