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Drive for Detroit: Week 6 in Review

October 7, 2019

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

There were a handful of newly-crowned league champions celebrating by the end of this football weekend, and 54 more teams were able to start making playoff plans.

And then there were the handful of teams turning things upside-down.

For all of the predictions made at the beginning of each season and even over the course of every week, there are still plenty of surprises to enjoy even at this late date. Read more below about all of the above as we head into the final third of this regular season.

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

Bay & Thumb

HEADLINER Midland 22, Mount Pleasant 21 Midland controls the Saginaw Valley League Red title race after avenging the 2018 loss that eventually resulted in Mount Pleasant (5-1) becoming last year’s league champion. This time, the teams traded leads throughout the game before the Chemics (6-0) went up for good during the fourth quarter. Click for more from the Midland Daily News and see highlights below from WJRT.

Watch list Hemlock 30, Ithaca 6 While the Yellowjackets (5-1) still finished with a share of the Tri-Valley Conference West I title, the headliner from this league finale was Hemlock (4-2) handing Ithaca its first league loss since 2009. Midland Bullock Creek ended up with a share of the title as well thanks to the Huskies’ feat.

Remember this one Goodrich 49, Lake Fenton 14 The Martians (5-1) secured a share of the Flint Metro League “Lower” division title and can win it outright this week again winless Clio. Lake Fenton (3-3), meanwhile, will hope for an upset to claim a share of the championship but also must win out to guarantee a playoff berth after missing the postseason a year ago.  

More shoutouts Fenton 24, Linden 21 The Tigers (5-1) earned a share of the Flint Metro League “Upper” division title, their eighth league championship in nine seasons after finishing third in the formerly unified Metro last fall. Richmond 14, North Branch 7 The Blue Devils (6-0) will meet Almont this week with a share of the Blue Water Area Conference title on the line after knocking North Branch (4-2) out of contention.

Greater Detroit

HEADLINER Belleville 20, Dearborn Fordson 19 Belleville made a number of clutch plays during the final six minutes to continue its unbeaten run, first stopping a 2-point conversion attempt after Fordson’s final score and then driving for the game-winning touchdown. Belleville (6-0) remains tied with Livonia Franklin for first in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association East. Those two meet Week 8 – but Franklin also must face Fordson (5-1) this week as the Tractors try to keep their hopes alive for a three-team shared championship. Click for more from M-Live Detroit and see highlights below from State Champs Sports Network.

Watch list Detroit Martin Luther King 32, Detroit Denby 14 The Crusaders (4-2) won this matchup for first place in the Detroit Public School League Division 2, claiming a share of the title while handing Denby (5-1) its only loss.

Remember this one Detroit Renaissance 25, Detroit Cass Tech 20 The Phoenix (4-2) earned a share of the DPSL Division 1 title with something of a historic win; the Technicians (2-4) hadn’t lost a league game since 2015, and to any other league opponent besides King since falling to Detroit Crockett in 2011.

More shoutouts Oak Park 41, Birmingham Seaholm 21 The Knights (5-1) pulled within one more win of locking up a third straight Oakland Activities Association White title by sending Seaholm (4-2) into second place with its first defeat in league play. Clarkston 22, Southfield Arts & Technology 21 (OT) After falling to Southfield 28-14 in Week 1, the Wolves (3-3) got past the Warriors (3-3) in the rematch and held onto control of their playoff prospects as they look to extend a 16-year postseason streak.  

Mid-Michigan

HEADLINER Mason 21, Fowlerville 14 Continued improvement was expected from Mason this fall after the Bulldogs jumped from two wins in 2017 to five last season. Check that box, and then some. They are 6-0 for the first time since 2009 and barreled to a share of the Capital Area Activities Conference Red title by handing Fowlerville (5-1) its lone loss. Click for more from the Lansing State Journal.

Watch list Holt 21, East Lansing 14 A week after the Trojans (4-2) shook up the CAAC Blue with a win over DeWitt, Holt has brought half the league back into the race. Those three and Grand Ledge all have one league loss, and the Rams (4-2) have their most wins in a season since 2016.

Remember this one Perry 27, Leslie 21 The Ramblers (3-3) surely are being careful to not look ahead. But it’s tough to not consider what’s happened and what’s coming up as the program continues to seek its first playoff berth. Perry has won four or five games three straight seasons, its best stretch since the early 1990s, and could make a run at six wins with its next three opponents a combined 4-14 this fall.

