1st & Goal: 2026 Week 3 Review
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
September 14, 2026
The highest-scoring game, potentially, in Michigan high school history will put Week 3 in the record books at the end of this season.
But several more results could send the second weekend of September into school record books across the state if the rest of the regular season plays out as past history dictates it might.
Several matchups that decided 2025 league titles were played at the one-third point this fall. And while we will have to wait another month or more to know for sure, many noted below might end up deciding which teams hoist conference championship trophies later this fall.
Bay & Thumb
HEADLINER Montrose 35, New Lothrop 33 Montrose (2-1) ran its Mid-Michigan Athletic Conference winning streak to 11 with its closest league victory in two years. After only two weeks of league play there are only two teams 2-0 in the MMAC – Montrose joined by Birch Run, and they’ll meet in a Week 8 league finale. Click for more from WJRT.
Watch list Imlay City 22, Croswell-Lexington 0 Imlay City (3-0) already has as many wins as a year ago and with one more victory will match its highest total since 2020. This win reversed a 42-7 loss to Croswell-Lexington (0-3) a year ago and was the Spartans’ first over the Pioneers since 2014.
On the move Armada 28, North Branch 6 The Tigers (2-1) bounced back from a Week 2 loss to Almont to hand North Branch (2-1) its first defeat. Davison 54, Traverse City Central 28 The Cardinals also enjoyed an impressive bounce-back coming off a Week 2 defeat to Detroit Catholic Central with a notable win over a Central team that reached the Regional Finals last fall. Millington 43, Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker 16 Last season’s Cardinals win over Laker (1-2) in the league finale decided the Big Thumb Conference White title. This season they played in the league opener, and the result might end up doing the same although Caro and Cass City are both undefeated as well and up next for Millington (3-0).
Greater Detroit
HEADLINER Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice 31, Warren De La Salle Collegiate 28 A Marcus Hayes interception returned for a touchdown was the highlight play from this Catholic High School League Central matchup. The end result of the game was Brother Rice (3-0) taking a step as a candidate to be top contender in the league race against Detroit Catholic Central, although Orchard Lake St. Mary’s in Week 5 will present another major challenge. Click for more from the Detroit News.
1-800-CALL-SAM PLAY OF THE WEEK NOMINEE 🏈
Brother Rice's Marcus Hayes with the GAME-CHANGING PICK 6 against Warren De La Salle to defeat them 31-28!
Vote this Friday on the State Champs! Instagram 🗳️
Powered by @CallSam pic.twitter.com/es8s5htcfu— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) September 12, 2026
Watch list Northville 35, Brighton 34 Northville (3-0) finished second in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association West last year thanks in part to a loss to Brighton (2-1), but may be the team to beat in the new KLAA Black after securing this one with a 2-point conversion stop with 24 seconds to play.
On the move Detroit Edison 41, Romulus Summit Academy North 14 After these two shared the championship a year ago Edison (2-1) now joins Ecorse with the early lead in the Charter School Conference Gold, with those two set to meet in Week 8. South Lyon 35, Walled Lake Western 14 This was one of the two big matchups when South Lyon won the Lakes Valley Conference last season, and might prove a decider again although upcoming games with Milford and South Lyon East will influence the race as well. Dearborn Divine Child 14, Detroit Country Day 7 Divine Child (3-0) marched late for the go-ahead score to run its current streak over Country Day to three wins in three seasons, but the close loss also showed how dangerous the Yellowjackets (1-2) could be the rest of the way.
Mid-Michigan
HEADLINER Beal City 42, Springport 13 The Aggies (3-0) stepped away from their Highland Conference repeat pursuit for a week to take on the reigning champion from the Big 8 Conference and busted out in a big way during the second half after leading only 14-7 at the break. It was the first regular-season loss for Springport (2-1) since Week 8 of 2024. Click for more from WLNS.
Watch list Mount Pleasant 28, Midland Dow 7 The Oilers (3-0) began their Saginaw Valley League North repeat pursuit with their best defensive game of the young season as they faced last year’s league runner-up in Dow (1-2).
On the move Grand Ledge 45, Okemos 7 The Comets (3-0) won this matchup of previously undefeated opponents to open Capital Area Activities Conference Blue play. Mason 20, Haslett 7 The Bulldogs (3-0) didn’t let down after a big Week 2 win over DeWitt, opening CAAC Red play by avenging one of last season’s two league losses. Howell 54, Dearborn 14 The Highlanders have reached 40 points all three games this season and 35 points in 11 straight dating back to Week 4 of last fall.
