Drive for Detroit: Week 2 in Review
September 8, 2014
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The storms came on hard on the state's west side about an hour before kickoff Friday. A handful mid-Michigan games started an hour or two late and got over just before midnight, and most in the the Detroit area were postponed for the night somewhere around the end of the first quarter.
Roughly 35 percent of MHSAA Week 2 games either were finished or played in full Saturday because of the string of lightening, thunder, rain and hail that made its way across most of the Lower Peninsula. At points before and after, teams continued finding their footing to start September, as the elite continued to show and local history was made in your backyards.
Below are the results that jumped out most from the wild weekend that was:
West Michigan
Zeeland West 38, Zeeland East 27
A little different start to this season’s chapter for these rivals; lately East has won the regular-season meeting with West then winning big in the playoffs. But West took control during the third quarter and rode its crushing running game to a win in what could again be a two-game series between the neighbors. Click to read more from the Holland Sentinel.
Also noted:
Muskegon 29, Grand Rapids Christian 21 – The Big Reds (2-0) just keep piling up impressive wins, including this second in a recent two-game series over the Eagles (1-1).
Caledonia 47, Grand Rapids South Christian 21 – Few in the state have been as impressive early as the Fighting Scots (2-0), who doubled up reigning Division 4 runner-up South Christian (0-2) after beating Battle Creek Harper Creek by 41 on opening night.
Rockford 40, Holt 28 – Holt (0-2) never makes this easy on Rockford (2-0), which had to come back from a halftime deficit.
Holland 28, Spring Lake 20 -- The Dutch (1-1) equaled its win total of the last two seasons combined by beating the Lakers (1-1), who finished 8-2 a year ago.
Greater Detroit
Macomb Dakota 42, Clinton Township Chippewa Valley 21
Dakota (1-1) showed it’s a Division 1 contender on opening night in a three-point loss to reigning champion Clarkston, and remains the favorite in the Macomb Area Conference Red after keeping this rivalry one-sided with a 16th-straight win over Chippewa Valley (1-1). Up next is league newcomer Warren Mott, another Red contender, but Dakota’s confidence should be running on high. Click to read more from the Macomb Daily.
Also noted:
East Detroit 28, Clinton Township Clintondale 22 – The Shamrocks (1-1) haven’t won more than five games in a season since 1986, but this has to be one of the biggest during that time; Clintondale had won 20 straight regular-season games dating to 2011.
Detroit Country Day 18, Detroit U-D Jesuit 16 – Beating Country Day in Week 2 last season set the tone for Jesuit’s best finish in more than a decade; this time the Yellowjackets get a nice bounce-back after a tough loss to Zeeland West on opening night.
Oxford 7, Rochester Hills Stoney Creek 0 – Oxford’s addition to the Oakland Activities Association Red made a strong league even tougher, but wins like this one over reigning Red runner-up Stoney Creek (1-1) are a must if the Wildcats (2-0) are to contend.
Utica Ford 23, Utica 20 – Ford (2-0) went a combined 1-17 over 2012-13 and hadn’t scored a point on rival Utica (0-2) since 2011.
Bay and Thumb
Marine City 28, St. Clair 14
Running back Jarrett Mathison, a hero of last season’s Division 4 championship run for Marine City, was a hero again with more than 200 yards rushing as the Mariners won the game that could eventually decide the Macomb Area Conference Gold title. These teams met in Week 8 to decide last season’s league championship, and Marine City definitely has an upper hand moving forward after also winning last year's tilt. Click to read more from the Port Huron Times-Herald.
Also noted:
Birch Run 33, Essexville Garber 7 – The Panthers (2-0) have had three up-and-down seasons, but this one looks more up after they avenged last season’s 43-12 loss to the Dukes (0-2).
Gladwin 35, Standish-Sterling 21 – The Flying G’s are 2-0 for the first time since 2003, this week beating a Standish-Sterling (1-1) team coming off 9-2 in 2013.
Clio 30, Central Montcalm 29 – Last week, Clio broke a 37-game losing streak; this week it edged the Hornets (1-1) to guarantee at least two wins for the first time since 2001.
Fenton 17, Temperance Bedford 8 – Not quite a streak, but Fenton (2-0) has won 18 of its last 19 regular-season games and handed Temperance Bedford its second loss this fall after the Mules were perfect for the regular season in 2013.
