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2014 Week 8 Football Playoff Listing

October 14, 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 seventh 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, 6-1, 92.286
2. Sterling Heights Stevenson^, 2767, 5-2, 75.143 
3. Clarkston, 2742, 7-0, 107.429 
4. Utica Eisenhower, 2712, 4-3, 65.714 
5. Grand Blanc^, 2668, 5-2, 68.857 
6. East Kentwood, 2592, 6-1, 85.143 
7. Rockford, 2555, 6-1, 94.286 
8. Clinton Township Chippewa Valley, 2538, 4-3, 63.429 
9. Lake Orion, 2459, 4-3, 55.429 
10. Dearborn Fordson, 2411, 7-0, 101.714 
11. Northville^, 2298, 5-2, 67.571 
12. Holland West Ottawa^, 2293, 5-2, 77.571 
13. Canton, 2289, 6-1, 93.286 
14. Detroit Cass Tech, 2277, 7-0, 101.714 
15. Plymouth^, 2116, 5-2, 67.714 
16. Lapeer, 2112, 7-0, 94.857 
17. Utica Ford, 2090, 4-3, 53.000 
18. Hartland, 2007, 6-1, 92.857 
19. Monroe^, 1992, 5-2, 73.571 
20. West Bloomfield, 1929, 6-1, 87.714 
21. Dearborn, 1876, 4-3, 60.571 
22. Westland John Glenn, 1872, 4-3, 52.286 
23. Warren Mott, 1870, 4-3, 63.429 
24. Oxford^, 1864, 5-2, 73.571 
25. Livonia Stevenson^, 1848, 5-2, 67.286 
26. Saline, 1844, 6-1, 90.086 
27. Walled Lake Central^, 1815, 5-2, 74.429 
28. Romeo, 1770, 4-3, 61.000 
29. Hudsonville, 1759, 4-3, 58.000 
30. Waterford Mott^, 1738, 5-2, 74.429 
31. Rochester Hills Stoney Creek, 1711, 4-3, 54.429 
32. Livonia Churchill, 1696, 6-1, 85.286 
33. Grand Ledge, 1689, 4-3, 55.714 
34. Fraser, 1684, 4-3, 57.429 
35. Waterford Kettering, 1610, 4-3, 53.286 
36. Temperance Bedford, 1600, 4-3, 59.571 
37. Warren Cousino, 1588, 4-3, 59.571 
38. Flint Carman-Ainsworth, 1568, 6-1, 84.000 
39. Warren DeLaSalle, 1562, 4-3, 50.886 
40. Detroit Martin Luther King, 1507, 7-0, 101.714 
41. Walled Lake Western, 1502, 6-1, 87.429 
42. Traverse City Central^, 1490, 5-2, 77.429 
43. Oak Park, 1486, 6-1, 86.571 
44. Brownstown Woodhaven, 1484, 7-0, 107.429 
45. Ypsilanti Lincoln^, 1422, 5-2, 65.857 
46. Caledonia^, 1417, 5-2, 76.143 
47. Portage Central*, 1384, 5-1, 83.000 
48. Southgate Anderson, 1374, 4-3, 54.429 
49. Lansing Everett^, 1364, 5-2, 68.571 
50. Dearborn Edsel Ford, 1356, 4-3, 54.857 
51. Wyandotte Roosevelt^, 1351, 5-2, 74.714 
52. Detroit East English^, 1345, 5-2, 69.143 
53. Portage Northern, 1345, 4-3, 61.048 
54. Port Huron^, 1336, 5-2, 76.714 
55. Grosse Pointe North, 1310, 4-3, 59.857 
56. Ypsilanti Community^, 1300, 5-2, 64.857 
57. Birmingham Brother Rice, 1298, 7-0, 107.429 
58. Swartz Creek, 1285, 4-3, 56.571 
59. Battle Creek Lakeview*, 1278, 5-1, 84.238 
60. Muskegon Mona Shores, 1274, 6-1, 94.429 
61. Okemos, 1273, 4-3, 61.000 
62. Birmingham Groves, 1270, 6-1, 81.857 
63. Berkley, 1265, 6-1, 83.000 
64. Flushing, 1260, 6-1, 86.000 
65. Midland Dow, 1255, 7-0, 101.714 
66. South Lyon, 1254, 6-1, 87.143 
67. Southfield^, 1239, 5-2, 68.857 
68. Farmington Hills Harrison, 1212, 6-1, 88.714 
69. Mattawan, 1184, 4-3, 54.476 
70. Fenton, 1181, 7-0, 100.571 
71. Farmington, 1178, 6-1, 86.429 
