2014 Week 7 Football Playoff Listing
October 7, 2014
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Following is a list of Michigan High School Athletic Association football playing schools, displaying their win-loss records and playoff averages through the sixth 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, 5-1, 86.167
2. Sterling Heights Stevenson ^, 2767, 5-1, 84.333
3. Clarkston, 2742, 6-0, 108.000
4. Utica Eisenhower, 2712, 3-3, 56.333
5. Grand Blanc ^, 2668, 5-1, 76.667
6. East Kentwood ^, 2592, 5-1, 78.000
7. Rockford ^, 2555, 5-1, 88.500
8. Clinton Township Chippewa Valley, 2538, 4-2, 69.333
9. Lake Orion, 2459, 3-3, 47.167
10. Dearborn Fordson, 2411, 6-0, 97.333
11. Northville, 2298, 4-2, 61.167
12. Holland West Ottawa ^, 2293, 5-1, 87.333
13. Canton ^, 2289, 5-1, 86.000
14. Detroit Cass Tech, 2277, 6-0, 96.000
15. Detroit Catholic Central, 2134, 3-3, 51.333
16. Brighton, 2133, 3-3, 48.667
17. Plymouth ^, 2116, 5-1, 75.333
18. Lapeer, 2112, 6-0, 90.667
19. Utica Ford, 2090, 3-3, 45.667
20. Macomb L'Anse Creuse North, 2008, 3-3, 50.333
21. Hartland ^, 2007, 5-1, 85.500
22. Novi, 1994, 3-3, 46.667
23. Monroe, 1992, 4-2, 65.500
24. Grand Haven, 1960, 3-3, 51.333
25. West Bloomfield ^, 1929, 5-1, 79.500
26. Dearborn, 1876, 3-3, 50.167
27. Westland John Glenn, 1872, 3-3, 46.000
28. Warren Mott, 1870, 3-3, 52.500
29. Oxford ^, 1864, 5-1, 80.833
30. Ann Arbor Pioneer, 1857, 3-3, 46.833
31. Livonia Stevenson, 1848, 4-2, 62.167
32. Saline ^, 1844, 5-1, 86.667
33. Walled Lake Central ^, 1815, 5-1, 83.167
34. Romeo, 1770, 3-3, 49.500
35. Hudsonville, 1759, 4-2, 66.500
36. Waterford Mott, 1738, 4-2, 65.333
37. Rochester Hills Stoney Creek, 1711, 3-3, 47.167
38. Livonia Churchill ^, 1696, 5-1, 83.333
39. Grand Ledge, 1689, 4-2, 61.500
40. Fraser, 1684, 3-3, 49.500
41. Traverse City West, 1658, 3-3, 48.333
42. Waterford Kettering, 1610, 4-2, 60.000
43. Temperance Bedford, 1600, 3-3, 54.333
44. Warren Cousino, 1588, 3-3, 49.500
45. Flint Carman-Ainsworth ^, 1568, 5-1, 79.167
46. Warren DeLaSalle, 1562, 3-3, 41.667
47. Davison, 1531, 3-3, 42.000
48. Detroit Western International, 1521, 3-3, 38.667
49. Detroit Martin Luther King, 1507, 6-0, 97.333
50. Walled Lake Western ^, 1502, 5-1, 79.167
51. Traverse City Central, 1490, 4-2, 69.000
52. Oak Park ^, 1486, 5-1, 82.167
53. Brownstown Woodhaven, 1484, 6-0, 100.000
54. Ypsilanti Lincoln, 1422, 4-2, 62.000
55. Caledonia, 1417, 4-2, 67.333
56. Midland, 1400, 3-3, 44.167
57. Portage Central *^, 1384, 4-1, 73.467
58. Lincoln Park, 1384, 3-3, 40.167
59. Detroit Pershing, 1379, 3-3, 39.000
60. Southgate Anderson, 1374, 3-3, 44.500
61. Lansing Everett, 1364, 4-2, 59.667
62. Dearborn Edsel Ford, 1356, 4-2, 63.333
63. Wyandotte Roosevelt ^, 1351, 5-1, 83.333
64. Detroit East English, 1345, 4-2, 63.000
65. Portage Northern, 1345, 4-2, 67.567
66. Port Huron ^, 1336, 5-1, 83.500
67. Grosse Pointe North, 1310, 4-2, 65.000
68. Ypsilanti Community, 1300, 4-2, 60.833
69. Birmingham Brother Rice, 1298, 6-0, 105.333
70. North Farmington, 1296, 3-3, 44.000
71. Garden City, 1290, 3-3, 39.333
72. Swartz Creek, 1285, 3-3, 48.333