Mid-Michigan
Mount Pleasant 28, Flint Carman-Ainsworth 27 (OT)
A four-quarter comeback and two-point conversion stand could count significantly toward deciding the Saginaw Valley Association Red championship, even as this game was only the league opener for both contenders. Mount Pleasant (1-1) bounced back big after an opening nonleague loss to Midland Dow and stopped Carman-Ainsworth (1-1) as it went for the win at the end of first overtime. Click for more from the Mount Pleasant Morning Sun.
Also noted:
Beal City 15, Clare 14 – Beal City came back from a two-score deficit to move to 2-0; Clare, meanwhile, is 0-2 having faced the reigning Division 6 champion (Ithaca last week) and Division 8 runner-up.
Hartland 24, Canton 21 – The Eagles (2-0) are bouncing back well after going 3-6 a year ago, with Canton annually among Division 1’s most respected contenders.
Mason 10, Eaton Rapids 7 – The Bulldogs (1-1) came back from a disappointing opening-night loss to rival Okemos, hanging on against the improved Greyhounds (1-1) thanks to a touchdown with fewer than two minutes to play.
Parma Western 50, Battle Creek Pennfield 37 – Western (2-0) is making big strides in the second season under former Dearborn coach Dave Mifsud, with 50 points its most since 1962 and its pair of wins already equaling last season’s total – and with this one coming over a Pennfield team (0-2) coming off 10 wins and 15 straight playoff berths.
Lower Up North
Gaylord 35, Grayling 0
The first meeting between these two since 1996 didn’t end up as nail-biting as anticipated, but the credit needs to go to the Blue Devils – they are 2-0 and with another win will guarantee their best finish since 2008 after winning a combined three games over the last four seasons. What’s more, Gaylord has outscored its first two opponents by a combined 75-0 after not shutting out any since Week 5 of 2011. Grayling, a playoff team the last five years, fell to 1-1. Click for more from the Gaylord Herald Times.
Also noted:
Alpena 29, Sault Ste. Marie 18 – The Wildcats (1-1) not only equaled their win totals of the last three seasons, but did so against a Sault Ste. Marie team (0-2) coming off consecutive playoff appearances.
Traverse City Central 50, Escanaba 14 – The Trojans are 2-0 for the first time since 2004 and heading into this week’s Big North Conference opener against rival Traverse City West.
Traverse City St. Francis 42, McBain 12 – The Gladiators snapped back from an overtime loss to New Lothrop by moving to 1-1 with a win over a 2013 playoff team in McBain (0-2).
Indian River Inland Lakes 54, Pickford 14 – The Bulldogs (2-0) added 54 to their 62 points on opening night for a two-game total eclipsing 100 for the first time since 2004.
Southwest and Border
Martin 34, Bellevue 14
The Clippers (1-1) needed to put off the celebration one more day because of storms Friday but enjoyed their first win since 2007, a stretch of 56 games that actually began with a loss in the playoffs. The 34 points were Martin’s most since it scored 44 in its previous most recent win, a 2007 District opener, and came against a Bellevue team (0-2) that made the playoffs in 2013.
Also noted:
Constantine 31, Schoolcraft 17 – The Kalamazoo Valley Association rivals played another close one, with the Falcons (2-0) avenging last season’s nine-point loss to earn an upper hand this fall on the Eagles (1-1).
Whitehall 33, Shelby 0 – The Vikings (2-0) have doubled last season’s one-win total and done so by a combined 84-24 score and with their first shutout since 2011.
Paw Paw 29, Three Rivers 0 – The Redskins (2-0) are off to another solid start, with the shutout more impressive because Three Rivers (0-2) fell to powerful Edwardsburg by only two on opening night.
Ida 41, Petersburg-Summerfield 20 – Ida (2-0) lost only twice during the 2013 regular season, the worst by 21 points to Summerfield, now 1-1 this fall.
Upper Peninsula
Ishpeming Westwood 52, Houghton 14
The Patriots are faced with the large shadow of neighboring Ishpeming High, which has won the last two MHSAA Division 7 championships. But Westwood has built a nice start as well this fall, opening 2-0 against Stephenson and now Houghton after starting 0-2 against those opponents a year ago. By doing so, Westwood (2-0) equaled last season’s win total – and beat a 2013 playoff team in the Gremlins (0-2). Click for more from the Marquette Mining Journal.