72. Grand Rapids Northview^, 1177, 5-2, 66.429 
73. Warren Woods Tower, 1175, 6-1, 81.857 
74. Muskegon, 1157, 7-0, 101.714 
75. St. Clair Shores Lake Shore, 1153, 4-3, 52.429 
76. Lowell, 1145, 7-0, 96.000 
77. Detroit Renaissance^, 1144, 5-2, 62.714 
78. Greenville, 1130, 4-3, 47.000 
79. Gibraltar Carlson, 1129, 4-3, 51.000 
80. Battle Creek Central, 1124, 4-3, 53.238 
81. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern, 1113, 6-1, 85.286 
82. Detroit Cody, 1096, 4-3, 51.000 
83. Marquette, 1090, 6-1, 76.857 
84. St. Johns, 1088, 6-1, 84.286 
85. Byron Center, 1085, 6-1, 80.714 
86. Allen Park, 1069, 6-1, 83.143 
87. Auburn Hills Avondale, 1056, 4-3, 51.286 
88. Orchard Lake St. Mary's, 1054, 6-1, 90.000 
89. Mt. Pleasant^, 1050, 5-2, 65.714 
90. Mason, 1032, 4-3, 54.571 
91. St. Joseph, 1028, 4-3, 53.143 
92. Redford Thurston, 1024, 4-3, 54.286 
93. East Grand Rapids, 986, 4-3, 58.286 
94. Petoskey^, 965, 5-2, 68.857 
95. Trenton, 955, 4-3, 52.429 
96. Romulus^, 950, 5-2, 58.714 
97. Riverview^, 935, 5-2, 61.000 
98. DeWitt, 930, 7-0, 102.857 
99. Gaylord^, 927, 5-2, 65.429 
100. Linden^, 921, 5-2, 66.714 
101. Detroit Mumford, 919, 4-3, 54.571 
102. Middleville Thornapple Kellogg, 914, 4-3, 50.571 
103. Cedar Springs, 910, 6-1, 81.571 
104. Grand Rapids Christian^, 895, 5-2, 70.286 
105. Fruitport, 890, 4-3, 51.000 
106. Stevensville Lakeshore, 887, 6-1, 88.476 
107. Niles^, 885, 5-2, 66.238 
108. Coldwater, 876, 6-1, 67.143 
109. Tecumseh, 869, 4-3, 58.000 
110. New Boston Huron, 867, 6-1, 78.571 
111. Warren Fitzgerald, 857, 4-3, 49.571 
112. Zeeland West, 850, 7-0, 86.857 
113. Dearborn Divine Child^, 848, 5-2, 61.571 
114. Bay City John Glenn^, 847, 5-2, 55.286 
115. Battle Creek Harper Creek, 845, 4-3, 47.857 
116. St. Clair, 844, 6-1, 84.286 
117. Edwardsburg, 839, 6-1, 77.143 
118. Chelsea^, 838, 5-2, 70.857 
119. Detroit Old Redford, 837, 4-3, 42.000 
120. Charlotte, 836, 4-3, 45.000 
121. Plainwell, 812, 6-1, 72.714 
122. Marysville, 806, 4-3, 52.571 
123. Spring Lake, 802, 4-3, 48.429 
124. Detroit Denby, 800, 4-3, 59.000 
125. Vicksburg^, 794, 5-2, 65.143 
126. Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood^, 790, 5-2, 48.000 
127. Eaton Rapids, 773, 4-3, 47.714 
128. Cadillac, 747, 7-0, 100.571 
129. Goodrich, 737, 6-1, 74.000 
130. Three Rivers, 722, 4-3, 56.714 
131. Dearborn Heights Robichaud, 717, 7-0, 87.238 
132. Yale^, 716, 5-2, 55.286 
133. Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy^, 691, 5-2, 60.286 
134. Detroit Country Day, 690, 4-3, 51.714 
135. Allendale, 689, 4-3, 49.857 
136. Muskegon Orchard View, 662, 4-3, 45.143 
137. Williamston, 659, 6-1, 75.143 
138. Paw Paw, 657, 4-3, 47.571 
139. Grand Rapids Catholic Central, 655, 4-3, 51.018 
140. Lansing Sexton, 652, 7-0, 105.143 
141. Whitehall, 644, 6-1, 64.714 
142. Grosse Ile^, 640, 5-2, 58.714 
143. Kalamazoo Hackett^, 635, 5-2, 51.429 
144. Detroit Collegiate Prep, 634, 4-3, 45.143 
145. Richmond, 630, 6-1, 75.143 
146. Imlay City, 629, 4-3, 40.571 
