1st & Goal: 2026 Week 8 Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 15, 2026
Winner takes it all.
That 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.)
Chesaning Turnaround Ahead of Schedule with League Title, Playoff Return
By
Paul Costanzo
Special for MHSAA.com
October 25, 2023
Brayden Florian knew this was coming eventually.
The Chesaning junior running back and middle linebacker was sure the coaching staff and players were in place for a program turnaround.
But this fast?
“No,” Florian said matter-of-factly. “I definitely saw the progress, and we had gotten better and better since my freshman year. We just kept getting better. I didn’t expect it to happen this fast.”
Chesaning is 8-1 in its second year under head coach Matthew Walter, won the Mid-Michigan Activities Conference for the first time, and – not counting the 2020 COVID season when every team was added to the playoffs – qualified for the postseason for the first time since 2007, playing host to Central Montcalm on Friday.
It’s the best regular season for the program since 2001, the year Chesaning won its second MHSAA Finals title in four years.
You can forgive Florian for not expecting this to happen this quickly. Even his coach had a more long-term plan in place.
“When I took over, my plan was more to build the program than just wins and losses,” Walter said. “Numbers were dwindling. I felt like the community was not happy. I know that winning solves a lot of problems, but when I came in I wanted to make sure I built a program from the bottom up. We brought back (youth) tackle football. We have (youth) flag in the fall and spring. That’s kind of where you have to start. Once you do that, you have people buy in up higher and higher into middle school, then high school. I didn’t expect it to be this quick. I kind of had like a five or six-year plan, just trying to generate some excitement.”
It didn’t take long, however, to realize that maybe his timeline wasn’t accelerated enough.
In Year 1, Chesaning went 5-4, its first winning record since 2014. And while some of the losses were lopsided, Walter said people both in and out of the program noticed that things were looking up.
So, heading into this season, there was complete buy-in all around. And while Walter had been laying a foundation for future success, his 5-6 year plan was becoming a 2-year one.
“We have a great group of kids right now,” he said. “They work really hard, and they bought in right away.”
Chesaning players were so bought in, that not even a Week 1 loss to Bath could deter them. In fact, when Walter was cleaning up in the locker room following the game, he found that his team had left him – and themselves – a note on the whiteboard.
“It said, ‘The 1998 team started 0-1,’” Walter said. “I was like, ‘Wow, they know that?’”
The 1998 team won Chesaning’s first Finals title, rattling off 12 straight wins after dropping its opener against then arch-rival Millington.
Like this year’s version of Chesaning, the 1998 team had much of its production come from a stellar junior class. Walter said he’s also been told of the extreme competitiveness of that team, something he sees while watching his current players not only on the field, but when they’re in practice, or even coaching youth flag football against one another.
While Walter wants his team to create its own identity, the comparisons certainly aren’t a bad thing.
“We talk about it – about our history and how much history we’ve made and our team has made,” senior receiver and defensive end Keighan Stoddard said. “It’s a really big inspiration, honestly.”
Wherever the inspiration came from, it worked. After the loss against Bath, Chesaning rattled off eight straight wins with an average margin of victory of 24.8 points per game.
Chesaning knocked off rivals New Lothrop and Montrose – both on the road – for the first time since 2005.
Those wins came behind a dynamic run game, led by Florian. He finished the regular season with 1,689 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground. He did so behind linemen Seth Schlicht, Braden Burtch, Ben Fowler, Braydn Wendling, and John Talbot. Only Fowler is a senior.
Junior quarterback Max Volk threw just 100 passes on the year, but he accumulated 801 yards and 14 TDs. Florian caught five of those touchdowns, as did 6-foot-6 senior wideout Mason Struck. Stoddard, an all-state selection at receiver a year ago, is also an option and has a pair of touchdown grabs. But his focus has been shifted more toward defensive end, a new position in which he’s flourished with 58 tackles, 12 for loss, and six sacks.
“Anything to help my teammates,” he said. “Anything to help the team out, I’ll do anything. As long as we get that win, it doesn’t matter.”
With 2023 giving off feelings of 1998 and 2001, the Friday night atmosphere from those days has also come back to Chesaning.
It’s been evident on game nights, and even during the playoff selection show, when a team trip to the Riverfront Bar and Grill turned into a community event.
“I told the families that we were going to (be there) at 5, and at 6 they were more than welcome to come down and join us,” Walter said. “By 5:30, that place was packed. There were no spots; it was standing room only.”
So when Chesaning hosts a playoff game Friday night for the first time since 2001, the anticipation is an atmosphere not seen since.
“It’s the first playoff game in a long time, and one we actually earned,” Florian said. “I think it’s going to be a big-time atmosphere.”
Paul Costanzo served as a sportswriter at The Port Huron Times Herald from 2006-15, including three years as lead sportswriter, and prior to that as sports editor at the Hillsdale Daily News from 2005-06. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Genesee, Lapeer, St. Clair, Sanilac, Huron, Tuscola, Saginaw, Bay, Arenac, Midland and Gladwin counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Chesaning’s Mason Struck (27) goes high to get his hands on the ball in the end zone during his team’s win over Durand. (Middle) Ben Fowler (63) prepares to lead his team onto the field. (Below) Brayden Florian (11) gets to the edge against Ovid-Elsie. (Photos courtesy of the Chesaning football program.)