2017 Week 8 Football Playoff Listing
October 10, 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 seventh 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. The MHSAA Football Finals are presented by the Michigan Army National Guard.
11-Player Playoff Listing
1. Macomb Dakota, 3016, 5-2, 69.000
2. Dearborn Fordson, 2741, 6-1, 86.571
3. Utica Eisenhower, 2689, 7-0, 113.143
4. Grand Blanc, 2660, 6-1, 85.286
5. East Kentwood, 2639, 5-2, 66.429
6. Clarkston, 2603, 5-2, 74.429
7. Rockford, 2485, 4-3, 63.714
8. Clinton Township Chippewa Valley, 2434, 6-1, 94.571
9. Detroit Cass Tech *, 2434, 5-1, 76.143
10. Troy, 2422, 5-2, 71.000
11. Brighton, 2247, 4-3, 58.429
12. Canton, 2212, 6-1, 87.714
13. Holland West Ottawa, 2200, 6-1, 87.714
14. Salem, 2090, 4-3, 55.286
15. Detroit Catholic Central, 2080, 5-2, 73.714
16. West Bloomfield, 1990, 5-2, 74.429
17. New Baltimore Anchor Bay, 1956, 5-2, 66.857
18. Utica, 1907, 4-3, 56.571
19. Saline *, 1869, 6-1, 88.429
20. Bloomfield Hills, 1842, 5-2, 71.000
21. Lapeer, 1837, 5-2, 65.286
22. Livonia Stevenson, 1811, 4-3, 63.143
23. Walled Lake Central, 1804, 4-3, 58.143
24. White Lake Lakeland *, 1765, 5-2, 72.000
25. Romeo, 1753, 5-2, 76.619
26. Grandville, 1750, 5-2, 70.714
27. Grand Ledge, 1726, 6-1, 86.429
28. Warren Mott, 1712, 4-3, 56.714
29. Belleville, 1709, 7-0, 106.286
30. Detroit Western International, 1701, 4-3, 49.857
31. Davison, 1695, 6-1, 88.714
32. Walled Lake Northern, 1678, 5-2, 66.000
33. Grosse Pointe South, 1644, 4-3, 63.214
34. Rochester Adams, 1626, 6-1, 89.714
35. Waterford Mott, 1586, 6-1, 87.429
36. Traverse City West, 1582, 7-0, 97.143
37. Brownstown Woodhaven, 1569, 5-2, 71.429
38. Temperance Bedford, 1548, 6-1, 81.857
39. Warren DeLaSalle, 1538, 5-2, 76.943
40. Flint Carman-Ainsworth, 1502, 5-2, 68.857
41. Livonia Churchill, 1486, 6-1, 91.857
42. Livonia Franklin, 1469, 5-2, 66.286
43. Jenison, 1457, 5-2, 65.714
44. Roseville, 1412, 5-2, 68.429
45. Detroit Martin Luther King, 1404, 6-1, 77.810
46. Dearborn Edsel Ford, 1396, 5-2, 62.143
47. Oak Park, 1395, 5-2, 73.429
48. Grosse Pointe North *, 1371, 4-2, 61.048
49. Portage Central, 1353, 6-1, 87.571
50. Traverse City Central, 1345, 5-2, 71.286
51. Wyandotte Roosevelt, 1345, 7-0, 99.429
52. Royal Oak, 1332, 4-3, 49.714
53. Okemos, 1326, 4-3, 49.429
54. Walled Lake Western, 1318, 6-1, 92.143
55. Midland, 1316, 6-1, 84.286
56. Flushing, 1312, 5-2, 71.286
57. Birmingham Groves, 1300, 6-1, 89.714
58. Port Huron Northern, 1277, 6-1, 83.000
59. St Clair Shores Lake Shore, 1273, 4-3, 48.571
60. Pinckney, 1272, 6-1, 83.000
61. Detroit East English, 1270, 7-0, 86.857
62. Midland Dow, 1263, 6-1, 79.143
63. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, 1258, 7-0, 104.000
64. Muskegon Mona Shores, 1238, 7-0, 109.714
65. Birmingham Brother Rice, 1224, 4-3, 62.036
66. Ypsilanti Lincoln, 1222, 5-2, 72.000
67. Lowell, 1195, 4-3, 62.857
68. Muskegon Reeths-Puffer, 1186, 4-3, 50.286
69. Ferndale, 1180, 6-1, 75.857
70. Mattawan, 1171, 5-2, 68.714
71. Holly, 1166, 4-3, 52.429
72. Fenton, 1163, 7-0, 105.143
73. Greenville, 1158, 4-3, 51.000
74. Holland, 1140, 5-2, 64.286
75. Hamtramck, 1135, 5-2, 59.429