More shoutouts Stockbridge 16, Lake Odessa Lakewood 14 The Panthers (1-5) earned their first win and in the process locked up part of the Greater Lansing Activities Conference title for Olivet, which meets Lakewood (2-4) this week to either win it outright or share with the Vikings. Central Montcalm 27, Remus Chippewa Hills 14 The Hornets’ incredible turnaround continued as they moved within a win of clinching a share of the Central State Activities Association Gold title. The Hornets were 0-9 a year ago and a combined 3-24 over the last three seasons.

Northern Lower Peninsula

HEADLINER Johannesburg-Lewiston 22, Charlevoix 6 The Cardinals moved to 6-0 for the first time since 2000, and four of those victories have come against teams 3-3 or better including the Rayders (4-2). After two straight non-league games, Johannesburg-Lewiston meets Harbor Springs this week to decide at least partially the Northern Michigan Football League Legacy title. Click for more from the Traverse City Record-Eagle and see highlights below from MI Sports Now.

Watch list Traverse City St. Francis 17, Boyne City 14 The Gladiators (4-2) kept themselves in the NMFL Legends title mix, one game behind leader Kingsley but with the Stags closing the regular season against two more teams (including Boyne City) with only one league loss.

Remember this one Mancelona 36, Frankfort 18 The Ironmen (4-2) had lost all three games against Frankfort (2-4) since the two became part of the NMFL Leaders division. This win also strengthened Mancelona’s pursuit of a first playoff berth since 2014 with Charlevoix up next but its final two opponents a combined 1-11.

More shoutouts Houghton Lake 20, Evart 6 While still hoping for some help catching Beal City in the Highland Conference, second-place Houghton Lake (4-2) has now doubled up last season’s win total by getting past another improved foe in the Wildcats (3-3). Kingsley 67, Benzie Central 40 The Stags (6-0) are scoring 44 points per game, with this week’s output their highest since 2013 – although Benzie (2-4) also scored its season high.  

Southeast & Border

HEADLINER Hillsdale 35, Blissfield 28 After sharing the Lenawee County Athletic Association title last season, Hillsdale (6-0) finds itself a major step closer to another championship after getting past the first of four tough opponents down the stretch. The Hornets moved into first place alone, with Blissfield (4-2) the only team one game back and four more tied for third place – although three of those teams make up Hillsdale’s final three opponents. Click for more from the Hillsdale Daily News.

Watch list Ottawa Lake Whiteford 28, Sand Creek 6 The Bobcats (4-2) did their part to set up this week’s Tri-County Conference-deciding matchup with Clinton, downing a Sand Creek team that stands 4-2 and fell by only six to Clinton three weeks ago.

Remember this one Saline 24, Temperance Bedford 21 Three of the four closest wins during Saline’s 31-game Southeastern Conference winning streak came over Bedford (4-2) – which also handed the Hornets (5-1) their last league loss, in 2013.

More shoutouts Jonesville 46, Springport 0 The Comets (5-1) have guaranteed their best finish since at least 2013 and will square off this week with Reading for a first share of the Big 8 Conference championship. Adrian Madison 38, Petersburg Summerfield 14 After breaking an 11-game losing streak against Summerfield (2-4) this past week, Madison (3-3) has more wins than the last two seasons combined and playoff possibilities as it seeks its first postseason appearance since 2009.   

Southwest Corridor

HEADLINER Schoolcraft 27, Constantine 24 While the Falcons became the first team this season to hold Schoolcraft (6-0) under 50 points, the Eagles’ defense also came through by locking down a Constantine offense averaging 40.5 points per game. Schoolcraft extended its winning streak over the Falcons (4-2) to five and remains tied for first in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Valley. Click for more from the Kalamazoo Gazette.

Watch list Cassopolis 41, White Pigeon 0 After giving up its first points this fall (11) to Decatur in Week 5, Cassopolis (6-0) rolled out its fifth shutout of this season to take over first place alone in the Southwest 10 Conference. White Pigeon (5-1) entered tied for first and averaging 34 points per game.

Remember this one Coldwater 21, Marshall 20 All three of Coldwater’s final opponents also have playoff hopes, making this win over Marshall (3-3) of particular importance as the Cardinals (5-1) look to get back to the postseason after a year away. Marshall’s three defeats were by a combined nine points.

More shoutouts Battle Creek Central 32, Kalamazoo Central 29 The Bearcats broke a three-game losing streak to the rival Maroon Giants and kept their playoff hopes alive as both teams sit at 2-4. St. Joseph 34, Portage Central 7 The Bears have two massive nonleague opponents up next – Battle Creek Lakeview and then DeWitt – but with this win over the Mustangs (3-3) guaranteed the Week 9 matchup with Portage Northern will be for the outright Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference West title.  

