Logo

Drive for Detroit: Week 4 in Review

September 23, 2019

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Week 4 of Michigan’s high school football season was filled with great stories, and we tried to make mention of as many as we could in this week’s “Drive for Detroit” review.

A legendary coach returns with a big win. A neighbor beats its rival for the first time in a number of years – or decades. A league title contender gives up a sure win and takes a chance to help another celebrate those who have served our country.

And as often written in these opening paragraphs each week, those were just the start.

"Drive for Detroit" is sponsored by MI Student Aid.

Bay & Thumb

HEADLINER Frankenmuth 21, Freeland 7 The Eagles (4-0) now share the lead in the Tri-Valley Conference East with only Saginaw Swan Valley after sending Freeland (3-1) a game back. Frankenmuth avenged last season’s 15-8 loss to the Falcons with 21 unanswered second-half points, but can’t celebrate for long with Swan Valley up this week. Click for more from the Saginaw News and see highlights below from WJRT.

Watch list Richmond 35, Croswell-Lexington 18 The Blue Water Area Conference also has just two teams at the top now – Richmond and Almont – after the Blue Devils (4-0) sent Croswell-Lexington (2-2) into a tie for third.

Remember this one Millington 15, Hemlock 6 The Cardinals (1-3) took the first step needed to win out and guarantee extending their 15-year playoff streak by handing Hemlock (2-2) its second straight defeat.

More shoutouts Davison 48, Flint Powers Catholic 0 The Cardinals (4-0) posted their second straight shutout to hand Powers (3-1) its first defeat and stay atop the Saginaw Valley League Blue. Harbor Beach 47, Brown City 0 The Pirates (4-0) have given up just 17 points over four games but next will take on Ubly (40.5 ppg) for first place in the Greater Thumb Conference East.

Greater Detroit

HEADLINER Plymouth 14, Brighton 7 The Wildcats are 4-0 for the first time since 2011 and alone atop the Kensington Lakes Activities Association West after edging the reigning champion Bulldogs. Brighton (3-1) is one of four teams in the league sharing second with one defeat – and Plymouth handed that loss to three of them. Click for more from the Livingston Daily Press & Argus.

Watch list Oak Park 26, Birmingham Groves 14 Oak Park (3-1) has been one of Groves’ few regular-season stoppers the last few seasons and made it three in a row over the Falcons (3-1) to remain with Birmingham Seaholm the only teams undefeated in Oakland Activities Association White play.

Remember this one Detroit Martin Luther King 47, Detroit Cass Tech 7 Much credit goes to both Detroit Public School League powers for opening against some of the Midwest’s best – even though both started 0-2. King (2-2) gave itself a little bit of breathing room with a second straight win after opening with defeats to Detroit Catholic Central and Muskegon. Cass Tech (1-3) finds itself in a rare position; the Technicians fell to out-of-state powers Chicago Phillips and Lakewood St. Edward (Ohio), the first two weeks and likely will have to win out – including against King during the Detroit Public School League playoffs – to extend an 11-year playoff streak.

More shoutouts Orchard Lake St. Mary's 38, Walled Lake Western 35 The Eaglets, after going a combined 5-12 over the last two seasons, are 4-0 after handing Western its first loss. Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice 16, Warren De La Salle Collegiate 14 The Warriors (4-0) downed the reigning Division 2 champion Pilots (2-2) for the first time since 2016.

Mid-Michigan

HEADLINER East Lansing 35, Portage Northern 28 (OT) The Trojans (3-1) earned a major win for Lansing-area football as a whole, taking down arguably the top team from the southwest so far this fall in Northern (3-1). The Huskies are undefeated in Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference West play along with St. Joseph, but gave up a season high in points to East Lansing. The Trojans couldn’t have wished for better heading into their next matchup with league rival DeWitt, a big winner over Holt this weekend. Click for more from East Lansing Info and see below for highlights from State Champs Sports Network.