76. Detroit Renaissance, 1131, 4-3, 46.524
77. Gibraltar Carlson, 1125, 7-0, 101.714
78. East Lansing, 1108, 5-2, 67.714
79. Redford Thurston, 1102, 5-2, 61.571
80. Eastpointe, 1101, 4-3, 48.714
81. Warren Woods Tower, 1095, 6-1, 80.714
82. Byron Center, 1083, 4-3, 50.000
83. Muskegon, 1058, 7-0, 100.571
84. St. Joseph, 1043, 5-2, 70.714
85. Auburn Hills Avondale, 1033, 4-3, 61.143
86. Farmington Hills Harrison, 1030, 5-2, 77.000
87. East Grand Rapids, 1010, 7-0, 102.857
88. DeWitt, 994, 6-1, 87.571
89. Zeeland East, 994, 7-0, 93.714
90. St. Johns, 990, 4-3, 49.857
91. Gaylord, 980, 4-3, 49.571
92. Ortonville-Brandon, 969, 4-3, 54.714
93. Zeeland West, 960, 5-2, 74.714
94. Melvindale, 956, 4-3, 54.286
95. Cedar Springs, 946, 5-2, 72.143
96. Coldwater, 933, 4-3, 51.714
97. Riverview, 928, 6-1, 77.143
98. Detroit Cody, 924, 4-3, 48.810
99. Linden, 924, 6-1, 91.143
100. Warren Fitzgerald, 903, 5-2, 64.429
101. Grand Rapids Christian, 896, 6-1, 92.286
102. Stevensville Lakeshore, 891, 6-1, 91.857
103. Hazel Park, 889, 5-2, 67.571
104. Battle Creek Harper Creek, 884, 7-0, 91.429
105. Parma Western, 880, 4-3, 50.000
106. New Boston Huron, 877, 5-2, 64.000
107. Romulus, 864, 5-2, 65.429
108. Haslett, 856, 5-2, 66.286
109. Marshall, 854, 4-3, 49.429
110. Dearborn Divine Child, 852, 6-1, 85.143
111. Tecumseh, 850, 4-3, 54.286
112. Chelsea, 841, 6-1, 85.143
113. River Rouge, 836, 6-1, 84.286
114. Edwardsburg, 835, 6-1, 72.714
115. Bay City John Glenn, 831, 4-3, 52.143
116. Detroit Mumford, 829, 5-2, 60.810
117. Coopersville, 824, 5-2, 54.857
118. Sparta, 815, 4-3, 45.571
119. Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood, 812, 6-1, 73.857
120. Plainwell, 808, 5-2, 64.286
121. Vicksburg, 801, 6-1, 71.429
122. Milan, 772, 4-3, 48.857
123. Madison Heights Lamphere, 768, 4-3, 47.286
124. Detroit Old Redford, 763, 4-3, 36.143
125. Goodrich, 759, 6-1, 68.143
126. Escanaba, 739, 6-1, 78.048
127. Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy, 727, 5-2, 59.524
128. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, 718, 6-1, 63.714
129. Three Rivers, 707, 6-1, 78.143
130. Croswell-Lexington, 681, 4-3, 42.143
131. Wyoming Godwin Heights, 679, 5-2, 50.714
132. Wyoming Kelloggsville, 678, 7-0, 86.857
133. Romulus Summit Academy North, 674, 4-3, 44.429
134. Paw Paw, 662, 4-3, 45.571
135. Whitehall, 661, 5-2, 52.000
136. Flint Powers Catholic, 660, 4-3, 57.571
137. Lake Fenton, 660, 6-1, 75.143
138. Flat Rock, 658, 5-2, 64.571
139. Grand Rapids Catholic Central, 646, 7-0, 79.048
140. Alma, 642, 6-1, 73.857
141. Comstock Park, 636, 4-3, 51.143
142. Williamston, 628, 5-2, 59.714
143. Lansing Sexton, 620, 5-2, 76.286
144. Lake Odessa Lakewood, 608, 6-1, 74.000
145. Hudsonville Unity Christian, 606, 4-3, 54.571
146. Grand Rapids South Christian, 602, 6-1, 73.857
147. Belding, 597, 6-1, 78.429
148. Bridgeport, 594, 4-3, 44.571
149. Muskegon Oakridge, 592, 5-2, 58.571
150. Saginaw Swan Valley, 586, 6-1, 77.429
151. Hancock, 584, 6-1, 61.857
152. North Muskegon, 579, 5-2, 43.714
153. Dowagiac, 568, 4-3, 52.286
154. Freeland, 564, 5-2, 60.857
155. Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard, 555, 6-1, 61.476
156. Olivet, 552, 7-0, 85.714