Upper Peninsula

HEADLINER Iron Mountain 15, Calumet 14 What may end up the game of the year in the Upper Peninsula couldn’t have been more evenly matched. Iron Mountain scored first and Calumet (5-1) scored last, and the teams piled up nearly the same amount of yardage and first downs. But the Mountaineers (6-0) emerged alone atop the Western Peninsula Athletic Conference Copper and having now avenged both of its league defeats from a year ago. Click for more from the Iron Mountain Daily News.

Watch list Escanaba 26, Menominee 20 The Great Northern Conference could finish up any number of ways, as these two are among three teams with one league loss behind leader Marquette – which is only 2-4 overall and has yet to play Menominee (4-2). Escanaba (5-1) has just one league game left and will have to wait and watch through Week 9 to see if it ends up as the league’s overall or co-champion or having fallen just short.

Remember this one Gladstone 20, Sault Ste. Marie 8 The Braves’ schedule is becoming more impressive by the week and could end up featuring three league champions. After three straight losses Gladstone (3-3) got back on track with a needed win over the Blue Devils (4-2).

More shoutouts Ishpeming Westwood 36, Hancock 23 The Patriots (4-2) have won three straight and put themselves in position to earn a third-straight playoff berth with this key win over the improved Bulldogs (4-2). West Iron County 24, Lake Linden-Hubbell 16 The Wykons (5-1) earned an opportunity to play Ishpeming this week for first place in the West PAC Iron, getting past another possible playoff team in the Lakes (3-3).

West Michigan

HEADLINER Muskegon Orchard View 30, Ludington 14 The Cardinals clinched a share of their first Lakes 8 Conference title since 2008 and can finish the run outright this week against Muskegon Heights Academy. The Cardinals were just 2-7 a year ago, but avenged last season’s loss to Ludington (4-2) to get to 6-0 for the first time since 2005. Click for more from the Local Sports Journal and see highlights below from FOX 17.

Watch list Hudsonville 44, Grandville 21 The Eagles (5-1) were never forgotten in the Ottawa-Kent Conference Red, of course, with that lone loss by a point to nonleague Holt. But the Week 8 Grandville/Rockford matchup was starting to look like the likely decider in the league title race. Instead, that unofficial championship game could come this week when the Eagles meet the Rams. Hudsonville came back from a halftime deficit, scored its most points since Week 1 and held the Bulldogs (5-1) to their season low.

Remember this one Cedar Springs 30, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central 6 Four of seven teams in the O-K White are 4-2 or better, and with this win reigning champ Cedar Springs (5-1) set itself up to play Lowell this week for first place. The Red Hawks have wins already over the other contenders including now the Rangers (4-2).

More shoutouts East Grand Rapids 59, Grand Rapids South Christian 35 The O-K Gold race appears down to EGR (4-2) and Grand Rapids Christian, although South Christian (3-3) still could make an impact as it takes on the Eagles this week. Ravenna 17, Montague 7 North Muskegon or Hart could play spoiler this week, but if not the West Michigan Conference title will be decided in Week 8 when Ravenna (5-1) takes on Muskegon Oakridge as they’ve handed back-to-back defeats to reigning champion Montague (4-2).

8-Player

HEADLINER Martin 60, Bridgman 16 The Clippers have begun their 8-player history as league champions, downing another first-year 8-player program Bridgman (5-1) to lock up a share of the inaugural Southwest Michigan 8-Man Football League title. Martin (6-0) did so scoring its second-most points of the season, and can clinch the championship outright Week 8 against St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran. Click for more from TownBroadcast.com.

Watch list Gaylord St. Mary 48, Suttons Bay 47 This didn’t affect any league race but did provide a glance at what could become one of the key playoff matchups in two months. Had the playoffs started this past week, St. Mary (6-0) and Suttons Bay (5-1) would’ve entered tied for the third-highest playoff point average in 8-player Division 1.

Remember this one Powers North Central 34, Crystal Falls Forest Park 8 Not only did this win over the rival Trojans (4-2) pull North Central within one more victory of clinching a share of the Great Lakes Conference West title, but the Jets (6-0) were tied for first and the Trojans fifth in last week’s projected 8-player Division 2 playoff listings. 

More shoutouts Deckerville 44, Mayville 12 Five of six teams in the North Central Thumb League Blue are 4-2 or better, and Deckerville (6-0) remains tied with Kingston atop the league after handing Mayville (4-2) its first Blue defeat. Kinde North Huron 22, Peck 14 The Warriors (5-1) should be eager for their chance at Deckerville this week coming off a solid win over the Pirates (4-2).

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: Frankenmuth's quarterback surveys the Essexville Garber defense before the snap during Friday's Eagles win. (Photo by Dan Brovont.)

