2015 Week 7 Football Playoff Listing
October 6, 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 sixth week of the season.
Schools on this list are in enrollment order for 11-player teams, with 8-player teams ordered by playoff average. An asterisk (*) beside a record indicates a team has eight or fewer games scheduled. A caret (^) beside a school’s name indicates a team is one win away from playoff qualification.
Those schools with 11-player teams with six or more wins playing nine-game schedules, or five or more wins playing eight games or fewer, will qualify for the MHSAA Football Playoffs beginning Oct. 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, 4-2, 72.167
2. Grand Blanc, 2727, 4-2, 64.667
3. Clarkston, 2707, 4-2, 66.667
4. Utica Eisenhower, 2669, 3-3, 56.333
5. Sterling Heights Stevenson ^, 2634, 5-1, 82.000
6. Clinton Township Chippewa Valley ^, 2611, 5-1, 92.500
7. East Kentwood, 2581, 4-2, 69.000
8. Howell ^, 2567, 5-1, 77.833
9. Rockford, 2561, 4-2, 69.667
10. Dearborn Fordson, 2477, 3-3, 47.000
11. Detroit Cass Tech ^, 2285, 5-1, 84.833
12. Northville, 2281, 6-0, 97.333
13. Brighton ^, 2211, 5-1, 50.000
14. Troy Athens, 2153, 3-3, 48.333
15. Detroit Catholic Central ^, 2138, 5-1, 74.100
16. Utica Ford, 2080, 4-2, 70.833
17. Canton ^, 2076, 5-1, 80.500
18. Monroe, 2066, 3-3, 49.500
19. Salem, 2063, 3-3, 51.333
20. Lapeer, 2059, 6-0, 88.000
21. Plymouth ^, 2057, 5-1, 77.667
22. Ann Arbor Pioneer ^, 2025, 5-1, 80.833
23. Hartland, 2017, 4-2, 66.667
24. Novi, 2017, 3-3, 48.333
25. Macomb L'Anse Creuse North, 2001, 3-3, 51.000
26. New Baltimore Anchor Bay, 1946, 3-3, 48.833
27. West Bloomfield, 1932, 6-0, 97.333
28. Dearborn, 1921, 3-3, 47.333
29. Saline *, 1879, 6-0, 96.000
30. Livonia Stevenson ^, 1831, 5-1, 83.500
31. Grandville, 1825, 3-3, 47.000
32. Warren Mott ^, 1810, 5-1, 84.667
33. Holt, 1788, 4-2, 59.833
34. Utica, 1788, 3-3, 52.667
35. Davison, 1765, 4-2, 60.833
36. Hudsonville ^, 1763, 5-1, 88.333
37. Belleville ^, 1735, 5-1, 81.667
38. Ann Arbor Skyline, 1703, 3-3, 41.333
39. Romeo, 1673, 6-0, 104.000
40. Grand Ledge, 1663, 6-0, 89.333
41. Rochester Hills Stoney Creek, 1654, 3-3, 44.833
42. Waterford Mott, 1651, 3-3, 45.500
43. Grosse Pointe South, 1629, 4-2, 66.500
44. Livonia Churchill, 1620, 4-2, 61.333
45. Livonia Franklin, 1615, 3-3, 42.000
46. Walled Lake Northern, 1611, 4-2, 65.500
47. Warren DeLaSalle ^, 1572, 5-1, 83.500
48. Sterling Heights ^, 1561, 5-1, 72.500
49. Detroit Martin Luther King, 1537, 6-0, 104.000
50. Flint Carman-Ainsworth, 1533, 3-3, 44.500
51. Oak Park, 1530, 3-3, 48.667
52. Warren Cousino, 1514, 4-2, 61.000
53. Waterford Kettering, 1512, 3-3, 46.833
54. Detroit U-D Jesuit, 1486, 4-2, 58.933
55. Traverse City Central, 1474, 6-0, 100.000
56. Walled Lake Western, 1462, 6-0, 106.667
57. Midland, 1419, 6-0, 93.333
58. Jenison, 1418, 3-3, 51.833
59. Dearborn Edsel Ford, 1380, 3-3, 42.667
60. Portage Northern, 1375, 3-3, 45.667
61. Lincoln Park, 1363, 4-2, 63.500
62. Portage Central, 1351, 6-0, 97.333
63. Wyandotte Roosevelt ^, 1346, 5-1, 81.833
64. Battle Creek Lakeview, 1344, 4-2, 66.500
65. Grosse Pointe North, 1341, 3-3, 45.333
66. Detroit East English, 1338, 4-2, 61.500
67. Swartz Creek, 1322, 3-3, 50.167
68. Southfield-Lathrup, 1320, 4-2, 55.833
69. Dearborn Heights Crestwood, 1308, 3-3, 37.167
