8-player Final: Road to Marquette

December 12, 2011

Rapid River and Carsonville-Port Sanilac are 382 miles apart, but they faced off Saturday to decide the inaugural MHSAA 8-player Football Final at Northern Michigan University's Superior Dome.

Take a quick ride with us over Mackinaw Bridge, past Rapid River High School, and into the Dome -- and hear from both coaches -- as we give you some of the sights and sounds surrounding the Tigers' 59-20 victory. 

#TBT: Generations of Football Champions

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

August 28, 2014

Our first Second Half Throwback Thursday of 2014-15 is such a long toss into the past that we don't know many of the details behind this photo – aside from the common tie between these celebrating athletes and those kicking off this weekend who hope to celebrate as well their football accomplishments. 

This photo was submitted by Mark Duffy, the son of the player holding the trophy, Ferndale Lincoln's Jack Duffy, who is being carried by his teammates and served as their captain.

It was taken sometime during the mid-1940s. Identifying the trophy's significance is trickier still. The MHSAA playoffs didn't begin until 1975, and "mythical" state champions were selected by The Associated Press or Detroit Free Press or News usually after the fact. This trophy might've celebrated a league title or been given as part of an annual "trophy" game, of which there are many played each week.