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Drive for Detroit: Playoff Week 3 Review

November 12, 2018

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The results are fewer at this stage of the MHSAA Football Playoffs, but the headlines are louder with more on the line and the best of the best running into each other with only a few weeks left to play.

This third round saw our 8-Player Finals pairings set – with those championship games taking place this Saturday at Northern Michigan University’s Superior Dome. Morrice will face Pickford in Division 1, while Rapid River will take on Onekama in Division 2.

Meanwhile, in 11-Player Regional Finals, we saw history made for Belleville, Holton and Breckenridge to name a few. We also saw the end to Pewamo-Westphalia’s attempt at making a fourth a straight MHSAA championship game, and said good-bye to one of Michigan’s most prominent high school programs and the winningest coach in state history.

Click to check out the scores through the first three weeks of the tournament and the pairings for the weekend ahead. “Drive for Detroit” is powered by MI Student Aid. 

Division 1

HEADLINER: Saline 13, Rockford 12 (OT) The Hornets’ impressive body of work this season grows by the week. By outlasting Rockford with a 2-point conversion stand, they advanced to the Semifinals for the first time since finishing Division 1 runner-up in 2014. Add to this one to wins over East Kentwood two weeks ago and Grand Rapids Catholic Central in Week 2 – and giving unbeaten Clinton Township Chippewa Valley its closest game of the season in a five-point Week 1 loss – and it continues to be quite a run. Rockford also should be proud; after opening 1-3 this fall, the Rams not only extended a record 24-year playoff streak but won their first District title since 2015. Click for more from the Ann Arbor News and see below for highlights from FOX 17.

Regional Recap: Clarkston 13, Lapeer 0 The reigning Division 1 champion Wolves (10-2) locked down their fourth Regional title in six seasons and eliminated Lapeer (11-1) for the third time over the last five – and second time during that string where the Lightning entered the game undefeated. Belleville 13 West Bloomfield 10 The Tigers (12-0) have broken through with their first Regional title, defeating last season’s Division 1 runner-up West Bloomfield (9-3) to make their first Semifinal. Clinton Township Chippewa Valley 42, Dearborn Fordson 7 The Big Reds (12-0) are headed to the Semifinals for the first time since 2003 after shutting down a Tractors team that finished 10-2 and was averaging 38 points per game.

Division 2

HEADLINER: Birmingham Groves 53, Livonia Franklin 29 The Falcons (10-2) are headed to their second Semifinals in three seasons after downing Franklin (7-5), a semifinalist a year ago. Groves has run off 10 straight victories since opening this fall 0-2, and the 53 points were a season high. Franklin led at the end of the first quarter 2-0 before the Falcons ran off 21 unanswered points during the second. Click for more from the Oakland Press and see highlights below from State Champs Sports Network.

Regional Recap: Muskegon Mona Shores 58, Portage Northern 28 The Sailors (11-1) also scored a season high to win their second Regional title ever and first since 2014, over a Northern team that at 9-3 tied its program record for wins set in 1981. Midland 43, Walled Lake Western 0 The Chemics (9-3) won their first Regional title since 2007 with one of the most impressive victories of the weekend, handing Western (8-4) its first shutout since the 2016 Division 2 Final. Warren DeLaSalle 21, Port Huron Northern 3 The reigning Division 2 champion Pilots (10-2) ended the winningest season since 1986 for Northern (10-2), which did hold DeLaSalle to its third-fewest points of this fall.

Division 3

HEADLINER: Muskegon 34, Cedar Springs 18 The reigning Division 3 champion Big Reds (12-0) withstood one of their toughest challenges of this season, as Cedar Springs (10-2) trailed by only a point, 13-12, at halftime. Muskegon quarterback Cameron Martinez – who broke La’Darius Jefferson’s school season record of 2,095 rushing yards during the game – ran for 32 and 75-yard scores during the third quarter. The Red Hawks finished with their most wins since going 11-2 in 2000. Click for more from the Muskegon Chronicle and see highlights below from WZZM.

