1st & Goal: 2026 Week 9 Review
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 26, 2026
Every game counts. Week 9 provided 11 more examples of why.
As Michigan’s high school football teams concluded their regular-season schedules – and more than 300 took the field for the last time in 2026 – a total of 11 teams earned opportunities to continue playing this week, with 11 also falling out of the final playoff mix.
We detail several of those deciders below, as well as a few final league championship games and others that helped determine how brackets were drawn for our title drives beginning Friday with 11-Player Districts and 8-Player Regionals.
Bay & Thumb
HEADLINER Port Huron 13, Port Huron Northern 10 The Red Hawks stacked memorable accomplishments with this win. They defeated rival Northern for the first time since 2023. They finished the regular season 9-0 for the first time since 1952, according to Michigan-football.com. (Port Huron also was perfect during the COVID-shortened 2020 regular season, over six games). And the Red Hawks held onto the top spot on the Division 3 playoff-points list, giving them home games for the first three rounds.
Watch list Marine City 21, Marysville 6 The Mariners (9-0) capped a perfect regular season for the first time since 2021, and they did so by defeating another league champion in Marysville (5-4) while holding the Vikings to their season-low scoring total.
On the move Goodrich 28, Gladwin 20 The Martians (9-0) ran their regular-season winning streak to 26 going back to Week 1 of 2024, and also did so by defeating another league champion in Gladwin (5-4). Grand Blanc 31, Macomb Dakota 24 The Bobcats’ 9-0 regular-season finish also was their second straight and moved them up to No. 7 on the Division 1 playoff-points list. Ubly 30, Cass City 8 The Bearcats (6-3) bounced back from a Week 8 loss to avenge last season’s 42-6 defeat to Cass City (6-3) and secure the possibility of playing home games this week and next.
Greater Detroit
HEADLINER Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice 31, Detroit Catholic Central 25 (OT) The regular season ended with this Catholic High School League Prep Bowl stunner, as Deondre Hills scored the game-winner in overtime to give the Division 1 Shamrocks (8-1) their only loss. DCC still ended up sharing the CHSL Central championship with Toledo Central Catholic, and the Warriors (7-2) tied for third but jumped six spots to No. 9 on the Division 2 playoff-points list – giving them the possibility of three home playoff games. Click for more from the Detroit Free Press.
UPSET ALERT 💥 BROTHER RICE GETS THE OVERTIME WIN! Powered by @LawrenceTechU https://t.co/FHLinnwnh4
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) October 25, 2026
Watch list Dearborn Divine Child 28, Jackson Lumen Christi 21 The Falcons (8-1) won a matchup of 2025 Finals champions in another Prep Bowl battle, clinching the CHSL AA title with a second league win by seven points this fall. Divine Child is lined up to host two playoff games, while Lumen Christi (7-2) would be home through its Division 6 Regional Final.
On the move Gibraltar Carlson 17, Allen Park 10 Carlson (9-0) navigated a third win this fall by seven points or fewer to finish a fourth-straight outright championship in the Downriver League and sixth-straight including shared titles. Milford 31, Walled Lake Western 28 Milford (8-1) battled back from a Week 4 loss to South Lyon to share the Lakes Valley Conference title with the Lions, while ending that opportunity for Western (7-2). Romeo 56, Oxford 24 Romeo (9-0) finished its first perfect regular season since 1977, moving up to a tie for No. 2 on the Division 1 playoff-point list, and against an Oxford team that ranks No. 6 at 7-2.
Mid-Michigan
HEADLINER Beal City 29, Ithaca 26 Only one team could finish the regular season undefeated, but both will be championship contenders next month. Beal City clinched the perfect regular season and will be home for the first three rounds at No. 5 on the Division 8 playoff-points list, while Ithaca (8-1) did take the slim loss but fell only one spot to No. 11 on the Division 7 list. Click for more from WJRT.