157. Lansing Catholic, 551, 6-1, 75.000
158. Remus Chippewa Hills, 550, 5-2, 60.714
159. Kingsford *, 542, 5-1, 71.131
160. Algonac, 534, 6-1, 71.571
161. Portland, 534, 6-1, 80.571
162. Frankenmuth, 528, 7-0, 88.190
163. Carrollton, 520, 6-1, 71.571
164. Ida, 520, 6-1, 63.429
165. Marine City, 514, 6-1, 87.714
166. Grant, 512, 5-2, 50.429
167. Kalkaska, 512, 4-3, 35.000
168. Richmond, 510, 7-0, 83.429
169. Grand Rapids West Catholic, 505, 6-1, 77.286
170. Onsted, 505, 5-2, 49.000
171. Reed City, 501, 6-1, 76.286
172. Almont, 494, 5-2, 58.714
173. Gladstone, 493, 6-1, 61.286
174. Grayling, 492, 4-3, 43.571
175. Berrien Springs, 484, 6-1, 65.429
176. Coloma, 480, 5-2, 51.429
177. Menominee, 479, 5-2, 61.321
178. Kalamazoo Hackett, 474, 5-2, 58.286
179. Newaygo, 474, 5-2, 56.143
180. Detroit Denby *, 461, 5-1, 69.667
181. Ovid-Elsie, 458, 5-2, 54.143
182. Clare, 457, 6-1, 64.857
183. Detroit Voyageur, 446, 4-3, 44.429
184. Parchment, 443, 5-2, 56.143
185. Boyne City, 428, 7-0, 80.000
186. Brooklyn Columbia Central, 426, 5-2, 65.143
187. Michigan Center, 419, 6-1, 61.143
188. Ecorse, 417, 4-3, 40.714
189. Harrison, 410, 5-2, 49.571
190. Montague, 409, 7-0, 85.714
191. Millington, 407, 6-1, 71.714
192. Hemlock, 405, 5-2, 47.714
193. Morley Stanwood, 405, 6-1, 55.714
194. Negaunee, 405, 4-3, 35.143
195. Ithaca, 403, 7-0, 78.857
196. Clinton Township Clintondale, 401, 6-1, 73.571
197. Calumet, 396, 4-3, 42.929
198. Detroit Henry Ford, 385, 4-3, 33.667
199. Warren Michigan Collegiate, 382, 7-0, 90.286
200. Montrose, 381, 6-1, 65.857
201. Maple City Glen Lake *, 376, 4-2, 44.000
202. Quincy, 376, 5-2, 53.857
203. Kent City, 375, 7-0, 70.857
204. Lakeview, 374, 4-3, 36.714
205. Napoleon, 373, 5-2, 56.143
206. Schoolcraft, 372, 5-2, 55.000
207. Blissfield, 371, 4-3, 55.571
208. Detroit Central, 369, 5-2, 54.143
209. Laingsburg, 367, 5-2, 48.286
210. Grass Lake, 365, 4-3, 38.000
211. Traverse City St. Francis, 362, 7-0, 86.476
212. Jackson Lumen Christi *, 361, 6-1, 80.857
213. Houghton Lake, 357, 4-3, 42.143
214. Watervliet, 355, 7-0, 75.048
215. Beaverton, 353, 7-0, 74.286
216. Elk Rapids, 353, 6-1, 64.857
217. Burton Bendle, 352, 4-3, 35.286
218. L'Anse, 351, 4-3, 43.571
219. Vermontville Maple Valley, 346, 4-3, 37.286
220. Allen Park Cabrini, 344, 4-3, 32.143
221. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central, 344, 4-3, 54.286
222. Hanover-Horton, 342, 4-3, 33.714
223. Ishpeming Westwood, 342, 6-1, 55.571
224. Riverview Gabriel Richard, 341, 6-1, 53.286
225. Lake City, 333, 7-0, 75.429
226. Oscoda, 332, 4-3, 34.000
227. Detroit Delta Prep, 329, 5-2, 57.714
228. St. Louis, 329, 4-3, 39.714
229. Flint Hamady, 327, 5-2, 50.714
230. Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian, 327, 5-2, 59.857
231. Union City, 327, 5-2, 52.571
232. Madison Heights Madison, 323, 7-0, 92.800
233. Hartford, 318, 5-2, 48.571
234. McBain, 314, 6-1, 59.143
235. New Lothrop, 311, 7-0, 78.857
236. Clinton, 309, 5-2, 50.000
237. Harbor Springs, 306, 4-3, 34.000
238. Pewamo-Westphalia, 305, 6-1, 61.000
239. Homer, 299, 4-3, 44.143
240. Saugatuck, 297, 5-2, 49.143
241. Saranac, 285, 4-3, 40.714
242. Springport, 285, 5-2, 45.857
