Anticipation High as Statewide Football Eyes Turn to History-Chasing Mason
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
August 8, 2023
MASON – The drone lightly buzzing overhead during the final hour of Mason’s first practice was providing coaches another point of view as another season got underway Monday evening.
But those shouldn’t be the only eyes watching the Bulldogs these days.
Two years ago, the Bulldogs started grabbing attention with a run of eight straight wins that landed them a first Regional championship with a stunning 20-17 win over frequent contender Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice.
A statewide audience began focusing in last season on the 8,200-resident town just south of Lansing as Mason returned to the Division 3 Semifinals and finished 12-1, setting a school record for wins with the only loss coming to eventual champion Detroit Martin Luther King for the second-consecutive season.
The Bulldogs return nine starters on offense and eight on defense this fall, led in part by two four-year varsity players and three in their third seasons on the top squad. Not tuning in would be a mistake – and mean missing out on potentially another historic effort.
“It started when we beat the Brother Rice team two seasons ago. That kinda kicked off a little bit of a spark for us here at Mason, and the energy just became the difference,” said senior lineman Nick Saade, one of those three-year varsity standouts. “You could just tell. All of our coaches have been at the weight room every day, giving us harder workouts as each year progresses. We’ve increased everything. The energy is there, all the seniors are back. We’re ready to go.”
Practices in nine sports started for an estimated 95,000 athletes across 750 MHSAA member high schools Monday. And Mason football got a running start. On what felt like the most comfortable first day of practice weather-wise in recent memory, there was no sign the Bulldogs were aiming to sit comfortably after what they’d accomplished the last two seasons.
So many experienced returnees means less to teach the greater group and an opportunity for coaches to start game-planning and focusing on details they might not get to usually until the first third of the season is done.
The program has had plenty of success over the years, including a stretch of 14 winning seasons over 15 from 2002-16. But the combined 39-6 record over the last four seasons is unmatched in Bulldogs history and made Mason a place to be for local media Monday as expectations – and anticipation – likely have never been higher.
“Expectations are high, no question about it – and it’s exciting,” said seventh-year coach Gary Houghton, whose only sub-.500 finish came his first season in 2017. “These guys love a challenge, our coaches love a challenge. … We feel like we have a blueprint that leads to success, and we’re going to stay to that blueprint.
“We’ve tweaked some little things, but the core of what we do, we’re going to continue to do. With the added experience we have coming back, I think we have an opportunity to take it to another level.”
Mason took a solid offense to nearly unstoppable last season, upping its per-game scoring average 12 points to 43 per game. Junior Cason Carswell should begin approaching Mason career passing records in his third season as the starter after setting single-season school records with 2,403 yards and 34 scores through the air last fall in making the Division 3-4 all-state second team.
The Bulldogs return all but one receiver among last year’s starting skill players, with senior running back AJ Martel entering his fourth season on varsity after running for 1,273 yards and 20 scores a year ago behind a line that returns Saade among three starters.
The defense was two points better per game last fall than in 2021 while facing another tough playoff slate, giving up 15 points per game. The entire linebacking group returns, with senior Kaleb Parrish having been named the Lansing State Journal Defensive Player of the Year last season. Senior Derek Badgley and junior Logan Doerr also received postseason all-area recognition at linebacker, as did seniors Tyler Baker and Cole Ries in the defensive backfield and senior Grant Gilchrist and junior Sam Corey up front. Junior Collin Winters, also a soccer player, was an all-area kicker last fall.
The energy Monday was undeniable. Houghton loves the chemistry this group has developed over the last three seasons, starting as a young team grew together during that 2021 run. He credits rebuilding the program’s culture, undertaken in several ways purposefully, as putting this team in this position to put the last two years of experiences and learning toward another championship opportunity.
“Just stay confident. Know you can get the job done. Just trust your teammates,” Carswell said he has learned most.
“We all have huge hopes. A couple of years ago, it was like, ‘Let’s make the playoffs. Let’s make a big run.” Now it’s let’s go for it all.”
