2019 Week 9 Football Playoff Listing
October 22, 2019
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 eighth 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 Nov. 1. 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 playoffs in those divisions also begin Nov. 1.
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 Oct. 27 on the Selection Sunday Show on FOX Sports Detroit PLUS. The playoff qualifiers and pairings will be posted to the MHSAA Website following the Selection Sunday Show.
11-Player Playoff Listing
1. Macomb Dakota, 3034, 4-4, 51.875
2. Dearborn Fordson, 2868, 7-1, 92.875
3. Grand Blanc, 2719, 5-3, 65.125
4. East Kentwood, 2673, 5-3, 62.750
5. Utica Eisenhower, 2617, 6-2, 78.375
6. Sterling Heights Stevenson, 2498, 4-4, 57.500
7. Rockford, 2443, 7-1, 96.750
8. Lake Orion, 2416, 7-1, 93.750
9. Howell, 2391, 4-4, 50.625
10. Clinton Township Chippewa Valley, 2386, 8-0, 115.000
11. Detroit Cass Tech, 2372, 4-4, 52.500
12. Ann Arbor Pioneer, 2250, 4-4, 47.750
13. Canton, 2228, 4-4, 50.375
14. Brighton, 2224, 7-1, 90.875
15. Dearborn, 2152, 4-4, 50.625
16. Plymouth, 2090, 8-0, 103.000
17. Southfield Arts & Technology, 2067, 4-4, 50.375
18. Grand Haven, 2066, 4-4, 55.625
19. West Bloomfield, 2042, 7-1, 99.750
20. Detroit Catholic Central, 2024, 4-4, 65.875
21. Hartland, 2021, 4-4, 50.750
22. Hudsonville, 1930, 5-3, 70.875
23. Detroit Western, 1888, 5-3, 48.750
24. Saline, 1861, 7-1, 89.875
25. Utica Ford, 1812, 4-4, 49.250
26. Lapeer, 1792, 7-1, 99.750
27. Grandville, 1719, 7-1, 101.500
28. Holt, 1713, 6-2, 83.250
29. Rochester Adams, 1710, 6-2, 76.500
30. Davison, 1694, 7-1, 94.500
31. White Lake Lakeland, 1693, 6-2, 79.500
32. Belleville, 1692, 8-0, 105.000
33. Romeo, 1692, 6-2, 77.500
34. Traverse City West, 1663, 6-2, 82.625
35. Waterford Mott, 1658, 5-3, 59.125
36. Rochester Hills Stoney Creek, 1638, 5-3, 61.000
37. Brownstown Woodhaven, 1623, 8-0, 108.000
38. Warren Mott, 1513, 6-2, 74.625
39. Saginaw Heritage, 1512, 4-4, 47.875
40. Grosse Pointe South, 1510, 7-1, 91.750
41. Detroit U-D Jesuit, 1486, 5-3, 61.804
42. Temperance Bedford, 1466, 6-2, 77.125
43. Sterling Heights, 1464, 5-3, 65.125
44. Farmington *, 1444, 7-1, 87.875
45. Livonia Franklin, 1435, 6-2, 77.625
46. Harrison Township L'Anse Creuse, 1434, 5-3, 65.250
47. Dearborn Heights Crestwood, 1404, 4-4, 44.500
48. St. Clair Shores Lakeview, 1404, 6-2, 74.125
49. Traverse City Central, 1404, 7-1, 95.625
50. Warren De La Salle Collegiate, 1404, 5-3, 72.925
51. Livonia Churchill, 1392, 4-4, 51.000
52. Lansing Everett, 1388, 4-4, 48.625
53. Wyandotte Roosevelt, 1386, 6-2, 74.500
54. North Farmington, 1371, 8-0, 102.000
55. Birmingham Seaholm, 1370, 5-3, 65.125
56. Portage Central, 1359, 4-4, 50.875
57. Battle Creek Lakeview, 1350, 8-0, 101.000
58. Flushing, 1326, 4-4, 50.875
59. Birmingham Groves, 1310, 7-1, 98.750
60. Midland, 1309, 8-0, 102.000
61. Port Huron, 1309, 5-3, 57.125
62. Midland Dow, 1287, 5-3, 61.625