70. Alpena, 1285, 3-3, 35.767
71. Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills, 1280, 4-2, 58.167
72. Southfield, 1269, 4-2, 69.333
73. North Farmington, 1267, 3-3, 46.333
74. Port Huron Northern, 1260, 4-2, 56.500
75. Midland Dow ^, 1256, 5-1, 75.167
76. Berkley ^, 1248, 5-1, 71.167
77. Birmingham Groves, 1248, 6-0, 88.000
78. Royal Oak, 1248, 3-3, 45.333
79. Jackson, 1244, 4-2, 55.833
80. Flushing, 1242, 3-3, 48.167
81. Muskegon Mona Shores, 1239, 6-0, 100.000
82. Muskegon Reeths-Puffer, 1222, 3-3, 41.667
83. Farmington Hills Harrison ^, 1218, 5-1, 81.833
84. Grand Rapids Northview, 1183, 3-3, 46.000
85. Farmington, 1176, 4-2, 64.833
86. Mattawan, 1175, 3-3, 47.000
87. Lowell ^, 1168, 5-1, 86.167
88. Gibraltar Carlson, 1140, 4-2, 61.333
89. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern ^, 1124, 5-1, 81.833
90. East Lansing, 1123, 3-3, 49.667
91. Battle Creek Central, 1115, 3-3, 50.833
92. Muskegon ^, 1113, 5-1, 90.000
93. Fenton ^, 1108, 5-1, 81.833
94. Ypsilanti Community, 1088, 3-3, 42.667
95. Byron Center ^, 1070, 5-1, 75.333
96. Holly, 1068, 4-2, 69.167
97. Redford Thurston, 1064, 3-3, 52.667
98. Mt. Pleasant, 1061, 4-2, 63.000
99. Ortonville-Brandon, 1060, 3-3, 47.000
100. Allen Park ^, 1058, 5-1, 86.000
101. St. Johns ^, 1053, 5-1, 83.333
102. Zeeland East, 1040, 3-3, 59.333
103. Mason, 1033, 4-2, 61.500
104. Orchard Lake St. Mary's *, 1032, 5-1, 83.524
105. Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills, 1030, 3-3, 48.167
106. Hamtramck, 984, 4-2, 48.333
107. St. Joseph ^, 980, 5-1, 80.500
108. East Grand Rapids, 975, 4-2, 70.500
109. Petoskey, 970, 4-2, 57.267
110. DeWitt, 960, 6-0, 101.333
111. Romulus, 956, 4-2, 63.833
112. Trenton ^, 953, 5-1, 78.000
113. Linden ^, 947, 5-1, 86.167
114. Cedar Springs, 943, 4-2, 60.000
115. Gaylord ^, 940, 5-1, 65.100
116. Sturgis ^, 926, 5-1, 66.833
117. Riverview, 912, 4-2, 49.500
118. Grand Rapids Christian, 905, 4-2, 65.333
119. Parma Western, 876, 4-2, 56.167
120. Haslett, 875, 3-3, 50.000
121. Stevensville Lakeshore, 874, 4-2, 70.667
122. Warren Fitzgerald, 871, 3-3, 40.667
123. Fruitport, 865, 3-3, 38.933
124. Coldwater, 863, 6-0, 92.000
125. Marshall ^, 863, 5-1, 79.500
126. Vicksburg, 858, 4-2, 54.833
127. Edwardsburg, 851, 6-0, 81.333
128. Sault Ste. Marie, 850, 4-2, 67.400
129. Bay City John Glenn, 847, 4-2, 49.600
130. Chelsea, 845, 6-0, 82.667
131. Tecumseh, 844, 3-3, 45.000
132. Zeeland West, 840, 6-0, 89.333
133. Detroit Mumford, 837, 3-3, 46.667
134. Ada Forest Hills Eastern, 828, 6-0, 86.667
135. Dearborn Divine Child, 827, 3-3, 44.500
136. Milan ^, 820, 5-1, 72.667
137. Battle Creek Harper Creek, 816, 3-3, 41.167
138. Plainwell, 807, 4-2, 52.833
139. Fowlerville, 800, 3-3, 44.833
140. Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood, 794, 6-0, 72.000
141. Spring Lake, 794, 3-3, 39.767
142. Detroit Denby, 790, 3-3, 47.000
143. Marysville, 783, 4-2, 62.333
144. Holland Christian, 759, 3-3, 40.833
145. North Branch, 758, 3-3, 40.000
146. Goodrich, 754, 4-2, 55.667
147. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, 728, 5-1, 79.167
148. Allendale, 720, 3-3, 39.000
149. Detroit Douglass, 718, 3-3, 37.667
150. Warren Lincoln, 697, 3-3, 41.500
151. Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy, 692, 4-2, 53.433
152. Detroit Country Day ^, 685, 5-1, 71.167
