1st & Goal: 2026 Week 7 Review
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 12, 2026
One play does not decide a game. But one play also can make all the difference.
Several Week 7 games showed that to be true once again, as a number of league champions were decided during the first full weekend of October, and multiple by one-score margins.
A few league races were reshuffled as well, and those results earned their places in our "Review" too as we move toward the final two weeks of the regular season.
Bay & Thumb
HEADLINER Almont 28, Macomb Lutheran North 27 Almont (7-0) has clinched a share of the Blue Water Area Conference title and can finish a fourth straight as outright champion this week against Croswell-Lexington. The Raiders have won 30 straight BWAC games, this the third by one point during that time. Lutheran North (6-1) has made a run at the title in its first season in the league after previously playing in the Catholic High School League. Click for more from the Macomb Daily.
Watch list Gladwin 26, Ogemaw Heights 20 The Flying Gs (5-2) capped a dramatic run to the Jack Pine Conference Division 1 title, falling to Midland Bullock Creek in Week 6 but bouncing right back to win this one on Jacob Pahl’s walk-off touchdown catch from Preston Newman. Ogemaw (5-2) had entered the night with the opportunity to clinch as well.
On the move Fenton 49, Linden 42 Fenton (6-1) finished an outright championship in the Flint Metro League Stripes with another of several close games against Linden (5-2) over the last two decades. Montrose 42, Ovid-Elsie 14 The Rams (6-1) clinched a share of a second-straight Mid-Michigan Activities Conference title and kept Ovid-Elsie (3-4) just outside the Division 6 playoff picture. Bay City Western 27, Traverse City Central 21 Western (3-4) jumped 13 spots to tied for No. 31 in the Division 3 playoff-points list with this first win over the Trojans (3-4) in five years of Saginaw Valley League play together.
Greater Detroit
HEADLINER Detroit Catholic Central 27, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 20 This matchup definitely lived up to season-long anticipation, as Detroit Catholic Central came back from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to pull closer to a potential third-straight Catholic High School League Central title – the Shamrocks (7-0) can clinch a share this week against one-win Toledo St. Francis de Sales. Gideon Gash scored twice during the fourth quarter and Ryan Jaafar ran for the eventual game-winner with 10 seconds to play against the Eaglets (5-2). Click for more from the Detroit Free Press.
COMEBACK COMPLETE WITH 10 SECONDS LEFT! 🚨 Down 14 in the fourth quarter, No. 1 Detroit Catholic Central (@DCCfootball) storms back and takes the lead on Ryan Jaafar's (@ryanjaafar5) 4-yard touchdown against No. 4 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s! 🤯 Powered by @CallSam https://t.co/KmHK0oUIJk
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) October 10, 2026
Watch list Gibraltar Carlson 31, Brownstown Woodhaven 28 The Marauders (7-0) have won 17 straight Downriver League games and are working toward a potential sixth-straight conference championship with two games to play – including a Week 9 matchup with second-place Allen Park. Austyn Lawrence threw three touchdown passes to help send Woodhaven (5-2) into a tie for third place.
On the move Northville 30, Belleville 7 Three teams are tied for first in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association Black – these two and Dearborn Fordson – with one league game to play. Royal Oak Shrine Catholic 42, Allen Park Cabrini 21 Shrine (7-0) clinched a share of the CHSL Intersectional 2 title by winning this matchup of teams that entered the night undefeated in league play. Detroit Central 6, Detroit Denby 2 These two finished the conference schedule among three teams tied atop the Detroit Public School League Gold standings (with Detroit Cody) and will meet again this week in a city championship game.
Mid-Michigan
HEADLINER Howell 14, Brighton 13 This rivalry filed away another exciting chapter as the Highlanders clinched a share of the KLAA Gold title. Howell (7-0) has now defeated Brighton (4-3) in four straight, including twice in 2024, and can claim the league title outright this week against Dearborn Heights Crestwood. Click for more from State Champs! Sports Network.
Watch list Ithaca 48, Saginaw Valley Lutheran 7 The Yellowjackets (7-0) avenged last season’s one-point loss to Valley Lutheran (5-2) to this time clinch the Tri-Valley Conference Blue title outright. Ithaca this season has now given up only 26 points – fewer than four per game.