63. Port Huron Northern, 1284, 7-1, 88.625
64. Oak Park, 1276, 7-1, 94.750
65. South Lyon, 1276, 7-1, 92.750
66. Portage Northern, 1274, 7-1, 87.625
67. St. Clair Shores Lake Shore, 1237, 4-4, 48.250
68. Jackson *, 1231, 5-3, 55.250
69. Walled Lake Western, 1228, 7-1, 98.750
70. Muskegon Mona Shores, 1227, 6-2, 78.625
71. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, 1219, 6-2, 77.500
72. Dexter, 1214, 7-1, 85.875
73. Detroit Renaissance, 1205, 4-4, 48.161
74. Alpena, 1194, 4-4, 53.500
75. Ferndale, 1180, 4-4, 49.750
76. Mattawan, 1173, 4-4, 50.375
77. Fenton, 1168, 7-1, 94.750
78. Detroit Martin Luther King, 1158, 6-2, 83.250
79. Lowell, 1152, 4-4, 47.304
80. Byron Center, 1145, 8-0, 105.000
81. Auburn Hills Avondale, 1133, 4-4, 45.375
82. Grand Rapids Northview, 1130, 5-3, 59.625
83. Muskegon Reeths-Puffer, 1129, 5-3, 58.250
84. Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, 1128, 5-3, 74.891
85. Allen Park, 1127, 6-2, 80.250
86. Gibraltar Carlson, 1127, 6-2, 72.929
87. East Lansing, 1119, 6-2, 88.375
88. Redford Thurston, 1084, 7-1, 81.750
89. Zeeland West, 1054, 7-1, 94.875
90. Pinckney, 1053, 6-2, 69.625
91. Mount Pleasant, 1048, 6-2, 69.375
92. Garden City, 1030, 5-3, 57.875
93. St. Joseph, 1019, 6-2, 76.500
94. Cedar Springs, 1018, 7-1, 94.250
95. DeWitt, 1013, 6-2, 87.375
96. Detroit Mumford, 1007, 5-3, 53.000
97. River Rouge, 992, 7-1, 77.845
98. Mason, 964, 8-0, 99.000
99. East Grand Rapids, 959, 5-3, 60.250
100. Marquette, 957, 4-4, 52.875
101. Muskegon, 954, 8-0, 109.000
102. Flint Kearsley, 951, 6-2, 76.500
103. Zeeland East, 943, 5-3, 59.946
104. Orchard Lake St. Mary's, 942, 7-1, 100.931
105. Coldwater, 940, 7-1, 84.875
106. St. Johns, 938, 5-3, 60.125
107. Eastpointe, 926, 5-3, 68.750
108. Riverview, 915, 6-2, 65.625
109. Trenton, 914, 4-4, 53.875
110. Stevensville Lakeshore, 904, 4-4, 46.625
111. Dearborn Divine Child, 878, 4-4, 52.054
112. Parma Western, 870, 6-2, 68.625
113. Marysville, 869, 5-3, 57.375
114. Edwardsburg, 856, 8-0, 90.000
115. Spring Lake, 856, 4-4, 41.875
116. Chelsea, 847, 8-0, 104.000
117. Fowlerville, 834, 6-2, 70.625
118. Marshall, 825, 4-4, 46.875
119. Ortonville Brandon, 825, 7-1, 79.625
120. Cadillac, 824, 5-3, 57.250
121. Redford Union, 823, 5-3, 60.000
122. Grand Rapids Christian, 822, 6-2, 75.500
123. Carleton Airport, 815, 5-3, 55.250
124. Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood, 811, 5-3, 58.161
125. Plainwell, 808, 4-4, 43.750
126. Fruitport, 805, 4-4, 44.000
127. Ada Forest Hills Eastern, 789, 4-4, 48.250
128. Imlay City, 780, 4-4, 37.625
129. Sparta, 780, 7-1, 75.750
130. St. Clair, 780, 7-1, 81.875
131. Hamilton, 778, 4-4, 40.250
132. Vicksburg, 764, 5-3, 53.250
133. Allendale, 756, 5-3, 52.000
134. Goodrich, 741, 6-2, 68.375
135. Milan, 738, 8-0, 93.000
136. North Branch, 736, 6-2, 62.625
137. Croswell-Lexington, 719, 4-4, 44.000
138. Holland Christian, 713, 4-4, 46.500
139. Escanaba, 708, 6-2, 76.458
140. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, 705, 7-1, 85.159
141. Otsego, 683, 5-3, 54.125
142. Romulus Summit Academy North, 681, 6-2, 68.500
143. Sault Ste. Marie, 679, 5-3, 60.250
144. Detroit Country Day, 677, 8-0, 94.429
145. Paw Paw, 662, 8-0, 90.000
146. Ludington, 656, 6-2, 56.446
147. Warren Lincoln, 653, 4-4, 35.625
148. Flint Powers Catholic, 652, 6-2, 72.500
149. Harper Woods Chandler Park, 647, 4-4, 47.875
150. Grand Rapids Catholic Central, 628, 7-1, 89.625
151. Williamston, 621, 5-3, 58.000
152. Hudsonville Unity Christian, 618, 5-3, 61.000
153. Livonia Clarenceville, 602, 5-3, 39.875
154. Muskegon Orchard View, 602, 8-0, 84.714
155. Grand Rapids South Christian, 599, 4-4, 47.125
156. Benton Harbor, 598, 4-4, 44.641
157. Dowagiac, 596, 5-3, 58.250
158. Ogemaw Heights, 588, 6-2, 61.375
159. Portland, 580, 7-1, 82.875
160. Freeland, 579, 6-2, 66.500
161. Hancock, 579, 4-4, 32.875
162. Macomb Lutheran North, 574, 4-4, 45.250
163. Muskegon Oakridge, 574, 8-0, 83.000
164. Detroit Communication Media Arts, 567, 5-3, 40.500
165. Kingsford, 566, 4-4, 42.125
166. Essexville Garber, 561, 5-3, 54.125
167. Frankenmuth, 547, 8-0, 93.000
168. Saginaw Swan Valley, 544, 6-2, 68.625
169. Dearborn Heights Robichaud, 542, 7-1, 84.500
170. Midland Bullock Creek, 541, 6-2, 60.375
171. Grant, 539, 6-2, 62.125
172. Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard, 536, 4-4, 46.661
173. Remus Chippewa Hills, 526, 4-4, 43.875
174. Marine City, 521, 8-0, 103.000
175. Lansing Catholic, 520, 7-1, 76.750
176. Whitmore Lake, 520, 6-2, 48.000
177. Clawson, 515, 5-3, 49.625
178. Almont, 514, 8-0, 88.000
179. Hopkins, 514, 8-0, 84.000
180. Carrollton, 509, 4-4, 38.625
181. Detroit Denby, 508, 7-1, 82.625
182. Berrien Springs *, 505, 7-0, 84.000
183. Olivet, 505, 7-1, 75.500
184. Dundee, 497, 5-3, 51.875
185. Detroit Henry Ford, 492, 6-2, 67.500
186. Reed City, 490, 5-3, 56.750
187. Mt. Morris, 488, 4-4, 41.375
188. Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep, 483, 4-4, 40.482
189. Richmond, 476, 7-1, 82.875
190. Central Montcalm, 457, 7-1, 79.500
191. Kingsley, 454, 8-0, 90.000
192. Shepherd, 454, 5-3, 46.250
193. Onsted, 449, 6-2, 65.500
194. Montague, 446, 6-2, 60.500
195. Hillsdale, 445, 8-0, 89.000
196. Durand, 444, 4-4, 38.500
197. Clare, 442, 7-1, 71.875
198. Detroit Osborn, 441, 5-3, 50.875
199. Newaygo, 438, 5-3, 55.000
200. Menominee, 425, 5-3, 55.889
201. Boyne City, 423, 4-4, 42.125
202. Tawas *, 421, 4-4, 31.500
203. Flint Hamady *, 420, 6-1, 65.625
204. Perry, 420, 4-4, 35.875
205. Detroit Voyageur Prep, 415, 4-4, 35.375
206. Brooklyn Columbia Central, 414, 4-4, 38.625
207. Constantine, 412, 6-2, 59.732
208. Ishpeming Westwood, 412, 6-2, 62.625
209. Negaunee, 407, 6-2, 62.625
210. Adrian Madison, 398, 4-4, 36.625
211. Jonesville, 395, 6-2, 55.625
212. Clinton Township Clintondale, 392, 5-3, 46.125
213. Maple City Glen Lake, 389, 7-1, 69.875
214. Muskegon Catholic Central *, 387, 5-2, 57.768
