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
Drive for Detroit: Week 9 in Review
October 25, 2016
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The MHSAA football playoffs are upon us. From 617 teams that began this season, we’re down to watching our final 272.
But before we get too far ahead, there’s plenty to review from the final week of the regular season – including a number of upsets that altered the playoff field and brackets created Sunday.
Bay & Thumb
Fenton 28, Linden 21
The Tigers (7-2) scored with three minutes to play to move past Linden (6-3) for good and claim an outright Flint Metro League championship; a Linden win would’ve created a three-way tie for the title with these two and Ortonville Brandon. Fenton has won 29 straight league games and opened this season with two nonleague losses. Click for more from the Flint Journal.
Also noted:
Lapeer 24, Flint Carman-Ainsworth 14 – Carman-Ainsworth (6-3) won the Saginaw Valley League Blue and Lapeer was only second in the Red, but the Lightning (7-2) did remain undefeated in their three-year series with the Cavaliers.
Freeland 7, Frankenmuth 3 – The Tri-Valley Conference Central champion Falcons (9-0) made it three wins in two years over TVC East winner Frankenmuth (8-1), with a chance they could meet again in a Division 5 District Final.
Pinconning 20, Whittemore-Prescott 6 – The Spartans (6-3) claimed their first playoff berth since 2009, which also was their last season with a winning record; Whittemore-Prescott (5-4) did still make the postseason with an at-large bid.
Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary 24, New Lothrop 20 – The Cardinals (7-2) got a major boost heading into the playoffs, handing New Lothrop (8-1) its first regular-season loss since 2009.
Greater Detroit
Detroit Catholic Central 17, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 14
The last 11-player game of Michigan’s high school regular season had drama right until the end. The undefeated Shamrocks (9-0) were less than a minute from falling to St. Mary’s (5-4) in a Prep Bowl A-B Final rematch of the Detroit Catholic League Central first and second-place teams this fall. DCC scored with 21 seconds remaining for its second win over the Eaglets in three weeks after losses to them the last two seasons. Click for more from the Detroit News.
Also noted:
Bloomfield Hills 21, Lake Orion 0 – The 4-year-old Black Hawks (9-0) bounced back from 1-8 last season to win the Oakland Activities Association Blue title and make the playoffs for the first time; Lake Orion (5-4) did earn an at-large bid with four losses to teams that are a combined 27-9.
Detroit Cass Tech 41, Detroit Martin Luther King 20 – The Technicians (9-0) finished off another tremendous regular season with a second win over Martin Luther King (7-2), this time in the Public School League I final at Ford Field; Cass Tech has beaten all opponents by at least 13 points.
Detroit Denby 8, Detroit Mumford 0 – The Tars (8-1) guaranteed their best record since 2006 and claimed a PSL I/II championship by handing Mumford (7-2) its first loss since opening night.
Dearborn Divine Child 35, Detroit Loyola 24 – The Falcons (7-2) had lost seven times to Loyola (7-2) over the last five seasons including 34-24 in Week 5, but came back to break the streak in the Catholic League Prep Bowl.
Mid-Michigan
Williamston 38, Lake Fenton 35
Williamston needed to win its final regular-season game and some help to earn an at-large bid to the playoffs – but really helped itself by upsetting previously-undefeated Lake Fenton (8-1). A late defensive stand kept the Hornets (5-4) in the playoff mix, and they were selected to the field after missing at 4-5 a year ago. Lake Fenton, meanwhile still finished two wins better than 2015. Click for more from the Tri-City Times.
Also noted:
Holt 30, Grand Ledge 20 – The Rams (5-4) missed the playoffs by one spot among at-large teams from Class A, but the rebounding program can go into the offseason having handed Grand Ledge (6-1) the latter’s only loss in the Capital Area Activities Conference Blue.
