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After Lean Years, Ubly Returns to Regional

By Paul Costanzo
Special for MHSAA.com

November 9, 2016

Aaron Klama sat in the stands in 2008 watching his brothers play for Ubly in the Division 7 championship game at Ford Field.

Klama was 10, and Ubly was at the peak of the strongest decade in program history. Even though his brothers and their teammates lost against Traverse City St. Francis, Klama remembers wanting to be like them. Wanting to have the same opportunity to play on that field.

There’s plenty of work for Klama and his Ubly teammates left to do, but after some rough years for the program, the Bearcats are 11-0 and two wins from getting back to the pinnacle of high school football in Michigan.

“I feel like it’s amazing just being able to possibly be in the same shoes as my brothers,” Klama, a senior offensive and defensive tackle for Ubly, said. “Hopefully I’ll be able to push my team further than they even went. But everything has just been amazing this year.”

Ubly is in the middle of its best season since 2010. It will play at 1 p.m. Saturday against New Lothrop at Chesaning High School in a Division 7 Regional Final. A win sends the Bearcats to the Semifinals for the first time since 2009 and the fifth time in school history. All four of the previous trips came between 2003 and 2009, during a 12-year playoff streak for Ubly that stretched through 2012.

That streak ended in 2013, when the current seniors were freshmen. Ubly was 3-6 during both the 2013 and 2014 seasons.

“We had a couple years where numbers were really down,” Ubly coach Dave Kaufman, who took over the program in 2011, said. “In (2013 and 2014), we were playing with 14 to 16 kids. We had some small senior classes.

“It was tough. We’re used to being in the 20s, and the first couple years our numbers were pretty good. We had some small senior classes, and the injury bug kicked our butt, too. When you’re down in numbers as it is, that’s when you’re starting to bring up freshmen and sophomores.”

That included running back Derek Brown, who started as a freshman for the Bearcats and has rushed for 1,000 yards in each of his four seasons. It included Klama, running back and defensive back Nate Keller and several others who were playing at the varsity level as sophomores.

As much as it may have hurt at the time, getting that experience is paying dividends now.

“I think (having players play as underclassmen) helped,” Kaufman said. “I think it also helps that we have a really good senior group. Some of these kids have been playing for three or four years, and that definitely helps.”

In 2015, Ubly was back in the postseason, finishing the year 7-3 and turning the program back in the right direction. What happened between the end of that season and the beginning of this one is what Ubly’s players credit for their current success.

“Everybody was in the weight room all winter, and everybody wants to win on the team,” Keller said. “We didn’t just have two guys in the weight room; it was 15 or 16 guys in there, busting their butts.

“We had guys that would be telling everybody to get into the weight room, because we want to win more than anybody. We had a few leaders that told everybody to get in there.”

After struggling as underclassmen, turning things around in 2015 and setting the tone with a strong offseason prior to this fall, Ubly had high hopes entering its Week 1 game against a tough Unionville-Sebewaing opponent.

Then the Bearcats fumbled on their first offensive play.

“It was kind of like, ‘We can only go up from here, I guess,’” Keller said. “I think that just fueled the fire. We were ready to play from there.”

Ubly responded, and won 28-18, showing its coach something in the process.

“That could have went the wrong way there,” Kaufman said. “That told me a lot about my team right there.”

His team showed him more in a 21-16 win against Cass City, a game in which the Bearcats trailed during the second half. A 54-34 win against Vassar had Ubly sitting at 3-0 after a stretch Kaufman said he would have been happy to finish 2-1.

Ubly rolled through the Greater Thumb Conference East, outscoring opponents by an average of 37.4 points per game. It has picked up playoff wins against Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port and Unionville-Sebewaing, setting itself up for the matchup with a tough New Lothrop team.

Ubly is back where it expects to be, and it has done it the same way it did during the 2000s, by wearing on its opponents with a strong run game out of the T-formation and a strong defense.

Ubly has rushed for 3,500 yards and 51 touchdowns this season, taking advantage of an offensive line (including tight ends) that features five seniors. Brown has led the way with 1,188 yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground, while senior Jonathon Brandel has 861 yards and 14 touchdowns -- adding four receiving scores plus two interception returns and one punt return for touchdowns. Keller and junior quarterback Matt Maikzrek have combined for nearly 1,000 yards and 14 more rushing touchdowns.

