Detroit Embarks on Historical Weekend
By
Tom Markowski
Special for Second Half
November 27, 2015
DETROIT – Basketball used to be king in Detroit. Detroit Public School League teams like Detroit Cooley, Detroit Pershing, Detroit Southwestern and others won MHSAA championships and sent numerous players on to college to play at major universities like Michigan, Michigan State and others.
Recently the quality of basketball has taken a step back, and football has taken center stage.
This past March, Detroit Western International was the first PSL team to win the Class A boys basketball title since Pershing in 2009 and just the second since Detroit Central won the Class A title in 1998. This is a far cry from what is considered one of the glory eras in PSL history. From 1987-94, teams from the PSL won eight consecutive Class A titles.
(It should be noted that Detroit Renaissance did win Class B titles in 2004 and 2006, and Detroit Crockett also won the Class B title in 2001.)
In 2007 Detroit King was the first PSL team to win a football state title. For those outside of the city, it might not have meant that much other than a simple statistic. But for the PSL coaches who longed for respect statewide, King’s victory over Midland in the Division 2 Final was vindication.
When Detroit Cass Tech won back-to-back Division 1 titles (2011, 2012) a few years later, football fans across the state began to realize that what King accomplished in 2007 was not a fluke. Teams from Detroit were relevant statewide.
This weekend another first will take place. King will play for the Division 2 title (against Lowell) on Friday and Cass Tech will play for the Division 1 title (against Romeo) on Saturday. It’s the first time two PSL teams will play for MHSAA championships in the same season. Both games kick off at 1 p.m. at Ford Field.
The milestone is not lost on the coaches, Dale Harvel of King and Thomas Wilcher of Cass Tech.
Wilcher pointed to King and then-coach James Reynolds for taking the lead. King was the first PSL team to reach an MHSAA Final (1989 and 1990), and by doing so created instant credibility.
“King established what we could accomplish,” Wilcher said. “By winning the first state title, by winning both the PSL and then the state the same year.
“I don’t prepare my kids the same way. From day one I’m preparing for a state championship, Thanksgiving Day weekend, not for nine weeks. You have to condition a different way. You have to have a long-haul focus. The kids you started with might not be the ones you finish with. King High set that bar.”
Step aside for moment and realize what Wilcher said. Cass Tech and King is the most intense rivalry in the city. Emotions run high, and sometimes they boil over. But here is the coach from one team praising the other. In addition to the rivalry, there is mutual respect.
“It’s great,” Wilcher said of the two city powers playing for a title. “It’s great for the city.”
Regardless of what takes place Friday, Harvel said he, his staff and players will be at Ford Field in support of Cass Tech.
And Harvel said it’s not just about King and Cass Tech. What will take place this weekend will affect all PSL schools: their players, coaches, student body and alumni.
“It’s a factor with our school system,” he said. “It’s a pride factor even if you don’t play for Cass or King. The alumni for all public schools are represented.”
Harvel said even though most point to the 2007 championship season as a turning point, it was the teams that lost in the Class A Final in 1989 and 1990 that started it all. Some forget that back in 1989 there were just four MHSAA Finals champions, not eight, making King’s run all the more noteworthy. The next season the playoffs were expanded from four classifications to eight.
Coincidentally, each team has had two difficult playoff games and two one-sided affairs on their way to Ford Field. King (13-0) trailed Detroit U-D Jesuit, 24-21, in a Pre-District before winning, 35-24, and King led Detroit East English 7-0 after three quarters before pulling away for a 26-12 victory in a Regional Final.
Cass Tech (11-2) blew past its first two opponents by the combined score of 84-20. In the Regional Final it trailed Macomb Dakota 10-0 before coming back for a 16-10 victory. Last week, the Technicians held on to defeat Canton 48-41 on a snow-covered field at Troy Athens. Canton had possession on Cass Tech’s 40 for the last play of the game.
Tom Markowski is a columnist and directs website coverage for the State Champs! Sports Network. He previously covered primarily high school sports for the The Detroit News from 1984-2014, focusing on the Detroit area and contributing to statewide coverage of football and basketball. Contact him at [email protected] with story ideas for Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties.
PHOTO: Detroit Cass Tech (green helmets) and Detroit Martin Luther King, here in the Detroit PSL Final, give the league two MHSAA finalists for the first time. (Photo courtesy of the Detroit Public School League.)
