2014 Week 5 Football Playoff Listing
September 23, 2014
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Here is a list of Michigan High School Athletic Association football playing schools, displaying their win-loss records and playoff averages through the fourth week of the season.
Schools on this list are in enrollment order for 11-player teams, with 8-player teams ordered by playoff average. An asterisk (*) beside a record indicates a team has eight or fewer games scheduled. A caret (^) beside a school’s name indicates a team is one win away from playoff qualification.
Those schools with 11-player teams with six or more wins playing nine-game schedules, or five or more wins playing eight games or fewer, will qualify for the MHSAA Football Playoffs beginning Oct. 31. Schools with 5-4, 4-3 or 4-4 records may qualify if the number of potential qualifiers by win total does not reach the 256 mark. Schools with six or more wins playing nine-game schedules or five or more wins playing eight games or fewer may be subtracted from the field based on playoff average if the number of potential qualifiers exceeds the 256 mark.
Once the 256 qualifying schools are determined, they will be divided by enrollment groups into eight equal divisions of 32 schools, and then drawn into regions of eight teams each and districts of four teams each.
Those schools with 8-player teams will be ranked by playoff average at season’s end, and the top 16 programs will be drawn into regions of eight teams each for the playoff in that division, which also begins Oct. 31.
To review a list of all football playoff schools, individual school playoff point details and to report errors, visit the Football page of the MHSAA Website.
The announcement of the qualifiers and first-round pairings for both the 11 and 8-player playoffs will take place on Oct. 26 on the Selection Sunday Show on FOX Sports Detroit. The playoff qualifiers and pairings will be posted to the MHSAA Website following the Selection Sunday Show.
11-Player Playoff Listing
1. Macomb Dakota, 2814, 3-1, 72.750
2. Sterling Heights Stevenson, 2767, 3-1, 66.250
3. Clarkston, 2742, 4-0, 98.000
4. Grand Blanc, 2668, 3-1, 66.500
5. East Kentwood, 2592, 4-0, 90.000
6. Rockford, 2555, 4-0, 98.000
7. Dearborn Fordson, 2411, 4-0, 88.000
8. Northville, 2298, 3-1, 64.750
9. Holland West Ottawa, 2293, 3-1, 74.500
10. Canton, 2289, 3-1, 66.500
11. Detroit Cass Tech, 2277, 4-0, 86.000
12. Plymouth, 2116, 3-1, 62.750
13. Lapeer, 2112, 4-0, 82.000
14. Hartland, 2007, 3-1, 72.000
15. Monroe, 1992, 3-1, 66.750
16. Grand Haven, 1960, 3-1, 70.500
17. West Bloomfield, 1929, 3-1, 66.750
18. Westland John Glenn, 1872, 3-1, 62.750
19. Warren Mott, 1870, 3-1, 70.500
20. Oxford, 1864, 4-0, 94.000
21. Livonia Stevenson, 1848, 3-1, 58.250
22. Saline, 1844, 3-1, 68.500
23. Walled Lake Central, 1815, 3-1, 68.500
24. Hudsonville, 1759, 3-1, 64.750
25. Waterford Mott, 1738, 3-1, 66.750
26. Livonia Churchill, 1696, 4-0, 98.000
27. Flint Carman-Ainsworth, 1568, 3-1, 64.500
28. Warren DeLaSalle, 1562, 3-1, 52.750
29. Detroit Western International, 1521, 3-1, 54.500
30. Detroit Martin Luther King, 1507, 4-0, 88.000
31. Walled Lake Western, 1502, 4-0, 88.000
32. Traverse City Central, 1490, 3-1, 66.250
33. Oak Park, 1486, 3-1, 66.750