Watch list New Lothrop 42, Montrose 21 The reigning Division 7 champion Hornets (4-0) haven’t slowed down a step from last season, with Montrose (3-1) the second of three second-place teams in the Mid-Michigan Activities Conference to fall to New Lothrop over the last two weeks.

Remember this one St. Johns 33, Williamston 21 The Redwings (3-1) got off to a deflating start with a Week 1 shutout against East Lansing, but that loss looks better with the Trojans’ success and also forgettable after wins like this one over the Hornets (2-2).

More shoutouts Beal City 35, Evart 7 The Aggies (4-0) stand alone in the Highland Conference after handing Evart (3-1) its first defeat, which continued a three-week string of dealing contenders their first league loss. Fowler 46, Laingsburg 24 By handing Laingsburg (3-1) its only loss, the Eagles (4-0) got past the main obstacle on the way to what could be a battle of unbeatens against rival Pewamo-Westphalia in Week 8.

Northern Lower Peninsula

HEADLINER Kingsley 26, Traverse City St. Francis 7 The Stags (4-0) broke a six-game losing streak against the Gladiators that had seen them struggle to even score against their rivals. But this time, St. Francis (2-2) was held to just seven points for the second time this season – and also just the second time in a regular-season game since the start of 2014. Kingsley sits atop the Northern Michigan Football League Legends standings with Week 9 opponent Boyne City. Click for more from the Traverse City Record-Eagle and see highlights below from MI Sports Now.

Watch list Alpena 41, Cadillac 38 Are the Wildcats (2-2) contenders in the Big North Conference? They join Travers City Central as the only teams without a league loss as they play for their first overall winning season since 2004, and this was a nice win with Cadillac (2-2) also on the rise.

Remember this one Traverse City Central 32, Traverse City West 0 The “Patriot Game” always is memorable, but will be this time especially for Central (3-1) as it avenged last season’s 21-14 defeat with a margin unrivaled in the series since West’s 31-point win in 2002.

More shoutouts Maple City Glen Lake 53, Frankfort 7 The Lakers (4-0) continued to shine with a season high in points against the Panthers (2-2). Johannesburg-Lewiston 40, St. Ignace 0 The Cardinals put up a third straight big win to start a string of five games against teams that are .500 or better so far.

Southeast & Border

HEADLINER Chelsea 28, Ypsilanti Lincoln 18 The Bulldogs (4-0) made the Division 4 championship game last season, even more impressive considering they didn’t win their league. But they took a major step toward earning that local crown this fall by ending a two-year losing streak to the rival Railsplitters (2-2) – and next up is reigning Southeastern Conference White champion Jackson. Click for more from the Chelsea Sun Times News.

Watch list Blissfield 28, Brooklyn Columbia Central 14 Seven of eight teams in the Lenawee County Athletic Association are 2-2 or better, and Blissfield (3-1) finds itself tied for first place after handing reigning co-champ Columbia Central (3-1) a loss for the second straight season.

Remember this one Clinton 34, Sand Creek 28 A late rally kept Clinton (4-0) tied for first in the Tri-County Conference and could be the difference down the road as Sand Creek (3-1) hopes for help to get back in the title mix.  

More shoutouts Dexter 57, Jackson 21 The Dreadnaughts (3-1) are halfway to earning a second playoff berth in two seasons – and ever – after avenging last season’s 10-point loss to the Vikings (3-1). Jonesville 52, Union City 0 This win over 2018 playoff qualifier Union City moved Jonesville to 3-1, giving the Comets their most wins in a season since 2016 – and tying their most wins since 2014.  

Southwest Corridor

HEADLINER St. Joseph 22, Stevensville Lakeshore 14 The coach Andrew Pratley era is only four games old, but the Bears (4-0) are only one win shy of tying last year’s success and in position to decide their fate in the SMAC West after this victory over Lakeshore (2-2). St. Joseph had lost eight straight to the Lancers, going back to 2013. The final month could be even more telling with league foes Portage Central and Northern sandwiching undefeated Battle Creek Lakeview and perennial power DeWitt. Click for more from the St. Joseph Herald-Palladium.