73. Battle Creek Lakeview *^, 1278, 4-1, 80.500
74. Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills, 1275, 3-3, 40.000
75. Muskegon Mona Shores ^, 1274, 5-1, 87.333
76. Okemos, 1273, 3-3, 52.167
77. Bay City Central, 1271, 3-3, 43.333
78. Birmingham Groves, 1270, 6-0, 92.000
79. Alpena, 1270, 3-3, 42.500
80. Berkley ^, 1265, 5-1, 74.000
81. Flushing ^, 1260, 5-1, 81.667
82. Midland Dow, 1255, 6-0, 97.333
83. South Lyon ^, 1254, 5-1, 85.667
84. Southfield, 1239, 4-2, 64.000
85. Farmington Hills Harrison ^, 1212, 5-1, 86.000
86. Mattawan, 1184, 3-3, 43.033
87. Muskegon Reeths-Puffer, 1183, 3-3, 43.833
88. Fenton, 1181, 6-0, 101.333
89. Farmington ^, 1178, 5-1, 83.333
90. Grand Rapids Northview, 1177, 4-2, 58.500
91. Warren Woods Tower, 1175, 6-0, 90.667
92. Muskegon, 1157, 6-0, 100.000
93. St. Clair Shores Lake Shore, 1153, 3-3, 45.000
94. Lowell, 1145, 6-0, 94.667
95. Detroit Renaissance, 1144, 4-2, 58.333
96. Greenville, 1130, 4-2, 54.333
97. Gibraltar Carlson, 1129, 4-2, 57.500
98. Battle Creek Central, 1124, 4-2, 59.933
99. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern, 1113, 6-0, 93.333
100. Holland, 1109, 3-3, 45.333
101. Detroit Cody, 1096, 3-3, 40.333
102. Marquette ^, 1090, 5-1, 70.786
103. St. Johns ^, 1088, 5-1, 79.500
104. Byron Center ^, 1085, 5-1, 75.500
105. Allen Park ^, 1069, 5-1, 76.833
106. Auburn Hills Avondale, 1056, 3-3, 43.500
107. Orchard Lake St. Mary's ^, 1054, 5-1, 82.167
108. Mt. Pleasant, 1050, 4-2, 63.000
109. Mason, 1032, 3-3, 47.167
110. St. Joseph, 1028, 4-2, 59.833
111. Redford Thurston, 1024, 3-3, 48.333
112. East Grand Rapids, 986, 4-2, 64.333
113. Petoskey ^, 965, 5-1, 76.833
114. Trenton, 955, 3-3, 46.167
115. Romulus, 950, 4-2, 49.500
116. Riverview ^, 935, 5-1, 68.667
117. DeWitt, 930, 6-0, 100.000
118. Gaylord, 927, 4-2, 53.333
119. Linden, 921, 4-2, 60.167
120. Detroit Mumford, 919, 4-2, 59.667
121. Clio, 918, 3-3, 44.333
122. Middleville Thornapple Kellogg, 914, 3-3, 40.000
123. Cedar Springs ^, 910, 5-1, 72.333
124. Grand Rapids Christian, 895, 4-2, 65.667
125. Fruitport, 890, 3-3, 41.833
126. Stevensville Lakeshore ^, 887, 5-1, 91.000
127. Sault Ste. Marie, 886, 3-3, 45.667
128. Niles, 885, 4-2, 57.100
129. Carleton Airport, 879, 3-3, 38.000
130. Coldwater ^, 876, 5-1, 60.833
131. Sturgis, 875, 3-3, 37.000
132. Haslett, 874, 3-3, 52.833
133. Tecumseh, 869, 4-2, 64.000
134. New Boston Huron ^, 867, 5-1, 74.167
135. Warren Fitzgerald, 857, 4-2, 55.667
136. Zeeland West, 850, 6-0, 82.667
137. Dearborn Divine Child, 848, 4-2, 53.000
138. Bay City John Glenn, 847, 4-2, 48.167
139. Battle Creek Harper Creek, 845, 4-2, 53.333
140. St. Clair ^, 844, 5-1, 75.500
141. Edwardsburg ^, 839, 5-1, 72.500
142. Chelsea, 838, 4-2, 65.000
143. Detroit Old Redford, 837, 3-3, 39.167
144. Charlotte, 836, 3-3, 37.667
145. Flint Southwestern, 813, 3-3, 41.333
146. Plainwell ^, 812, 5-1, 67.333
147. Dearborn Heights Annapolis, 807, 3-3, 38.667
148. Marysville, 806, 3-3, 46.333
149. Spring Lake, 802, 4-2, 53.167
150. Detroit Denby, 800, 4-2, 65.333
151. Holland Christian, 800, 3-3, 44.667
152. Ionia, 796, 3-3, 42.000
