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
Driven to Dominate, West Catholic Dethrones 2024 Champ to Reign Again
By
Scott DeCamp
Special for MHSAA.com
November 30, 2025
DETROIT – The 2024 season didn’t finish the way that Grand Rapids West Catholic’s football team had intended. The 2025 season didn’t begin the way the Falcons would’ve hoped.
At the end of the day, two defining defeats and other adversities along the way set the stage and helped the 2025 squad peak at the right time.
West Catholic proved as strong as it’s been all season, and then some, in a 42-14 victory over Pontiac Notre Dame Prep in the Division 5 Final on Sunday at Ford Field. The title was the Falcons’ first since 2022, their eighth in program history, and it marked the seventh-straight Finals appearance in which they’ve emerged victorious.
“Unbelievably proud of the way we played. It was one of those things where we knew we had that type of potential in us,” fourth-year West Catholic coach Landon Grove said.
“It’s been an up-and-down season with a lot of variables with injuries. We had a lot of injuries pile up each week, but they never flinched. The amount of adversity we faced this year – we lost captains, we lost underclassmen starters, upperclassmen starters – and it was just a next-man-up mentality.”
West Catholic (13-1) opened the season with a 32-21 loss to Grand Rapids Northview, then ripped off 13 straight victories.
The most momentous win along the way was a 21-20 overtime triumph in its District Final at archrival Grand Rapids Catholic Central, which had ended West Catholic’s 2024 season with a 21-18 defeat. GRCC also had ended West Catholic’s 2023 season in their Regional Final in another tight matchup, 30-28.
Once they returned to the Finals on Sunday, the Falcons left no doubt. They made plays all over the field, starting with senior quarterback Grady Augustyn’s 79-yard strike to junior Thomas Puksta to put their team on top, 7-0, just 4½ minutes into the contest.
West Catholic worked with short fields the rest of the first half, thanks to its stingy defense, and the Falcons stretched the lead to 28-0 midway through the second quarter on the following plays: a one-yard TD run by Augustyn (with 2:30 left in the first quarter), senior Connor Olszewski’s three-yard scoring run (10:34 left in the second), and Puksta’s 25-yard TD reception from Augustyn (5:54 left in the half).
“It feels great just to do it with this class. Our class has been working its butts off this whole year, last year,” said Augustyn, who finished 9-of-18 passing for 199 yards. “We were, like, ‘We’re not letting this happen again.’ … We kind of just made a pact, saying, ‘We’ve got to be tougher than (last year). That wasn’t West Catholic football all year, and that wasn’t West Catholic football that game (against GRCC).’
“So, coming back and then winning in overtime (against GRCC this season) showed us that, like, ‘Hey, we could do it and that’s West Catholic football. That’s how you play games.’ And then, just winning this championship, it just means a lot to our whole team. It means a lot to the big man over there (gesturing toward Grove). It just means a lot for all of us.”
Notre Dame Prep (11-3), which was attempting to repeat after winning its first Finals title a year ago, got on the board in the final minute of the first half on senior Anthony Tartaglia’s two-yard run.
However, West Catholic completely broke it open early in the third quarter on back-to-back pick-6s – the first by senior Cal Peterson covering 43 yards only 21 seconds into the period, and the second by senior Christian Patterson for 30 yards barely two minutes into the quarter.
“When we’re at our best at West Catholic, our defense is our strength,” Grove said.
West Catholic outrushed Notre Dame Prep, 190-65, as the Falcons outgained the Irish in total offense, 389-258.
West Catholic junior Collin Abram led all rushers with 154 yards on 17 carries. Falcons senior Noah Gillespie paced the defense with a game-high 10 tackles.
“Our defense put us in a great spot every time – three-and-outs, getting us at the 30, 35 (of Notre Dame Prep) every time, so it just helped us there,” Augustyn said. “And then our O-line played wonderful those quarters and we just kept rolling, kept rolling – (motioning toward Puksta) brought his big-boy pants and, ‘What would we be complaining about now?’”
Puksta had a game to remember for West Catholic, hauling in six passes for 161 yards.
For Notre Dame Prep, senior starting quarterback Sam Stowe finished 8-of-11 passing for 67 yards. He suffered a shoulder injury in the contest that made throwing the ball very painful, he said in the postgame press conference. Irish senior Drake Roa went 8-of-13 passing for 123 yards, including a 60-yard TD toss to senior Brody Sink to cap the game’s scoring with 11:51 remaining.
Sink had five receptions for 110 yards. Senior Henry Ewles and sophomore Chris Artinian led Notre Dame Prep defensively with eight stops apiece.
“You know, it’s not how you want to finish the year,” Notre Dame Prep coach Pat Fox said. “We’re very proud to come back and defend our 2024 state championship. West Catholic today, fine football team. They did some tremendous things on the offensive and defensive lines and controlled the flow of the game. All credit to them. They did a great job. I’m proud of the way our kids battled. I love those kids, and it’s hard to say goodbye to them.
“I think a lot of times, you can look at a game and you can say there were some plays that maybe didn’t go our way. At the end of the day, West Catholic won at the lines, and that was the deciding factor,” Fox added. “It wasn’t a play or two. Tonight, they were the better team and they did a great job.”
After the game, Grove expressed his pride in carrying on the strong West Catholic tradition but noted that he’s only a small part in the Falcons’ success.
West Catholic is now tied for 10th in MHSAA history with eight Finals championships, pulling even with Grand Rapids Catholic Central on the all-time list. Over their 10 Finals appearances, the Falcons have won titles in 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2022, and 2025.
“I’ll say this, we live in a world where people don’t think kids are tough anymore, (but) they’ll do exactly what you ask them. These kids have epitomized what young men are capable of doing,” Grove said about his team. “That’s why this game is so great. This game is what tells them the truth every day. It told the truth today, that they’re a great football team. They get told the truth in practice, they get told the truth in the weight room. I mean, these kids answered every challenge.
“This is all them, this is all them. I couldn’t be more proud.”
PHOTOS (Top) Grand Rapids West Catholic quarterback Grady Augustyn (6) finds his receiver during Sunday’s Division 5 Final. (Middle) Collin Abram (43) attempts to get out of the grasp of a Notre Dame Prep defender. (Below) Augustyn hands off to Connor Olszewski (7).