34. Brownstown Woodhaven, 1484, 4-0, 92.000
35. Southgate Anderson, 1374, 3-1, 60.750
36. Dearborn Edsel Ford, 1356, 3-1, 66.250
37. Wyandotte Roosevelt, 1351, 3-1, 72.500
38. Detroit East English, 1345, 3-1, 66.750
39. Portage Northern, 1345, 3-1, 71.833
40. Port Huron, 1336, 3-1, 72.750
41. Ypsilanti Community, 1300, 3-1, 66.250
42. Birmingham Brother Rice, 1298, 4-0, 96.000
43. Garden City, 1290, 3-1, 50.750
44. Muskegon Mona Shores, 1274, 3-1, 74.750
45. Birmingham Groves, 1270, 4-0, 84.000
46. Berkley, 1265, 4-0, 80.000
47. Flushing, 1260, 3-1, 70.250
48. Midland Dow, 1255, 4-0, 90.000
49. South Lyon, 1254, 4-0, 94.000
50. Southfield, 1239, 3-1, 68.750
51. Farmington Hills Harrison, 1212, 3-1, 68.500
52. Fenton, 1181, 4-0, 92.000
53. Farmington, 1178, 3-1, 66.500
54. Grand Rapids Northview, 1177, 3-1, 62.500
55. Warren Woods Tower, 1175, 4-0, 86.000
56. Muskegon, 1157, 4-0, 98.000
57. Lowell, 1145, 4-0, 78.000
58. Greenville, 1130, 3-1, 52.250
59. Gibraltar Carlson, 1129, 3-1, 62.500
60. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern, 1113, 4-0, 86.000
61. Holland, 1109, 3-1, 60.250
62. Marquette, 1090, 3-1, 58.100
63. St. Johns, 1088, 4-0, 88.000
64. Byron Center, 1085, 3-1, 62.750
65. Allen Park, 1069, 3-1, 68.750
66. Auburn Hills Avondale, 1056, 3-1, 58.500
67. Orchard Lake St. Mary's, 1054, 4-0, 88.000
68. Mt. Pleasant, 1050, 3-1, 70.750
69. St. Joseph, 1028, 3-1, 70.750
70. Petoskey, 965, 3-1, 60.750
71. Romulus, 950, 3-1, 50.500
72. Riverview, 935, 4-0, 84.000
73. DeWitt, 930, 4-0, 92.000
74. Gaylord, 927, 4-0, 74.000
75. Linden, 921, 3-1, 60.750
76. Detroit Mumford, 919, 3-1, 56.250
77. Cedar Springs, 910, 3-1, 52.250
78. Grand Rapids Christian, 895, 3-1, 62.750
79. Stevensville Lakeshore, 887, 4-0, 97.333
80. Niles, 885, 3-1, 60.500
81. Carleton Airport, 879, 3-1, 52.750
82. Coldwater, 876, 4-0, 72.000
83. New Boston Huron, 867, 3-1, 58.750
84. Warren Fitzgerald, 857, 3-1, 60.750
85. Zeeland West, 850, 4-0, 74.000
86. Dearborn Divine Child, 848, 3-1, 57.583
87. St. Clair, 844, 3-1, 60.750
88. Edwardsburg, 839, 3-1, 58.750
89. Chelsea, 838, 3-1, 70.500
90. Plainwell, 812, 3-1, 56.500
91. Detroit Denby, 800, 3-1, 68.500
92. Vicksburg, 794, 4-0, 80.000
93. Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood, 790, 3-1, 50.500
94. Cadillac, 747, 4-0, 88.000
95. Goodrich, 737, 3-1, 64.750
96. Dearborn Heights Robichaud, 717, 4-0, 64.667
97. Yale, 716, 3-1, 50.750
98. Muskegon Orchard View, 662, 3-1, 52.250
99. Williamston, 659, 4-0, 80.000
100. Paw Paw, 657, 3-1, 56.750
101. Lansing Sexton, 652, 4-0, 98.000
102. Whitehall, 644, 4-0, 72.000
103. Kalamazoo Hackett, 635, 4-0, 64.000
104. Richmond, 630, 4-0, 80.000
105. Wyoming Kelloggsville, 610, 3-1, 50.750
106. Wyoming Godwin Heights, 609, 4-0, 58.000
107. Saginaw Swan Valley, 602, 4-0, 64.000
108. Birch Run, 575, 4-0, 72.000
109. Remus Chippewa Hills, 567, 4-0, 80.000
110. Marine City, 553, 4-0, 74.000
111. Flint Powers Catholic, 553, 3-1, 66.500
112. Freeland, 549, 4-0, 80.000
113. Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard, 545, 3-1, 46.750
114. Stanton Central Montcalm, 539, 3-1, 54.250
115. Portland, 538, 3-1, 62.750
116. Menominee, 532, 4-0, 81.467
117. Detroit University Prep, 530, 3-1, 52.750
118. River Rouge, 530, 3-1, 62.000
119. Frankenmuth, 528, 3-1, 54.750
