2025 MHSAA Football Playoff Pairings Announced
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 26, 2025
Here are the pairings for the 2025 MHSAA Football Playoffs, which begin Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 with District Semifinals in the 11-Player Playoffs and Regional Semifinals in the 8-Player Playoffs.
Teams were divided into divisions before the start of play this fall. The top 32 teams in each division in 11-player and top 16 per division in 8-player, based on playoff-point average, were selected to the field. For 11-player, qualifiers were then divided into four regions with eight teams apiece, and for 8-player qualifiers were divided into four regions with four teams in each.
Pairings for the first three weeks of the tournament are based on regular-season playoff point averages, with the highest-ranked team hosting, regardless of the distance between the two schools. For 11-Player District Semifinal and 8-Player Regional Semifinal play, the top-seeded team in each bracket will host the fourth-seeded team, and the second-seeded team will host the third-seeded team.
District Finals for 11-player and Regional Finals for 8-player will follow during the weekend of Nov. 7-8, and the weekend of Nov. 14-15 will have Regional Finals in the 11-Player Playoffs and Semifinals in the 8-Player Playoffs. The 8-Player Semifinals will pair the winners of Region 1 vs. Region 2 and the winners of Region 3 vs. Region 4 at neutral sites assigned by the MHSAA.
Semifinal games in the 11-Player Playoffs will take place Nov. 21-22, pairing the winners of Region 1 vs. Region 2 and the winners of Region 3 vs. Region 4. The MHSAA also will assign 11-Player Semifinals at neutral sites.
All playoff tickets except for Finals (both 11 and 8-player) will be sold online only via GoFan.
For 11-Player, tickets to District Semifinals and District Finals cost $7, tickets to Regional Finals are $9, and tickets to Semifinals cost $10. For 8-player, tickets for Regional Semifinals are $7, tickets for Regional Finals are $9, and tickets for Semifinals cost $10.
The 8-Player Finals will take place Nov. 22 at Northern Michigan University’s Superior Dome in Marquette, and the 11-Player Finals will be played Nov. 28 and 30 at Ford Field in Detroit. An all-day ticket for 8-Player Finals costs $10 and includes admission to both games, and an all-day ticket for the 11-Player Finals costs $20 and includes admission to that day’s four games.
The 11-Player Finals schedule will be as follows:
Friday, Nov. 28
9:30 a.m. - Division 8
12:30 p.m. - Division 4
4 p.m. - Division 6
7 p.m. - Division 2
Sunday, Nov. 30
9:30 a.m. - Division 7
12:30 p.m. - Division 3
4 p.m. - Division 5
7 p.m. - Division 1
Pairings for both the 11 and 8-Player brackets are as follows:
11-Player Pairings
DIVISION 1
REGION 1
DISTRICT 1
Jenison (4-5) 52.778 at Hudsonville (9-0) 85.556
Grandville (4-5) 56.111 at Rockford (7-2) 75.444
DISTRICT 2
Kalamazoo Central (6-3) 53.778 at Howell (8-1) 80.111
Grand Ledge (7-2) 65.667 at East Kentwood (7-2) 70.222
REGION 2
DISTRICT 1
Hartland (5-4) 60.000 at Detroit Catholic Central (9-0) 81.056
Brighton (6-3) 69.333 at West Bloomfield (7-2) 72.333
DISTRICT 2
Davison (8-1) 70.000 at Clarkston (8-1) 87.111
Oxford (7-2) 77.556 at Grand Blanc (9-0) 81.444
REGION 3
