1st & Goal: 2026 Week 4 Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
September 18, 2026
We’re just three weeks into the 2026 high school football season, and a great sign that Michigan teams are challenging themselves is that only 116 – or just under 20 percent – are still undefeated.
That total also is guaranteed to be reduced by 15 this weekend, and will likely fall well below the century mark with several high-powered matchups kicking off all over the state. Five of those games are among those featured below.
Games below are Friday unless noted. Tune in to the NFHS Network to watch the majority and follow the MHSAA Scores page for results as they’re submitted.
Bay & Thumb
Linden (3-0) at Holly (3-0)
Holly is 3-0 for the first time since 1984, and a 42-7 win over Pontiac Notre Dame Prep is notable even though the Fighting Irish are struggling early after finishing Division 5 runner-up last season. The Bronchos also haven’t defeated Linden since 2011 and fell last year 42-6. But a win would open up the Flint Metro League Stripes race significantly and provide a giant assist as Holly works to make the playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY North Branch (2-1) at Imlay City (3-0), Caro (3-0) at Millington (3-0), Montrose (2-1) at Chesaning (2-1), Shepherd (2-1) at Gladwin (2-1).
Greater Detroit
Clarkston (3-0) at Rochester Adams (2-1)
Even as Adams has reached Division 1 Semifinals the last two seasons, it hasn’t won the Oakland Activities Association Red since sharing the title with Clarkston and West Bloomfield in 2022. Clarkston won last year’s matchup on the way to the OAA Red championship. Both faced 2025 league champions to open this season, Adams falling to Romeo and Clarkston defeating South Lyon, and there’s always a chance this will be just the first of multiple meetings as they’ve seen each other in the playoffs as well two of the last four years.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Warren De La Salle Collegiate (2-1) at Detroit Catholic Central (3-0), Detroit Denby (2-1) at Detroit Cody (3-0), Romeo (3-0) at Macomb Dakota (2-1), Monroe Jefferson (3-0) at Riverview (3-0).
Mid-Michigan
McBain (2-1) at Beal City (3-0)
Beal City has only three Highland Conference losses since the start of 2019 – all to McBain, but with the most recent in 2024. The Aggies won last season’s meeting 42-7 and are coming off a major defeat last week of Springport plus have downed two more 2025 playoff teams in Ravenna and Manton. McBain’s only Highland loss since the start of 2024 came to Beal City, and the Ramblers’ defeat this season came to unbeaten Division 4 power Edwardsburg.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY McBain (2-1) at Beal City (3-0), Traverse City Central (2-1) at Mount Pleasant (3-0), Birch Run (3-0) at New Lothrop (2-1), Brighton (2-1) at Hartland (2-1), Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary (2-1) at Ithaca (3-0).
Northern Lower Peninsula
Grand Blanc (3-0) at Traverse City West (2-1)
Grand Blanc has dominated all four games of the recent series between these two, but there’s reason to believe this meeting might be closer. It may start with Grand Blanc having to travel much farther than usual – although the Bobcats also won at West in 2025. But the bigger positive for the Titans may not be 56 points put up in a win last week over Bay City Central but the 35 scored in a Week 1 loss to Howell. Grand Blanc has two straight shutouts but must be ready for another challenge on that side of the ball.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Kingsley (3-0) at Grayling (2-1), Midland Bullock Creek (2-1) at Ogemaw Heights (3-0), Johannesburg-Lewiston (2-1) at Frankfort (2-1), Traverse City St. Francis (1-2) at Maple City Glen Lake (2-1)
Southeast & Border
Tecumseh (3-0) at Chelsea (3-0)
Tecumseh has reached 40 points scored in all three of its games, which is more than it did either of the entire 2024 or 2025 seasons. A win over Chelsea would be a first since 2022, when Tecumseh put together a perfect regular season, and this is the team’s best start since that fall. Chelsea also has strung together an impressive first three weeks with the Bulldogs’ most recent win over Adrian a rematch of last year’s Southeastern Conference White title decider and the Week 1 victory over Harper Woods one that will be referenced all fall.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Jonesville (2-1) at Brooklyn Columbia Central (3-0), Saline (3-0) at Dexter (2-1), Adrian Madison (3-0) at Hudson (3-0), Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard (3-0) at Jackson Lumen Christi (3-0), Hanover-Horton (2-1) at Napoleon (3-0).