Watch list White Pigeon 14, Centreville 8 The Chiefs (4-0) won this matchup of 2018 playoff qualifiers to hold on to a share of first in the Southwest 10 Conference, with Centreville (2-2) now having lost to both co-leaders over the last two weeks.

Remember this one Lawton 29, Delton Kellogg 12 These two could end up champions in the Southwestern Athletic Conference divisions. Delton (3-1) should be pursuing the Valley title with Schoolcraft and Constantine. Lawton (4-0) and Gobles look to be early favorites in the SAC Lakeshore.

More shoutouts Edwardsburg 54, Vicksburg 7 The Eddies (4-0) are back on top in the Wolverine Conference sharing first with only Paw Paw after handing Vicksburg (3-1) its first loss. Portage Central 21, Battle Creek Central 19 Both made the playoffs a year ago, and the Mustangs (2-2) are just a bit more comfortable as they try to advance again while the Bearcats (1-3) now are forced to win out to guarantee a return.

Upper Peninsula

HEADLINER Ishpeming Westwood 38, Ishpeming 0 The Patriots (2-2) find themselves needing a number of things to fall their way to get back into their league’s title mix, but a great consolation prize at the end of the season will be this win over the rival Hematites (3-1). It broke a losing streak (on the field, not counting a forfeit victory in 2017) against Ishpeming that began in 1999 and included four playoff defeats. Click for more from the Marquette Mining Journal.

Watch list Calumet 14, West Iron County 0 The Copper Kings (4-0) have given up only 21 points over four games, handing West Iron (3-1) a shutout for its first defeat.

Remember this one Marquette 17, Escanaba 14 The Redmen (2-2) started this season with losses to Traverse City powers St. Francis and Central. But those games no doubt prepared them well to open Great Northern Conference play with a big win against their rival and the other reigning league co-champ Eskymos (3-1).

More shoutouts Kingsford 20, Gladstone 7 The Flivvers (2-2) enjoyed a jumpstart in their first game this fall against a Michigan opponent, handing Gladstone (2-2) a second straight defeat. Sault Ste. Marie 8, Petoskey 7 (OT) The Blue Devils (3-1) scored their only points in overtime to improve on their best start on the field since 2007 (not including 2015 when a Week 4 win came by forfeit).

West Michigan

HEADLINER Rockford 34, Muskegon Mona Shores 21 The Rams (4-0) welcomed back the state’s sixth winningest coach Ralph Munger after preseason heart surgery kept him off the sideline to start the fall, and they no doubt rode some added inspiration in avenging losses to Mona Shores (3-1) from the last two seasons.  Jaiden Friesen scored five touchdowns, and Rockford’s defense held the reigning Division 2 runner-up Sailors to their second-fewest points over the last three seasons. Click for more from the Grand Rapids Press.

Watch list Byron Center 33, Holland Christian 6 The much-improved Bulldogs (4-0) have handed losses to three .500 teams including Holland Christian (2-2) to get to the Ottawa-Kent Conference Green powers, starting with Zeeland West this week.

Remember this one Muskegon Catholic Central 34, Ludington 21 This one jumped off the page, mostly because Ludington (3-1) had beaten reigning Lakes 8 Conference champ Manistee the week before. With Orchard View also surging, this league could be wide open.

More shoutouts Zeeland West 40, Lowell 26 The Dux (4-0) actually saw their scoring average fall to 45 ppg, and with wins as well over East Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Christian and Holland appear ready for league competition. Muskegon Orchard View 42, Belding 35 Every week the story gets better for the Cardinals (4-0), who have guaranteed their best finish since 2014 and with another win will tie their best since 2008.

8-Player

HEADLINER Suttons Bay 20, Onekama 14 This was one of the week’s best stories, and it had nothing to do with how the teams played. Although these two are the likely Midwest Central Michigan Conference West favorites and will meet again possibly to decide the champion Week 8, they agreed to play a nonleague game this past week as well. Although both were eligible to receive forfeit wins against other opponents no longer playing this fall, Onekama (3-1) had made big plans for its “Warrior Game” military appreciation night and needed an on-field opponent to make it go. In stepped Suttons Bay, which moved to 4-0 with its best win this season. Click for more from the Manistee News-Advocate.