120. Gladwin, 528, 3-1, 48.750
121. Ida, 527, 4-0, 66.000
122. Hopkins, 522, 3-1, 52.250
123. Lansing Catholic, 515, 4-0, 78.000
124. Almont, 512, 4-0, 64.000
125. Newaygo, 506, 3-1, 52.750
126. Olivet, 505, 3-1, 48.000
127. Muskegon Oakridge, 501, 3-1, 46.750
128. Onsted, 499, 3-1, 40.750
129. Chesaning, 480, 3-1, 52.750
130. Manistee, 479, 3-1, 50.500
131. Gladstone, 473, 3-1, 40.750
132. Stockbridge, 462, 3-1, 52.500
133. Reed City, 461, 3-1, 46.500
134. Harrison, 444, 4-0, 62.000
135. Kingsley, 439, 3-1, 48.750
136. Grand Rapids West Catholic, 438, 4-0, 82.000
137. Lakeview, 426, 3-1, 42.000
138. Beaverton, 422, 3-1, 42.250
139. Jonesville, 419, 3-1, 46.500
140. Jackson Lumen Christi, 417, 4-0, 72.000
141. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central, 417, 4-0, 78.000
142. Millington, 414, 4-0, 74.000
143. Warren Michigan Collegiate, 414, 4-0, 66.000
144. Ithaca, 405, 4-0, 66.000
145. Sanford Meridian Early College, 404, 3-1, 44.250
146. Hillsdale, 401, 3-1, 50.750
147. Hanover-Horton, 399, 4-0, 48.000
148. Boyne City, 395, 4-0, 64.000
149. Grass Lake, 395, 4-0, 48.378
150. Madison Heights Madison, 393, 4-0, 86.000
151. Montrose, 392, 4-0, 66.000
152. Tawas, 385, 3-1, 52.500
153. Niles Brandywine, 383, 3-1, 47.833
154. Manchester, 379, 3-1, 46.750
155. Watervliet, 378, 3-1, 40.500
156. Quincy, 375, 3-1, 32.500
157. Vassar, 375, 3-1, 44.750
158. St. Charles, 373, 3-1, 54.500
159. Constantine, 371, 4-0, 70.000
160. Clinton, 367, 4-0, 62.000
161. Vandercook Lake, 366, 3-1, 36.500
162. Laingsburg, 361, 3-1, 42.750
163. Flint Beecher, 350, 4-0, 72.000
164. Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian, 347, 3-1, 46.500
165. Ravenna, 342, 4-0, 58.000
166. Carson City-Crystal, 330, 3-1, 42.500
167. Ishpeming Westwood, 318, 3-1, 38.750
168. Marlette, 316, 3-1, 44.250
169. Homer, 312, 4-0, 50.000
170. Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker, 308, 4-0, 60.000
171. Ishpeming *^, 307, 4-0, 64.000
172. Traverse City St. Francis, 305, 3-1, 48.750
173. Burton Atherton, 304, 3-1, 44.750
174. Pewamo-Westphalia, 302, 3-1, 42.750
175. Dansville, 301, 3-1, 48.500
176. Gobles, 301, 3-1, 48.750
177. Flint Hamady, 295, 4-0, 50.000
178. Union City, 294, 4-0, 48.000
179. Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest, 289, 3-1, 42.500
180. Whittemore-Prescott, 283, 4-0, 64.000
181. Mancelona, 282, 3-1, 30.750
182. Detroit Loyola, 278, 4-0, 80.000
183. Manton, 276, 3-1, 38.250
184. Royal Oak Shrine Catholic, 273, 4-0, 58.000
185. Hudson, 271, 3-1, 40.750
186. Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett, 270, 3-1, 46.750
187. Decatur, 262, 4-0, 66.000
188. Lincoln Alcona, 260, 3-1, 38.500
189. Iron River West Iron County, 259, 4-0, 60.000
190. New Lothrop, 259, 4-0, 66.000
191. Blanchard Montabella, 256, 3-1, 40.000
192. Norway, 244, 3-1, 37.933
193. Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary, 243, 3-1, 46.750
194. Suttons Bay, 243, 3-1, 43.667
195. Indian River Inland Lakes, 242, 3-1, 30.750
196. Ottawa Lake Whiteford, 238, 3-1, 42.750
197. Johannesburg-Lewiston, 237, 4-0, 52.000
198. Harbor Beach, 232, 4-0, 64.000
199. Bessemer *, 231, 3-1, 34.500
200. Beal City, 222, 4-0, 60.000
201. Lutheran Westland, 221, 3-1, 42.500
202. Coleman, 217, 3-1, 44.250
203. Mendon, 214, 3-1, 50.500