153. Comstock Park ^, 682, 5-1, 75.500
154. Detroit Cesar Chavez Academy, 681, 4-2, 40.167
155. Croswell-Lexington, 668, 4-2, 46.833
156. St. Clair Shores South Lake, 668, 6-0, 84.000
157. Hudsonville Unity Christian, 665, 4-2, 49.167
158. Grand Rapids Catholic Central ^, 658, 5-1, 77.833
159. Williamston, 657, 4-2, 58.333
160. Corunna ^, 656, 5-1, 69.833
161. Whitehall, 656, 3-3, 42.333
162. Paw Paw, 653, 3-3, 43.000
163. Alma, 642, 3-3, 41.833
164. Wyoming Kelloggsville, 640, 3-3, 33.667
165. Detroit Collegiate Prep, 632, 6-0, 82.667
166. Benton Harbor, 631, 3-3, 51.000
167. Lake Fenton, 625, 4-2, 53.500
168. Lake Odessa Lakewood, 624, 6-0, 72.000
169. Saginaw Valley Lutheran, 620, 3-3, 36.167
170. Saginaw Swan Valley, 613, 4-2, 52.833
171. Dowagiac, 611, 3-3, 39.167
172. Flint Powers Catholic, 610, 4-2, 63.667
173. Big Rapids, 609, 4-2, 49.333
174. Richmond ^, 605, 5-1, 68.833
175. Wyoming Godwin Heights, 602, 4-2, 46.333
176. Remus Chippewa Hills ^, 600, 5-1, 65.667
177. River Rouge, 593, 6-0, 85.333
178. Clawson, 592, 4-2, 46.000
179. Birch Run, 583, 3-3, 40.500
180. Dearborn Heights Robichaud ^, 573, 5-1, 71.333
181. Gladwin, 571, 4-2, 44.833
182. Freeland, 563, 6-0, 85.333
183. Portland, 563, 6-0, 89.333
184. Essexville Garber, 557, 3-3, 42.000
185. Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard, 556, 4-2, 50.767
186. Detroit University Prep, 555, 3-3, 37.500
187. Southfield Bradford Academy, 550, 4-2, 43.667
188. Ida, 548, 6-0, 85.333
189. Kingsford, 547, 4-2, 59.267
190. Marine City, 540, 3-3, 39.667
191. Muskegon Oakridge ^, 538, 5-1, 58.900
192. Algonac, 532, 6-0, 76.000
193. Frankenmuth, 529, 6-0, 80.000
194. Olivet, 524, 4-2, 53.000
195. Chesaning, 523, 3-3, 41.500
196. Detroit Henry Ford, 523, 4-2, 46.333
197. Lansing Catholic ^, 517, 5-1, 68.833
198. Almont, 513, 6-0, 73.333
199. Onsted, 509, 4-2, 41.333
200. Detroit Central Collegiate, 508, 4-2, 47.500
201. Berrien Springs, 495, 6-0, 75.238
202. Parchment, 493, 4-2, 43.667
203. Stockbridge, 493, 4-2, 53.333
204. Ovid-Elsie, 491, 4-2, 57.667
205. Reed City, 491, 6-0, 69.867
206. Dundee, 489, 3-3, 29.500
207. Grayling, 489, 4-2, 53.500
208. Standish-Sterling, 489, 3-3, 35.667
209. Clinton Township Clintondale, 486, 4-2, 59.667
210. Menominee, 480, 6-0, 84.571
211. Harper Woods, 476, 4-2, 41.333
212. Manistee ^, 469, 5-1, 58.100
213. Brooklyn Columbia Central ^, 463, 5-1, 60.833
214. Buchanan, 459, 6-0, 80.000
215. Houghton, 443, 3-3, 28.952
216. Grand Rapids West Catholic, 442, 4-2, 58.667
217. Clare, 437, 3-3, 33.000
218. Kalkaska, 437, 3-3, 33.500
219. Kingsley, 431, 3-3, 35.000
220. Harrison ^, 430, 5-1, 57.667
221. Hillsdale, 430, 4-2, 53.500
222. Pinconning, 430, 3-3, 30.333
223. Jackson Lumen Christi, 426, 4-2, 58.833
224. Warren Michigan Collegiate, 421, 4-2, 54.833
225. Calumet, 419, 4-2, 47.919
226. Lakeview, 417, 4-2, 42.000
227. Sanford Meridian Early College, 408, 6-0, 68.000
228. Michigan Center, 406, 3-3, 30.667
229. Detroit Pershing, 405, 3-3, 33.333
230. Ithaca, 402, 6-0, 76.000
231. Byron, 399, 4-2, 44.167
232. Delton Kellogg ^, 398, 5-1, 61.833
233. Millington ^, 398, 5-1, 71.500
234. Montague, 396, 6-0, 73.333
235. Burton Bendle ^, 393, 5-1, 58.167
236. Oscoda, 391, 4-2, 35.667
237. Detroit Edison Public School Academy, 390, 4-2, 37.000
238. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central, 389, 6-0, 85.333
239. Montrose, 386, 3-3, 35.000
240. Morley Stanwood, 386, 4-2, 47.833
241. Constantine, 385, 3-3, 39.500
242. Negaunee, 385, 6-0, 68.000
243. Maple City Glen Lake, 384, 4-2, 45.167
244. Boyne City ^, 383, 5-1, 60.833
245. Niles Brandywine, 380, 4-2, 44.200
246. Adrian Madison, 379, 3-3, 32.667
247. Vassar ^, 377, 5-1, 54.000
248. Mason County Central, 376, 4-2, 50.500
249. St Louis, 374, 3-3, 33.167
250. Laingsburg ^, 373, 5-1, 46.000
251. Watervliet ^, 372, 5-1, 62.167
252. Madison Heights Madison ^, 367, 5-1, 70.167
253. Manchester ^, 365, 5-1, 52.833
254. Ravenna, 357, 3-3, 31.333
255. Schoolcraft, 357, 6-0, 73.333
256. Charlevoix, 350, 4-2, 42.500
257. Leroy Pine River, 349, 3-3, 37.500
258. Quincy, 346, 3-3, 28.667
259. Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian, 345, 6-0, 72.000
260. St. Charles, 345, 3-3, 37.833
261. Lawton ^, 342, 5-1, 52.833
262. Vandercook Lake, 341, 6-0, 62.667
263. Clinton, 335, 6-0, 66.667
264. Lake City, 331, 3-3, 41.833
265. Traverse City St. Francis, 320, 6-0, 80.000
266. Ishpeming Westwood, 315, 3-3, 39.205
267. Hesperia, 310, 6-0, 62.667
268. Sandusky, 310, 6-0, 69.333
269. Iron Mountain, 309, 4-2, 40.300
270. McBain, 307, 4-2, 50.833
271. Hartford, 305, 3-3, 35.500
272. Cass City, 304, 4-2, 42.333
273. Bridgman ^, 303, 5-1, 48.833
274. Gobles, 301, 4-2, 47.667
275. Marlette, 298, 3-3, 32.167
276. Union City, 298, 3-3, 29.167
277. Burton Atherton, 296, 3-3, 27.333
278. Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker, 296, 3-3, 35.167
279. Wyoming Tri-unity Christian, 296, 3-3, 29.033
280. Homer ^, 294, 5-1, 56.500
281. Pewamo-Westphalia, 292, 6-0, 61.333
282. Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest, 292, 3-3, 30.833
283. Flint Hamady ^, 291, 5-1, 51.333
284. Dansville ^, 289, 5-1, 50.167
285. Springport, 287, 3-3, 29.833
286. Saginaw Nouvel ^, 285, 5-1, 57.100
287. Riverview Gabriel Richard ^, 284, 5-1, 56.833
All Hands on Deck, P-W Earns 1st Title
November 26, 2016
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
DETROIT – Jared Smith’s final football game in a Pewamo-Westphalia uniform ended Saturday how he’d always dreamed.
He waved his arms up and down during the final seconds, beckoning to the crowd for a final blast of cheers as he first hugged teammates, then hoisted up assistant coach Nathan Thelen and spun him around a few times for probably his longest carry of the Division 7 Final.
With that, the most successful decoy in MHSAA championship game history began celebrating the history-making event that’s always mattered most.
It was apparent by halftime Saturday there would be no career rushing record for the Pirates senior back, who will graduate atop all-time lists in five other categories. He didn’t score this time and didn’t even lead his team in rushing. But the second-most traveled rusher in more than a century of Michigan high school football ended as a champion, drawing so much attention from opponent Detroit Loyola that his teammates could do the lifting in a 28-14 win at Ford Field.
“We have so many weapons on the team this year, so many tremendous athletes. … Teams are going to key on me just because of what I’ve done, and it opens up things for everybody else,” Smith said. “When everybody steps up, we’re hard to stop.
