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Detroit Cass Tech's Peyton Robinson (10) attempts to pull away from King's Gerald Thomas (34)

1st & Goal: 2026 Week 8 Review

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

October 19, 2026

Week 8 of this Michigan high school football season was billed to be spectacular, with league-deciding matchups all over the state. 

MI Student AidSpectacular was just the start.

In fact, as happens every week, more headliners emerged than originally anticipated. Read on for several as we next prepare for regular-season finales and playoff selection over the next five days.

Bay & Thumb

HEADLINER Grand Blanc 28, Davison 21 The Bobcats clinched a third-straight Saginaw Valley League South championship as these rivals decided the title for the third-straight season. The next time they play each other for a football title will be similar but different; this also was the last game for both before they join the Oakland Activities Association next fall. Click for more from the Flint Journal. 

Watch list Frankenmuth 41, Saginaw Swan Valley 22 The top challenger has shifted the last few seasons, but Frankenmuth (7-1) remains the Tri-Valley Conference Red champion as the Eagles won their 78th consecutive league game dating back to 2014 while handing the Vikings (7-1) their lone loss. 

On the move Burton Bendle 39, Flint Elite 0 After sharing the Genesee Area Conference title a year ago, these two met to decide it again with Bendle (8-0) avenging last season’s 34-8 loss to clinch a share and earn a chance to finish as outright champion this week. Goodrich 49, Fenton 14 Goodrich (8-0) finished its third-straight Flint Metro League overall championship run against a familiar opponent as these two have faced off in the deciding game all of the last three seasons. Sanford Meridian 28, Gladwin 13 The Mustangs (8-0) added the Jack Pine Conference overall championship while earning an opportunity this week to finish the regular season perfect for the first time since 2015. 

Greater Detroit

HEADLINER Detroit Cass Tech 21, Detroit Martin Luther King 20 For the second time in four seasons, these two played a city championship rematch that came down to a single point – and Cass Tech (8-0) prevailed with a fifth-straight Detroit Public School League title game victory, adding to its Week 4 20-7 PSL Blue win over the Crusaders (7-2). Click for more from the Detroit Free Press. 

Watch list Harper Woods 28, Clarkston 13 Harper Woods (7-1) is undefeated since losing its season opener to Cheslea, and this OAA Red/Blue crossover of league champions ended with the Pioneers celebrating a second win in two years over the Wolves (7-1). 

On the move Detroit Edison 30, Ecorse 20 Edison (7-1) clinched the Charter School Conference Gold championship outright with a perfect run through the league schedule, handing Ecorse (7-1) its lone defeat. Walled Lake Western 42, South Lyon East 14 Western (7-1) maintained its position among three teams tied for first in the Lakes Valley Conference, and knocked East (6-2) out of that mix. Detroit Central 8, Detroit Denby 6 These two met for the second-straight week, this time for the PSL Gold city championship, and with another low-scoring result after Central (7-1) defeated Denby (5-3) seven days earlier 6-2. 

Mid-Michigan

HEADLINER Grand Ledge 28, DeWitt 14 The Comets claimed the Capital Area Activities Conference Blue title outright by downing DeWitt (6-2) in this winner-take-all matchup, and also avenged last season’s 59-7 loss that ended up deciding the league championship. Grand Ledge (8-0) is one of eight undefeated teams left in Division 1. Click for more from the Lansing State Journal.

Watch list Hastings 54, Mason 49 The Saxons started this season 1-2, but they’ve won five straight and this was certainly the most notable of the run as the Bulldogs (7-1) haven’t let any other opponents come within 12 points. 

On the move Ithaca 35, Fowler 0 The Yellowjackets (8-0) have outscored their opponents by a combined 412-26, and in this one shut out a Fowler team that has scored 42 or more points five times during its 6-2 start. Mount Pleasant 34, Midland 10 The Oilers (7-1) clinched a share of the SVL North title, but will be rooting for Midland (4-4) this week to defeat Dow – which with Traverse City West also can clinch a share. Lake Odessa Lakewood 31, Olivet 21 Lakewood (7-1) has reached seven wins for the first time since 2018 and is up to No. 5 on the Division 5 playoff-points list, with its only loss to undefeated Portland by three points. 