Also noted:
Gladstone 41, Roscommon 12 – The Braves (2-0) ended a 16-game losing streak with a victory on opening night and tied their highest win total since 2010 with this one over the Bucks (0-2).
Iron River West Iron County 54, L'Anse 8 – The Wykons (2-0) got a huge start on another Western Peninsula Athletic Conference title by beating last season’s league runner-up, L’Anse (1-1).
Munising 41, Powers North Central 6 – The Mustangs bounced back from a 22-point loss on opening night to get a step up in the Mid-Eastern Conference against last season's runner-up, North Central, which didn’t play last week.
Negaunee 31, Calumet 22 – The always-steady Miners started 2-0 for the seventh straight season, while Calumet fell to 1-1.
8-player
Lawrence 57, Carsonville-Port Sanilac 6
Lawrence (2-0) continued its surge coming off last season’s MHSAA Semifinal berth, pushing its overall scoring margin this fall to 107-6 after two games. Derek Gribler, last season’s standout running back, ran for four scores and threw for two more from his new quarterback spot. Carsonville-Port Sanilac fell to 0-2. Click for more from Mlive.
Also noted:
Deckerville 14, Kingston 8 – The 2012 MHSAA champion is 2-0 for the first time in its three seasons as an 8-player team, although Kingston (0-2) played the Eagles the closest of their three recent meetings.
Webberville 44, Tekonsha 36 – The Spartans (1-1) bounced back from an 86-48 loss to Dryden on opening night, while Tekonsha fell to 0-2.
PHOTO: Corunna defenders (gold helmets) surround a Montrose ball-carrier Friday, but couldn't pull off an upset as the Rams prevailed 28-21 when the game was finished Saturday.
1st & Goal: 2025 Playoffs Week 3 Review
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
November 18, 2025
The third weekend of these MHSAA Football Playoffs saw plenty of headlining moments.
A pair of walk-off wins.
Three first-time Regional champions and a team advancing to a Final for the first time.
Three statewide stunners – including two in Division 4 alone.
One team accomplishing something from all of the above on what had to be the most unforgettable night in that program’s history.
Add in the usual high-level matchups to be found this time of year, and it was a wild 48 hours across both peninsulas. See below for notes on all 36 games.
8-Player Division 1
HEADLINER Blanchard Montabella 32, Norway 28 Montabella (11-1) came back from a 28-8 halftime deficit to earn its first trip to an MHSAA championship game in this sport. The defeat was the only one this season for Norway (11-1), which was playing in its first Semifinal since 2006. Click for more from the Greenville Daily News.
HEADLINER Martin 20, Kingston 8 The Clippers (12-0) also trailed at halftime before scoring 20 unanswered points to earn their third Finals trip over the last four seasons. Kingston ended 10-2, with its highest win total since 1996. Click for more from the Kalamazoo Gazette.
8-Player Division 2
HEADLINER Felch North Dickinson 44, Onekama 28 The Nordics (12-0) will play for a Finals championship for the first time since 1998 after finding their stride against an Onekama defense that otherwise gave up only 11.5 points per game this season. The Portagers finished 11-1, setting a school record for victories. Click for more from the Iron Mountain Daily News.
HEADLINER Portland St. Patrick 36, Deckerville 15 St. Patrick denied Deckerville (10-2) a return trip to Superior Dome as the Eagles sought to add to their Division 1 title won a year ago. Instead, the Shamrocks (12-0) will play in their first Final since 2020, and after holding Deckerville to its fewest points since also scoring 15 in Week 1. Click for more from WLNS.
11-Player Division 1
HEADLINER East Kentwood 52, Hudsonville 28 The Falcons (10-2) avenged a 43-42 Week 7 loss to eventual Ottawa-Kent Conference Red champion Hudsonville, in doing so handing the 2024 Division 1 runner-up Eagles (11-1) their only defeat this fall. The Regional title was East Kentwood’s first since 2014 and came in part thanks to three rushing touchdowns and two passing scores from quarterback Kayd Coffman. Click for more from the Grand Rapids Press.