Geoff Kimmerly joined the MHSAA in Sept. 2011 after 12 years as Prep Sports Editor of the Lansing State Journal. He is a senior editor of MHSAA.com's editorial content and has served as MHSAA Communications Director since January 2021. Contact him at [email protected] with story ideas for the Barry, Eaton, Ingham, Livingston, Ionia, Clinton, Shiawassee, Gratiot, Isabella, Clare and Montcalm counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Linemen work on one-on-one drills during Mason’s first football practice Monday evening. (Middle) Third-year starting quarterback Cason Carswell lines up under center. (Photos by Geoff Kimmerly.)
1st & Goal: 2025 Week 2 Review
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
September 8, 2025
Most of the time, it's pretty easy to pick out the top matchups across the state heading into a football weekend, and the potentially most impactful results coming out of one.
But perhaps the most fun part of building our "1st & Goal" reviews every Monday is highlighting our "Watch list" teams – ones that stuck out in a notable way that could indicate big things to come.
We introduce another set below, along with our headliners and more who made noise during this 2025 Week 2.
Bay & Thumb
HEADLINER Davison 23, Warren De La Salle Collegiate 21 The Cardinals held off a late De La Salle rally to improve to 2-0. The victory avenged a 21-3 loss last year to the Pilots (1-1) and gave Davison a 2-1 series lead since the pair of championship contenders began playing openers against each other in 2023. Click for more from the Detroit Free Press.
Watch list Bay City Western 38, Petoskey 32 The Warriors (2-0) should carry some momentum into Saginaw Valley League play this week after avenging last year’s 34-point loss to Petoskey (1-1), which had won 10 consecutive regular-season games.
On the move Harbor Beach 43, Ottawa Lake Whiteford 14 The Pirates (2-0) have played two 2024 playoff teams to start this season and outscored them by a combed 85-22. Midland Dow 49, Saginaw Heritage 34 The Chargers also are 2-0 opening against a pair of playoff teams from a year ago – and have avenged 2024 losses against both, having lost to the Hawks (0-2) by a point last season. Armada 34, Croswell-Lexington 12 It may be super early, but this might end up a league title decider with these two and reigning champion Almont the top three in the Blue Water Area Conference last fall.
Greater Detroit
HEADLINER Detroit Catholic Central 27, Toledo Central Catholic 14 The Shamrocks (2-0) outscored TCC 21-0 during the second half in this matchup of reigning champion and runner-up, respectively, from the Catholic High School League Central. Cameron Swearingen starred. Click for more from MLIVE-Detroit.
Watch list Oxford 24, Birmingham Groves 21 The Wildcats will ride an impressive win into their the Oakland Activities Association Red opener against Clarkston, having ended Groves’ 10-game regular-season winning streak to move to 2-0.
On the move Harper Woods 27, Clarkston 21 The Pioneers (2-0) have made a massive jump over the last three seasons, but this may turn out to rank among their most impressive wins during that time as Clarkston (1-1) was coming off a big one over Belleville. Detroit Cass Tech 31, Grandville 28 (OT) Cass Tech (2-0) scored the game’s final 10 points, including a winning field goal in overtime, in a matchup of top Division 1 teams statewide. Madison Heights Lamphere 3, Port Huron Northern 2 This had potential anyway to be a high-profile game as both were division champions in the Macomb Area Conference last season, but the statistical oddity just adds to the intrigue. The Rams (2-0) have won their games this fall by a combined four points.
Mid-Michigan
HEADLINER DeWitt 44, Mason 37 The recent rivalry between these two Lansing-area powers saw a couple of major swings as DeWitt scored 24 unanswered points during the first half and Mason trailed by as many as 18 before coming on late. Click for more from the Lansing State Journal.
Watch list Williamston 36, Hastings 29 The Hornets scored and added the two-point conversion with seven seconds to play to avenge a 2024 loss for the second week in a row and move to 2-0 after finishing last season 3-7. Hastings fell to 1-1 with its first two games both decided during the closing seconds.