Northern Lower Peninsula

HEADLINER Traverse City West 27, Bay City Western 26 After putting themselves in position to claim a share of the SVL North title in Week 7 with a two-point win over league leader Mount Pleasant, West maintained that possibility in similar fashion. The Titans (5-3) scored during the final minute in this one and face rival Traverse City Central this week hoping to become a league champion as well. Bay City Western (3-5) faces Bay City Central seeking to move back into the Division 3 playoff field after falling out of the top 32. Click for more from the Traverse City Record-Eagle.

Watch list East Jordan 13, Frankfort 0 The Red Devils’ defense posted its second shutout this fall as East Jordan (7-1) clinched a share of the Northern Michigan Football Conference championship. Frankfort (5-3) also ranks among the top 20 on the Division 8 playoff-points list, so these two could meet again. 

On the move Charlevoix 9, Elk Rapids 0 The Rayders (6-2) do not have a game this week but finished the regular season with three straight shutouts, this one to stay ahead of the Elks (5-3) for second place in the Northern Shores Conference. Kingsley 50, Kalkaska 6 Kingsley (8-0) locked up, outright, the first NSC football championship. Harbor Springs 41, Johannesburg-Lewiston 0 Harbor Springs’ ascension the last two seasons has been speedy and impressive, from going a combined 0-26 from 2023-25 to setting up a matchup with East Jordan this week for a share of the NMFC title.

Grayling's Jaden Peters (7) winds up to throw a pass during his team's 42-0 win at Bath.

Southeast & Border

HEADLINER Saline 35, Temperance Bedford 21 Saline finished a repeat run through the Southeastern Conference Red with this winner-take-all championship clincher against the previously undefeated Kicking Mules (7-1). The Hornets (8-0) can finish a first perfect regular season since 2021 with a win this week over Lake Orion. Click for more from the Ann Arbor News.

Watch list Monroe Jefferson 8, Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central 6 By nearly the slimmest of margins, Jefferson (8-0) clinched the Huron League title in another winner-take-all matchup against a previously undefeated opponent. The Bears will face Clinton this week seeking to finish a first perfect regular season since 1993.

On the move Clinton 24, Adrian Madison 21, Hudson 26, Ida 0 With these victories, Clinton and Hudson broke a four-team tie for first in the Lenawee County Athletic Association, finishing as co-champions. Hanover-Horton 36, Manchester 30 The Comets (7-1) clinched the overall Cascades Conference championship for the second-straight season, coming back from a 30-12 deficit to catch Manchester (6-2). Jackson Lumen Christi 28, Detroit Country Day 27 Lumen Christi (7-1) held on to set up a winner-take-all for the Catholic High School League AA title this week against co-leader Dearborn Divine Child. 

Southwest Corridor

HEADLINER Edwardsburg 59, Vicksburg 27 The Eddies (8-0) are Wolverine Conference champions for the first time since 2022, clinching a share with this victory and earning an opportunity to finish as outright title winner this week against Niles. Edwardsburg had broken 40 points five times this fall entering the night but scored its season high in handing Vicksburg (7-1) its only loss. Click for more from the Niles Daily Star.

Watch list Cassopolis 34, Saugatuck 14 A Week 1 loss to Decatur ended up derailing the Rangers’ Southwest 10 Conference title hopes, but there are more championship  opportunities ahead as Cassopolis (7-1) moved up to No. 20 in Division 7 playoff points by sending Saugatuck to 5-3. 

On the move Parchment 41, Lawton 34 The Parchment/Richland Gull Lake co-op improved to 5-3, two more wins than those two schools combined for last season. Bronson 42, Reading 16 Bronson (6-2) opened this season 1-2 falling to the top contenders in the Big 8 Conference, but has won five straight to jump up to No. 16 on the Division 7 list. Portage Northern 46, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix 13 Portage Northern (5-3) has climbed all the way to No. 16 on the Division 2 playoff points list with four wins over its last five games including two straight over Division 1 opponents. 

Upper Peninsula

HEADLINER Kingsford 21, Menominee 14 Kingsford has accomplished plenty throughout its storied history, but this must go down as one of the program’s most memorable wins over the last three decades as the Flivvers clinched the winner-take-all outright championship in the Western Peninsula Athletic Conference Copper by ending Menominee’s 21-game winning streak. Kingsford (8-0) can finish a perfect regular season this week against another league champion in Marquette. Click for more from My UP Now.

Watch list Marquette 19, Petoskey 10 The Sentinels (6-2) are Big North Conference champions now outright after ending Petoskey’s pursuit to earn a share. These two could see each other again though, with Marquette No. 18 on the Division 3 playoff-points list and Petoskey (5-3) remaining at No. 26. 