1st & Goal: 2025 Week 7 Review
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 13, 2025
Football is the only head-to-head MHSAA sport requiring teams to qualify for the playoffs. And that makes October unlike any other month across any of the school year's three seasons.
Not only are teams competing for and celebrating league championships – see all nine of our "headliners" below and several more games we noted – but several more hopefuls are maneuvering to either break into playoff fields, hold onto spots they've currently earned, or move up on their respective division lists high enough to potentially earn a home game or few when the playoff brackets are selected later this month.
We highlight some of those scenarios below, and will focus on them much more over the final two weeks of the regular season.
Bay & Thumb
HEADLINER Millington 14, Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker 3 Millington (6-1) battled back from a Week 4 overtime loss to Cass City to clinch a share of the Big Thumb Conference White title – and clinch a share for Cass City as well – by handing Laker (6-1) its only loss this season. All three teams finished tied for first and league champions, Millington after winning the title outright last season. The Cardinals and Lakers have met in the playoffs the last two and could face off again in Division 7. Click for more from the Bay City Times.
Watch list Almont 35, Richmond 14 The Raiders (7-0) over the last two weeks have taken down contenders Armada and Richmond (6-1) by identical 35-14 scores to run their Blue Water Area Conference winning streak to 23 and their league title streak to three by clinching a share of this year’s with this win.
On the move Fenton 46, Linden 41 The Tigers (5-2) ran their Flint Metro League Stars winning streak to 18 games and finished their third-straight perfect run through the league while denying Linden (5-2) a chance at a title share. Harbor Beach 33, Reese 14 The Pirates (7-0) have won all 10 of their BTC Black games over the last two seasons, this time preventing Reese (4-3) and Unionville-Sebewaing from also claiming title shares. Montrose 28, New Lothrop 14 The Rams (7-0) clinched a share of the Mid-Michigan Activities Conference championship after finishing third the last two seasons, and with a second-straight win over rival New Lothrop (5-2).
Greater Detroit
HEADLINER Gibraltar Carlson 27, Brownstown Woodhaven 23 The Marauders followed running back Izaiah Wright to this Downriver League title share-clinching win. Wright scored three touchdowns, his last the game-winner during the final minute. Carlson (7-0) ran its league championship streak to five with a chance to finish this run with the outright title this week at Lincoln Park. Woodhaven (6-1) fell a game back. Click for more from the Southgate News-Herald.
IZAIAH WRIGHT DOING IZAIAH WRIGHT THINGS. The Carlson senior — Purdue commit and Mr. Football candidate — scored three touchdowns, including the game-winner in the final minute as Carlson beats rival Woodhaven 27-23 to stay unbeaten at 7-0. Delivered by @hungryhowies… pic.twitter.com/rKQ3dBZOpj
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) October 11, 2025
WATCH LIST Harper Woods 41, Saline 32 Harper Woods (7-0) has had its share of notable wins over the last three seasons – especially on the way to winning the Division 4 title in 2023. But downing Division 1 contender Saline (6-1) might be considered the best of the regular season during that time, or at least equal to wins over another Division 1 contender Clarkston in Week 2 and two years ago.
On the move Clarkston 38, West Bloomfield 10 A Wolves loss would have meant a shared Oakland Activities Association Red title between these two, but a win gave Clarkston (6-1) the outright title and its first of any degree since sharing in 2022. Melvindale Academy for Business & Tech 18, Hamtramck 8 The Gators (7-0) won a combined seven games over the last two seasons, and this victory over second-place Hamtramck (4-3) gave ABT the outright championship in the Charter School Conference Silver. Riverview 14, Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central 13 The Huron League title race jumped the tracks a bit as Riverview (5-2) moved into position to potentially earn a share if SMCC (6-1) can defeat leader Monroe Jefferson this week.
Mid-Michigan
HEADLINER Pewamo-Westphalia 37, Fowler 6 The Pirates pulled away over the final three quarters to clinch a share of the Central Michigan Athletic Conference title and also avenge last season’s loss to Fowler (5-2) – P-W’s only league defeat over the last three. The Pirates (6-0) also continued a run of not allowing more than six points in any game this fall, and have surrendered a grand total over 18 over six games. Click for more from the Lansing State Journal.
Watch list Portland 54, Eaton Rapids 6 The Raiders (7-0) ran their Capital Area Activities Conference White winning streak to 25 in clinching a share of a fourth-straight league title. They’ve given up just 31 points over six games played (with the seventh a forfeit win).
