2017 Week 7 Football Playoff Listing
October 3, 2017
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.
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. 27. 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 32 programs will then be divided into two divisions of 16 each based on enrollment. The playoff in that division also begins Oct. 27.
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. 22 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, 3016, 5-1, 79.500
2. Dearborn Fordson, 2741, 5-1, 82.167
3. Utica Eisenhower, 2689, 6-0, 112.000
4. Grand Blanc, 2660, 6-0, 94.667
5. East Kentwood, 2639, 4-2, 62.500
6. Clarkston, 2603, 5-1, 84.500
7. Rockford, 2485, 4-2, 70.667
8. Clinton Township Chippewa Valley, 2434, 5-1, 86.167
9. Detroit Cass Tech *, 2434, 4-1, 68.400
10. Troy, 2422, 4-2, 66.500
11. Southfield Arts & Technology, 2345, 3-3, 44.667
12. Brighton, 2247, 3-3, 51.833
13. Canton, 2212, 5-1, 84.833
14. Holland West Ottawa, 2200, 5-1, 80.833
15. Ann Arbor Pioneer, 2094, 3-3, 47.000
16. Salem, 2090, 3-3, 46.833
17. Detroit Catholic Central, 2080, 4-2, 67.000
18. West Bloomfield, 1990, 4-2, 70.500
19. New Baltimore Anchor Bay, 1956, 5-1, 74.833
20. Monroe, 1934, 3-3, 46.429
21. Utica, 1907, 3-3, 49.667
22. Saline *, 1869, 5-1, 83.167
23. Bloomfield Hills, 1842, 4-2, 62.667
24. Lapeer, 1837, 5-1, 74.000
25. Livonia Stevenson, 1811, 4-2, 70.333
26. Walled Lake Central, 1804, 4-2, 65.500
27. White Lake Lakeland, 1765, 4-2, 67.833
28. Romeo, 1753, 4-2, 67.633
29. Holt, 1752, 3-3, 41.167
30. Grandville, 1750, 4-2, 66.500
31. Grand Ledge, 1726, 5-1, 84.667
32. Warren Mott, 1712, 4-2, 62.667
33. Belleville, 1709, 6-0, 105.333
34. Detroit Western International, 1701, 3-3, 44.500
35. Davison, 1695, 5-1, 80.667
36. Walled Lake Northern, 1678, 4-2, 58.167
37. Grosse Pointe South, 1644, 3-3, 50.567
38. Rochester Adams, 1626, 5-1, 81.833
39. Waterford Mott, 1586, 5-1, 85.833
40. Traverse City West, 1582, 6-0, 97.333
41. Brownstown Woodhaven, 1569, 4-2, 63.000
42. Temperance Bedford, 1548, 5-1, 75.333
43. Warren DeLaSalle, 1538, 5-1, 83.167
44. Flint Carman-Ainsworth, 1502, 4-2, 61.500
45. Livonia Churchill, 1486, 5-1, 83.167
46. Caledonia, 1474, 3-3, 45.833
47. Livonia Franklin, 1469, 4-2, 59.833
48. Jenison, 1457, 4-2, 61.667
49. Roseville, 1412, 4-2, 61.000
50. Detroit Martin Luther King, 1404, 5-1, 73.162
51. Dearborn Edsel Ford, 1396, 4-2, 56.167
52. Oak Park, 1395, 5-1, 82.167
53. Grosse Pointe North *, 1371, 3-2, 55.333
54. Portage Central, 1353, 5-1, 83.500
55. Traverse City Central, 1345, 4-2, 64.167
56. Wyandotte Roosevelt, 1345, 6-0, 96.000
57. Royal Oak, 1332, 3-3, 43.000
58. Okemos, 1326, 4-2, 54.500
59. Walled Lake Western, 1318, 5-1, 87.333
60. Midland, 1316, 5-1, 83.500
61. Flushing, 1312, 5-1, 79.333
62. Birmingham Groves, 1300, 5-1, 84.667
63. Port Huron Northern, 1277, 5-1, 76.667
64. St. Clair Shores Lake Shore, 1273, 3-3, 43.167
65. Pinckney, 1272, 5-1, 79.333
66. Detroit East English, 1270, 6-0, 85.333
67. Midland Dow, 1263, 5-1, 75.000
68. Southgate Anderson, 1263, 3-3, 46.667
69. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, 1258, 6-0, 98.667