Northern Lower Peninsula
HEADLINER East Jordan 20, Maple City Glen Lake 19 The last three regular-season meetings between these Northern Michigan Football Conference rivals have been decided by a combined four points – and Glen Lake (2-1) also won last year’s District Final matchup by 14 – but this went East Jordan’s way for the first time since 2023. The Red Devils (2-1) quickly have become the only team in the one-division NMFC still without a league loss. Click for more from the Traverse City Record-Eagle.
Watch list Harbor Springs 14, Frankfort 10 Frankfort (2-1) has made the playoffs every season this decade and Harbor Springs (2-1) hasn’t once, but that could be changing as the Rams defeated the Panthers for the first time since 2020.
On the move Kingsley 39, Charlevoix 13 The Stags (3-0) have looked especially impressive in the early going and may have won the eventual decider in the Northern Shores Conference with Charlevoix (2-1) another contender. Cadillac 28, Gaylord 0 The Vikings (2-1) made a big splash against the reigning Big North Conference champion Blue Devils (1-2), and in doing so equaled their win total of a year ago. Oscoda 20, Johannesburg-Lewiston 8 After falling to East Jordan and Harbor Springs to start the fall, the Owls (1-2) are on the board thanks to avenging last season’s 12-point loss to the Cardinals (2-1).
Southeast & Border
HEADLINER Chelsea 49, Adrian 21 These two decided last season’s Southeastern Conference White title, and the early edge this fall goes to reigning champion Chelsea which is now tied for first with Tecumseh. Those co-leaders will meet this week in one of the biggest matchups regionally and beyond. Click for more from the Chelsea Sun Times News.
Watch list Jackson Lumen Christi 45, Traverse City St. Francis 0 The Titans (3-0) have won five straight over the Gladiators (1-2) but handed St. Francis its first shutout since these two met in 2023.
On the move Napoleon 32, Jonesville 12 Napoleon (3-0) moved from the Cascades Conference East to West this season and opened by slowing down a Jonesville offense that had scored 98 points during a 2-0 start. Michigan Center 22, Manchester 16 The reigning Cascades West champion Cardinals (2-1) got an important league win out of the way as Manchester also had impressed during a 2-0 start. Quincy 67, Stockbridge 21 After a rough first half of the decade, Quincy finished it up last season with a solid 5-4 run – and at 3-0 this fall may be in the mix to take another step although the schedule has a number of challenges the rest of the way.
Southwest Corridor
HEADLINER Marshall 52, Hastings 45 The Interstate 8 Athletic Conference race is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing in the southwest with three of seven teams 3-0 overall and others capable of making noise on a given night. Marshall is 3-0 for the first time since 2009 with this win over annual league contender Hastings, which is 1-2 against opponents a combined 8-1 this fall. Click for more from WWMT.
Watch list Union City 22, Bronson 14 Union City is setting up well as a Big 8 Conference contender, moving to 3-0 with this win over Bronson (1-2), which finished second in the Southwest 10 Conference a year ago.
On the move Mattawan 77, Battle Creek Central 76 (5OT) This was definitely the highest-scoring overtime game in MHSAA football history, the highest-scoring for two teams combined when the loser scores at least 40, and very likely the highest-scoring high school football game in Michigan overall since 1912 (before the MHSAA was formed 12 years later). Kalamazoo United 28, Lawton 7 This was another major step for United (3-0) in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, with the Week 6 date against Schoolcraft now shaping up as a potential league title decider. Lawton (2-1) still gets a shot against Schoolcraft as well, in Week 9. Portage Central 25, Portage Northern 14 Central (2-1) has taken a notable edge in this rivalry with a fifth-straight win, and these two will not meet again this season as they’re in different playoff divisions.
Upper Peninsula
HEADLINER Bark River-Harris 38, Iron Mountain 33 Bark River-Harris’ repeat hopes in the Western Peninsula Athletic Conference Iron got a major boost as this matchup has been the title decider the last two seasons. The Broncos (3-0) defeated Iron Mountain three times a year ago and certainly could see the Mountaineers (1-2) again in the playoffs in two months. Click for more from My UP Now.
Watch list Houghton 54, L’Anse 8 This could be a turning point for the Gremlins (1-2), who topped 50 points for the first time since 2022 and held a L’Anse team that had scored 90 over a 2-0 start.
On the move Calumet 21, Negaunee 18 The Copper Kings (3-0) opened a stretch of Negaunee/Menominee/Kingsford the best way, and for the second-straight season, with the next two games to tell their fortunes in the West-PAC Copper. Escanaba 29, Alpena 12 Escanaba (1-2) ran its winning streak against Alpena (1-2) to five and evened its record in the BNC after opening against the reigning champ. Kingsford 35, Gladstone 0 The Flivvers (3-0) have outscored their first three opponents by a combined 104-22 margin with Negaunee and Calumet up next.