Beal City Aggies (9-0) take down the Ithaca Yellow Jackets (8-1) 29-26 in the @ABC12WJRT #highlightzone game of the week https://t.co/jD8gPLFhi9
— Justin Dierkes (@DierkesTV) October 24, 2026
Watch list Howell 35, Northville 22 The Highlanders avenged last season’s loss to Northville to claim a third-straight Kensington Lakes Activities Association overall championship – and more. Howell held onto the top spot on the Division 1 playoff-points list, guaranteeing three home playoff games in a bracket that also includes undefeated East Kentwood and Grand Ledge.
On the move Portland 28, Hudsonville Unity Christian 24 The Raiders (9-0) have won 43 straight regular-season games after finishing perfect for the fourth-straight year – and with this their second-closest win this season but third-closest during the 43-game run. Grand Ledge 35, Temperance Bedford 7 The Comets finished 9-0 for the first time since 2015, winning their toughest two games the last two weeks by downing Bedford (7-2) and DeWitt in Week 8. Mason 24, Harper Woods 18 The Bulldogs (8-1) bounced back from a Week 8 loss and avenged last season’s defeat to Harper Woods (7-2), although they could see each other again in a Division 2 Semifinal.
Northern Lower Peninsula
HEADLINER Harbor Springs 34, East Jordan 29 Harbor Springs (8-1) broke a five-game losing streak against the Red Devils (7-2) to clinch a share of the Northern Michigan Football Conference title along with East Jordan, and Maple City Glen Lake as well. The championship was Harbor Springs’ first since 1987, according to the Petoskey News-Review.
Watch list Traverse City West 38, Traverse City Central 27 The annual Patriot Game didn’t disappoint, as West (6-3) was able to clinch a share of the Saginaw Valley League North title and both teams qualified for the Division 2 playoffs on opposite sides of their Regional bracket.
On the move Oscoda 22, Frankfort 21 The Owls (6-3) were 0-6 against Frankfort (5-4) this decade, but they picked a great time for a first win as this one helped secure their spot in the Division 7 playoff field. McBain 29, Fowler 28 McBain (7-2) survived a major challenge from a Fowler team that finished 6-3 with its losses to Division 7 opponents with a combined 23-3 record. Manistee 34, Ludington 28 Manistee (4-5) jumped 11 spots to No. 17 on the Division 7 playoff-point list and earned a home game this week with this impressive win over Division 4 Ludington (7-2), one of seven teams on the Mariners’ schedule to finish with a winning regular-season record.
Southeast & Border
HEADLINER Clinton 52, Monroe Jefferson 28 Over the last three weeks, Clinton has turned away Ida to remain in contention in the Lenawee County Athletic Association, then defeated Adrian Madison to clinch a share of the title, and Friday handed Jefferson (8-1) its only loss in a big way – which also sent the Redwolves (8-1) up to No. 9 on the Division 6 playoff-points list. Huron League champ Jefferson is still set to host three games in Division 5. Click for more from the Adrian Daily Telegram.
Watch list Hudson 39, Berrien Springs 0 The Tigers (8-1) haven’t given up a point in three weeks, and after also clinching a share of the LCAA title in Week 8 handed Berrien Springs (8-1) its only defeat. The Shamrocks entered the game averaging 44 points per contest.
On the move Chelsea 56, Linden 48 Chelsea (9-0) finished its first perfect regular season since 2021, defeating five playoff teams along the way including Linden (6-3). Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central 42, Hanover-Horton 6 SMCC (8-1) missed out on the Huron League title but bounced back from a Week 8 defeat to down Cascades Conference overall champion Hanover-Horton (7-2) – with these two potentially meeting again in a Division 7 Regional Final. Adrian 35, New Boston Huron 22 The Maples (8-1) bumped up to No. 12 on the Division 4 playoff-points list with this win over Division 3 Huron (6-3) and will host league foe Tecumseh to open the postseason.