DISTRICT 1
Salem (5-4) 57.333 at Saline (8-1) 77.500
Brownstown Woodhaven (7-2) 66.111 at Belleville (7-2) 72.889
DISTRICT 2
Northville (7-2) 70.111 at Detroit Cass Tech (9-0) 74.556
Dearborn Fordson (7-2) 70.889 at Farmington (7-2) 71.222
REGION 4
DISTRICT 1
Rochester (5-4) 53.333 at Rochester Adams (7-2) 76.111
Utica Eisenhower (5-4) 57.000 at Rochester Hills Stoney Creek (6-3) 64.111
DISTRICT 2
Sterling Heights Stevenson (5-4) 54.778 at Romeo (6-3) 69.444
Macomb Dakota (6-3) 63.444 at Utica (7-2) 67.778
DIVISION 2
REGION 1
DISTRICT 1
Muskegon Mona Shores (5-4) 52.111 at Muskegon (6-3) 64.556
Traverse City Central (5-4) 53.889 at Traverse City West (5-4) 59.222
DISTRICT 2
Lansing Everett (5-4) 55.778 at Portage Central (9-0) 76.111
Portage Northern (7-2) 62.528 at Byron Center (6-3) 66.333
REGION 2
DISTRICT 1
Waterford Mott (5-4) 53.889 at Midland Dow (8-1) 71.111
East Lansing (4-5) 56.111 at White Lake Lakeland (7-2) 68.000
DISTRICT 2
Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (5-4) 54.611 at Walled Lake Western (7-2) 68.667
Orchard Lake St. Mary's (6-2) 63.083 at North Farmington (6-3) 64.889
REGION 3
DISTRICT 1
South Lyon East (4-5) 49.222 at South Lyon (9-0) 78.889
Livonia Franklin (6-3) 62.889 at Dexter (8-1) 76.500
DISTRICT 2
Lincoln Park (5-4) 52.444 at Gibraltar Carlson (9-0) 77.667
Temperance Bedford (4-5) 54.357 at Allen Park (5-4) 55.889
REGION 4
DISTRICT 1
Warren Mott (5-4) 50.222 at Birmingham Groves (6-3) 61.556
Birmingham Seaholm (5-4) 55.556 at Warren Cousino (6-3) 59.778
DISTRICT 2
Roseville (4-5) 52.889 at Grosse Pointe South (8-1) 70.333
St. Clair Shores Lakeview (7-2) 62.444 at Port Huron Northern (7-2) 69.111
DIVISION 3
REGION 1
DISTRICT 1
Bay City Western (4-5) 46.556 at Mount Pleasant (9-0) 76.444
Marquette (6-3) 51.889 at Gaylord (9-0) 66.000
DISTRICT 2
Coopersville (4-5) 47.000 at Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills (8-1) 67.111
Cedar Springs (8-1) 60.556 at East Grand Rapids (7-2) 60.778
REGION 2
DISTRICT 1
Zeeland West (6-3) 50.889 at Niles (9-0) 67.778
Zeeland East (6-3) 51.444 at St. Joseph (5-4) 54.889
DISTRICT 2
Coldwater (6-3) 47.111 at Lowell (7-2) 58.778
Middleville Thornapple Kellogg (6-3) 53.222 at Hastings (7-2) 58.556
REGION 3
DISTRICT 1
Owosso (6-3) 49.444 at DeWitt (9-0) 79.667
Linden (6-3) 50.222 at Mason (5-4) 55.444
DISTRICT 2
Ypsilanti Lincoln (6-3) 55.111 at Adrian (8-1) 60.333
Holly (6-3) 58.222 at Fenton (6-3) 58.444
REGION 4
DISTRICT 1
Riverview (6-3) 45.667 at Detroit Martin Luther King (5-4) 59.667
Redford Thurston (6-3) 52.222 at Trenton (5-4) 55.000
DISTRICT 2
Warren De La Salle Collegiate (3-6) 49.306 at Warren Fitzgerald (8-1) 65.889
Marysville (7-2) 54.444 at Port Huron (6-3) 59.889
DIVISION 4
REGION 1
DISTRICT 1
Freeland (7-2) 49.667 at Escanaba (8-1) 58.222
Big Rapids (8-1) 52.667 at Ludington (9-0) 56.778
DISTRICT 2
Holland Christian (5-4) 43.778 at Hudsonville Unity Christian (8-1) 61.333
Spring Lake (6-3) 45.444 at Wyoming Godwin Heights (7-2) 51.444
REGION 2
DISTRICT 1
Grand Rapids Christian (5-4) 45.333 at Battle Creek Harper Creek (8-1) 65.333
Grand Rapids South Christian (4-5) 47.444 at Portland (9-0) 58.444
DISTRICT 2
Three Rivers (5-4) 46.389 at Paw Paw (6-3) 56.111
Vicksburg (5-4) 48.556 at Edwardsburg (6-3) 51.222
REGION 3
DISTRICT 1