On the move DeWitt 59, Grand Ledge 7 The Panthers (7-0) moved within a win of clinching the CAAC Red championship by handing the Comets (6-1) their only defeat. Mount Pleasant 29, Traverse City West 8 The Oilers (7-0) secured a share of the Saginaw Valley League North title and can make it outright this weekend against reigning champion Midland. Belding 28, Muskegon Oakridge 7 The Black Knights (6-1) are in the running for what would be a fourth-straight Ottawa-Kent Conference Silver title, and fit in this win over West Michigan Conference Lakes contender Oakridge (5-2) to hold onto the No. 3 spot in the Division 6 playoff-point rankings.
Northern Lower Peninsula
HEADLINER Gaylord 34, Escanaba 30 The Blue Devils (7-0) played a fourth-quarter comeback into a share of the Big North Conference championship in what was a matchup of first-place teams. Gaylord can make the title outright against Sault Ste. Marie in Week 9. It’s been a great comeback run for both contenders, as Gaylord was 3-6 a year ago and Escanaba (6-1) was 2-7 two years ago before improving to 5-4 last season. Click for more from the Petoskey News-Review.
Watch list LeRoy Pine River 34, Manton 30 The Bucks (5-2) haven’t had a winning season since 2018 and opened this one with two losses. But they’ve strung together five straight victories to guarantee their best finish since 2018 while also moving up to the No. 20 slot on the Division 7 playoff-point list. Manton (4-3) as well has guaranteed its best record since 2022 and with one more win would tie its best since 2014.
On the move Charlevoix 15, Mancelona 12 This was a matchup of league leaders and Charlevoix (7-0) ran its winning streak over Mancelona (4-3) to nine, but not without surviving its closest game this season. Grayling 38, Kalkaska 15 The Vikings (2-5) came out of a tough league run with an impressive win over the Blazers (5-2), who finish with two more strong opponents in Kingsley and Boyne City. Traverse City Central 47, Bay City Western 21 Central (4-3) has fallen out of the Division 2 playoff hunt only once over the last five weeks but is back up to No. 21 on that playoff-points list with a second-straight win coming off an earlier three-game losing streak.
Southeast & Border
HEADLINER Hudson 32, Clinton 16 The Tigers (7-0) clinched a share of the Lenawee County Athletic Association title and avoided a possible three-team share if they’d fallen to Clinton (5-2), which with Ida will hope for help this week from Hillsdale as Hudson plays for the outright title. Click for more from the Adrian Daily Telegram.
Watch list Springport 36, Quincy 20 Springport (7-0) clinched a share of the Big 8 Conference title, against a Quincy team (4-3) enjoying its best season since 2019. The Spartans can make it outright this week against second-place Union City and have given up only 38 points this season over six games (with a forfeit win as well).
On the move Ypsilanti Lincoln 36, Jackson 32 The Railsplitters (6-1) earned their fourth win by one score or less to set up the possibility this week of taking a share of the Southeastern Conference White title from Chelsea, which has clinched a share already. Temperance Bedford 31, Ann Arbor Huron 28 Bedford (4-3) also held on in a close game to gain an opportunity in the SEC Red, as it trails leader Saline by a game and travels to play the Hornets this week. Napoleon 30, Leslie 26 Likewise, Napoleon’s close win sets it up to play Michigan Center this week in a winner-take-all matchup for the Cascades Conference East title.
Southwest Corridor
HEADLINER Portage Central 30, Portage Northern 0 Central added a share of the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference West title to a dominating fall, holding Northern scoreless in what was a matchup of first-place teams. The shutout also was Central’s fifth this season, and the Mustangs have given up just 10 points total. They’ll play for an outright championship Week 9 at St. Joseph. Click for more from the Kalamazoo Gazette.
Watch list Dowagiac 40, Buchanan 26 Dowagiac (5-2) made the playoffs last season for the first time this decade, and now has added its first championship in the Lakeland Conference – rebounding from a Week 6 loss to Berrien Springs to take a share from Buchanan (4-3), which previously had clinched a share. Berrien Springs also can claim a share with a win over Niles Brandywine this week.
On the move Kalamazoo Central 31, Battle Creek Central 12 This is the oldest rivalry in Michigan high school football history, starting in 1893, and game 122 between these two ended in Kalamazoo Central (4-3) owning a share of the SMAC East title as Battle Creek Central (4-3) also entered the night undefeated in league play. Battle Creek Harper Creek 29, Hastings 15 This win didn’t clinch the Interstate 8 Athletic Conference title for Harper Creek (6-1), but it was a giant step toward potentially doing so. Hastings (5-2) also hadn’t lost in league play heading into the night. Bronson 32, White Pigeon 6 With this win by Bronson (6-1), Decatur claimed a share of the Southwest 10 Conference championship – although White Pigeon (6-1) can make it a three-team shared title by defeating Decatur this week.