Regional Recap: Zeeland East 50, Parma Western 24 The Chix are headed to the Semifinals for the first time since 1989 when East and West were one school. Parma Western ended its longest playoff run with a school record for wins at 10-2. DeWitt 42, Farmington 7 The Panthers (12-0) bounced back offensively after scoring nine points in the District Final and as a defense giving up eight points per game locked down the Falcons (8-4), who completed their longest run since 2002. Detroit Martin Luther King 54, Allen Park 15 The Crusaders (10-2) won their sixth Regional title in eight seasons, ending Allen Park’s at 9-3 after the Jaguars bounced back from just missing the playoffs in 2017.

Division 4

HEADLINER: Chelsea 21, Farmington Hills Harrison 14 The Bulldogs (9-3) have risen from third in their league during the regular season to win their second Regional title over the last four years, this time under first-year coach Josh Lucas. Chelsea’s win also marked the end of Farmington Hills Harrison football under coach John Herrington, who concluded as the winningest coach in MHSAA history with a 443-112-1 record since starting the program in 1970. Harrison (8-4) is closing next summer. Click for more from the Sun Times News.

Regional Recap: Grand Rapids Catholic Central 35, Escanaba 6 For the third straight season, the two-time reigning Division 4 champion Cougars (11-1) eliminated the Eskymos (9-3), this time holding Escanaba to its fewest points of the fall. Edwardsburg 56, Holland Christian 21 The Eddies (12-0) set up a rematch of last season’s Division 4 Final (a 42-31 loss to GRCC) by scoring more than 50 points for the seventh time this season, ending a nice run for Holland Christian (8-4) with its best record since 2009. Williamston 28, St. Clair 0 The Hornets (10-2) advanced to their first Semifinal since 2010 by shutting out a St. Clair team that finished 9-3 and had scored a combined 132 points over its first two playoff games.

Division 5

HEADLINER: Saginaw Swan Valley 36, Reed City 28 Swan Valley’s side of this bracket began with four of the 30 undefeated teams left in all of 11-player at the end of the regular season, and the Vikings (12-0) remained one by edging another over the weekend. Reed City (11-1) gave Swan Valley its closest game this season and a closer one than when the two met and the Vikings won 29-14 in a Semifinal a year ago. How close was it? Reed City ended the game on Swan Valley’s 2-yard line. Click for more from the Saginaw News and see highlights below from WJRT.

Regional Recap: Hudsonville Unity Christian 39, Kalamazoo United 14 The Crusaders (10-2) advanced to their second Semifinal in three seasons by locking down a Titans offense averaging 53 points per game heading into Saturday. United finished 11-1, its best since the co-op between Hackett and Kalamazoo Christian was formed in 2014. Portland 40, Frankenmuth 6 The Raiders are headed to their first Semifinal since winning Division 5 in 2012 after stopping Frankenmuth (9-3) in its quest to win a third straight Regional title. Marine City 40, Detroit Denby 32 (2OT) The Mariners also finished third in their league during the regular season, but are headed to the Semifinals for the first time since winning Division 4 in 2013. Denby (9-3) concluded its winningest season and longest playoff run both since 2006, with its losses this fall by a combined 18 points.

Division 6

HEADLINER: Montrose 37, Flint Hamady 6 As noted above, this weekend was good to teams finishing third in their leagues this fall. The Rams (10-2) did so in the Mid-Michigan Activities Conference, but with this victory won their first Regional title since 2013 and ended the longest run and winningest season ever for Hamady (11-1). Click for more from the Flint Journal and see highlights below from WEYI.

Regional Recap: Montague 30, Schoolcraft 14 The Wildcats (10-2) reached double-digit wins for the third time in four seasons with their first Regional title since 2009 – when it went on to win the Division 6 title. Schoolcraft (9-3) finished by playing in its first Regional Final since 2013. Traverse City St. Francis 41, Kingsley 20 The Gladiators (12-0) won their third Regional title in four seasons, although Kingsley (10-2) cut the deficit after St. Francis won their first meeting by 35 in Week 4. Jackson Lumen Christi 33, Blissfield 0 Two-time reigning Division 6 champion Lumen Christi (11-0) won its third straight Regional title with its third shutout of the season. Blissfield (7-5) was held scoreless for the first time since 2016.

