Addison Emerges from Difficult Offseason Focused on Embracing Challenges Ahead
By
Doug Donnelly
Special for MHSAA.com
September 26, 2023
ADDISON – Addison’s football team was dealt multiple blows this past offseason, enough to bring many teams to their knees.
After going 5-5 last fall with a young team, the Panthers were expecting big things in 2023. But tragedy struck twice. Junior Chad Miller, a fullback and safety, died in July. Starting linebacker Jay Griewahn, also a junior, was diagnosed with leukemia and began chemotherapy that same month.
Add in the transfer of a starting offensive lineman, and losing three expected contributors from a team of fewer than 30 players looked difficult to overcome.
Yet, through five games, Addison is undefeated and ranks at the top of the MHSAA playoff points list in Division 8. The Panthers have turned to what their coaches have been teaching them for years – control only what you can control.
“I felt strongly that we would embrace the challenge and not make excuses, because we just don’t allow it,” said Addison head coach Joshua Lindeman.
“We can’t control everything, right? It’s what we instill in kids every single day. The football team is an extension of the classroom. Anything you do through education and educational athletics is preparing you to become a man. That is really what we build our entire program around. We talk about it daily.”
Lindeman is in his 10th season as the Addison head coach and recently passed the 50-win mark. He said it took a couple of years to build the current culture at the school in southwest Lenawee County, but seasons like this one – where the team comes together to overcome adversity – shows it is working.
“There are going to be events in your life that are going to happen that you can’t control,” he said. “Everybody knows this, whether you are a faith-driven person or not. There are events in our lives that are out of our control. We can’t waste energy or time and effort on those things.
“The only thing we can focus on is our response to those events.”
Addison also has remained true to its culture when it comes to toughness on the football field, too. Lindeman employs a full house T formation, an offense he learned while playing at nearby Hudson. In most games, as many as four backs carry the ball at least eight times apiece. Spencer Brown had 19 carries in Friday’s win over Jonesville, by far the most of any Addison back in a single game this season.
“That doesn’t change,” Lindeman said of the offense. “We don’t get envious about who carries the ball. We teach that to our backs. If you ask anybody about our program, about who gets taken care of in our program … they’ll tell you the linemen.
“Football is so many times glorified by the guy carrying the ball or the guy throwing the ball,” Lindeman added. “I don’t care who has the ball. I care about the seven guys up front. That’s where football is won or lost, no matter what anybody says.”
Addison has been an offensive juggernaut, scoring 258 points over five games. That includes wins of 50-14, 60-27, 58-14, 50-28 and 38-14, making the Panthers one of the highest-scoring teams in the state. They have 10 pass completions all season.
Brown is a perfect example of a player who has embraced the Addison culture. Coming in as a freshman, Brown shied away from contact. Once he hit the weight room and grew into his body, he became a bruising runner who fights for tough yards inside but has the speed to break long runs.
“When I came in as a freshman, I was tall and skinny,” Brown said. “I didn’t want anything to do with contact or someone touching me. As a sophomore, I started lifting, and last year things clicked.”
He said the team has remained close through the difficult offseason.
“It was hard losing a couple of guys, but you just have to look at the next guy up and lock in and do your job,” Brown said. “It’s talked about. It would be great to have those guys with us, but you just have to tell the guy there now to fill your spot and play your role.”
Brown is one of four captains with fellow seniors Jaxen Sword and Gabe Pepper, plus junior Joe Clark.
“Our captains say the right thing,” Lindeman said. “All four of them have done a really good job.”
This week Addison hosts Homer on Thursday in hopes of improving to 6-0.
“The mindset is to keep working hard in practice,” Brown said. “We are trying to go undefeated here.”
The Panthers know some difficult games lie ahead. No matter what happens, Lindeman will continue to do things like shake hands with every player after every practice and game and tell his players he loves them.
“All of that stuff creates the word culture that everybody speaks about,” Lindeman said. “It’s an identity. It’s not unnormal to see our football players in the hallway and they tell me they love me, and I say I love you back.”
