2016 Week 7 Football Playoff Listing
October 4, 2016
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. 28. 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. 28.
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. on Oct. 23 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, 2976, 4-2, 63.000
2. Utica Eisenhower, 2700, 6-0, 106.667
3. Clarkston, 2683, 4-2, 67.500
4. Grand Blanc, 2628, 4-2, 70.500
5. East Kentwood, 2596, 3-3, 52.333
6. Southfield Arts & Technology, 2581, 3-3, 52.667
7. Rockford, 2563, 4-2, 72.333
8. Clinton Township Chippewa Valley, 2518, 3-3, 56.833
9. Howell, 2499, 4-2, 66.333
10. Dearborn Fordson, 2487, 6-0, 104.000
11. Lake Orion, 2418, 4-2, 64.667
12. Detroit Cass Tech, 2368, 6-0, 89.333
13. Northville ^, 2325, 5-1, 87.333
14. Salem, 2172, 3-3, 45.500
15. Brighton ^, 2142, 5-1, 87.333
16. Detroit Catholic Central, 2128, 6-0, 98.667
17. Novi, 2050, 4-2, 62.167
18. Monroe, 2046, 3-3, 45.867
19. Oxford, 2042, 3-3, 49.333
20. Canton, 2035, 4-2, 69.500
21. New Baltimore Anchor Bay, 1987, 4-2, 58.167
22. Macomb L'Anse Creuse North ^, 1986, 5-1, 79.500
23. Dearborn ^, 1978, 5-1, 86.000
24. Lapeer ^, 1932, 5-1, 72.500
25. Saline, 1923, 6-0, 100.800
26. West Bloomfield, 1905, 3-3, 52.167
27. Livonia Stevenson, 1839, 3-3, 56.000
28. Bloomfield Hills, 1831, 6-0, 97.333
29. White Lake Lakeland, 1822, 4-2, 62.167
30. Grandville ^, 1810, 5-1, 85.833
31. Hudsonville ^, 1797, 5-1, 82.000
32. Warren Mott, 1768, 6-0, 97.333
33. Grand Ledge ^, 1694, 5-1, 79.333
34. Belleville, 1668, 4-2, 64.167
35. Davison, 1668, 6-0, 89.333
36. Rochester Adams ^, 1666, 5-1, 79.167
37. Romeo, 1641, 4-2, 70.500
38. Waterford Mott, 1638, 3-3, 55.167
39. Rochester, 1632, 3-3, 51.000
40. Walled Lake Northern ^, 1631, 5-1, 80.333
41. Kalamazoo Central, 1615, 3-3, 48.967
42. Grosse Pointe South, 1600, 4-2, 65.000
43. Temperance Bedford ^, 1597, 5-1, 80.833
44. Detroit Western International, 1584, 4-2, 49.167
45. Brownstown Woodhaven, 1579, 4-2, 61.500
46. Detroit East English, 1579, 4-2, 54.833
47. Livonia Churchill, 1578, 4-2, 67.500
48. Saginaw Heritage, 1558, 3-3, 39.167
49. Traverse City West, 1552, 4-2, 64.333
50. Warren DeLaSalle, 1526, 3-3, 53.933
51. Flint Carman-Ainsworth, 1522, 4-2, 58.667
52. Livonia Franklin, 1507, 4-2, 64.833
53. Warren Cousino ^, 1496, 5-1, 79.000
54. Detroit Martin Luther King ^, 1487, 5-1, 71.500
55. Detroit U-D Jesuit *^, 1482, 4-1, 63.967
56. Jenison, 1481, 4-2, 61.000
57. Caledonia, 1456, 3-3, 51.833
58. Oak Park, 1409, 4-2, 68.333
59. St. Clair Shores Lakeview, 1409, 4-2, 58.167
60. Ypsilanti Lincoln, 1404, 3-3, 46.033
61. Traverse City Central, 1394, 6-0, 98.667
62. Port Huron, 1392, 3-3, 47.500
63. Midland, 1388, 3-3, 44.333
64. Portage Central ^, 1388, 5-1, 82.967
65. Portage Northern, 1378, 4-2, 67.567
66. Walled Lake Western ^, 1370, 5-1, 88.000
67. Grosse Pointe North, 1367, 4-2, 62.500
68. Battle Creek Lakeview *, 1353, 3-2, 58.333
69. Hamtramck, 1352, 3-3, 36.400
70. Dearborn Edsel Ford, 1346, 3-3, 40.833
