Drive Complete: 2015 Finals in Review
December 2, 2015
Those who watched the MHSAA Football Finals in person, online or on TV on Fox Sports Detroit probably didn’t leave their seats much over Thanksgiving weekend.
Five of eight 11-player Finals were decided by seven points or fewer. Two more were still in question into the fourth quarter. And if you missed the ends of the Division 2 or Division 5 games, get to MHSAA.tv the next time you have a few hours to spare.
Second Half covered all nine championship games including the 8-player Final on Nov. 20, with quick recaps and links to those stories below followed by notations of performances entered into the MHSAA record book and a report on some of the biggest and best stories to emerge from the 2015 Finals.
Finals in Review
Division 1: Romeo 41, Detroit Cass Tech 27
Romeo earned its first championship in its first trip to the MHSAA Finals, completing a playoff run that included victories over recent winners Cass Tech, Detroit Catholic Central and Clarkston. Despite a heroic performance by Technicians back-up quarterback Aaron Jackson, the Bulldogs marched for six touchdowns to remain a few steps ahead throughout. Click to read more.
Division 2: Detroit Martin Luther King 40, Lowell 38
For the second time in MHSAA Football Finals history, a game was decided on the final play of regulation – and in this case King’s final-second touchdown earned national buzz. Quarterback Armani Posey put up a record-setting passing performance, capped by a 40-yard touchdown pass to Donnie Corley on the final play that gave the Crusaders their second title. Click to read more.
Division 3: Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 29, Chelsea 12
The Eaglets won their second straight Division 3 title, this time over first-time finalist Chelsea. St. Mary’s had two runners each gain more than 100 yards and quarterback Brendan Tabone hooked up with receiver K.J. Hamler for a pair of highlight-reel scoring plays. Click to read more.
Division 4: Zeeland West 40, Flint Powers Catholic 14
The Dux won their fourth MHSAA title over the last decade and second in three seasons with the same rushing attack that has brought them great success throughout the run. West ran for 318 yards and scored four of the game’s first five touchdowns in what would be Powers coach Bob Buckel’s final game (he resigned Monday). Click to read more.
Division 5: Grand Rapids West Catholic 40, River Rouge 34
Once of the most offense-driven Finals in MHSAA football history ended with West Catholic winning its third straight championship – but not without repeated comeback attempts by River Rouge and near record-setting quarterback Antoine Burgess. The Falcons defeated three top-10 and two honorable mention teams on the way to the title, while River Rouge was playing in its first football championship game. Click to read more.
Division 6: Ithaca 27, Clinton 20
The Yellowjackets finished their fifth perfect season over the last six and earned another championship after falling in last season’s Final to break a 69-game winning streak. Ithaca won this time against an undefeated Clinton team that also had fallen to the Yellowjackets in the 2013 championship game. Ithaca featured 17 seniors, many of whom had played prominent roles in 2014 as well. Click to read more.
Division 7: Ishpeming 22, Pewamo-Westphalia 16
Ishpeming played in its fourth straight Final and won its third title in that time, coming back from last season’s loss led by returning quarterback Ozzy Corp. The 6-foot-5 senior scored three touchdowns, and the Hematites held MHSAA single-season rushing record-holder Jared Smith to a still-impressive 149 yards and a score. Click to read more.
Division 8: Muskegon Catholic Central 7, Waterford Our Lady 0
These small-school powers played to a near stalemate to kick off the weekend, with MCC’s touchdown with 10:21 to play the difference in earning the Crusaders their third straight MHSAA championship. MCC’s defense also came up with the first shutout against Our Lady since 2011, slowing down one of the state’s most accomplished passing attacks this fall. Click to read more.
8-Player: Powers North Central 58, Battle Creek St. Philip 33
Undefeated St. Philip played North Central closer than any opponent this season, but the Jets took over during the second quarter on the way to their first MHSAA title in this sport and a 13-0 finish. Junior running back Bobby Kleiman scored six times – five rushing and one receiving – and another junior, quarterback Jason Whitens, capped a season that saw him throw 45 touchdown passes without an interception. Click to read more.