70. Ypsilanti Community, 1254, 3-3, 45.500
71. Muskegon Mona Shores, 1238, 6-0, 109.333
72. Birmingham Brother Rice, 1224, 3-3, 49.310
73. Ypsilanti Lincoln, 1222, 4-2, 63.667
74. Lowell, 1195, 4-2, 70.667
75. Muskegon Reeths-Puffer, 1186, 3-3, 42.167
76. Ferndale, 1180, 5-1, 75.167
77. Mattawan, 1171, 4-2, 62.500
78. Holly, 1166, 3-3, 46.167
79. Fenton, 1163, 6-0, 98.667
80. Greenville, 1158, 3-3, 45.833
81. Holland, 1140, 4-2, 56.000
82. Hamtramck, 1135, 4-2, 54.333
83. Detroit Renaissance, 1131, 4-2, 50.667
84. Gibraltar Carlson, 1125, 6-0, 100.000
85. Bay City Central, 1116, 3-3, 50.000
86. East Lansing, 1108, 4-2, 61.333
87. Redford Thurston, 1102, 4-2, 52.833
88. Eastpointe, 1101, 3-3, 43.167
89. Warren Woods Tower, 1095, 6-0, 92.000
90. Byron Center, 1083, 4-2, 56.000
91. Muskegon, 1058, 6-0, 100.000
92. St. Joseph, 1043, 4-2, 65.000
93. Auburn Hills Avondale, 1033, 4-2, 67.667
94. Farmington Hills Harrison, 1030, 4-2, 66.833
95. Richland Gull Lake, 1028, 3-3, 48.833
96. East Grand Rapids, 1010, 6-0, 102.667
97. DeWitt, 994, 5-1, 80.667
98. Zeeland East, 994, 6-0, 88.000
99. St. Johns, 990, 3-3, 41.833
100. Gaylord, 980, 3-3, 40.167
101. Ortonville-Brandon, 969, 4-2, 61.500
102. Zeeland West, 960, 4-2, 73.500
103. Melvindale, 956, 3-3, 49.500
104. Cedar Springs, 946, 4-2, 66.500
105. Coldwater, 933, 4-2, 56.405
106. Riverview, 928, 5-1, 68.500
107. Detroit Cody, 924, 3-3, 41.933
108. Linden, 924, 5-1, 83.500
109. Redford Union, 922, 3-3, 38.000
110. Trenton, 911, 3-3, 48.667
111. Warren Fitzgerald, 903, 5-1, 70.167
112. Grand Rapids Christian, 896, 5-1, 88.833
113. Stevensville Lakeshore, 891, 6-0, 102.667
114. Hazel Park, 889, 4-2, 62.833
115. Battle Creek Harper Creek, 884, 6-0, 85.333
116. Parma Western, 880, 4-2, 55.833
117. New Boston Huron, 877, 5-1, 71.000
118. Adrian, 865, 3-3, 46.833
119. Romulus, 864, 4-2, 62.667
120. Haslett, 856, 5-1, 73.833
121. Carleton Airport, 855, 3-3, 39.167
122. Marshall, 854, 3-3, 44.000
123. Dearborn Divine Child, 852, 5-1, 74.000
124. Tecumseh, 850, 3-3, 48.333
125. Chelsea, 841, 5-1, 77.833
126. River Rouge, 836, 5-1, 76.833
127. Edwardsburg, 835, 6-0, 80.000
128. Bay City John Glenn, 831, 3-3, 43.000
129. Detroit Mumford, 829, 5-1, 66.000
130. Coopersville, 824, 4-2, 51.833
131. Wayland Union, 816, 3-3, 44.000
132. Sparta, 815, 4-2, 50.667
133. Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood, 812, 5-1, 67.333
134. Marysville, 808, 3-3, 41.000
135. Plainwell, 808, 4-2, 56.167
136. Vicksburg, 801, 5-1, 69.833
137. Ada Forest Hills Eastern, 794, 3-3, 47.000
138. Ionia, 792, 3-3, 40.167
139. Charlotte, 790, 3-3, 44.167
140. Milan, 772, 3-3, 40.667
141. Madison Heights Lamphere, 768, 3-3, 37.333
142. Detroit Old Redford, 763, 3-3, 33.833
143. Goodrich, 759, 5-1, 66.000
144. Escanaba, 739, 5-1, 69.767
145. Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy, 727, 4-2, 54.600
146. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, 718, 5-1, 58.167
147. Three Rivers, 707, 5-1, 69.667
148. Armada, 685, 3-3, 39.000
149. Croswell-Lexington, 681, 3-3, 40.667