243. Cass City, 282, 6-1, 65.857
244. Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest, 279, 7-0, 62.476
245. Cassopolis, 268, 7-0, 69.714
246. Unionville-Sebewaing, 267, 4-3, 39.857
247. Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker, 263, 6-1, 63.571
248. Hudson, 263, 6-1, 70.429
249. Reading, 263, 6-1, 64.286
250. Carson City-Crystal, 258, 4-3, 33.714
251. Breckenridge, 254, 6-1, 56.857
252. Addison, 253, 6-1, 56.714
253. Auburn Hills Oakland Christian *, 248, 4-2, 43.000
254. Beal City, 247, 4-3, 38.857
255. Iron River West Iron County, 245, 6-1, 60.000
256. Ubly, 243, 6-1, 57.857
257. Ottawa Lake Whiteford, 239, 7-0, 69.714
258. St. Joseph Lake Michigan Catholic, 238, 5-2, 41.405
259. Petersburg-Summerfield, 235, 5-2, 47.143
260. Decatur, 234, 4-3, 38.857
261. Lincoln Alcona, 233, 6-1, 57.048
262. Norway, 230, 6-1, 55.643
263. Johannesburg-Lewiston, 228, 4-3, 34.714
264. Harbor Beach, 218, 6-1, 56.857
265. New Buffalo, 209, 4-3, 34.000
266. Saginaw Nouvel, 208, 7-0, 75.657
267. Mendon, 205, 7-0, 68.571
268. Newberry *, 205, 4-2, 42.714
269. Pittsford, 204, 6-1, 60.000
270. Morenci, 200, 4-3, 42.286
271. Munising *, 200, 4-3, 34.500
272. Sterling Heights Parkway Christian, 194, 4-3, 41.833
273. Adrian Lenawee Christian, 181, 5-2, 38.000
274. Athens, 181, 5-2, 32.286
275. Gaylord St. Mary, 173, 7-0, 70.667
276. Frankfort *, 170, 5-2, 43.619
277. Muskegon Catholic Central *, 169, 6-0, 74.667
278. Fulton, 167, 5-2, 44.714
279. Climax-Scotts, 162, 6-1, 53.286
280. AuGres-Sims *, 148, 7-0, 65.143
281. Hillman, 140, 4-3, 39.000
282. Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart, 133, 5-2, 42.286
283. Waterford Our Lady *, 124, 4-2, 38.190
284. Clarkston Everest Collegiate, 112, 6-1, 55.905
8-Player Playoff Listing
1. Onekama, 136, 7-0, 57.143
2. Deckerville, 182, 6-1, 56.714
3. Rapid River, 118, 7-0, 56.381
4. Camden-Frontier, 156, 7-0, 56.000
5. Central Lake, 191, 7-0, 54.857
6. Pickford, 151, 7-0, 50.286
7. Morrice, 175, 6-1, 49.714
8. Bellevue, 174, 6-1, 47.714
9. Portland St Patrick, 103, 6-1, 46.429
10. Stephenson, 160, 6-1, 46.381
11. Marion, 136, 6-1, 44.095
12. Rudyard, 193, 6-1, 43.000
13. Cedarville, 152, 6-1, 42.857
14. Bay City All Saints, 97, 6-1, 41.857
15. Kinde-North Huron, 148, 6-1, 41.286
16. Kingston, 191, 5-2, 41.286
17. Flint International Academy, 150, 5-2, 39.143
18. Engadine, 95, 5-2, 38.143
19. Webberville, 179, 5-2, 36.857
20. Crystal Falls Forest Park *, 146, 4-2, 36.810
21. Wyoming Tri-unity Christian, 182, 4-3, 34.143
22. Ontonagon *, 187, 4-2, 33.952
23. Battle Creek St. Philip, 135, 4-3, 31.571
24. Mayville, 197, 4-3, 30.571
25. Powers North Central *, 112, 4-2, 30.333
26. Suttons Bay, 201, 4-3, 29.571
27. Mesick, 180, 4-3, 29.381
28. Tekonsha, 145, 4-3, 29.286
29. Peck, 127, 4-3, 25.714
30. Brimley, 164, 4-3, 24.714
31. Lawrence, 181, 3-4, 24.000
32. Bellaire, 142, 3-4, 22.286
33. Brethren *, 159, 3-3, 22.238
34. Carsonville-Port Sanilac, 106, 3-4, 21.857
35. Waldron, 79, 3-4, 21.571
36. Hale, 129, 3-4, 21.238
37. St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran, 99, 4-3, 20.286
38. North Adams-Jerome, 150, 3-4, 19.714
39. Atlanta, 74, 3-4, 18.571
