Behind Scenes, St Mary's Goes to Goddard
September 27, 2016
By Keith Dunlap
Special for Second Half
As a coach and athletic director at Orchard Lake St. Mary’s over nearly three decades, George Porritt has been asked plenty of times to recall details from his football program’s storied past.
That comes with coaching a program that annually has a roster full of highly-touted high school players coveted by college recruiters and has seen the best not only shine for prominent college programs but also NFL organizations (see Allen Robinson of Jacksonville).
“When was the last time a player did that?”
“What is the school record in this category?”
“How often has your team done this in a season?”
“When was the last time you lost to this opponent?”
Porritt’s answer is usually quick and consistent.
“Ask Robin Goddard,” Porritt typically says.
For the past 40 years, turning to Goddard has been a frequent option for anyone around St. Mary’s, and for that matter, other schools around the state.
It is why there will be lots of people in the prep sports community thinking of him when he has surgery on Thursday to break up kidney stones that have been bothering him during recent weeks.
Goddard each year puts together media guides with records and teams at St. Mary’s that go all the way back to the early 1900s. (See "Michigan's Football Past: A Must Read")
He can easily point out the fact that St. Mary’s won a state basketball championship in 1933, lost in the state basketball semifinals in 1919 and won its first state baseball championship in 1913. (Note: The MHSAA was not formed until Dec. 1924; previous championship tournaments were hosted by various entities around the state.)
“If he doesn’t have it in something, he finds it right away,” Porritt said. “He goes to the library and he tries to dig it up. He calls the other school and has done it for years. He keeps a great history of our school.”
Surely though, there have to be times when people raise their eyebrows at Goddard and wonder how he can possibly get accurate information from a century ago, right?
Actually, not really.
Not around St. Mary’s, anyway, even if it is hard to fathom for many others that high school sports in Michigan actually did exist before the start of World War I.
“I won’t even challenge him,” Porritt said. “I know he found it somewhere. He’ll tell other schools what their records are historically, and they don’t even know what theirs is. He has fun doing it and will go anywhere and find any way to find out the history of whatever he is looking into.”
Goddard’s importance to the school isn’t limited to being arguably the Encyclopedia Britannica of prep sports in the state of Michigan.
Also a facilities coordinator and valuable fundraiser, Goddard has spearheaded projects to put a track and lights at the football field, and was the architect of one of the most ambitious and out-of-box ideas ever seen at the school – the red artificial playing surface now on the football field.
During Labor Day weekend in 2011, Goddard flew to Cheney, Wash., to meet with officials at Eastern Washington University, which at the time had the only red-colored artificial football field in the country.
Goddard picked the brains of the folks at Eastern Washington, came home and started a fundraising effort to try and secure $600,000 to bring a red-colored artificial surface to St. Mary’s.
By the following spring, the funds were raised and construction began on the field that was ready by the start of the 2012 season.
At the time, it was the third red-colored field in the country in addition to Eastern Washington and a high school field at Canyon High School in Texas.
Goddard also helped start the annual Polish Country Fair that takes place on the St. Mary’s campus every Memorial Day weekend, which is one of the most regularly-attended festivals in the Detroit area.
Len Karschnia, an administrator and assistant coach for the both the football and basketball teams at St. Mary’s, said when Goddard gets in touch with alums who have the means to donate back to the school, there usually is no hesitation because of their respect for Goddard.
“They always trust Robin to do that,” Karschnia said. “Everything he does (is) for the kids and the school, and that is why nobody is really reticent to give back to any projects that he runs because if he tells you on Tuesday he wants $500 to put up a banner in the gym, on Thursday the banner is up and done and there is a plaque on the wall saying thanks to whoever gave it to him.”
A staple at the school since he arrived in 1976, there obviously will be a lot of prayers and well-wishes around the state for a speedy recovery from surgery.
“He is a guy that whatever St. Mary’s needs, he’ll do it and he doesn’t need any fanfare for his good deeds,” Karschnia said. “It’s all for the kids, for George and for the school. That is really his value.”