Division 7

HEADLINER: New Lothrop 26, Pewamo-Westphalia 14 It’s rare that the loudest headline from a football weekend comes from one of the divisions pitting the state’s smaller schools. But it certainly was noticed when New Lothrop (11-1) ended the two-time reigning champ Pirates’ 24-game winning streak. P-W (11-1) had beaten New Lothrop 35-14 in a District Final only a year ago, but now the Hornets will return to the Semifinals for the first time since 2015. Click for more from the Flint Journal.  

Regional Recap: Lake City 34, Roscommon 28 The Trojans (12-0) held off Roscommon (10-2) to make the Semifinals for the second straight season and extend their run of the last two years to a combined 24-1. Cassopolis 23, Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central 22 The Rangers’ defense, giving up now 4.3 points per game, was tested for the first time. But Cassopolis (12-0) won its second Regional title in three years by stopping St. Mary (9-3) on a goal line stand to finish the game. Madison Heights Madison 44, Riverview Gabriel Richard 7 The Eagles (12-0) are returning to the Semifinals after handing a playoff defeat to Gabriel Richard (7-5) for the second straight season.

Division 8

HEADLINER: Holton 14, Mendon 6 The Red Devils’ first playoff season since 2007 now includes its first Regional title ever. Holton (8-4) outlasted annual power Mendon to move on after both reached the playoffs as additional qualifiers at 5-4 to end the regular season. The Hornets, after winning their 10th District title in 12 seasons, finished 7-5. Click for more from the Muskegon Chronicle.

Regional Recap: Breckenridge 12, Ishpeming 6 The Huskies (12-0) have taken the steps from first playoff berth in 2016 since 1993, to first District title ever last season to now first Regional championship. Breckenridge drove north and handed Ishpeming (11-1) its only defeat by locking down an offense averaging 42 points per game entering the weekend. Harbor Beach 35, Flint Beecher 0 The Pirates (11-1) are back in the Semifinals for the first time since making three straight trips from 2012-14. Beecher (8-4) closed its longest playoff run since 2012 in Division 7. Reading 54, Detroit Southeastern 0 The Rangers (12-0) now have shutouts in half of their games this season and their first Regional title since 2008. It was a memorable fall for Southeastern (8-4), which made the playoffs for the first time since 2010 and only two years removed from a 3-24 three-year string.  

8-Player Division 1

SEMIFINAL: Pickford 40, AuGres-Sims 20 The Wolverines (11-1) were giving up only 7.5 points per game and hadn’t scored fewer than 50 this season. But Pickford (12-0) dominated on both sides of the ball, breaking through for its first MHSAA championship game berth after missing in Semifinals the last two seasons. Click for more from the Sault Ste. Marie Evening News and see highlights below from MI Sports Now.

SEMIFINAL: Morrice 40, Colon 8 The Orioles (12-0) will continue their deepest playoff run ever, with this victory securing their first MHSAA Finals berth. Morrice locked down a Colon offense averaging 44 points per game, and the Magi (10-2) gave up a season high. Still, it was a strong 8-player debut for Colon, which went 2-7 in 11-player a year ago and was playing in its first Semifinal in either format. Click for more from the Lansing State Journal.

8-Player Division 2

SEMIFINAL: Onekama 28, Portland St. Patrick 14 The Portagers will play in their first MHSAA football championship game after doubling up last season’s Division 2 runner-up. Onekama (10-2) also set a program record for wins, piling up 20 straight points to hold off the Shamrocks (7-5). Click for more from the Traverse City Record-Eagle.

SEMIFINAL: Rapid River 36, Cedarville 30 One more third-place success story from the weekend. Rapid River (9-3) downed Cedarville 28-20 in Week 7 to eventually lock up that spot in the Great Lakes Conference East, and edged the Trojans (7-5) a second time to reach the 8-Player Finals for the third time this decade and first since 2013. Click for more from the Escanaba Daily Press.

Second Half’s weekly “Drive for Detroit” previews and reviews are powered by MI Student Aid, a part of the Student Financial Services Bureau located within the Michigan Department of Treasury. MI Student Aid encourages students to pursue postsecondary education by providing access to student financial resources and information, including various student financial assistance programs to help make college more affordable for Michigan students. MI Student Aid administers the state’s 529 savings programs (MET/MESP) and eight additional aid programs within its Student Scholarships and Grants division. Click for more information and connect with MI Student Aid on Facebook and Twitter @mistudentaid.