On the move Mason 45, Williamston 14 The Bulldogs (7-0) completed a similarly defense-dominated run through the Capital Area Activities Conference Red, clinching an outright title with this win while giving up no more than 17 points in any game this fall. Clare 48, Midland Bullock Creek 35 The Pioneers (3-4) are pushing back toward a potential spot in the Division 5 playoff field and gave Gladwin an assist in its outright championship by knocking Bullock Creek (4-3) out of the race for a share of the JPC1 title. Okemos 45, Lansing Waverly 12 From 2020-23, Okemos didn’t win a game, which helps explain how the Wolves’ five wins this fall equal their total from the last seven seasons combined.
Northern Lower Peninsula
HEADLINER Traverse City West 31, Mount Pleasant 29 The Titans (4-3) threw a curveball into the Saginaw Valley League North race as Mount Pleasant (6-1) entered this game with an opportunity to clinch a share of the title, but now has become one of three teams with a chance to win it outright. West is another, thanks in part to Landon Henfling’s last-minute go-ahead field goal. Click for more from the Traverse City Record-Eagle.
Watch list East Jordan 53, Johannesburg-Lewiston 16 The Red Devils (6-1) pulled to within one more win of clinching a share of the Northern Michigan Football Conference title but do face fourth-place Frankfort this week and second-place (tie) Harbor Springs in the regular-season finale.
On the move Maple City Glen Lake 33, Frankfort 0 Glen Lake (5-2) is tied for Harbor Springs for second in the NMFC and will be rooting for Frankfort (5-2) this week and hoping for an East Jordan misstep. Kingsley 55, Boyne City 12 Kingsley (7-0) clinched a share of the Northern Shores Conference title, but Boyne City (3-4) also moved up one spot to No. 36 on the Division 6 playoff-points average list. Petoskey 35, Alpena 0 The Northmen (5-2) kept themselves in play to clinch a share of the Big North Conference championship with a win over first-place Marquette this week.
Southeast & Border
HEADLINER Clinton 30, Ida 22 Amazingly, four teams are tied for first in the Lenawee County Athletic Association with one more week of league games to play, in part thanks to Clinton’s win over Ida (6-1) – with those two joined by Adrian Madison and Hudson at the top of the standings. Clinton (6-1) scored on a 66-yard pass midway through the fourth quarter to go ahead for good and play a major part in creating a scenario guaranteed to produce two co-champions. Click for more from the Adrian Daily Telegram.
Watch list Springport 28, Union City 14 The Spartans (6-1) still need one more win to clinch a share of the Big 8 Conference title, but now sit alone atop the standings after handing second-place Union City (6-1) its lone defeat.
On the move Hanover-Horton 52, Leslie 28 Hanover-Horton (6-1) won this matchup of Cascades Conference divisional champions, and now faces Manchester, which shared the North title with the Blackhawks (4-3). Napoleon 50, Brooklyn Columbia Central 15 The Pirates (6-1) won this matchup for second place in the Cascades Conference South, but also maintained valuable position in the Division 6 playoff hunt in case these two meet again in the postseason. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central 27, Riverview 14 The Falcons (7-0) did their part to set up a winner-take-all this week in the Huron League against Monroe Jefferson, while also sending Riverview (4-3) out of the top 32 on the Division 3 playoff-points average list.
Southwest Corridor
HEADLINER Vicksburg 37, Niles 21 The Bulldogs had lost by 35, 35 and 50 points to Niles the last three seasons as Niles went on to win three straight Wolverine Conference championships. But with this win, Vicksburg maintained its share of first place heading into this week’s matchup with co-leader Edwardsburg. Click for more from the Kalamazoo Gazette.
Watch list Berrien Springs 35, Hopkins 0 Aside from clinching a share of the Lakeland Conference title, this has to be Berrien Springs’ most notable win this season as Hopkins also entered undefeated. The victory sent the Shamrocks (7-0) from No. 7 to No. 3 on the Division 5 playoff-points list, while dropping Hopkins (6-1) only two spots to No. 7.
