1st & Goal: 2026 Week 8 Preview

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

October 15, 2026

Winner takes it all. 

MI Student AidThat might be the most to-the-point expression in sports – and most exhilarating scenario. 

And it’s going to play out all over Michigan this weekend, as one last game will determine several league championships and provide crowning achievements – at least for now – rewarding the last two months of work.

Games highlighted are tonight unless noted. Tune in to the NFHS Network to watch the majority and follow the MHSAA Scores page for results as they’re submitted. Keep an eye as well on the Playoff Point Summary page to watch how those lists are updated with every win and loss. 

Bay & Thumb

Grand Blanc (7-0) at Davison (6-1)

The Saginaw Valley League South title has come down to these rivals for the third straight season, as neither has lost a conference game this fall although Davison has two remaining and Grand Blanc finishes up tonight. Last season it was the Bobcats with a 57-29 win that decided the league title, and they’ve won two straight championships after Davison’s most recent in 2023. Neither has been challenged much over the last month; the lone loss between them was the Cardinals’ in Week 2 to still-undefeated Detroit Catholic Central. 

Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Flint Elite (5-2) at Burton Bendle (7-0), Goodrich (7-0) at Fenton (6-1), Frankenmuth (6-1) at Saginaw Swan Valley (7-0), Gladwin (5-2) at Sanford Meridian (7-0).

Greater Detroit

Detroit Cass Tech (7-0) vs. Detroit Martin Luther King (6-1) at Ford Field

Although King has defeated Cass Tech twice over the last five seasons, the Technicians have won all five of their city championship game rematches and will attempt to add this time to a 20-7 victory over the Crusaders in Week 5. That was easily the toughest challenge Cass Tech has faced this season, and if King generates more offense this time it could make a run at breaking a four-game losing streak against its rival. 

Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Detroit Central (6-1) vs. Detroit Denby (5-2) at Ford Field, Ecorse (7-0) at Detroit Edison (6-1), Clarkston (7-0) at Harper Woods (6-1), Walled Lake Western (6-1) at South Lyon East (6-1).

Mid-Michigan

DeWitt (6-1) at Grand Ledge (7-0)

Despite suffering its first regular-season loss this fall since 2023, DeWitt still has a 21-game Capital Area Activities Conference Blue winning streak intact and a familiar challenge ahead as these two also decided the league title last season. DeWitt won that one 59-7 amid a perfect fall that ended with a Division 3 championship victory, and the lone loss this season came to still-unbeaten Mason.  The Comets will work to slow the Panthers’ offense, but instead may have to answer it with a similarly successful attack. 

Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Fowler (6-1) at Ithaca (7-0), Napoleon (6-1) at Leslie (4-3), Hastings (52) at Mason (7-0), Olivet (5-2) at Lake Odessa Lakewood (6-1).

Northern Lower Peninsula

Marquette (5-2) at Petoskey (5-2)

Petoskey has been chasing in the Big North Conference since falling to Cadillac 22-20 in Week 5, but the Northmen have lost twice by a combined five points this fall and can finish with a share of the league title by getting past the Sentinels. Marquette already owns a share and won last year’s meeting 20-7. After opening this fall with a pair of nonleague losses to Negaunee and Menominee, the Sentinels have run through the BNC unscathed, with a 33-27 win over Cadillac especially of note. 

Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Escanaba (3-4) at Cadillac (5-2), Charlevoix (5-2) at Elk Rapids (5-2), East Jordan (6-1) at Frankfort (5-2), Evart (3-4) at McBain (5-2).

Southeast & Border

Monroe Jefferson (7-0) at Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central (7-0)

It’s difficult to imagine a better way to end an era, as this will be the final Huron League matchup between these neighbors for now with St. Mary moving to the Catholic High School League next fall. The Falcons are seeking a third-straight Huron title on their way out, having won it outright in 2024 and then sharing with Jefferson and Riverview last season. That split title was the product in part of SMCC’s 20-15 win over Jefferson, and both have fended off close challenges this fall to set up this winner-take-all scenario. 

Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Saline (7-0) at Temperance Bedford (7-0), Adrian Madison (6-1) at Clinton (6-1), Ida (6-1) at Hudson (6-1). SATURDAY Hanover-Horton (6-1) at Manchester (6-1).

Southwest Corridor

Vicksburg (7-0) at Edwardsburg (7-0)

This isn’t quite winner-take-all, but the winner will earn a share of the Wolverine Conference title although Vicksburg must still face Paw Paw next week and Edwardsburg will travel to see three-time reigning champ Niles. An Eddies win tonight would give them their first Wolverine championship since 2022, while Vicksburg is seeking its first since the league went to one division again in 2015. Vicksburg won both of last season’s matchups, 38-35 during the regular season and 43-30 in a Division 4 District opener. 

Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Reading (4-3) at Bronson (5-2), Coldwater (5-2) at Marshall (6-1), Lawton (5-2) at Parchment (4-3), Portage Northern (4-3) at Kalamazoo Loy Norrix (4-3).

Upper Peninsula

Kingsford (7-0) at Menominee (7-0)

The Western Peninsula Athletic Conference Copper could send five of its seven teams to the playoffs this season, and great matchups have abounded all fall – but this is the title decider most have anticipated. Kingsford won 14-12 in 2024 to claim the championship, and Menominee stormed back with a 49-14 clincher last season on the way to also claiming the Division 7 title. Both are coming off close wins last week, Kingsford over Ishpeming Westwood and Menominee over Negaunee. 

Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Manistique (4-3) at Bark River-Harris (6-1), Hancock (3-4) at L’Anse (3-4), Houghton (2-5) at Negaunee (4-3), Calumet (4-3) at Gladstone (1-6).

West Michigan

Ravenna (6-1) at North Muskegon (6-1)

North Muskegon is 27-0 in the West Michigan Conference Rivers since the league split into divisions in 2022, but arguably the most consistent challenges during that run have come from Ravenna – which actually avenged a title-deciding loss in 2022 with a 10-7 playoff win over the Norsemen. North Muskegon did win last year’s meeting 36-29 and has extended its streak in part with a one-point victory over Shelby in Week 3 and 11-pointer over Manistee in Week 6. 

Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Middleville Thornapple Kellogg (6-1) at East Grand Rapids (5-2), Cassopolis (6-1) at Saugatuck (5-2), Rockford (4-3) at Hudsonville (5-2), Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills (6-1) at Lowell (5-2).

8-Player

Mendon (7-0) at Climax-Scotts (6-1)

One of these two has won their league the last four seasons, with Mendon already securing a share of the Southern Central Athletic Association Red championship this fall. The Hornets will attempt to make that title outright with a third-straight victory over Climax-Scotts (including a 2024 Regional win). But the Panthers can grab a share as well as they’ve rebounded nicely from a Week 4 loss to Colon, putting up a combined 157 points over three wins since scoring eight in that defeat. 

Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Powers North Central (5-2) at Felch North Dickinson (4-3), Pickford (6-1) at Gaylord St. Mary (7-0), Marion (7-0) at Onekama (6-1). SATURDAY Mio (5-2) at Merrill (6-1).

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PHOTO Detroit Martin Luther King and Cass Tech linemen line up across from each other during their Week 5 matchup. (Click for more from Olivia B. Photography.)

Century of School Sports: Finals Provide Future Pros Early Ford Field Glory

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

November 26, 2024

For hundreds of Michigan high school athletes, this weekend’s 11-Player Football Finals will provide their first and only opportunity to play any sport where the pros play – in this case, Detroit’s Ford Field.

But for a handful, it could instead be the first of several games to come on the Lions’ home turf.

According to data at Pro-Football-Reference.com, Michigan high schools have produced 791 players from 303 schools who have gone on to play in the NFL. They’ve come from all over, predictably from larger population areas like Detroit but also from several now-closed schools like Stambaugh High School in the western Upper Peninsula, which produced a pair of pros during the 1930s before decades later consolidating with Iron River to become West Iron County.