PHOTO: Breckenridge seniors give a thumbs up while celebrating their Division 8 Regional championship in Ishpeming. (Photo by Cara Kamps.)

A pair of Holland Christian defenders pursue an East Grand Rapids ball carrier during the Pioneers' 41-21 win last week. 

1st & Goal: 2025 Week 7 Preview

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

October 10, 2025

The MHSAA Football Playoffs don't start for three more weeks. But this weekend definitely feels playoff caliber. 

MI Student AidAt least 25 games could end tonight or Saturday with a team celebrating a share or more of a league championship. A few more of our top matchups will set up similar showdowns over the final two weeks of the regular season. 

Follow scores for every game across the state this weekend on the MHSAA Scores page, check out standings for every league on those teams' pages, and watch several of those title deciders unfold on the NFHS Network, including all games with “WATCH” linked below.

Bay & Thumb

Millington (5-1) at Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker (6-0) WATCH

Millington’s loss to Cass City in Week 4 was in league play since 2022, but the Cardinals still can claim a share of the Big Thumb Conference West title with a win over the Lakers, whose only single-digit game this season was an 18-13 win over Cass City in Week 3. Millington won last year’s regular-season matchup 28-0 and then a 42-14 playoff rematch on the way to claiming the Division 7 title. Laker has given up only 47 points this season with impressive shutouts of Ubly and Central Montcalm.  

Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Linden (5-1) at Fenton (4-2) WATCH, Bay City John Glenn (4-2) at Freeland (5-1) WATCH, Reese (4-2) at Harbor Beach (6-0) WATCH, Ithaca (5-1) at Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Central (5-1) WATCH.

Greater Detroit

Gibraltar Carlson (6-0) at Brownstown Woodhaven (6-0) WATCH

Carlson brings a combined 34-3 record in Downriver League play this decade as it seeks a fifth-straight league title – and fifth-straight win over Woodhaven, which last won the Downriver in 2019. The Marauders spent their lone nonleague week doubling up reigning Division 5 champion Pontiac Notre Dame Prep 42-21 in Week 3, and a week later they avenged last season’s lone Downriver defeat by edging Trenton 17-14. Woodhaven also working to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2022 and hasn’t had a game closer than 24 points this fall.

Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Clarkston (5-1) at West Bloomfield (5-1) WATCH, Detroit Central (5-1) at Detroit Pershing (4-2), Almont (6-0) at Richmond (6-0) WATCH, Detroit Edison (5-1) at Harper Woods Chandler Park (5-1).

Mid-Michigan

Fowler (5-1) at Pewamo-Westphalia (5-0) WATCH

These longtime rivals have split their last four games against each other, Fowler claiming last year’s 14-11 on the way to the Central Michigan Athletic Conference title. This time they’ll meet in a league schedule finale, with a winner-take-all for the title guaranteed. The lone loss between them this fall was Fowler’s to still-undefeated Hudson in a season opener, and the Eagles have not given up more than seven points in a game since. The Pirates haven’t given up more than six points in a game all season and had an extra week to prepare for this one with an open date last week.

Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Kent City (6-0) at Central Montcalm (5-1) WATCH, Montrose (6-0) at New Lothrop (5-1) WATCH, Grand Ledge (6-0) at DeWitt (6-0) WATCH, Battle Creek Harper Creek (5-1) at Hastings (5-1) WATCH.

Northern Lower Peninsula

Mancelona (4-2) at Charlevoix (6-0) WATCH

Charlevoix has clinched an outright championship in the Northern Michigan Football Conference Leaders division, while Mancelona is tied for first in the Legacy with two league games to play and the big one a Week 9 date with co-leader Maple City Glen Lake. The Rayders certainly will provide some prep as the Ironmen ready for that deciding matchup, but there’s plenty at stake for Charlevoix too as it’s downed Mancelona in eight straight and is one of only six Division 7 teams still undefeated this fall.

Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Kingsley (4-2) at Cheboygan (3-3) WATCH, East Jordan (3-3) at Harbor Springs (3-3) WATCH, LeRoy Pine River (4-2) at Manton (4-2), Bay City Western (3-3) at Traverse City Central (3-3).

