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'22 Game' Lasts 2 Plays, Lives on

By Ron Pesch
MHSAA historian

October 26, 2015

What would you do with 22 seconds to right a wrong?

In Michigan, the longest football game in high school sports history was played on September 23, 1977 when Detroit Southeastern defeated Detroit Northeastern 42-36 in nine overtimes.

But what is the shortest?

On the evening of Thursday, Nov. 5, 1953, Eaton County foes Bellevue and Vermontville squared off in a Tri-C Conference battle. It was a home contest for Vermontville, but without illumination at its field, the game was staged just west beneath the lights at Nashville High School in Barry County.

The dominant team in Tri-C play over the previous three years, Bellevue’s Broncos had posted three consecutive undefeated seasons from 1950 and 1952. However, graduation took its toll and with only five returning veterans in the fall of 1953, Bellevue lost its nonconference season opener to Homer. The Broncos had also dropped a pair of league contests, to Lake Odessa and Olivet, just prior to the Vermontville game, and entered with a 4-3 record.

Vermontville brought a 4-2 mark into the contest, and was in a four-way tie with Bellevue, Nashville and Lake Odessa for second in the conference.

The Broncos and Wildcats were evenly matched and played to a scoreless tie in the first half. Vermontville opened up a 6-0 lead on a 20-yard end sweep by the Wildcats’ quarterback Pete Benton in the third quarter, but entered the final minutes of the game trailing 12-6 thanks to a TD run by Bellevue’s Jim Smith and an early-fourth quarter scoring pass from Smith to Bob Babbitt.

Coach Dave McDowell’s Wildcats mounted a long final drive, and fans strapped in for a thrilling finish. Pushing deep into Bellevue territory, Vermontville faced a fourth down and eight from the 16-yard line with under a minute to play when Benton launched a desperation pass to the end zone.

The pass fell incomplete, but Bellevue was flagged for pass interference. Officials stepped off the penalty and awarded Vermontville the ball at the one-yard line, but the Wildcats’ plunge into the line fell an inch short on what was called a repeated fourth down play. Vermontville took possession and ran out the clock.

Following the game, Coach McDowell protested the ruling to officials, correctly stating that his team should have been awarded an automatic first down and goal from the 1-yard-line on the penalty, according to high school rules. Appealing the call, the situation was brought to the attention of the league, MHSAA executive director Charles Forsythe and the MHSAA athletic board.

On Wednesday, Nov. 11, the state athletic board agreed an error had been made, but did not order a replay. Instead, they noted three possible solutions:

  1. Result left as it was.
  2. Called a no contest.
  3. Replay it at the point of infraction.

The board moved a final decision back to the league. Because of the possible impact on the final conference standings, and eventually, the awarding of the league’s all-sports trophy, the Tri-C Conference opted to replay the contest from the point of infraction – the 1-yard line – with 22 seconds placed on the clock.

The news of the league’s decision was blasted out by the news services nationwide, and immediately, the pending replay of a small town contest captured the imagination of reporters and sports fans across the United States.

“Shortest ‘Game’ in History?” read the headline in the Lexington, Kentucky Herald. From Biloxi, Mississippi, to Boston, Massachusetts, from Rockford, Illinois to Omaha, Nebraska and Seattle Washington, sports aficionados read the news about the error. Best of all, details flowed forth on the plan to replay critical seconds that might alter the result, fulfilling every fan’s dream.

So began the longest huddle in history.

“What would you do?” was the question on the lips of coaches and followers in barber shops and factories. Detroit Free Press writer George Puscas asked that very question to some of Michigan’s top coaches.

Detroit Lions coach Buddy Parker offered his advice to Vermontville’s coach McDowell.

“The other team will be expecting a run,” noted Parker, “so I would fake a run off tackle then throw a pass in the other direction – with three receivers downfield.”

Michigan State’s legendary Biggie Munn stated the obvious:

“Call a scoring play.”

University of Michigan head coach Bennie Oosterbaan was tied up preparing for the Wolverines’ upcoming contest with MSU, so instead U-M end coach Bill Orwig weighed in with a tongue-in-cheek recommendation:

“Take the time out.”

