1st & Goal: Week 9 Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 22, 2020
Over the next 72 hours, endings will be followed by new beginnings for just about every high school football team in Michigan.
Today and Saturday, the great majority will kick off for the final time this shortened regular season. On Sunday, for the first time, nearly all will be able to begin preparing for the start of this fall's MHSAA Playoffs.
Pairings in 11 and 8-player will be posted to the MHSAA Website during early afternoon Sunday. In the meantime, more than 270 games will be played to help determine those postseason matchups, with more than 60 available to watch on MHSAA.tv; click the link for listings
Below are some of the games you may want to check out in your corner of the state. Find the full schedule and then results this weekend as they’re reported via the MHSAA Score Center.
Bay & Thumb
Midland Dow (4-1) at Midland (5-0)
Dow’s loss last week to Mount Pleasant rubbed some of the luster off this week’s neighborly meet-up with the Chemics. But this could still significantly impact the Saginaw Valley League Blue championship, as Midland is the only team without a league loss – but a Dow win would leave three one-loss teams (along with the Oilers) at the top of the standings. Dow won this matchup 42-7 last season, breaking a three-game losing streak to its rival.
Keep an eye on these: FRIDAY Ortonville Brandon (5-0) at Fenton (5-0), Saline (5-0) at Grand Blanc (4-1), Davison (5-0) at Lapeer (3-2), Clare (5-0) at Sanford Meridian (4-1).
Greater Detroit
Detroit Loyola (5-0) at Detroit Catholic Central (5-0), Saturday
These teams both have won MHSAA Finals championship over the last 11 seasons, but this Detroit Catholic League Bishop Championship game will pit them against each other for the first time. This is likely a matter of significant difference in enrollment size – the Shamrocks are a Division 1 playoff team, and the Bulldogs will play in Division 7. But they are undefeated champions of the two divisions of largest schools in the league, DCC in the Central and Loyola in the AA, and their past successes no doubt will make this a much-anticipated matchup.
Keep an eye on these: FRIDAY Livonia Churchill (4-1) at Belleville (5-0), Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (4-1) at Detroit Country Day (3-1), Marine City (5-0) at Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (4-1). SATURDAY Clarkston Everest Collegiate (5-0) vs. Riverview Gabriel Richard (5-0) at Detroit Catholic Central.
Mid-Michigan
Mason (5-0) at Williamston (5-0)
The Bulldogs are attempting to finish a second-straight perfect run through the Capital Area Activities Conference Red. But they’re up against a Williamston team off to its best start since 2014, which is saying something extra given the Hornets’ annual success. This will match strength on strength; Williamston has given up 45 points total (nine per game), while Mason is averaging nearly 38 per contest. The Bulldogs won last year’s meeting 20-9.
Keep an eye on these: FRIDAY Stevensville Lakeshore (4-1) at DeWitt (5-0), Pewamo-Westphalia (5-0) at Lansing Catholic (3-2), Holt (2-2) at Grand Ledge (3-2), Stockbridge (2-3) at Olivet (4-1).
Northern Lower Peninsula
Charlevoix (5-0) at Maple City Glen Lake (4-1)
The Northern Michigan Football Conference Leaders and Legacy championships are up for grabs this weekend, and we’ll focus on the Leaders as the only loss between these two contenders was Glen Lake’s by five to unbeaten Clarkston Everest Collegiate. Glen Lake has won 12 straight league games and three straight championships, and defeated the Red Rayders 42-18 last season when they also met with the title on the line. But a dominant Charlevoix defense could give Glen Lake trouble this time; the Rayders haven’t given up a point over their last two games and only 42 total this fall.
Keep an eye on these: FRIDAY Johannesburg-Lewiston (5-0) at Harbor Springs (3-2), Oscoda (5-0) at Houghton Lake (4-1), East Jordan (3-2) at Frankfort (2-3). SATURDAY Jackson Lumen Christi (2-3) at Traverse City St. Francis (3-2).
