2015 Week 6 Football Playoff Listing
September 29, 2015
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 fifth 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. 30. 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. 30.
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 at 7 p.m. Oct. 25 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, 2921, 4-1, 82.200
2. Grand Blanc, 2727, 4-1, 76.000
3. Clarkston, 2707, 3-2, 55.800
4. Utica Eisenhower, 2669, 3-2, 62.000
5. Sterling Heights Stevenson, 2634, 4-1, 72.600
6. Clinton Township Chippewa Valley, 2611, 4-1, 85.400
7. East Kentwood, 2581, 4-1, 78.800
8. Howell, 2567, 4-1, 74.200
9. Rockford, 2561, 3-2, 60.800
10. Detroit Cass Tech, 2285, 4-1, 76.000
11. Northville ^, 2281, 5-0, 89.600
12. Brighton ^, 2211, 5-0, 94.400
13. Troy Athens, 2153, 3-2, 55.400
14. Detroit Catholic Central, 2138, 4-1, 64.800
15. Utica Ford, 2080, 4-1, 82.400
16. Canton ^, 2076, 5-0, 91.200
17. Monroe, 2066, 3-2, 55.800
18. Lapeer ^, 2059, 5-0, 86.400
19. Plymouth, 2057, 4-1, 72.400
20. Ann Arbor Pioneer ^, 2025, 5-0, 92.800
21. Hartland, 2017, 3-2, 52.600
22. New Baltimore Anchor Bay, 1946, 3-2, 55.000
23. West Bloomfield ^, 1932, 5-0, 96.000
24. Saline ^, 1879, 5-0, 86.400
25. Livonia Stevenson ^, 1831, 5-0, 96.000
26. Warren Mott, 1810, 4-1, 80.600
27. Utica, 1788, 3-2, 59.000
28. Holt, 1788, 3-2, 55.400
29. Davison, 1765, 3-2, 53.600
30. Hudsonville, 1763, 4-1, 78.800
31. Belleville, 1735, 4-1, 72.200
32. Romeo ^, 1673, 5-0, 99.200
33. Grand Ledge ^, 1663, 5-0, 88.000
34. Grosse Pointe South, 1629, 3-2, 57.200
35. Livonia Churchill, 1620, 3-2, 49.400
36. Walled Lake Northern, 1611, 4-1, 76.000
37. Warren DeLaSalle, 1572, 4-1, 77.600
38. Sterling Heights, 1561, 4-1, 67.800
39. Detroit Martin Luther King ^, 1537, 5-0, 100.800
40. Flint Carman-Ainsworth, 1533, 3-2, 50.600
41. Warren Cousino, 1514, 3-2, 52.200
42. Waterford Kettering, 1512, 3-2, 54.200
43. Detroit U-D Jesuit, 1486, 4-1, 65.000
44. Traverse City Central ^, 1474, 5-0, 94.400
45. Walled Lake Western ^, 1462, 5-0, 99.200
46. Midland ^, 1419, 5-0, 88.000
47. Jenison, 1418, 3-2, 60.000
48. Portage Northern, 1375, 3-2, 53.800
49. Lincoln Park, 1363, 4-1, 72.800
50. Portage Central ^, 1351, 5-0, 94.400
51. Wyandotte Roosevelt, 1346, 4-1, 77.400
52. Battle Creek Lakeview, 1344, 3-2, 58.600
53. Detroit East English, 1338, 4-1, 69.600
54. Southfield-Lathrup, 1320, 3-2, 49.200
55. Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills, 1280, 3-2, 49.000
56. Southfield, 1269, 3-2, 62.000
57. North Farmington, 1267, 3-2, 53.400
58. Port Huron Northern, 1260, 3-2, 50.000
59. Midland Dow, 1256, 4-1, 67.600