150. Wyoming Godwin Heights, 679, 5-1, 56.833
151. Wyoming Kelloggsville, 678, 6-0, 82.667
152. Romulus Summit Academy North, 674, 4-1, 49.167
153. Yale, 672, 3-3, 32.500
154. Paw Paw, 662, 3-3, 40.833
155. Whitehall, 661, 4-2, 51.000
156. Flint Powers Catholic, 660, 3-3, 49.500
157. Lake Fenton, 660, 5-1, 70.167
158. Flat Rock, 658, 4-2, 61.833
159. Grand Rapids Catholic Central, 646, 6-0, 76.267
160. Alma, 642, 6-0, 81.333
161. Big Rapids, 642, 3-3, 35.667
162. Comstock Park, 636, 4-2, 57.167
163. Corunna, 633, 3-3, 37.667
164. Williamston, 628, 4-2, 54.667
165. Lansing Sexton, 620, 4-2, 68.667
166. Lake Odessa Lakewood, 608, 5-1, 67.500
167. Hudsonville Unity Christian, 606, 4-2, 59.667
168. Grand Rapids South Christian, 602, 5-1, 68.667
169. Belding, 597, 5-1, 68.667
170. Bridgeport, 594, 3-3, 39.833
171. Muskegon Oakridge, 592, 5-1, 63.167
172. Saginaw Swan Valley, 586, 5-1, 72.833
173. Hancock, 584, 5-1, 56.081
174. Macomb Lutheran North, 581, 3-3, 36.167
175. North Muskegon, 579, 4-2, 40.167
176. Dowagiac, 568, 3-3, 47.333
177. Freeland, 564, 4-2, 54.833
178. Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard, 555, 6-0, 68.267
179. Olivet, 552, 6-0, 84.000
180. Lansing Catholic, 551, 5-1, 71.333
181. Remus Chippewa Hills, 550, 4-2, 54.667
182. Cheboygan, 548, 3-3, 38.667
183. Kingsford *, 542, 4-1, 72.371
184. Mt. Morris, 536, 3-3, 36.333
185. Algonac, 534, 5-1, 66.000
186. Portland, 534, 5-1, 79.167
187. Frankenmuth, 528, 6-0, 81.600
188. Carrollton, 520, 5-1, 63.333
189. Ida, 520, 5-1, 57.833
190. Marine City, 514, 5-1, 76.833
191. Grant, 512, 4-2, 47.833
192. Kalkaska, 512, 3-3, 29.833
193. Richmond, 510, 6-0, 82.667
194. Grand Rapids West Catholic, 505, 5-1, 71.333
195. Onsted, 505, 4-2, 42.333
196. Reed City, 501, 5-1, 70.167
197. Almont, 494, 4-2, 52.167
198. Gladstone, 493, 6-0, 68.000
199. Grayling, 492, 4-2, 48.333
200. Perry, 489, 3-3, 34.833
201. Berrien Springs, 484, 5-1, 62.833
202. Coloma, 480, 4-2, 42.500
203. Menominee, 479, 4-2, 56.619
204. Kalamazoo Hackett, 474, 5-1, 62.167
205. Newaygo, 474, 4-2, 53.167
206. Detroit Denby *, 461, 4-1, 58.800
207. Ovid-Elsie, 458, 5-1, 58.000
208. Clare, 457, 5-1, 63.500
209. Detroit Voyageur, 446, 4-2, 49.333
210. Parchment, 443, 4-2, 50.500
211. Leslie, 438, 3-3, 36.333
212. Boyne City, 428, 6-0, 78.667
213. Brooklyn Columbia Central, 426, 4-2, 62.667
214. Michigan Center, 419, 5-1, 59.167
215. Ecorse, 417, 3-3, 33.833
216. Harrison, 410, 4-2, 42.833
217. Montague, 409, 6-0, 78.667
218. Millington, 407, 6-0, 80.000
219. Hemlock, 405, 4-2, 43.500
220. Morley Stanwood, 405, 5-1, 54.167
221. Negaunee, 405, 3-3, 32.667
222. Ithaca, 403, 6-0, 70.667
223. Clinton Township Clintondale, 401, 6-0, 82.667
224. Calumet, 396, 3-3, 34.905
225. Byron, 387, 3-3, 43.500
226. Constantine, 386, 3-3, 33.500
227. Detroit Henry Ford, 385, 4-2, 34.600
228. Warren Michigan Collegiate, 382, 6-0, 84.000
229. Montrose, 381, 5-1, 60.667
230. Maple City Glen Lake *, 376, 3-2, 38.467
231. Quincy, 376, 4-2, 50.667
232. Kent City, 375, 6-0, 70.667
233. Lakeview, 374, 3-3, 30.333
234. Napoleon, 373, 4-2, 51.833