Earl “Dutch” Clark, in charge at the University of Detroit, suggested that McDowell diagram “two of the most unusual offensive formations … anything to confuse the defense. The first play should be a running play and if it didn’t work, take time out then try again.”

Wayne University’s coach Lou Zarza was the most specific of them all.

“On a goal line stand, the defense usually drifts toward the middle. So I would fake the ball to the right halfback on a slant, then send the fullback with the ball wide to the right, outflanking the defense. It’s a good goal line play on the T formation.”

Suggestions came from all over. A gentleman in Syracuse, New York, even penned a personal letter to McDowell with a sure-fire suggestion.

Three days after the 1953 prep season had officially ended, on the afternoon of Monday, Nov. 16, the same officiating crew and the Vermontville and Bellevue squads emerged and again travelled to Nashville to line up for what can arguably be called the shortest – or perhaps the longest – game in high school football history.

Reporters from Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing and Battle Creek converged on the city for 22 seconds of football. High school reporting legends Hal Schram of the Detroit Free Press, Bob Hoerner of the Lansing State Journal, George Maskin of the Detroit Times, Harry Stapler of the Detroit News and writers from the Associated Press and United Press International all descended upon mid-Michigan, “almost as if the Rose Bowl was to be played.”  

“That game brought more publicity to coach Gordon Korstange’s 6-3 squad then his teams received for posting three consecutive unbeaten seasons in 1950, 1951 and 1952,” recalled 80-year old Burton H. Brooks, who was the only reporter who had covered the original contest, and one of many covering the replay. A graduate of Bellevue, he was a freshman at Michigan State at the time, earning money as a sports stringer for the Bellevue Gazette and Charlotte Republican Tribune.

Beneath sunny skies, “a crowd of over 500 fans and curiosity seekers, most of them attired in shirt sleeves, lined the field on both sides near the east end of the Nashville gridiron,” wrote Brooks, many years later. “At 5:00 the shrill blast of an official’s whistle split the air, announcing time for the game.”

Attendance was way up from the original contest, and in an unusual move for the time, Kalamazoo television station WKZO announced that they would send a crew to Nashville and then televise the game – (all 22 seconds of it!) – Tuesday evening. In addition, 10 newspaper photographers were on site to capture images from the game.

While the size of the crowd was up, turnout on the football squads had decreased. Vermontville dressed its full squad of 24 for the showdown, but kept out two regular tackles and his first-string quarterback, as all had been on the injured list at the end of the first clash.

Meanwhile, Bellevue brought only 14 players.

“Just our defensive unit and enough to run back the kickoff,” Korstange told the Lansing State Journal, prepared for a situation that could arise if Vermontville scored.

“Three of the defensive starters had decided to go deer hunting instead,” said Brooks discussing the shortened game, “so Bellevue needed to call up some kids for the game from the junior varsity squad.”

“Bellevue won its sixth game of the year, downing Vermontville in a sensational goal line stand in the famous ‘22’ Game” at Nashville last Monday,” wrote Brooks in the Bellevue Gazette. “Coach Dave McDowell’s Wildcats ran two plays against Bellevue, but couldn’t dent the solid Bronco defense. On the first play the Wildcats sent big Bob Steward up center, but he was driven back a yard by the entire center of the Bellevue line.”

Following a timeout, the Green and White tried to sneak quarterback Pete Benton across the line to the left of center as the ball carrier on the second play, but the hole was quickly plugged by tackle Donald Rogers and guard Jerry Babbitt. Steward had been stopped by Bellevue guard Wayne Lesser. Dale Spotts, Bob Babbitt, Harold Messenger, Ralph Hales, Dick Moon, Jim Smith, Gordon Smith, and Ed Bessemer filled the other defensive spots and ensured the result of the first game went unchanged.

Once again, the wire services blasted their report from sea to shining sea.

 “Officials Didn’t Rob Vermontville Team” screamed the headline in the Miami Daily News. Beneath an AP photo, residents of the Florida town were treated to a detailed account of the contest.

“Prep Grid Game Ends Same Way Following 11-Day Break” read the caption in the Dallas Morning News in football-crazed Texas.

 “Replayed Grid Game Ends with the Same Result as Before,” read the headline in the Seattle, Washington, Daily Times.