60. Birmingham Groves ^, 1248, 5-0, 83.200
61. Berkley, 1248, 4-1, 62.800
62. Royal Oak, 1248, 3-2, 50.200
63. Jackson, 1244, 3-2, 50.600
64. Flushing, 1242, 3-2, 55.400
65. Muskegon Mona Shores ^, 1239, 5-0, 97.600
66. Muskegon Reeths-Puffer, 1222, 3-2, 48.800
67. Farmington Hills Harrison, 1218, 4-1, 75.800
68. Farmington, 1176, 3-2, 75.817
69. Lowell, 1168, 4-1, 82.400
70. Gibraltar Carlson, 1140, 3-2, 52.400
71. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern ^, 1124, 5-0, 92.800
72. Muskegon, 1113, 4-1, 82.200
73. Fenton, 1108, 4-1, 75.600
74. Byron Center, 1070, 4-1, 71.200
75. Holly, 1068, 3-2, 60.400
76. Redford Thurston, 1064, 3-2, 58.800
77. Mt. Pleasant, 1061, 3-2, 60.800
78. Ortonville-Brandon, 1060, 3-2, 53.600
79. Allen Park, 1058, 4-1, 74.200
80. St. Johns, 1053, 4-1, 80.600
81. Zeeland East, 1040, 3-2, 64.400
82. Mason, 1033, 3-2, 54.200
83. Orchard Lake St. Mary's *^, 1032, 4-1, 79.267
84. Hamtramck, 984, 3-2, 44.800
85. St. Joseph, 980, 4-1, 77.200
86. East Grand Rapids, 975, 4-1, 79.000
87. Petoskey, 970, 4-1, 64.600
88. DeWitt ^, 960, 5-0, 96.000
89. Romulus, 956, 4-1, 72.800
90. Trenton ^, 953, 5-0, 89.600
91. Linden, 947, 4-1, 77.600
92. Cedar Springs, 943, 3-2, 47.600
93. Gaylord, 940, 4-1, 63.600
94. Sturgis, 926, 4-1, 64.200
95. Riverview, 912, 3-2, 41.400
96. Grand Rapids Christian, 905, 3-2, 52.400
97. Parma Western, 876, 3-2, 47.800
98. Haslett, 875, 3-2, 57.000
99. Stevensville Lakeshore, 874, 3-2, 60.400
100. Fruitport, 865, 3-2, 44.200
101. Coldwater ^, 863, 5-0, 86.400
102. Marshall, 863, 4-1, 74.400
103. Vicksburg, 858, 3-2, 49.400
104. Edwardsburg ^, 851, 5-0, 80.000
105. Sault Ste. Marie, 850, 3-2, 61.600
106. Bay City John Glenn, 847, 3-2, 47.600
107. Chelsea ^, 845, 5-0, 81.600
108. Zeeland West ^, 840, 5-0, 84.800
109. Detroit Mumford, 837, 3-2, 53.800
110. Ada Forest Hills Eastern ^, 828, 5-0, 80.000
111. Milan, 820, 4-1, 67.800
112. Battle Creek Harper Creek, 816, 3-2, 47.200
113. Plainwell, 807, 3-2, 44.000
114. Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood ^, 794, 5-0, 67.200
115. Marysville, 783, 3-2, 53.800
116. Holland Christian, 759, 3-2, 47.800
117. North Branch, 758, 3-2, 45.400
118. Goodrich, 754, 3-2, 50.600
119. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, 728, 4-1, 71.000
120. Detroit Douglass, 718, 3-2, 43.800
121. Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy, 692, 3-2, 49.200
122. Detroit Country Day, 685, 4-1, 64.600
123. Comstock Park, 682, 4-1, 74.400
124. Detroit Cesar Chavez Academy, 681, 4-1, 47.200
125. St. Clair Shores South Lake ^, 668, 5-0, 88.000
126. Croswell-Lexington, 668, 4-1, 53.400
127. Hudsonville Unity Christian, 665, 3-2, 39.400
