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
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.)