As noted at the time, it certainly wasn’t the first, nor would it be the last, that a refereeing crew made a mistake in a game. Fans then, like now, were reminded officials are only human.

Bellevue ended the extended season in a tie for second with Lake Odessa, with 5-2 marks. For the first time in league history the Tri-C gridiron championship was awarded to Olivet, which, at 8-0, posted its first unbeaten season and, as it turned out, unseated Bellevue for the league’s 1953-54 all-sports trophy.

More than 60 years later, a forgotten showdown between high school football teams, played out before national attention in little Nashville, Michigan, still stands as one of the most entertaining and unusual sports moments in the history of America.

Ron Pesch has taken an active role in researching the history of MHSAA events since 1985 and began writing for MHSAA Finals programs in 1986, adding additional features and "flashbacks" in 1992. He inherited the title of MHSAA historian from the late Dick Kishpaugh following the 1993-94 school year, and resides in Muskegon. Contact him at [email protected] with ideas for historical articles.

PHOTOS: (Top and below) What's believed to be a Battle Creek Enquirer photo shows one of the goal line stands by the Bellevue defense against Vermontville. (Middle) The Lansing State Journal reported on the nationwide reporting of the "22-second game." 

Clarkston players celebrate in the Wayne State end zone during their win over Belleville.

1st & Goal: 2025 Week 1 Review

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

September 2, 2025

The 51st season of MHSAA playoff-era football kicked off over the weekend with multiple matchups of teams that finished last season at Ford Field and nearly 600 teams total bringing championship dreams into this fall.

MI Student AidEvery one of them remains in the hunt after the first week. But below we have 45 first impressions as we begin our search for the next contenders.

Bay & Thumb

HEADLINER Goodrich 17, Frankenmuth 14 The reigning Division 4 champion Martians ran their record to 2-3 against the Eagles during this recent opening-day series, going ahead for good on Jacob Daggett’s 30-yard field goal. Goodrich’s only defeat last season was 22-0 to Frankenmuth, which went on to finish Division 5 runner-up. Click for more from the Flint Journal.

Watch list Grand Blanc 35, Muskegon Mona Shores 20 The Bobcats didn’t let a two-point loss to Mona Shores last year slow them down on the way to league and District titles, so this win could provide significant momentum as they look to build on that success.

On the move Armada 21, Marine City 14 The Tigers ran their season-opener win streak over Marine City to four with a third win by seven points or fewer during that stretch. Saginaw Swan Valley 55, Croswell-Lexington 35 After starting 2024 with three straight losses – including a third in a row to Croswell-Lexington – the Vikings broke through this weekend with their second highest-scoring game over the last four seasons. Midland Dow 38, Fenton 6 The Chargers broke a streak of three straight season-opening losses to the Tigers in another matchup of annual playoff teams.

Greater Detroit

HEADLINER Clarkston 38, Belleville 7 These two met for a second-straight year in an opener at Wayne State, this time as part of the Amazon Prep Kickoff Classic, and this time with Clarkston coming up big after the Tigers won 35-28 in 2024. The loss was only the third regular-season defeat for Belleville over the last nine years. Click for more from the Oakland Press.

Watch list Detroit Cass Tech 28, Toledo Central Catholic (Ohio) 27 The reigning Division 1 champion Technicians held off a 2024 Ohio state runner-up that also should be among favorites again in the Catholic High School League Central this fall.

On the move Warren Michigan Collegiate 32, Clarkston Everest Collegiate 6 Michigan Collegiate avenged its only regular-season loss of the last two years. Northville 14, Lake Orion 13 The Mustangs also rebounded from a 2024 defeat, having opened last year with a 21-13 loss to the Dragons. Walled Lake Western 51, Milford 26 This matchup determined the Lakes Valley Conference championship last season and could end up key again this fall as Western attempts to win a fourth-straight title.

Mid-Michigan

HEADLINER DeWitt 21, Haslett 3 This was a much different game than when the teams combined to score 111 points a year ago. This time, the Panthers held Haslett to its first single-digit output since midway through the 2023 season, while Haslett’s defense also proved tougher than most against the often high-scoring Panthers. Click for more from the Lansing State Journal.