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) Addison’s Spencer Brown (22) attempts to elude a Detroit Voyageur defender during a 50-14 Week 1 win. (Middle) Panthers coach Joshua Lindeman greets his players before a game. (Photos by Deloris Clark-Osborne.)
MHSAA Provides Update on 2025 Football Playoff Hopefuls, Bracket Reveal Schedule
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 23, 2025
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, plus information on this season's MHSAA Playoffs bracket and Finals schedule announcements.
Schools on this list are divided by division and ordered by playoff average. The top 32 teams by playoff average in each 11-player division and top 16 teams by playoff average in each 8-player division will qualify for the MHSAA Football Playoffs beginning Oct. 31. Divisions were determined prior to the start of the season, and the lists below include not only teams currently positioned to potentially qualify, but also the next eight teams in each division.
To review a list of all football playoff schools, individual school playoff point details and to report errors, visit the Football Playoff Point Summary page.
The announcement of the qualifiers and first-round pairings for both the 11 and 8-player playoffs will take place at 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, on the “Selection Sunday Show” on the NFHS Network. A subscription is not required to watch the Selection Sunday Show.
The playoff qualifiers and pairings will be posted to the MHSAA Website following the Selection Sunday Show, and times and dates will be added Monday, Oct. 27.
The MHSAA Football Playoffs conclude with the 8-Player Finals on Nov. 22 at Northern Michigan University’s Superior Dome and 11-Player Finals to be played Nov. 28 and 30 at Ford Field.
11-Player Division 1
1. Clarkston, 7-1, 83.125
2. Hudsonville, 8-0, 82.000
3. Detroit Catholic Central, 8-0, 76.661
4. Grand Blanc, 8-0, 76.625
5. Saline, 7-1, 75.875
6. Belleville, 7-1, 74.500
7. Howell, 7-1, 72.875
7. Rochester Adams, 6-2, 72.875
7. Rockford, 6-2, 72.875
10. Detroit Cass Tech, 8-0, 72.500
11. Brownstown Woodhaven, 7-1, 70.750
12. Oxford, 6-2, 70.000
13. Romeo, 6-2, 69.875
14. Brighton, 6-2, 68.250
15. West Bloomfield, 6-2, 67.750
16. Davison, 7-1, 67.375
17. East Kentwood, 6-2, 67.000
18. Dearborn Fordson, 6-2, 66.250
19. Farmington, 6-2, 65.875
20. Macomb Dakota, 6-2, 64.625
21. Northville, 6-2, 63.750
22. Utica, 6-2, 63.375
23. Grand Ledge, 6-2, 62.000
24. Rochester Hills Stoney Creek, 5-3, 58.750
25. Utica Eisenhower, 5-3, 57.375
26. Sterling Heights Stevenson, 5-3, 57.125
27. Grandville, 4-4, 54.125
28. Jenison, 4-4, 53.375
29. Hartland, 4-4, 52.500
30. Dearborn, 4-4, 50.500
31. Salem, 4-4, 50.250
32. Ann Arbor Huron, 4-4, 49.625