On the move L’Anse 34, Hancock 26 The Purple Hornets (4-4) leaped back into the Division 8 playoff mix, jumping 11 spots to No. 26 on that playoff list after breaking a two-game losing streak. Bark River-Harris 45, Manistique 16 The Broncos (7-1) finished a West-PAC Iron outright title run and will conclude the regular season against Menominee. Calumet 44, Gladstone 28 The Copper Kings (5-3) bounced back from a Week 7 loss as they build toward the Division 6 playoffs. 

West Michigan

HEADLINER North Muskegon 21, Ravenna 13 Make that 28 wins in 28 chances for North Muskegon in the West Michigan Conference Rivers, as the Norsemen came back and held on in this winner-take-all matchup to clinch a fifth-straight league title. Ravenna (6-2) led 13-0 at halftime before North Muskegon began climbing back. Click for more from the Local Sports Journal. 

Watch list Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills 35, Lowell 21 A winner-take-all is set in the River Cities Alliance as Kenowa Hills (7-1) will take on Coopersville this week for the outright league championship. The Knights had to get past third-place Lowell (5-3) to make that happen and scored the most points the Red Arrows have given up this fall. 

On the move Grand Rapids Catholic Central 21, Holland Christian 20 (OT) The Cougars (7-1) eluded a major scare from Holland Christian (3-5), with that one deciding point also giving Grand Rapids Catholic Central the Ottawa-Kent Conference Black title outright. East Grand Rapids 28, Middleville Thornapple Kellogg 27 EGR (6-2) was right there waiting for a Catholic Central slip but finished second in the O-K Black by edging third-place MTK (6-2) by the same margin. Hudsonville 17, Rockford 14 Hudsonville got past its longtime rival to hold onto hope of grabbing a share of the O-K Red title from Week 9 opponent East Kentwood, which clinched a share Friday against Holland West Ottawa. (Caledonia remains in the mix as well.) The Rams (4-4) still control their ability to extend their record playoff streak to 32 straight seasons, as they sit No. 24 on the Division 1 playoff-points list.

8-Player

HEADLINER Mendon 28, Climax-Scotts 24 The Hornets (8-0) scored the only points of the fourth quarter with 6:11 to play to push past Climax-Scotts (6-2) and clinch the outright Southern Central Athletic Association Red title. The game-winner was Zak Iobe’s fourth touchdown run of the game, and he finished with 104 yards rushing. Click for more from WTHD. 

Watch list Waldron 48, Pittsford 28 Waldron (5-3) upended Pittsford in the SCAA Blue, cementing a third-place tie in the league for the Spartans but leaving Pittsford (5-3) to share the championship with Litchfield – which the Wildcats had defeated the week before. It was Waldron’s first win in five games against Pittsford as 8-player opponents. 

On the move Gaylord St. Mary 42, Pickford 0 The Snowbirds (8-0) have six shutouts in seven games on the field (one win was a forfeit), but this certainly was the most impressive as Pickford (6-2) entered averaging 41 points per game. Powers North Central 42, Felch North Dickinson 34 The Jets (6-2) picked up an important win as they moved up to No. 12 on the Division 2 playoff list, and they also pushed last season’s Division 2 runner-up North Dickinson (4-4) down to No. 18 and out of the potential field with one week to play. Marion 64, Onekama 6 Marion (8-0) will have an opportunity to finish the regular season perfect this week thanks to avenging last year’s 22-point defeat against the Portagers (6-2).

MHSAA.com's weekly “1st & Goal” previews and reviews are powered by MI Student Aid, a division within the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP). MI Student Aid encourages students to pursue postsecondary education by providing access to student financial resources and information. MI Student Aid administers the state’s scholarship and grant programs that help make college Accessible, Affordable and Attainable for you. Click to connect with MI Student Aid and find more information on Facebook and Twitter @mistudentaid.

PHOTOS (Top) Detroit Cass Tech's Peyton Robinson (10) attempts to pull away from King's Gerald Thomas (34). (Middle) Grayling's Jaden Peters (7) winds up to throw a pass during his team's 42-0 win at Bath. (Cass Tech/King photo by Olivia B. Photography. Grayling/Bath photo by TCP Photography.)

Gaylord's Teams Pursue Return to Elite

September 23, 2015

By Dennis Chase
Special for Second Half

GAYLORD – Gaylord High School is in the midst of a football revival.

Gaylord St. Mary is hoping it can say the same in a few years.