Watch list Williamston 46, Lansing Catholic 14 After reaching the playoffs last year at 3-6, the Hornets got off to a stronger start by avenging last season’s loss to Lansing Catholic, which went on to finish as Division 6 runner-up in 2024.

On the move Pewamo-Westphalia 35, North Muskegon 6 P-W got a solid jump on the season with a second-straight win over North Muskegon, which made the Semifinals for the second-straight season last fall. Mount Pleasant 35, Saginaw Heritage 13 The Oilers broke a two-game losing streak against the Hawks as they look to build on a seven-year playoff streak. Howell 23, Traverse City West 13 The Highlanders made the long drive north but ran their regular-season winning streak to 10 after finishing last year’s without a loss.

A pair of North Muskegon defenders wrap up a Pewamo-Westphalia ball carrier.

Northern Lower Peninsula

HEADLINER Kingsley 24, Reed City 6 The Stags got off to an impressive start, avenging last season’s 24-22 loss to Reed City, which went on to win a District title in 2024. The pair have met in the playoffs three of the last five seasons and will both play in Division 6 again if they qualify in two months. Click for more from the Cadillac News.

Watch list Traverse City St. Francis 30, Maple City Glen Lake 6 These are two more potential playoff teams after both won league titles a year ago, with this their first meeting since 2021.

On the move Cheboygan 19, Sault Ste. Marie 7 After at one point losing nine straight to Sault Ste. Marie, Cheboygan has now won two in a row and is 1-0 for the first time since 2022. Harbor Springs 18, Morley Stanwood 16 Harbor Springs won for the first time since Week 9 of the 2021 season, breaking a 26-game losing streak. Petoskey 21, Greenville 13 Petoskey also ran its regular-season winning streak to 10 to build on last year’s perfect pre-playoff run.

Southeast & Border

HEADLINER Saline 37, Rockford 28 These Division 1 titans hadn’t met since the 2020 playoffs, and Saline took a massive opening step with an impressive comeback to kick off this season. After Rockford took a 28-21 third-quarter lead on a blocked punt return, Saline rallied to re-tie the score, move ahead with a safety on a Rams miscue and then score one more time to pull away. Click for more from the Ann Arbor News.

Watch list Adrian Madison 56, Grass Lake 0 A 4-1 start turned into a 4-5 finish for Madison last fall, but excitement should be renewed after this win over a Grass Lake team coming off two straight six-win seasons.

On the move Dexter 50, Brighton 27 Add the Dreadnaughts to the short list of teams that finished 9-0 during the 2024 regular season and are off to the right start again. Hudson 44, Fowler 8 The Tigers made a loud statement by avenging last season’s opening 20-6 loss to Fowler, which like Hudson is annually one of the top small-school teams in the state. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central 42, Clinton 6 The reigning Division 7 runner-up Falcons actually have won 13 straight regular-season games going back to 2023 – and three matchups with Clinton since falling to the Redwolves in the District Final that fall.

Southwest Corridor

HEADLINER Niles 28, St. Joseph 18 Niles picked up just about where it left off last season when the Vikings finished Division 4 runners-up. Their only loss before Ford Field was 30-7 to St. Joseph, but this time Niles pulled away to avenge and add a second win over the Bears over the last three seasons. Click for more from the Niles Daily Star.

Watch list Berrien Springs 20, Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep 13 These two combined to win 16 games last season, and Berrien Springs had lost its last two openers to Hackett by a combined five points – and also last season’s Division 5 District Final to the Fighting Irish by 17.

On the move Edwardsburg 28, McBain 21 The Eddies opened with a close win over the reigning Highland Conference champion Ramblers. Portage Central 45, East Lansing 0 These two now have split their last four meetings, but East Lansing had won last year’s 31-7. Union City 16, Parchment 14 The reigning Big 8 Conference champion Chargers won this matchup of 2024 playoff teams.

Negaunee's Marshall Peters carries the ball before getting tackled by Marquette's Ben Rayhorn (7), Bodi Bennett (15), and Alex Brennen (9).

Upper Peninsula

HEADLINER Negaunee 30, Marquette 22 Meeting 142 between these neighbors went to the Miners, who improved to 71-60-11 in the series by winning their first matchup against each other since 2017. Click for more from the Marquette Mining Journal.

