1st & Goal: Playoff Week 3 Preview
November 12, 2020
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
There inevitably will be big scores put up this weekend as we roll into the third round of the 11 and 8-player football playoffs.
But it’s fair to anticipate those games will be down to a few as 96 of 144 teams remaining on the bracket are undefeated or have only one loss this season.
We’ve switched things up for this week’s preview, looking first at our 8-Player Regional Finals, where 15 of 16 remaining teams are 8-0 or 7-1, and the 16th team’s only defeats were to schools too big to qualify for the tournament. Our 11-Player District Finals are loaded as well, with six games matching undefeated opponents and many more featuring one-loss teams squaring off or attempting to tackle an unbeaten foe. See the full schedule on MHSAA.com.
Spectator limits remain in effect (check with your local school for purchasing information), but 28 games will be broadcast on MHSAA.tv or FOX Sports Detroit. Games below are Friday unless noted. Historical context is based in part on data at Michigan-football.com.
8-Player
Division 1
Adrian Lenawee Christian (8-0) at Morrice (8-0), Saturday
The Cougars put up a season-high 78 points against an also-unbeaten opponent last week, handing rising Mayville its only loss of a memorable run. But Lenawee Christian now runs into a more established 8-player power – Morrice is a combined 31-2 over the last three seasons, won Division 1 in 2018 and made the Semifinals a year ago. It’s tough to say how much past years’ experience will make a difference, but the Orioles definitely are familiar with this caliber of opponent – and scoring 52 points per game, they are outpacing the 2018 championship-winning offense by nearly 10 on average.
Other Regional Finals FRIDAY Pickford (7-1) at Indian River Inland Lakes (7-1), Gaylord St. Mary (7-1) at Suttons Bay (8-0), Marcellus (5-2) at Martin (7-1).
Division 2
Colon (7-1) at Portland St. Patrick (8-0), Saturday
Last season’s Division 1 champion, Colon is playing in Division 2 this fall with its only loss to Lenawee Christian (see above). The Magi stand in the way of a St. Patrick program that was Division 2 runner-up last season and in 2017 as well. The Shamrocks have played only one single-digit game this season, a four-point win over Merrill. Both are continuing to steam-roll opponents offensively as during their 2019 runs – but the key might be St. Patrick solving Colon’s defense, which is giving up eight points a game this fall.
Other Regional Finals FRIDAY Cedarville (7-1) at Powers North Central (8-0), Hale (7-1) at Marion (7-1). SATURDAY Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (7-1) at Kinde North Huron (7-1).
11-Player
Division 1
Belleville (8-0) at Canton (8-0)
Although both of these teams are undefeated, Belleville certainly has gotten more attention this fall with an offense scoring more than 50 points per game and a defense that’s given up 43 all season. Only Livonia Stevenson on opening night has come within 21 points of the Tigers. The Chiefs meanwhile have won three one-possession games – including against Stevenson last week. All in all, this is lining up very similarly to when these teams last met, in a 2017 District Final won by Canton 28-25 over an unbeaten Belleville team – and surely both teams are recalling that last matchup this week.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Grandville (7-1) at Rockford (6-0), Grand Blanc (7-1) at Davison (8-0). SATURDAY Detroit Catholic Central (8-0) at White Lake Lakeland (7-0), West Bloomfield (7-1) at Sterling Heights Stevenson (7-1).
Division 2
Portage Northern (7-1) at East Lansing (7-0)
The Trojans have won pretty even matchups against Northern the last two seasons, by 10 in 2018 and 35-28 a year ago. There’s only one shared opponent between the two this fall – East Lansing beat Holt 63-0, and Northern lost to the Rams 26-0 – but it’s hard to say that will play much into this matchup. What will more is how the Huskies attack one of the most successful defenses in the state this fall, as East Lansing is giving up only three points per game.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Traverse City Central (7-1) at Midland, North Farmington (5-3) at South Lyon (6-2), Livonia Franklin (5-3) at Livonia Churchill (5-2), Oak Park (2-6) at Wyandotte Roosevelt (6-1).
Division 3
Mason (8-0) at DeWitt (8-0)
This is the second time in a month Mason will be facing an undefeated team with a championship on the line. The first, in Week 9, Mason downed Williamston 40-10 to clinch the Capital Area Activities Conference Red title. DeWitt meanwhile has outscored its two playoff opponents by a combined 107-0 with a defense that has given up 50 points total this season (and 38 of those game in a Week 5 win over Grand Ledge). The Bulldogs also have been impressive on that side of the ball, giving up just more than 10 points per game – and their defense will need to play a significant role as DeWitt needs to score only 31 more points this week to equal last year’s 13-game total from a Semifinal run.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (7-1) at Chelsea (8-0), Detroit Martin Luther King (5-3) at Eastpointe (8-0). SATURDAY Marquette (7-1) at Muskegon (7-1), Stevensville Lakeshore (6-2) at St. Joseph (7-1).