On the move Constantine 39, Lawton 6 Constantine (6-1) will need help from Coloma this week against first-place Kalamazoo United to gain a share of the Southwestern Athletic Conference title, but downing third-place Lawton (5-2) did earn the Falcons that opportunity. Bronson 40, Quincy 24 Bronson (5-2) remains mathematically in the hunt for a share of the Big 8 Conference title, but more importantly at this point bumped up six spots to No. 20 in the Division 7 playoff-points list by downing Quincy (4-3). Stevensville Lakeshore 35, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix 0 The Lancers (6-1) jumped six spots to No. 4 on the Division 4 playoff-points list with a big win over Division 1 Loy Norrix (4-3).
Upper Peninsula
HEADLINER Marquette 49, Gaylord 13 Marquette has earned a share of the Big North Conference championship, its first since joining the league four years ago, and as noted above can clinch the title outright this week against Petoskey. The Sentinels (5-2) also avenged last season’s one-point loss to Gaylord (3-4) to move up two spots in the potential Division 3 playoff field to No. 21. Click for more from Upper Michigan’s Source.
Watch list Escanaba 21, Calumet 20 Escanaba (3-4) received a major boost to its playoff chances as this win bumped the team up four spots to No. 38 on the Division 4 playoff points list while Calumet (4-3) fell six spots in Division 6 to No. 20.
On the move Menominee 38, Negaunee 28 The Maroons (7-0) played their closest game of the season but held on to set up a winner-take-all in the Western Peninsula Athletic Conference Copper this week against Kingsford. Kingsford 15, Ishpeming Westwood 8 The Flivvers (7-0) did their part as well to set up that matchup, surviving only their second single-digit challenge this fall. Westwood (2-5) still moved up two spots to No. 38 on the Division 6 playoff points list despite the defeat. Bark River Harris 44, Hancock 14 The Broncos (6-1) secured a share of the West-PAC Iron title after withstanding Hancock (3-4), which is tied for third in the league.
West Michigan
HEADLINER East Kentwood 49, Caledonia 27 East Kentwood (7-0) still must win one of the next two games to clinch a share of the Ottawa-Kent Conference Red title, but this one was a major obstacle as Caledonia (5-2) also entered the weekend undefeated in league play. The Falcons face seventh-place Holland West Ottawa this week before closing against reigning champ Hudsonville. Click for more from the Grand Rapids Press.
Watch list Grand Rapids Christian 29, Grand Rapids West Catholic 28 (OT) The Eagles (2-5) still have work to do to climb into the playoff hunt, but this came off 37 and 22-point losses to West Catholic (5-2) over the last two years and pushed Forest Hills Eastern back into a tie for first with the Falcons in the O-K White with one week of league games to play.
On the move Muskegon Mona Shores 44, Muskegon 21 Mona Shores (6-1) clinched a share of the O-K Green title by avenging last season’s 16-point loss to the Big Reds (3-4). Zeeland West 36, Hudsonville Unity Christian 0 The Dux (6-1) will need a win by Zeeland East over Grand Rapids South Christian this week to pick up a share of the O-K Gold title, but set themselves up for that opportunity by sending Unity (4-3) into a tie for third. Muskegon Orchard View 19, Fremont 16 Orchard View (5-2) ended Fremont’s title chances in the West Michigan Conference Lakes and while doing so jumped seven spots to No. 12 on the Division 5 playoff points list.
8-Player
HEADLINER Blanchard Montabella 60, Merrill 20 Montabella (6-1) claimed this winner-take-all for the Mid-State Activities Conference Blue title with another stunning offensive performance, but may have been even more impressive on defense. Merrill (6-1) was averaging nearly 52 points per game entering the title decider. The Mustangs have won three straight league championships. Click for more from the Mount Pleasant Morning Sun.
Watch list Pittsford 60, Litchfield 54 Pittsford (5-2) bounced back from a big Week 6 nonleague loss to Concord to hand Litchfield (6-1) its only defeat this fall and clinch a share of the Southern Central Athletic Association Blue title. Pittsford has won 17 straight league games and can claim a third-straight outright championship this week against Waldron.
On the move Lake Linden-Hubbell 42, Crystal Falls Forest Park 38 Lake Linden-Hubbell (7-0) guaranteed itself a share of a second-straight league title and can claim the Great Lakes Eight Conference West outright by winning just one of its next two games. Forest Park (5-2) is one of three league teams with two league losses and slim hopes of still gaining a share. Pickford 36, Indian River Inland Lakes 30 (2OT) Pickford finished an outright championship in the Bridge Alliance Straits by navigating its most substantial league challenge, from Inland Lakes (4-3). St. Ignace 34, Rudyard 18 While the Saints (6-1) weren’t able to catch Pickford in the Straits, they did continue to strengthen their position in the Division 2 playoff chase with this win over the Bulldogs (5-2).