153. Vicksburg, 794, 4-2, 58.500
154. Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood, 790, 4-2, 45.167
155. Eaton Rapids, 773, 3-3, 39.333
156. Cadillac, 747, 6-0, 96.000
157. Goodrich ^, 737, 5-1, 71.500
158. Ferndale, 723, 3-3, 43.500
159. Three Rivers, 722, 4-2, 61.000
160. Dearborn Heights Robichaud, 717, 6-0, 82.933
161. Yale, 716, 4-2, 50.833
162. Comstock Park, 703, 3-3, 42.000
163. Croswell-Lexington, 701, 3-3, 36.500
164. Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy, 691, 4-2, 55.500
165. Detroit Country Day, 690, 4-2, 56.333
166. Allendale, 689, 3-3, 44.500
167. Muskegon Orchard View, 662, 4-2, 48.833
168. Williamston, 659, 6-0, 82.667
169. Paw Paw, 657, 3-3, 41.667
170. Grand Rapids Catholic Central, 655, 3-3, 47.190
171. Lansing Sexton, 652, 6-0, 104.000
172. Whitehall, 644, 6-0, 70.667
173. Grosse Ile, 640, 4-2, 54.833
174. Kalamazoo Hackett, 635, 4-2, 49.333
175. Detroit Collegiate Prep, 634, 3-3, 37.833
176. Richmond ^, 630, 5-1, 74.167
177. Imlay City, 629, 3-3, 31.000
178. Grand Rapids South Christian, 623, 4-2, 59.667
179. Wyoming Kelloggsville, 610, 4-2, 53.500
180. Wyoming Godwin Heights, 609, 4-2, 44.667
181. Dowagiac, 606, 3-3, 41.333
182. Saginaw Swan Valley, 602, 6-0, 80.000
183. Clawson, 589, 3-3, 34,500
184. North Muskegon, 577, 3-3, 34.167
185. Birch Run ^, 575, 5-1, 66.000
186. Essexville Garber, 574, 3-3, 39.500
187. Remus Chippewa Hills ^, 567, 5-1, 72.500
188. Marine City, 553, 6-0, 82.667
189. Flint Powers Catholic, 553, 4-2, 60.167
190. Freeland ^, 549, 5-1, 67.500
191. Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard ^, 545, 5-1, 58.433
192. Stanton Central Montcalm, 539, 4-2, 55.667
193. Portland, 538, 3-3, 46.000
194. Menominee, 532, 6-0, 84.267
195. River Rouge ^, 530, 5-1, 72.000
196. Detroit University Prep, 530, 4-2, 50.667
197. Frankenmuth ^, 528, 5-1, 70.167
198. Gladwin, 528, 4-2, 48.000
199. Ida, 527, 6-0, 72.000
200. Hopkins ^, 522, 5-1, 66.200
201. Grayling, 517, 3-3, 38.533
202. Lansing Catholic, 515, 6-0, 84.000
203. Almont, 512, 6-0, 80.000
204. Carrollton, 511, 3-3, 34.667
205. Newaygo ^, 506, 5-1, 67.333
206. Olivet ^, 505, 5-1, 64.333
207. Muskegon Oakridge ^, 501, 5-1, 58.167
208. Berrien Springs, 501, 4-2, 52.667
209. Onsted, 499, 4-2, 41.500
210. Clinton Township Clintondale, 499, 3-3, 39.833
211. Ovid-Elsie, 487, 3-3, 39.167
212. Chesaning, 480, 4-2, 48.833
213. Manistee, 479, 4-2, 47.833
214. Detroit Central Collegiate, 479, 3-3, 40.333
215. Gladstone, 473, 3-3, 32.500
216. Stockbridge, 462, 4-2, 52.000
217. Reed City ^, 461, 5-1, 60.667
218. Detroit Community, 455, 3-3, 38.500
219. Leslie, 454, 3-3, 33.167
220. Clare, 445, 4-2, 53.500
221. Harrison, 444, 6-0, 66.667
222. Kingsley, 439, 4-2, 47.833
223. Grand Rapids West Catholic, 438, 6-0, 82.667
224. Southfield Bradford Academy, 438, 3-3, 36.700
225. Delton Kellogg, 428, 3-3, 32.333
226. Lakeview ^, 426, 5-1, 53.333
227. Beaverton, 422, 4-2, 42.333
228. Calumet, 419, 3-3, 42.548
229. Jonesville, 419, 3-3, 35.667
230. Jackson Lumen Christi, 417, 6-0, 84.000
231. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central, 417, 6-0, 88.000