“I’ve got no problem with how we win if we come out with the win. I said at the beginning that I don’t care about my records. I just wanted a state championship.”
That championship was the first in Pirates football history, coming in their third Finals appearance, the final victory of a perfect 14-0 run. They entered the playoffs ranked No. 2 in Division 7 and beat No. 1 Traverse City St. Francis, No. 3 Saugatuck and No. 4 Ubly on the way to Detroit before downing No. 5 Loyola.
Last season, P-W led into the final four minutes of the Division 7 championship game before falling 22-16 to Ishpeming. And the lessons from that day – plus the familiarity with this stage from that trip – clearly paid off for a team that returned nine starters on both sides of the ball and the second player to go over 8,000 yards rushing for his career.
Smith entered with 8,140 yards over four varsity seasons, only 291 yards shy of the career record set by East Grand Rapids’ Kevin Grady from 2001-04. But Saturday, Smith ran for a mere 48 on 20 carries, not even the most on his team – but enough to open up opportunities for the Pirates’ pair of quarterbacks, senior Ryan Smith and junior Jimmy Lehman. They orchestrated an attack that scored the second-most points Loyola had allowed in the playoffs over the last five seasons – second only to the 30 P-W scored against the Bulldogs in a Semifinal win last fall.
Ryan Smith led the Pirates in rushing with 81 yards and a touchdown, while Lehman was 6 of 8 passing for 127 yards and a pair of touchdowns tosses to senior Logan Hengesbach. Lehman also added a touchdown run from a yard out with 5:05 to play.
That Lehman run score not withstanding, it’s been a little predictable which quarterback was going to do what. But with the Bulldogs keying on Jared Smith, it didn’t matter much. Lehman’s first touchdown pass came on play-action after a fake handoff to Smith. Ryan Smith’s running touchdown came after a fake dive up the middle to Jared, which drew the interior of Loyola’s defense as Ryan ran right two yards into the end zone.
“(The quarterback predictability) does speak to the play of our offensive line, which was solid today,” P-W coach Jeremy Miller said. “When Ryan comes in, we’re reading some stuff, and we want to get him going with his legs, but Ryan can also throw the ball, hurt you through the air. When Jimmy comes in, it’s more of a passing look for us, and we use him as more of a blocker, but then today Jimmy got a big play for us at the end of the game with his legs.
“To both of their credits, for the last two years they didn’t care who was in, they didn’t care who was carrying the ball, what we were doing. They supported each other, and that’s an example of the brotherhood we had on this team.”
Loyola, a three-time finalist this decade and the champion in 2014, pushed to the end despite facing a three-score deficit with just under nine minutes to play.
The Bulldogs (11-3) got on the board with an 18-yard touchdown pass from senior Price Watkins to junior tight end Keith Johnson, followed by a two-point run by Watkins that made the score 21-8. After Lehman’s run touchdown, Loyola drew to the final deficit on sophomore D’Vaun Bently’s scoring run with 2:04 to play.
The Bulldogs’ late offensive start surely wasn’t helped by the absence of senior Malcolm Mayes, who didn’t play (and was reported earlier in the week to be injured). The usually run-heavy veer offense gained only 123 yards on 38 carries and 186 yards of total offense.
“They attack with the D ends. They really were crashing them,” Watkins said. “So it was hard to make those outside runs. We run a veer, and it’s outside – so they crashed down with the D ends, and basically stopped us from running our plays.”
Senior linebackers Nathan Smith and Devon Pung led the Pirates’ defensive effort with nine and seven tackles, respectively. The most impressive individual defensive performance, however, came from Loyola senior linebacker Kailen Abrams – he had 16 tackles, including 4.5 for losses, at one point taking down Ryan Smith two plays in a row to help force a field goal attempt that ended up no good.
Total, the Bulldogs had nine tackles for losses and a sack. But the Pirates just kept coming.
“Our plan going in there was more concerned with that quarterback read (by Ryan Smith) than Jared. I thought with our speed, I thought we could contain Jared, but we were concerned with the read with the quarterback,” Loyola coach John Callahan said. “And he did an outstanding job on the read. He rode that until the very end, tucked it and took it.
“We watched enough film on them to know they had some receivers, had some guys. Early on that first half, the kids made some big-time plays. … (But) they aren’t just Jared, and obviously you saw that.”
The MHSAA Football Finals are sponsored by the Michigan National Guard.
PHOTOS: (Top) P-W quarterback Ryan Smith breaks a Detroit Loyola tackle during Saturday’s Division 7 Final. (Middle) Logan Hengesbach (5) and Garrett Trierweiler celebrate one of Hengesbach’s two touchdown catches.