2014 Week 8 Football Playoff Listing

Football

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

Football

A Game for Every Fan: Playoffs Week 1

October 28, 2015

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

This first week of the 41^st MHSAA Football Playoffs will be filled with firsts and familiar faces.

Benton Harbor, Detroit Cesar Chavez Academy and Parma Western will take part in the first playoff games in their football programs’ histories. Ten more teams will be making their first postseason appearance in more than a decade.

Beal City will enjoy the playoffs for the 33^rd time, most of any MHSAA school and one of 18 that have appeared in the tournament at least 25 seasons. Rockford will play in its 21^st straight playoffs and Menominee in its 20th, those two enjoying the two longest active streaks. Eight of nine champions return from 2014 – and Clarkston, Grand Rapids West Catholic and Muskegon Catholic Central hope to be playing in five weeks for their third straight MHSAA titles.

But first things first – below are some of the most intriguing openers, all to be played Friday, unless noted. Keep up with the MHSAA Score Center all weekend as scores come in, and check out the Football Page for up-to-date pairings and scores by division.

Division 1

Clarkston (7-2) at Romeo (8-1)

A 1-2 start – albeit, with losses to eventual league champions Macomb Dakota and West Bloomfield – knocked Clarkston out of most conversations about the state’s elite this season, despite the Wolves coming off back-to-back Division 1 titles. But Clarkston won its next six games – including over playoff team Oak Park last week – and drew a Romeo team that started 8-0, beat Dakota by two touchdowns, but is coming off an unexpected three-point loss to Utica Eisenhower in Week 9.

Others that caught my eye: Grandville (6-3) at Rockford (6-3), Plymouth (6-3) at Northville (9-0), Ann Arbor Pioneer (6-3) at Belleville (8-1), Utica Eisenhower (6-3) at Clinton Township Chippewa Valley (7-2).

Division 2

Muskegon (7-2) at Traverse City Central (9-0)

Traverse City Central is undefeated for the first time since its Class A championship season of 1988, and at home, hosting a team with a few hours of road time ahead. And yet, it’s fair to assume most will consider the Trojans underdogs against a Muskegon program that has finished each of the last three seasons at Ford Field. The Big Reds are back in Division 2 after finishing Division 3 runner-up a year ago, and have lost only to Detroit Catholic Central and Muskegon Mona Shores – a possible opponent next week for the winner of this game.

Others that caught my eye: Midland (7-2) at Midland Dow (8-1). Farmington Hills Harrison (7-2) at Birmingham Groves (9-0), Lincoln Park (6-3) at Wyandotte Roosevelt (7-2), Detroit East English (7-2) at Warren DeLaSalle (6-3).

Division 3

Grand Rapids Christian (5-4) at East Grand Rapids (6-3)

The Pioneers held a 26-0 lead in the first matchup between these Ottawa-Kent Conference White rivals, in Week 6, before the Eagles outscored them 39-7 the rest of the way. The math worked out such that East Grand Rapids is the host this time after Christian qualified with an at-large bid, and it's fair to expect another close tilt between teams that have split their last eight meetings, including two during the playoffs.

Others that caught my eye: Haslett (6-3) at DeWitt (8-1), Parma Western (6-3) at Coldwater (9-0), Ortonville-Brandon (6-3) at Linden (7-2), Warren Fitzgerald (6-3) at Redford Thurston (5-4).

Division 4

Flint Powers Catholic (7-2) at Goodrich (7-2)

Both of these teams should be among the most prepared to up their games for the postseason. Powers quietly put together one of the most solid defensive performances in the state, giving up only 101 points total while shutting out four teams and finishing second to Division 2 contender Midland Dow in the Saginaw Valley League Blue. Goodrich emerged as one of five playoff teams from the seven-team Genesee Area Conference Red and played two more playoff teams nonleague, so it too is used to playoff-caliber competition.

Others that caught my eye: Dowagiac (6-3) at Benton Harbor (5-4), Big Rapids (6-3) at Escanaba (5-4), Detroit Denby (5-4) at Detroit Collegiate Prep (9-0), Harper Woods Chandler Park (6-3) at Detroit Country Day (8-1), Saturday.