Ionia 35, Lake Odessa Lakewood 30 – The Bulldogs (4-5) mostly struggled in league play, but started this season with two wins and ended with two straight including this upset of longtime rival and Greater Lansing Activities Conference champion Lakewood (8-1)
Lansing Catholic 42, Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central 20 – The Cougars (8-1) won their fifth straight, good momentum for this week’s matchup with reigning Division 5 champion Grand Rapids West Catholic, and also might have eliminated SMCC (4-5).
Fowler 27, Merrill 14 – The Eagles (6-3) continued their string of eight straight playoff berths by holding Merrill (6-3) to its second-fewest points this season.
Northern Lower Peninsula
Traverse City St. Francis 22, Boyne City 0
St. Francis (9-0) repeated as Northern Michigan Football Conference Legends champion with a second straight shutout and by ending a six-game winning streak by runner-up Boyne City (6-3). It was the second straight season this matchup determined the league title winner. The Gladiators have won 22 straight regular-season games. Click for more from the Traverse City Record-Eagle.
Also noted:
Frankfort 46, Onekama 20 – The Portagers (9-0) completed their first perfect regular season since 2004 and an outright title in the NMFC Leaders by avoiding a spoiler attempt by Onekama (6-3).
Traverse City Central 49, Cadillac 6 – Central (8-1) bounced back from a Week 8 triple-overtime loss to Birmingham Brother Rice to finish a Big North Conference championship run against third-place Cadillac (6-3).
Grayling 34, Kalkaska 27 – The Vikings (6-3) clinched a seventh playoff berth in eight seasons but only after edging the playoff-bound Blazers (6-3), who are in for the first time since 2013.
Hillman 32, Indian River Inland Lakes 29 – By the slimmest of margins, Hillman (5-4) was able to extend its playoff streak to 11 seasons, earning an at-large bid with five wins over the last six games.
Southeast & Border
Saline 38, Birmingham Groves 3
The Hornets further strengthened their status as a Division 1 championship contender, winning big in a matchup of undefeated teams. Saline (9-0) completed its second straight perfect regular season with its second-best defensive performance this fall, holding Groves (8-1) to the latter's fewest points in a game since 2013. Click for more from the Ann Arbor News.
Also noted:
Grass Lake 43, Springport 27 – The Warriors (8-1) got clipped by Michigan Center in Week 8, but came back to down Springport (7-2) in the Big 8/Cascades Conference championship game.
Ottawa Lake Whiteford 38, Clinton 12 – The Bobcats (9-0) completed their first perfect regular season since 1965 and an outright Tri-County Conference title by sending fourth-place Clinton to 6-3.
Napoleon 25, Concord 20 – The Pirates (7-2) have won seven straight to guarantee their best finish since 2002, first winning season since 2006 and first playoff berth since 2005; Concord also finished the regular season 7-2.
Morenci 42, Adrian Madison 7 – The Bulldogs (6-3) have three losses by a combined eight points, but are back in the playoffs for the third straight season after ending any chance for Madison (4-5).
Southwest Corridor
Portage Central 24, St. Joseph 14
Portage Central (8-1) secured the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference West championship outright after these teams shared the title in 2015. The Mustangs took a 14-0 lead late into the third quarter and extended it to 17 in the fourth before St. Joseph (6-3) added a late score. Portage Central hasn’t lost more than once during a regular season since 2012, building a record of 35-6 over the last four years.
Also noted:
Benton Harbor 54, Muskegon Heights Academy 6 – This is worth mention because it gave the Tigers (9-0) their first undefeated regular season since going 7-0-2 in 1962.
Three Rivers 14, Vicksburg 13 – The Wildcats (7-2) added to their comeback from 3-6 a year ago by just edging Vicksburg (7-2) to tie the Bulldogs for second in the Wolverine Conference.
Coldwater 31, Traverse City West 14 – The Cardinals (7-2) continued a nice run after their one-point loss in Week 6, sending West (6-3) home with a defeat.