Southwest Corridor
HEADLINER Portage Central 28, St. Joseph 14 This matchup of Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference division champions ended with Portage Central (8-1) becoming the first of the pair to win this rivalry game for a second-straight year since St. Joseph claimed four in a row from 2017-20. St. Joseph (7-2) is set to be home for three playoff rounds in Division 3, while Central will be home this week but may travel after as the fourth seed in its Division 1 Regional. Click for more from WSJM.
Watch list Paw Paw 14, Vicksburg 7 They ended up finishing second and third, respectively, in the Wolverine Conference, as Edwardsburg finished an outright championship with a win over Niles. But this did affect who the Eddies see next – they’ll face Vicksburg (7-2) after Paw Paw (8-1) moved past the Bulldogs on the Division 4 playoff-points list.
On the move Decatur 32, Parchment 24 The Raiders (9-0) capped their first perfect regular season since 2002 with their closest win since Week 1. Parchment ended 5-4, a two-win improvement from a year ago. Schoolcraft 35, Lawton 7 Schoolcraft (7-2) finished third in the Southwestern Athletic Conference but fourth on the Division 7 playoff-points list, earning the opportunity to be home for both District rounds including a possible rematch with Lawton (5-4) in two weeks. Stevensville Lakeshore 21, Portage Northern 14 Lakeshore (8-1) has enjoyed a phenomenal comeback season after winning a combined six games over the last two. This avenged last year’s 25-point loss to Northern (5-4).
Upper Peninsula
HEADLINER Kingsford 42, Marquette 26 The Flivvers (9-0) won this matchup of league champions, in doing so finishing off their second perfect regular season over the last three and jumping five spots to No. 3 on the Division 5 playoff-points list. Amazingly, these former Great Northern Conference rivals have split their last 16 games, with Marquette (7-2) last season’s winner. Click for more from Upper Michigan’s Source.
Watch list Iron Mountain 21, Negaunee 20 After opening this season 1-2, Iron Mountain has strung together six straight wins (including a forfeit victory), with this over the Division 5 Miners (5-4) the big one. It helped push the Mountaineers (7-2) past East Jordan on the Division 8 playoff-points list, giving Iron Mountain the home game in their matchup this week.
On the move Menominee 38, Bark River-Harris 30 The Maroons (8-1) bounced back from a league-deciding loss in Week 8 to defeat another league’s champion and will be home in the Division 7 playoffs until Semifinals. Hancock 16, Houghton 10 The Bulldogs (4-5) ended a six-game losing streak against Houghton with this Copper Bowl win, capping a season of improvement after Hancock won a combined three games over the last three years. Calumet 50, L’Anse 8 The Copper Kings (6-3) closed the regular season with three wins over their last four games, this one over another playoff qualifier in L’Anse (4-5).
West Michigan
HEADLINER East Kentwood 42, Hudsonville 14 East Kentwood (9-0) clinched the outright Ottawa-Kent Conference Red championship, ending Hudsonville’s two-year reign and climbing into a tie for the No. 2 spot on the Division 1 playoff-points list, earning the Falcons home games this week and next. East Kentwood broke away during a massive fourth-quarter run to cap its first perfect regular season since 2002 and send the Eagles to 6-3. Click for more from WOOD TV.
Watch list Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills 44, Coopersville 0 Kenowa Hills (8-1) finished a repeat run in the River Cities Alliance in a big way, downing Coopersville (8-1) in a winner-take-all for the championship. Kenowa Hills has given up a combined 67 points over the last eight games after allowing 59 in a season-opening loss to DeWitt.
On the move Spring Lake 35, Zeeland West 26 In upsetting the Dux (7-2), Spring Lake vaulted from No. 35 on the Division 4 playoff-points list into the field tied for the No. 27 spot. Grand Rapids Christian 24, Holland Christian 22 This win gave the Eagles (4-5) a similar jump, from No. 36 on the Division 4 list into the field in the No. 32 slot. Grand Rapids South Christian 42, Grand Rapids Catholic Central 26 These two enter as contenders in their respective playoff divisions, South Christian (8-1) at No. 5 on the Division 4 playoff-points list and Catholic Central (7-2) still holding down the top line in Division 5 by a substantial margin.