West Michigan
HEADLINER Caledonia 35, Rockford 23 The Fighting Scots (2-1) impressively bounced back from the disappointment of taking a forfeit loss Week 1 by defeating the Rams (1-2) for the first time since their 2022 Division 1 District Final. Caledonia capitalized on three turnovers and a blocked punt, and also returned a kickoff for a score. Click for more from WOOD TV.
Watch list Muskegon Orchard View 22, Whitehall 8 The Cardinals (2-1) didn’t even have a team five seasons ago, but they won five of their last six games last fall and continued this early surge by defeating Whitehall for the first time in their five years together in the West Michigan Conference Lakes.
On the move Grand Rapids West Catholic 45, Grand Rapids South Christian 34 The Falcons (2-1) bounced back from a Week 2 loss to hand the Sailors (2-1) their first this season. Coopersville 20, Petoskey 17 (OT) The Broncos are now 3-0 against teams that went a combined 27-4 a year ago. Hudsonville 42, Grand Haven 14 Six of eight Ottawa-Kent Conference Red teams are 2-1 or better, including both of these after Hudsonville handed Grand Haven its first loss.
8-Player
HEADLINER Rudyard 42, Indian River Inland Lakes 36 (3OT) It took three overtimes, but Rudyard (2-1) ended Inland Lakes’ 25-game regular-season winning streak dating back to 2023. This was their first meeting since 2013, and an important one as they are both in the first-year Bridge Alliance Straits this fall. Click for more from the Cheboygan Daily Tribune.
Watch list Litchfield 28, Battle Creek St. Philip 6 The Terriers are 3-0 for the first time since 2022 as they seek their first playoff berth since 2011. They’ve actually won six of their last seven games going back to last season.
On the move Bay City All Saints 33, Kinde North Huron 14 The Cougars (3-0) took a major step as they pursue a fourth-straight league title, even as North Huron (2-1) gave them their closest game in the series since 2022. Ishpeming 80, Stephenson 42 The Hematites (2-1) equaled their win total from a year ago and are just 18 points shy of equaling their scoring for all of 2025. Bridgman 48, Marcellus 18 The Bees (3-0) picked up what might end up a key win in the Southern Michigan 8-Man Football League Red, as Marcellus (2-1) was coming off a victory over reigning Division 1 champ Martin.
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PHOTOS (Top) Fenton defenders close in on a tackle during the Tigers’ 26-14 win over Flushing. (Middle) Ithaca’s Greyson Merchant (6) follows senior Harper Merchant for a first down during the Yellowjackets’ 63-7 win over Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Central. (Below) Ishpeming’s Donovan Snyder (1) pulls in a pass against Stephenson. (Fenton/Flushing photo by Terry Lyons. Ithaca/Nouvel photo by Kolleth Photography. Ishpeming/Stephenson photo by Randy Ritari.)
Wooer Leads Kingsley's Return to Power
November 1, 2018
By Chris Dobrowolski
Special for Second Half
KINGSLEY — Tim Wooer does not have the ability to wave a wand and make victories on the football field appear out of thin air.
The Kingsley football program is certainly grateful for the magic Wooer has brought back to the gridiron in no time at all, however.
After going 1-8 at year ago, Kingsley has had a remarkable turnaround in the first year of Wooer’s second tenure as Stags varsity head coach, going 9-1, including last week’s 62-22 Division 6 District playoff win over Tawas.
“The bottom line is — people have asked me how did this happen? I can only give you one answer, and it is the kids,” said Wooer.
It’s a group of players who have endured a lot the past few seasons. The once-proud program had fallen on hard times, seeing a decline in wins after a 6-4 playoff season in 2014. The Stags went 5-4, 5-4, 3-6 and bottomed out with one win during a tumultuous 2017 campaign that saw the previous head coach placed on administrative leave in the middle of the season before he later resigned. Interim coach Jamie Mullen finished out the fall. Needless to say, Kingsley’s players didn’t find many good, positive memories from the season.
“I didn’t even want to play anymore. I was just happy for (the season) to be over,” said Kingsley senior captain Dylan Case.
Wooer noticed the apathy, lack of energy and complacency that seemed to be common among many of the male athletes at his alma mater not long after he came on as a long-term substitute teacher at Kingsley just months after retiring from education. He also was in his 10th year as the head coach at Traverse City West and was enjoying his best year yet with the Titans, who finished 9-2 and won their first playoff game since Wooer arrived in 2008.
But while he was subbing, Wooer was able to drive his two daughters, Lauren and Sarah, to school every morning. He realized then how precious the moments with them and his son, Tyler, had become. So, when Wooer was approached about taking over the Stags in January, he didn’t need much time to make a decision.