Lansing Sexton (6-3) 45.667 at Williamston (9-0) 69.500
St. Johns (5-4) 48.889 at Haslett (7-2) 61.111
DISTRICT 2
Lake Fenton (4-5) 43.000 at Goodrich (9-0) 68.000
Fowlerville (5-4) 44.444 at Chelsea (8-1) 67.778
REGION 4
DISTRICT 1
Tecumseh (6-3) 50.222 at Dearborn Divine Child (8-1) 59.667
Redford Union (7-2) 55.111 at Madison Heights Lamphere (6-3) 57.889
DISTRICT 2
Macomb Lutheran North (7-2) 44.111 at Harper Woods (9-0) 88.222
Center Line (7-2) 48.222 at Harper Woods Chandler Park (7-2) 49.222
DIVISION 5
REGION 1
DISTRICT 1
Negaunee (6-3) 40.875 at Ogemaw Heights (8-1) 54.389
Gladwin (5-4) 43.111 at Kingsford (6-3) 43.222
DISTRICT 2
Clare (6-3) 43.111 at Saginaw Swan Valley (8-1) 54.778
Howard City Tri County (5-4) 43.556 at Whitehall (5-4) 46.333
REGION 2
DISTRICT 1
Wyoming Kelloggsville (6-3) 40.778 at Grand Rapids Catholic Central (9-0) 74.206
Muskegon Oakridge (6-3) 43.000 at Grand Rapids West Catholic (8-1) 62.111
DISTRICT 2
Hopkins (5-4) 41.222 at Kalamazoo United (7-2) 43.286
Dowagiac (5-3) 41.827 at Berrien Springs (5-2) 42.802
REGION 3
DISTRICT 1
Detroit Cody (5-4) 37.222 at Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard (9-0) 52.667
Romulus (4-5) 41.111 at Michigan Center (8-1) 43.000
DISTRICT 2
Detroit Voyageur College Prep (4-5) 36.889 at Romulus Summit Academy North (7-1) 54.125
Flat Rock (6-3) 47.889 at Monroe Jefferson (8-1) 52.111
REGION 4
DISTRICT 1
Hazel Park (6-3) 39.333 at Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (7-2) 62.444
Detroit Denby (7-2) 46.556 at Detroit Southeastern (6-3) 49.000
DISTRICT 2
Yale (5-4) 39.000 at Frankenmuth (8-1) 57.778
Armada (6-3) 46.444 at Richmond (8-1) 55.222
DIVISION 6
REGION 1
DISTRICT 1
Calumet (7-2) 40.500 at Kingsley (7-2) 48.167
Boyne City (6-3) 41.944 at Traverse City St. Francis (6-2) 44.472
DISTRICT 2
Sanford Meridian (6-3) 36.111 at Reed City (7-2) 47.667
Montague (5-4) 36.444 at Central Montcalm (7-2) 37.444
REGION 2
DISTRICT 1
Ovid-Elsie (7-2) 42.000 at Belding (8-1) 57.222
Kent City (9-0) 49.667 at Olivet (8-1) 51.333
DISTRICT 2
Flint New Standard Academy (8-1) 34.264 at Montrose (9-0) 45.889
Durand (7-2) 40.222 at Flint Hamady (6-3) 40.444
REGION 3
DISTRICT 1
Onsted (4-5) 32.778 at Jackson Lumen Christi (6-3) 61.889
Buchanan (6-3) 34.357 at Napoleon (6-3) 38.556
DISTRICT 2
Adrian Madison (5-4) 33.889 at Ecorse (7-2) 48.000
Dearborn Heights Robichaud (6-3) 40.984 at Ida (7-2) 41.778
REGION 4
DISTRICT 1
Detroit Central (6-3) 34.889 at Detroit Edison (7-2) 53.056
Warren Michigan Collegiate (5-4) 37.556 at Detroit Pershing (6-3) 40.111
DISTRICT 2
Clinton Township Clintondale (5-4) 33.889 at Almont (9-0) 61.667
Clawson (6-3) 41.000 at Marine City (6-3) 47.222
DIVISION 7
REGION 1
DISTRICT 1
Manton (6-3) 28.000 at Menominee (9-0) 52.486
McBain (7-2) 36.667 at Charlevoix (8-1) 41.556
DISTRICT 2
Morley Stanwood (3-6) 25.556 at Harrison (7-2) 33.333
Shelby (5-4) 26.667 at LeRoy Pine River (6-3) 32.111
REGION 2
DISTRICT 1
Ravenna (4-5) 28.889 at Pewamo-Westphalia (8-0) 41.889
Saranac (7-2) 30.778 at North Muskegon (6-3) 35.514
DISTRICT 2
Ithaca (6-3) 34.222 at Saginaw Valley Lutheran (9-0) 40.333
Cass City (6-3) 35.667 at Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker (7-2) 37.778
REGION 3
DISTRICT 1
Galesburg-Augusta (4-5) 26.000 at Schoolcraft (7-2) 39.333