Watch list Climax-Scotts 16, Camden-Frontier 12 It’s been impossible to not make mention of Climax-Scotts (4-0) almost every week so far with how it’s marched through some of the traditional best from its corner of the Lower Peninsula. Camden-Frontier (3-1) entered undefeated, and unbeaten Colon is up next.

Remember this one Litchfield 36, Waldron 22 The Terriers (3-1) now have as many wins as the last seven seasons combined, and could be set up to make a run at the playoffs for the first time since 2011.

More shoutouts Rapid River 66, Cedarville 58 (OT) The Rockets (1-3) haven’t scored like usual this season, but this overtime back-and-forth was a quick reminder of their past firepower – and a good time for it with Cedarville (2-2) always a force and league play starting. Hillman 52, Au Gres-Sims 20 The Tigers (4-0) stormed back after taking a forfeit win in Week 3, breaking a streak of three regular-season losses to the Wolverines (1-3).

Second Half’s weekly “Drive for Detroit” previews are powered by MI Student Aid, a part of the Office of Postsecondary Financial Planning 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. MI Student Aid administers the state’s 529 college savings programs (MET/MESP), as well as scholarship and grant programs that help make college Accessible, Affordable and Attainable for you. Connect with MI Student Aid at www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid and find more information on Facebook and Twitter @mistudentaid.

PHOTO: Ishpeming Westwood quarterback Taylor Dellangelo celebrates a touchdown against Ishpeming. (Photo by Cara Kamps.)

Drive Complete: 2017 Finals in Review

November 27, 2017

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor 

Every November, the MHSAA Football Finals give players, coaches and fans an opportunity to see what everyone else has been talking about.

These last two weekends were no different. We saw powers restored and others emerging. We witnessed two first-time winners finish perfect seasons and another champion win for the fifth straight year. We enjoyed performances from some of the talented stars we’d only read about, and encores by others returning to the championship round – including the now-winningest coach in Michigan high school history.

Second Half covered all 10 championship games last weekend at Ford Field and two weekends ago at the Superior Dome, with quick recaps and links (click on the game scores) 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 2017 Finals.

Finals in Review

11-Player Division 1: Clarkston 3, West Bloomfield 2

This one had an intriguing circumstance from the start: West Bloomfield, playing its first Final, had tied for first and Clarkston finished third in the Oakland Activities Association Red during the regular season with the Lakers beating the Wolves 37-16 in Week 4. The rematch ended with the second fewest points scored in MHSAA Finals history.

11-Player Division 2: Warren DeLaSalle 41, Livonia Franklin 6

DeLaSalle took its lead 16 seconds into the game on a fumble return touchdown and never slowed down in winning its second championship in four seasons. Franklin, playing in its first title game since 1975, had turnovers on three of its first four possessions (and a turnover on downs to end the other one) and never got rolling again.

11-Player Division 3: Muskegon 28, Farmington Hills Harrison 10

Muskegon won its first championship since 2008 after finishing runner-up four of the last five seasons. The Big Reds finished one of the most impressive runs in recent playoff history, winning on average by 37 points over its five postseason victories. Harrison – led by all-time winningest coach John Herrington – did give Muskegon one of its toughest tests.

11-Player Division 4: Grand Rapids Catholic Central 42, Edwardsburg 31

After winning a 2016 Division 4 title game that saw only 17 points scored between the two teams, GRCC repeated in a game featuring 73. The Cougars came back from an early deficit as standout running back Nolan Fugate put together one of the top rushing performances in Finals history. The Eddies were playing in their first championship game and made this arguably the most entertaining of the weekend.

11-Player Division 5: Grand Rapids West Catholic 34, Saginaw Swan Valley 7

Grand Rapids West Catholic tied two more programs by winning its fifth straight MHSAA championship, jumping out to a 34-0 lead led by three-year quarterback Gaetano Vallone and a number of others who have contributed to multiple titles. Swan Valley was making its first Finals appearance, but will be a strong candidate to return next fall.