232. Negaunee, 417, 4-2, 42.167
233. Millington, 414, 6-0, 86.667
234. Warren Michigan Collegiate, 414, 6-0, 78.667
235. Fennville, 407, 4-2, 41.000
236. Detroit Edison Public School Academy, 407, 3-3, 37.433
237. Ithaca, 405, 6-0, 80.000
238. Sanford Meridian Early College, 404, 4-2, 41.333
239. Mason County Central, 404, 3-3, 31.167
240. Hillsdale ^, 401, 5-1, 59.500
241. Hanover-Horton ^, 399, 5-1, 50.000
242. Boyne City, 395, 6-0, 71.200
243. Grass Lake ^, 395, 5-1, 51.333
244. Madison Heights Madison ^, 393, 5-1, 76.833
245. Morley Stanwood, 393, 3-3, 31.000
246. Montrose ^, 392, 5-1, 56.667
247. Oscoda, 391, 3-3, 30.833
248. Tawas, 385, 4-2, 53.333
249. Elk Rapids, 384, 3-3, 36.533
250. Niles Brandywine ^, 383, 5-1, 60.400
251. Manchester ^, 379, 5-1, 63.500
252. Watervliet ^, 378, 5-1, 51.333
253. Quincy, 375, 4-2, 37.167
254. Vassar, 375, 3-3, 31.333
255. St. Charles, 373, 3-3, 39.333
256. Constantine, 371, 6-0, 75.200
257. Bad Axe, 371, 4-2, 44.000
258. Clinton, 367, 6-0, 70.667
259. Vandercook Lake, 366, 4-2, 38.667
260. Laingsburg, 361, 4-2, 41.167
261. Schoolcraft, 361, 4-2, 54.200
262. Charlevoix, 353, 3-3, 41.833
263. Flint Beecher, 350, 6-0, 77.333
264. Burton Bendle, 348, 3-3, 33.500
265. Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian ^, 347, 5-1, 63.333
266. Kent City, 344, 3-3, 31.167
267. Leroy Pine River, 343, 4-2, 45.167
268. Ravenna ^, 342, 5-1, 56.667
269. Carson City-Crystal, 330, 4-2, 46.333
270. Galesburg-Augusta, 329, 3-3, 29.167
271. Bridgman *^, 327, 4-1, 53.733
272. Saginaw Nouvel, 322, 3-3, 41.833
273. Ishpeming Westwood, 318, 4-2, 36.000
274. Marlette, 316, 4-2, 44.500
275. Lawton, 316, 3-3, 28.167
276. Cass City, 314, 3-3, 34.167
277. Homer, 312, 6-0, 58.667
278. Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker, 308, 6-0, 64.000
279. Ishpeming *, 307, 6-0, 74.667
280. Sandusky, 307, 3-3, 34.667
281. Traverse City St. Francis, 305, 4-2, 51.000
282. Burton Atherton, 304, 4-2, 48.300
283. Pewamo-Westphalia ^, 302, 5-1, 51.333
284. Gobles ^, 301, 5-1, 56.833
285. Dansville, 301, 4-2, 44.167
286. Iron Mountain, 298, 4-2, 45.667
287. Riverview Gabriel Richard, 297, 4-2, 51.933
288. Flint Hamady, 295, 4-2, 36.833
289. McBain, 295, 3-3, 30.833
290. Union City, 294, 6-0, 61.333
291. Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest, 289, 3-3, 30.833
292. Ecorse, 288, 3-3, 34.500
293. Whittemore-Prescott, 283, 6-0, 72.000
294. Mancelona, 282, 3-3, 24.833
295. Saugatuck, 281, 4-2, 38.667
296. Detroit Loyola, 278, 6-0, 89.600
297. St. Joseph Lake Michigan Catholic *, 277, 3-2, 32.400
298. Manton, 276, 4-2, 37.000
299. Royal Oak Shrine Catholic, 273, 4-2, 44.833
300. Hudson ^, 271, 5-1, 50.000
301. Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett ^, 270, 5-1, 52.500
302. Cassopolis, 269, 3-3, 32.167
303. Decatur, 262, 6-0, 77.333
