Drive to Detroit: District Semis in Review
October 29, 2012
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Hopes are high for most of 242 teams heading into the first weekend of the MHSAA football playoffs.
But we see it every October – the unexpected and plain unbelievable take over in the postseason as teams raise their games to meet the urgency of do-or-be-done.
Seven of 34 undefeated teams lost for the first time this weekend and are now eliminated. All eight of last season's 11-player champions are still alive – but 8-player champion Carsonville-Port Sanilac is no longer.
Of course, at this time of year every game takes on critical meaning. So instead of saying the results below were the most signficant, rather, let's say they're the ones that jumped out most from the District Semifinals.
Division 1
Detroit Catholic Central 21, Hartland 15
The playoffs are when we find out just how strong the Detroit Catholic League Central was compared to the rest of the state each fall, and this provided a start on that comparison for 2012. The Shamrocks (6-4) opened with a close win over of the Kensington Lakes Activities Association West champion Eagles (8-2).
Click to read more from Novi Patch.
Also noted:
Holland West Ottawa 21, Grand Ledge 14 – The Panthers (8-2) avenged a 31-10 loss to the Comets (7-3) on Aug. 31.
Livonia Churchill 49, Livonia Stevenson 35 – These two met for the second week in a row; both times Churchill (10-0) scored 49 points, although Stevenson (6-4) cut the deficit to 14 this game after losing the first by 39.
Walled Lake Northern 41, Howell 27 – On top of playing in its first playoff game ever, Northern (8-2) also earned another by downing the Highlanders (6-4).
Dearborn 24, Dearborn Fordson 14 – The Pioneers (7-3) won a stunner after falling 35-0 to the Tractors (7-3) just five weeks ago.
Division 2
East Lansing 10, Lansing Everett 6
Life was good for the Vikings (9-1) after they completed their first 9-0 regular season ever – a run that included a 6-0 victory against East Lansing. But the Trojans (7-3), who struggled some and had to win in Week 9 just to make the playoffs, earned perhaps the biggest upset of District opener weekend. Click to read more from the Lansing State Journal.
Also noted:
Traverse City Central 48, Bay City Western 47 (2 OT) – Adding to its league title season, Central (9-1) won a playoff game for the first time since 1991. Western finished 8-2.
Lowell 21, Grand Rapids Northview 0 – The playoff-seasoned Red Arrows (8-2) made the first appearance for Northview (7-3) a quick one.
Fenton 22, Farmington Hills Harrison 19 – The Tigers (9-1) have now won a playoff games each of the last three seasons, and delivered Harrison (6-4) its only first-game postseason departure in its last 14 appearances.
Southfield 22, Detroit Martin Luther King 19 – The Bluejays (7-3) were a bit forgotten needing three straight wins just to make the playoffs, but got everyone's attention again by beating the Detroit Public School League champion Crusaders (6-4).
Division 3
Zeeland West 46, Zeeland East 0
That West won this game isn’t the stunning part – their first meeting this season was a 60-52 win by East, and West (6-4) is the reigning Division 4 champion. But consider the score this time, and also that East (9-1) had beaten Division 2 contender Muskegon by a point just a week ago and hadn’t lost this fall. Click to read more from the Holland Sentinel.
Also noted:
Hamilton 42, Edwardsburg 14 – The Hawkeyes (6-4) were among the last to make the playoffs, but got off to a good start against the Eddies (6-4).
Grand Rapids Christian 45, Fruitport 6 – The Eagles (9-1) continued to roll while handing Fruitport (8-2) its second loss of the season and second in a row.
DeWitt 34, Lapeer West 28 (OT) – The Panthers (8-2) extended their streak of winning at least one playoff game to seven seasons, while West finished 6-4 for the second straight fall.
Tecumseh 27, Chelsea 20 – Only three weeks prior, Chelsea (6-4) had beaten Tecumseh (8-2) in a game that decided the Southeastern Conference White championship.
Division 4
Grand Rapids South Christian 48, Paw Paw 0
South Christian’s losses this season came against three playoff teams, including two in Grand Rapids Christian and Grand Rapids Catholic Central that are expected to contend for MHSAA titles. So to figure this game might be close wasn’t too far off. But the Sailors (7-3) did more than that in handing Paw Paw (9-1) its only loss. Click for more from the Kalamazoo Gazette.
Also noted:
Richmond 24, Marine City 21 – Richmond (7-3) hung on again after also handing the Mariners (8-2) a 25-24 loss on opening night of the regular season.
Williamston 29, Marshall 8 – The Hornets (7-3) had to win three straight just to make the playoffs, and are rolling on four in a row with this defeat of the Redhawks (6-4).
Three Rivers 20, Battle Creek Pennfield 14 – This would qualify as an upset win by Three Rivers (7-3), as Pennfield (8-2) had been considered a contender all season.