Records Report
A number of team and individual entries have been added to the MHSAA Football Finals record book, found by clicking here. A breakdown:
Detroit King’s Armani Posey set the MHSAA Finals record with 383 yards passing, and River Rouge’s Antoine Burgess ended up second after also breaking the previous record with 354 yards. Posey made the completions list with 19 in 27 attempts and tied the passing touchdowns record with five. Burgess missed setting the total offense yards record by only two, tallying 424 with 70 rushing as well, and Posey’s 403 total yards ranks fifth on that list.
Two more quarterbacks also made record lists. Cass Tech’s Aaron Jackson also completed 19 passes in 27 attempts. Ithaca’s Jake Smith made the total yardage list with 126 rushing and 180 passing for 306 total.
River Rouge receiver Aaron Vinson tied for ninth for receiving yardage, gaining 162 on four receptions.
Lowell kicker George Gonzales joined a host of others by making all five of his extra-point attempts.
River Rouge and Grand Rapids West Catholic combined for 929 total yards, the second-most by two teams combined in an MHSAA Final, and Ishpeming and Zeeland West became two of 22 teams that didn’t punt in a championship game.
North Central’s Bobby Kleiman became the first entry in 8-player for rushing yards (205) and touchdowns (five), and his 337 total yards rank fourth. Teammate Jason Whitens’ 294 total yards were the fifth-most in 8-player Finals history. Kleiman also became the first entry for total touchdowns in a game (six) and easily set the record for points scored with 46. North Central and Battle Creek St. Philip combined for a record 952 total yards.
Muskegon Catholic Central moved up to third with 14 MHSAA Finals appearances, only two fewer than record holders Farmington Hills Harrison and Detroit Catholic Central. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s moved up into a tie for fourth on that list with 13 appearances. MCC also moved into a tie for third with 11 titles, behind Harrison’s 13 and Detroit St. Martin dePorres’ 12.
Stories behind the scores
The Play: Corley’s touchdown will be talked about for years to come – and not just by people who saw it live. An MHSAA video shot on Instagram and then posted on Facebook has reached 179,500 fans and been viewed more than 75,000 times, and the Fox Sports Detroit clip can be watched by clicking here. Corley’s grab gave King its only lead of the game.
Filling the trophy case: Six of eight winners this weekend have made quite a home at Ford Field. Grand Rapids West Catholic and Muskegon Catholic Central both won their third straight championships and Orchard Lake St. Mary’s was a repeat winner. Ithaca won its fifth title in six seasons, Ishpeming its third in four years and Zeeland West its second over the last three.
Romeo’s run: Save for a three-point loss to Utica Eisenhower in Week 9, Romeo’s run to its first title was perfect – and regardless, incredibly difficult. First, the Bulldogs downed two-time reigning champion Clarkston (final record 7-3) in the Pre-District, then handed Lapeer (10-1) its only loss. Next was Detroit Catholic Central (9-3), the Division 1 runner-up from 2011-13, followed by undefeated Grand Ledge (12-1). Detroit Cass Tech (11-3) had lost only to King, twice, and was the champion in 2011 and 2012.
Bringing Mitchell to Detroit: Although St. Ignace’s run ended one win shy of reaching Ford Field, teammate Mitchell Snyder’s memory was everywhere during the Division 8 Final. The Saints, who lost to Muskegon Catholic Central in a Semifinal, had worn stickers on their helmets with the name and number of Snyder, who died in a car crash in October. MCC and Waterford Our Lady both wore the helmet sticks during their game at Ford Field, carrying Snyder’s memory to the final game of the season.
The MHSAA Football Finals are sponsored by the Michigan National Guard.
PHOTOS: (Top middle) River Rouge gets revved up in the Ford Field tunnel before entering the field. (Middle) Detroit King poses for a team photo while celebrating its championship. (Below) Powers North Central hoists its first football title trophy. (For more photos and video, click for the MHSAA Instagram feed.)
1st & Goal: 2026 Week 5 Review
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
September 28, 2026
We’ve passed the midway point of the 2026 football regular season, and it’s already trophy time for several teams across Michigan.