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PHOTOS (Top) A pair of Muskegon Mona Shores players breaks up a play during their win against Muskegon. (Middle) Fowler’s Eli Thelen (8) is brought down by Bath’s Lorenzo Gonzalez (23) and Hunter Tolliver (2) during the Eagles’ 53-0 win. (Below) Menominee’s Kiefer Chouincard (11) gets a hand on the ball and dislodges it as he and Nathan Nelson (44) make a tackle against Negaunee. (Mona Shores/Muskegon photo by Tim Reilly. Fowler/Bath photo by John Johnson. Menominee/Negaunee photo by Cara Kamps.)
Youngest Brother Bryan Closing Convertini Family's Memorable 13-Year Run at MCC
By
Tom Kendra
Special for MHSAA.com
May 8, 2025
Bryan Convertini is nearing the end of an amazing four-year athletic career for Muskegon Catholic Central, but this swan song is not just about him.
Bryan is the last of the four “Convertini boys” at MCC, who collectively have provided Crusaders fans with plenty of big plays and thrilling wins – doing it all with their humble, no-nonsense leadership style – over the past 13 years.
“The Convertinis have really become the first family of Muskegon Catholic Central,” said MCC baseball coach Steve Schuitema, noting their father, Kolin, is an assistant varsity football coach and their mother, Jene, has served as the team mom for baseball and football for years.
“It will be different and a little sad to not have a Convertini out there for MCC anymore. All of them were leaders and a coach’s dream and really an extension of the coach on the field.”
Mason, 26, graduated in 2017 and set the sports tone for his three brothers, playing football, hockey as part of MCC’s cooperative team with Muskegon Reeths-Puffer, and baseball.
Nolan, 23, graduated in 2020 and, at 6-foot-2, is the tallest of the brothers. He played the same three sports as Mason, and was the most versatile of the boys, playing almost every position in football, including starting two games at quarterback.
Sam, 21, graduated in 2022, and also played football, hockey and baseball, but he opted to play basketball his senior year so he could play with his younger brother, Bryan.
Bryan, 18, will graduate June 1 after a standout, three-sport career, including the past three years as the starting varsity quarterback, before beginning college this fall at Grand Valley State.
“My memories at MCC go way back to when I was like 6 or 7 and the waterboy in football and the batboy in baseball,” said Bryan with a smile.
“The first word that comes to mind when I think about it is family. The whole school is like a big family that pushes and supports each other.”
Grandpa’s boys
The Convertini boys come from good stock, starting with their grandfathers.
On their mother’s side is Grandpa Bryan McLay who, at the age of 87, is still considered “Mr. Hockey” in Muskegon.
McLay, a Kenora, Ontario, native who first came to Muskegon in 1960 (the same year that the downtown hockey arena opened), tallied more than 1,000 points over his 13 seasons with the Muskegon Zephyrs and later, the Mohawks.
McLay moved in with the family after his wife, Peggy, died four years ago, and regularly regales his grandsons with his “old-time hockey” stories.
Jene picked up her father’s passion for sports and has been a natural in the Crusaders’ “team mom” role – organizing meals, carpools, fundraisers and sending out emails for game and schedule changes, among other things.
On their father’s side is Grandpa Fred Convertini, a California native who played in the 1966 Rose Bowl as an offensive lineman at Michigan State – as part of what is considered the top offensive line in MSU history.
Kolin certainly inherited his father’s athletic ability, making first-team all-state in football (running back), wrestling and track & field (pole vault) during his senior year of 1989-1990. He went on to play defensive back at Eastern Michigan University.
He also picked up his father’s humility and toughness, the latter which was put to the test in 2014 when he was diagnosed with cancer.
“Kolin’s cancer really brought us together as a family,” explained Jene. “We didn’t know how long we had, and we decided we weren’t going to do travel sports any more. I didn’t want to be in Chicago and Kolin in Detroit for the weekend and then we say hi on the way out the door to work on Monday morning. We decided to spend more time together.”
Like their grandfathers and father, all four of the Convertini boys were known for their dependability, rarely if ever missing games due to sickness or injury.