235. Schoolcraft, 372, 5-1, 59.333
236. Blissfield, 371, 4-2, 60.167
237. Niles Brandywine, 370, 3-3, 28.000
238. Detroit Central, 369, 5-1, 60.867
239. Laingsburg, 367, 4-2, 40.000
240. Grass Lake, 365, 4-2, 42.000
241. Traverse City St. Francis, 362, 6-0, 82.133
242. Jackson Lumen Christi, 361, 5-1, 75.500
243. Houghton Lake, 357, 4-2, 45.500
244. Watervliet, 355, 6-0, 71.467
245. Beaverton, 353, 6-0, 74.667
246. Elk Rapids, 353, 5-1, 58.167
247. Burton Bendle, 352, 4-2, 38.833
248. L'Anse, 351, 4-2, 45.938
249. Vermontville Maple Valley, 346, 3-3, 28.500
250. Allen Park Cabrini, 344, 3-3, 26.500
251. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central, 344, 3-3, 46.833
252. Hanover-Horton, 342, 3-3, 29.667
253. Ishpeming Westwood, 342, 5-1, 52.833
254. Riverview Gabriel Richard, 341, 5-1, 48.667
255. Lake City, 333, 6-0, 72.000
256. Oscoda, 332, 4-2, 37.500
257. Detroit Delta Prep, 329, 4-2, 53.667
258. St. Louis, 329, 3-3, 34.000
259. Detroit Community, 327, 3-3, 31.000
260. Flint Hamady, 327, 4-2, 44.167
261. Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian, 327, 5-1, 64.667
262. Union City, 327, 5-1, 58.000
263. Madison Heights Madison, 323, 6-0, 84.000
264. Hartford, 318, 5-1, 54.167
265. McBain, 314, 5-1, 54.167
266. New Lothrop, 311, 6-0, 77.333
267. Clinton, 309, 4-2, 47.500
268. Harbor Springs, 306, 3-3, 30.167
269. Pewamo-Westphalia, 305, 5-1, 59.000
270. Reese, 301, 3-3, 36.500
271. Homer, 299, 3-3, 36.333
272. Saugatuck, 297, 4-2, 44.000
273. Saranac, 285, 4-2, 43.833
274. Springport, 285, 4-2, 38.667
275. Cass City, 282, 5-1, 62.000
276. Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest, 279, 6-0, 61.067
277. Blanchard Montabella, 273, 3-3, 28.000
278. Evart, 270, 3-3, 29.667
279. Cassopolis, 268, 6-0, 64.000
280. Unionville-Sebewaing, 267, 4-2, 42.667
281. Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker, 263, 5-1, 58.167
282. Hudson, 263, 6-0, 76.000
283. Reading, 263, 5-1, 63.000
284. Carson City-Crystal, 258, 3-3, 31.000
285. Breckenridge, 254, 5-1, 52.833
286. Addison, 253, 5-1, 51.333
287. Sand Creek, 251, 3-3, 33.500
288. Auburn Hills Oakland Christian *, 248, 4-1, 47.767
289. Beal City, 247, 4-2, 41.500
290. Holton, 246, 3-3, 27.333
291. Iron River West Iron County, 245, 5-1, 54.238
292. Ubly, 243, 5-1, 55.333
293. Ottawa Lake Whiteford, 239, 6-0, 66.667
294. St. Joseph Lake Michigan Catholic, 238, 4-2, 39.967
295. Petersburg-Summerfield, 235, 4-2, 45.333
296. Decatur, 234, 4-2, 40.167
297. Lincoln Alcona, 233, 5-1, 54.433
298. Norway, 230, 6-0, 62.857
299. Johannesburg-Lewiston, 228, 4-2, 39.167
300. White Pigeon, 228, 3-3, 31.667
301. Detroit Southeastern, 223, 3-3, 39.167
302. Harbor Beach, 218, 5-1, 52.833
303. New Buffalo, 209, 3-3, 27.333
304. Saginaw Nouvel, 208, 6-0, 69.333
305. Mendon, 205, 6-0, 64.000
306. Newberry *, 205, 3-2, 31.433
307. Pittsford, 204, 5-1, 55.167
308. Morenci, 200, 3-3, 37.000
309. Munising, 200, 3-3, 27.767
310. Bark River-Harris, 197, 3-3, 34.767
311. Sterling Heights Parkway Christian, 194, 3-3, 32.967
312. Muskegon Heights Academy, 188, 3-3, 40.467
313. Merrill, 186, 3-3, 25.333