Playoffs: Regional Finals in Review

December 16, 2011

The first MHSAA football champion of 2011 will be crowned Friday, and by the end of Saturday we’ll know who will play for the rest Thanksgiving weekend at Ford Field.

Here’s one take of the most significant results from the postseason’s third weekend, plus links to coverage from the biggest games and a brief look at all 16 Semifinals coming up Saturday.

Let us know if I missed a game or a highlight I should've mentioned by posting below. And click here for results, schedules and more. (Rankings below by The Associated Press' panel of media voters.)

1st and 10

DIVISON 1: Detroit Cass Tech 6, Warren DeLaSalle 0 – Before 2010, Cass Tech had never won a Regional championship. Now, the Technicians have won two straight.

DIVISION 2: Walled Lake Western 21, Port Huron 20 (2OT) – A celebration for one and heart break for the other as Walled Lake Western left with its first Regional title since 2001.  

DIVISION 3: East Grand Rapids 42, Holland 21 – The Pioneers avenged a Week 2 loss to the Dutch to extend their playoff winning streak to 28.

DIVISION 4: Grosse Ile 18, Battle Creek Pennfield 13 – Best win in Grosse Ile history? Gotta be up there. Pennfield was ranked No. 3, Grosse Ile unranked, and the victory gave the Red Devils their first 10-win season and second Semifinal berth ever.

DIVISION 5: Grand Rapids West Catholic 55, Menominee 34 – It came a game earlier this season, but West Catholic knocked Menominee out for the second in a row. West Catholic is ranked No. 7 and Menominee No. 5.

DIVISION 6: Ithaca 22, Montague 19 (OT) – The top-ranked Yellowjackets have had few scares during their 26-game winning streak, but No. 7 Montague likely gave them their biggest of the run. 

DIVISION 7: Hudson 35, Detroit Loyola 0 – So much for rankings on this one. Loyola was No. 2 and Hudson No. 3, but the Tigers extended their own 26-game win streak in a big way.

DIVISION 8: St. Ignace La Salle 27, Crystal Falls Forest Park 14 – An Upper Peninsula team might again represent in the Division 8 Final in two weeks. But No. 4 St. Ignace will get its shot this time after knocking off near-annual Finals road-trippers, the Trojans, who came in ranked No. 6. 

8-PLAYER: Rapid River 40, Engadine 0; Carsonville-Port Sanilac 47, Marine City Cardinal Mooney 0 – A coincidence that these Semifinals both ended in decisive shutouts. But they appear to be equally decisive statements about which teams belong in Friday’s first-ever MHSAA 8-player Final.

NUMBERS GAME

26 – Winning streaks by both Hudson and Ithaca thanks to Regional wins. Hudson is the reigning Division 7 champion and Ithaca won the Division 6 title in 2010, when both finished 14-0.

42 – Combined rushing touchdowns scored this season by Carsonville-Port Sanilac quarterback Hayden Adams and running backs Ryan Davis and Dan Rickett. All have at least 11 scores on the ground.

20 – Number of completions, in 20 attempts, Lansing Catholic quarterback Cooper Rush strung together to begin Friday’s win over Dowagiac. The streak tied the MHSAA record.

6 – Seasons, out of the last eight, that Rockford has advanced at least to the MHSAA Semifinals. The Rams will play in their second straight Saturday, and have won three MHSAA championships during that run.

MORE FANTASTIC FINISHES

Detroit Cass Tech 6, Warren DeLaSalle 0 – A bit of continuation on the above comment, as the Technicians clinched that second-straight Regional title with a touchdown run with 1:38 to play. Click to read more from the Detroit Free Press.

Rockford 30, Grand Blanc 28 – Rockford got up 23-7 before holding off a late charge by a Grand Blanc team averaging 54 points in this season’s playoffs heading into the night. Read more about it in the Grand Rapids Press.

Mount Pleasant 28, East Lansing 20 – East Lansing led by six with 11 minutes to play before Mount Pleasant, and especially its defense, took over. Find out more from the Mount Pleasant Morning Sun.

Almont 31, Jackson Lumen Christi 21 – Almont has strung together six straight winning seasons, but its only other Regional final of the 256-team playoff era ended in a loss to Lumen Christi in 2008. Two late touchdowns sent the Raiders to their first Semifinal. Click for more from the Jackson Citizen-Patriot.

UP NEXT – 8-player FINAL and 11-player SEMIFNALS

8-PLAYER: Rapid River (11-1) vs. Carsonville-Port Sanilac (11-1) – 7 p.m. Friday at Northern Michigan’s Superior Dome – The inaugural MHSAA 8-player Final matches teams separated by 382 miles and Mackinaw Bridge.