33. Rochester, 4-4, 48.875
34. Kalamazoo Central, 5-3, 48.500
35. Caledonia, 3-5, 44.286
36. Novi, 3-5, 44.250
37. Ann Arbor Pioneer, 3-5, 43.750
38. Livonia Stevenson, 3-5, 43.625
39. Holt, 4-4, 43.250
40. Walled Lake Northern, 3-5, 42.375
11-Player Division 2
1. South Lyon, 8-0, 75.875
2. Dexter, 7-1, 73.875
3. Gibraltar Carlson, 8-0, 73.375
4. Portage Central, 8-0, 72.500
5. Grosse Pointe South, 7-1, 70.125
6. Midland Dow, 7-1, 66.750
7. Walled Lake Western, 6-2, 65.875
8. Port Huron Northern, 6-2, 65.625
9. Livonia Franklin, 6-2, 64.750
10. Muskegon, 6-2, 64.458
11. White Lake Lakeland, 6-2, 64.375
12. St. Clair Shores Lakeview, 6-2, 61.125
13. Byron Center, 5-3, 59.875
14. North Farmington, 5-3, 59.500
15. Portage Northern, 6-2, 59.179
16. Warren Cousino, 6-2, 59.125
17. Orchard Lake St. Mary's, 5-2, 58.893
18. Birmingham Groves, 5-3, 55.000
18. Birmingham Seaholm, 5-3, 55.000
20. Lansing Everett, 5-3, 54.875
20. Traverse City Central, 5-3, 54.875
22. Lincoln Park, 5-3, 53.500
23. Allen Park, 5-3, 53.250
24. Traverse City West, 4-4, 52.500
25. Roseville, 4-4, 52.000
25. Temperance Bedford, 4-4, 52.000
27. Muskegon Mona Shores, 5-3, 51.875
28. Waterford Mott, 4-4, 51.000
29. East Lansing, 3-5, 49.000
30. Grand Rapids Northview, 5-3, 48.875
31. Milford, 4-4, 47.250
32. Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, 4-4, 47.161
33. South Lyon East, 4-4, 47.125
34. Warren Mott, 4-4, 46.875
35. Midland, 4-4, 45.000
36. Dearborn Heights Crestwood, 5-3, 44.375
37. Saginaw Heritage, 3-5, 43.000
38. Ferndale, 4-4, 41.875
39. Southgate Anderson, 3-5, 41.750
40. Battle Creek Central, 4-4, 41.625
40. Berkley, 4-4, 41.625
40. Oak Park, 3-5, 41.625
11-Player Division 3
1. DeWitt, 8-0, 76.458
2. Mount Pleasant, 8-0, 75.000
3. Gaylord, 8-0, 65.625
4. Niles, 8-0, 65.000
5. Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills, 7-1, 64.750
6. Warren Fitzgerald, 7-1, 63.750
7. Adrian, 7-1, 58.500
7. East Grand Rapids, 6-2, 58.500
9. Detroit Martin Luther King, 5-3, 57.667
10. Cedar Springs, 7-1, 57.500
11. Ypsilanti Lincoln, 6-2, 56.875
12. Port Huron, 5-3, 56.250
13. Hastings, 6-2, 56.000
13. Lowell, 6-2, 56.000
15. Fenton, 5-3, 55.625
16. Mason, 5-3, 53.625
16. St. Joseph, 5-3, 53.625
18. Zeeland West, 6-2, 53.125
19. Holly, 5-3, 52.500
20. Marysville, 6-2, 51.125
21. Redford Thurston, 6-2, 50.625
22. Zeeland East, 5-3, 50.250
23. Coldwater, 6-2, 49.375
24. Linden, 6-2, 49.125
24. Middleville Thornapple Kellogg, 5-3, 49.125
26. Trenton, 4-4, 48.250
27. Marquette, 5-3, 48.000
28. Riverview, 6-2, 45.750
29. Coopersville, 4-4, 45.500
30. Warren De La Salle Collegiate, 3-5, 44.929
31. Owosso, 5-3, 44.875
32. Bay City John Glenn, 5-3, 42.625
33. Bay City Western, 3-5, 41.375
34. Fruitport, 4-4, 40.875
35. Petoskey, 4-4, 40.125