147. Grand Rapids South Christian^, 623, 5-2, 64.000 
148. Wyoming Kelloggsville^, 610, 5-2, 56.286 
149. Wyoming Godwin Heights, 609, 4-3, 40.429 
150. Saginaw Swan Valley, 602, 7-0, 83.429 
151. Clawson, 589, 4-3, 43.429 
152. Birch Run, 575, 6-1, 69.286 
153. Essexville Garber, 574, 4-3, 45.714 
154. Remus Chippewa Hills, 567, 6-1, 74.714 
155. Marine City, 553, 7-0, 88.000 
156. Flint Powers Catholic^, 553, 5-2, 65.571 
157. Freeland, 549, 6-1, 69.429 
158. Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard^, 545, 5-2, 52.095 
159. Stanton Central Montcalm, 539, 4-3, 50.857 
160. Portland, 538, 4-3, 51.143 
161. Menominee, 532, 7-0, 90.381 
162. River Rouge, 530, 6-1, 72.167 
163. Detroit University Prep^, 530, 5-2, 58.571 
164. Frankenmuth, 528, 6-1, 72.857 
165. Gladwin^, 528, 5-2, 49.429 
166. Ida, 527, 6-1, 64.714 
167. Hopkins, 522, 6-1, 71.667 
168. Lansing Catholic, 515, 7-0, 90.286 
169. Almont, 512, 7-0, 82.286 
170. Newaygo, 506, 6-1, 70.429 
171. Olivet, 505, 6-1, 70.143 
172. Muskegon Oakridge, 501, 6-1, 68.286 
173. Berrien Springs^, 501, 5-2, 57.857 
174. Onsted^, 499, 5-2, 44.857 
175. Ovid-Elsie, 487, 4-3, 48.857 
176. Chesaning, 480, 4-3, 43.714 
177. Detroit Central Collegiate, 479, 4-3, 46.429 
178. Manistee, 479, 4-3, 42.571 
179. Stockbridge, 462, 4-3, 47.286 
180. Reed City, 461, 6-1, 68.143 
181. Clare^, 445, 5-2, 55.286 
182. Harrison, 444, 7-0, 70.857 
183. Kingsley, 439, 4-3, 45.286 
184. Grand Rapids West Catholic, 438, 7-0, 88.000 
185. Delton Kellogg, 428, 4-3, 41.952 
186. Lakeview, 426, 6-1, 56.000 
187. Beaverton, 422, 4-3, 39.714 
188. Calumet, 419, 4-3, 49.429 
189. Jonesville, 419, 4-3, 37.714 
190. Jackson Lumen Christi, 417, 7-0, 86.857 
191. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central, 417, 7-0, 96.000 
192. Negaunee, 417, 4-3, 39.286 
193. Millington, 414, 7-0, 86.629 
194. Warren Michigan Collegiate, 414, 7-0, 80.000 
195. Fennville, 407, 4-3, 38.143 
196. Ithaca, 405, 7-0, 83.429 
197. Sanford Meridian Early College^, 404, 5-2, 43.714 
198. Mason County Central, 404, 4-3, 36.000 
199. Hillsdale, 401, 6-1, 62.571 
200. Hanover-Horton, 399, 6-1, 54.429 
201. Boyne City, 395, 7-0, 72.381 
202. Grass Lake^, 395, 5-2, 45.857 
203. Madison Heights Madison, 393, 6-1, 83.000 
204. Morley Stanwood, 393, 4-3, 38.143 
205. Montrose, 392, 6-1, 62.429 
206. Tawas^, 385, 5-2, 59.800 
207. Elk Rapids, 384, 4-3, 44.095 
208. Niles Brandywine, 383, 6-1, 66.810 
209. Manchester, 379, 6-1, 68.286 
210. Watervliet, 378, 6-1, 54.429 
211. Quincy^, 375, 5-2, 27.778 
212. Vassar, 375, 4-3, 35.286 
213. St. Charles, 373, 4-3, 45.429 
214. Constantine, 371, 6-1, 68.524 
215. Bad Axe, 371, 4-3, 41.143 
216. Clinton, 367, 7-0, 75.429 
217. Vandercook Lake^, 366, 5-2, 48.286 
218. Laingsburg, 361, 4-3, 36.286 
219. Schoolcraft, 361, 4-3, 48.381 
220. Charlevoix, 353, 4-3, 45.286 
221. Flint Beecher, 350, 7-0, 80.000 
222. Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian, 347, 6-1, 70.429 
