Drive for Detroit: Week 1 in Review
September 3, 2013
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Let’s start our first weekly review of MHSAA football action with some of the results you won’t see among our list of most significant from opening weekend:
Kent City’s first opening night win over Ravenna in 15 tries and Beal City’s incredible 61-0 win over rival Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart. Kalamazoo Central’s 14-13 win over neighbor Loy Norrix and Kinde-North Huron’s 28-14 win over reigning MHSAA 8-player champion Deckerville.
All are big-time results, no doubt. But below I’ve tried to tell you about five more from each region of our state, organized by the winner in each game, that might have bigger impacts as we move immediately forward with most leagues schedules kicking off in three days.
West Michigan
Zeeland West 44, Detroit Country Day 28
Country Day came into this season with plenty of deserved hype returning most of its star power from last season’s run to the MHSAA Division 4 Final. But Zeeland West has plenty of championship experience too, and its tough running proved too much for the Yellowjackets. Click to read more from the Oakland Press.
Also noted:
East Grand Rapids 24, Grand Rapids Catholic Central 7 – The Pioneers began making up for last season’s first playoff miss since 2000 with a solid win over another perennial power.
Grand Rapids Christian 41, Grand Rapids South Christian 13 – New faces abound, but the reigning Division 3 champion won big over last season’s Division 4 title winner.
Muskegon Oakridge 31, Grand Rapids West Catholic 25 – The Eagles are soaring high to start this fall after finishing 2012 with a 13-6 District Final loss to West Catholic.
Rockford 23, Utica Eisenhower 6 – Given these teams’ histories, no one would be stunned if they met again in 13 weeks in the MHSAA Division 1 Final.
Greater Detroit
Oak Park 25, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 20
Oak Park entered its opener with the opportunity to show last season’s historic run wasn’t over with 2012’s final horn. Four touchdowns during the second half against the reigning MHSAA Division 3 runner-up proved the Knights will be talked about plenty again in 2013. Read more in the Detroit Free Press.
Also noted:
Detroit Cass Tech 18, Southfield 14 – Two-time reigning Division 1 champion Cass Tech and quarterback Jayru Campbell edged an improved Bluejays team to start 1-0.
Clinton Township Chippewa Valley 27, Dearborn 20 (2 OT) – Chippewa Valley also beat Dearborn on opening night last season on the way to its first playoff berth in three seasons; this one could be prove just as important.
Rochester Adams 12, Clarkston 7 – Coming off its first playoff miss since 1996, Adams won for the first time in its last four tries against one of the biggest and best programs in the state.
Lake Orion 35, Oxford 30 – If this was an indication, these two should again be contenders in their respective divisions of the Oakland Activities Association. Lake Orion has held the Double "O" Pigskin Trophy three of four seasons since the series was restarted in 2010; the teams formerly played for the prize from 1962-83.
Southwest and Border
Battle Creek Harper Creek 27, Mattawan 7
Both of these teams should be contenders in their respective divisions of the Southwest Michigan Athletic Conference, and both will run their way to success again this fall. It will be interesting to see in eight weeks just how similar their paths finish after a game that would’ve been much closer if not for some untimely Mattawan turnovers. Click to read more from the Battle Creek Enquirer.
Also noted:
Battle Creek Central 15, Benton Harbor 0 – The Bearcats ended their 18-game winless streak with their first shutout since 2007.
Portage Central 55, Sturgis 0 – Sturgis has a Division 1 college prospect in quarterback Chance Stewart, which made this arguably the most impressive defensive performance statewide.
Watervliet 43, Gobles 14 – Simply put, this was a solid nonleague matchup between teams that each won eight games last season. Watervliet has the head start on repeating that feat.
Edwardsburg 34, Otsego 7 – Different teams, same story as above as both are playoff regulars that should again be in the mix by the end of the season.
Bay and Thumb
Saginaw Swan Valley 27, Saginaw Nouvel 20
Both might end this season at Ford Field after Swan Valley missed by one win a year ago and Nouvel missed by two after winning Division 7 in 2011. But as for the best in Saginaw, it looks like the Vikings at this point after running back Alex Grace ran for more than 200 yards in one of the state’s most intriguing openers. Click to read more from the Saginaw News.
Also noted:
New Lothrop 28, Traverse City St. Francis 7 – The Hornets traveled north for a tough opener and came back with plenty of momentum for the Genesee Area Conference Blue schedule.
Hemlock 19, Frankenmuth 12 – Hemlock, the 2012 Tri-Valley Conference Central champion, held on to beat the 2012 TVC East winner.
Montrose 38, Reese 8 – This looked to be a close game between 10-win teams from a year ago, but Montrose instead avenged last season’s 21-point loss to the Rockets in a bigger way.
Saginaw Arthur Hill 24, Goodrich 14 – Arthur Hill has struggled since it last playoff berth in 2008, but appears on the rebound with this reversal of a 41-6 loss to Goodrich in 2012.
