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Drive for Detroit: Week 7 in Review

October 9, 2017

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Be forewarned: There were more incredible and meaningful finishes in Michigan High School football this weekend than meet the parameters of our weekly “Drive for Detroit” report.

A pair of incredible winning streaks ended on the west side of the state. Another Grand Rapids area game featured record book individual performances from both teams. The Upper Peninsula saw four undefeated teams fall. And the Detroit area had enough great games to fill half our weekly review – but of course we led with a legendary coach tying another for the career wins record.

Below are five results from each region that stuck out most (and we’ll be sure to catch up with the successes of Detroit Martin Luther King, Madison Heights Madison, Clarkston Everest Collegiate and others in reports to come). Drive for Detroit is powered by MI Student Aid. 

Bay & Thumb

Frankenmuth 28, Millington 22

Given the similar numbers these rivals had put up this season, another close finish hardly was a surprise. The Eagles (7-0) took a 20-point lead into halftime and held off the Cardinals’ fourth-quarter comeback to clinch a share of the Tri-Valley Conference East title – and extend their winning streak over Millington (6-1) to three straight. Click for more from the Saginaw News.

Also noted:

Carrollton 26, Alma 14 – A week after Alma knocked reigning champion Freeland out of the TVC Central race, Carrollton (6-1) pushed its way in by handing the Panthers (6-1) their first league loss; both now chase Saginaw Swan Valley.

Fenton 52, Flushing 35 – The Tigers (7-0) clinched a share of their seventh straight Flint Metro League title with their fourth win in four seasons over the Raiders (5-2).

Davison 35, Lapeer 17 – The Cardinals (6-1) knocked Lapeer (5-2) out of a tie for first in the Saginaw Valley League Blue, but will now root for the Lightning to beat leader Midland this week so all three can share the championship.

Bay City John Glenn 28, Bay City Central 24 – John Glenn (4-3) kept its playoff hopes alive by winning the first meeting between these teams since 1990, while Central (3-4) may have seen its hopes dashed by a third loss of seven points or fewer.

Greater Detroit

Farmington Hills Harrison 17, Oak Park 14

It was considered inevitable that Harrison coach John Herrington would get his 430th win and tie Al Fracassa for the most football victories in state history. But maybe not against Oak Park (5-2), which was undefeated in the Oakland Activities Association White. Instead, the Hawks (5-2) moved into a three-way tie for first with the Knights and Birmingham Groves, and only last-place Berkley is left on the league schedule as Herrington looks to break the record this week. Click for more from MLive-Detroit.

Also noted:

Livonia Churchill 21, Grand Blanc 9 – The Chargers (6-1) won a matchup of teams previously undefeated in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association Gold to clinch a share of the league title, while Grand Blanc (6-1) suffered the first loss of what already is its best season since 2013.

Rochester Adams 21, Clarkston 14 – The Highlanders (6-1) cleared what looked to be the last major hurdle in at least sharing the OAA Red title; Clarkston (5-2) was tied for first with Adams and West Bloomfield, and Adams finishes the league schedule this week against winless Troy Athens.

Madison Heights Lamphere 28, Clinton Township Clintondale 20 – The Eagles (4-3) handed Clintondale (6-1) its first loss to finish a perfect run through the Macomb Area Conference Bronze and claim the outright title after going 0-9 last season.

Dearborn Divine Child 14, Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard 13 – Only a point separated these 6-1 teams, but that point gave Divine Child a share of the Detroit Catholic League AA championship. 

Mid-Michigan

DeWitt 28, Haslett 0

It’s impossible to argue DeWitt isn’t the best team in the Lansing area this season, with its Week 2 win over Grand Ledge and now another outright Capital Area Activities Conference Red title with this victory over second-place Haslett (5-2). The Panthers (6-1) haven’t lost a league game since 2008 and will move into the CAAC Blue next season with Grand Ledge and the rest of the area’s largest schools. Haslett, meanwhile, can still finish with its best regular season since 2006 by winning out. Click for more from the Lansing State Journal.

Also noted:

Belding 42, Wyoming Godwin Heights 35 – This win for the Knights (6-1) combined with Kelloggsville’s (see “West Michigan” below) makes this week’s matchup for a share of the Ottawa-Kent Conference Silver title; Godwin Heights (5-2) will turn its attention to earning a third straight playoff berth.