71. Berkley, 1319, 4-2, 64.833
72. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central ^, 1316, 5-1, 77.833
73. Wyandotte Roosevelt ^, 1311, 5-1, 80.833
74. Dearborn Heights Crestwood, 1294, 3-3, 39.000
75. Port Huron Northern ^, 1288, 5-1, 69.333
76. Wyoming, 1288, 4-2, 57.167
77. Pinckney, 1276, 4-2, 63.833
78. Midland Dow, 1254, 6-0, 92.000
79. Birmingham Brother Rice, 1250, 3-3, 50.000
80. Birmingham Groves, 1248, 6-0, 100.000
81. Jackson, 1243, 3-3, 52.333
82. Muskegon Mona Shores, 1240, 3-3, 50.667
83. Muskegon Reeths-Puffer, 1198, 3-3, 42.667
84. Lowell, 1165, 6-0, 104.000
85. Holly, 1164, 4-2, 61.000
86. Farmington Hills Harrison, 1161, 3-3, 49.833
87. Bay City Central, 1158, 3-3, 48.333
88. Greenville, 1142, 4-2, 66.500
89. Fenton, 1138, 4-2, 69.000
90. East Lansing, 1117, 4-2, 60.667
91. Ferndale, 1117, 4-2, 52.000
92. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern, 1100, 3-3, 45.833
93. Allen Park, 1094, 6-0, 104.000
94. Redford Thurston, 1090, 3-3, 47.167
95. Byron Center ^, 1070, 5-1, 76.667
96. Muskegon ^, 1052, 5-1, 79.333
97. Orchard Lake St. Mary's, 1040, 4-2, 70.424
98. Ortonville-Brandon ^, 1034, 5-1, 73.833
99. Detroit Cody, 1015, 4-2, 57.167
100. St. Johns, 1015, 3-3, 44.667
101. Mason ^, 1009, 5-1, 75.333
102. Zeeland East ^, 1007, 5-1, 70.000
103. DeWitt ^, 1002, 5-1, 82.000
104. St. Joseph, 989, 4-2, 65.100
105. East Grand Rapids, 979, 4-2, 71.000
106. Trenton ^, 969, 5-1, 83.500
107. Linden, 940, 4-2, 58.667
108. Cedar Springs, 936, 3-3, 48.667
109. Niles, 931, 3-3, 41.143
110. Coldwater, 929, 4-2, 58.167
111. Romulus ^, 929, 5-1, 78.000
112. Sturgis, 929, 3-3, 37.667
113. Grand Rapids Christian ^, 912, 5-1, 84.881
114. Warren Fitzgerald, 891, 6-0, 88.000
115. New Boston Huron, 886, 4-2, 54.833
116. Melvindale, 881, 3-3, 45.500
117. Battle Creek Harper Creek, 880, 6-0, 82.667
118. Chelsea, 867, 6-0, 93.333
119. Redford Union, 865, 4-2, 52.000
120. Stevensville Lakeshore, 865, 4-2, 69.167
121. Vicksburg ^, 861, 5-1, 67.500
122. Dearborn Divine Child, 859, 4-2, 58.333
123. Zeeland West, 857, 4-2, 68.167
124. Edwardsburg, 855, 6-0, 82.667
125. Marshall, 849, 3-3, 48.000
126. Bay City John Glenn, 838, 4-2, 61.333
127. Sparta, 834, 3-3, 36.333
128. Fowlerville, 833, 4-2, 56.167
129. Tecumseh, 832, 3-3, 45.533
130. Cadillac ^, 817, 5-1, 71.167
131. Hamilton ^, 810, 5-1, 72.667
132. Wayland Union, 810, 3-3, 41.167
133. Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood ^, 797, 5-1, 64.500
134. Marysville, 794, 6-0, 88.000
135. Adrian, 792, 3-3, 50.533
136. Detroit Osborn, 786, 3-3, 41.833
137. St. Clair, 784, 3-3, 46.667
138. Milan, 775, 6-0, 93.333
139. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, 749, 4-2, 58.333
140. River Rouge ^, 741, 5-1, 68.833
141. Allendale, 735, 4-2, 59.000
142. Three Rivers ^, 730, 5-1, 68.167
143. Escanaba ^, 722, 5-1, 72.833
144. Detroit Mumford ^, 714, 5-1, 71.267
145. Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy *^, 708, 4-2, 52.833