314. Adrian Lenawee Christian, 181, 4-2, 37.333
315. Athens, 181, 5-1, 36.667
316. Fowler, 175, 3-3, 29.500
317. Gaylord St. Mary, 173, 6-0, 65.067
318. Frankfort *, 170, 4-2, 39.867
319. Muskegon Catholic Central *, 169, 5-0, 68.000
320. Fulton, 167, 4-2, 41.167
321. Climax-Scotts, 162, 5-1, 51.333
322. AuGres-Sims *, 148, 6-0, 64.000
323. Hillman, 140, 3-3, 30.333
324. Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart, 133, 4-2, 35.833
325. Waterford Our Lady *, 124, 4-1, 43.367
326. Clarkston Everest Collegiate, 112, 5-1, 50.700
8-Player Playoff Listing
1. Onekama, 136, 6-0, 57.333
2. Camden-Frontier, 156, 6-0, 56.000
3. Morrice, 175, 6-0, 52.000
4. Central Lake, 191, 6-0, 50.667
5. Stephenson, 160, 6-0, 49.371
6. Deckerville, 182, 5-1, 48.833
7. Rapid River, 118, 6-0, 48.800
8. Cedarville, 152, 6-0, 46.667
9. Pickford, 151, 6-0, 45.333
10. Portland St. Patrick, 103, 5-1, 44.667
11. Bellevue, 174, 5-1, 43.500
12. Flint International Academy, 150, 5-1, 42.167
13. Rudyard, 193, 5-1, 40.833
14. Marion, 136, 5-1, 40.300
15. Bay City All Saints, 97, 5-1, 39.333
16. Crystal Falls Forest Park *, 146, 4-2, 36.371
17. Battle Creek St. Philip, 135, 4-2, 34.667
18. Kinde-North Huron, 148, 5-1, 34.667
19. Kingston, 191, 4-2, 32.000
20. Webberville, 179, 4-2, 32.000
21. Wyoming Tri-unity Christian, 182, 3-3, 30.167
22. Engadine, 95, 4-2, 29.500
23. Ontonagon *, 187, 3-2, 28.333
24. Peck, 127, 4-2, 26.333
25. Brethren *, 159, 3-2, 25.900
26. Lawrence, 181, 3-3, 25.833
27. Mayville, 197, 3-3, 24.833
28. Suttons Bay, 201, 3-3, 24.667
29. Powers North Central *, 112, 3-2, 24.100
30. Hale, 129, 3-3, 23.867
31. Brimley, 164, 3-3, 23.000
32. Waldron, 79, 3-3, 22.833
33. Mesick, 180, 3-3, 22.533
34. North Adams-Jerome, 150, 3-3, 22.000
35. Tekonsha, 145, 3-3, 21.833
36. Atlanta, 74, 3-3, 20.167
37. New Haven Merritt Academy, 164, 3-3, 19.000
38. Onaway, 195, 3-3, 19.000
39. Manistee Catholic Central *, 178, 2-3, 17.867
40. St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran, 99, 3-3, 17.833
41. Fife Lake Forest Area, 165, 2-4, 17.800
42. Bellaire, 142, 2-4, 17.500
43. Carney-Nadeau, 133, 2-4, 16.000
44. Carsonville-Port Sanilac, 106, 2-4, 14.333
45. Bear Lake, 93, 2-4, 13.600
46. Felch North Dickinson, 101, 1-5, 11.300
47. Eben Junction Superior Central, 131, 1-5, 10.967
48. Burton Madison Academy, 171, 1-5, 9.333
49. Posen, 87, 1-5, 8.333
50. Baldwin, 105, 1-5, 7.100
51. Owendale-Gagetown, 57, 1-5, 7.000
52. Pellston, 167, 0-6, 3.333
53. Caseville, 93, 0-6, 3.167
54. Litchfield, 81, 0-6, 3.000
55. Akron-Fairgrove, 76, 0-6, 2.833
56. Burr Oak, 74, 0-6, 2.833
57. St. Helen Charlton Heston Academy, 140, 0-6, 2.833
58. Big Rapids Crossroads Academy, 187, 0-6, 2.733
59. Flint Michigan School for the Deaf *, 47, 0-4, 1.167
Drive for Detroit: Finals in Review
November 27, 2012
Champions representing five regions of our state. The fifth to win three-straight MHSAA titles. Two more repeat champions, and three teams that hoisted trophies for the first time. Plus four games decided by a touchdown or less, including a Final won on an overtime field goal.