Mid-Michigan
Ithaca 57, Williamston 13
This wasn’t really close, but was significant nonetheless. The win was Ithaca’s 43rd straight, tying the record for longest victory streak in MHSAA history in which all games were won during the playoff era. This week, the Yellowjackets face rival St. Charles with a chance to move up the list again. Click to read more from the Lansing State Journal.
Also noted:
Jackson Northwest 35, Hillsdale 20 – Only a record performance by Ithaca could trump what might be Northwest’s best football win since the mid-2000s. Hillsdale is coming off an 11-win season, and Northwest has won one game in each of the last three years.
Lansing Sexton 21, Chelsea 14 – Beating a team with 14 straight playoff berths will no doubt help the Big Reds return to the postseason after missing last season.
Pewamo-Westphalia 20, Lansing Catholic 7 – This reversed a 24-point loss to the Cougars last season as the Pirates began their quest for a third straight MHSAA Semifinals run.
Eaton Rapids 44, Leslie 0 – New Greyhounds coach Mike Smith, most known from his success at Holt, started his Eaton Rapids rebuilding effort with the team’s biggest win since 1996.
Upper Peninsula
Negaunee 36, Manistique 30
Negaunee had to be on its game for a tough Mid-Peninsula Conference opener against another playoff team from 2012. But the Miners held on through a late Manistique run and scored last to open league play and the season 1-0. Big plays were key, as Negaunee scored on an 80-yard kickoff return and 66-yard run. The Miners continued claim of the Oscar Wassberg Trophy, named for the former coach of both teams. Click to read more from the Marquette Mining Journal.
Also noted:
Cedarville 42, Posen 40 – The Trojans didn’t feel much of a challenge until Week 8 last season, but survived this one to kick off its 8-player season.
Ishpeming 36, Iron Mountain 0 – The reigning MHSAA Division 7 champion kept rolling with a win over another playoff team from last season.
Bessemer 28, Hancock 26 (OT) – The last three games between these two have been decided by a touchdown or less, but all in favor of the Bessemer-led co-op.
Marquette 31, Traverse City Central 23 – Marquette should get a solid boost at playoff selection time from this win as it goes for a fourth straight postseason berth.
Lower Up North
Reed City 39, Big Rapids 26
As stated earlier last week, this game eventually decided last season’s Central State Activities Association title in favor of Reed City. This was the fourth straight opening-night win for the Coyotes over rival Big Rapids. This game is played for the Pioneer Trophy. Click to read more from the Cadillac News.
Also noted:
Alpena 15, Escanaba 7 – Alpena has won only one game in each of the last two seasons and was outscored by Escanaba by a combined 72-0 over 2011 and 2012.
Hillman 55, Gaylord St. Mary 54 – These teams combined for only 41 points when they met to open 2012. This time, they qualified for the MHSAA record book.
Charlevoix 20, St. Ignace 0 – Coming off one win in 2012, and against a team that was 24-2 combined over the last two seasons, Charlevoix pulled off one of the biggest upsets statewide.
Maple City Glen Lake 27, Boyne City 13 – Glen Lake continued rolling off last season’s best finish in more than a decade by beating again the team it defeated to open the 2012 playoffs.
Trophy Games
Each week the MHSAA highlights trophy games played across the state. A few were mentioned above, with these the rest we knew about heading into the weekend.
- Bull Bowl – This is one of our newest trophies, established in 2011 for the opener between Fremont and Sparta. The Spartans gained a 2-1 advantage in the series last week. Final: Sparta 6, Fremont 0.
- Battle of 127 Trophy – Hudson and Addison have met for a number of years for this trophy sponsored by a local insurance company and local automotive group. Final: Hudson 46, Addison 0.
- Battle for The Paddle – Neighbors Sanford Meridian and Bullock Creek have met on opening night for the last dozen seasons. Bullock Creek owns a 7-5 advantage during that time. Final: Meridian 26, Bullock Creek 22.
- State Bank Traveling Trophy – Linden and Fenton have played for this prize dating to 1976, including on opening night the last two seasons. Final: Fenton 39, Linden 27.
- Little Brown Jug – Two games were played for these last week: Napoleon and Brooklyn Columbia Central continuing a series begun in 1967, and Manton and Mesick. Finals: Manton 29, Mesick 0; Columbia Central 26, Napoleon 18.
- Border Battle Cheese Trophy – Hurley (Wis.) made it eight straight opening-night wins over rival Ironwood. Final: Hurley 47, Ironwood 7.
PHOTO: Grand Ledge made this stop, but fell a few short in a 16-14 opening-night loss at home against East Kentwood.