“From a football standpoint it was a very poor decision at the time,” said Wooer. “We thought we had things going at West. We were 8-1, had a good nucleus coming back. Our numbers at the middle school were great. It was really kind of self-sustaining at that point. We had a really good thing going. But all the other factors made it a quite simple decision. It was family and obviously my love for Kingsley and the community of Kingsley.”
There was good reason for people in Kingsley to yearn for Wooer to come back. When he left after nine years, he had compiled a record of 68-29 and, most notably, guided the Stags to the 2005 Division 6 championship. A few of the oldest players on Kingsley’s current team were in kindergarten during that season. Many others had not started school. But many knew of Wooer. Parents, older siblings, cousins and community members alike had talked fondly of the 2005 title team, and a picture documenting the championship hangs prominently in the school. It gave Wooer instant credibility.
“He led Kingsley to a state championship,” said Case. “We knew he knew what he was talking about and that he wanted what was best for us.”
Coming off a 1-8 season, the players were more than willing to buy in to what Wooer was selling — winning football.
“You don’t really question it because we went 1-8,” said senior Jake Radtke, another senior captain. “We were like, ‘OK, this doesn’t work.’ Just trust the process and believe what he’s saying and buy in. He bleeds Black and Orange, and I love it. He knows we bleed Black and Orange, and he’s part of our family.”
Wooer surrounded himself with a staff of coaches who are mostly Kingsley alums and former players. Dan Goethels played on the team in 1997. Al Olds, Ryan Zenner and Dave Zenner all played for Wooer on the 2002 Kingsley squad. Mullin and Ron Hessem were three years behind Wooer in school in the late ‘80s. Ray Fisher, whose son Jake plays for the Cincinnati Bengals after starring for Wooer at West, has followed Wooer from Kingsley, to West, and now is back with the Stags.
“We’ve surrounded ourselves with some really good people who have a love for Kingsley and understand the system and what we want to do,” Wooer said of his assistants.
Wooer laid down the law at his first meeting with the team last winter. He talked about bringing discipline to the program and set his expectations for players in preparation for the season, particularly getting better participation in the weight room. More than 40 players in the high school took that to heart and had perfect attendance in lifting over the summer.
“There were lots of expectations,” said senior lineman Nathan Ames. “You could tell from his speech that it was going to be a lot of work. From the first second of team camp everybody bought in. After team camp, I definitely knew what was going to happen.”
Wooer still might not have been so sure how much success he would have with the Stags right away. He thought his team played poorly in its first preseason scrimmage at Manton. Even after an improved showing against the likes of Harrison, North Muskegon and Mason County Central in a second scrimmage, Wooer still wasn’t convinced his team was ready to compete when it met McBain in the first week of the regular season.
“I can still remember driving down to McBain — I was terrified,” said Wooer. “I’m on the bus thinking we are so unprepared. We couldn’t make an adjustment outside of a timeout. It was timeouts and quarters where you had to throw as much information at them as you could, hoping they could make those adjustments. It took two or three weeks before we could. We were making adjustments on the fly. I was yelling stuff out on the field.”
The Stags ended up pulling out a 24-20 victory over a good McBain squad. People were already half-joking that the team had equaled its win total from the previous season.
“That was a huge turnaround,” said Ames. “We all just kind of looked at each other after that win and said this is it.”
Wins over Ogemaw Heights and Grayling followed. Though the Stags fell to Traverse City St. Francis in the fourth week, they rebounded with five straight victories to finish the regular season.
With the wins have also come some individual accolades. Six players were named to the all-Northern Michigan Football League Legends division first team — running back Ayden Mullin, who was the league’s Offensive Player of the Year, along with Ames at defensive tackle, Radtke at guard, tight end Ian Sousa, outside linebacker Devon Hager and defensive back Owen Graves.
“It was very refreshing to have kids who want to be coached and want to be pushed,” said Wooer. “That’s not common in today’s world.
“It has not been an easy process. There were some chewings and some tough times, but they didn’t flinch once. Once they saw the success they received for their efforts, and everything did work as it was planned, it kind of fell into place. I just can’t say enough about the kids. It’s all about every one of the kids in our program.”
Chris Dobrowolski has covered northern Lower Peninsula sports since 1999 at the Ogemaw County Herald, Alpena News, Traverse City Record-Eagle and currently as sports editor at the Antrim Kalkaska Review since 2016. 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) Kingsley football coach Tim Wooer addresses his team during practice this fall. (Middle) Wooer, bottom left, celebrates with his team after the Stags won the 2005 Division 6 title at Pontiac Silverdome. (Top photo courtesy of WPBN.)