204. St. Ignace, 211, 4-0, 48.000
205. Pittsford, 205, 3-1, 30.750
206. Bark River-Harris, 194, 3-1, 30.333
207. Munising, 194, 3-1, 35.417
208. Fowler, 189, 4-0, 58.000
209. Morenci, 184, 4-0, 62.000
210. Muskegon Catholic Central, 183, 4-0, 72.000
211. Climax-Scotts, 169, 4-0, 44.000
212. Waterford Our Lady, 169, 3-1, 56.750
213. Lake Linden-Hubbell, 163, 3-1, 42.600
214. Hillman, 139, 4-0, 50.000
215. Baldwin, 137, 3-1, 36.500
216. Bay City All Saints, 133, 3-1, 40.500
217. Felch North Dickinson *, 113, 3-1, 30.500
218. Clarkston Everest Collegiate *, 105, 3-0, 59.333
8-Player Playoff Listing
1. Deckerville, 183, 4-0, 42.000
2. Cedarville, 158, 4-0, 42.000
3. Peck, 158, 4-0, 42.000
4. Portland St. Patrick, 96, 4-0, 42.000
5. Rapid River, 108, 4-0, 40.667
6. Battle Creek St. Philip, 157, 4-0, 40.000
7. Owendale-Gagetown, 49, 4-0, 40.000
8. Bellaire, 151, 4-0, 38.667
9. Lawrence, 191, 4-0, 32.000
10. Waldron, 89, 3-1, 28.750
11. New Haven Merritt Academy, 145, 3-1, 26.750
12. Webberville, 189, 3-1, 24.500
13. Posen, 90, 2-2, 21.500
14. Eben Junction Superior Central, 126, 2-2, 19.000
15. Kingston, 191, 2-2, 17.500
16. Engadine, 85, 2-2, 17.500
17. Burr Oak, 69, 2-2, 17.250
18. Morrice, 196, 2-2, 16.750
19. Ontonagon *, 138, 1-2, 12.167
20. Kinde-North Huron, 172, 1-3, 12.000
21. Caseville, 81, 1-3, 11.250
22. Brimley, 144, 1-3, 9.750
23. Akron-Fairgrove, 99, 1-3, 9.250
24. Big Rapids Crossroads Academy, 188, 0-4, 3.000
25. St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran *, 101, 0-4, 2.500
26. Tekonsha, 146, 0-4, 2.250
27. Carsonville-Port Sanilac, 147, 0-4, 2.000
28. Ewen-Trout Creek, 135, 0-4, 2.000
29. Litchfield, 106, 0-4, 2.000
30. Flint Michigan School For The Deaf, 56, 0-4, 2.000
31. Charlton Heston Academy, 54, 0-4, 0.750
St. Mary's Standout McLaurin Becomes Chinese Football Pioneer
By
Tom Markowski
Special for Second Half
August 19, 2021
The eight years Chris McLaurin spent in China not only changed his life, but they changed the perception of American football in China and elsewhere – and just may have opened the door to a whole new market.
We're talking “American football,” not soccer. Most of us are familiar with NFL Europe, but NFL China? Not so much. When McLaurin went to China in 2011, the thought of teaching the locals American football never occurred to him. He went there to work for a private company, and circumstances just seemed to fall in place.
Some might say McLaurin was in the right place at the right time, but it can also be said he was the right person at the right time to lead this undertaking. McLaurin had the background, both athletically and organizationally, to take on such an endeavor.
“I met a lot of people who were interested in football,” McLaurin said. “I thought, football? I had a limited understanding of what they knew. I was very surprised they would reach out to me. I quickly found out they were hungry to learn.”
A 2005 graduate of Orchard Lake St. Mary's, McLaurin started at tight end and linebacker, and helped the Eaglets reach the MHSAA Division 2 Final in 2004 (where they lost to Muskegon). McLaurin went on to play four seasons at Michigan and graduated in 2009 with a degree in history and minor in urban and community studies. He had thoughts of entering law school when other opportunities interceded.