215. Lake City, 386, 5-3, 45.250
216. Sanford Meridian, 386, 6-2, 63.625
217. Millington, 384, 4-4, 42.500
218. Harrison, 382, 4-4, 34.750
219. Blissfield, 381, 6-2, 67.750
220. Niles Brandywine, 378, 8-0, 80.000
221. Calumet, 377, 7-1, 78.875
222. Warren Michigan Collegiate, 375, 7-1, 78.589
223. Montrose, 374, 7-1, 77.875
224. Hemlock, 367, 6-2, 62.000
225. Ithaca, 362, 7-1, 68.625
226. Morley Stanwood, 360, 6-2, 62.482
227. Delton Kellogg, 358, 4-4, 38.250
228. Hanover-Horton, 352, 4-4, 34.375
229. Manchester, 349, 5-3, 44.375
230. Grass Lake, 347, 7-1, 64.750
231. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central *, 347, 7-1, 81.875
232. Ravenna, 347, 6-2, 61.750
233. Byron, 342, 5-3, 55.125
234. Hartford, 341, 5-3, 37.125
235. Kent City, 340, 6-2, 53.500
236. Laingsburg, 338, 6-2, 51.625
237. North Muskegon, 338, 5-3, 45.125
238. Traverse City St. Francis, 337, 6-2, 67.625
239. Pewamo-Westphalia, 335, 8-0, 81.000
240. Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian, 333, 5-3, 38.250
241. Clinton, 328, 8-0, 82.000
242. Houghton Lake, 328, 6-2, 55.500
243. Schoolcraft, 328, 8-0, 83.000
244. L'Anse, 324, 4-4, 35.500
245. Detroit Leadership Academy, 322, 7-1, 76.750
246. Beaverton, 318, 8-0, 88.000
247. Charlevoix, 318, 5-3, 48.000
248. Ecorse, 317, 4-4, 37.750
249. Madison Heights Bishop Foley, 316, 5-3, 40.607
250. Springport, 316, 4-4, 30.375
251. Jackson Lumen Christi *, 314, 8-0, 101.000
252. Riverview Gabriel Richard, 313, 7-1, 70.500
253. McBain, 308, 5-3, 47.000
254. Homer, 307, 6-2, 54.375
255. Madison Heights Madison, 307, 4-4, 46.875
256. New Lothrop, 307, 8-0, 88.000
257. Iron Mountain, 303, 8-0, 92.000
258. Bad Axe, 302, 4-4, 37.750
259. Detroit Central, 299, 7-1, 66.375
260. Oscoda, 295, 7-1, 64.750
261. Sandusky, 289, 5-3, 39.000
262. Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett, 286, 4-4, 37.232
263. Mancelona, 282, 4-4, 31.375
264. Centreville, 281, 6-2, 52.625
265. Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker, 279, 6-2, 54.250
266. Harbor Springs, 279, 6-2, 55.458
267. Lawton, 275, 8-0, 68.000
268. Evart, 271, 4-4, 31.375
269. Brown City, 270, 4-4, 31.500
270. Cass City, 269, 7-1, 66.750
271. Cassopolis, 268, 8-0, 72.000
272. Concord, 259, 4-4, 35.250
273. Carson City-Crystal, 256, 4-4, 39.500
274. Sand Creek, 256, 6-2, 60.375
275. Unionville-Sebewaing, 250, 5-3, 49.375
276. Beal City, 249, 7-1, 63.500
277. Royal Oak Shrine Catholic, 249, 6-2, 66.232
278. Blanchard Montabella, 247, 4-4, 31.875
279. Addison, 238, 7-1, 66.375
280. Ottawa Lake Whiteford, 235, 5-3, 45.375
281. West Iron County, 235, 6-2, 50.375
282. Reading, 232, 7-1, 68.875
283. Mount Clemens, 225, 4-4, 33.875
284. Flint Beecher *, 224, 5-2, 51.893
285. Bark River-Harris, 223, 5-3, 39.000
286. Ishpeming, 217, 6-2, 51.250
287. White Pigeon, 213, 7-1, 60.875
288. Johannesburg-Lewiston, 212, 8-0, 77.000
289. Harbor Beach, 207, 8-0, 76.000
290. St. Ignace, 205, 4-4, 33.875