Regional Roundup Detroit Cass Tech 42, Saline 28 The reigning Division 1 champion Technicians (12-0) ran their winning streak to 23 as C.J. Sadler scored four touchdowns to help end Saline’s run at 10-2. Detroit Catholic Central 42, Clarkston 13 The Shamrocks (12-0) clinched a second-straight Regional title, opening a 28-7 lead by halftime and holding Clarkston (10-2) to its fewest points this fall. Rochester Adams 29, Romeo 13 The Highlanders (10-2) also won a second-straight Regional title, adding to a 39-7 win over Romeo (8-4) in their season opener.
11-Player Division 2
HEADLINER Dexter 56, Gibraltar Carlson 42 The Dreadnaughts (11-1) won their second Regional title in four years and this time by scoring their second-most points in a game this fall. Carlson (11-1) – which set a school record for wins this season – had opened up a two-score lead during the third quarter before Dexter stormed back. Quarterback Cooper Arnedt threw for 590 yards and eight touchdowns. Click for more from the Ann Arbor News.
Regional Roundup Portage Central 24, Traverse City Central 20 A lot of Portage Central headlines have gone to the defense this fall, but the offense earned this one as the Mustangs (12-0) took the lead in the fourth quarter and held onto the ball late to deny the Trojans (7-5) one more comeback attempt. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 42, Midland Dow 7 The reigning Division 2 champion Eaglets (9-2) hit the road and scored their most points since Week 6, while also holding Dow (10-2) to its season low. Birmingham Groves 37, St. Clair Shores Lakeview 14 After starting this season 2-3, Groves (9-3) hasn’t lost since September and added a second-straight Regional title while ending a record-setting run for Lakeview (9-3) – which made an awesome jump from 3-6 a year ago,
11-Player Division 3
HEADLINER Warren De La Salle Collegiate 38, Detroit Martin Luther King 20 The Pilots opened up a 24-6 lead by halftime and kept King (7-5) – the reigning Division 3 runner-up – from reaching the Semifinals for the first time since 2020. De La Salle (6-6) has won five of its last seven games, and this was its fifth Regional title in six seasons after last year’s run ended in this round. Click for more from the Macomb Daily.
Regional Roundup Lowell 36, Zeeland West 34 The Red Arrows (10-2) moved past the reigning Division 3 champion Dux (8-4) late, earning their first Regional title since 2016. DeWitt 70, Fenton 26 The Panthers (12-0) reached 70 points for the second time this playoffs to advance to the Semifinals for the seventh time over the last eight seasons, ending Fenton’s longest run since 2016 at 8-4. Mount Pleasant 28, East Grand Rapids 14 The Oilers (12-0) earned their first trip to the Semifinals since 2011 and ended East Grand Rapids’ winning streak at seven games and season at 9-3.
11-Player Division 4
HEADLINER Dearborn Divine Child 10, Harper Woods 6 Divine Child is 11-1, so deciding a degree of upset here is difficult – but Harper Woods (11-1) had defeated Division 1 Saline and Clarkston among others this season and was ranked No. 1 in the final coaches poll, so this made a pretty big statewide wave. The Pioneers were seeking a third-straight Regional title, and Divine Child claimed its first since 2016. Click for more from the Detroit Free Press.
Regional Roundup Vicksburg 42, Portland 41 The Bulldogs (8-4) pulled off another of the stunners of these playoffs, clinching their first Regional title in this sport with a walk-off touchdown catch to hand Portland (11-1) its only defeat of the season. Hudsonville Unity Christian 52, Big Rapids 14 Unity Christian (11-1) won its first Regional title since 2021 with its sixth 50-point game this season, and also held Big Rapids (10-2) to the Cardinals’ season low. Goodrich 41, Williamston 33 The reigning Division 4 champion Martians (12-0) won this matchup of undefeated contenders, ending the Hornets’ longest run since 2020 at 11-1.
11-Player Division 5
HEADLINER Pontiac Notre Dame Prep 42, Frankenmuth 28 This rematch of last season’s Division 5 Final was much closer, but Notre Dame Prep prevailed again as quarterback Sam Stowe through three touchdowns passes and the Fighting Irish (10-2) also returned a blocked punt for a score. Frankenmuth finished 10-2, its only other loss to still-undefeated Goodrich during Week 1. Click for more from the Oakland Press.
