1st & Goal: Playoff Week 4 Preview
January 8, 2021
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
There are a lot of ways to describe what Michigan’s football contenders will restart Saturday, and how it will be talked about for years and perhaps generations to come.
But at the end of it all, it’s pretty simple: It’s great to be talking about the football playoffs again.
Consider this as much a catching-up as a preview of the 8-Player Semifinals and glances at many of the most intriguing 11-Player Regional Finals, all to be played Saturday. Be sure to also take advantage of the opportunity to quickly find your stride this weekend by tuning in, with every game to be streamed live thanks to a variety of sources – Click for the list of broadcasts.
Visit the MHSAA Football Playoff Home for the entire schedule for this weekend, scores as they come in and what’s next as we follow these long-awaited final few weeks of the season.
8-Player
Division 1
Martin (8-1) vs. Adrian Lenawee Christian (9-0) at Adrian College
Two seasons ago the Clippers stormed through a perfect regular season in their first of 8-player, and this season Lenawee Christian followed the same plan. The Cougars are averaging 200 yards rushing per game on more than nine yards per carry, with Jameson Chesser averaging better than 10 yards per carry on the way to 1,055 total. Martin’s only loss was a forfeit, and also led by a 1,000 rusher in Gabe Meyers, who is averaging 11.7 per carry for a team rolling up 300 yards per game on the ground.
NOTE: Suttons Bay will advance with Indian River Inland Lakes forfeit.
Division 2
Marion (8-1) vs. Powers North Central (9-0) at Northern Michigan University’s Superior Dome
North Central is playing to reach the championship game for the first time since claiming back-to-back titles in 2015 and 2016, and the Jets are paced by an excellent defense and multi-threat quarterback Luke Gorzinski – he leads the team in rushing (791 yards, 16 touchdowns) and has thrown for 1,105 yards and 17 scores. Marion’s only loss came in its season opener to Mesick on the way to the program’s first Semifinal since 1992. The Eagles also mix tough defense with dynamic quarterback play, with Mason Salisbury piling up 1,260 yards and 19 TDs rushing and 614 and 10 scores passing.
Kinde North Huron (8-1) vs. Portland St. Patrick (9-0) at Portland High School
Portland St. Patrick has been as close as anyone to winning a championship lately, with this its fourth-straight Semifinal and fifth of the last nine seasons. The Shamrocks defeated reigning Division 1 champion Colon 44-34 to advance to this round this time. This is North Huron’s second Semifinal appearance in four seasons after the Warriors fell to St. Patrick in a 2017 meeting to reach the championship game. North Huron’s only loss this fall was to a Mayville team that fell to Lenawee Christian in the Division 1 Regional Finals.
11-Player
Division 1
Detroit Cass Tech (9-0) at Belleville (9-0)
Five of eight teams remaining in Division 1 are undefeated, and this is one of two matchups of unbeaten teams. The Tigers have won two straight Regional titles, while the Technicians are seeking their first since 2017 but have won eight over the last decade. Yet despite their shared elite success over the last five seasons especially, this will be their first matchup at least in modern history. Belleville will see how its offense, averaging 51 points per game, stacks up against a Cass Tech defense giving up slightly more than seven.
Other Regional Finals: Saline (8-1) at Rockford (7-0), Detroit Catholic Central (9-0) vs. Davison (9-0) at Lapeer, Romeo (5-4) at West Bloomfield (8-1).
Division 2
Muskegon Mona Shores (9-0) at East Lansing (8-0)
The reigning Division 2 champion Sailors must hit the road as they seek their third consecutive Regional championship. They went into the pause with two straight one-score wins and take on a Trojans team that has given up more than one score in a game only once. East Lansing’s wins all have come by double digits, but its offense must play a big role again as Shores will present the impressive defense its toughest challenge this season.
Other Regional Finals: North Farmington (7-2) vs. Traverse City Central (8-1) at Thirlby Field, Oak Park (4-5) at Livonia Churchill (6-2), Warren De La Salle Collegiate (5-4) at Warren Mott (7-1).
Division 3
River Rouge (7-1) at Detroit Martin Luther King (6-3)
These two matched up for one of the most memorable playoff games of 2018, as King won 7-6 in a Division 3 opener on the way to claiming the championship in that division a month later. King moved to Division 2 last season and fell to Mona Shores in the Final, while Rouge claimed the Division 3 title. As they meet again, the Panthers are hoping to find their November momentum; after losing the East Lansing in Week 5 they ran off four straight shutouts at the front end of a dominating run. King may be their toughest challenge again, having lost only to Shores and twice to Cass Tech.