Division 4
Ortonville Brandon (7-1) at North Branch (8-0)
Last week saw these league champions both defeat their strongest regular-season challengers for the second time, Brandon over Goodrich and North Branch over Croswell-Lexington. Both also are making a run this weekend at history, as neither has won a District title since that round of the tournament was introduced in 1999. The only loss between them this season was Brandon’s to Division 2 Fenton in a Flint Metro League crossover of first-place teams.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Sault Ste. Marie (6-2) at Cadillac (5-2), Detroit Country Day (5-2) at Madison Heights Lamphere (8-0), Battle Creek Pennfield (5-3) at Williamston (7-1). SATURDAY Milan (7-1) at Redford Union (7-1).
Division 5
Kingsley (8-0) at Reed City (8-0)
These two are crossing paths for the second straight season, but with different circumstances than what led up to last year’s 48-36 Stags first-round playoff win. The Coyotes were only 6-4 in 2019, compared to this fall when they secured their fourth perfect regular season over the last six years. But Kingsley also is coming off a second-straight perfect regular season plus a Semifinal run a year ago, and this Stags team has been arguably better – they’re scoring just as much but giving up nearly a touchdown less than last season.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Olivet (7-1) at Lansing Catholic (6-2), Grosse Ile (5-3) at Romulus Summit Academy North (7-1), Essexville Garber (7-1) at Freeland (7-1), Detroit Denby (5-3) at Marine City (7-1).
Division 6
Montague (8-0) at Muskegon Catholic Central (8-0)
Over the illustrious history of Muskegon-area football, these two have met only once before – in a 2017 regular-season finale, won by the Wildcats. MCC was strong that season but this will be an even better test of their mutual powers. The Crusaders put together their first perfect regular season since 2016 and haven’t allowed a point in five weeks (and 18 total this fall). Montague is coming off a 43-point win over another league champ in Clare and averaging 51 points per game.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Millington (7-1) at Montrose (7-1), Constantine (7-1) at Buchanan (8-0), Michigan Center (5-1) at Jonesville (7-1), Clinton (7-1) at Blissfield (8-0).
Division 7
Cass City (8-0) at Hemlock (8-0)
After a series of successful seasons, Cass City took the next playoff step last fall making the Semifinals, and the Red Hawks haven’t slowed pushing their combined record over the last two years to 19-2. Arguably their best win this fall was their closest, 14-12 over also-undefeated Sandusky a week ago, while Hemlock also won close –20-17 over Bad Axe, a Cass City league foe. That was a good test for the Huskies, who also are in position to take another step as they’ve won eight games for the third season in a row and are seeking their first District title since 2011.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Lawton (7-1) at Schoolcraft (7-1), Jackson Lumen Christi (4-4) at Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central (6-2), Traverse City St. Francis (6-2) at Charlevoix (8-0). SATURDAY Madison Heights Bishop Foley (7-1) at Detroit Loyola (7-1).
Division 8
Reading (7-1) at Centreville (7-0)
Centreville has followed a path similar to Reading’s of a few years ago, improving substantially the last two seasons and eliminating the close losses for a perfect run this fall. The Bulldogs, after losing four games by a combined 28 points in 2019, have given up only 15 points total this season. Reading’s next step came in 2018 when it won the first of two straight Division 8 titles. A Week 6 loss to Division 6 Jonesville quieted things down for a minute this fall, but anticipation should be high again. Both teams have solid wins over Mendon, Reading’s coming last week and Centreville’s earlier to eventually clinch a league title.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Beal City (7-1) at Johannesburg-Lewiston (8-0), Sand Creek (7-1) at Addison (7-0), Ubly (6-2) at Flint Beecher (7-1). SATURDAY Royal Oak Shrine (6-2) at Clarkston Everest Collegiate (8-0).
PHOTO: DeWitt earned the opportunity to play for a fifth-straight District title with last week’s win over Lansing Waverly (Photo by Terry Lyons.)
Divine Child Delivers in Defining Moments to End 40-Year Championship Wait
By
Paul Costanzo
Special for MHSAA.com
November 28, 2025
DETROIT – Marcello Vitti knew his teammates had his back.
After fumbling near midfield with five minutes to play and his Dearborn Divine Child team clinging to a one-point lead, Vitti’s faith was rewarded as the Falcons forced a four-and-out from the Hudsonville Unity Christian offense.
Then he paid them back.
The senior running back rushed for 20 yards and a pair of first downs on the final drive, including the game clincher, as Divine Child picked up a 23-22 victory Friday in the Division 4 Football Final at Ford Field.