128. Grand Rapids Catholic Central, 658, 4-1, 77.400
129. Williamston, 657, 4-1, 67.800
130. Corunna, 656, 4-1, 62.800
131. Whitehall, 656, 3-2, 48.000
132. Paw Paw, 653, 3-2, 49.400
133. Alma, 642, 3-2, 47.600
134. Wyoming Kelloggsville, 640, 3-2, 39.600
135. Detroit Collegiate Prep ^, 632, 5-0, 78.400
136. Benton Harbor, 631, 3-2, 57.000
137. Lake Fenton, 625, 4-1, 60.000
138. Lake Odessa Lakewood ^, 624, 5-0, 68.800
139. Saginaw Swan Valley, 613, 3-2, 48.800
140. Dowagiac, 611, 3-2, 44.400
141. Flint Powers Catholic, 610, 3-2, 57.000
142. Big Rapids, 609, 4-1, 56.400
143. Richmond, 605, 4-1, 68.000
144. Wyoming Godwin Heights, 602, 3-2, 36.200
145. Remus Chippewa Hills, 600, 4-1, 59.600
146. River Rouge ^, 593, 5-0, 81.600
147. Clawson, 592, 4-1, 53.000
148. Dearborn Heights Robichaud, 573, 4-1, 64.600
149. Gladwin, 571, 3-2, 42.400
150. Portland ^, 563, 5-0, 84.800
151. Freeland ^, 563, 5-0, 83.200
152. Essexville Garber, 557, 3-2, 47.600
153. Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard, 556, 4-1, 60.200
154. Ida ^, 548, 5-0, 81.600
155. Kingsford, 547, 3-2, 50.000
156. Marine City, 540, 3-2, 44.800
157. Muskegon Oakridge, 538, 4-1, 49.800
158. Algonac ^, 532, 5-0, 70.400
159. Frankenmuth ^, 529, 5-0, 72.000
160. Olivet, 524, 3-2, 41.000
161. Chesaning, 523, 3-2, 46.000
162. Detroit Henry Ford, 523, 3-2, 37.800
163. Lansing Catholic, 517, 4-1, 66.400
164. Almont ^, 513, 5-0, 70.400
165. Onsted, 509, 4-1, 48.800
166. Detroit Central Collegiate, 508, 3-2, 40.800
167. Berrien Springs ^, 495, 5-0, 71.200
168. Stockbridge, 493, 4-1, 61.600
169. Parchment, 493, 4-1, 48.000
170. Reed City ^, 491, 5-0, 61.600
171. Ovid-Elsie, 491, 3-2, 48.000
172. Grayling, 489, 4-1, 59.800
173. Standish-Sterling Central, 489, 3-2, 39.000
174. Dundee, 489, 3-2, 32.600
175. Clinton Township Clintondale, 486, 3-2, 50.600
176. Menominee ^, 480, 5-0, 82.133
177. Harper Woods, 476, 4-1, 47.000
178. Manistee ^, 469, 5-0, 66.000
179. Brooklyn Columbia Central, 463, 4-1, 60.000
180. Buchanan ^, 459, 5-0, 72.000
181. Grand Rapids West Catholic, 442, 3-2, 52.600
182. Kalkaska, 437, 3-2, 37.800
183. Harrison, 430, 4-1, 54.600
184. Hillsdale, 430, 3-2, 43.000
185. Jackson Lumen Christi, 426, 4-1, 67.800
186. Warren Michigan Collegiate, 421, 3-2, 47.800
187. Calumet, 419, 3-2, 44.267
188. Lakeview, 417, 3-2, 39.000
189. Sanford Meridian Early College ^, 408, 5-0, 67.200
190. Michigan Center, 406, 3-2, 34.200
191. Detroit Pershing, 405, 3-2, 37.600
192. Ithaca ^, 402, 5-0, 67.200
193. Byron, 399, 3-2, 39.800
194. Millington, 398, 4-1, 64.800
195. Delton Kellogg, 398, 4-1, 56.400
196. Montague ^, 396, 5-0, 68.800