Southwest Corridor
Edwardsburg (3-0) at Paw Paw (3-0)
Paw Paw has won this Wolverine Conference rivalry game three straight seasons but also finished runner-up in the league to Niles the last three years. The Red Wolves downed Niles 42-14 last week, making them potential frontrunners in the conference unless Edwardsburg spoils that plan. Paw Paw has been impressive giving only 28 points total against teams that went a combined 21-10 a year ago. But the Eddies are ripping through yards again like during their best years, topping 50 points twice already after not doing so once all of last season.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Berrien Springs (3-0) at Buchanan (3-0), Battle Creek Harper Creek (3-0) at Marshall (3-0), Kalamazoo Central (2-1) at Portage Central (2-1), Constantine (2-1) at Schoolcraft (3-0), Quincy (3-0) at Union City (3-0).
Upper Peninsula
Calumet (3-0) at Menominee (3-0)
This game sets up identically as last season’s matchup, won by Menominee 25-15 on the way to claiming the Western Peninsula Athletic Conference Copper title. The Maroons have won their games by 54, 30 and 50 points so far, but Calumet should bring that average down especially after giving up only 24 points over its first three victories. A win over Menominee would be the Copper Kings’ first since the 2021 District Semifinals.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Negaunee (2-1) at Kingsford (3-0), Iron Mountain (1-2) at L’Anse (2-1), Petoskey (2-1) at Escanaba (1-2). SATURDAY Cadillac (2-1) at Marquette (1-2).
West Michigan
Ludington (2-1) at Fremont (3-0)
Fremont is staring down a potential first winning season since 2013 and after earning a combined three victories over the last two. They avenged last year’s 56-0 loss to Whitehall with a 32-19 win in Week 2 and with 24 more points will equal their scoring output for all of last year. Enter Ludington, which won the 2025 matchup 49-0 and the West Michigan Conference Lakes title during a perfect regular season. The Orioles graduated a significant senior class in the spring and opened with a loss to Coopersville, but have bounced back with a pair of close wins.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Grand Rapids West Catholic (2-1) at Ada Forest Hills Eastern (3-0), Grand Rapids South Christian (2-1) at Hudsonville Unity Christian (2-1), Middleville Thornapple Kellogg (3-0) at Holland Christian (2-1), East Kentwood (3-0) at Grand Haven (2-1).
8-Player
Mio (3-0) at Mendon (3-0)
Mio has strung together two straight playoff seasons and charged into this one impressively, already avenging one of its two 2025 losses by downing Hillman 30-16 in Week 2. The Thunderbolts now have the opportunity to test themselves against one of the annual elite, as Mendon is a combined 20-3 over the last two years and averaging 51 points per game during this early going despite replacing the leading scorer in MHSAA 8-player history.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Climax-Scotts (3-0) at Colon (3-0), Ishpeming (2-1) at Crystal Falls Forest Park (3-0), Pickford (3-0) at St. Ignace (3-0). SATURDAY Norway (3-0) at Lake Linden-Hubbell (3-0).
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PHOTO An Ada Forest Hills Eastern ball carrier attempts to hold off a Flint Elite defender during FHE’s Week 3 win. (Photo by Michigan Sports Photo.)
Reading Reaches Next Level with Repeat
November 29, 2019
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
DETROIT – An arduous playoff road over the last five weeks pushed Reading up against some of the most established football programs in Michigan high school history.
Pre-District opponent Mendon is tied for 10th with 12 MHSAA Finals football titles. Semifinal foe Fowler has won seven championships. Those two, Cassopolis and Adrian Lenawee Christian all were state-ranked during the regular season. Friday’s championship game opponent Beal City was not, but is tied for the most playoff appearances in MHSAA history with 35 over the 45-year history of the tournament.