146. Ludington ^, 695, 5-1, 55.500
147. Detroit Country Day, 692, 6-0, 82.667
148. Monroe Jefferson, 687, 3-3, 42.333
149. Yale, 683, 3-3, 35.000
150. Alma ^, 674, 5-1, 67.500
151. South Haven, 674, 3-3, 42.833
152. Paw Paw, 672, 3-3, 40.500
153. Battle Creek Pennfield, 669, 3-3, 43.000
154. Wyoming Kelloggsville ^, 660, 5-1, 67.967
155. Croswell-Lexington, 659, 4-2, 56.167
156. Lake Fenton, 654, 6-0, 74.667
157. Grosse Ile ^, 653, 5-1, 74.167
158. Whitehall, 653, 4-2, 53.333
159. Flint Powers Catholic, 647, 3-3, 50.833
160. Wyoming Godwin Heights, 645, 3-3, 43.967
161. Grand Rapids Catholic Central, 644, 6-0, 92.000
162. Benton Harbor, 643, 6-0, 82.667
163. Williamston, 643, 3-3, 39.000
164. Big Rapids, 639, 3-3, 37.333
165. Corunna, 639, 6-0, 76.000
166. Hudsonville Unity Christian, 629, 6-0, 88.000
167. Grand Rapids South Christian, 621, 3-3, 42.000
168. St. Clair Shores South Lake, 617, 4-2, 59.833
169. Lake Odessa Lakewood, 614, 6-0, 84.000
170. Dowagiac, 610, 3-3, 40.833
171. Lansing Sexton, 610, 4-2, 65.333
172. Hancock, 608, 4-2, 41.310
173. Saginaw Swan Valley, 607, 4-2, 52.000
174. Clawson, 599, 3-3, 42.000
175. Detroit Denby ^, 593, 5-1, 63.167
176. Muskegon Oakridge ^, 590, 5-1, 60.833
177. Southfield Bradford Academy ^, 587, 5-1, 60.667
178. Belding, 585, 4-2, 50.667
179. Portland, 579, 6-0, 89.333
180. Remus Chippewa Hills ^, 577, 5-1, 67.500
181. Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard, 568, 3-3, 30.300
182. Richmond ^, 562, 5-1, 68.833
183. Freeland, 561, 6-0, 89.333
184. Essexville Garber, 550, 4-2, 50.833
185. Algonac, 547, 6-0, 80.000
186. Ida, 546, 6-0, 76.000
187. Carrollton, 543, 4-2, 46.500
188. Kingsford, 543, 4-2, 59.214
189. Mt. Morris, 543, 3-3, 36.500
190. Olivet, 541, 4-2, 49.667
191. Harper Woods, 540, 4-2, 49.000
192. Frankenmuth, 533, 6-0, 84.000
193. Lansing Catholic ^, 532, 5-1, 76.833
194. Grandville Calvin Christian, 531, 3-3, 38.900
195. Grant, 520, 4-2, 49.500
196. Kalkaska ^, 517, 5-1, 57.833
197. Perry, 504, 3-3, 35.333
198. Almont, 497, 3-3, 35.333
199. Kalamazoo Hackett, 497, 3-3, 40.500
200. Shepherd, 497, 3-3, 40.667
201. Manistee, 496, 4-2, 45.000
202. Reed City, 496, 6-0, 84.000
203. Grayling, 492, 3-3, 39.500
204. Berrien Springs *, 482, 3-2, 48.438
205. Stockbridge, 482, 3-3, 38.000
206. Gladstone, 478, 3-3, 39.500
207. Buchanan *, 476, 3-2, 47.133
208. Grand Rapids West Catholic ^, 475, 5-1, 60.500
209. Durand, 463, 4-2, 41.333
210. Parchment, 448, 4-2, 44.733
211. Brooklyn Columbia Central, 442, 4-2, 48.167
212. Menominee, 439, 6-0, 87.619
213. Hillsdale, 432, 4-2, 47.667
214. Ithaca, 426, 6-0, 77.333
215. Clare ^, 419, 5-1, 60.833
216. Detroit Voyageur, 418, 3-3, 35.967
217. Pinconning, 417, 4-2, 42.333
218. Montague ^, 414, 5-1, 60.167
219. Houghton, 412, 3-3, 27.952
220. Tawas *^, 412, 4-1, 44.333
221. Hemlock, 411, 4-2, 44.000
222. Harrison, 410, 4-2, 45.167
223. Calumet ^, 406, 5-1, 65.976
224. Michigan Center, 406, 3-3, 29.833
225. Morley Stanwood, 404, 4-2, 49.167