223. Leroy Pine River, 343, 4-3, 39.429 
224. Ravenna, 342, 6-1, 60.143 
225. Carson City-Crystal^, 330, 5-2, 48.381 
226. Bridgman*, 327, 5-1, 59.000 
227. Ishpeming Westwood^, 318, 5-2, 43.571 
228. Marlette^, 316, 5-2, 46.286 
229. Lawton, 316, 4-3, 33.571 
230. Cass City, 314, 4-3, 38.714 
231. Homer, 312, 6-1, 54.286 
232. Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker, 308, 7-0, 68.571 
233. Ishpeming*, 307, 7-0, 78.857 
234. Sandusky, 307, 4-3, 40.143
235. Traverse City St. Francis^, 305, 5-2, 55.810 
236. Burton Atherton^, 304, 5-2, 54.262 
237. Pewamo-Westphalia, 302, 6-1, 57.857 
238. Gobles, 301, 6-1, 56.857 
239. Dansville^, 301, 5-2, 47.286 
240. Iron Mountain, 298, 4-3, 42.000 
241. Riverview Gabriel Richard, 297, 4-3, 46.333 
242. Flint Hamady, 295, 4-3, 34.286 
243. McBain, 295, 4-3, 37.048 
244. Union City, 294, 7-0, 67.429 
245. Whittemore-Prescott, 283, 7-0, 74.286 
246. Mancelona, 282, 4-3, 28.571 
247. Saugatuck^, 281, 5-2, 44.714 
248. Detroit Loyola, 278, 7-0, 91.810 
249. Manton^, 276, 5-2, 43.619 
250. Royal Oak Shrine Catholic^, 273, 5-2, 53.429 
251. Hudson, 271, 6-1, 61.286 
252. Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett, 270, 6-1, 60.000 
253. Cassopolis, 269, 4-3, 34.714 
254. Decatur, 262, 7-0, 81.143 
255. Lincoln Alcona, 260, 4-3, 33.714 
256. Iron River West Iron County, 259, 7-0, 78.143 
257. New Lothrop, 259, 7-0, 74.286 
258. Blanchard Montabella, 256, 4-3, 41.714 
259. Breckenridge, 247, 4-3, 39.286 
260. Onekama, 244, 4-3, 31.571 
261. Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary, 243, 6-1, 61.429 
262. Suttons Bay, 243, 6-1, 63.976 
263. Indian River Inland Lakes, 242, 6-1, 47.714 
264. Ottawa Lake Whiteford, 238, 4-3, 37.429 
265. Johannesburg-Lewiston, 237, 6-1, 50.000 
266. Petersburg-Summerfield, 233, 4-3, 41.143 
267. Harbor Beach, 232, 7-0, 72.000 
268. Bessemer*^, 231, 4-2, 35.750 
269. L'Anse, 230, 4-3, 36.286 
270. White Pigeon, 226, 4-3, 37.952 
271. Beal City, 222, 6-1, 66.000 
272. Lutheran Westland^, 221, 5-2, 47.000 
273. AuGres-Sims, 221, 4-3, 29.000 
274. Coleman, 217, 6-1, 55.667 
275. Mendon, 214, 6-1, 65.286 
276. St. Ignace, 211, 7-0, 68.571 
277. Fulton, 211, 4-3, 41.000 
278. Newberry, 211, 4-3, 31.667 
279. Pittsford^, 205, 5-2, 38.905 
280. Munising, 194, 6-1, 51.524 
281. Bark River-Harris^, 194, 5-2, 39.095 
282. Central Lake, 190, 4-3, 29.714 
283. Fowler, 189, 7-0, 66.286 
284. Morenci, 184, 6-1, 66.000 
285. Muskegon Catholic Central, 183, 7-0, 90.286 
286. Sterling Heights Parkway Christian, 171, 4-3, 43.905 
287. Climax-Scotts, 169, 7-0, 50.286 
288. Waterford Our Lady, 169, 6-1, 69.429 
289. Crystal Falls Forest Park*, 167, 5-1, 45.321 
290. Lake Linden-Hubbell, 163, 6-1, 60.179 
291. Frankfort*, 156, 5-1, 51.762 
292. Colon*^, 156, 4-2, 36.667 
293. Hillman, 139, 7-0, 59.429 
294. Baldwin, 137, 6-1, 51.000 
295. Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart, 124, 4-3, 42.381 
296. Clarkston Everest Collegiate*, 105, 6-0, 62.476 