“I knew that I was going to have to make plays to win this game,” said Vitti, who rushed for 120 yards and a touchdown. “I fumbled at the end, and I knew that my team’s got my back. This team isn’t good because of me. We have a lot of guys that do their jobs and maybe a little bit extra. There’s so many good guys and good players, Division I, Division II players on our team that they make me that much better.”
The title is the third in program history for the Falcons, and first since 1985.
To win it, Divine Child (13-1) had to survive a back-and-forth battle with several plays that felt as if they could be game-defining in the moment.
Vitti’s fumble felt like it could have been that, as Unity Christian took over near midfield with an offense that had been rolling through the second half.
The Crusaders (12-2) had gained 205 yards on 35 plays on their first three second-half drives, scoring a pair of touchdowns and getting inside the 5 on the other.
But after the turnover, Divine Child’s defense stiffened up, holding Unity Christian to two yards and forcing a turnover on downs.
“I do want to say, congratulations to Unity Christian,” Divine Child coach Chris Laney said. “I think they replaced 18 starters going into this year, and (coach Craig Tibbe) does a tremendous job; that scheme gives you nightmares. But, I wasn’t the one that coined it, but defense wins championships, and we had a great defense this year. Great defensive staff. The kids bought in, they really checked their egos this year at the door and played within our scheme defensively.”
Divine Child had its lead thanks to a five-yard touchdown rush by Vitti and a 2-point conversion run on which he broke multiple tackles and pushed through several defenders at the goal line with the help of his teammates.
All of that was set up by a toe-tapping catch from sophomore Rayshawn Thomas on the sideline on a pass from fellow sophomore Drew Sheridan. Initially, it was called incomplete, but was overturned on replay.
“To be honest, I thought I had my foot down,” Thomas said. “Then I saw that I had my foot down (on the big screen) and I was like, ‘Oh my God, I caught it.’”
Unity Christian answered with a 10-play, 69-yard drive capped off with a two-yard touchdown run from Jared DeVries.
The Crusaders lined up to kick an extra point to tie the game, but faked it. The pass was intercepted by Divine Child’s Adam Garcia, preserving the one-point lead.
“Silly stuff, isn’t it?” Tibbe said. “I’d like a do-over, for sure. They defended it well. I look at myself, I’m kicking myself, asking, ‘Why did you get so cute?’ Just pound the ball. They hadn’t stopped these guys. These guys had just been tearing it up, then I go and do something like that. So, yeah, I would like a do-over there.”
Tibbe’s offense was strong throughout the game, gaining 332 yards on the ground and averaging five yards per carry. That was led by Lucas Elliott, who had 115 yards, and DeVries, who had 90 yards and a pair of touchdowns, including the game’s first score. Joshua Bremer added 60 yards, and had the fumble recovery in the fourth quarter.
Quarterback Justin Febus rushed for 48 yards and a touchdown, which, following a DeVries conversion run, gave his team a 16-15 lead early in the third quarter.
“I’m super proud of how we hung,” Tibbe said. “The fact that we were right there with this team says a lot about these guys. There’s probably a couple times in this game where it didn’t look great, but they didn’t quit. They kept chugging along.”
The offensive output was needed to keep up with Divine Child’s balanced attack, led by Vitti and Sheridan. The left-handed quarterback completed 13 of his first 15 passes in the game, and finished 19-of-25 for 241 yards and a pair of first-half touchdown throws to Antonio Solares-Vitti. He did it all with his non-throwing shoulder in a brace thanks to an injury suffered in the Regional Final against Harper Woods.
“My mindset, honestly, the past two weeks was do whatever it takes to win,” Sheridan said. “Harper Woods, we didn’t really throw the ball, I got injured. Last week, I made plays when they had to be made. Marcello made plays, Ray made plays, Giancarlo (Vitti), Antonio, they’ve all been making plays for me. So, for me, it’s been about rehabbing and getting better. Today, the mindset was, it was just a next-play mentality. If we don’t have a good play, we had to make up for it the next play. And the guys made plays for me today.”
Solares-Vitti had seven catches for 88 yards, including a big 13-yarder on the final drive. Thomas had four for 64.
Marcello Vitti led the defense with 14 tackles, while Andre Davis Jr. had 12 and Giancarlo Vitti had an interception.
Unity Christian’s defense was led by DeVries’ 10 tackles, while Febus and Jack Portenga each had eight.
PHOTOS (Top) Dearborn Divine Child’s Marcello Vitti (2) breaks through the line during Friday’s Division 4 Final. (Middle) Antonio Solares-Vitti stretches across the goal line for a score. (Below) Divine Child quarterback Drew Sheridan tosses a pass.