Regional Roundup Ogemaw Heights 34, Saginaw Swan Valley 14 Ogemaw Heights (11-1) clinched its first Regional title since 2009, holding Swan Valley (10-2) to its fewest points since also scoring 14 in its only other loss this fall in Week 2. Grand Rapids West Catholic 27, Kalamazoo United 0 The Falcons (11-1) posted their first shutout since Week 2, and scored the most points the Titans (9-3) gave up in a game this fall. Monroe Jefferson 71, Michigan Center 45 This one will make the highest-scoring games list for this season, as Jefferson (11-1) scored its most since 2010 and Michigan Center (10-2) went over 40 for the eighth time this season.
11-Player Division 6
HEADLINER Kent City 50, Montrose 20 Kent City (12-0) added a first Regional title to its first District championship won the weekend before, reaching 50 points for the third time this season and after Montrose had given up only 62 points combined over its first 11 games. The Rams completed their winningest season since 2013 at 11-1. Click for more from the Muskegon Chronicle.
Regional Roundup Almont 44, Detroit Edison 8 After edging Edison 53-46 in Week 9, Almont (12-0) pulled away this time to claim a second Regional title in three seasons. The Pioneers set a program record for wins in finishing 9-3. Jackson Lumen Christi 21, Ida 7 The reigning champion Titans (9-3) turned away their strongest challenge since the start of October, and after defeating Ida (9-3) by 21 in a District Final a year ago. Kingsley 18, Reed City 14 The Coyotes (9-3) cut the margin after Kingsley (10-2) won their season-opening meeting 24-6, but the Stags prevailed scoring the go-ahead points on a fourth-down pass.
11-Player Division 7
HEADLINER Clinton 20, Millington 18 This was another classic decided during the final minute, as Clinton (10-2) went ahead on a scoring pass to end Millington’s repeat Division 7 championship hope and season at 9-3. The Regional title was Clinton’s first since 2022. Click for more from the Adrian Daily Telegram.
Regional Roundup Menominee 43, Shelby 0 The Maroons (12-0) have been tough on defense all season, allowing just 10 points per game on average, but they threw their first shutout in ending Shelby’s longest run since 2013 at 7-5. Pewamo-Westphalia 42, Ithaca 21 The Pirates clinched their first Regional title since 2021 and improved to 11-0, running their playoff record against Ithaca (8-4) to 3-0 over the last five seasons. Schoolcraft 22, Hanover-Horton 14 Schoolcraft (10-2) scored the only points of the fourth quarter to claim a second-straight Regional title. Hanover-Horton finished 9-3, setting a program record for wins.
11-Player Division 8
HEADLINER Harbor Beach 26, Beal City 15 The Pirates (12-0) won their first Regional title since 2018 and ended the season for reigning Division 8 champion Beal City (11-1). Harbor Beach continued its impressive defensive run, with the Aggies’ 15 points the most the Pirates have given up – and with Beal City averaging nearly 46 per game entering the weekend. Click for more from the Huron Daily Tribune.
Regional Roundup Hudson 68, Springport 22 The Tigers (12-0) continued their perfect run, scoring their second-most points this fall in handing Springport (11-1) the only loss of its winningest season. Bark River-Harris 22, Maple City Glen Lake 21 The Broncos (10-1) secured their first Regional title since 2003 with a kickoff return touchdown and 2-point conversion on the final plays of the game. Glen Lake (9-2) had scored just seconds earlier to break a 14-14 tie. Allen Park Cabrini 34, Madison Heights Madison 32 The Monarchs’ first Regional title came with a go-ahead touchdown during the fourth quarter, sending Cabrini to 11-1 and ending Madison’s season at 10-2 – an incredible turnaround after the Eagles had won a combined six games over the previous five seasons.
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.
PHOTOS (Top) Portland St. Patrick running back Brady Leonard (9) accelerates through a hole during the first quarter of his team’s 8-Player Semifinal win Saturday over Deckerville. (Middle) Detroit Catholic Central quarterback Duke Banta targets a receiver during his team’s Division 1 Regional Final win Friday over Clarkston. (St. Patrick/Deckerville photo by Kolleth Photo. DCC/Clarkston photo by Terry Lyons.)