Constantine (6-3) 38.667 at Lawton (7-2) 39.000
DISTRICT 2
Union City (5-4) 28.222 at Hanover-Horton (7-2) 42.889
Jonesville (6-3) 30.222 at Bronson (7-2) 35.222
REGION 4
DISTRICT 1
Leslie (5-4) 28.778 at Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central (7-2) 49.667
Ottawa Lake Whiteford (8-1) 36.667 at Clinton (7-2) 40.556
DISTRICT 2
Burton Bendle (6-3) 29.333 at Millington (7-2) 41.000
Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest (5-4) 29.873 at Detroit Community (6-3) 30.762
DIVISION 8
REGION 1
DISTRICT 1
West Iron County (4-4) 25.361 at Bark River-Harris (7-1) 37.375
L'Anse (5-4) 25.417 at Iron Mountain (5-3) 27.528
DISTRICT 2
Mancelona (5-4) 29.361 at Maple City Glen Lake (7-1) 40.528
Frankfort (6-3) 29.917 at East Jordan (6-3) 32.625
REGION 2
DISTRICT 1
Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (5-4) 26.206 at Beal City (9-0) 42.111
Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary (6-3) 33.000 at Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Central (7-2) 33.556
DISTRICT 2
Reese (5-4) 27.111 at Harbor Beach (9-0) 42.556
Genesee (4-5) 27.556 at Unionville-Sebewaing (6-3) 32.889
REGION 3
DISTRICT 1
Centreville (5-4) 29.778 at Hudson (9-0) 49.857
White Pigeon (7-2) 35.222 at Decatur (7-2) 38.222
DISTRICT 2
Manchester (5-4) 28.444 at Springport (9-0) 38.931
Fowler (6-3) 34.111 at New Lothrop (6-3) 37.778
REGION 4
DISTRICT 1
Auburn Hills Oakland Christian (5-4) 25.611 at Madison Heights Madison (8-1) 44.556
Clarkston Everest Collegiate (5-4) 28.667 at Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes (5-4) 30.444
DISTRICT 2
Riverview Gabriel Richard (4-5) 29.111 at Melvindale Academy for Business & Tech (9-0) 45.667
Southfield Bradford Academy (6-3) 31.889 at Allen Park Cabrini (8-1) 38.889
8-Player Pairings
DIVISION 1
REGION 1
Gogebic (8-1) 32.264 at Norway (9-0) 37.625
Pickford (7-1) 32.542 at Indian River Inland Lakes (9-0) 36.667
REGION 2
Breckenridge (6-3) 30.250 at Blanchard Montabella (8-1) 35.222
Central Lake (6-3) 30.333 at Merrill (7-2) 31.778
REGION 3
Marcellus (6-3) 28.417 at Martin (9-0) 38.667
Climax-Scotts (7-2) 32.486 at Gobles (7-2) 33.194
REGION 4
Bay City All Saints (7-2) 31.319 at Kingston (8-1) 36.222
Capac (7-2) 33.111 at Brown City (7-2) 33.444
DIVISION 2
REGION 1
St. Ignace (6-3) 29.250 at Felch North Dickinson (9-0) 34.708
Powers North Central (7-2) 31.444 at Lake Linden-Hubbell (7-2) 31.444
REGION 2
Hillman (6-3) 29.208 at Onekama (9-0) 36.667
Gaylord St. Mary (7-2) 29.778 at Mio (8-1) 32.472
REGION 3
Marion (6-3) 29.333 at Portland St Patrick (9-0) 37.750
Grand Rapids Sacred Heart (8-1) 34.972 at Mendon (9-0) 37.375
REGION 4
Pittsford (7-2) 32.111 at Britton Deerfield (8-1) 36.889
Morrice (8-1) 32.222 at Deckerville (8-1) 36.556
The MHSAA is a private, not-for-profit corporation of voluntary membership by more than 1,500 public and private senior high schools and junior high/middle schools which exists to develop common rules for athletic eligibility and competition. No government funds or tax dollars support the MHSAA, which was the first such association nationally to not accept membership dues or tournament entry fees from schools. Member schools which enforce these rules are permitted to participate in MHSAA tournaments, which attract more than 1.4 million spectators each year.