304. Centreville, 261, 3-3, 29.667
305. Lincoln Alcona, 260, 3-3, 32.333
306. Iron River West Iron County, 259, 6-0, 72.000
307. New Lothrop, 259, 6-0, 70.667
308. Blanchard Montabella, 256, 4-2, 43.500
309. Breckenridge, 247, 4-2, 43.833
310. Reading, 246, 3-3, 29.667
311. Norway, 244, 3-3, 29.362
312. Onekama, 244, 3-3, 25.833
313. Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary ^, 243, 5-1, 54.167
314. Suttons Bay ^, 243, 5-1, 54.600
315. Indian River Inland Lakes ^, 242, 5-1, 43.500
316. Ottawa Lake Whiteford, 238, 4-2, 41.333
317. Johannesburg-Lewiston ^, 237, 5-1, 47.500
318. Petersburg-Summerfield, 233, 4-2, 45.500
319. Harbor Beach, 232, 6-0, 69.333
320. Bessemer *, 231, 3-2, 28.314
321. L'Anse, 230, 4-2, 40.167
322. White Pigeon, 226, 3-3, 33.233
323. Beal City ^, 222, 5-1, 63.500
324. Lutheran Westland ^, 221, 5-1, 51.167
325. AuGres-Sims, 221, 3-3, 25.500
326. Rogers City, 219, 3-3, 22.833
327. Coleman ^, 217, 5-1, 50.200
328. Mendon ^, 214, 5-1, 60.667
329. St. Ignace, 211, 6-0, 66.667
330. Fulton, 211, 3-3, 36.667
331. Newberry, 211, 3-3, 25.933
332. Pittsford, 205, 4-2, 35.800
333. North Adams-Jerome, 202, 3-3, 18.867
334. Bark River-Harris ^, 194, 5-1, 40.600
335. Munising ^, 194, 5-1, 43.767
336. Central Lake, 190, 4-2, 32.167
337. Fowler, 189, 6-0, 65.333
338. Morenci ^, 184, 5-1, 60.833
339. Muskegon Catholic Central, 183, 6-0, 84.000
340. Sterling Heights Parkway Christian, 171, 3-3, 36.200
341. Climax-Scotts, 169, 6-0, 50.667
342. Waterford Our Lady ^, 169, 5-1, 63.500
343. Crystal Falls Forest Park *^, 167, 4-1, 45.781
344. Brethren, 166, 3-3, 25.333
345. Lake Linden-Hubbell ^, 163, 5-1, 55.381
346. Frankfort *^, 156, 4-1, 49.467
347. Colon *, 156, 3-2, 32.933
348. Hillman, 139, 6-0, 54.667.
349. Baldwin ^, 137, 5-1, 47.333.
350. Bay City All Saints, 133, 3-3, 33.000
351. Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart, 124, 3-3, 37.033
352. Felch North Dickinson *, 113, 3-3, 25.933
353. Clarkston Everest Collegiate *, 105, 5-0, 62.667
8-Player Playoff Listing
1. Rapid River, 108, 6-0, 52.533
2. Peck, 158, 6-0, 52.000
3. Owendale-Gagetown, 49, 6-0, 48.000
4. Portland St. Patrick, 96, 6-0, 48.000
5. Bellaire, 151, 6-0, 47.200
6. Battle Creek St. Philip, 157, 6-0, 45.333
7. Lawrence, 191, 6-0, 42.667
8. Cedarville, 158, 5-1, 40.833
9. Deckerville, 183, 5-1, 40.833
10. Waldron, 89, 5-1, 36.833
11. New Haven Merritt Academy, 145, 4-2, 25.667
12. Kingston, 191, 3-3, 25.000
13. Engadine, 85, 3-3, 23.667
14. Morrice, 196, 3-3, 20.167
15. Burr Oak, 69, 3-3, 19.667
16. Webberville, 189, 3-3, 19.333
17. Posen, 90, 2-4, 18.667
18. Caseville, 81, 2-4, 16.667
19. Big Rapids Crossroads Academy, 188, 2-4, 16.500
20. Ontonagon *, 138, 2-3, 14.467
21. Ewen-Trout Creek, 135, 2-4, 14.167
22. Eben Junction Superior Central, 126, 2-4, 13.833