In fact, Bryan suffered an injury in the opening football game of his junior season, then played the remaining 10 games on what was later determined to be a broken left ankle – and, by the way, he earned first-team all-state as a defensive back with five interceptions.
“It hurt so bad,” Bryan said, shaking his head. “But I needed to be out there. My team needed me to be out there.”
Home cooking
The Convertini house in Norton Shores has been a gathering place for MCC athletes for years.
It all started when the boys were little, wrestling between the couches and shooting pucks at the walls in the basement.
Later on, that basement became the annual meeting spot for the MCC football team for “Selection Sunday,” when the team would learn its draw for the postseason playoffs.
Mason and Nolan, the two older boys, certainly enjoyed the most team success. Mason was part of three straight Division 8 championship football teams from 2014 to 2016. Nolan, meanwhile, played in three national championship games (with two titles) as a member of the Hope College men’s club hockey team.
The two younger boys had less team success, in large part because MCC really started struggling with numbers, but Sam and Bryan certainly did all they could and were rewarded with individual accolades.
Sam was the first of the brothers to make first-team all-state, earning the honor as a tight end in 2021. Bryan did one better, making all-state twice – after his junior year as a defensive back and his senior year as an “athlete” for his contributions all over the field.
Bryan also made first-team all-state last year in baseball, batting .478 as an outfielder.
In football, he rose above his broken ankle as a junior to rush for more than 800 yards and 11 touchdowns. In a win over Benton Harbor, he had a rushing TD, a passing TD, a receiving TD and returned an interception for yet another TD. This past fall as a senior, he threw for 880 yards and rushed for 621, while making a team-high 81 tackles in his first year at linebacker.
But when asked about the individual highlight of his football career, he doesn’t hesitate.
“That would have to be my freshman year, when I threw a halfback pass to my brother (Sam) for a touchdown,” recalled Bryan, noting a play that occurred in a victory over Muskegon Heights Academy during what ended as the 500th win in MCC football history.
Going out with a bang
Bryan hopes to tack on some additional highlights over the next month of baseball season, effectively writing a happy ending to the Convertini novel.
The Crusaders’ baseball team is off to an 11-4 start after a home sweep of Byron Center Zion Christian on Tuesday, during which MCC pitchers allowed just one run over two games.
Bryan is currently batting .375 while playing the critical position of shortstop, out of need, since he is a natural outfielder.
He would love to have a repeat of his freshman year, when he batted leadoff and helped the Crusaders to District and Regional championships. MCC had won 11 straight Districts before falling short last spring, so he said avenging that District loss is a major priority.
That would also be an appropriate ending after an uncharacteristic football season when the young Crusaders (who started three 14-year-old freshmen on the offensive line) finished 1-7.
Things went much better in basketball, as Bryan teamed with all-stater Bradley Richards to help MCC to an 11-10 record, its first winning season in six years.
Through winning or losing, MCC football coach Steve Czerwon said the strong Catholic faith of the Convertini family is always front and center.
The family will gather to celebrate in early September, when Mason and his fiancée, Sophie, get married at St. Michael’s Church in Muskegon. That is about the same time that Bryan will be off to Grand Valley, and Czerwon and the MCC football program will begin the post-Convertini era.
“Bryan and all of his brothers have an inner strength which sets them apart,” said Czerwon, who took over as MCC’s head coach in 2013, which was Mason’s freshman year. “All of them respect authority and they want to learn and get better, which is all that you can ask.
“It’s been a pleasure working with their family. We are all going to miss them.”
Tom Kendra worked 23 years at The Muskegon Chronicle, including five as assistant sports editor and the final six as sports editor through 2011. E-mail him at [email protected] with story ideas for Muskegon, Oceana, Mason, Lake, Oceola, Mecosta and Newaygo counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Muskegon Catholic Central’s Bryan Convertini takes a look down the third-base line during a baseball at bat. (2) The four Convertini boys take a photo together after one of Bryan’s football games in 2023. From left: Sam, Bryan, Mason and Nolan. (3) Convertini brings the ball upcourt during basketball season. (4) Convertini (22), stands for the national anthem this past fall. (Baseball and basketball photos by Michael Banka. Football photo by Tim Reilly. Family photo courtesy of Jene Convertini.)