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Gorham Rewriting Record Book as Mendon Pursues Superior Dome Return
By
Scott Hassinger
Special for MHSAA.com
November 4, 2025
MENDON – Mendon football star Owen Gorham finds enjoyment in being a mentor for younger kids in his community – so much so that he one day aspires to have his own classroom and pursue a career as an elementary teacher.
If his success on the football field the last four years is any indication, the 5-foot-10, 180-pound senior tailback should be a smashing hit in the education field as well.
Gorham has made a significant impact in 8-Player Division 2 football as top-ranked Mendon (10-0) prepares to travel and face No. 3 Portland St. Patrick this weekend in a Regional championship matchup.
The three-sport athlete already owns MHSAA 8-player career records for scoring with 696 points and touchdowns with 97. Both records were previously held by Bridgman's Reid Haskins (2019-22).
Gorham broke Haskins' career scoring mark in Mendon's 62-0 win over Battle Creek St. Philip in Week 7 before adding the TD record to his resume in a 76-43 victory over Adrian Lenawee Christian to end the regular season.
"I was able to put up pretty good numbers last year as a junior thanks to a good offensive line and a really good team,” said Gorham, who also has lettered in basketball and track & field. “I feel my speed is one of my biggest strengths. Reaching some of these records was among my goals when this season started. I couldn't have done it though without the support of my family, my twin brother Ryder at quarterback, JT Lux my fullback and the guys on my offensive line.”
Owen Gorham has run 471 times for 4,905 career yards and needs just 122 more yards to surpass Haskins as the state's all-time leading rusher. As a senior, Gorham has churned out 1,569 yards – 13.53 per carry – with 27 rushing TDs and two more on receptions.
"Owen works his tail off. We never question his work ethic. I always tell him he's his own worst critic. The time that he puts into the game, like watching film and lifting weights, makes him the player he is," said Mendon head coach Bobby Kretschman, an all-state linebacker during his playing days at Mendon and currently the high school’s principal as well.
"What you see out of Owen on Friday nights is just a small part of what he does. He's got good speed, power, makes good cuts and choices on the field. He's carried the ball close to 500 times for us in his career. That's a testament to his durability to be able to run for that much yardage. Defensively, he has a good nose for the football and his speed allows him to post up on tight ends and cover well out in space. That's huge in 8-man football because of the multiple offenses you see out of opposing teams.”
Mendon has scored 502 points this fall, an average of 55.8 per game. A great deal of that production has come on the ground, where the Hornets have rolled up 3,439 yards – 11.2 yards per carry and 382.1 per contest.
Directing Mendon's offense is Owen's twin brother Ryder, the Hornets' three-year starting quarterback, with Owen at halfback and Lux at fullback. Halfback Xavior Zinsmaster has 32 carries for 512 yards and seven TDs.
"Ryder is my biggest influence. We're twins so we do everything together, and he pushes me in everything I do and I try to do the same for him," Owen Gorham said.
Lux has run for 444 yards on 60 carries, with eight TDs.