36. Stevensville Lakeshore, 3-5, 38.000
37. Ypsilanti Community, 3-5, 37.500
38. Jackson Northwest, 3-5, 36.125
39. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, 2-6, 35.375
40. River Rouge, 2-6, 35.292
11-Player Division 4
1. Harper Woods, 8-0, 84.750
2. Williamston, 8-0, 65.375
3. Goodrich, 8-0, 64.875
4. Hudsonville Unity Christian, 8-0, 64.750
5. Chelsea, 7-1, 63.750
6. Battle Creek Harper Creek, 7-1, 61.625
7. Haslett, 6-2, 58.125
8. Escanaba, 7-1, 57.750
9. Dearborn Divine Child, 7-1, 57.042
10. Portland, 8-0, 56.000
11. Ludington, 8-0, 54.375
12. Redford Union, 6-2, 52.625
13. Wyoming Godwin Heights, 7-1, 52.375
14. Madison Heights Lamphere, 5-3, 51.875
15. Center Line, 7-1, 51.250
15. Paw Paw, 5-3, 51.250
17. Big Rapids, 7-1, 51.125
18. Edwardsburg, 6-2, 50.375
19. Vicksburg, 5-3, 48.875
20. Grand Rapids South Christian, 4-4, 47.625
21. Freeland, 6-2, 47.375
22. Tecumseh, 5-3, 47.000
23. Macomb Lutheran North, 7-1, 45.625
24. Grand Rapids Christian, 5-3, 45.500
25. Harper Woods Chandler Park, 6-2, 44.250
26. Spring Lake, 5-3, 43.750
26. Three Rivers, 4-4, 43.750
28. St. Johns, 4-4, 42.500
29. Lansing Sexton, 5-3, 42.250
30. St. Clair, 5-3, 41.750
31. Ortonville Brandon, 4-4, 39.000
32. Fowlerville, 4-4, 38.875
33. Holland Christian, 4-4, 38.750
34. Detroit Henry Ford, 4-4, 37.500
35. Lake Fenton, 3-5, 37.375
36. Croswell-Lexington, 4-4, 36.750
37. Clio, 4-4, 35.875
38. Otsego, 3-5, 35.542
39. Charlotte, 4-4, 35.500
40. Sparta, 3-5, 34.500
11-Player Division 5
1. Grand Rapids Catholic Central, 8-0, 72.475
2. Grand Rapids West Catholic, 7-1, 58.625
3. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, 6-2, 55.375
4. Frankenmuth, 7-1, 55.250
5. Romulus Summit Academy North, 7-1, 54.375
6. Saginaw Swan Valley, 7-1, 53.500
7. Richmond, 7-1, 53.125
8. Ogemaw Heights, 7-1, 52.250
9. Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard, 8-0, 51.736
10. Monroe Jefferson, 7-1, 51.625
11. Detroit Southeastern, 6-2, 50.250
12. Armada, 6-2, 46.750
13. Whitehall, 5-3, 45.000
14. Clare, 6-2, 44.000
15. Michigan Center, 8-0, 43.875
16. Kingsford, 6-2, 43.444
17. Berrien Springs, 5-1, 43.375
18. Detroit Denby, 6-2, 42.667
19. Flat Rock, 5-3, 41.750
20. Gladwin, 5-3, 41.500
21. Howard City Tri County, 5-3, 40.875
22. Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep, 6-2, 40.542
23. Muskegon Oakridge, 5-3, 40.250
24. Dowagiac, 5-3, 40.167
25. Romulus, 4-4, 39.500
26. Negaunee, 5-3, 39.194
27. Detroit Cody, 5-3, 38.250
28. Wyoming Kelloggsville, 5-3, 37.375
29. Yale, 4-4, 36.125
30. Whitmore Lake, 6-2, 36.054
31. Shepherd, 5-3, 36.000
32. Hopkins, 4-4, 35.625
33. Hazel Park, 5-3, 35.375
34. Detroit Voyageur College Prep, 4-4, 34.625
35. Lake Odessa Lakewood, 3-5, 32.125
36. Muskegon Orchard View, 4-4, 31.375
37. Alma, 3-5, 30.750