8-Player Playoff Listing

1. Rapid River, 108, 7-0, 55.429
2. Peck, 158, 7-0, 54.857
3. Battle Creek St. Philip, 157, 7-0, 52.571
4. Bellaire, 151, 7-0, 52.000
5. Portland St. Patrick, 96, 7-0, 51.429
6. Lawrence, 191, 7-0, 44.571
7. Deckerville, 183, 6-1, 44.286
8. Cedarville, 158, 6-1, 44.286
9. Owendale-Gagetown, 49, 6-1, 41.571
10. Waldron, 89, 5-2, 34.857
11. Kingston, 191, 4-3, 33.286
12. Morrice, 196, 4-3, 29.381
13. Big Rapids Crossroads Academy, 188, 3-4, 24.238
14. Burr Oak, 69, 4-3, 24.000
15. Caseville, 81, 3-4, 23.714
16. Engadine, 85, 3-4, 22.714
17. New Haven Merritt Academy, 145, 4-3, 22.286
18. Posen, 90, 3-4, 21.000
19. Ontonagon*, 138, 3-3, 18.857
20. Webberville, 189, 3-4, 18.714
21. Ewen-Trout Creek, 135, 2-5, 13.286
22. Eben Junction Superior Central, 126, 2-5, 13.286
23. Akron-Fairgrove, 99, 2-5, 11.571
24. Kinde-North Huron, 172, 1-6, 11.143
25. Carsonville-Port Sanilac, 147, 1-6, 9.286
26. St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran*, 101, 1-6, 8.429
27. Tekonsha, 146, 1-6, 8.000
28. Brimley, 144, 1-6, 7.619
29. Litchfield, 106, 0-7, 3.000
30. Flint Michigan School for the Deaf, 56, 0-7, 2.571
31. St. Helen Charlton Heston Academy, 54, 0-7, 2.476

Brother Rice Finds Championship Burst

November 23, 2012

By Bill Khan
Special to Second Half


DETROIT — Jason Alessi appeared to be running out of gas.


The Birmingham Brother Rice junior was all over the football field, matching teammate John Plaskey with a game-high 12 tackles from his free safety position in the MHSAA Division 2 championship game against Muskegon on Friday at Ford Field.


Alessi ran down ball carriers on back-to-back big plays late in the third quarter to make touchdown-saving tackles, but got up slowly on the next play after missing a tackle in the backfield. For someone who spent the day chasing Muskegon's speedy backs, who could blame him if fatigue was setting in?


With a championship on the line, however, Alessi still had 91 yards and the dream of a lifetime within him.


On the kickoff following a game-tying touchdown, Alessi caught a cross-field lateral from sophomore Delano Madison and went 91 yards for the championship touchdown with 2:13 remaining in Brother Rice's 35-28 victory over Muskegon in an epic battle between two of Michigan's premier programs.


It was the eighth MHSAA championship for Brother Rice, which won consecutive titles for the first time.


"Our motto here is never give up," Alessi said. "We played our hearts out. We knew it was going to be a dogfight. We knew we had to give our whole heart into it. We left everything we could out on the field. It was amazing."


With the experience of 53 years of head coaching at his disposal, legendary Brother Rice coach Al Fracassa gave the green light to run a gadget play the Warriors (12-2) didn't install until the week of the championship game.


Fracassa admitted he was skeptical about even using practice time to work on a somewhat-risky lateral play, but deferred to coach David Sofran, who runs the special teams. Brother Rice considered running the play on its first kick return and also to open the second half, but didn't pull this one out of the bag of tricks until after Muskegon tied the game 28-28 on a 51-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Deshaun Thrower to Keondre Craig with 2:31 left in the game.


"We practiced it every day in practice for the last week," Alessi said. "A couple times it did not work. It would be a bad throw or I caught it and there would be guys in front of me. It was a huge risk. Once I heard the coach call that play, I was really excited. I knew it could be a really big play. I didn't know it would be a touchdown, but I knew it would be a huge play."