291. Adrian Lenawee Christian, 199, 7-1, 59.181
292. Ubly, 198, 7-1, 61.875
293. Breckenridge, 197, 7-1, 65.875
294. Merrill, 197, 6-2, 52.125
295. Detroit Public Safety Academy, 191, 5-3, 49.125
296. Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary, 189, 5-3, 42.375
297. Britton Deerfield, 188, 4-4, 43.125
298. Saginaw Nouvel, 188, 4-4, 37.125
299. Mendon, 184, 6-2, 47.625
300. Fowler, 180, 7-1, 60.875
301. Pittsford, 176, 4-4, 30.875
302. Auburn Hills Oakland Christian, 175, 6-2, 54.482
303. Detroit Southeastern, 158, 4-4, 39.500
304. Lake Linden-Hubbell, 131, 5-3, 42.625
305. Clarkston Everest Collegiate *, 121, 7-0, 72.429
8-Player Playoff Listing
1. Colon, 160, 8-0, 66.429
2. Deckerville, 195, 8-0, 64.429
3. Powers North Central, 107, 8-0, 64.000
4. Martin, 187, 8-0, 60.571
5. Pickford, 138, 7-1, 57.875
6. Portland St. Patrick, 99, 8-0, 57.571
7. Climax-Scotts, 145, 7-1, 56.875
8. Suttons Bay, 205, 8-0, 56.333
9. Mio, 168, 7-1, 55.393
10. Morrice, 182, 7-1, 54.625
11. Hillman, 124, 7-1, 53.750
12. Pellston, 173, 7-1, 49.893
13. Crystal Falls Forest Park, 121, 6-2, 47.625
14. Mesick, 193, 7-1, 47.083
15. Engadine, 108, 7-1, 45.750
16. Mayville, 193, 6-2, 44.625
17. Kingston, 197, 6-2, 43.625
18. New Haven Merritt Academy, 174, 7-1, 42.500
19. Bellevue, 171, 5-3, 39.500
20. Cedarville, 154, 5-3, 36.875
21. Peck, 119, 5-3, 36.750
22. Posen, 71, 5-3, 36.393
23. Onekama, 142, 5-3, 36.054
24. Camden-Frontier, 175, 5-3, 35.125
25. Brethren, 141, 5-3, 33.625
26. Kinde North Huron, 126, 5-3, 33.554
27. Marion, 133, 5-3, 33.321
28. Brimley, 166, 5-3, 32.750
29. Burr Oak, 70, 5-3, 32.125
30. Hale, 113, 5-3, 31.143
31. Genesee, 179, 4-4, 30.875
32. Newberry, 186, 5-3, 29.750
33. Wyoming Tri-unity Christian, 100, 4-4, 27.893
34. International Academy of Flint, 185, 4-4, 27.804
35. Webberville, 182, 4-4, 27.661
36. Onaway, 182, 4-4, 26.643
37. Rapid River, 131, 3-5, 26.125
38. Gaylord St. Mary, 162, 3-5, 25.333
39. Bay City All Saints, 136, 4-4, 25.161
40. Vestaburg *, 186, 4-3, 25.036
41. Manistee Catholic Central, 177, 4-4, 24.625
42. Ashley, 90, 3-5, 23.554
43. Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart *, 113, 3-4, 22.714
44. Carney-Nadeau, 132, 3-5, 21.208
45. Tekonsha, 159, 3-5, 20.750
46. Battle Creek St. Philip, 179, 3-5, 20.643
47. Lawrence, 180, 3-5, 20.625
48. Central Lake, 169, 3-5, 20.333
49. Rudyard, 164, 3-5, 20.125
50. Akron-Fairgrove, 90, 3-5, 17.750
51. Litchfield, 179, 3-5, 17.125
52. Au Gres-Sims, 129, 2-6, 16.625
53. Eben Junction Superior Central, 177, 2-6, 16.375
54. Bellaire, 122, 2-6, 15.000
55. Atlanta, 74, 2-6, 13.476
56. Burton Madison Academy, 164, 2-6, 13.036
57. Fife Lake Forest Area *, 175, 1-5, 12.583
58. Felch North Dickinson, 86, 2-6, 12.125
59. Baldwin, 106, 2-6, 11.875
60. Owendale-Gagetown, 49, 2-6, 11.000
61. Waldron, 77, 2-6, 11.000
62. Carsonville-Port Sanilac, 92, 1-7, 9.875
63. North Adams-Jerome, 145, 1-7, 9.804
64. St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran, 103, 1-7, 8.875