Other Regional Finals: East Grand Rapids (6-3) at Muskegon (8-1), Flint Kearsley (6-3) at Chelsea (9-0). DeWitt will advance with Stevensville Lakeshore forfeit.
Division 4
Grand Rapids South Christian (8-1) at Edwardsburg (8-0)
The only loss between these two this season was South Christian’s one-point defeat versus Division 5 contender Grand Rapids Catholic Central. Otherwise, neither has faced a single-score game – the Eddies are giving up just a single score per game, on average. Before playing in Division 3 last season, Edwardsburg won Division 4 in 2018 and was runner-up in 2017. But the Sailors may be the team remaining in Division 4 best equipped to match the Eddies’ high-powered attack; the last time South Christian was this potent on offense, it won the 2014 Division 4 title.
Other Regional Finals: Ada Forest Hills Eastern (6-3) vs. Cadillac (6-2) at Traverse City's Thirlby Field, Milan (8-1) vs. Williamston (8-1) at Lansing Catholic, Detroit Country Day (6-2) vs. North Branch (9-0) at Lapeer High School.
Division 5
Marine City (8-1) at Frankenmuth (9-0)
The Eagles have been looking to break through with three Regional titles over the last four seasons, and the they outscored their first three playoffs opponents by a combined 139-26. That included a 28-0 District Final win over Almont, last season’s Division 5 runner-up. Marine City opened the postseason similarly, outscoring its first three opponents by a combined 121-28 – and that only loss was a forfeit taken Week 9.
Other Regional Finals: Muskegon Oakridge (7-2) at Grand Rapids Catholic Central (8-0), Grosse Ile (6-3) at Lansing Catholic (7-2). Freeland will advance with Reed City forfeit.
Division 6
Montrose (8-1) at Montague (9-0)
After missing a trip to Ford Field by a one-point loss in last year’s Semifinal, Montague has steamrolled through the majority of this season – only Whitehall in Week 8 (34-31) has given the Wildcats a close game. Montrose’s consistency, meanwhile, deserves more attention – the Rams are picking back up their 11th-straight winning season and hoping for a second Regional title in three seasons. The lone loss this fall was to rival New Lothrop, still rolling in Division 7.
Other Regional Finals: Negaunee (6-3) at Grayling (6-3), Michigan Center (6-1) at Constantine (8-1), Clinton (8-1) vs. Warren Michigan Collegiate (9-0) at Madison Heights Bishop Foley.
Division 7
Cass City (9-0) vs. Ithaca (9-0) at Brighton’s Legacy Center
Ithaca has had to navigate one of the most uneven playoff runs of an uneven season all around, with two of its three wins so far coming by forfeit. But the other was a 41-0 victory over Ravenna, and the Yellowjackets have put up an average of 49 points per game, an improvement of 17 ppg from a year ago. Cass City’s run-up to this game was more eventful, as it eliminated previously-undefeated Sandusky and then Hemlock in successive District games. Doing the same this week to Ithaca would put the Red Hawks in the Semifinals for the second-straight season.
Other Regional Finals: New Lothrop (8-0) vs. Detroit Loyola (8-1) at Madison Heights Bishop Foley, Jackson Lumen Christi (5-4) vs. Schoolcraft (8-1) at Portage Central. Traverse City St. Francis will advance with Oscoda forfeit.
Division 8
Johannesburg-Lewiston (9-0) vs. Iron Mountain (8-1) at Northern Michigan University’s Superior Dome
Viewing from the statewide lens, this might be one of the most intriguing matchups of the weekend. The Cardinals went into the pause with a 28-21 win over 2019 Division 8 runner-up Beal City, their only game closer than 30 points. Because of forfeits, Iron Mountain has played only three games on the field – but two of those three were double-digit District Semifinal and Final wins. The Mountaineers are playing to make the Semifinals for the second-straight season as well.
Other Regional Finals: Carson City-Crystal (6-1) at Ubly (7-2), Sand Creek (8-1) vs. Centreville (8-0) at Portage Central, Petersburg Summerfield (4-5) vs. Clarkston Everest Collegiate (9-0) at Legacy Center.
PHOTOS: Championship contenders East Lansing, on defense, and River Rouge met Sept. 25, with the Trojans winning 21-6. (Click to see more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)
Lumen Christi Accomplishes Program First with 4th-Straight Finals Title
By
Paul Costanzo
Special for MHSAA.com
November 28, 2025
DETROIT – As Jackson Lumen Christi lined up to exchange postgame handshakes with Kingsley following its fourth-straight victory in a football Final, Foreigner’s “Feels Like the First Time” rang out through the Ford Field speakers.