Watch list Escanaba 21, Kingsford 18 Escanaba came into this fall off its first winning season since  2019, and the good times are still rolling after this first win over the Flivvers since 2019 as well. Kingsford had won last year’s matchup 21-0.

On the move L’Anse 26, Hancock 6 The Purple Hornets won just once over the last two seasons, but started 1-0 with their first win over Hancock since 2022. Bark River-Harris 52, Ishpeming Westwood 8 The Broncos bounced back big from last year’s 24-point loss to Westwood. Iron Mountain 41, Houghton 22 The Mountaineers will roll into this week’s matchup with Bark River-Harris carrying a 27-game regular-season winning streak.

West Michigan

HEADLINER Hudsonville 27, Byron Center 21 In another matchup of teams that finished at Ford Field last November, reigning Division 1 runner-up Hudsonville held off Division 2 runner-up Byron Center, handing the Bulldogs just their third regular-season loss in three years. Click for more from the Grand Rapids Press.

Watch list Grand Rapids Northview 32, Grand Rapids West Catholic 21 Northview is showing no signs of slowing down coming off arguably its best season in at least recent program history. The Wildcats followed up last year’s perfect regular season by starting a new one downing an annual championship contender.

On the move Grandville 44, Muskegon 40 The Big Reds might be coming off their first sub-.500 season since 1999, but Muskegon is still Muskegon – which means a memorable start for Grandville, with Cass Tech up next. Hudsonville Unity Christian 55, Whitehall 14 The Crusaders’ only loss last season came in their District Final, and an offense that averaged 43 points per game during that run looks ready to roll again. Lowell 40, East Grand Rapids 7 After three straight losses to EGR, including last season by 19 points, the Red Arrows served some early notice.

On Ontonagon's first possession of the game, Jack Nelson (30) catches a pass from Brody Bobula (not shown), while being defended by Ishpeming's Grady Gauthier (3), and runs it in for a touchdown.

8-Player

HEADLINER Newberry 22, Crystal Falls Forest Park 20 Newberry ended last season with two straight wins to come in at 2-7 overall and ran its winning streak to three over the weekend by edging last season’s Division 2 champion. The victory also avenged a 37-6 loss to the Trojans from a year ago and gave Forest Park its first season-opening defeat since 2019. Click for more from the NFHS Network.

Watch list Central Lake 44, Marion 38 The Trojans – also 2-7 in 2024 – provided a strong indication that this could be a turnaround season by avenging last year’s 64-6 loss to Marion, which at a combined 40-6 has been one of the state’s top 8-player programs the last four years.

On the move Britton Deerfield 60, Pittsford 22 The Patriots made it three wins in three tries over the last two years against Pittsford in claiming this rematch of last season’s Division 2 Regional championship matchup. Gobles 54, Climax-Scotts 32 The Tigers are posted a perfect regular season a year ago and started this one with a notable win over a Climax-Scotts team that is coming off an 8-2 overall finish. Ontonagon 21, Ishpeming 14 Ontonagon claimed its fifth-straight opening-night win, this time downing an Ishpeming team that reached the Division 1 Regional Finals last year in its first playing 8-player.

MHSAA.com's weekly “1st & Goal” previews and reviews are powered by MI Student Aid, a division within the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP). MI Student Aid encourages students to pursue postsecondary education by providing access to student financial resources and information. MI Student Aid administers the state’s scholarship and grant programs that help make college Accessible, Affordable and Attainable for you. Click to connect with MI Student Aid and find more information on Facebook and Twitter @mistudentaid.

PHOTOS (Top) Clarkston players celebrate in the Wayne State end zone during their win over Belleville. (2) A pair of North Muskegon defenders wrap up a Pewamo-Westphalia ball carrier. (3) Negaunee's Marshall Peters carries the ball before getting tackled by Marquette's Ben Rayhorn (7), Bodi Bennett (15), and Alex Brennen (9). (4) On Ontonagon's first possession, Jack Nelson (30) catches a pass from Brody Bobula while being defended by Ishpeming's Grady Gauthier (3), and runs it in for a touchdown. (Top photo courtesy of State Champs! Sports Network. P-W/North Muskegon photo by Jim Pivarnik. Negaunee/Marquette and Ontonagon/Ishpeming photos by Cara Kamps.)