On the move Haslett 15, Fenton 14 The Vikings (1-1) scored the go-ahead two-point conversion with 57 seconds to play, then held on through a Fenton field-goal attempt as time expired. Durand 40, New Lothrop 33 The Railroaders (2-0) made it two wins in a row and three in four seasons over New Lothrop (1-1) with all three victories decided by seven points or fewer. Ithaca 36, Lawton 7 The Yellowjackets (2-0) surged in a matchup of teams that finished a combined 18-4 a year ago.
Northern Lower Peninsula
HEADLINER Traverse City St. Francis 42, Ogemaw Heights 32 St. Francis (2-0) took a big early lead and maintained distance to win this matchup of 2024 league champions. The Falcons (1-1) pulled within two and three points during the final quarter before the Gladiators pulled away.
Watch list Gaylord 21, Kingsley 14 The Blue Devils (2-0) won by this score for the second straight week, in doing so avenging a 16-0 defeat from a year ago and moving closer to equaling last season’s 3-6 finish.
On the move Maple City Glen Lake 42, Frankfort 6 The Lakers bounced back big from a season-opening loss to St. Francis, with this likely to be a key game as they look to repeat as Northern Michigan Football League Legacy champions. Kalkaska 20, Oscoda 14 (OT) The Blazers are 2-0 for the first time since 2017 as they ready for NMFL Legends play starting this week. Tawas 44, Erie Mason 14 Tawas (1-1) has won one game both of the last two seasons, but could be ready to make noise with those 44 points their most in one contest since 2022.
Southeast & Border
HEADLINER Jackson Lumen Christi 54, Pontiac Notre Dame 34 Perhaps not surprisingly, the meeting of the reigning Division 6 and 5 champions, respectively – which both averaged more than 42 points per game last season – turned into a high-scoring matchup although Lumen did build a 20-point lead early and maintained it most of the game. In doing so, the Titans (1-1) avenged last season’s 28-24 loss to the Fighting Irish (1-1).
TOUCHDOWN NOTRE DAME PREP🍀 🏈
Brody Sink runs a BEAUTY of a route to get the Irish back within 2 scores!
Lumen Christi: 35
NDP: 20
Delivered by @hungryhowies
Catch the game live on the State Champs YouTube page and Local 4 plus! pic.twitter.com/ejPtk1IOKN— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) September 6, 2025
Watch list Ypsilanti Lincoln 27, Ypsilanti Community 26 The Railsplitters are 2-0 for the first time since 2019 and ran its winning streak against the Grizzlies (1-1) to six.
On the move Hudson 8, Ida 3 After giving up only 10 points per game last season, Hudson (2-0) hasn’t lost stride allowing a total of 11 over its first two victories this fall against opponents that went a combined 21-3 last year. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central 36, Flat Rock 20 SMCC (2-0) is off to a nice start toward repeating as Huron League champ as Flat Rock (1-1) was among contenders as well last season. Hanover-Horton 28, Napoleon 8 Cascades Conference West reigning champion Hanover-Horton (1-1) bounced back from a Week 1 loss by shutting down a Cascades East regular contender in Napoleon (1-1).
Southwest Corridor
HEADLINER Edwardsburg 40, St. Joseph 37 The Eddies are 2-0 for the first time since 2021 thanks to a second close win, this one following a seven-point victory over McBain in Week 1 and avenging last year’s 36-29 loss to the Bears. St. Joseph’s two defeats are by a combined 11 points to teams that finished 19-6 in 2024. Click for more from the St. Joseph Herald-Palladium.
Watch list Portage Central 41, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central 0 Few teams in the state are off to as impressive a start as Portage Central, which has defeated FHC and East Lansing by a combined 86-0 after losing to both last season before finishing 8-4.
On the move Berrien Springs 32, Otsego 14 The Shamrocks have reached the playoffs 11 straight seasons, the last two after 0-2 starts, but they are now 2-0 this fall. Plainwell 34, Galesburg-Augusta 20 The Trojans have won one game both of the last two seasons but are up to 2-0 as well this fall. Decatur 26, Bronson 20 (2OT) Bronson (1-1), from the Big 8 Conference, is playing in the Southwest 10 Conference this season and provided an exciting league opener against last season’s SW10 runner-up Raiders (1-1).