Gaylord High is 4-0 and, among various media polls, ranked as high as No. 4 in Division 3. The senior-laden Blue Devils will be put to the test Friday, facing another unbeaten, Traverse City Central, on the road.

St. Mary, challenged by numbers, is 0-4. With just five seniors on the 25-player roster – there’s no junior varsity team – the Snowbirds are building for the future behind a "solid" sophomore class.

"We realize we're behind the eight ball in terms of numbers," St. Mary coach Kevin O'Connell said. "But we're very encouraged about what's coming up.

"We start six to seven sophomores on each side of the ball, plus a freshman. We're very young. We're a JV team playing on Friday night. We're OK with that because over the next two or three years we anticipate being very competitive."

Gaylord coach Will Cleaver can relate to that. Two years ago, in his first season back after a five-year hiatus, the Blue Devils started 0-8 before closing the campaign with a win over Alpena.

"That was a grind, a tough season," Cleaver said. "Our kids really had to learn a lot of things. We just weren't competitive."

But those underclassmen in 2013 stepped up, leading the Blue Devils to a 5-4 mark and near-playoff berth last season.

"The thing I was most proud about in 2014 was that we were competitive in every game," Cleaver said. "There were no blowouts, like in 2013. We were making progress."

The progress has continued. With the senior class leading the way, Gaylord football is returning to where it was when Cleaver first ran the program from 2000 to 2007. The Blue Devils went 55-24 during those eight years.

"It's exciting to be in the situation we're in now," Cleaver said. "We're pleased with how our kids are progressing and responding. We've got some pretty good players. That makes it easier."

One of those players is senior running back/safety Shane Foster, who rushed for 148 yards and four touchdowns in last week's 52-8 win over Ogemaw Heights. Foster was on the varsity as a sophomore in 2013 – a time when success was elusive. Gaylord slipped to 7-38 in the five years after Cleaver left following the 2007 season.

"It's all about mindset really and that (2013) team didn't have a good mindset,” Foster said.

That's changing now.

"Last year we went 5-4," Foster said. "Obviously, we want to do better than that and make the playoffs. We realize we have to come together and work as a team to make that happen."

Gaylord’s athletic director Christian Wilson has watched his school’s progression – and it puts into perspective what St. Mary is going through. Those sophomores who had to play in 2013 have continued to work hard, especially in the weight room, he said, and now are reaping the benefits.

"Sometimes you have those years when you've got a lot of young kids playing," Wilson said. "But it's difficult to win games, especially in the Big North Conference, when your key players are sophomores or even juniors. You need to have senior leadership. We've been blessed with that this year."

"So goes your seniors, so goes your season, as a general rule," Cleaver added.

Seniors dominate the line on both sides of the ball for the Blue Devils. Foster is the leading ground gainer. Another senior, Jacob Freeman, is a threat, too. He returned a kick 60 yards for a score, hauled in a 37-yard touchdown pass from Nick Rowley and completed a 34-yard pass to Rowley on a trick play in the win over Ogemaw.

Rowley, a sophomore, gives the Blue Devils balance. He completed 12 of 15 passes for 170 yards in a Week 3 win over Escanaba.

"Our kids have caught on as to what it takes to win ... what it takes to play at a high level," Cleaver said. "It all has to come together. We have great kids, and I have a staff that does a great job with those kids. It's been very rewarding."

Foster credits the staff for turning the team's fortunes around. It all starts with Cleaver, who left in 2007 to work as a defensive line/quality control coach under Butch Jones at Central Michigan University. He spent the next season coaching inside linebackers at Liberty High School in Frisco, Texas, before returning to Gaylord and helping out in the youth football program.

Cleaver, a financial adviser, said he didn't expect to return to the sidelines at the high school given the commitment it would take to rebuild the program. But his two sons, who were playing in the system, "begged" him to consider it. So a family meeting was called.

"I told them that if I'm going to do this, it's going to take a lot of work and you need to be on board," Cleaver said. "If everyone is not all in, it's not going to be worth it. Everybody voted and said 'Let's do it.'"

Gaylord started 4-0 last season, but a loss to Traverse City Central spiraled into a 1-4 finish.  

"After that (loss to Central), it didn't go the way we planned," Foster said.

That's why Friday's showdown is critical for the Blue Devils.

"We're trying to make our statement here for the Big North Conference (title)," Foster said.