23. Akron-Fairgrove, 99, 2-4, 13.000
24. Kinde-North Huron, 172, 1-5, 10.333
25. Carsonville-Port Sanilac, 147, 1-5, 9.000
26. Tekonsha, 146, 1-5, 8.333
27. Brimley, 144, 1-5, 8.000
28. St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran *, 101, 0-6, 3.833
29. Flint Michigan School for the Deaf, 56, 0-6, 3.000
30. Litchfield, 106, 0-6, 3.000
31. St. Helen Charlton Heston Academy, 54, 0-6, 1.533
Beaudrie's Rebuild of Jefferson Football Gaining Speed with Fast Start
By
Doug Donnelly
Special for MHSAA.com
September 17, 2025
NEWPORT – Rob Beaudrie has found the secret formula to building a winning football team.
Take over as head coach. Tap his freshman son (even if unexpectedly) as the starting quarterback. Mix in a couple of years hitting the weights, consistent offseason workouts and getting the underclassmen to buy into the playbook and new culture.
Oh, and winning a few games doesn’t hurt.
“Kids like to win,” Beaudrie said. “They don’t want to go out and practice two or three hours every day and go 0-9. It’s not fun for them. These kids have bought in. They’ve been playing football together since they were in youth football. It’s a good experience for them.”
Beaudrie is the head football coach at Monroe Jefferson, a Division 6 school in Newport, along the shores of Lake Erie and home to the Fermi 2 nuclear power plant. The Bears were once a football power, winning the Class BB championship in 1994, but have struggled for the last 20 years or so.
Being from the area, Beaudrie knew all about Jefferson. He took the job three seasons ago. He stayed on the course and things slowly improved.
This year, everything has come together as the Bears are off to a 3-0 start for the first time since 2006. One more win and they’ll have more victories than in any one season since 2016, which was the last time Jefferson qualified for the playoffs.
“We’ve come a long way,” Beaudrie said. “We are doing a lot of things right. We are attacking the ball, pursuing. We’re blocking together. There are still some growing pains. We are young in some areas, but they’ve come along well. They are very talented.”
Beaudrie inserted his son Luke, then a freshman, into the starting quarterback role his first year as head coach. It was an unexpected move because Luke had been a slot receiver or running back while playing youth football and middle school football. When the player Beaudrie expected to be the starting quarterback quit the team, Beaudrie turned to his son.
“He’s not a true quarterback, but he’s learning,” Beaudrie said. “He’s learned to understand the offense and read the defense. He’s a leader.”
In Jefferson’s 52-21 win over Milan on Friday, Luke Beaudrie returned a kickoff 99 yards, had touchdown runs of 65, 2, 50 and 32 and returned an interception 89 yards for a touchdown – all in the first half.