65. New Buffalo *, 178, 1-6, 8.482
66. St. Helen Charlton Heston Academy *, 181, 1-6, 7.571
67. Ontonagon, 165, 1-7, 7.250
68. Big Rapids Crossroads Academy, 188, 1-7, 7.125
69. Bear Lake, 98, 0-8, 3.250
70. Caseville, 79, 0-8, 3.125
71. Stephenson *, 175, 0-6, 1.875
1st & Goal: 2024 Finals in Review
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
December 4, 2024
The story of the 50th MHSAA Football Playoffs may have been driven as much by the run-up to the Finals of these last two weekends as by those 10 championship games themselves.
But those games at Ford Field and the Superior Dome left us with their shares of unforgettable moments as we celebrated another special moment of this overall 100th MHSAA anniversary.
Goodrich, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep and Millington celebrated championships for the first time. Jackson Lumen Christi moved into first all-time with its 14th Finals title. The average margin of victory may not have been close this time around – winners did so by nearly 24 points, and we had just one single-digit game out of 10 – but consider as well the excitement generated on the way to these concluding weekends. Of the 20 teams ranked Nos. 1 or 2 by the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association at the end of the regular season, only five reached championship games – and only three won them.
We had senior standouts rewrite the scoring side of our 11-player Finals record book, star quarterbacks face off in an 8-player classic, and an uncountable number of unforgettable moments as nearly 45,000 fans traveled to witness the beginnings of our latest trophy celebrations.
MHSAA.com once again covered all 10 championship games, with quick recaps and links to those stories below followed by notations of performances entered into the MHSAA Finals record books and a report on some of the main storylines to emerge as those championships were being decided.
Finals in Review
11-Player Division 1: Detroit Cass Tech 42, Hudsonville 20 – Read
The Technicians won their fourth championship and first since 2016 by shutting down Hudsonville’s powerful rushing attack and dominating the air with freshman quarterback Donald Tabron II completing 15 of 20 passes for 176 yards and three touchdowns to arguably the top receiving group in the state. Cass Tech built a 35-0 lead by a minute into the second half.
11-Player Division 2: Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 35, Byron Center 19 – Read
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s also won its first championship since 2016 with a mostly second-half burst after trailing 13-7 until the final minutes of the second quarter. Darrin Jones and Bryson Williams both ran for more than 100 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Eaglets also shut down a Byron Center offense that averaged nearly 40 points per game entering championship weekend.