226. Lakeview, 402, 3-3, 37.667
227. Delton Kellogg, 401, 4-2, 50.500
228. Negaunee, 400, 6-0, 80.000
229. Warren Michigan Collegiate ^, 398, 5-1, 66.000
230. Adrian Madison, 397, 3-3, 36.833
231. Boyne City, 396, 4-2, 58.167
232. Charlevoix ^, 393, 5-1, 53.833
233. Millington ^, 393, 5-1, 66.167
234. Burton Bendle, 392, 3-3, 30.833
235. Mason County Central, 389, 3-3, 29.333
236. Beaverton, 387, 4-2, 45.167
237. Constantine, 386, 4-2, 51.833
238. Montrose, 386, 3-3, 36.833
239. Byron, 385, 4-2, 46.667
240. Quincy ^, 381, 5-1, 47.167
241. Jackson Lumen Christi, 380, 4-2, 58.833
242. Napoleon, 380, 4-2, 41.333
243. Watervliet, 380, 4-2, 50.667
244. Maple City Glen Lake, 379, 4-2, 52.333
245. Manchester, 378, 4-2, 41.333
246. Detroit Edison Public School Academy *, 374, 3-2, 40.500
247. Houghton Lake, 374, 3-3, 38.167
248. Laingsburg ^, 374, 5-1, 56.833
249. Roscommon, 367, 6-0, 73.333
250. Grass Lake, 363, 6-0, 68.000
251. Kent City, 362, 4-2, 47.500
252. New Haven, 362, 3-3, 36.667
253. Schoolcraft, 358, 6-0, 69.333
254. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central, 355, 3-3, 42.000
255. Oscoda, 352, 3-3, 31.000
256. Ravenna, 350, 4-2, 45.333
257. Leroy Pine River ^, 347, 5-1, 60.667
258. Madison Heights Madison, 343, 3-3, 47.833
259. Traverse City St. Francis, 341, 6-0, 74.667
260. Bath, 336, 3-3, 29.833
261. Lawton ^, 333, 5-1, 52.833
262. Clinton, 331, 4-2, 46.667
263. Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian, 330, 3-3, 30.333
264. Flint Hamady, 329, 4-2, 51.833
265. Reese, 328, 4-2, 46.833
266. Detroit Delta Prep, 327, 4-2, 47.667
267. McBain, 326, 3-3, 42.667
268. Madison Heights Bishop Foley, 322, 3-3, 34.000
269. Riverview Gabriel Richard, 320, 3-3, 36.333
270. Burton Atherton, 316, 4-2, 37.000
271. Homer, 313, 4-2, 50.500
272. Bridgman, 312, 4-2, 36.900
273. Galesburg-Augusta, 312, 3-3, 27.500
274. Iron Mountain ^, 302, 5-1, 56.300
275. New Lothrop, 298, 6-0, 72.000
276. Gobles ^, 289, 5-1, 55.333
277. Saugatuck, 289, 6-0, 66.667
278. Cass City, 288, 3-3, 35.667
279. Pewamo-Westphalia, 288, 6-0, 70.667
280. Gwinn, 287, 4-2, 41.500
281. Cassopolis ^, 278, 5-1, 58.533
282. Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett, 277, 6-0, 65.333
283. Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest, 275, 3-3, 31.633
284. Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker, 274, 6-0, 62.667
285. Carson City-Crystal, 268, 4-2, 32.833
286. Sand Creek, 268, 6-0, 63.200
287. Hudson ^, 267, 5-1, 60.500
288. Unionville-Sebewaing ^, 267, 5-1, 52.833
289. Detroit Loyola ^, 266, 5-1, 67.167
290. Hesperia, 265, 4-2, 42.167
291. East Jordan, 261, 4-2, 33.333
292. Ubly, 260, 6-0, 65.333
293. Dansville, 259, 4-2, 41.500
294. Springport ^, 259, 5-1, 51.167
295. Concord ^, 258, 5-1, 48.667
296. Onekama ^, 254, 5-1, 43.167
297. Whittemore-Prescott, 251, 3-3, 33.400
298. Auburn Hills Oakland Christian *, 250, 3-2, 33.467
299. Royal Oak Shrine Catholic ^, 249, 5-1, 61.667
300. Saginaw Nouvel, 248, 4-2, 46.500