Division 5

Marine City (6-3) at Almont (7-2)

With its proximity to Port Huron, it’s easy to forget that Marine City plays in the Macomb Area Conference Gold and not the Blue Water Area Conference, and actually has faced BWAC power Almont only once over the last 65 seasons – in a District Final a year ago. Both have deceiving records this time around; Marine City’s three losses were by a combined 12 points to three playoff teams, while Almont’s two defeats came by a combined 15 points to two playoff qualifiers (both fell to Algonac).

Others that caught my eye: Muskegon Oakridge (7-2) at Grand Rapids West Catholic (7-2), Hillsdale (6-3) at Buchanan (9-0), Clinton Township Clintondale (5-4) at Algonac (8-1), Harrison (7-2) at Kingsford (6-3), Saturday.

Division 6

Clinton (9-0) at Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central (8-1)

Division 6 might have the most intriguing set of opening games, topped by this matchup of the reigning champion Falcons against one of two undefeated teams that finds itself on the road this week. This is a rematch of last season’s District Final, won by St. Mary; in 2013 it was Clinton that reached Ford Field and finished runner-up in Division 6. St. Mary’s earned this home game with a schedule loaded with Class A and B teams, but that doesn’t mean Clinton doesn’t know how to ramp up for good competition – the Redskins are one of four playoff teams from the Tri-County Conference.

Others that caught my eye: Vassar (8-1) at Ithaca (9-0), Millington (8-1) at Sanford Meridian (9-0), Calumet (7-2) at Negaunee (7-2), Jackson Lumen Christi (6-3) at Vandercook Lake (8-1).

Division 7

Saugatuck (9-0) at Hesperia (9-0)

Matchups of undefeated teams in the first round are rare, but so is having three undefeated teams in the same District, which these two share with Pewamo-Westphalia. Hesperia is one of the incredible stories of this season. The Panthers, known best for their wrestling, were 1-8 a year ago and hadn’t made the playoffs since 2002 – but did have four 0-9 seasons during the drought. Only once this fall, in Week 4 against Morley-Stanwood, did an opponent come within 25 points of Hesperia. But Saugatuck has been both impressive and consistent on offense, scoring no fewer than 42 points in any game and beating their opponents by an average of 48.

Others that caught my eye: Flint Hamady (7-2) at Flint Beecher (6-2), Cass City (7-2) at Ubly (7-2), Concord (7-2) at Dansville (8-1), Harbor Springs (6-3) at Iron Mountain (6-3), Saturday.

Division 8

Mendon (5-4) at Climax-Scotts (9-0)

A first-round game between an at-large qualifier and an undefeated host is generally viewed as a slam dunk for the home team. But it’s doubtful anyone recently has considered Mendon and its eight straight seasons with at least 10 wins an easy out. The four losses this fall were all to playoff teams, three now playing in higher divisions. Climax-Scotts has seen its last four seasons end against the Hornets and is the last team that would take them lightly, even after giving up a total of only 27 points this season.

Others that caught my eye: Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (6-3) at Muskegon Catholic Central (6-2), Bark River-Harris (7-2) at Munising (7-2), Ottawa Lake Whiteford (7-2) at Petersburg-Summerfield (7-2), Crystal Falls Forest Park (5-3) at Lake Linden-Hubbell (9-0), Saturday.

8-Player

Rapid River (6-3) at Engadine (7-2)

Engadine’s Week 5 62-30 win over Rapid River sent a shockwave through 8-player football, as it was Rapid River’s first regular-season loss since 2012. The Eagles still haven’t lost since Week 3, with only Stephenson coming reasonably close to taking a game. But the short history of 8-player football in this state has shown that this division allows more than any other for massive turnarounds between the regular-season and playoff meetings between teams – and Rapid River knows well the possibility this weekend after beating Cedarville 20-19 during the 2014 regular season and then falling to the Trojans 28-0 five weeks later in a Regional Final.

Others that caught my eye: Cedarville (7-2) at Owendale-Gagetown (9-0), Peck (7-2) at Deckerville (8-1).

PHOTO: Montrose, carrying the ball, earned an at-large bid to its 23^rd MHSAA Playoffs as one of five qualifiers from the Genesee Area Conference Red.