Detroit Country Day 35, Clinton Township Clintondale 0 – The Yellow Jackets (8-2) handed Clintondale (9-1) its first and only loss of the season.
Division 5
Kingsford 36, Grayling 14
In the first season after the retirement of his legendary coach father Ken Hofer from Menominee, Kingsford coach Chris Hofer led his Kingsford team to one of the best opening wins of the playoffs. The Flivvers (9-1) intercepted four passes in handing Grayling (9-1) its first and only loss. Click to read more from the Iron Mountain Daily News.
Also noted:
Olivet 28, Lansing Catholic 14 – This one was equally stunning, as the Eagles (7-3) knocked out the reigning MHSAA runner-up Cougars (8-2).
Lake Fenton 41, Jackson Lumen Christi 20 – Maybe less of a shocker but still an intriguing result: Lake Fenton (8-2) handed the Titans (8-2) one of their earliest exits of the last two decades.
Grand Rapids West Catholic 19, Hopkins 13 (OT) – The Falcons improved to 7-3 while handing Hopkins (9-1) its lone loss of the season.
Muskegon Oakridge 16, Buchanan 8 – Oakridge moved to 10-0 by winning this clash of league champions; Buchanan finished 7-3.
Division 6
Manchester 37, Clinton 36
The Flying Dutchmen (7-3) fell to Clinton by 18 all the way back on Aug. 24. But they handed Clinton (9-1) its first – and now only – loss this season by scoring with less than a minute remaining in this District opener. Click to read more from The Oakland Press.
Also noted:
Maple City Glen Lake 28, Boyne City 16 – Glen Lake (8-2) rebounded from a Week 9 loss, while Boyne City (8-2) finished with a second straight defeat.
Hemlock 45, Montague 20 – The Huskies (9-1) made it two straight seasons with at least nine wins, while dropping Montague just shy at 8-2.
Montrose 7, Vassar 6 – The Rams (9-1) won by a point for the second straight week while dropping the Vulcans to 7-3.
Detroit Consortium 8, Madison Heights Madison 3 – Consortium (7-3) also won its first-ever playoff game; Madison finished 8-2.
Division 7
Flint Hamady 39, Burton Bendle 33
Hamady (7-3) is better known for its basketball prowess. But after four seasons of one, zero, three and four wins, respectively, Hamady made the playoffs this fall – and earned its first postseason victory ever by avenging a Week 3 loss to Bendle (7-3). Click to read more from the Flint Journal.
Also noted:
Decatur 27, Hartford 15 – It was closer this time, but Decatur (8-2) beat league foe Hartford (7-3) for the second time in a month.
Britton Deerfield 14, Reading 7 – From the maybe-didn’t-see-that-coming file, the Patriots (7-3) knocked out the Big Eight Conference champ Rangers (8-2).
Dansville 21, Ottawa Lake Whiteford 18 – Another testament to the strength of the Central Michigan Athletic Conference, the Aggies (8-2) went on the road and came back with a win over the Bobcats (8-2) – Dansville’s first in the postseason since 1992.
Flint Beecher 35, Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest 21 – Beecher (6-4) got into the playoffs with two straight wins at the end of the regular season, but pushed the streak to three by downing Lutheran Northwest (5-4).
Division 8
L’Anse 34, Crystal Falls Forest Park 28
The Purple Hornets (8-2) might have fallen just short of a league title, but they did earn their first playoff win since 2007 by downing the perennially-powerful Trojans (7-3). L’Anse scored the go-ahead touchdown with 41 seconds to play. Click to read more from the Iron Mountain Daily News.
Also noted:
Stephenson 14, Pickford 12 – Only three Division 8 games this weekend were decided by eight points or fewer, and this win by Stephenson (8-2) over Pickford (7-3) was the closest.
Climax-Scotts 34, St. Joseph Lake Michigan Catholic 7 – Climax-Scotts (10-0) earned a shot against reigning champion and also 10-0 Mendon by defeating Lake Michigan Catholic (7-2).
Waterford Our Lady 15, Pittsford 7 – This was the third of only three close games in Division 8, with Our Lady (8-2) moving on. Pittsford (7-3) lost in the first round last season by the same score.
Felch North Dickinson 50, Bessemer 20 – North Dickinson (9-0), the smallest school in the 11-player playoffs, needs one more win for its second season in three with at least 10 victories. Bessemer ended its first playoff season since 2006 at 6-3.
8-Player
Owendale-Gagetown 52, Akron-Fairgrove 48
This was a sweet victory for Owendale-Gagetown (8-2) and not just because the Bulldogs live on. These two split during the regular season, but Akron-Fairgrove’s win in the second game of the series counted toward the league standings and earned the Vikings that championship. Click to read more from the Saginaw News.