“He’s a special athlete,” Rob Beaudrie said. “He was never tackled in middle school. He’s very fast and has great vision.”
Luke said he has adapted to being the quarterback.
“When I first started, I didn’t think it was for me,” he said. “But you have to have the mindset ‘whatever is best for the team.’ I started learning it, and now I’m more comfortable.”
Through three games, Beaudrie has 487 yards rushing, 243 yards passing and has scored 13 touchdowns.
The Beaudries have used this same game plan before, but at a different school. Rob was head coach at Erie Mason, a program that had struggled. His son Noah became the starting quarterback as a freshman, went through some growing pains, but developed into an all-stater his senior season as Mason won a league championship.
Noah went on to play college football at Mount Union University (Ohio) where he quarterbacked the Purple Raiders into the Division III national championship game last season. This year, Noah transferred to Adrian College where he is the starting quarterback and has the Bulldogs off to a 2-0 start.
Being close to home has allowed him to serve as an assistant coach for Jefferson.
“The schedules line up really well,” Rob Beaudrie said. “He can be at (our) practice just about every Sunday and Monday and can be at most of our games. He helps Luke out a lot. He’s brought a lot of college experiences with him to the playbook.”
Another former player Rob had at Mason, Tanner Herrera, is helping coach the Jefferson offense.
“I didn’t want to do it all,” Beaudrie said. “I offered him the OC (offensive coordinator) job, and he’s run with it.”
Beaudrie said he thought this could be the year Jefferson turned things around. The Bears still have a difficult Huron League schedule ahead of them. This week they take on Riverview, then have Flat Rock and Division 7 No. 1-ranked Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central.
“The good thing is, these kids don’t know what they don’t know,” Beaudrie said.
Roster numbers have gone up steadily since Beaudrie took over. His first season the Bears had 23 players in the entire program. Last year they had 36 players in all and no seniors. This year Jefferson counts 61 players – plenty enough for a JV and varsity program.
“That has been a huge help,” he said.
The first two years weren’t easy as he brought his system to Jefferson. He faced skepticism over the team’s passing attack. For years, even decades, Jefferson was known for its rushing offense; at one time, the Bears would go weeks without attempting a pass.
“This is all new at Jefferson. People would tell me, ‘They don’t know anything about passing the ball; you can’t do that,’” Beaudrie said. “I told them, ‘You’d be surprised what kids can learn.’ We came in and did our thing. We were out-manned a bit the first few years.
“Sometimes the first couple of years you get a new coach in, and some people don’t like what you are doing. It wasn’t going to ruffle my feathers. I have thick skin. There’s a plan, and you have to trust the process, trust the system.
“Now, the kids are excited, the parents are excited, everyone is excited. Everybody likes a winner. I’m excited to see what happens next year as well, but we are going to enjoy these wins right now.”
Jefferson athletic director Alyssa Eppler said the football success has brought excitement to the games and district.
"There’s an incredible buzz in our school and community right now, and it’s been building for a few years now,” she said. “It’s exciting to finally see it all come together. You can feel the energy in the hallways and see it in the stands on Friday nights. Or first home game truly had the atmosphere of a homecoming. We’re proud of the momentum and what it means for our kids."
Luke Beaudrie is happy with how things have worked out, even if he had to learn a new position.
“The first few years were a little rough,” he said. “Now, everyone is starting to buy in, and everyone expects some good things the next couple of years. It feels amazing. This hasn’t happened here in a while.”
Doug Donnelly has served as a news and sports reporter at the Adrian Daily Telegram and the Monroe News for 30 years, including 10 years as city editor in Monroe. He's written a book on high school basketball in Monroe County and compiles record books for various schools in southeast Michigan. He is now publisher and editor of The Blissfield Advance, a weekly newspaper. E-mail him at [email protected] with story ideas for Jackson, Washtenaw, Hillsdale, Lenawee and Monroe counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Monroe Jefferson’s Luke Beaudrie sprints toward the end zone during a game last season. (Middle) Jefferson coach Rob Beaudrie holds a pad while Luke works on making a cut during practice. (Photos courtesy of the Monroe News.)