37. Cheboygan, 3-5, 30.750
39. Midland Bullock Creek, 4-4, 30.500
40. Birch Run, 4-4, 29.125
11-Player Division 6
1. Almont, 8-0, 59.375
2. Jackson Lumen Christi, 5-3, 56.042
3. Detroit Edison, 7-1, 53.000
4. Belding, 7-1, 52.375
5. Olivet, 7-1, 49.625
6. Kent City, 8-0, 48.500
6. Marine City, 6-2, 48.500
8. Montrose, 8-0, 45.750
9. Reed City, 6-2, 45.500
10. Kingsley, 6-2, 45.000
11. Traverse City St. Francis, 6-2, 43.446
12. Flint Hamady, 6-2, 42.375
13. Ecorse, 6-2, 41.875
14. Dearborn Heights Robichaud, 5-3, 41.054
15. Ovid-Elsie, 6-2, 39.625
16. Calumet, 6-2, 39.230
17. Boyne City, 5-3, 39.000
18. Durand, 6-2, 38.625
19. Ida, 6-2, 37.750
20. Detroit Pershing, 5-3, 37.375
21. Clawson, 5-3, 34.875
21. Napoleon, 5-3, 34.875
23. Warren Michigan Collegiate, 4-4, 34.250
24. Central Montcalm, 6-2, 34.000
25. Montague, 4-4, 33.500
26. Flint New Standard Academy, 7-1, 32.750
27. Buchanan, 5-3, 32.333
28. Adrian Madison, 5-3, 32.250
28. Detroit Central, 5-3, 32.250
30. Sanford Meridian, 5-3, 30.875
31. Brooklyn Columbia Central, 5-3, 29.500
32. Clinton Township Clintondale, 4-4, 29.250
33. Kalkaska, 5-3, 29.143
34. Lansing Catholic, 2-6, 29.000
35. Gladstone, 3-5, 28.444
36. Hart, 4-4, 28.375
37. St. Clair Shores South Lake, 3-5, 28.250
38. Royal Oak Shrine Catholic, 5-3, 27.125
39. Onsted, 3-5, 27.000
40. Mason County Central, 4-4, 26.625
11-Player Division 7
1. Menominee, 8-0, 54.028
2. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central, 7-1, 51.000
3. Charlevoix, 8-0, 43.250
4. Millington, 7-1, 41.000
5. Pewamo-Westphalia, 7-0, 40.893
6. Schoolcraft, 7-1, 40.125
7. Clinton, 6-2, 39.500
8. Constantine, 6-2, 39.250
9. Saginaw Valley Lutheran, 8-0, 38.125
10. Hanover-Horton, 6-2, 37.500
11. Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker, 6-2, 37.250
12. Cass City, 6-2, 36.625
12. Lawton, 6-2, 36.625
14. North Muskegon, 6-2, 35.571
15. Ottawa Lake Whiteford, 7-1, 34.875
16. Bronson, 7-1, 34.625
17. McBain, 6-2, 34.375
18. Ithaca, 6-2, 33.250
19. Harrison, 6-2, 31.500
20. Saranac, 6-2, 30.321
21. LeRoy Pine River, 5-3, 29.375
22. Detroit Community, 5-3, 29.278
23. Ravenna, 4-4, 29.125
24. Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest, 4-4, 28.554
25. Union City, 5-3, 27.875
26. Shelby, 5-3, 27.500
27. Jonesville, 5-3, 26.750
27. Leslie, 4-4, 26.750
29. Manton, 5-3, 26.500
30. Burton Bendle, 5-3, 26.250
31. Galesburg-Augusta, 4-4, 25.625
32. Burton Atherton, 4-4, 25.250
33. Morley Stanwood, 3-5, 24.500
34. Quincy, 5-3, 24.000
35. Stockbridge, 4-4, 23.250
36. Coloma, 3-5, 23.125
37. Houghton Lake, 3-5, 22.500
38. Detroit Northwestern, 2-6, 22.250
39. Otisville LakeVille Memorial, 2-6, 22.125
40. Bath, 4-4, 21.946
11-Player Division 8
1. Hudson, 8-0, 46.000
2. Melvindale Academy for Business & Tech, 8-0, 44.903