40. New Haven Merritt Academy, 164, 3-4, 18.143
41. Onaway, 195, 3-4, 17.429
42. Manistee Catholic Central *, 178, 2-4, 17.000
43. Carney-Nadeau, 133, 2-5, 15.943
44. Fife Lake Forest Area, 165, 2-5, 15.857
45. Eben Junction Superior Central, 131, 2-5, 15.643
46. Bear Lake, 93, 2-5, 13.571
47. Baldwin, 105, 2-5, 11.095
48. Felch North Dickinson, 101, 1-6, 10.429
49. Burton Madison Academy, 171, 1-6, 8.429
50. Posen, 87, 1-6, 7.857
51. Caseville, 93, 1-6, 7.714
52. Owendale-Gagetown, 57, 1-6, 7.000
53. Burr Oak, 74, 0-7, 3.857
54. Pellston, 167, 0-7, 3.857
55. Litchfield, 81, 0-7, 3.571
56. St. Helen Charlton Heston Academy, 140, 0-7, 3.571
57. Big Rapids Crossroads Academy, 187, 0-7, 2.905
58. Akron-Fairgrove, 76, 0-7, 2.714
59. Flint Michigan School for the Deaf *, 47, 0-5, 1.686
Father-Son Bond Helps Set Foundation for Hudson's Dominating Defense
By
Doug Donnelly
Special for MHSAA.com
November 23, 2021
HUDSON – Payton Rogers doesn’t remember the first time he went to a Hudson Tigers football game.
That because he was about 6 months old.
“He was in a stroller,” said his father, Hudson head football coach Dan Rogers. “When he says he grew up around Hudson football, he means it literally. He was always on the sidelines with me. He was a ball boy by the time he was 5.”
Payton has a much different role these days. The 17-year-old senior is a starting linebacker, top tackler and emotional leader for Hudson’s powerful defense that will play for the Division 8 championship Friday at Ford Field against Beal City. Hudson is 13-0 and one of nine remaining undefeated 11-player teams in the state.
It’s little surprise that Payton grew up to be a great defensive player. His father had coached the Hudson defense for nearly two decades before becoming the head coach at the start of the 2020 season. The Tigers were coming off a 2-7 season during which several sophomores – including Payton – were pressed into starting roles because the team was so young.
Those five are still playing and now have starring roles.
“They all had a big part of our Semifinal win,” Coach Rogers said. “That was nice to see. They all started that sophomore season, and there were some rough times. That hard work is paying off.”
Payton was among those starters, although he was the starting nose tackle, despite being somewhat undersized.
“He got in there and got beat up a little bit,” Coach Rogers said. “That was his role. He was quick, and he always battled hard.”
After last season, when Hudson went 4-4, Payton told his dad he wanted to play linebacker this year. He worked the entire offseason on getting bigger, stronger, and faster so he would be ready for his new role.
The work was more than worth it.
Payton leads the team in tackles with 95 and solo tackles with 38. The 5-foot-6, 150-pounder is tied for the team lead in interceptions and second with six tackles for loss.
“He will watch film with me and pick things out, what works, what he wants to do, what doesn’t work,” Rogers said. “If I don’t agree with something, I’ll tell him, but he’s the coach on the field. He makes our calls and gets kids into the right spots. He’s become really good at watching film and breaking things down.”