11-Player Division 6: Jackson Lumen Christi 40, Ithaca 34

What was expected to be one of the most competitive Finals didn’t disappoint, as the Titans came back from a 13-8 halftime deficit to repeat. They put up some of the biggest rushing numbers in championship game history to offset the dual danger posed by Ithaca quarterback Joey Bentley, who threw three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter as the Yellowjackets worked for a chance to win.

11-Player Division 7: Pewamo-Westphalia 21, Saugatuck 0

These teams met in the playoffs for the third straight season but first in a championship game. P-W, despite losing quarterback/defensive end Jimmy Lehman to a hand injury near the end of the second quarter, hung on through a scoreless second half to repeat as champion.

11-Player Division 8: Ottawa Lake Whiteford 42, Saginaw Nouvel 21

Whiteford returned after finishing runner-up in 2016 to claim its first MHSAA football championship. The Bobcats got on the board before the first minute was over and totaled 484 yards as quarterback Thomas Eitniear and running back Logan Murphy both ran for three touchdowns.

8-Player Division 1: Central Lake 32, Deckerville 30

Central Lake came back from 2-7 last season, its last in 11-player, and 10 points down during the second half of this game to win its first MHSAA football championship and first in any sport since 1980. The Trojans went ahead to stay with 2:49 to play.

8-Player Division 2: Crystal Falls Forest Park 54, Portland St. Patrick 12

The Trojans claimed their first championship since 2007 and first as an 8-player program, but in similar style as their 11-player winners. Forest Park ran for 481 yards and built a 30-point lead by halftime.

Record Report

Clarkston’s three points against West Bloomfield tied the record for fewest by a winning team (with Ann Arbor Pioneer’s 1987 team) and the five points scored between the teams ranked as the second fewest for a Final. The two also combined to tie the record for most punts, with 14, with Clarkston’s Jermaine Roemer tying the individual Finals record with eight.

Brandan Madigan made the “quickest touchdown” list by returning a fumble return 13 yards for a touchdown 16 seconds into Warren DeLaSalle’s Division 2 win. Warren DeLaSalle also tied for the third-most points in a quarter, putting up 31 during the second in its win over Livonia Franklin.

Warren DeLaSalle’s Riley Garrison and Grand Rapids West Catholic’s Liam Putz both drilled two field goals, joining seven others who have done the same (two hold the record at three field goals). Garrison also made the extra points list with five on five tries.

Farmington Hills Harrison broke the record it previously held with Detroit Catholic Central by playing in an 18th MHSAA championship game, this its first since 2010. The MHSAA Football Playoffs began in 1975.

Muskegon sits 11th with 10 MHSAA Finals appearances and moved up to tied for 10th with six championships. La’Darius Jefferson earned multiple entries with his 245 yards and four touchdowns rushing, tying for fourth-most points (24) in one Final, third most total touchdowns and also rushing touchdowns in a game and eighth most rushing yards.

Harrison’s Ben Williams earned entries for his 91-yard opening kickoff touchdown, both among the longest kickoff returns and fastest touchdowns (16 seconds into the game) scored in a Final.

Nolan Fugate capped his career with one more jaw-dropping rushing performance. The Grand Rapids Catholic Central running back ran for 306 yards, one shy of tying the Finals record, and his 392 total yards ranked seventh all-time. He did tie Finals records with five touchdowns and 30 points and tied for third with four rushing scores. Kicker Alec Winden tied for the fourth-most extra points making all six of his tries.

Edwardsburg also took home two Finals records, as Nick Bradley tied the longest running play with a 90-yard touchdown dash; his run equaled Nick Williams’ for Farmington Hills Harrison in 1994. Caden Goggins tied the 2014 record set by Tommy Scott of Muskegon Catholic Central by bringing a kickoff back 99 yards for a touchdown.