197. Burton Bendle, 393, 4-1, 50.400
198. Oscoda, 391, 4-1, 40.200
199. Detroit Edison Public School Academy, 390, 3-2, 28.000
200. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central ^, 389, 5-0, 84.800
201. Morley Stanwood, 386, 3-2, 42.600
202. Negaunee ^, 385, 5-0, 65.600
203. Constantine, 385, 3-2, 43.000
204. Maple City Glen Lake, 384, 4-1, 48.600
205. Boyne City, 383, 4-1, 52.000
206. Niles Brandywine, 380, 3-2, 37.800
207. Adrian Madison, 379, 3-2, 36.600
208. Vassar, 377, 4-1, 47.000
209. Mason County Central, 376, 3-2, 39.600
210. St. Louis, 374, 3-2, 37.800
211. Laingsburg, 373, 4-1, 45.400
212. Watervliet, 372, 4-1, 56.800
213. Madison Heights Madison, 367, 4-1, 68.000
214. Manchester, 365, 4-1, 45.600
215. Schoolcraft ^, 357, 5-0, 65.600
216. Charlevoix, 350, 3-2, 31.600
217. Leroy Pine River, 349, 3-2, 42.800
218. Quincy, 346, 3-2, 34.000
219. Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian ^, 345, 5-0, 67.200
220. Lawton ^, 342, 5-0, 60.800
221. Vandercook Lake ^, 341, 5-0, 59.200
222. Clinton ^, 335, 5-0, 64.000
223. Traverse City St. Francis ^, 320, 5-0, 75.200
224. Hesperia ^, 310, 5-0, 62.400
225. Sandusky ^, 310, 5-0, 62.400
226. Iron Mountain, 309, 3-2, 36.800
227. McBain, 307, 4-1, 56.800
228. Cass City, 304, 4-1, 46.800
229. Bridgman, 303, 4-1, 52.000
230. Gobles, 301, 3-2, 41.000
231. Union City, 298, 3-2, 34.600
232. Marlette, 298, 3-2, 34.200
233. Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker, 296, 3-2, 39.400
234. Homer, 294, 4-1, 48.400
235. Pewamo-Westphalia ^, 292, 5-0, 60.800
236. Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest, 292, 3-2, 36.000
237. Flint Hamady ^, 291, 5-0, 59.200
238. Dansville, 289, 4-1, 47.200
239. Springport, 287, 3-2, 33.200
240. Saginaw Nouvel, 285, 4-1, 58.000
241. Riverview Gabriel Richard ^, 284, 5-0, 64.000
242. Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett, 282, 3-2, 42.200
243. Harbor Springs, 281, 3-2, 24.800
244. Ishpeming *, 278, 5-0, 64.000
245. Flint Beecher, 278, 4-1, 59.800
246. New Lothrop ^, 276, 5-0, 72.000
247. Detroit Loyola, 276, 4-1, 71.000
248. Saugatuck ^, 271, 5-0, 62.400
249. Ubly, 271, 3-2, 39.800
250. Cassopolis, 270, 3-2, 38.400
251. Concord, 267, 4-1, 51.800
252. Decatur, 266, 3-2, 36.400
253. Lincoln Alcona, 265, 4-1, 33.800
254. Unionville-Sebewaing, 262, 4-1, 48.800
255. Ottawa Lake Whiteford, 255, 4-1, 40.600
256. Indian River Inland Lakes, 251, 4-1, 42.400
257. Onekama, 250, 4-1, 40.600
258. Petersburg-Summerfield, 240, 4-1, 47.000
259. Beal City, 228, 4-1, 53.000
260. Johannesburg-Lewiston, 226, 4-1, 44.000
261. St. Ignace ^, 225, 5-0, 59.200
262. Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary ^, 223, 5-0, 65.600
263. Mayville, 217, 4-1, 40.800
264. L'Anse, 215, 3-2, 42.600
265. Pittsford, 211, 4-1, 40.600
266. Newberry, 211, 3-2, 36.400
267. Marcellus, 209, 3-2, 29.800
268. Vestaburg, 205, 4-1, 39.000
269. Bark River-Harris ^, 194, 5-0, 52.800
270. Morenci, 191, 4-1, 55.200
271. Munising, 191, 4-1, 44.667
272. Central Lake, 189, 3-2, 25.400
273. Fowler, 183, 4-1, 43.800
274. Sterling Heights Parkway Christian, 178, 3-2, 38.200
275. Muskegon Catholic Central *, 177, 3-1, 55.000
276. Adrian Lenawee Christian, 170, 4-1, 34.800
277. Climax-Scotts ^, 163, 5-0, 46.400
278. Crystal Falls Forest Park *, 163, 3-2, 33.467
279. Frankfort, 160, 4-1, 53.400
280. Waterford Our Lady ^, 157, 5-0, 67.200
281. Lake Linden-Hubbell ^, 155, 5-0, 56.800
282. Colon, 153, 3-2, 33.800
283. Hillman, 146, 4-1, 35.400
284. Bay City All Saints, 118, 3-2, 28.200
8-Player Playoff Listing
1. Owendale-Gagetown, 49, 5-0, 50.400
2. Powers North Central, 198, 5-0, 49.600
3. Posen, 84, 5-0, 48.000
4. Waldron, 88, 5-0, 46.400
5. Deckerville, 178, 5-0, 44.800
6. Battle Creek St. Philip, 144, 5-0, 43.200
7. Rapid River, 111, 4-1, 40.400
8. Cedarville, 144, 4-1, 37.400
9. Lawrence, 189, 5-0, 36.800
10. Morrice, 169, 4-1, 36.000
11. New Haven Merritt Academy, 148, 4-1, 33.600
12. Peck, 152, 4-1, 32.600
13. Portland St. Patrick, 87, 4-1, 31.200
14. Webberville, 184, 4-1, 29.600
15. Stephenson, 186, 3-2, 28.400
16. Engadine, 85, 3-2, 28.400
17. Pickford, 164, 3-2, 27.000
18. Onaway, 196, 3-2, 26.800
19. Akron-Fairgrove, 99, 3-2, 25.050
20. Bellaire, 134, 3-2, 24.000
21. Baraga, 164, 3-2, 23.600
22. Marion, 145, 2-3, 20.600
23. Kingston, 187, 2-3, 18.200
24. Kinde-North Huron, 147, 2-3, 17.600
25. Tekonsha, 148, 2-3, 16.400
26. Caseville, 91, 2-3, 15.800
27. Big Rapids Crossroads Academy, 190, 1-4, 12.250
28. Ewen-Trout Creek, 126, 1-4, 10.400
29. Burr Oak, 75, 1-4, 8.800
30. St. Helen Charlton Heston Academy, 108, 1-4, 8.400
31. Eben Junction Superior Central, 123, 1-4, 8.200
32. Ontonagon, 129, 1-4, 8.000
33. Hale, 132, 1-4, 7.850
34. St Joseph Michigan Lutheran, 103, 0-5, 3.600
35. Carsonville-Port Sanilac, 120, 0-5, 2.400
36. Litchfield, 92, 0-5, 2.400
37. Pellston, 170, 0-5, 1.800
38. Flint Michigan School For The Deaf, 47, 0-4, 1.800
39. Covert, 91, 0-3, 1.650
40. Brimley, 142, 0-5, 1.600
Drive for Detroit: Playoff R3 Review
November 14, 2016
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
We’ve reached the final two weeks of another Michigan high school football season. Our field of 272 teams four weeks ago is down to only 34. And some of these key games are coming down to every last inch and minute.