Southeast & Border
Addison (5-0) at Grass Lake (4-1)
The Panthers quietly have put themselves in position to clinch a second-straight Cascades Conference championship, outscoring their three league opponents so far by a combined 169-28. Grass Lake trails Addison by a game, thanks to a Week 7 loss to Michigan Center, and also will be looking to avenge last season’s 20-16 defeat that decided the Cascades title.
Keep an eye on these: FRIDAY Chelsea (5-0) at Monroe (4-1), Clinton (4-1) at Hillsdale (4-1), Homer (4-1) and Jonesville (4-1), Brownstown Woodhaven (4-1) at Temperance Bedford (3-2).
Southwest Corridor
Paw Paw (4-1) at Edwardsburg (5-0)
The Wolverine Conference isn’t awarding a championship this season because of the abbreviated schedule, but if it was the title would be coming down to these two again. Paw Paw’s only loss was last week to Detroit Country Day; otherwise the Wolves have again dominated, outscoring their four Wolverine opponents by an average of 48-9. The Eddies, who defeated Paw Paw to claim the league title last year, have yet to be held under 52 points or allow more than 16.
Keep an eye on these: FRIDAY St. Joseph (4-1) at Battle Creek Lakeview (4-1), Schoolcraft (4-1) at Delton Kellogg (3-2), Saugatuck (3-2) at Lawton (4-1), Portage Northern (4-1) a Kalamazoo Central (2-3).
Upper Peninsula
Marquette (4-1) at Calumet (2-2)
At the end of an unpredictable six weeks in the Upper Peninsula, this could be a much more intriguing game than the records might indicate. These teams recently have been among the best above the Bridge, but in substantially different playoff brackets – Marquette will play in Division 3 and Calumet in Division 6 next weekend. The Copper Kings have played only three games on the field, winning two and losing the third to Kingsford by just a point. Marquette defeated Kingsford 10-0 and also has just one close loss, early to Sault Ste. Marie.
Keep an eye on these: FRIDAY Escanaba (0-2) at Gladstone (2-2), Bark River-Harris (2-2) at L'Anse (1-4), Iron Mountain (5-0) at Manistique (1-3), Gwinn (2-3) at Bessemer (0-4).
West Michigan
Grand Rapids Catholic Central (5-0) at Grand Rapids South Christian (5-0)
These two were frequent league or playoff foes until 2016, when GRCC moved for a few seasons into the Ottawa-Kent Conference Blue. This fall the Cougars moved back into the Gold, and they’ll face the Sailors with the championship on the line. Most notably, both have wins over Cedar Springs, and defensively they’ve given up nearly the same number of points – although GRCC is scoring eight more per game, on average.
Keep an eye on these: FRIDAY Grandville (5-0) at Rockford (3-0), Hudsonville Unity Christian (5-0) at Allendale (3-2), Whitehall (4-1) at Muskegon Oakridge (4-1). SATURDAY Detroit Martin Luther King (3-2) at Muskegon Mona Shores (5-0).
8-Player
Portland St. Patrick (5-0) at Burr Oak (5-0)
Shortened schedule or not, Burr Oak has a lot to celebrate. The Bobcats have guaranteed a winning season, their second straight and something of a rarity for many year before that. Burr Oak has won all of its games by at least 32 points. But defeating annual power St. Patrick – and by doing so avenging last year's playoff loss – would be the best victory yet.
Keep an eye on these: FRIDAY Morrice (5-0) at Deckerville (4-1), Mayville (5-0) at Kinde North Huron (5-0), Cedarville (4-1) at Rudyard (3-2). SATURDAY Indian River Inland Lakes (5-0) at Merrill (4-1).
PHOTO: Midland pulled away from Saginaw Heritage for a 42-20 win on Sept. 25. (Click to see more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)
Off to Fast Start, Gunsells Aspiring to Assemble Lasting Ludington Legacy
By
Tom Kendra
Special for MHSAA.com
September 11, 2025
Cameron Gunsell has been building things at Ludington High School his entire life.
“One of my earliest memories is making forts with the blocking dummies with my older brother during football practices,” recalled Gunsell of his and older brother Wilson’s adventures.
The Gunsells are now building something much bigger and more permanent at Ludington – with dad, Charlie Gunsell, in his 22nd and final year as the Orioles’ head football coach, Wilson an assistant coach and Cameron the team’s unquestioned leader and senior quarterback.