8-Player
HEADLINER Mio 26, Rogers City 14 Mio clinched the North Star League Big Dipper championship outright in claiming this winner-take-all, and also jumped from a tie for the No. 16 spot into the field for sure at No. 13. The league title was Mio’s second straight after it shared the Little Dipper championship in 2025. Click for more from the Bay City Times.
Watch list Powers North Central 55, Crystal Falls Forest Park 36 This rivalry added a chapter that won’t soon be forgotten, as North Central’s second-straight win in the annual series improved the Jets to 7-2 and sent Forest Park out of the Division 1 playoff field with a final record of 6-3.
On the move Gaylord St. Mary 54, Indian River Inland Lakes 6 The Snowbirds (9-0) capped their first perfect regular season since 2017 having given up a combined 14 points over eight games played (one win was a forfeit) – and having pushed Inland Lakes (5-4) out of the Division 1 bracket. St. Ignace 62, Central Lake 40 St. Ignace finished off a second 8-1 season over the last four years, moving up to No. 5 on the Division 2 playoff-points list while keeping Central Lake (6-3) from moving into the Division 1 field. Portland St. Patrick 35, Dansville 7 The Aggies (7-2) moved to 8-player football this season and have found great success, but St. Patrick (9-0) earned the win in this first matchup with Dansville since 2011 in 11-player.
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PHOTOS (Top) Ada Forest Hills Eastern defenders close in on a Ypsilanti Community ball carrier during the Hawks' 46-22 win on Friday. (Middle) A Lansing Catholic ball carrier works to break away as Pewamo-Westphalia defenders swarm during a 35-13 victory. (FHE/Ypsilanti photo by Michigan Sports Media. Lansing Catholic/P-W photo by TCP Photography.)
1st & Goal: Finals in Review
January 28, 2021
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
With absolute certainty, we can say this recently-concluded football season was like no other during the nearly 100-year history of the MHSAA.
But after just more than five months, and amid COVID-19, it was played to completion – with 8-Player Finals on Jan. 16 at Brighton’s Legacy Center and 11-Player Finals Jan. 22-23 at Ford Field in Detroit.
Second Half again covered all 10 championship games, with quick recaps and links (click on the game scores) to those stories below followed by notations of performances entered into the MHSAA Finals record book and a report on some of the biggest and best stories to emerge from the championship weekends. See also below highlights from State Champs Sports Network.
Finals in Review
11-Player Division 1: West Bloomfield 41, Davison 0
Led by Donovan Edwards’ 257 yards and three touchdowns rushing, West Bloomfield won its first Finals championship with a shutout of the 2019 champion Cardinals. Much more on Edwards below, but the Lakers’ effort on the other side of the ball can’t be overlooked – the shutout was the team’s sixth of the season.
11-Player Division 2: Muskegon Mona Shores 25, Warren De La Salle Collegiate 19
After winning its first championship in 2019, Mona Shores earned another in its encore led again by quarterback Brady Rose. Rose had started last season’s Final in place of an injured all-stater, but he was hardly unknown this time – and still ran for 154 yards and two touchdowns, including a 65-yard sprint during the fourth quarter that helped wrap things up for the Sailors.
11-Player Division 3: DeWitt 40, River Rouge 30
DeWitt finished off the longest football season in MHSAA history with its first championship, earning it against a River Rouge team looking to repeat after winning its first title in 2019. Quarterback play was on display in this finale as well, with DeWitt’s Tyler Holtz and Rouge’s Mareyohn Hrabowski putting up big numbers.