Upper Peninsula
HEADLINER Bark River-Harris 30, Iron Mountain 22 (OT) Watch out for the Broncos (2-0). Bark River-Harris has been a playoff team most of the last decade but took a major step with its first win over Iron Mountain (1-1) in 11 recent tries. This one was at Iron Mountain, and they will face off again Oct. 10 in Harris. Click for more from the Iron Mountain Daily News.
Watch list L’Anse 20, West Iron County 14 The Purple Hornets avenged 29 and six-point losses to West Iron from a year ago to move to 2-0 this fall – after winning one game total over the last two seasons.
On the move Calumet 55, Ishpeming Westwood 6 The Copper Kings have outscored their first two opponents by a combined 96-6 as they prepare for this weekend’s major matchup with Negaunee. Escanaba 36, Cadillac 7 Escanaba is 2-0 for the first time since 2019 as it readies to take on reigning Big North Conference champion Petoskey this week. Kingsford 29, Houghton 6 The Flivvers (1-1) got back on the right track after a Week 1 defeat.
West Michigan
HEADLINER Rockford 30, Muskegon 26 The Rams (1-1) trailed 20-17 heading into the fourth quarter but followed Luke Ahern to a big finish as Rockford made it three wins in three years against the Big Reds (0-2). Click for more from the Grand Rapids Press.
Watch list East Kentwood 43, Byron Center 14 The Falcons (2-0) began showing signs last season of making a jump, and they may be nearing full flight with this win avenging last year’s 43-20 loss to the eventual Division 2 runner-up Bulldogs (0-2).
On the move East Grand Rapids 21, Grand Rapids South Christian 0 This was quite a rebound after EGR’s Week 1 loss to Lowell, as the Pioneers (1-1) avenged a 42-28 defeat from the Sailors from a year ago. Hudsonville Unity Christian 40, Schoolcraft 19 Unity’s offense continued to surge, as the Crusaders moved to 2-0 with this victory over a Schoolcraft team (1-1) that reached the Division 7 Semifinals last season. Muskegon Oakridge 15, Montague 7 Oakridge (2-0) is back on top in this longtime rivalry and also atop the West Michigan Conference Lakes standings after avenging last season’s 14-7 loss to the Wildcats (0-2).
8-Player
HEADLINER Mendon 28, Britton Deerfield 24 It’s not difficult to imagine these two meeting again as both reached Semifinals last season – Mendon in Division 1 and B-D in Division 2 – with both playing in Division 2 this fall. They kicked off Week 2 with a Thursday night gem. Click for more from the Adrian Daily Telegram.
Watch list Felch North Dickinson 52, Rudyard 7 After struggling mightily between 2017-22 and not having a varsity at all in 2023, North Dickinson came back last season to finish 6-3 – and with two victories this fall is riding a seven-game winning streak.
On the move Crystal Falls Forest Park 28, Ishpeming 22 This celebration of 1975 Finals champions was won by last year’s Division 2 title winner as the Trojans (1-1) bounced back from a Week 1 defeat. Portland St. Patrick 14, Morrice 7 These rivals kept the score low in another showdown, making it three of the last four meetings decided by seven points or fewer – and three straight wins during the regular season for the Shamrocks (2-0). Onekama 38, Marion 16 The Portagers’ only defeat last fall before the Division 2 Semifinals came to Marion in Week 2, and they avenged that 44-8 loss in a big way to improve to 2-0 this season.
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) Marquette's Brody Clements hauls in a pass during his team's 41-13 win over Alpena. (2) A pair of Davison defenders wrap up a De La Salle ball carrier. (3) DeWitt's Channing Ridley breaks toward the sideline during his team's win over Mason. (4) Marquette's quarterback Ford Richardson is able to just get in the end zone to score a touchdown against Alpena. (Top photo by Randy Ritari. Davison/De La Salle photo photo by Terry Lyons. DeWitt/Mason photo by Tom Pearson/TCP Photography. Marquette/Alpena Richardson photo by Cara Kamps.)