Lansing Sexton 18, Holt 16 – The Big Reds (5-2), with another win over one of the state’s largest schools, are looking powerful again as they project to slot into Division 4; Holt (3-4) must win out to have a shot at an at-large bid as it looks to get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2013.

Vermontville Maple Valley 38, Perry 13 – The Lions (4-3) have a tough road to win out with undefeated Kent City next, but control their ability to earn a first playoff berth since 2005; Perry (3-4) is hanging on to an at-large possibility as it looks to qualify for the first time ever.

Ithaca 51, Ovid-Elsie 16 – We don’t talk about Ithaca much during the regular season because its margins of victory usually are substantial and expected, but this time the Yellowjackets (7-0) clinched a share of another Tri-Valley Conference West title by beating the second-place Marauders (5-2) and while extending their regular-season win streak to 71 going back to 2009. 

Northern Lower Peninsula

Gaylord St. Mary 34, Johannesburg-Lewiston 18

St. Mary improved to 7-0 to set up a matchup with Harbor Springs this week for a share of the Northern Michigan Football League Legacy title – and those seven wins also represent the Snowbirds’ most in a season since 2009. Johannesburg-Lewiston (4-3) still can figure into the league picture as it works to return to the playoffs after missing a year ago; the Cardinals face Harbor Springs in Week 9. Click for more from 9&10 News.

Also noted:

Elk Rapids 23, Grayling 8 – The Elks (6-1) tied their highest win total since 2010 by avenging last season’s 34-0 loss to the Vikings (4-3).

Lake City 26, Evart 14 – The Trojans (7-0) finished a perfect run through the Highland Conference after going 2-7 overall last season and 1-4 in league play; Evart (3-4) remains alive for an at-large playoff bid.

Hillman 35, Oscoda 21 – The Tigers (4-3) have bounced back from an 0-3 start as they try to extend their playoff streak to 12 seasons, but Oscoda (4-3) must bounce back from two straight losses to guarantee qualifying for the second straight.

Gaylord 24, Petoskey 7 – The Blue Devils (4-3) earned themselves a shot at a share of the Big North Conference title this week against first-place Traverse City West by downing a Petoskey team much better than its 2-5 record with a win over Escanaba and close losses to Marquette and Traverse City Central this fall. 

Southeast & Border

Ida 16, Hudson 0

With two league games to play, these two are tied for first in the Lenawee County Athletic Association after sharing the championship a year ago. Ida (6-1) with this win avenged last year’s one-point loss to the Tigers (6-1) and also ran a shutout streak to two straight games; Hudson hadn’t been shut out since 2015. Both teams face Onsted (5-2) over the next two weeks, while Hudson also faces Blissfield (4-3) and Ida has Hillsdale (3-4). Click for more from the Adrian Daily Telegram.

Also noted:

Pinckney 42, Adrian 14 – In its first season in the Southeastern Conference White, Pinckney (6-1) won a share of its first league title since 1995 while sending Adrian (3-4) into at-large playoff territory.

Chelsea 14, Ypsilanti Community 7 – Chelsea (6-1) clinched the other share of the SEC White, getting by Ypsilanti Community (5-2) with a late score.

Pittsford 24, Athens 0 – Four of five teams in the Southern Central Athletic Association are poised to make the playoffs, but Pittsford (6-1) and Climax-Scotts are the leaders in league play although Athens (5-2) still has a shot at a shared title.

Addison 42, Grass Lake 12 – The Panthers (6-1) pulled within one more win of claiming at least a shared Cascades Conference title after going 3-4 in the league a year ago; reigning champ Grass Lake (4-3) needs to win out to guarantee a 13th straight playoff berth. 

Southwest Corridor

Three Rivers 21, Edwardsburg 18

All streaks come to an end, of course, and Edwardsburg’s run of 34 straight Wolverine B Conference victories won’t soon be forgotten. Neither will Three Rivers’ persistence in breaking it. Three times the Wildcats trailed Friday, including late in the fourth quarter before prevailing and putting the league title up for grabs for the first time in a while. Edwardsburg, Three Rivers and Vicksburg all are 6-1 in the league (and overall) with two games to play. Click for more from the Kalamazoo Gazette.

Also noted:

Coloma 32, Schoolcraft 7 – The Comets (5-2) handed Schoolcraft its first league loss since 2014 and after falling to the Eagles (5-2) last season 48-7 and 41-7 in 2015.