The 28-14 victory in Friday’s Division 6 Final was actually the record 15th time for the Titans, and 14th for coach Herb Brogan.
But as far as he was concerned, only this one mattered in the moment. So, good call, Ford Field DJ.
“(Winning a fourth straight) is important, but what’s most important is the accomplishments of this team, this year,” Brogan said. “Every team is different. But, the fact that we had never won four (in a row), we had one opportunity and didn’t take advantage of it, that was certainly in our conversation all year long. Something we kind of stressed to the kids that we’ve done some great things, but nobody has ever done this. Our slogan was ‘Leave Your Mark,’ and their mark is they were able to do something no other team has been able to do before.”
Friday marked the second-straight Division 6 title for the Titans, who had won in Division 7 in 2022 and 2023. Lumen Christi previously had won three straight championships one other time, from 2016-18.
While it was a tight game that was in doubt into the fourth quarter, for Brogan it was won with actions taken just days after the 2024 title win.
“I think the formula is pretty simple, and that’s to work hard,” Brogan said. “At the conclusion of the game last week, I pulled out my phone and showed the kids two pictures of two kids on this year’s team leaning out the back doors of the weight room last year throwing up. What makes that special is not what they were doing, because that happens all over the state. What makes that special is that was taken on the Monday after our state championship game.”
A fourth-quarter surge from Lumen Christi was what won the game on the field, as the Titans offense awoke from a Kingsley-induced two-quarter slumber to find its footing.
It started with a blocked 34-yard field goal attempt by Jake Contat with the game tied at 14.
That was followed by an eight-play, 72-yard drive which took up 4 minutes, 38 seconds of game time and was finished with a 23-yard touchdown pass from Benny Gaston to Johnny Walters.
With Kingsley driving near midfield on the next possession, Walters came up big again, this time with an interception.
“There was just a lot of energy, we were real excited,” Walters said. “But we knew it wasn’t over yet, and we had to keep going.”
The Titans did keep going, putting the game away with a 34-yard touchdown run by Sean Walicki with 2:20 to play. A fumble recovery on Kingsley’s next offensive play made it official.
“I have great respect for Kingsley, the players and the coaching staff. I thought they were really well-prepared and played really hard,” Brogan said. “... In the fourth quarter, I thought our offensive line really took over and controlled the line of scrimmage and allowed us to move the football.”
The end of the game was much like the beginning for the Titans (11-3), who jumped out to a 14-0 lead midway through the first quarter as Ayden Gatewood scored on a 25-yard run and Walicki broke off a 60-yard score.
But Kingsley (11-3) was unfazed, answering Walicki’s score with a 10-play, 62-yard drive that ended with a one-yard run by Andrew George.
It looked as though the Titans would take that 14-7 lead into the half, but Kingsley downed a punt on the one-yard line with 21 seconds left, and forced and recovered a fumble as the Titans attempted to run the clock out on the half.
Nolan Hodges came away with the ball at the 3, and while it was originally ruled that the Lumen Christi runner was down, review overturned the call.
One play later, Tucker Dreves found Gavin Lewis in the corner of the endzone for a touchdown, and the game entered the half tied at 14.
“I think the first thing that we always say about our kids is that we have fighters,” Kingsley co-coach Jason Morrow said. “We obviously didn’t play well in the first six minutes of that game, and you can’t take a team as talented and as well-coached as they are and spot them 14 points. But, incredibly proud of our kids. We go into the fourth quarter and it’s 14-14 and we had an opportunity because we have fighters.”
Those fighters really showed up on defense, as Kingsley held Lumen Christi to just 40 yards of offense between that second drive and the two game-changing fourth quarter drives.
Colton Goethals, Lewis and Hodges each had six tackles to lead that defensive effort. Lewis added 117 yards rushing to lead the Kingsley offense.
Walicki had a massive defensive effort to match his big day on offense, recording a game-high 17 tackles. On the other side of the ball, he rushed 11 times for 142 yards and the two touchdowns.
Gaston finished the day 8-of-13 passing for 111 yards and the touchdown to Walters. Antwon Baker and Brennan Brogan each added eight tackles for the Titans.
PHOTOS (Top) Lumen Christi’s Johnny Walters (8) and Nolan Huff (21) break up a pass intended for Kingsley’s Alex Figueroa (87) on Friday at Ford Field. (Middle) The Stags’ Tucker Dreves (9) closes in on a Titans ball carrier. (Below) Kingsley’s Andrew George (8) works to bring down Wes Learned.