DIVISION 1: Rockford (11-1) vs. Detroit Catholic Central (11-1) – 1 p.m. at Battle Creek Central; Utica Eisenhower (11-1) vs. Detroit Cass Tech (9-3) – 1 p.m. at Troy Athens – Rockford, DCC and Utica Eisenhower are ranked 1-3, respectively, and Cass Tech didn’t make the top 10 heading into the playoffs. But the Technicians have proven their merit. The Rockford/DCC game is a rematch of the 1998 Class AA Final, which DCC won before these players had started elementary school. Eisenhower is playing for its fifth Finals berth, and first since 2003.

DIVISION 2: Lowell (11-1) vs. Walled Lake Western (11-1) – 11:30 a.m. at Central Michigan; Birmingham Brother Rice (8-4) vs. Detroit Martin Luther King (9-3) – 1 p.m. at West Bloomfield – Brother Rice beat King on opening night 28-21 and entered the postseason tied for No. 7 in the state poll with Wyandotte-Roosevelt, which King shut out last week. Lowell and Walled Lake Western aren’t completely unfamiliar either – they faced off on opening night 2010. The Warriors have won their three playoff games by a combined 11 points, and will look to harness a Lowell offense that has scored fewer than 35 only once during October and November. 

DIVISION 3: Mount Pleasant (12-0) vs. East Grand Rapids (9-3) – 1 p.m. at Ferris State; Battle Creek Harper Creek (12-0) vs. Orchard Lake St. Mary (10-2) – 1 p.m. at Jackson’s Withington Stadium – Three of the top four in the Associated Press poll plus the reigning state champ making up this field, and the No. 1 Oilers are the next to try to halt EGR’s playoff winning streak (see above), which has included wins over Mount Pleasant three of the last four seasons. Orchard Lake St. Mary also is a regular in this round, coming off three MHSAA runner-up finishes in the last four seasons. Harper Creek's last Semifinal appearance, in 1999, also was against the Eaglets.

DIVISION 4: Comstock Park (10-2) vs. Zeeland West (12-0) – 1 p.m. at Jenison; Grosse Ile (10-2) vs. Marine City (12-0) – 1 p.m. at Birmingham Groves – Top-ranked Marine City and No. 2 Zeeland West are likely heavy favorites against unranked opponents. But like Grosse Ile (see above), Comstock Park is riding high in the underdog role and is in its first Semifinal since 1983.

DIVISION 5: Grand Rapids West Catholic (10-2) vs. Lansing Catholic (12-0) – 1 p.m. at East Kentwood; Almont (11-1) vs. Flint Powers Catholic (8-4) – 1 p.m. at Ortonville Brandon – Last season’s champion West Catholic must now defend against this fall’s top-ranked favorite Lansing Catholic. But the other game has similar intrigue: Almont is No. 4 and knocked off annual giant Jackson Lumen Christi, while Flint Powers knocked off a giant itself on the way here in No. 3 Millington. 

DIVISION 6: Iron Mountain (11-0) vs. Ithaca (12-0) – 1 p.m. at Northern Michigan; Constantine (10-2) vs. Ecorse (10-1) – 1 p.m. at Gibraltar-Carlson – Top-ranked Ithaca is headed back to the Superior Dome for the second straight season, and knocked off No. 3 Iron Mountain in the same round, same location on the way to last year’s MHSAA title. Constantine is looking to break through playing in its third straight Semifinal, but faces an Ecorse team that has won 10 games for the first time.

DIVISION 7: Traverse City St. Francis (11-1) vs. Saginaw Nouvel (11-0) – 2:30 p.m. at Central Michigan; Pewamo-Westphalia (12-0) vs. Hudson (12-0) – 1 p.m. at Vicksburg – All four of these teams entered the playoffs ranked among the top six, and St. Francis, Nouvel and Hudson have combined to win an MHSAA championship six straight seasons (Nouvel’s two came in Division 6). P-W has never played in a final – but also has never been 12-0.

DIVISION 8: St. Ignace La Salle (12-0) vs. Fowler (10-2) – 1 p.m. at Traverse City’s Thirlby Field; Mendon (12-0) vs. New Lothrop (12-0) – 1 p.m. at Howell – Mendon has taken down two top-eight teams so far this postseason, but No. 3 New Lothrop might be the toughest still with a defense giving up 3.9 points per game. The winner will take on a rejuvenated power – St. Ignace is playing for its first MHSAA Final berth since 1985, while Fowler is looking to get back to Detroit for the first time since 1998.

(Photo courtesy of Terry McNamara Photography.)