Studying – not just watching – game film has been a passion for father and son. Coach Rogers said he took some advice from other coaches he knew who had coached their sons, and he sets some restrictions on watching film with Payton.
“You have to pick a time where you are watching as a father and son and when you are watching as a coach-player,” he said. “We just put it out there. Before we start watching, it’s ‘okay, this is coach-player,’ and we watch. You have to do it that way.”
Payton said the two of them know when to talk football as coach-player and when to be father-son.
“I’d say we mix it up,” he said. “Tuesdays at Hudson has always been defensive film day. That goes way back, so I’ve always watched film with my dad. This year it became a little more important because I needed to know more about the keys and the other team. My dad always taught me little things about football, but this year, with watching film, he’s taught me so much.”
The Hudson defense has been outstanding from the start, posting seven shutouts in 13 games. From Week 4 through the Regional Final, Hudson gave up just two touchdowns total.
Five Tigers defenders have at least 50 tackles on the season – Cameron Kimble has 85, Austin Marry 65, Ethan Harris 53 and Bronson Marry 53. In the Semifinal game against Ottawa Lake Whiteford on Saturday, the Tigers gave up 22 points over the first 14 minutes, made some adjustments, then shut out the high-scoring Bobcats the rest of the game. They forced three turnovers along the way.
On Whiteford’s final drive, the Bobcats got inside the Hudson 5-yard line with 1.9 seconds to play, but the quarterback came up a yard short on a 4th-and-6 play. Harris and Nick Kopin made the stop, ending the Whiteford scoring threat and turning the ball over to Hudson for the final play of the game.
“Harris and Kopin were part of that group of sophomores,” Rogers said. “They made a great tackle on their quarterback.”
Beal City will bring an offense averaging 35.5 points a game into the championship against Hudson.
“It’s certainly going to be a challenge,” Rogers said. “They are big and physical.”
Hudson made back-to-back Finals appearances in 2009 and 2010. Payton had a front row look for both games, serving as the ball boy for the Tigers.
“On 2009 and 2010 I was on the sidelines with my dad,” he said. “It’s such an honor to go back. I haven’t been there since then. I just want to enjoy it with my father and my team. It’s fun to be a part of.”
Payton wasn’t just handed the role of ball boy. He had to learn from older ball boys and move up into the ranks.
“I wanted to be on the sidelines with my dad,” he said. “I was ball boy all the way up until 2016.”
Hudson has a storied football history, most famous for the 72-game win streak during the 1960s and 1970s that drew national attention. One of the players on the 1975 team was Chris Luma. Luma would go on to coach Hudson, stepping down after the 2019 season. He was the coach who brought Rogers onto the staff. This season, Luma has a seat in the Hudson coaches box, talking in the ear of Rogers and other coaches about what he sees on the field.
It's a continuation of the Hudson football community and family. Roots run deep in Hudson, and the football team is usually top of mind.
Rogers is part of that family. The 1992 Hudson graduate – yes, he played for the Tigers – will not only have his son Payton on the field, but his younger son, Harper, 8, will be the ball boy for the game. His wife, Lindsey, and daughter Mia, 13, will be in the crowd.
“Everything is family around Hudson,” Payton said. “Our team has grown up together, and this year there have been so many people at our games, past players and guys we used to look up to. It’s been great seeing them come back for games.”
While a trip to the Finals is nothing new for the Tigers – Friday will be their fifth all-time appearance – it’s always a big deal in Hudson.
“I’m so happy for these kids and this community,” Coach Rogers said. “It’s a special thing to be a Hudson football player and live in Hudson and coach. The players are rewarded, and the whole community really supports the team. I’m just so happy for everyone right now.”
Doug Donnelly has served as a sports and news reporter and city editor over 25 years, writing for the Daily Chief-Union in Upper Sandusky, Ohio from 1992-1995, the Monroe Evening News from 1995-2012 and the Adrian Daily Telegram since 2013. He's also written a book on high school basketball in Monroe County and compiles record books for various schools in southeast Michigan. E-mail him at [email protected] with story ideas for Jackson, Washtenaw, Hillsdale, Lenawee and Monroe counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Hudson senior Payton Rogers (22) hugs junior Calix Campbell after Saturday’s Semifinal win over Ottawa Lake Whiteford. (Middle) Hudson coach Dan Rogers (right, with assistant Jacob Bovee) provides instruction from the sideline. (Below) The Tigers celebrate their Semifinal win. (Photos by Deloris Clark-Osborne.)