Grand Rapids West Catholic moved up lists with its eighth MHSAA Finals appearance and sixth championship, and into a first-place tie with a fifth-straight title. Farmington Hills Harrison 1997-2001 and East Grand Rapids 2006-2010 also won five consecutive Finals. Grand Rapids Catholic Central also moved up the Finals appearances list with its seventh, while Jackson Lumen Christi is tied for eighth most with 12 and Ithaca added its seventh as well. Lumen Christi’s championship was its 10th, good to tie for the sixth-most titles.

Jackson Lumen Christi became the third team to rush for more than 500 yards in a Final, its 514 yards the third most and its 67 carries second. Sebastion Toland ran for 244 yards – ninth-most by one player – and teammate Kyle Minder made that list with 206 yards. The team’s 523 yards of total offense tied for fifth most, and its 24 first downs tied for eighth.

Ithaca’s Joey Bentley made his last game another great one, even in defeat. His four touchdown passes tied for fifth-most in a championship game, and his 329 total yards of offense – 89 rushing, 240 passing – also earned a record book entry.

Ottawa Lake Whiteford’s offense impressed to open Finals weekend, tying for third with six rushing touchdowns and becoming the latest of 24 teams that did not punt in a championship game.

Crystal Falls Forest Park set an 8-Player Finals record with 481 yards on the ground, rushing 52 times without throwing a pass. Peter Ropiak had the second-most yards in one game, 275 on 16 carries, while backfield mate Connor Bortolini was added for scoring 26 points on four rushing touchdowns and a two-point conversion. Ropiak’s total yards also qualified in the total offense category, and the team’s eight rushing touchdowns also set a record.

Central Lake made the rushing list with 316 yards in its 8-Player Division 1 win over Deckerville, and also the first downs list with 21.

Portland St. Patrick’s Colin Cook was added for seven punts in the 8-Player Division 2 game against Forest Park. Cook averaged 34.1 yards per punt with a long of 63.

Stories behind the scores

Repeat again: For the second straight season, there were four repeat champions at the 11-Player Finals – this time, as noted above, Grand Rapids Catholic Central in Division 4, Grand Rapids West Catholic in Division 5, Jackson Lumen Christi in Division 6 and Pewamo-Westphalia in Division 7. Also noted above, West Catholic next fall will attempt to become the first team in MHSAA football history to win six straight titles.

First-time celebrations: Ottawa Lake Whiteford in 11-Player Division 8 and Central Lake in 8-Player Division 1 claimed their first championships, showing off powerful running games against opponents who had won championships previously – Whiteford over Saginaw Nouvel and Central Lake over Deckerville.

Running ran the day(s): In an era of wide-open spread offenses, power running ruled the 2017 Finals. Start with Whiteford and Central Lake mentioned above; Crystal Falls Forest Park set an 8-Player Finals record for rushing while Jackson Lumen Christi put rushers on the all-time record book list for the second straight season. Muskegon threw two passes and didn’t complete any in running away in Division 3, and the Division 4 Final between GRCC and Edwardsburg featured a combined 675 rushing yards.

We may never see this again: Clarkston’s 3-2 win over West Bloomfield was the lowest-scoring Final in 30 years, but how the teams got to five total points might end up rarer. Clarkston’s points, of course, came on a field goal by Roemer from 30 yards out on the final play of the second quarter. But to that point, West Bloomfield led for 15 minutes thanks to a safety when a punt snap sailed through the end zone. For unrelated comparison’s sake, two of our four Baseball Finals in the spring were higher scoring, and only one was decided by the same close margin.

Hawks’ last stand: Farmington Hills Harrison finished something of an unexpected run by playing in its 18th MHSAA football championship game, capping the season that saw Herrington become the winningest coach in state history with a 435-108-1 record. The school will close in spring 2019, and Herrington will coach the final season next fall; he has served as coach since the school opened in 1970. Harrison’s enrollment likely will fall without the usual underclassmen next year – which could make the Hawks an interesting contender staying in Division 3 or moving into Division 4 or 5.

The MHSAA Playoffs are sponsored by the Michigan Army National Guard.