11-Player Division 4: Detroit Country Day 13, Cadillac 0
With youngest son Danny a major contributor, Country Day coach Dan MacLean led the Yellowjackets to their first Finals championship since 1999. Country Day kept first-time finalist Cadillac to just 166 total yards, and the shutout was the Yellowjackets’ third straight.
11-Player Division 5: Grand Rapids Catholic Central 48, Frankenmuth 21
The Cougars added their fourth championship in five seasons, this one their first in Division 5 after winning previously in Division 4. GRCC quarterback Joey Silveri accounted for six touchdowns in a Final for the second-straight season as his team built a big early lead against the first-time finalist Eagles.
11-Player Division 6: Montague 40, Clinton 14
Strong quarterback play and a father-son connection both came into play in Division 6 as well as senior Drew Collins led dad Pat’s team to its first Finals championship since 2009. What Drew said after told the story of the entire season restart: “Everybody on this football team, coaches, players, trainers – everybody on this football team loves high school football. I love high school football. I love these coaches. I love my friends on the team. I love everybody on the team. I love the community. It’s bittersweet when you win a state championship when you’re a senior because it’s all over.”
11-Player Division 7: New Lothrop 42, Traverse City St. Francis 35
The Hornets’ Julius Garza put up one of the most impressive individual performances of the weekend, scoring three ways for a total of four touchdowns. New Lothrop got up early and then held off a St. Francis comeback to claim its second championship in three seasons.
11-Player Division 8: Centreville 22, Ubly 0
Centreville’s shutdown defense put together one more awe-inspiring performance to help the Bulldogs’ to their first championship. Centreville ran its state-best points-allowed-per-game average to 2.9 with its seventh shutout in 10 games played.
8-Player Division 1: Adrian Lenawee Christian 47, Suttons Bay 0
The Cougars put an exclamation point on a dominating first season of 8-player football with their first Finals championship in the sport, either format. Lenawee Christian not only performed well offensively but held Suttons Bay to 52 yards total. The Norsemen finished Division 1 runners-up for the second-straight season.
8-Player Division 2: Powers North Central 70, Portland St. Patrick 48
The Jets claimed their third championship in what was the highest-scoring 8-player championship game in the decade-long MHSAA Finals history of this format. More on that below, and also on North Central quarterback Luke Gorzinski and St. Patrick quarterback Connor Cross, who were among those to put up giant numbers. The Jets also feature a father/son combo, with Luke the son of head coach Leo Gorzinski.
Records Report
As one might imagine, the highest-scoring game in 8-Player Finals history was filled with record book accomplishments. North Central’s 70 points were the 8-Player Finals record for one team, and the combined 118 points were 19 more than the previous record set in Peck’s 67-32 win over Rapid River in 2013. The teams’ 933 combined total yards ranks third on that 8-Player Finals list, while North Central’s 22 first downs was tied for second and St. Patrick’s 21 first downs ranked fourth. Neither team punted, making for another first in 8-player championship games. The game was not only the highest-scoring 8-Player Final, but the third-highest scoring 8-player game in MHSAA history (including regular season), missing tying that record by only six points.
Also as noted above, all-state quarterback play was on display for both 8-player Division 2 finalists. North Central QB Luke Gorzinski totaled the second-most rushing yards, 299, in an 8-Player Final, and with 156 yards passing set the total offense record at 455. St. Patrick QB Connor Cross, with 397 total yards, is fourth on that list. Cross’s 374 passing yards were second-most in an 8-Player Final, as were his six passing touchdowns, and he earned the first listings with 25 completions and 38 pass attempts. Shamrocks receiver Shane Cook, meanwhile, set the record with 13 receptions for the second-most receiving yardage, 179. North Central as a team finished with the third-most rushing yards, 373 on 37 attempts, and third-most rushing touchdowns with six. St. Patrick as a team was second for team passing yards and touchdowns.
Gorzinski wasn’t the only offensive star for the Jets; teammate Wyatt Raab finished with the third-most points scored in an 8-Player Final, 32, on four touchdowns, three two-point conversions and a safety. Gorzinski did finish with the fourth-most points, 28, on four touchdowns and two two-point conversions. Both made the total touchdowns list with four apiece.