Six of nine divisions this weekend saw at least one winner emerge by three or fewer points. Edwardsburg and Chelsea went to overtime. Detroit Cass Tech and Saline entered undefeated and ended only a point apart.
See below for a glance at those two games and all 32 11-player Regional Finals and both 8-player Semifinals, with links to media coverage of notable results in each division.
Division 1
Detroit Cass Tech 43, Saline 42
It was hard to expect more from a matchup of undefeated Division 1 powers than what these two delivered Friday. Cass Tech (12-0) won an incredible seventh straight Regional championship in part on the running of Donovan Johnson, who gained 285 yards and scored four touchdowns on the ground – which balanced out nicely 241 yards and five running scores by Saline’s Connor Hibbard. The Hornets finished 11-1 for the second straight season after winning a third straight District title. Click for more from the Detroit News.
Other Regional Finals:
Detroit Catholic Central 28, Grandville 14 – This run has made it hard to remember that the Shamrocks (12-0) had a rare down year only two years ago, finishing 4-5; Ottawa-Kent Conference Red co-champion Grandville (10-2) was the latest playoff opponent to not come within two touchdowns of DCC, but did finish with its most wins since 1996.
Romeo 41, Clarkston 7 – The reigning Division 1 champion Bulldogs (9-3) needed a little time to really get rolling this fall, but like DCC they’ve also beaten all three playoff opponents by double digits; Clarkston (9-3) did finish two wins better than a year ago.
Utica Eisenhower 42, Southfield Arts & Technology 7 – The Eagles (12-0) have guaranteed their best record since 2003 with their first Regional title since 2011 after a second-straight five-touchdown win this postseason; Southfield Arts & Technology finished its inaugural season a strong 8-4.
Division 2
Lowell 22, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central 19
Lowell’s climb against the Rangers wasn’t as steep as when the Red Arrows came back from a 17-point deficit to win their first meeting in Week 7. But Lowell still needed to score last – on a touchdown run by quarterback David Kruse six seconds into the fourth quarter – get ahead of Forest Hills Central for good. The second straight Regional title gave Lowell (12-0) that many wins for the second straight season as well; Forest Hills Central (9-3) finished off one of the best rebound runs statewide after going 2-7 in both 2014 and 2015. Click for more from the Grand Rapids Press.
Other Regional Finals:
Walled Lake Western 61, Fenton 21 – The Warriors (11-1) scored their season high to win a second straight Regional title and end a nine-game winning streak for Flint Metro League champion Fenton (9-3).
Detroit Martin Luther King 21, Temperance Bedford 7 – The reigning Division 2 champion Crusaders (10-2) have beaten all of their playoff opponents this time by at least 14; Bedford (9-3) gave King one of its closest games and finished five wins better than a year ago.
Birmingham Groves 44, Grosse Pointe South 10 – Groves (11-1) earned its first Regional title and attained 11 wins for the first time as well, running for 428 yards led by Ernest Allen’s 157 and Collin Heard’s 101; South (8-4) improved a win from last year and doubled its total from only two years ago.
Division 3
Edwardsburg 42, Chelsea 40 (OT)
The Eddies’ substantial run of success this decade now includes a second Regional title in three seasons and the first 12-win season in program history – and Edwardsburg (12-0) earned them by holding off a comeback by Chelsea and stopping a two-point conversion try in overtime. The Eddies’ last Semifinal appearance, in 2014, came in Division 4. Chelsea (11-1) was Division 3 runner-up last season and finished this two-year run a combined 23-3. Click for more from the South Bend Tribune.
Other Regional Finals:
Muskegon 62, Byron Center 7 – The O-K Black champ Big Reds (9-3) won their fourth Regional title in five seasons while ending the winningest season for O-K Green champ Byron Center (10-2) since 2000.