St. Patrick Immediately Sets Tone On Way to Claiming 1st Title Since 1992
By
Jason Juno
Special for MHSAA.com
November 22, 2025
MARQUETTE — Portland St. Patrick has been no stranger to the MHSAA Finals since moving to 8-player football, but the Shamrocks had come up short of a title in three appearances since 2017.
They were back in the Division 2 championship game Saturday, and again facing a team from the Upper Peninsula, just like the other three times. But this time, St. Patrick made it clear from the opening kick it had no intention of going back below the Mackinac Bridge without the championship trophy.
The Shamrocks rode the momentum from a fast start and blanked Felch North Dickinson 53-0 at the Superior Dome.
“It means a lot,” St. Patrick senior back Brady Leonard said with the trophy in his hand. “Having a couple classes before us come here and not be able to finish the job, it was not just for our team, but it was for everyone that came and wasn’t able to finish it.”
Aiden Fandel set the tone when he took the opening kick to the Nordics’ 3-yard line. Jerryd Scheurer ran three yards on the first play from scrimmage, and Leonard ran in the conversion for an 8-0 lead just 20 seconds into the game.
“It was huge, just to flip the field position right away was a big deal,” St. Patrick coach Patrick Russman said.
The Shamrocks scored two more times during the first quarter, taking advantage of excellent field position.
St. Patrick’s Tyler Thelen blocked a punt to set up its next score. The Shamrocks took over at the North Dickinson 9, and Charlie Thelen caught a four-yard pass from Scheurer on the second play of the drive for a 14-0 lead.
The Nordics went for it on fourth-and-1 at their own 29 on the ensuing possession, but they were stuffed for no gain, giving St. Patrick the ball not far from the red zone.
Leonard ran eight yards for the touchdown and a 20-0 lead with 5:34 still left in the first quarter.
What a start.
"It was very important," Leonard said. "We knew if we came off hot, we knew that we'd be able to punch them in the mouth and we'd get off to the start that we normally have.”
The Shamrocks scored two more times in the first half, both on runs by Hudson King, who led with 120 yards on 10 carries. His 30-yarder came just seven seconds into the second quarter, and his 21-yard rush gave them a 33-0 lead that held until halftime.
The Nordics drove into St. Patrick territory twice in the period. The first stalled at the 44 when the game was still within reach at 26-0. The second got all the way to the 24, but incomplete passes on third and fourth downs gave St. Patrick the ball back with four seconds on the first-half clock.
North Dickinson just couldn’t overcome that start, or the talent level of the Shamrocks.
“We’ve been punched in the mouth before, but they’re way better,” Nordics coach Mike Christian said. “They were just so much better than us today. They’re bigger, faster, stronger. We just couldn’t get anything going.”
The second half proved to be more of the same. St. Patrick reached the end zone three more times, on short runs by Caleb Pline and two players listed as linemen, Logan Krieger and Nick Pung.
St. Patrick finished a perfect 13-0, and went unbeaten even with a tough schedule. Russman said the Shamrocks started off with tough Mid-State Activities Conference foes Merrill and Morrice. They ended the regular season with a win over eventual Division 1 runner-up Blanchard Montabella. Their playoff run included wins over Mendon, ranked No. 1 in the final media poll of the season, and last year’s Division 1 champion, Deckerville.
“We didn’t have any time to not be ready this year,” Russman said. “We’ve had a pretty good run of some very quality football teams throughout the stretch of the year. They didn’t give us any rest, so the kids did a good job of getting ready each week. Sometimes you slip, and these guys didn’t slip.”
He credited the team’s chemistry for the special season. The practices were superb all year. And they of course had some really good players.
“Our line has been working hard and they just continued to grind it out today, and our backs finished plays on the offensive end,” Russman said. “We’ve been trying to get a faster and faster defense each week, and I think they’ve really done that and accepted that challenge.”
St. Patrick’s last Finals win came when it was playing 11-player football in 1992, in Class D. North Dickinson was seeking its first championship but had to settle for its second runner-up finish (11-player, Class D, 1998).
The Nordics’ 17-game winning streak came to an end. They finished at 12-1 this year after winning their final five games last season.
North Dickinson canceled its varsity season in 2023, announcing at the time that it would play a JV schedule with only four upperclassmen on the roster. Two years later, the Nordics made it to the final game.
“My seniors would have been sophomores then,” Christian said. “I didn’t want to throw them into that right away. This is kind of what we were aiming for when we did that.”
It all worked out. Missing the playoffs last year proved to be a good motivator as well.
“They really put the extra work in,” he said. “They’re such great kids, and they worked their tails off all summer and I’m just so proud of them.”
PHOTOS (Top) Portland St. Patrick players celebrate a touchdown Saturday at Superior Dome. (Middle) North Dickinson quarterback Brady Jungwirth (15) works to pull away from a tackler. (Below) The Shamrocks’ Charlie Thelen (12) goes high to pull in a pass. (Click for more from Cara Kamps.)