The 8-Player Division 1 Final made the record book as well, in two categories. Lenawee Christian as a team defense posted the lowest number of yards allowed, just 52. And Cougars quarterback Landon Gallant also made the total offense list with 326 yards – 59 rushing and 267 passing.
New Lothrop’s Julius Garza was among individual standouts from the 11-Player Finals, tying for fourth with 26 points scored – on four touchdowns and a two-point conversion – and also tying for fourth for touchdowns in a game, in Division 7.
West Bloomfield’s Jake Ward made all three kicking lists for 11-player, tying for third with two field goals in a game, ranking fourth for longest with a 45-yarder, and making the extra points list with five in the Division 1 Final. Grand Rapids Catholic Central’s Jack Barlow tied for fourth on that extra points list with six in the Division 5 game.
The Lakers’ Donovan Edwards was another of the stars of the weekend, with his 257 yards rushing ranking eighth all-time for an 11-Player Final – and while coming on just 14 attempts in Division 1.
Montague’s Drew Collins made the 11-player passing yards list with 244, coming on 15 completions in the Division 6 game. Three of those went for touchdowns to teammate Samuel Smith, who tied the record held by nine others for touchdown catches in an 11-Player Final.
DeWitt quarterback Tyler Holtz tied for fifth on the passing touchdowns list with four in Division 3. Opposing quarterback Mareyohn Hrabowski from River Rouge made the total yardage list with 321 – 94 rushing and 227 passing. New Lothrop’s Cam Orr also made the total yardage list with 344 – 122 rushing and 222 passing.
While quarterbacks starred in many cases, the run game was hardly left behind. In addition to Edwards’ performance for West Bloomfield, Clinton had the fifth-most rushing attempts in 11-player championship game history with 65, for 358 yards. Clinton also tied the record with just one pass attempt, with West Bloomfield tying for fifth on that list with two throws. Those two and Cadillac all tied the 11-Player Finals record by recording zero completions – they brought that all-time list to 21 teams that didn’t complete a pass in an 11-player title game.
Grand Rapids Catholic Central in Division 5 also became the 28th 11-player finalist to go an entire game without punting.
The Division 6 Clinton/Montague matchup also finished as one of the least-penalized in MHSAA 11-Player Finals history. The two teams combined for just 10 penalty yards, coming on one Clinton penalty. Montague was not penalized in the game.
Stories Behind the Scores
The Longest Season: Due to COVID-19, this season started on time, stopped, restarted, stopped again in mid-November, and restarted one more time with rapid testing the final week of December with playoffs ending over two weekends in mid-January. There are many reasons to want to forget the last year, and many much sadder circumstances. But the perseverance of all Fall athletes and families, coaches, administrators and support staff; along with the testing program provided by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, made for a memorable story that surely will be recalled for years to come.
First finishing 1st: West Bloomfield in 11-Player Division 1, DeWitt in Division 3 and Centreville in Division 8, and Adrian Lenawee Christian in 8-Player Division 1 all won their first MHSAA Finals in this sport. Cadillac in Division 4 and Frankenmuth in Division 5 made their first championship game appearances.
Edwards’ excellent ending: Edwards was slated to join University of Michigan’s football program as an early enrollee in January. But first, he wanted to finish his high school season, and career, with the Lakers. He led them to their first championship, with one of the top rushing performances in Finals history, and as arguably the biggest headliner from the weekend at Ford Field – likely gaining a few more fans along the way as well.
Many ways to win: As noted above, defense still works – four of 10 Finals were shutouts, and Centreville’s season-long performance was incredible. Also noted above, champions won both running and passing. But a final fun note on offense – seven of 10 champions this season scored 40 or more points in their championship games. That’s compared to two in 2019, five in 2018 and five in 2017.
(Click for more photos from Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)