3. Madison Heights Madison, 7-1, 43.375
4. Harbor Beach, 8-0, 40.000
5. Beal City, 8-0, 39.875
6. Maple City Glen Lake, 6-1, 38.554
7. Allen Park Cabrini, 8-0, 37.750
8. Springport, 8-0, 36.250
9. Decatur, 6-2, 35.000
10. Bark River-Harris, 6-1, 34.605
11. Fowler, 6-2, 34.571
12. New Lothrop, 5-3, 34.500
13. White Pigeon, 6-2, 32.750
14. Unionville-Sebewaing, 6-2, 32.375
15. Southfield Bradford Academy, 5-3, 31.722
16. Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Central, 6-2, 31.250
17. Mancelona, 5-3, 29.250
17. Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary, 5-3, 29.250
19. East Jordan, 5-3, 28.643
20. Genesee, 4-4, 28.250
20. Manchester, 5-3, 28.250
22. Iron Mountain, 5-2, 27.911
23. Frankfort, 5-3, 27.893
24. Clarkston Everest Collegiate, 5-3, 27.875
25. Centreville, 4-4, 27.625
26. Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes, 4-4, 27.375
27. Riverview Gabriel Richard, 3-5, 26.625
28. Auburn Hills Oakland Christian, 5-3, 25.667
29. Reese, 4-4, 24.500
30. L'Anse, 5-3, 24.375
31. Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart, 4-4, 22.929
32. Petersburg Summerfield, 4-4, 22.875
33. Muskegon Catholic Central, 3-5, 22.375
34. Reading, 3-5, 22.000
35. Ubly, 3-5, 21.750
36. West Iron County, 3-4, 21.250
37. Farwell, 3-5, 20.750
37. St Louis, 2-6, 20.750
39. Vassar, 2-6, 18.500
40. Vermontville Maple Valley, 2-6, 18.375
8-Player Division 1
1. Norway, 8-0, 37.696
2. Martin, 8-0, 37.333
3. Blanchard Montabella, 8-0, 35.125
4. Indian River Inland Lakes, 8-0, 34.375
5. Kingston, 7-1, 32.750
6. Gobles, 6-2, 31.190
7. Pickford, 6-1, 31.179
8. Bessemer, 7-1, 31.083
9. Bay City All Saints, 6-2, 30.268
10. Central Lake, 5-3, 30.250
11. Merrill, 6-2, 29.625
12. Capac, 6-2, 29.500
13. Brown City, 6-2, 29.250
14. Climax-Scotts, 6-2, 29.125
15. Newberry, 6-2, 28.768
16. Breckenridge, 5-3, 28.643
17. Marcellus, 5-3, 26.565
18. Concord, 4-4, 24.875
19. Colon, 5-3, 24.625
20. Fulton, 4-4, 24.500
21. Dryden, 4-4, 24.393
22. Rogers City, 4-4, 23.589
23. Brimley, 3-5, 22.601
24. Eau Claire, 4-4, 21.833
8-Player Division 2
1. Onekama, 8-0, 36.250
2. Portland St. Patrick, 8-0, 35.607
3. Mendon, 8-0, 34.750
4. Britton Deerfield, 7-1, 34.625
5. Deckerville, 7-1, 33.875
6. Grand Rapids Sacred Heart, 7-1, 33.565
7. Felch North Dickinson, 8-0, 33.458
8. Pittsford, 7-1, 32.375
9. Mio, 7-1, 31.143
10. Morrice, 7-1, 30.875
11. Powers North Central, 6-2, 30.375
12. Cedarville, 6-2, 30.000
13. Lake Linden-Hubbell, 6-2, 29.833
14. Gaylord St. Mary, 7-1, 29.000
15. Marion, 6-2, 28.125
16. Hillman, 5-3, 26.714
17. Waldron, 5-3, 26.250
18. Adrian Lenawee Christian, 5-3, 26.125
18. Au Gres-Sims, 5-3, 26.125
20. St. Ignace, 5-3, 26.018
21. Kinde North Huron, 5-2, 25.357
22. Bear Lake, 6-2, 24.750
23. Peck, 5-3, 24.089
24. Brethren, 4-4, 23.375