The 2012 MHSAA 11-Player Football Finals gave us just about everything this weekend at Ford Field.
Second Half covered all eight games, with links to each below followed by some of the most notable record performances and a handful of stories we’ll remember long after the helmets and pads are put away.
Finals in Review
D1 – Detroit Cass Tech 36, Detroit Catholic Central 21 – This was closer than the 2011 championship game matchup between the teams. But it played out similarly because the Technicians were simply too speedy and broke off a number of big plays. Cass Tech quarterback Jayru Campbell added another touchdown pass to the five he threw in the 2011 Final. Click to read more.
D2 – Birmingham Brother Rice 35, Muskegon 28 – There weren't many firsts left to accomplish in coach Al Fracassa’s 44 seasons leading Brother Rice, but the Warriors accomplished another with their first back-to-back titles under the state’s winningest football coach. The wrinkle that ended up deciding the game was a cross-field lateral on a kick return that turned into a touchdown with 2:13 left to play. Click to read more.
D3 – Grand Rapids Christian 40, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 37 (OT) – Record-setting performances by St. Mary’s running backs and Eagles receiver Drake Harris capped the weekend and sent this thriller to overtime. See more on those below. Joel Shipper kicked a 28-yard field goal with four seconds left in regulation to send the game to the extra period, and after St. Mary’s didn't score in overtime he nailed a 27-yarder for the win. Click to read more.
D4 – Grand Rapids South Christian 40, Detroit Country 7 – With back-up quarterback Derek Woltjer moving over to fill in for injured standout Jon Wassink, the Sailors opened up the run game a bit more after being mostly a passing offense this fall. Woltjer responded by leading his team to its first title since 2002. Click to read more.
D5 – Portland 12, Grand Rapids West Catholic 9 – After defeating reigning champion Flint Powers Catholic along the way, the Raiders beat the 2010 champion too thanks to a defense that held on long enough after the offense scored twice early. The Raiders had played in one of the first Semifinals, in 1975, but had never played in a championship game. Click to read more.
D6 – Ithaca 37, Constantine 27 – In a repeat of last season’s Final, Ithaca again beat Constantine for the championship. The Yellowjackets extended their win streak to 42 including the last three titles, and this time did so with a back-up quarterback in Logan Hessbrook after all-stater Travis Smith went out with an injury on the team’s first possession. Click to read more.
D7 – Ishpeming 20, Detroit Loyola 14 – This qualified as the biggest upset of the weekend, as Loyola came into the game undefeated and ranked No. 1. But the Hematites, despite a sizable size disadvantage, never let that be a deciding factor in going on to win their first MHSAA title since 1979. Click to read more.
D8 – Harbor Beach 35, Beal City 10 – Despite losing its top player for the season on opening night, Harbor Beach marched on to its first MHSAA championship. The Pirates set the tone quickly with two touchdown passes of at least 50 yards in the first quarter. Click to read more.
Records report
A total of 24 entries – 16 for individuals and eight for team accomplishments – have been added from the weekend’s games to the MHSAA record book Finals section. Below are some of those that ranked highest on the lists. Click to check out the entire Finals record book.
