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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

Benton Harbor Writing Success Story

By Wes Morgan
Special for MHSAA.com

November 5, 2015

Books are written about this kind of thing. Actually, one was penned 13 years ago about a Benton Harbor football team from more than 100 years ago.

“The Way We Played The Game: A True Story of One Team and the Dawning of American Football” was author John Armstrong’s ode to a Clayton Teetzel-coached Tigers squad at the turn of the century that galvanized Benton Harbor.

The storyline then was how Teetzel helped get the hapless Tigers back on track in 1903 while also evolving a more violent and dangerous version of the sport back then into one comprised of physicality and cerebration.

Benton Harbor is a different place today. Despite all the wonderful things the city has to offer, it has become known for crime and poverty. And in terms of football, there haven’t been many memorable seasons. Until this year, the Tigers’ last winning campaign was a 6-3 effort in 1989. Benton Harbor managed to win just 49 games over the following 25 years.

A new chapter is being written this fall, however, as the Tigers qualified for the postseason for the first time in school history with a 5-4 regular-season record. They stunned a quality Dowagiac team in a Division 4 Pre-District game, 28-7, and take on a 10-0 Zeeland West squad Friday in the District Final.

The well-documented resurgence headed up by 74-year-old coach Elliot Uzelac, a veteran of the high school, college and professional ranks, who thought rebuilding a woeful program while busting through a cultural wall would be a better use of time than the boredom and restlessness of retirement, has been the buzz of the Michigan prep sports world.

Being part of this season at Benton Harbor (he takes no credit), Uzelac said, is the highlight of his 50-year coaching career.

“When you’re younger, you look at things differently,” said Uzelac, who coached at nearby St. Joseph, where he helped the Bears compile a 6-5 record in 2006 after a winless season in 2005, along with head coaching positions at Western Michigan University (1975-81) and Navy (1987-89) and myriad assistant roles in college and the NFL. “Winning is so important. You want to have a proper salary because you want to feed your family. What’s the next stop? If I’m an assistant coach, is there a head coaching position available?

“None of these things exist now. This is strictly about helping people. Honestly, I’ve had the greatest time of my life doing this with these young men. Yes, it’s been hard. Yes, it’s been … (chuckle) really time consuming and we really had to work hard. But I’ve never been more satisfied and never felt better about accomplishing something with young men than I have this time.”

Uzelac’s hiring might not have happened if not for a persistent Fred Smith, who applied for the athletic director job on five separate occasions, finally landing the position this summer. Smith, nearing retirement, also wanted a challenge, and Benton Harbor had some kind of magnetic force.

When Smith was a student at Western Michigan University, his first student-teaching assignment in 1979 was at Benton Harbor with then-head basketball coach Earl McKee. Smith had a desire to coach basketball and requested an internship at Benton Harbor, because, he said at the time, “they play the best basketball.”

Smith was able to stay there for two more years as a full-time substitute but moved on to many other jobs in education, including stints as AD at Comstock and most recently Buchanan. He made a big impact at Buchanan and left the school on very solid ground. Buchanan is undefeated in football this year and is gearing up for a Division 5 district championship showdown with Berrien Springs. In volleyball, the Bucks picked up their 46th win of the season Wednesday in the Class B District Semifinals — a single-season victories record for the program.

Uzelac, curious as to whether or not Benton Harbor would join the Berrien-Cass-St. Joseph Conference, called Smith on July 4th to chat about the new league.

“In conversation, he told me the AD job was open,” Smith said. “A long story short, he talked me into applying. I had an interview July 14th, was offered the job July 16th, and on July 20th I signed my letter of agreement. I hired Elliot July 21st.

“This was the fifth time I applied for the job back here. A lot of people wonder why I wanted to come back. We all want to make a difference in kids’ lives. I think there’s a chance to do big things here.”

It’s a perspective shared by Uzelac. 

The morning after the Tigers beat Dowagiac, he addressed his players.

“You’ve given me far more than I’ve given you,” he told them. “That’s the truth. I’ve never felt this way before.

“I don’t think anybody realizes how bad they’ve had it. It’s a wonderful, wonderful feeling.”

Six days earlier, on Selection Sunday, a Benton Harbor student died in a drive-by shooting. A winning football season can only change so much.

But similar to Teetzel over a century ago, Uzelac is making the young men in his charge to think their way through school, football and life — even when it pertains to new technology and means of communicating he doesn’t understand.

“Never,” he said when asked how often he uses social media. “I don’t even really know what (Twitter) is. Things are said on Twitter than can really create problems, especially in a community like this. You’re talking about a very tough community and the word ‘retaliate’ is used often around here, which we’re trying to change that attitude. You have to be very careful what you do and say in this community.”

A consummate professional in the press box, longtime Benton Harbor football announcer Greg Mauchmar‘s animated play-by-play this year wasn’t just a veneer. Gradually, beginning with the team’s first win since 2012 — a 14-9 victory at home over Battle Creek Central in Week 2 — his voice was being received by human eardrums in the stands rather than bouncing around empty bleachers.

Mauchmar, just one of many people who have done their part to embrace the football team even through extremely tough seasons, remembers countless games where there were as few as a 100 supporters in attendance.

“Everyone has rallied around this team and there’s a level of excitement that inspires us,” he said. “I can get excited because the people in the stands are excited and I don’t have to work hard to do that. When the kids looked up there and didn’t see too many people (in past years), you know how motivating that is. Sometimes you felt like you were preaching to the choir. We wanted more membership in the choir.”

This fall’s feel-good football story has grown legs. National news outlets such as ESPN and Sports Illustrated picked up on what was published by scribes around Michigan, spreading the story to the farthest corners of the country.

Messages of support have come in from all over Michigan and from as far away as California, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Ohio and Illinois, Uzelac said.

The Benton Harbor bandwagon, it appears, is nearly full.

Wes Morgan has reported for the Kalamazoo Gazette, ESPN and ESPNChicago.com, 247Sports and Blue & Gold Illustrated over the last 12 years and is the publisher of JoeInsider.com. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Berrien, Cass, St. Joseph and Branch counties.

PHOTOS: (Top) Benton Harbor football coach Elliot Uzelac instructs players before a game this season. (Middle) Benton Harbor quarterback Tim Bell prepares to hand off to Jeremy Burrell during the Tigers' game against St. Joseph this fall. (Photos courtesy of Randy Willis/Harbor Photography.)