“We have no problem chugging away, eating up clock,” Kaufman said. “When teams haven’t faced (the T-formation) in a little bit, they struggle a little bit with the keys. We try to hide the football as well as we can, and we’re happy getting three, four or five yards a crack. There’s not a better defense than an offense that stays on the field.”

Ubly’s offense is a lot like its attitude through the rough times – just keep moving forward.

“As we walk through the locker room every day, we have a little billboard that says, ‘Those who stay will become champions,’” Klama said. “We slap it on the way out. The coaches even told us that if we stay and work hard, we weren’t going to regret it. They always taught us about loyalty and determination.”

Paul Costanzo served as a sportswriter at The Port Huron Times Herald from 2006-15, including three years as lead sportswriter, and prior to that as sports editor at the Hillsdale Daily News from 2005-06. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Genesee, Lapeer, St. Clair, Sanilac, Huron, Tuscola, Saginaw, Bay, Arenac, Midland and Gladwin counties.

PHOTOS: (Top) Ubly's Casey Sweeney breaks through a pack against Unionville-Sebewaing this season. (Middle) Jonathan Brandel carries the ball for the Bearcats. (Photos courtesy of the Ubly yearbook staff.)

Dearborn Divine Child running back Marcello Vitti (2) takes a handoff into the line during his team's Division 4 Semifinal win over Goodrich.

1st & Goal: 2025 11-Player Semifinals Review

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

November 24, 2025

The pairings are set for the MHSAA 11-Player Football Finals at Ford Field, with seven teams earning opportunities Saturday to finish this fall without a loss – although three of next weekend’s championship games will feature matchups of undefeated contenders.

MI Student AidThe weekend’s Semifinals also saw four reigning champions earn chances at repeat titles, and Dexter earn its first trip to the final weekend of the season for the first time.

It’s a short week because of Thanksgiving, but we’ll be back Wednesday with game-by-game previews of all eight upcoming contests. For now, see below for a glance at all 16 games that got us here.

(Note: Highlights from Saturday's 8-Player Finals will be included in a final football championship "Review" next week.)

Division 1

Detroit Catholic Central 46, East Kentwood 6

The Shamrocks (13-0) will play in their first Final since 2016 after shutting down an East Kentwood offense that had scored  fewer than 35 points only one other time this season. The Falcons (10-3) had reached the Semifinals for the first time since 2014. Click for more from the Detroit Free Press.

Detroit Cass Tech 48, Rochester Adams 22

The reigning Division 1 champion Technicians (13-0) will have the opportunity to play for a first Finals repeat since winning in 2011 and 2012 after continuing a playoff streak of scoring at least 42 points in all four wins. Adams (10-3) finished its season in the Semifinals for the second straight. Click for more from the Detroit News.

Division 2

Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 42, Portage Central 7

St. Mary’s (10-2) will play for a chance to repeat as Division 2 champion after finding its way against a Portage Central defense that otherwise gave up only 64 points this season. The Mustangs finished 12-1, tying their 2013 team for most wins in program history. Click for more from the Oakland Press.

Dexter 41, Birmingham Groves 6

The Dreadnaughts’ Cooper Arendt and Cole Novara continued two of the most incredible statistical seasons in MHSAA history in lifting Dexter (12-1) into its first championship game. The pair connected on four touchdowns in ending Groves’ second-straight Semifinal run at 9-4. Click for more from the Ann Arbor News.

Division 3

Mount Pleasant 41, Lowell 21

Mount Pleasant (13-0) turned in one of its highest-scoring offensive days this season to earn its first trip to the Finals since 2011. Lowell concluded its longest run since 2016 at 10-3. Click for more from the Mount Pleasant Morning Sun.

DeWitt 41, Warren De La Salle Collegiate 20

Traverse Moore scored four touchdowns to help bring DeWitt (13-0) back from a 13-7 halftime deficit and return to the Finals for the first time since 2021. De La Salle (6-7) turned a 1-4 start this season into its fifth Semifinal trip over the last six and after missing a year ago. Click for more from the Lansing State Journal.