Upper Peninsula
HEADLINER Bark River-Harris 38, Iron Mountain 14 After defeating Iron Mountain in Week 2 for the first time in program history, Bark River-Harris made it a sweep – this time clinching a share of the Western Peninsula Athletic Conference Iron championship as well. The Broncos (5-1) can make the title outright this week against West Iron County, which like Iron Mountain (4-2) has just one loss in league play (as the first Bark River-Harris meeting did not count toward the league standings).
Watch list West Iron County 49, L’Anse 40 In avenging a 20-14 loss to L’Anse from Week 2, West Iron County (3-3) jumped four spots to No. 37 on the Division 8 playoff-points list with two weeks to play. The Wykons had won just three games total over the last two seasons and are seeking their first playoff berth this decade.
On the move Menominee 40, Negaunee 12 This along with Kingsford’s win over Ishpeming Westwood sets up those two to meet for a winner-take-all title matchup this week in the West-PAC Copper. Menominee moved to 7-0, while Negaunee is 4-3. Gladstone 34, Houghton 22 Gladstone (3-4) also bumped up to No. 37 on a playoff-points list, in Division 6, with two games to play and chances to move up significantly. Marquette 27, Petoskey 17 While Marquette (4-3) can’t catch Gaylord in the BNC, the Sentinels did move back into playoff contention at No. 29 on the Division 3 list, sending Petoskey (3-4) to No. 34.
West Michigan
HEADLINER Kent City 46, Central Montcalm 14 In a winner-take-all for the Central State Activities Association Silver title, Kent City (7-0) seized it in a big way. In doing so, the Eagles also avenged losses to Central Montcalm (5-2) that decided last year’s league title and then ended Kent City’s season in the District opener. Click for more from WZZM.
Watch list Ludington 32, Whitehall 7 The Orioles (7-0) clinched a share of the West Michigan Conference Lakes title by avenging the loss that cost them the championship last season. Whitehall (4-3) won’t repeat but remains firmly in the Division 5 playoff hunt at No. 14 on that playoff points list.
On the move Hudsonville 43, East Kentwood 42 The Eagles (7-0) won by the slimmest of margins to pull within one more victory of clinching the Ottawa-Kent Conference Red title, moving past the Falcons (5-2) with a late rally. Grand Rapids Catholic Central 35, Holland Christian 7 The Cougars (7-0) clinched a share of the O-K Black title, improving on last season’s tie for second place. Grand Rapids West Catholic 48, Wayland 19 The Falcons (6-1) locked up a share of the O-K White title, their fourth-straight league championship.
8-Player
HEADLINER Deckerville 22, Kingston 14 Defense reigned as Deckerville clinched a share of the Big Thumb Conference Blue title for the second-straight season. Both teams were held well below their season scoring averages as the Eagles (7-0) added to last year’s regular-season/playoff sweep of the rival Cardinals (6-1). Click for more from the Huron Daily Tribune.
Watch list St. Helen Charlton Heston Academy 47, Hillman 26 Heston’s record for wins in a season over its first 11 was four a year ago, but the Patriots (5-2) bested it in this matchup of North Star League champions – both Heston and Hillman (5-2) have clinched shares of their division titles.
On the move Norway 34, Newberry 14 Norway (7-0) pulled within one more win of claiming a share of the Great Lakes Eight Conference East championship after finishing second a year ago. Gogebic 42, Lake Linden-Hubbell 12 The Miners (7-0) also can clinch a share of a league title this week, in the GLEC West, after handing LL-H (5-2) its only conference loss. Mio 36, Rogers City 22 There are 13 teams in Division 2 with zero or one loss, and Mio (6-1) remains right in the middle of that group on the playoff-points average list with two games against sub-.500 opponents left before the playoffs.
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PHOTOS (Top) DeWitt’s backs make a read on a handoff during their team’s 59-7 win over Grand Ledge on Friday. (Middle) Laingsburg’s Julian Smith (7) launches a pass during his team’s 34-14 loss to Bath. (DeWitt/Grand Ledge photo by Terry Lyons. Laingsburg/Bath photo by John Johnson.)