301. New Buffalo, 247, 3-3, 26.667
302. Petersburg-Summerfield, 247, 4-2, 37.333
303. Lincoln Alcona ^, 245, 5-1, 55.267
304. Decatur, 243, 3-3, 27.000
305. Evart, 242, 4-2, 44.833
306. Ottawa Lake Whiteford, 242, 6-0, 64.000
307. Iron River West Iron County, 241, 3-3, 33.905
308. Beal City, 239, 4-2, 46.667
309. Ishpeming *, 239, 3-2, 36.038
310. Breckenridge, 235, 6-0, 57.333
311. Johannesburg-Lewiston, 233, 3-3, 25.667
312. St. Joseph Lake Michigan Catholic ^, 232, 5-1, 45.833
313. Harbor Beach, 231, 4-2, 35.667
314. Melvindale Academy for Business & Tech, 224, 3-3, 30.500
315. St. Ignace ^, 219, 5-1, 56.833
316. Norway ^, 214, 5-1, 46.205
317. Newberry ^, 212, 5-1, 48.833
318. Pittsford, 206, 3-3, 28.667
319. Rogers City, 205, 3-3, 28.333
320. Marcellus, 204, 3-3, 25.500
321. Mendon, 203, 4-2, 46.400
322. Morenci, 201, 4-2, 45.500
323. Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary, 200, 4-2, 46.500
324. Vestaburg, 195, 4-2, 37.000
325. Fulton, 191, 3-3, 26.000
326. Merrill ^, 191, 5-1, 41.667
327. Adrian Lenawee Christian, 186, 3-3, 34.867
328. Fowler, 185, 4-2, 37.000
329. Martin, 178, 4-2, 34.333
330. Sterling Heights Parkway Christian, 173, 3-3, 36.133
331. Frankfort, 171, 6-0, 60.000
332. Gaylord St. Mary ^, 170, 5-1, 36.667
333. Climax-Scotts, 169, 6-0, 56.000
334. Muskegon Catholic Central, 163, 6-0, 76.000
335. Lake Linden-Hubbell, 157, 6-0, 67.238
336. Colon, 156, 4-2, 35.033
337. AuGres-Sims ^, 149, 5-1, 48.667
338. Hillman, 146, 3-3, 26.000
339. Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart, 146, 3-3, 29.833
340. Waterford Our Lady, 134, 4-2, 45.500
341. Clarkston Everest Collegiate ^, 115, 5-1, 53.833
342. Felch North Dickinson, 95, 4-2, 35.025
8-Player Playoff Listing
1. Deckerville *, 177, 6-0, 62.667
2. New Haven Merritt Academy, 165, 6-0, 56.000
3. Engadine, 91, 6-0, 54.667
4. Powers North Central, 115, 6-0, 51.048
5. Cedarville, 156, 6-0, 50.667
6. Lawrence, 186, 6-0, 50.400
7. Peck, 143, 5-1, 48.033
8. Wyoming Tri-unity Christian, 168, 6-0, 48.000
9. Portland St. Patrick, 92, 6-0, 45.333
10. Crystal Falls Forest Park, 159, 5-1, 45.100
11. Rapid River, 116, 5-1, 40.933
12. Webberville, 178, 5-1, 40.667
13. Owendale-Gagetown, 48, 5-1, 39.500
14. Stephenson, 177, 5-1, 38.571
15. Fife Lake Forest Area, 162, 5-1, 36.833
16. Battle Creek St. Philip, 143, 4-2, 35.933
17. Pickford, 149, 5-1, 35.500
18. Camden-Frontier *, 159, 4-1, 34.967
19. Flint International Academy, 185, 4-2, 33.500
20. Hale, 129, 4-2, 29.333
21. Morrice, 168, 3-3, 28.667
22. Marion, 132, 3-3, 27.167
23. Onaway, 190, 4-2, 27.000
24. Tekonsha, 135, 3-3, 24.667
25. Mayville, 196, 3-3, 24.500
26. Waldron, 83, 3-3, 23.167
27. Posen, 94, 2-4, 17.533
28. Brethren, 152, 2-4, 17.167
29. Ontonagon, 126, 2-4, 16.214
30. Burr Oak, 72, 2-4, 15.333
31. Burton Madison Academy, 198, 2-4, 14.500
32. Caseville, 98, 2-4, 14.500
33. Flint Michigan School for the Deaf *, 47, 2-3, 14.233
34. Bellaire, 133, 2-4, 13.333