Cameron has rushed for nine touchdowns and thrown for three more over the first two weeks, leading Ludington to lopsided road wins over Coopersville and rival Mason County Central and heading into Friday’s home and West Michigan Conference Lakes opener against Fremont.
There is a buzz in this small town, best known for its Lake Michigan car ferries, which hasn’t won a football conference title since 1999 and has only one playoff victory in school history, which came during the COVID year of 2020.
“We definitely feel like this is our time,” said Cameron, 18, who is three years younger than his only sibling, Wilson. “Our motto this year is ‘Wake People Up.’ We brought back a ton of playmakers and had the best offseason in the weight room getting ready.”
The Orioles started making noise right away at Coopersville, where Cameron carried the ball 34 times for 246 yards and five touchdowns while completing 8-of-11 passes for 116 yards and a TD. He also made a team-high six tackles from his free safety position.
Last week, he was back at it against rival MCC in the Lumberman’s Cup, this time doing more damage through the air completing 8-of-15 passes for 245 yards and two scores while rushing 16 times for 161 yards and four TDs. He again led the team with eight tackles.
“It’s uncomfortable for me as the head coach talking about my son, but he is really good,” said Charlie Gunsell, a Caro native who was the starting quarterback at Ferris State in 1997. “Cam is so stinking competitive, and 80 percent of what we do offensively is a read through him. He is the guy who makes us click on both sides of the ball.”
Cameron (6-foor-3, 190 pounds), in his third year as the starting quarterback, is closing in on 4,000 passing yards and 3,000 rushing yards for his career. His play caught the attention of college scouts, drawing scholarship offers from Grand Valley State, Davenport and reigning Division II national champion Ferris.
Gunsell announced last month that he would be following in his dad’s footsteps at Ferris, which he said was not an easy decision.
“I honestly was really close to choosing Grand Valley,” said Cameron, who completed 70 percent of his passes last season. “But, in the end, I have always wanted to be a Bulldog. Just like here at Ludington, I grew up going to football games at Ferris.”
With that choice behind him, Cameron is focused on the immediate goal of helping his team unseat Whitehall, which has won three straight WMC Lakes titles, and then making a run in the Division 4 playoffs.
He knows that defenses are going to be keying on him and stacking the box after his fast start.
“If they want to focus on me, that’s great for us,” explained Cameron, who lines up in the shotgun every play and distributes the ball to the Orioles’ four-wide skill players. “We have a lot of other weapons this year.”
The leading receiver is junior Taj Williams with seven catches for 142 yards over two games, while sophomore Kyle Himes has three catches for 122 yards.
Ludington actually features three Himes brothers, with freshman Mikie Himes the team’s second-leading rusher through two games with 88 yards. Junior Messiah Himes is a dangerous running and receiving threat from his slot position.
“We have a lot of kids who deserve touches, and they will get them as we get into our conference games and everyone tries to take Cam away,” said Gunsell, who is assisted by offensive coordinator Brent Gillett and defensive coordinator JP Deines.
Coach Gunsell points to conference foes like Oakridge, Montague, Orchard View and Whitehall as teams that have had the type of playoff success his team wants to emulate.
In order to make a run, he said the team must get the job done up front, where they are led by seniors Walt Autrey (6-4, 298), Colin Shelton and Connor Chaney.
“We have had talented players before, but our biggest thing up here is, are we tough enough?” said Gunsell. “These kids have worked so hard in the weight room to get stronger and to make that toughness our calling card.”
Tom Kendra worked 23 years at The Muskegon Chronicle, including five as assistant sports editor and the final six as sports editor through 2011. E-mail him at [email protected] with story ideas for Muskegon, Oceana, Mason, Lake, Oceola, Mecosta and Newaygo counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Ludington quarterback Cameron Gunsell launches a pass during his team’s win over Mason County Central last week. (Middle) Gunsell’s father and head coach, Charlie Gunsell (in headset) monitors the action from the sideline. (Photos by Jason Goorman/Local Sports Journal.)