Madison caught the kickoff at the 4-yard line, took a few steps forward, then passed the ball back to Alessi. Alessi had a clear path down the left side, made some defenders miss at midfield, and was in the clear.


"It's almost unreal," Alessi said. "I dreamed about this moment. Who knew it would come true? It's an amazing feeling."


It was the second trick play Brother Rice used to take the lead in a frantic fourth quarter that will go down as one of the greatest in championship game history.


Two plays after Muskegon (12-2) tied the game 21-21 on an 11-yard run by Marcus Smith, Brother Rice recaptured the lead on a 77-yard flea-flicker pass from sophomore Alex Malzone to junior Corey Lacanaria with 3:29 left in the game. 


The play began with a handoff to junior running back Brian Walker, who pitched the ball back to Malzone. Lacanaria, who opened the scoring with a 16-yard catch, was wide open behind the Muskegon defense when he caught the ball at the Big Reds' 41-yard line.

"We had the feeling right before they threw that flea-flicker that if we could get a stop right then, our offense was moving," Muskegon coach Shane Fairfield said. "They were a little tired. Their hands were on their hips. Our kids did a great job of conditioning in the pool room all week, but they made the call and the play and we didn't."


Muskegon hung in there, despite an ankle injury to senior standout quarterback Jalen Smith, who had a game-high 138 yards on 17 carries. Smith was injured with 2:38 left in the third quarter, but Thrower came in and tied the game 14-14 with a 1-yard touchdown run. Smith came back for three plays on the next drive, but didn't play during the final 9:43. Thrower, who attempted only seven passes all season, went 8-for-17 for 143 yards and a touchdown.


"Jalen got hurt," Thrower said. "He had the offense moving real good. I didn't want to slow the tempo down. I wanted to make plays. I didn't want the seniors' last game to be off a loss."


Brother Rice appeared to have the game wrapped up when Thrower threw an incompletion on fourth-and-12 with 57 seconds left in the game. But a fumbled snap while the Warriors were going to take a knee gave Muskegon the ball at its own 5-yard line with 55 seconds to go.


Thrower completed three passes for 46 yards, getting the ball to Brother Rice's 49-yard line before the game ended with an incompletion toward the end zone as time expired.


"We had a lot of players just making great plays out there," Brother Rice senior linebacker Jon Reschke said. "We stopped (Muskegon's ground game). We shut it down. We got them running other things that they didn't want to run, like throwing the ball. They're an 80-percent run team. Everyone knows they're a great rushing team. They had a great rushing game this game, but we got them out of that and got them to pass in the fourth quarter. That's what won us the ball game."


Brother Rice got out to a 14-0 lead on back-to-back scoring drives in the first half before Muskegon's defense settled in and kept the Warriors off the board on their next five possessions. Muskegon cut the margin to 14-7 on a 9-yard run by Javontae Langston with 6:28 left in the second quarter. After a lull in the action, the teams proceeded to score 42 points in the final 13:58 of the game.


"I thought the game was never going to end, really," Fracassa said. "I was suffering down there, 'C'mon, get this game going!' It's just a wonderful thing to happen to a team. They're going to remember it forever."


The burning question after the game was whether this would be the farewell appearance for Fracassa, the winningest coach in Michigan high school football history. He has a 416-117-7 record in eight years at Royal 

Oak Shrine and 44 at Brother Rice. He recently turned 80.


Fracassa said he hasn't made a decision on his future.


"I have to go home and talk to my wife about this," Fracassa said. "I love the game. It's done so much for me. It gave me a scholarship to Michigan State. I played football, baseball and basketball in high school. Sports mean a lot to me. I'd like to give back. If I can coach in some capacity, if the good Lord is good to me and gives me good health, I'd like to help somebody out. I have to make the decision pretty soon. My birthday came fast a few weeks ago."


Shon Powell ran seven times for 97 yards and a touchdown for Brother Rice. Malzone was 8-for-10 for 167 yards and two touchdowns, while Cheyne Lacanaria was 4-for-6 for 44 yards and a touchdown as the Warriors' quarterback tandem.


Click for full statistics and to watch a replay of the game. See below for the full press conference.


PHOTOS: (Top) Birmingham Brother Rice and coach Al Fracassa pose with the Division 2 championship trophy Friday. (Middle) Brother Rice's Jason Alessi (4) runs toward the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown late in the title game. (Click for more from Terry McNamara Photography.)