35. St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran, 97, 2-4, 12.833
36. Manistee Catholic Central, 189, 2-4, 12.500
37. Eben Junction Superior Central, 125, 1-5, 9.933
38. Ewen-Trout Creek, 115, 1-5, 9.500
39. Baraga, 150, 1-5, 9.267
40. Carney-Nadeau *, 140, 1-4, 9.067
41. St. Helen Charlton Heston Academy, 137, 1-5, 8.333
42. Carsonville-Port Sanilac, 118, 1-5, 7.667
43. Pellston, 169, 0-6, 3.333
44. Kinde-North Huron, 157, 0-6, 2.833
45. Litchfield, 85, 0-6, 2.833
46. Covert *, 95, 0-5, 2.333
47. Big Rapids Crossroads Academy, 193, 0-6, 2.000
48. Akron-Fairgrove, 105, 0-6, 2.000
Herrington's Record Run Filled with Thrills
By
Tom Markowski
Special for Second Half
October 12, 2017
FARMINGTON HILLS – John Herrington soon will stand alone as the winningest football coach in Michigan high school history.
Herrington, 76, is in his 48th season as head coach at Farmington Hills Harrison. He spent eight seasons as an assistant at North Farmington. He is the only head coach Harrison has had.
Herrington and Al Fracassa of Birmingham Brother Rice currently are tied for the most victories at 430. Herrington will pass Fracassa on Friday if the Hawks, coming off their biggest victory of the season, 17-14 over Oak Park, can defeat Berkley at Harrison.
Fracassa’s record stands at 430-117-7. He retired following the 2013 season. Herrington’s record is 430-104-1. The next active coach within shouting distance is Herb Brogan of Jackson Lumen Christi. His record is 337-83.
It will be Herrington’s name at the top of that list, but the number of people who have had a hand in this accomplishment is in the hundreds, if not a thousand or more.
Coaches like his longtime friend Bob Sutter, Herrington’s defensive coordinator for 34 seasons; John Witkowski, Steve Dolloway and current coaches like offensive coordinator Jon Herstein and defensive coordinator Dave Thorn all have contributed mightily to the success of the program.
Then there’s the players. Harrison boasted some of the best and most talented teams in state history including the Mill Coleman-led teams of the late 1980s and the Drew Stanton-led teams in the early 2000s.
“As a player, every player, every Hawk, feels they contributed,” Coleman said. “Coach doesn’t like to talk about (the record). We tried to get him to talk about it after the Oak Park game. He said, ‘Yeah, it’s a great win but we want to get into the playoffs.’”
Harrison is 5-2, and a victory over Berkley would clinch the program’s 33rd MHSAA playoff appearance. It also would clinch for the Hawks at least a share of the Oakland Activities Association White title.
This has been a special season in many ways. School administrators and others helped organize the return of many of Herrington’s players to be a part of the season-long celebration. For the first home game, players from the 1970s were asked to come back. The players from the 1980s were asked to attend the second home game, and so on.
Well-wishers are pouring in from all over the country.