"I think Owen and I bring two different types of running styles to the game and complement each other well. You have Owen's speed and my strength. I love blocking for him, and our offense has been very explosive this year," Lux said.
Senior tight end Brayden Crites (6-3, 200) is Mendon's top receiver with 10 catches for 249 yards and seven TDs.
Mendon's standouts on the offensive line, along with Crites, include seniors Adain McCall and Jayden Haigh, big sophomore center Jorden Palmer (5-10, 260) and junior guard Tristan Wood.
"Adain and Brayden do a lot of the dirty work for us. Our offensive line was a big question mark coming in this season. But the kids up there understand their roles well and do a good job staying on blocks for the most part.” Kretschman said. “Ryder runs the offense smoothly and is a good coverage kid, along with Xavior on defense."
Ryder Gorham is Mendon's third-leading rusher with 38 carries for 372 yards and seven TDs, while completing 21-of-43 passes worth 445 yards and eight TDs with just two interceptions. He's also a starter in the Hornets' secondary, where he has 23 tackles and one interception.
Defensively, Mendon is led in tackles by junior linebacker Zak Iobe (5-10, 165) with 77, followed by Zinsmaster and Wood with 57 stops apiece. Lux (5-10, 195) has 16 tackles, a sack and one fumble recovery at defensive tackle.
Mendon's seven seniors and their teammates are primed for the biggest game of their careers after receiving a 1-0 forfeit win over No. 7-ranked Grand Rapids Sacred Heart last week.
Mendon won 12 state championships during its era in 11-Player football, including 10 titles under legendary coach John Schwartz.
Mendon lost 66-26 to Powers North Central in the 2022 8-Player Division 1 championship game, which concluded the Hornets’ second season playing the new format. They look to return to the Finals this month at the Superior Dome in Marquette after losing 49-32 to eventual champion Deckerville in a Division 1 Semifinal last season.
Deckerville also is in Division 2 this season and a possible opponent if Mendon wins this week.
"That game didn't go as well as we wanted. Our goal is to get another shot at them and hopefully we do," Owen Gorham said.
He said he and his Mendon teammates spent the offseason working to achieve bigger things this fall.
"We were out here three days a week in the summer lifting weights, running and doing agility drills. During the season we lift on Wednesday and Saturdays and watch film,” Gorham said. “We never stop working hard to keep our season going. We all want it really bad. Losing to Deckerville last year just gave us more fire coming into this season.”
He also feels a great sense of pride whenever he steps onto the field.
Dan Kennedy, Owen's grandfather, was an all-state player at Mendon during the mid-1970s, and cousins Greg Bingaman and Clint Wagner both played on Hornets teams that claimed state titles.
"It's a tremendous honor to put on the Green and White jersey. I've had many family members who have played at Mendon on state title teams. I just feel honored to have a chance to repeat history with what they've done here in the past," Gorham said.
A starter at outside linebacker as well, he also plays a critical role on a Hornets' defensive unit that has allowed just 14.7 points per contest. He has 32 tackles, including four for loss of yardage, to go with 3.5 sacks, one interception and one caused fumble. Rarely does Gorham leave the field as he is also Mendon's punter, averaging 42 yards per attempt.
While Gorham's success has generated interest from college coaches, he has already made a decision to end his football career after Mendon's final game this season.
"I thought about playing college football but decided not to. I want to go to Western Michigan and study elementary education,” Gorham said. “Every Friday I go to our elementary school and help mentor kids. I love volunteering to help little kids get a good future just like where I'm at right now. That has really sparked my interest in having my own classroom some day and helping kids.”
Scott Hassinger is a contributing sportswriter for Leader Publications and previously served as the sports editor for the Three Rivers Commercial-News from 1994-2022. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Berrien, Cass, St. Joseph and Branch counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Mendon senior tailback Owen Gorham (20) nears the end zone during a 46-20 win over Climax-Scotts this fall. (Middle) Pictured at practice last week, from left: Gorham, Mendon head coach Bobby Kretschman and JT Lux. (Below) Lux (23) pursues a ballcarrier during a practice drill. (Top photo by Brandon Watson/Sturgis Journal. Practice photos by Scott Hassinger.)