Week 5 saw a few outright conference champions crowned, several claim shares of league titles, and many more continue to close in as October prepares to greet us this weekend.
Bay & Thumb
HEADLINER Marine City 57, St. Clair 36 Marine City pulled within one more win of clinching a share of the Macomb Area Conference Silver title by claiming this matchup of co-leaders entering the weekend. The Mariners can clinch that repeat title this week against Hazel Park. Click for more from the Port Huron Times Herald.
Watch list Flushing 28, Linden 20 This could go a long way toward the Raiders (3-2) returning to the playoffs after missing last season, but also sets them up to potentially earn a share of the Flint Metro League Stripes title if Linden (4-1) can take down first-place Fenton in two weeks.
On the move Millington 27, Cass City 7 The Cardinals (5-0) clinched a share of the Big Thumb Conference White title by handing Cass City (4-1) its lone defeat – and after falling to Cass City 17-14 last season. Almont 37, Imlay City 20 These Raiders (5-0) whittled the Blue Water Area Conference race potentially down to two, handing Imlay City (4-1) its only loss to stay atop the standings tied now with only Macomb Lutheran North. Gladwin 14, Clare 13 This paired with Shepherd’s win over Ogemaw Heights put the Flying Gs (4-1) into first place alone in the Jack Pine Conference Division 1.
Greater Detroit
HEADLINER Detroit Cass Tech 20, Detroit Martin Luther King 7 Cass Tech’s defense continued to excel and Julian Taylor ran for two touchdowns as the Technicians (5-0) extended their winning steak over the Crusaders (4-1) to four. Cass has now given up only 28 points over five games, but King also did the job defensively keeping the Technicians well below their 52-ppg average heading into the weekend. Click for more from the Detroit News.
JULIAN TAYLOR × 2️⃣🏈🔥
Two touchdown runs for Cass Tech standout @TM_Ju7 in last night’s @MHSAA win over Detroit King. pic.twitter.com/mS1qM6NQPe— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) September 26, 2026
Watch list Ecorse 40, Romulus Summit Academy North 33 The Red Raiders are off to a 5-0 start for the second straight season, and by downing annual contender Summit (3-2) remained tied for first in the Charter School Conference Gold with Detroit Edison.
On the move Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 48, Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice 20 St. Mary’s (4-1) remains one of three teams undefeated in Catholic High School League Central play after handing Rice (4-1) its only loss. Romeo 28, Grosse Pointe South 26 The Bulldogs (5-0) can clinch a share of the Macomb Area Conference Red title this week after handing South (4-1) its only defeat and after losing to South the last three seasons. St. Clair Shores Lakeview 29, Utica 28 Lakeview (4-1) pulled into first alone in the MAC White after also avenging a 2025 loss to the Chieftains (4-1).
Mid-Michigan
HEADLINER Portland 23, Lake Odessa Lakewood 20 The Raiders’ 30-game winning streak in the Capital Area Activities Conference White rested on the leg of Chase Fullet with a second left on the clock, and his 25-yard field goal made it 31 straight wins and put Portland at 5-0 with Lakewood falling to 4-1. Click for more from the Lansing State Journal.
Watch list Shepherd 14, Ogemaw Heights 12 The Bluejays (3-2) were coming off two losses to start the JPC1 schedule, but surely made those disappointments fade a bit with this stunner after falling to Ogemaw Heights (4-1) by 42 and 35 points the last two years. Shepherd is seeking its first playoff berth since 2022.
On the move Pewamo-Westphalia 59, Bark River-Harris 14 The Pirates (5-0) won this matchup between returning Division 7 and 8 semifinalists, respectively, handing Bark River-Harris (4-1) its only loss this fall. Ovid-Elsie 30, Durand 27 After opening with a pair of losses, Ovid-Elsie (3-2) still controls its destiny in the Mid-Michigan Activities Conference with the two other top contenders coming up over the next two weeks. Mason 21, St. Johns 9 The Bulldogs (5-0) pulled within a win of clinching a share of the CCAAC Red title by holding back a St. Johns offense that had reached 28 points during every game of a 3-1 start.