PHOTOS: (Top) Orchard Lake St. Mary's takes on Detroit Cass Tech on its home red turf in 2012. (Middle) Tucked away in the McLane Stadium bleachers, Robin Goddard watches the Eaglets' run to the 2015 Division 2 baseball championship. (Top photo by Terry McNamara.)
1st & Goal: 2026 Playoffs Week 1 Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 30, 2026
We’ve landed in a familiar place, but with a slightly different look as we begin the 2026 MHSAA Football Playoffs this weekend.
For the first time since the 11-player field expanded to 256 teams in 1999, teams in those brackets were seeded regionally before Districts were drawn, resulting in a number of matchups we haven’t seen before, or at least in several seasons, at this stage of the game.
Tickets for all are available on GoFan.co, and more than 100 also will be broadcast on MHSAA.tv. Click to check out all of the matchups in every division, and see below for a few from each that especially jump off the page.
11-Player Division 1
Hudsonville (6-3) at Portage Central (8-1)
Both have significant recent playoff experience, Portage Central making the Semifinals last fall and Hudsonville finishing Division 1 runner-up in 2024 and reaching the Regional Finals last year. The last few weeks have no doubt felt like playoff games as well for the Eagles, who defeated Rockford in Week 8 and fell to East Kentwood last Friday – with their only other loss to Caledonia. Central’s only loss came Week 1 to Toledo Central Catholic, and they doubled up their next-toughest opponent of the season, downing St. Joseph last week.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Belleville (6-3) at Dearborn Fordson (7-2), Davison (7-2) at Oxford (7-2), Brownstown Woodhaven (7-2) at Northville (7-2).
11-Player Division 2
Walled Lake Western (7-2) at Midland Dow (7-2)
Dow shared the championship this fall in the Saginaw Valley League North, and Western tied for third in the Lakes Valley Conference. The Warriors must bounce back quickly after falling last week to Milford 31-28 in a matchup that cost them a share of the LVC title, but an early win over Livonia Franklin and another over South Lyon East two weeks ago are proof of their capabilities. Dow’s only losses also were to playoff teams, and a 52-24 win over Traverse City West in Week 6 helped set up the shared SVL title.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY North Farmington (6-3) at Ferndale (7-2), Saginaw Heritage (6-3) at South Lyon East (7-2), Livonia Franklin (7-2) at Allen Park (7-2).
11-Player Division 3
Marquette (6-3) at Cadillac (7-2)
The Sentinels won the Week 4 matchup between these two 33-27 in Marquette on the way to claiming the Big North Conference title outright – with Cadillac finishing runner-up. The Vikings get to host this time thanks to a slight edge in playoff-point average, and their only other loss came to still-undefeated Portland by seven points. Marquette is coming off a loss to undefeated Kingsford, which broke a six-game winning streak, but has won all four meetings with Cadillac since joining the BNC in 2023.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY East Grand Rapids (6-3) at Coopersville (8-1), Battle Creek Central (5-4) at Battle Creek Harper Creek (6-3), Holly (7-2) at Fenton (7-2).
11-Player Division 4
Vicksburg (7-2) at Edwardsburg (9-0)
Edwardsburg won these rivals’ regular-season meeting 59-27 just two weeks ago to clinch the first share of what ended up an outright Wolverine Conference title. Only Paw Paw – a potential District Final opponent – has gotten within 12 points of catching the Eddies. But only a year ago Vicksburg defeated Edwardsburg during both the regular season and playoffs, and they’ll try to recapture the defensive prowess this weekend that otherwise has given up only 14 points per game this fall.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Paw Paw (8-1) at Portland (9-0), Marshall (8-1) at Grand Rapids South Christian (8-1), Fruitport (7-2) at Ludington (7-2).