Division 4

Hudsonville Unity Christian 45, Vicksburg 17

Unity Christian (12-1) again cleared its playoff opponent by double digits and will return to the Finals after last making the trip in 2021. Vicksburg finished its longest playoff run at 8-5 for the season. Click for more from the Grand Rapids Press.

Dearborn Divine Child 10, Goodrich 7

Divine Child (12-1) put an end both to reigning champ Goodrich’s repeat hopes and 25-game winning streak, handing the lone defeat to an opponent for the second-straight week after downing Harper Woods 10-6 in a Regional Final. The Martians ended 12-1, while the Falcons advanced to their first Final since 1985. Click for more from MLIVE-Detroit.

Division 5

Grand Rapids West Catholic 34, Ogemaw Heights 24

West Catholic (12-1) had slightly fewer yards than Ogemaw Heights, but made them count a little bit more taking a 13-12 halftime lead all the way to earning its first Finals trip since 2022. Collin Abram (two touchdowns) on offense and Jael Djouguem (12 tackles) on defense led the Falcons. Ogemaw finished 11-1 while making its first Semifinal appearance since 2009. Click for more from the Bay City Times.

Pontiac Notre Dame Prep 51, Monroe Jefferson 21

Reigning champion Notre Dame Prep (11-2) will get the chance to win it all again after doing so for the first time a year ago. Several Fighting Irish found the end zone to earn that opportunity, with quarterback Sam Stowe throwing three scoring passes and running for a TD as well. Jefferson finished its first Semifinal season since 1999 at 11-2. Click for more from the Oakland Press.

Division 6

Kingsley 14, Kent City  0

Kingsley (11-2) is headed to Ford Field for the second time in three years after handing Kent City (12-1) its only loss of its winningest season. The teams were tied at halftime, but the Stags’ defense was just slightly more successful during the final two quarters in posting its first shutout this fall. Click for more from the Traverse City Record-Eagle.

Jackson Lumen Christi 25, Almont 19 (3OT)

This came down to the most dramatic ending of the weekend, as both contenders went scoreless during the first overtime and couldn’t convert after touchdowns during the second before Lumen (10-3) scored in the third and kept Almont (12-1) out of the end zone. Click for more from the Jackson Citizen Patriot.

Division 7

Menominee 32, Pewamo-Westphalia 28

The Maroons (13-0) came back from a 21-6 halftime deficit and scored the game-winner with 24 seconds to play to earn a second trip in three seasons to Ford Field. The Pirates (11-1) were held to their fewest points this season and had given up only 86 over their first 11 games before Menominee broke through. Click for more from Upper Michigan’s Source.

Schoolcraft 43, Clinton 14

Schoolcraft will play in its first championship game since 2001 after scoring this game’s first 37 points. The Eagles (11-2) put up their third-most points in a game this season and held Clinton (10-3) to its fewest since opening weekend. Click for more from the Kalamazoo Gazette.

Division 8

Harbor Beach 40, Bark River-Harris 0

Harbor Beach (13-0) earned its second shutout of a season during which the Pirates are giving up only eight points per game, this one to earn a first trip to Ford Field since 2012. Bark River-Harris completed its first Semifinal season since 2003 at 10-2. Click for more from the Huron Daily Tribune.

Hudson 67, Allen Park Cabrini 14

Hudson will return to the Finals for the second time in five years with a chance for a second undefeated championship run this decade. The Tigers (13-0) topped 60 points for the fifth time this season but second week in a row in ending Allen Park Cabrini’s longest tournament run and winningest season at 11-2. Click for more from the Adrian Daily Telegram.

DeWitt's Traverse Moore (2) follows a blocker during the Panthers' Division 3 win over Warren De La Salle Collegiate.

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) Dearborn Divine Child running back Marcello Vitti (2) takes a handoff into the line during his team's Division 4 Semifinal win over Goodrich. (Middle) DeWitt's Traverse Moore (2) follows a blocker during the Panthers' Division 3 win over Warren De La Salle Collegiate. (Divine Child/Goodrich photo by Terry Lyons. DeWitt/De La Salle photo by Kolleth Photo.)