Northern Lower Peninsula
HEADLINER Cadillac 22, Petoskey 20 Four of seven teams in the Big North Conference are 3-0, 3-1 or 2-1 in league play, including both of these contenders. Cadillac (3-2) has a loss to Marquette and will now hope for help from Petoskey (3-2), which faces the Sentinels in Week 8. The Vikings’ last two league games are against opponents that are a combined 2-8. Click for more from the Cadillac News.
Watch list Kingsley 42, Elk Rapids 22 The Stags (5-0) have a week off with a forfeit win coming from Cheboygan but will be in position to clinch the Northern Shores Conference title – at least a share – when they host second-place Boyne City in Week 7. Elk Rapids (3-2) remains in the Division 6 playoff hunt tied for No. 31 in Division 6 playoff-point average.
On the move McBain 28, Charlevoix 27 The Ramblers (4-2) came back from two touchdowns down to win this District Semifinal rematch from a year ago by the same score. Traverse City West 36, Midland 7 The Titans (3-2) bounced back from a Week 4 loss to keep pace near the top of the Saginaw Valley League North and send Midland (3-2) a game back of the lead. Traverse City St. Francis 42, Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart 14 After a couple of losses to title contenders early, the Gladiators made the midseason turn with a second-straight win to move up to No. 28 in Division 6 playoff-point average.
Southeast & Border
HEADLINER Hanover-Horton 49, Brooklyn Columbia Central 48 Hanover-Horton (4-1) clinched a share of the Cascades Conference South championship by handing the lone league loss to an opponent for the second-straight week, this time Columbia Central (4-1) after doing the same to Napoleon in Week 4. The league title is the Comets’ third consecutive and the win extended their conference winning streak to 13. Click for more from WLNS.
Watch list Ida 41, Adrian Madison 20 Four teams in the Lenawee County Athletic Association are 4-0 or 3-1 in league play, with Ida (5-0) now sharing the top spot with Clinton but Madison (4-1) and Hudson certainly still in the mix with three weeks of LCAA games remaining.
On the move Vandercook Lake 21, Michigan Center 12 Vandercook Lake (2-3) is seeking its first 11-player postseason appearance since 2015, and if the Jayhawks make it this win over the Cardinals (2-3) surely will have played a part. Manchester 52, Jonesville 22 A Week 3 loss to Michigan Center threw a wrench into Manchester’s Cascades Conference North title pursuit, but the Flying Dutchmen (4-1) still have a shot and will be coming off scoring their season high when they host leader Leslie on Friday. Monroe Jefferson 28, Flat Rock 26 Jefferson (5-0) kept pace with Monroe St. Mary atop the Huron League standings by surviving a close one with Flat Rock (2-3).
Southwest Corridor
HEADLINER Vicksburg 26, Three Rivers 21 Vicksburg held off Three Rivers to maintain its co-lead with Edwardsburg in the Wolverine Conference. The Bulldogs and Wildcats have developed a nice matchup over the last three seasons, with all four meetings – including in last year’s District Final – decided by 3-5 points. Ja’Kobi Reed scored the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter of this one. Click for more from the Kalamazoo Gazette.
Watch list Galesburg-Augusta 12, Centreville 8 Galesburg-Augusta (5-0) already has matched its winningest season since 2016, and one more victory (assured at this point by a forfeit coming from White Pigeon in Week 7) will give them their most since 1997.
On the move St. Joseph 49, Battle Creek Central 19 The Bears (4-1) finished an outright league championship in the four-team Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference small-schools division, winning their three league games by a combined score of 137-29. Portage Central 43, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix 0 The Mustangs (4-1) clinched a share of the SMAC big-schools division title and can finish it outright this week against Battle Creek Lakeview. Decatur 38, Galesburg-Augusta 12 Decatur (5-0), like Galesburg-Augusta, is undefeated in Southwest 10 Conference play heading into this week’s potential title decider.
Upper Peninsula
HEADLINER Kingsford 37, Calumet 19 The Western Peninsula Athletic Conference Copper race is all but down to two teams, thanks to undefeated Kingsford (5-0) handing Calumet (3-2) a second league loss and Menominee also remaining unbeaten in league play. The Flivvers and Maroons face off in Week 8. Click for more from the Houghton Daily Mining Gazette.