11-Player Division 5
Kalamazoo United (9-0) at Hopkins (8-1)
This is a rematch of a 2025 District Semifinal, won 41-20 by United but in Kalamazoo, while Hopkins earned the home game this time based on its strength of schedule. Both also are league champions, United in the Southwestern Athletic Conference and Hopkins in the Ottawa-Kent Conference Silver. This could come down to Hopkins’ offense – averaging nearly 42 points per game – finding a weakness in a Titans defense that has given up 61 points total this fall, and seven or fewer in seven games.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Berrien Springs (8-1) at Lake Odessa Lakewood (8-1), Ida (7-2) at Detroit Voyageur College Prep (6-3), Detroit Denby (6-3) at Redford Union (5-4).
11-Player Division 6
Napoleon (8-1) at Buchanan (7-2)
A bumpy middle of the season saw Buchanan lose consecutive games to playoff teams Berrien Springs and Bronson, but the Bucks rallied to run their postseason streak to five and earn this rematch from last year’s Division 6 bracket. Napoleon won that District Semifinal matchup last season 26-20 and lost this fall only to Cascades Conference overall champion Hanover-Horton, in Week 4. All of its victories have been by double digits.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Harbor Springs (8-1) at Gladwin (5-4), Kent City (7-2) at Olivet (6-3). SATURDAY Calumet (6-3) at Traverse City St. Francis (6-3).
11-Player Division 7
Cassopolis (8-1) at Ravenna (7-2)
Cassopolis has emerged from a 1-7 finish just two years ago to win eight straight games heading into this one, its only loss this season by four points in Week 1 to still-undefeated Decatur. That ended up costing the Rangers the Southwest 10 Conference title, but they will begin pursuit of a first District title since 2018 against a Ravenna team also enjoying a nice rebound with its first winning regular season since 2022. The Bulldogs’ losses were to Beal City and North Muskegon, who are a combined 17-1.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Harrison (7-2) at McBain (7-2), Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker (7-2) at Burton Bendle (9-0), Union City (7-2) at Detroit Community (8-1).
11-Player Division 8
East Jordan (7-2) at Iron Mountain (7-2)
Northern Michigan Football Conference co-champion East Jordan crosses the Mackinac Bridge to take on the Mountaineers in a rematch of a 2024 District Final won by Iron Mountain. The Red Devils are coming off a tough five-point loss to Harbor Springs, but their only other defeat was to Charlevoix by six in Week 1. Iron Mountain hasn’t lost since Week 3 and its defeats were both five-pointers to league champions, North Muskegon and Bark River-Harris.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Saugatuck (6-3) at Springport (8-1), Marine City Cardinal Mooney (6-3) at Royal Oak Shrine Catholic (8-1). SATURDAY Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary (6-3) at Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (6-3).
8-Player Division 1
Bridgman (8-1) at Colon (8-1)
Bridgman’s enrollment has allowed it to be eligible for the 8-player playoffs for the first time, and the Bees will be one of the most dangerous road teams in any division this weekend. They’ve scored 48 or more points six times, with their only loss to another playoff team in Grand Rapids Sacred Heart. Colon is coming in from a similar spot, back in the playoffs for the first time since 2022 and having dominated the majority of this season with its lone loss to Mendon.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Ishpeming (7-2) at Rudyard (7-2), Blanchard Montabella (8-1) at Dansville (7-2), Marlette (7-2) at Deckerville (8-1).
8-Player Division 2
Powers North Central (7-2) at Lake Linden-Hubbell (9-0) – Saturday
Lake Linden-Hubbell has put together its first perfect regular season since 2016 and has played only one single-digit game, defeating Crystal Falls Forest Park 42-38 in Week 7. The Lakes downed North Central 44-27 in Week 5, but the Jets have to be riding high after last week’s 55-36 win over Forest Park that knocked the Trojans out of the playoffs. North Central’s only other defeat came Week 2 to Ishpeming, which enjoyed its best regular season in several this fall.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY St. Ignace (8-1) at Gaylord St. Mary (9-0), Grand Rapids Sacred Heart (8-1) at Marion (9-0), Britton Deerfield (7-2) at Kinde North Huron (7-2).
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PHOTO A Grand Ledge receiver focuses on hauling in a pass during the Comets’ 49-25 Week 4 win over East Lansing. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)