Scoring at will: Well, not quite. But in the Division 3 Final, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s and Grand Rapids Christian combined for a Finals record 1,033 yards, with St. Mary’s setting the single-team Finals mark of 579 total yards and tying the most first downs with 29. Most came on the second-most rush attempts in a championship game, 65, for 459 yards on the ground. Parker McInnis ran for the fourth-highest total by one player, 269. Grand Rapids Christian had the fourth-most passing yards, 307 by quarterback Alex VanDeVusse. Drake Harris broke the championship game record for receiving yards by 39 with and incredible 243, and his kicker Schipper tied the record for most field goals with two.
Go long: Teams threw the third and fourth-longest passes in MHSAA Finals history, both for scores. In the Division 1 Final, Campbell hit Jourdan Lewis for an 89-yard touchdown pass that was the third-longest for a few hours. That afternoon, in the Division 5 Final, Portland's Tanner Allison connected with Auston Brandt for a 94-yard scoring strike. Brandt finished with the fifth-most receiving yards for a Final, 178.
In the long run: Cass Tech’s Kenton Gibbs tallied the third-longest fumble return, 58 yards, for a touchdown against Detroit Catholic Central. Birmingham Brother Rice’s Jason Alessi had the fourth-longest kickoff return, 91 yards, after taking a cross-field lateral and returning it for a score against Muskegon.
Stories behind the scores
The streak: Ithaca became just the fifth team to win at least three straight MHSAA championships, a streak that began with the Yellowjackets’ first Finals appearance in 2010. Farmington Hills Harrison (1997-2001) and East Grand Rapids (2006-10) are tied for the longest title streaks at five seasons.
The repeats: Both Detroit Cass Tech in Division 1 and Birmingham Brother Rice in Division 2 won titles for the second straight year. The Technicians made their first final in 2011, while the Warriors now have won eight championships.
The first-timers: Harbor Beach in Division 8, Portland in Division 5 and Grand Rapids Christian in Division 3 all won their first championships – Portland and Christian in their first Finals appearances. Harbor Beach had played in one other championship game, in 1991.
No stopping Drake: Although final season stats are being confirmed, it’s fair to say Grand Rapids Christian receiver Drake Harris completed the finest receiving season in MHSAA history. His eight catches for 243 yards and a touchdown in the Division 3 title game put his season totals at 91 catches for 2,015 yards and 25 scores. The yardage is the most in MHSAA history for one season by 119 and would rank 12th nationally for one season (his yards per game rank fourth and yards per catch sixth on the NFHS lists). Harris, who has committed to Michigan State, also ranks fourth for catches in one season and second for touchdown catches on the MHSAA lists.
The replacements: South Christian's Woltjer and Ithaca's Hessbrook probably aren't the names most had associated with their schools. But the back-up quarterbacks – who also started at other positions – moved over to run the show and led their teams to championships. Woltjer, usually a starting flanker and cornerback, ran for 136 yards and two touchdowns and completed all seven of his pass attempts for 88 yards and two more scores – while also making four tackles and intercepting a pass. Hessbrook, also a starting defensive back, ran for 113 yards and two scores and threw for 104 yards and two more TDs and also made four tackles.
Coach’s last stand (?): It was tough to tell from Brother Rice coach Al Fracassa’s remarks after his team’s Division 2 title win if he would return in 2013. But the 80-year old legend would leave with an MHSAA record for wins and a career record of 416-117-7.
Dedication fulfilled: There has been much sadness in the Ishpeming football program over the last two years, with the death of coach Jeff Olson’s son and former Hematites quarterback Daniel Olson, the death of current quarterback Alex Briones’ older brother and former player Derrick and the death also of youth player Christopher Croley in October. Those memories surely weighed on the players’ hearts and minds as they upset top-ranked Detroit Loyola in the Division 7 Final to give the Upper Peninsula its first champion since 2007.
Go to MHSAA.tv for replays of all eight 11-Player Finals and the 8-Player Final at Greenville High.
PHOTOS: (Top) Eight champions celebrated MHSAA titles over Friday and Saturday at Ford Field. (Click to see more from Terry McNamara Photography). (Middle top) Brother Rice players listen to their coaches during halftime of the Division 2 Final. (Middle) A Cass Tech band member prepares to take the field during the Division 1 Final. (Middle below) An Ithaca fan roots on his team in a costume made of Duck Tape, (Click to see more like the middle photos on the MHSAA Instagram page.)