“This week we’ll have players from the 2000s,” Herrington said. “Last week I think we had like 70 (for the Oak Park game). And I’m getting all kinds of emails.”
Herrington coached in some of the more memorable games of the last 40 years. There was the 1989 Class B Semifinal against East Grand Rapids that became known as the ‘Ice Bowl’ because the artificial surface at Atwood Stadium in Flint was completely ice-covered, making playing conditions quite challenging. Harrison won that game, 3-2. The following week, inside the Pontiac Silverdome, Coleman led a comeback over DeWitt that even longtime MHSAA historian Dick Kispaugh called one of the greatest games he’d seen. After trailing 21-0, Harrison won 28-27 on Coleman’s 9-yard touchdown run with 1:34 left. DeWitt had taken a 27-21 lead with 2:20 remaining.
“I came from Albion after my freshman year,” Coleman said. “It was great to play for Coach. Yeah, it was a big change for me. Harrison was a perennial state championship team then. Been there, done that type of thing.
“It was pretty systematic. That’s what stood out for me. Plus the attitude of the players. (You were) expected to win. It was pretty laid out. It was pretty comforting for me, too. I noticed the amount of time the staff put in, with meetings and stuff. We had a pretty in-depth scouting report. Still do.”
Coleman has been around the program since his professional career ended in 1998. As an assistant coach his main responsibility, quite naturally, is working with the quarterbacks. Coleman, whose name is splashed seemingly all over the MHSAA record book, is considered one of the greatest quarterbacks in state history. He won two MHSAA titles, lost in a Class B Final as a sophomore in 1987, and it was his ability to turn a busted play into something special that earned him the nickname “Mill the Thrill.”
One can’t overlook Harrison’s first two titles. The Hawks defeated Muskegon Catholic Central, 7-0, in the 1981 Class B Final, then the next season the Hawks went to double overtime to defeat Dearborn Fordson, 17-14, in the Class A title game. Those teams were led, in part, by all-state running back/defensive back John Miller, who would go on to play at Michigan State. Miller started for four seasons and was the last of four brothers who played at Harrison.
“Following in my brothers’ footsteps, playing for Coach Sutter and John, it was a dream come true,” Miller said. “I was 7 or 8 years old when I got to know John, running around, chasing footballs, just being around my brothers.
“(Herrington) is a remarkable man and coach, but also as a teacher. He cared about his players more than he did about the games.
“I remember coming off of that Class B title. We moved up to A, and that was quite a jump for us. We knew we would be good, but we also knew we couldn’t do just the same old thing. We had to do things a little different, on offense. We had Dave Blackmer, who started at fullback and linebacker, and Kenny Kish at quarterback. (Kish) was really good and a great guy. It was a matter of getting all of the right skill guys together. We had a lot of great athletes, maybe not great at one sport, but guys who played multiple sports. I was a senior on that ’84 team and it might have been one of John’s best, but we didn’t win it.”
Fordson gained some revenge that season, defeating Harrison, 9-7, in a Class A Semifinal.
But Herrington’s program continued to grow and eventually become one of the storied programs in state history. Comparisons, fair or not, soon surfaced between Herrington and Harrison and Brother Rice and Fracassa, and Detroit Catholic Central and its former head coach, Tom Mach.
Herrington and Fracassa crossed paths eight times as head coaches, with Fracassa holding a 6-2 edge.
But the most memorable Harrison-Brother Rice game took place in 2010 in a Division 2 Pre-District matchup at Harrison. Because both teams were so highly rated, those in the media labelled it as a state championship.
Brother Rice led late and was attempting to run the clock out, but fumbled. Jake Vento scooped the ball up and ran for the winning touchdown. Harrison went on to win the Division 2 title, the school’s most recent.
Fracassa would get the last laugh in the last game matching these two coaching legends, as Brother Rice defeated Harrison, 30-7, in a Division 2 District Final in 2011 – as the Warriors then went on to win the championship at Ford Field.
Herrington said 52 of his former players became high school football coaches, and he estimates that more than 20 coached at Harrison. One of those is Joe Pesci, a 1994 graduate who was the starting quarterback for two seasons.