At St. Mary, there is no league title to play for this season. The goal is long range – boost numbers in the program. With Manistee Catholic Central switching to 8-player this fall, St. Mary is now the smallest Catholic school playing 11-player football in the northern Lower Peninsula. In fact, the Snowbirds, who co-op with Alba, are the sixth smallest program in the state with 133 high school students – 91 at St. Mary, 42 at Alba.

With three Ski Valley Conference members – Bellaire, Pellston and Onaway – playing 8-player, there was talk in the community about making that switch, too. But that's all it was – talk. Since then the school's made a commitment to 11-player by joining the Northern Michigan Football League, with play starting next season.

"We feel there's a good future here," new athletic director Jeff Hunter said. "We obviously have to work at increasing our numbers. The economy really hurt us for several years. It hurt everybody. This is a choice for people to send their kids here. We've seen our numbers go from the mid-60s (three years ago) to back into the 90s. I would like to see us with 150 kids in this high school in the next five years. We're working really hard."

Five of the 25 players on the roster are from Alba. Hunter said he's looking at other "co-op opportunities" as well in order to strengthen the program, although he did not want to elaborate at this time.

"Everybody wants us to be competitive, most everybody wants us to stay 11-man," he said. "I have some things in the works I'm pushing hard to try and get."

St. Mary has a proud tradition. The Snowbirds went 85-22 over a stretch from 1999 to 2009. They won 10 or more games five years in a row. Twice, in 1999 and 2002, St. Mary finished 13-1, falling in the MHSAA Division 8 Final, first to Mendon (7-6) and then to Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes (13-10).

Cleaver was the coach of the 1999 squad.

Hunter is certain St. Mary has the right coach in O'Connell to bring the Snowbirds back.

"Our current football staff is out of this world, entirely committed," he said. "We're not far from being competitive – three or four athletes. We're in most of these games. There's a lot to come, and Kevin is the guy to lead us."

St. Mary suffered two eight-point losses to start the season – 35-27 to Oscoda and 22-14 to Central Lake. O'Connell would like to have those games back.

"You can't turn the ball over five times one week and four the next and expect to win," he said.

The Snowbirds then ran into two of the area’s powerhouse teams, unbeaten and state-ranked St. Ignace and Johannesburg-Lewiston.

"We're taking our lumps right now, but we're definitely headed in the right direction," O'Connell insisted.

"We have a solid group of athletes in our sophomore class. They're physically big enough to play. And we have a nice eighth grade class coming up."

O'Connell is putting added emphasis in a strength and conditioning program for all high school athletes, regardless of sport.

"We're making great headway and our kids, boys and girls, are getting on board with it," he said. "We want to be able to jump higher, run faster and be more explosive. Last I knew, those (concepts) applied to every sport."

With such a young roster, O'Connell admits he and his staff are spending more time teaching fundamentals than in the past when the school had a JV team. They're also trying to develop the mental aspects of the game, such as working with players in analyzing situations in order to slow the speed of the action down so it's not overwhelming.

O'Connell feels for the younger players who are not ready for varsity, but are thrust into competing with older players. He said they miss out "on those formative years" at the JV level where they can grow, learn the fundamentals, gain confidence and get game repetitions while playing opponents the same age.

Hunter hopes this is just a blip.

"Our intent next year is to have a JV team," he said.

With several smaller schools, especially in the northern Lower Peninsula, turning to 8-player to keep programs alive, O'Connell is concerned about the future for those who elect to stay in the 11-player game. As more Division 8 schools make the switch, more Division 7 schools drop down to create equal numbers for the playoffs – widening the enrollment gaps within the division.

But St. Mary is moving forward, ready to tackle the challenge. Hunter, a pilot for Southwest Airlines, thinks the program is ready to take off.

"Kevin believes we can be successful," he said. "A quality football program is one of the cornerstones to a growing school. A lot of people don't like (to hear) that, but I think it's true. A great athletic program is a draw.

"I'm hoping next year you're writing a different article, and that article will say here's the way to success."

Dennis Chase worked 32 years as a sportswriter at the Traverse City Record-Eagle, including as sports editor from 2000-14. 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) Gaylord defenders stack up an Ogemaw Heights ball carrier during last week's win. (Middle top) Gaylord coach Will Cleaver addresses his team after a victory. (Middle below) St. Mary junior Josh Nowicki looks upfield for an opening. (Below) Older brother Adam Nowicki, a senior, turns the corner during the Snowbirds' game against Central Lake. (Gaylord photos by Rob DeForge/RD Sports photo; St. Mary photos by Bill Serveny/Gaylord Herald Times.)