11-Player Division 3: Zeeland West 42, Detroit Martin Luther King 22 – Read
Paced by a record-setting performance by running back Keaton Hendricks, Zeeland West and its T-formation attack defeated a fourth top-seven ranked team during this playoffs. The Dux presented a look King hadn’t seen in years and turned it into not only a 352-295 total yardage advantage but also a 30:10-17:50 edge in time of possession as it piled up points against a King defense that had given up just 13.6 per game on the way to the Final.
11-Player Division 4: Goodrich 35, Niles 6 – Read
Goodrich won this matchup of finalists seeking their first championship, dominating the line of scrimmage to the tune of a 424-96 advantage in total yardage. Chase Burnett did the most damage of a talented Martians group of playmakers, running for 157 yards and a pair of scores while their defense locked down a Niles attack that averaged 41 points per game entering this matchup.
11-Player Division 5: Pontiac Notre Dame Prep 42, Frankenmuth 7 – Read
This also featured a pair of first-title hopefuls, and Notre Dame Prep took one home coached by Pat Fox, who grew up in and has since moved back to Frankenmuth. Quarterback Sam Stowe starred for the Fighting Irish, throwing four touchdown passes as NDP took a 35-0 lead into the fourth quarter and frustrated a Frankenmuth attack that had outscored its opponents by 31 points per game.
11-Player Division 6: Jackson Lumen Christi 56, Lansing Catholic 18 – Read
Lumen Christi’s record-setting win came on a record-setting performance by running back Kadale Williams, who ended up with a combined 590 yards and eight rushing touchdowns over his last two Finals appearances after also carrying the ball once in the Titans’ 2022 championship game. Lumen’s title was its third-straight with the first two of this string coming in Division 7
11-Player Division 7: Millington 24, Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central 0 – Read
Millington finished its first championship run as also the only undefeated 11-player champion this season. The Cardinals were physically dominant as they posted their fifth shutout and lowered their points allowed per game average to 7.7. In this win, they allowed just 3.2 yards per carry and forced three turnovers, limiting an SMCC offense averaging 36 points per game entering the weekend.
11-Player Division 8: Beal City 43, Riverview Gabriel Richard 14 – Read
Physical play and a strong running game were the story of this championship decider as well as Beal City won its third title and first since 2009 behind 315 rushing yards. The Aggies strung together unanswered runs of 21 and 17 points and held Gabriel Richard scoreless for the final 22 minutes of the first half and final 12 of the second.
8-Player Division 1: Deckerville 30, Pickford 28 – Read
Pickford led until the opening seconds of the fourth quarter as Deckerville came back from a double-digit third-quarter deficit to win its first championship since 2012. Both teams entered the matchup undefeated, and both relied on star quarterbacks who wrote their names into the Finals record book.
8-Player Division 2: Crystal Falls Forest Park 42, Morrice 20 – Read
The Trojans played in their 15th championship game and won for the fifth time after taking a 28-0 lead into the break and running for 184 of their total 291 yards during the first two quarters. Coach Brian Fabbri, who had played for Forest Park in 11-Player Finals in 2004 and 2005, became the fourth title-winning coach in program history.
Records Report
Zeeland West senior Keaton Hendricks scored a Finals record six touchdowns – to also give him a Finals-record 36 points. He rushed for three and caught three scores, and the three receiving touchdowns tied for second-most on that list.
Before Hendricks’ accomplishments a day later, Jackson Lumen Christi senior Kadale Williams briefly sat atop four record book lists. He remains the record holder with 314 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns and sits tied for second with five total touchdowns and 30 points scored in a championship game. His 314 rushing yards also put him on the total yardage list.
Junior quarterback Sam Stowe directed Notre Dame’s offense during the championship drive, reaching the record book with 293 yards passing and four touchdowns through the air including one score on one of the longest completions in Finals history – 87 yards to Billy Collins. Stowe also ran for eight yards, making the total yardage list with 301.
Lansing Catholic senior quarterback Alex Fernandez earned multiple record listings with 284 passing yards, 21 passing completions and 366 total yards; he also ran for 82. Senior receiver Xavier Luea tied for the fifth-most receptions in a championship game, pulling in 10 for the Cougars.