Southeast & Border

Hudson (6-0) at Clinton (5-1) WATCH

Undefeated and with all of its games against Division 5, 6 and 7 opponents, Hudson has the highest playoff-point average in Division 8 by a comfortable margin and can add to it against Division 7 Clinton. More importantly, they are the only two teams undefeated in Lenawee County Athletic Association play, and the winner this weekend clinches a share of the championship. They’ve split their last two meetings, Hudson claiming last year’s 22-6 during an outright championship run and after Clinton handed the Tigers their most recent league loss, in 2023.

Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Riverview (4-2) at Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central (6-0), Leslie (4-2) at Napoleon (4-2), Harper Woods (6-0) at Saline (6-0) WATCH, Adrian (5-1) at Ypsilanti Community (3-3).

Southwest Corridor

Portage Northern (5-1) at Portage Central (6-0) WATCH

The winner clinches a share of the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference West title. Northern also is seeking its first win in the rivalry since 2022, and they almost assuredly will meet again in the playoffs next month with Central fourth in Division 2 playoff-point average and Northern No. 13. Central also has given up only 10 points this season – all coming over the last two weeks – giving Northern another potential spoiler goal coming off last week’s 42-36 win over St. Joseph and having scored at least that many in four straight games. To that end, Central has yet to score fewer than 41 this season.

Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Kalamazoo Central (3-3) at Battle Creek Central (4-2), Dowagiac (4-2) at Buchanan (4-2) WATCH, Bronson (5-1) at White Pigeon (6-0) WATCH, Springport (6-0) at Quincy (4-2).

Upper Peninsula

Gaylord (6-0) at Escanaba (6-0) WATCH

Neither of these teams made the playoffs in 2024, much less competed for the Big North Conference title. But they did play one of the league’s closest games, a 19-15 Gaylord win, and this time the victor will clinch a share of the league title and keep an undefeated season going. Escanaba is coming off breaking a seven-game losing streak against rival Marquette with last week’s 38-20 victory – while Gaylord started league play with a 28-27 win over the Sentinels a month ago.

Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Iron Mountain (4-1) at Bark River-Harris (4-1) WATCH, L’Anse (4-2) at West Iron County (2-3) WATCH, Petoskey (3-3) at Marquette (3-3) WATCH, Negaunee (4-2) at Menominee (6-0) WATCH.

West Michigan

East Kentwood (5-1) at Hudsonville (6-0) WATCH

East Kentwood faded just a bit from the Ottawa-Kent Conference Red spotlight after a 21-14 Week 4 loss to Rockford, but can reclaim it almost entirely with a win over the Eagles – who themselves are coming off a 35-28 win over the rival Rams. When last these two met, Hudsonville edged East Kentwood 25-23 in a District opener last fall. A Falcons win this time could result in up to four teams being tied for first in the league, while a Hudsonville win would put them one away from clinching a repeat title.

Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Grand Rapids South Christian (3-3) at Zeeland East (4-2), Grand Rapids Catholic Central (6-0) at Holland Christian (4-2) WATCH, Whitehall (4-2) at Ludington (6-0), Belding (5-1) at Muskegon Oakridge (5-1) WATCH.

8-Player

Deckerville (6-0) at Kingston (6-0) WATCH

No one should be stunned if both of these rivals end up playing for 8-player championships next month at Superior Dome; Deckerville is No. 4 in Division 2 playoff-point average, and Kingston is No. 5 in Division 1. But first they must face off in what may turn end up one of the best 8-player games this regular season, with a share of the Big Thumb Conference Blue title on the line. Deckerville swept last year’s meetings, winning by 44 and then 34 points on the way to a perfect season and Division 1 title. Kingston has reached 64 points in four games this season and will face an Eagles defense that hasn’t given up more than 20.

Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Breckenridge (4-2) at Gaylord St. Mary (6-0), Rogers City (4-2) at Mio (5-1) WATCH, Norway (6-0) at Newberry (5-1). SATURDAY Gogebic (6-0) at Lake Linden-Hubbell (5-1) WATCH.

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.

PHOTO A pair of Holland Christian defenders pursue an East Grand Rapids ball carrier during the Pioneers' 41-21 win last week. (Click for more by MI Sports Photo.)