During his time in Ann Arbor, McLaurin worked with an organization that focused on disadvantaged youth in the area and helped open doors for them. They were allowed to attend lectures at the university as well as sporting events.
Upon graduation, the seeds that would blossom in Asia began being sown in other parts of the world.
McLaurin received a Fulbright Scholarship and went to Johannesburg, South Africa, to work with underprivileged youth as part of a program called Tomorrow Trust. During this time he worked with the United Nations Development Programme and Harvard Law School in their pursuit of promoting economic rights for the poor.
Following his work in South Africa, McLaurin began his post-graduate work at the London School of Economics. He earned his degree after working in the House of Commons and as a research assistant for the Runnymede Trust. Then came a six-month internship within the Obama Administration as part of the White House Domestic Policy Council.
And after that, he was off to Chongqing in western China to work for a private equity company as a project manager. Two years later, he started his own company in addition to a non-profit organization. Much of his work centered on the automobile industry and global technology.
During this time he learned to speak Mandarin and, in doing so, was introduced to more of the local customs – including American football.
What McLaurin found was a rudimental brand of football, what we would term a recreational type of competition. McLaurin began his involvement gradually, on weekends.
“After that first year (2012), I took it up a notch,” McLaurin said. “We started recruiting players and bought new equipment. They watched football on TV, but it's not an easy game to understand. You have to play football to learn it. You don't get that from watching TV.”
A year of training, recruiting and, yes, some frustration, led McLaurin to start a league, the American Football League of China (now known as the China National Football League). The rules are similar to those at the U.S. college level. There are 11 players a side, and when a ball carrier's knee touches the ground the play is over.
In the beginning “it was successful,” he said. “There were no leagues when I got there. There was no one to organize it. We went from (fewer than) 10 teams to, 3-to-4 years later, there are 80-90.”
McLaurin quickly learned he needed help if this adventure was to succeed. USA Football had a footprint in Shanghai, and McLaurin reached out to the organization. McLaurin contacted a handful of former teammates including Prescott Burgess and Morgan Trent for advice. Former NFL player Bruce Plummer and NFL coach and scout Jerry Hardaway worked some of the camps and clinics with McLaurin and added much-needed experience and expertise.
After playing at Southern Illinois, Hardaway’s first coaching position was at Memphis State as an assistant, and then he went to Grambling State to coach under the legendary Eddie Robison for six seasons. He also coached at the University of California under Joe Kapp prior to working in the NFL and then heading to China.
“I was told, through another guy, that (McLaurin) needed some help,” Hardaway said. “It was all about getting back to basics. That's what made it fun. They had no clue when you'd say to them, control the ground at impact when you're making a block. They had no idea of the terms that you'd use. To see the young kids, to see on their faces, they were absorbing everything.
“Yes, yes, yes, it was worthwhile. First of all, people had no clue about what it takes to do something like this. They were learning. Some of the parents thought it was a violent sport. That's what they heard. Then they switched. They saw me, us, teach the basics and they saw what we were doing. For me, it gave me a sense, like hey, you have to teach and you have to enjoy it.”
Soon after that first season, the NFL got involved as did the National Committee on United States - China Relations. McLaurin credits the NFL for advising him on the business end of starting a new league and structuring. After 18 months, McLaurin got out of coaching and became the commissioner.
“(The NFL) wanted to expand,” he said. “They saw how their brand was quite low (in China). China is a natural.”
Progress was slow, but it was still progress. The 2015 championship game was played in Shanghai, and McLaurin estimates it drew 3,500 spectators.
He continued to work with the AFLC through 2019 but then decided to make a career move. He returned to the U.S. and, this fall, is pursuing a dream he's held since leaving U-M. At age 34, McLaurin entered Harvard Law School.
“When I started, the last thing we wanted was a U.S. version of football,” he said. “We wanted it to be Chinese football. There were limitations on how many foreigners would compete. At first it was five (per team), then three. We wanted it to be a Chinese experience."
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PHOTOS: (Top) Former Orchard Lake St. Mary's standout Chris McLaurin started an American football league in China and remained part of its leadership through 2019. (Middle) McLaurin was a two-way starter for St. Mary's 2004 Division 2 runner-up team. (Below) McLaurin runs drills for one of the Chinese teams. (Top and below photos courtesy of Chris McLaurin; middle photo from MHSAA archives.)