According to that data, 81 players from 61 schools are currently active in the NFL – topped by five from Detroit Cass Tech, including Jourdan Lewis (32) pictured above making a tackle against Detroit Cass Tech during the 2016 Division 1 championship game. Several more current players experienced Ford Field as a high schooler at the MHSAA Finals – perhaps most notably among them Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, who caught a touchdown pass in Detroit Martin Luther King’s 41-25 win over Muskegon in the 2018 Division 3 championship game, went on to play at University of Cincinnati and has been an All-Pro after both of his first two seasons as a cornerback for the New York Jets.

(Coincidentally, in that win over the Big Reds, Gardner and King played against another future pro – Anthony Bradford, now a starting offensive lineman for the Seattle Seahawks.)

Gardner and Lewis are among those who have formed rich tradition as well of Detroit producing NFL talent. According to Bruce Feldman of The Athletic and FOX Sports, Detroit was tied for the fourth-most players on NFL opening-day rosters this season with 14 – trailing only Miami, Fla.; Las Vegas, Bradenton, Fla; and tied with Atlanta, Ga. During the most recent NFL draft, Michigan high schools saw seven players drafted over the seven rounds, with River Rouge one of 22 high schools nationwide with multiple players selected – Ruke Orhorhoro (Atlanta Falcons, from Clemson) and Kamal Hadden (Kansas City Chiefs, from Tennessee).

Gardner was selected fourth overall in the 2022 NFL Draft, joining a collection of impressive past Michigan high school stars picked at or near the top of the board. Among recent others: 2008 No. 1 Jake Long (Lapeer West/Michigan/Miami Dolphins), 2022 No. 2 Aidan Hutchinson (Dearborn Divine Child/Michigan/Detroit Lions), 2003 No. 2 Charles Rogers (Saginaw/Michigan State/Detroit Lions), 2005 No. 3 Braylon Edwards (Harper Woods Bishop Gallagher/Michigan/Cleveland Browns), 1984 No. 3 Carl Banks (Flint Beecher/Michigan State/New York Giants) and 1991 No. 5 Todd Lyght (Flint Powers Catholic/Notre Dame/Los Angeles Rams).

From this group, Rogers also played in an MHSAA Final catching a 60-yard touchdown pass as Saginaw defeated Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice 14-7 in the 1999 Division 2 championship game at the Pontiac Silverdome.

Previous "Century of School Sports" Spotlights

Nov. 19: Connection at Heart of Coaches Advancement Program - Read
Nov. 12:
Good Sports are Winners Then, Now & Always - Read
Nov. 5:
MHSAA's Home Sweet Home - Read
Oct. 29:
MHSAA Summits Draw Thousands to Promote Sportsmanship - Read
Oct. 23:
Cross Country Finals Among MHSAA's Longest Running - Read
Oct. 15:
State's Storytellers Share Fall Memories - Read
Oct. 8:
Guided by 4 S's of Educational Athletics - Read
Oct. 1: 
Michigan Sends 10 to National Hall of Fame - Read
Sept. 25: 
MHSAA Record Books Filled with 1000s of Achievements - Read
Sept. 18:
Why Does the MHSAA Have These Rules? - Read
Sept. 10: 
Special Medals, Patches to Commemorate Special Year - Read
Sept. 4:
Fall to Finish with 50th Football Championships - Read
Aug. 28:
Let the Celebration Begin - Read

PHOTOS Clockwise from top left: (1) Jalen Mayfield (74) exits the Ford Field tunnel with Grand Rapids Catholic Central in 2017. (2) Muskegon's Anthony Bradford (75) makes a block during the 2018 Division 3 Final. (3) Orchard Lake St. Mary's Allen Robinson eludes an East Grand Rapids defender in 2009. (4) Detroit Cass Tech's Jourdan Lewis (32) makes a tackle in 2016. (5) Detroit Martin Luther King's Ahmad Gardner catches a touchdown pass against Muskegon in 2018. (6) Lansing Catholic's Cooper Rush throws a pass during the 2011 Division 5 Final. All were on NFL rosters at the starting of training camp this summer.