Four kickers reached the record book list for most extra points in one game. Jackson Lumen Christi senior Andy Salazar tied two others for the record with eight extra points, making all eight kicks he took in the Division 6 Final. Notre Dame Prep junior Owen Fulsher made six extra points in six attempts, and Orchard Lake St. Mary’s freshman Beckett Kiefer, Beal City senior Kyle Martin and Goodrich senior Landon Williams all made the list with five extra points in five tries.
As noted above, Jackson Lumen Christi set a record for championships with 14, breaking its tie with Farmington Hills Harrison (which closed at the end of the 2018-19 school year). Lumen scored 42 points during the first half of its Division 6 win, tying for third-most in one half, and its 56 total points tied for second-most for a full title game. The Titans also tied a record with seven rushing touchdowns total and made the list – with Niles in Division 4 as well – for fewest pass attempts, with three.
Lansing Catholic made the team list for most pass completions with 21, and Notre Dame Prep made the team list for passing yards with 293.
As seems to make sense with some of our winning teams’ offensive successes, four made the list of those to not punt during a Final – Zeeland West, Beal City, Goodrich and Jackson Lumen Christi. West also combined with Detroit Martin Luther King, and Beal City with Riverview Gabriel Richard, to make the list for fewest punts by both opposing teams combined. Both pairs had just one in their games.
Although in defeat, Pickford senior quarterback Tommy Storey was one of the stars of the 8-Player Finals, making lists with four total touchdowns, 304 rushing yards (ranking second), four rushing touchdowns and 312 total yards. His opposing quarterback, Deckerville senior Hunter Garza, also made multiple lists with 323 total yards and 225 rushing.
Crystal Falls Forest Park sophomore Dietrich Rasner made the extra points list, tying for second with six in six attempts, and Morrice senior Joel Fisher had the second-longest punt return in 8-Player Finals history bringing one back 85 yards for a score.
Pickford and Deckerville both reached 300 yards rushing in the Division 1 game, Pickford with 322 and Deckerville just missing the record book yardage list but setting a record with 60 rushing attempts. Deckerville also made the first downs list with 21.
Crystal Falls Forest Park made a rushing list, with six touchdowns running the ball. The Trojans also set a record by not allowing Morrice to gain a yard passing – with the Orioles becoming the first 8-player team to not complete a pass in a Final, attempting just four.
Stories Behind the Scores
Lumen Legend: Of Jackson Lumen Christi’s now-14 Finals championships, 12 came under the leadership of coach Herb Brogan, who took over the program in 1980 after Jim Crowley led the Titans to titles in 1977 and 1979. They finished this season 13-1, putting Brogan’s career record at 421-96. He’s third in football coaching wins in Michigan high school history, trailing Al Fracassa (Royal Oak Shrine Catholic/Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice) by nine and John Herrington (Farmington Hills Harrison) by 22. Brogan’s all-time winning percentage of .814 has him fourth all-time on that list for coaches with at least 200 victories.
Welcome to the Finals: Of the 20 teams that played in championship games (11 and 8-player combined), only Lumen Christi was returning from 2023. Compare that to two years ago, when we had four repeat champions, or last year with six returning teams and two repeat champs. Over the last two weekends, five teams played in championship games for the first time, and as mentioned above, three celebrated their first titles.
Return of the Rush: Wide-open pass-heavy offenses have been a trend going on two decades. But the ground game may be making a comeback. Lumen Christi’s Williams set the individual rushing record in his team’s win over Lansing Catholic, and it’s fair to consider the offenses of at least 15 of the 20 finalists (11 and 8-player combined) as rush-based. Six teams reached 300 yards rushing in championship games, with Lumen leading the way with 435 on 47 carries.
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PHOTOS (Top) This collage shows action photos from all 10 MHSAA Finals played this season. (2) Goodrich's Chase Burnett, middle, celebrates his touchdown with two of his linemen. (3) Forest Park and Morrice players get tangled up jumping near the goal line to pull down a pass. (4) Lumen Christi's Kadale Williams (1) works to get to the edge against Lansing Catholic. (11-player photos by Hockey Weekly Action Photos; 8-player photos by Cara Kamps.)