Also noted:
Deckerville 42, Carsonville-Port Sanilac 39 – The Eagles (9-1) eliminated the reigning MHSAA champion Tigers (4-6) in their third game against them this fall; Deckerville won all three.
Kinde-North Huron 14, Peck 8 (OT) – After falling to Peck (7-3) by 16 three weeks prior, the Warriors (6-4) won the rematch.
PHOTO: Detroit Catholic Central senior quarterback Garrett Moores (11) tries to break the grasp of Hartland senior lineman Markus Inman (52) during Friday's Division 1 District victory. (Click to see more at Terry McNamara Photography.)
Opportunistic GRCC Breaks D4 Stalemate
By
Tom Markowski
Special for Second Half
November 25, 2016
DETROIT – One big pass, a solid kicking game and a handful of fine defensive plays were all Grand Rapids Catholic Central needed to lock up the school’s first MHSAA football title since 2010.
Trailing much of the game, GRCC scored a touchdown early in the fourth quarter and then relied on its defense to complete a 10-7 victory over Detroit Country Day in the Division 4 Final on Friday at Ford Field.
The championship was the Cougars’ third. Country Day finished runner-up for the fourth time in 11 seasons.
And this loss must be one of the more painful.
Country Day’s defense was outstanding. But the one time the Yellowjackets were caught out of position, it cost them.
The Cougars (13-1) faced a 3rd-and-7 from the Country Day 44 when junior quarterback Jack Bowen got the protection he needed and completed a pass to Michael Brown, who ran a delayed crossing pattern. Brown caught the ball at the 30 and split the Country Day defenders to complete the 44-yard touchdown pass to give GRCC the 10-7 lead with 11:11 remaining.
“We couldn’t draw it up any better,” Brown said. “I had to shut my feet down and get the corner to bite. (Bowen) threw a perfect pass. I just caught it.
“We knew coming in both teams had good defenses. Our defensive line didn’t stop. We had to hang in there.”
No one could have guess just how good these defenses would play.
GRCC gained one first down – on the touchdown reception. That set an MHSAA Finals record for fewest first downs; the previous record was set during the first playoffs, in 1975, when Flint Holy Rosary was held to four first downs by Crystal Falls Forest Park in Class D.
The teams also set a Finals record for fewest combined total yards, combining for 173. Farmington Hills Harrison and Muskegon Catholic Central set the previous record of 196 in the 1981 Class B title game.
It was fitting that Country Day’s final offensive play resulted in a sack by Derek Saukas, one of 10 recorded by the Cougars for a total of 82 yards lost by the Yellowjackets.
It was that type of game. GRCC totaled 15 yards on its first three possessions of the second half, which all resulted in Josh Steffes punts.
Jaylen Mayfield’s fumble recovery at the Country Day 47 with one second left in the third quarter gave the Cougars the field position they were hoping for and set up the go-ahead drive.
GRCC coach Todd Kolster said his defense has played like that all season, and the play Bowen and Brown made also had a familiar ring to it.
“These guys are bigtime football players,” Kolster said. “They’re great students. They’re great people.
“Defensively this is what we’ve done all year. Our offense has been opportunistic. Our defense is as good as anyone’s. It’s something we believe in.”
With the defenses so dominant, it was apropos that Country Day’s touchdown was scored on a turnover.
Country Day (13-1) trailed 3-0, and GRCC faced a 3rd-and-8 from the Country Day 17 when linebacker Adam Fakih applied pressure on Bowen, hitting the quarterback as he tried to throw. The pass fluttered into the hands of Roy McCree IV, who raced down the right sideline for an 82-yard interception return touchdown and Country Day lead, 7-3, with 4:54 left in the half.
The Yellowjackets went to senior Steve Mann at quarterback on the next series and threatened to increase their lead. Mann took over for the starter, sophomore Jalen Graham, and moved his team from its 36 to the GRCC 25 – but a sack and a penalty pushed Country Day back, and a fourth down conversion attempt failed, ending the half.
GRCC scored with 1:18 left in the first quarter on Josh Steffes’ 31-yard field goal. That score was set up by Antonio Strong’s 58-yard punt return.
Country Day had 40 yards in the half; the Cougars did not gain a yard.
The loss was especially tough on Country Day coach Dan MacLean. He switched quarterbacks in an effort to add a spark.
Each quarterback was sacked five times. Graham was 3 of 5 passing for 18 yards, and Mann was 9 of 15 for 87 yards.
“We needed to,” MacLean said. “We had to get something going.
“Our defense has been a fantastic group. The (10) sacks, I have to see the film, but it wasn’t good.
“It’s very difficult to take right now.”
The MHSAA Football Finals are sponsored by the Michigan National Guard.
PHOTOS: (Top) A collection of Grand Rapids Catholic Central defenders tackle Country Day’s Chris Bergin (5). (Middle) GRCC’s Antonio Strong follows a block during Friday’s Final.