Battle Creek Pennfield 22, Olivet 19 – Pennfield (5-4) got the needed boost from beating Olivet (5-4) to earn an at-large playoff berth after seasons of 2-7 in 2014 and 3-6 in 2015.
Upper Peninsula
St. Ignace 62, Newberry 20
The Saints (8-1) made another argument as the top 11-player title contender from the Upper Peninsula with a dominating performance against Mid-Eastern Conference runner-up Newberry (7-2). St. Ignace won the NMFC Legacy title this fall, and its only loss was to reigning Division 8 champion Muskegon Catholic Central, 21-6. Those two could meet again in a Semifinal next month. Click for more from 9&10 News.
Also noted:
Gwinn 38, Ishpeming 6 – With its first winning record since 2000, Gwinn (6-3) clinched its first playoff berth since 1999 while guaranteeing Ishpeming (3-5) wouldn’t be in the playoffs for the first time since 2001.
Escanaba 49, Kingsford 42 – The Eskymos (7-2) secured their best record since 2011 despite losing by a point in Week 8 and ended up locking up a home playoff game by getting past also playoff-bound Kingsford (6-3).
Felch North Dickinson 56, Bark River-Harris 24 – This is reportedly the last season of 11-player for the Nordics (6-3), but they’re going out on a high note after earning their first playoff berth since 2013 with four wins over their last five games.
Iron Mountain 28, Norway 7 – Four of six Mid-Peninsula Athletic Conference teams made the playoffs, including these two both at 7-2 for the regular season.
West Michigan
Hudsonville 14, Rockford 7
The Eagles (8-1) bounced back after a Week 4 loss to Grandville to win four straight in commanding fashion and earn the opportunity to take a share of the Ottawa-Kent Conference Red title in Week 9. Hudsonville finished the run with a late score on Rockford that created a three-way share of the championship with the Rams (6-3) and Grandville – and the Eagles also cemented home-field advantage through a District that includes both, with Rockford up again this week. Click for more from the Grand Rapids Press.
Also noted:
Allendale 30, Grand Rapids West Catholic 27 – Allendale’s first win over West Catholic since 2008 created a three-way championship in the O-K Blue between those two (both 7-2 overall) and Grand Rapids Catholic Central (8-1).
Byron Center 40, Hudsonville Unity Christian 19 – The Bulldogs (8-1) finished their O-K Green title by sending Unity Christian (7-2) into a tie for second in a league that will send five of seven teams to the playoffs.
Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern 27, Greenville 16 – Scheduling tough does matter; Forest Hills Northern (5-4) was 0-4 against teams with winning records heading into Week 9 but earned an at-large bid thanks in part to this victory over also playoff-bound Greenville (5-4).
Whitehall 37, Battle Creek Harper Creek 30 – The Vikings (6-3) came back from two straight one-point losses Weeks 6 and 7 to get into the playoffs for the third season in a row; Harper Creek (7-2) is headed back after going 3-6 last season.
8-Player
Powers North Central 68, Stephenson 32
The reigning MHSAA champ Jets (9-0) finished their Western Eight Conference run and moved into the top seed in 8-player with a solid boost from beating third-place Stephenson (7-2). North Central is only a little behind the pace of its incredible numbers from a year ago – the Jets are outscoring opponents on average 69-17, and Stephenson was the first to score more than 18 since Week 3. Click for more from the Marinette EagleHerald.
Also noted:
Lawrence 22, Battle Creek St. Philip 14 – The final game to finish in 8-player over the weekend saw Lawrence (8-1) come back from two losses last season to St. Philip (5-4) to knock the reigning MHSAA runner-up out of the playoff mix.
Camden-Frontier 44, Waldron 18 – The Redskins (6-1) played their way into the playoffs after two straight 0-9 finishes by getting a key win over Waldron (4-5).
PHOTO: Holt over Grand Ledge was one of a number of upsets during Week 9 of the football regular season. (Click to see more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)