Pesci was one of five Pescis to play for Herrington. Mike was the eldest brother, and he played fullback and linebacker before graduating in 1992. David was the youngest and, like Joe, played quarterback and he graduated in 1999. These brothers also had two uncles play at Harrison.
“I was fortunate when I came out of college (Albion) to coach under (Herrington),” Joe Pesci said. “Here I was, 22 years old, and he made me the head coach (of the freshmen team). We were having a ball. It was a great perspective to see the other side, to see the amount of time the coaches put in. I got to coach my brother (Dave), Stanton, (Agim) Shabaj. To watch his game-planning, it was awesome. That’s when I started to become good friends with John. I still call him once a week. I reach out to him. Not just with things that happen on the field but things in school, too. He’s a good sounding board to have.”
Joe Pesci is the current head coach at South Lyon East.
The most recent accomplishment is but one of many for Herrington. His program has won the most MHSAA football titles (13), tied for the most MHSAA Football Finals appearances (17), and in his 46 years Harrison has had just five losing seasons – and only three since 1972. Twenty-six times his teams have won 10 or more games. Harrison and East Grand Rapids share the record for most consecutive MHSAA titles, the Hawks’ five straight coming from 1997-2001.
“(Herrington) was pretty much laid back when I played,” Coleman said. “Sutter was more of the fiery type of coach. It wasn’t a good cop, bad cop thing. One was fiery. One was laid back. The joke was Coach Sutter was the only one to yell at me in high school. John was an honest coach. He was like that to the parents, too. When they asked why their son wasn’t playing, he’d tell them their son wasn’t good enough.
“He takes losses hard but, like his players, it drives him more to be better. I’ve never seen him say it was somebody else’s fault. But we didn’t lose much when I played. I lost two games, one in a league championship and the other in a state final.”
The victories have been there for Herrington. The titles, too. But above all else is the stability and the integrity.
Joe Pesci recalled the 1999 season when Herrington and his staff, including Pesci, were made aware that they had used an ineligible player.
“We didn’t know,” Pesci said. “As soon as we found out John turned us in (to the MHSAA). I remember him making the speech to the kids. It was tough to watch him. He put it out there and then said, ‘OK, now how are we going to handle it?’”
Harrison was 3-1 at the time but the forfeits changed that to 1-3. Harrison lost one more game that season and, at 5-4, made the playoffs as an at-large playoff qualifier. Harrison went on to win the Division 3 title with a 42-35 victory over Grand Rapids Creston in the Final.
Harrison will be a big favorite to defeat Berkley but Herrington, true to his word and commitment, remains cautious. “You never know what will happen,” he said, but admitted that to win this much, a program has to be “pretty good.”
The key is the Hawks also have been “pretty good” and much better than that consistently over five decades.
“I remember when I first started, I wanted to do everything, call everything. I did the offense, special teams, made the defensive calls,” Herrington recalled. “After we lost in 1976 (36-27 to Midland Dow in the Class A Final), Sutter came up to me and said, ‘Do you just want me to stand on the sidelines or what?’ That’s when I changed.
“I’d have to say one of my greatest skills is to hire good people, and I’ve had some great coaches.”
Harrison is scheduled to close following the 2018-19 school year, and Herrington said he intends to coach next season but is unsure if he will remain in coaching after that.
What has kept him coaching all these years is the relationships he has maintained and the players he coaches. The games present their own challenges but it is the preparation, the filtering through the scouting reports and the hours of watching game film that test his imagination.
He’s still motivated and continues to enjoy coaching.
“I don’t play golf,” he said, “so what else am I going to do?”
Tom Markowski is a columnist and directs website coverage for the State Champs! Sports Network. He previously covered primarily high school sports for the The Detroit News from 1984-2014, focusing on the Detroit area and contributing to statewide coverage of football and basketball. Contact him at [email protected] with story ideas for Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties.
PHOTOS: (Top middle) Farmington Hills Harrison coach John Herrington mans the headset during a 2009 game against Southfield. (Middle top) Herrington raises the championship trophy after leading his team to the Class B title in 1988. (Middle below) Herrington, Dave Condeni (11), Agim Shabaj and Drew Stanton (9) celebrate a fifth-straight title in 2001 at the Pontiac Silverdome. (Below) Herrington enjoys a moment after coaching his 2010 team to the Division 2 championship.