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 35, DeWitt 28 – The Panthers (10-2) led into the third quarter before St. Mary’s (8-4) outscored them 21-7 in the fourth to win a third straight Regional title.
Dearborn Divine Child 28, Allen Park 21 – The Falcons (10-2) continued another of the state’s great comeback seasons, adding a 10th win and Regional title for the first time since 1985 after going 4-5 a year ago; Allen Park (11-1) finished a win better than last season and with its most since 2004 in winning a second straight District title.
Division 4
Detroit Country Day 28, Corunna 13
Country Day won its third straight Regional title and fourth in five seasons by holding the Cavaliers to 133 yards of total offense and getting some key tosses from quarterback Jalen Graham (10 of 15 passing for 123 yards and a touchdown). The Yellowjackets (12-0) jumped out to a 21-7 lead and now have their most wins in a season since 1995. Corunna (9-3) continued its climb from 2-7 two seasons ago to 8-2 last year and this fall its most wins since 2002. Click for more from the Oakland Press.
Other Regional Finals:
River Rouge 57, Adrian 20 – The Panthers (11-1) have won their playoff games by 61, 12 and now 37 points on the way to a second straight Regional title; Adrian finished its rebound season 7-5 after three straight 2-7 seasons and four straight with sub-.500 records.
Grand Rapids Catholic Central 34, Escanaba 0 – The Cougars (11-1) are in their first Semifinal since their championship season of 2010 and with their third shutout in four weeks; Escanaba (9-3) can celebrate another jump in its revival after improving from 5-5 a year ago with its most wins since 1989.
Hudsonville Unity Christian 36, Lake Odessa Lakewood 16 – The Crusaders’ first Regional title came in part on the legs of running back Alec Headley, who averaged 16.1 yards per carry gaining 177 of 424 rush yards total for Unity Christian (10-2); Lakewood’s winningest season ended at 10-2 as well.
Division 5
Frankenmuth 28, Ithaca 20
Frankenmuth (11-1) won its first Regional title since 1997 by handing Ithaca (11-1) only its third loss over the team’s last 100 games and first not in an MHSAA championship game since 2009. The Eagles are 48-8 over their last five seasons but had made only one other Regional Final appearance since their last win at that level of the tournament. Three Frankenmuth runners had at least 99 yards on the ground, led by Kris Roche with 161, as the team came back from a 14-0 deficit. Click for more from the Saginaw News.
Other Regional Finals:
Menominee 40, Reed City 14 – The Maroons (11-1) won their fifth Regional title in seven seasons with a fourth straight game scoring 40 or more points; Reed City (11-1) hadn’t given up 40 in a game since its 2014 Regional Final, but did finish with its most wins in a season ever.
Grand Rapids West Catholic 40, Berrien Springs 7 – The Falcons (10-2) have survived three road games to also win a seventh straight Regional title, continuing their travels by ending a third straight playoff season for the Shamrocks (8-3).
Algonac 38, Ida 22 – Last season Ida won its first Regional title; this time Algonac (11-1) celebrated its first Regional championship by downing the Bluestreaks (10-2).
Division 6
Leroy Pine River 42, Ravenna 14
The mood had to be a little low for Pine River heading into the playoffs coming off two straight losses, but you’d never be able to tell. The Bucks (9-3) – also just 4-5 last season – won their first Regional title in a big way over Ravenna (9-3), a traditional power but also a nice comeback story coming off a 3-6 finish in 2015. Click for more from the Big Rapids News.
Other Regional Finals:
Maple City Glen Lake 14, Calumet 0 – The Lakers (10-2) reached 10 wins for the first time since 2001 with their first Regional title since 1996, ending the first 10-win season ever for Calumet (10-2), which was coming off its first District title since 2006.
Millington 22, Detroit Central Collegiate 20 – The Cardinals (11-1) came back from a 20-0 halftime deficit to win their first Regional title since 2010 and third since 2009; Central Collegiate (7-5) capped a third straight playoff season with its most wins since 2010.