Watch list Ishpeming Westwood 20, Gladstone 0 The Patriots (2-3) haven’t reached four wins in a season since their most recent playoff run in 2021, but despite a loaded schedule this fall have picked up some momentum with two straight wins including this one avenging a 59-22 loss from a year ago.
On the move Iron Mountain 25, Manistique 8 Winning the West-PAC Iron will take some help after a Week 3 loss to Bark River-Harris, but the Mountaineers (3-2) have bounced back from two early defeats. Negaunee 40, Hancock 0 The Miners (3-2) bounced back from two straight losses to stifle a Hancock team (3-2) enjoying its best season over the last five. Marquette 48, Escanaba 10 The Sentinels (3-2) have won three straight to move into first place alone in the Big North Conference, this victory avenging a 2025 defeat as well.
West Michigan
HEADLINER Grand Rapids South Christian 19, Zeeland West 16 Four of six teams in the Ottawa-Kent Conference Gold are 4-1 or 3-2 and a fifth team is tied for first early while 2-3 overall. But while there are four weeks to go, this early matchup between the Sailors (4-1) and Dux (4-1) might end up the eventual title decider. This one also came down to a field goal during the final seconds, nailed by South Christian’s Hudson Kerstetter from 19 yards out. Click for more from the Grand Rapids Press.
Watch list Sparta 20, Marshall 14 The Spartans (3-2) are pursuing a first playoff appearance since 2022 and already have tied last year’s win total thanks to this one over the Interstate 8 Athletic Conference-leading Redhawks (4-1).
On the move Coopersville 14, Lowell 13 Coopersville (5-0) and Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills are the only two teams left without a loss in River Cities Alliance play; they face off Week 9. Caledonia 13, Hudsonville 7 Caledonia (4-1) and East Kentwood top the list in the O-K Red after the Fighting Scots ended Hudsonville’s league winning streak at 16 covering the last three seasons. Grand Rapids West Catholic 22, Hamilton 14 The Falcons (4-1) quickly are the only team left without a league loss in the O-K White, thanks to wins the last two weeks over contenders Forest Hills Eastern and Hamilton (3-2).
8-Player
HEADLINER Mendon 38, Colon 16 The Hornets (5-0) took a 14-8 lead into halftime and broke away with the first two scores of the third quarter against the previously undefeated Magi (4-1). Logan Stuart ran for 217 yards and all three of Mendon’s second-half scores. Click for more from the Sturgis Journal.
Watch list Dryden 44, Deckerville 38 After going four seasons without football, Dryden (5-0) came back in 2023 and quickly has climbed, with this fast start now including a defining win as the Cardinals had fallen to Deckerville (4-1) by 56 last season and 48 and 76 the two years before that.
On the move Grand Rapids Sacred Heart 56, Bridgman 28 These two and Marcellus are the top contenders in the Southwest Michigan 8-Man Football League Red, and this result made it so with Sacred Heart (3-1) bouncing back from a Week 4 loss to Marcellus by handing the Bees (4-1) their only defeat. Crystal Falls Forest Park 59, Felch North Dickinson 52 The Trojans (4-1) also bounced back from a Week 4 loss and on the whole are rebounding from a 1-8 season in 2025 that included a 51-point defeat against the Nordics (3-2). Rogers City 37, St. Helen Charlton Heston 19 Rogers City (4-1) broke a two-game losing streak against Heston (2-1), after falling 36-0 a year ago, and also pulled within one more win of clinching a share of the North Star League Big Dipper championship.
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PHOTOS (Top) Detroit Cass Tech’s Marquell Evans Jr. (5) wraps up Detroit King’s De’Andre Williams. (Middle) Perry quarterback Tyger Whitbeck (15) fires a pass during his team’s 54-10 win over Bath. (Below) Marquette’s Brody Clements (5) hauls in a touchdown catch during his team’s win over Escanaba. (Cass Tech/King photo by Olivia B. Photography. Perry/Bath photo by John Johnson. Marquette/Escanaba photo by Randy Ritari.)