Reading made its 25th playoff appearance this fall, an impressive feat on its own. But by winning a second straight Division 8 championship – after last year’s first in school history – the Rangers launched their program into that group of the most revered.
They concluded this chapter with a 33-6 win over the Aggies on Friday at Ford Field, extending an incredible run while allowing a star-studded senior class to leave its personal imprint on what Reading has accomplished.
“I really think we left a mark in the playoff book,” Rangers senior Hunter Midtgard said. “Just because we came through last year, we had a really good team, and then we came through this year and we wanted to prove a point that this was our team and we wanted to leave a legacy. We just wanted to finish the job.”
Reading finished this fall 13-1, winning 13 straight after a 14-0 opening loss to Pewamo-Westphalia, which will play Saturday for a third Division 7 title in four years. The Rangers are 27-1 over the last two seasons.
Not that the senior class needed motivation after making a major contribution to last season’s title run. But coach Rick Bailey emphasized that those seniors shouldn’t feel like reigning champions, and instead pursue making their own impact – and the P-W loss threw kindling on that message.
“We worked hard over the summer, but that first loss … kinda lit a fire in us and told us what it took to make it back here, so we really wanted it,” Reading senior lineman Nick Affholter said.
“Also, I thought it was great, because it was our team this year,” said senior linebacker/tight end – and Nick’s twin – Ben Affholter. “We got to be seniors and we got to be leaders, and that drove us to win it as our team.”
Friday’s matchup with the Aggies (12-2) was set up to be strength on strength – especially considering the two starting quarterbacks together combined for only about 1,500 yards passing this fall.
The game stayed within a score until midway through the third quarter, when Reading began to show it was stronger in the long run.
The Rangers scored the final 19 points, all on runs, and outgained Beal City on the ground 260-42. Reading also had 10.5 tackles for loss, with Ben Affholter leading with 4.5.
Beal City senior quarterback Jack Schafer was able to counter with 115 yards and a touchdown passing, completing five of nine attempts. But Rangers junior Porter Mauk also made the most of his six attempts, connecting on scoring passes for his team’s first two touchdowns.
“I think their up front gave us fits,” Beal City coach Brad Gross said. “Number 44 in the middle (Ben Affholter) obviously was stunting, and we didn’t do a very good job of picking him up. But I’m sure that kid is an all-state football player. … They’re big, bigger than we are, and also a lot faster than you think they are.”
Reading finished the season having given up 103 points, or 7.4 per game. Lenawee Christian (21) was the only team to score more than 18. Ben Affholter finished with 10 tackles total Friday, and brother Nick had eight. The Rangers recovered two fumbles and snagged an interception.
Senior Elijah Strine ran for 73 yards and a touchdown and Midtgard added 68 yards and a score on the ground and a 40-yard touchdown reception. Senior Jayson Scoville caught an 18-yard touchdown pass to open the scoring with 3:21 left in the first quarter. Sophomore Matthew Stewart added a 12-yard touchdown run with 13 seconds to play.
Schafer connected with junior T.J. Maxon on a 56-yard touchdown pass two minutes into the second quarter for Beal City’s lone points. Senior linebacker Seth Schafer had 14 tackles and junior linebacker Ethan Locke had 10.
The Aggies made their eighth appearance in an MHSAA Final, and first since 2013. They had finished below .500 the last two seasons, including 2-7 a year ago, before mounting arguably the strongest comeback in the state this fall.
“I think they fit right in there with the best (in school history),” said Gross, who quarterbacked the 1994 team to the Class D title. “I can’t ask for anything more from these guys, starting from last year at the end of the year. It didn’t start in June; it started last year, in November. These kids made a commitment to be there and get things done, and that’s what they did.”
PHOTOS: (Top) Reading’s Roger Hill rushes into Beal City’s defense Saturday at Ford Field. (Middle) The Rangers’ Elijah Strine (30) stretches into the end zone just ahead of Beal City’s Logan Chilman.