Jackson Lumen Christi 49, Napoleon 6 – The Titans (10-2) won their first Regional title since 2009 by ending Napoleon’s winningest season since 2002 and longest playoff run ever at 9-3.
Division 7
Pewamo-Westphalia 17, Traverse City St. Francis 14
Arguably the most anticipated game statewide this side of Division 1 saw the reigning Division 7 runner-up Pirates (12-0) overcome a second straight undefeated opponent. The Gladiators (11-1) became the first team to hold P-W running back Jared Smith to fewer than 100 yards since his sophomore season two years ago, but the Pirates’ defense held St. Francis to its fewest points since last year’s Regional Final win over Boyne City. Click for more from the Traverse City Record-Eagle.
Other Regional Finals:
Ubly 22, New Lothrop 13 – Make this now the Bearcats’ best season since 2009 as they won their first Regional title and 12 games for the first time since that year; Ubly (12-0) got rushing and receiving touchdowns from Jonathan Brandel as it ended New Lothrop’s seventh straight 10-win season at 10-2.
Cassopolis 51, Concord 14 – The Rangers (11-1) set a program record for wins with their first Regional title by scoring the most points Concord (9-3) had given up since Week 8 of 2014; the Yellowjackets did finish this season with their most wins since 2001.
Detroit Loyola 36, Hudson 13 – The Bulldogs (10-2) attained a sixth straight 10-win season by beating a third league champion in three playoff games; Hudson (10-2) had won a share of the Lenawee County Activities Association title and was making its first Regional Final appearance since 2011.
Division 8
St. Ignace 14, Norway 12
The Saints (11-1) have had only two other close games this season, but secured their second straight Regional title relying on a defense that has given up only 131 points this season and only 38 over three playoff games. Norway, playing for its first Regional title since 2006, also shined defensively holding down a St. Ignace offense averaging 42 points per game heading into the day. The Knights finished 9-3, making a significant jump from 2-7 a year ago. Click for more from the Sault Ste. Marie Evening News.
Other Regional Finals:
Muskegon Catholic Central 35, Frankfort 0 – The reigning Division 8 champion Crusaders (12-2) earned their second straight shutout of the playoffs by holding Frankfort (11-1) scoreless for the first time since 2013.
Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary 28, Royal Oak Shrine 7 – The Cardinals (10-2) clinched a third-straight 10-win season and second Regional title in three seasons; Shrine (9-3) did accomplish a nice bounce-back from 4-5 last season to win its first District title since 2008.
Ottawa Lake Whiteford 38, Climax-Scotts 18 – These two have met two straight postseasons as undefeated teams, and Whiteford (12-0) has won both meetings; the Bobcats made up for three turnovers by getting 100-plus yards rushing from both Logan Murphy and Jesse Kiefer and holding Climax-Scotts (11-1) to its fewest points since the teams met in the same round a year ago.
8-Player
Powers North Central 62, Pickford 22
The reigning champion Jets (12-0) earned their return to the MHSAA Final with 40 first-half points and 506 total yards while possessing the ball only 14 minutes. Running back Bobby Kleiman gained 123 yards on only eight carries, scoring three time on the ground, and also caught three passes for 98 yards and a score. The Panthers did finish their winningest season since 1991 at 10-2. Click for more from the Iron Mountain Daily News.
Deckerville 36, Wyoming Tri-unity Christian 6
The Eagles won a matchup of undefeated teams to set up another this weekend, handing Tri-unity Christian (11-1) its first and only loss of the fall. Deckerville (11-0) was held to its fewest points since Week 1, but still hasn’t allowed an opponent to score more than 12 this season. The Eagles had fallen in Semifinals the last two seasons. Click for more from the Huron Daily Tribune.
PHOTO: Pewamo-Westphalia running back Jared Smith breaks into an opening as Traverse City St. Francis defenders converge. (Click to see more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)