Battle Creek Harper Creek 17, Coldwater 7 – The Beavers (7-0) claimed a share of the Interstate 8 Athletic Conference championship for the second year in a row by avenging last season’s only league loss, to Coldwater (4-3).

Cassopolis 45, Hartford 0 – The Rangers (7-0) set themselves up to face undefeated Mendon this week for a share of the Southwest 10 Conference title, while Hartford (5-2) has two chances left to pick up an automatic playoff bid after going 2-7 a year ago.

Watervliet 68, Constantine 24 – The Panthers’ output on offense is simply incredible; Watervliet (7-0) still hasn’t scored fewer than 50 this season, and Constantine (3-4) hadn’t given up more than 41 since facing the Panthers last season. 

Upper Peninsula

Newberry 28, Norway 14

This will be remembered as one of the stunning wins north of the bridge this season. Norway (6-1) had been cruising along with all but one win this fall by at least two touchdowns (and the seven-pointer was against a team from Wisconsin). But Newberry didn’t have a game Week 6, and clearly was ready for a Knights team that could’ve clinched a share of the Mid-Eastern Conference title in its first season in the league. Newberry (4-2) instead has a share for sure, and the winner of this week’s Norway/Lake Linden-Hubbell game will claim one as well. Click for more from the Iron Mountain Daily News.

Also noted:

Escanaba 35, Gladstone 14 – While nonleague, winning this game gave the Eskymos (6-1) the unofficial “Best in the U.P.” title and rightfully so as its only loss was Week 2 to Petoskey and Gladstone (6-1) hadn’t been beaten.

Calumet 22, L’Anse 14 – The Copper Kings (4-3) had to win this one to keep a few playoff options open with two tough games left, and L’Anse (4-3) finds itself in must-win mode as well.

Bessemer Gogebic 14, Bark River-Harris 0 – The Miners (3-4) have put themselves back in the hunt with two straight wins over teams with playoff hopes; Bark River-Harris (3-4) now also must hope for an at-large bid.

Lake Linden-Hubbell 12, Houghton 8 – The Lakes (3-3) keep chipping away after their 0-3 start, with the greatest challenge yet coming this week against Norway. 

West Michigan

Holland West Ottawa 35, Rockford 30

Holland West Ottawa earned a share of the O-K Red championship, an accomplishment with statewide impact regardless of how and against whom. But beating Rockford (4-3) for the first time since 2002 to do so – breaking a 16-game losing streak to the Rams – made this incredibly sweet as well. The Panthers (6-1) have lost this season only to undefeated Forest Hills Central, not bad after two straight 2-7 finishes. Click for more from the Holland Sentinel.

Also noted:

Grand Rapids Catholic Central 57, Comstock Park 50 – Nolan Fugate’s 477 rushing yards for GRCC (7-0) were the fourth-most in MHSAA history and needed to combat an MHSAA record-tying 18 receptions by Hunter Spence to lead Comstock Park (4-3).

Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central 35, Lowell 6 – The Rangers (7-0) earned the opportunity to face Cedar Springs this week with the O-K White title on the line by handing Lowell (4-3) its second straight loss; the Red Arrows must win out to guarantee adding to their 18-year playoff streak.

Wyoming Kelloggsville 36, Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian 21 – See the Belding entry under “Mid-Michigan” for more explanation, but this win gave Kelloggsville (7-0) a spot in an unofficial O-K Silver championship game while NorthPointe (5-2) will try to make the playoffs against Godwin Heights this week.

Montague 40, Muskegon Oakridge 0 – The Wildcats (7-0) clinched a share of the West Michigan Conference title by handing rival Oakridge (5-2) its first shutout since opening night 2014 and after losing to the Eagles by three a year ago.

8-Player

Rapid River 16, Stephenson 14

These two have ruled the Western Eight Conference this season and were considered by some the best in all of the Upper Peninsula in 8-player. Those reputations were based in part on high-scoring offenses – so of course defense dominated, especially as Rapid River (7-0) held down a Stephenson attack averaging 55 points a game heading into the night (Rapid River had been averaging only 45 per). The Eagles (6-1) had beaten the Rockets 52-8 last season, and now must root for Powers North Central this week and beat the Jets in Week 9 in hopes of gaining a share of the league title. Click for more from the Escanaba Daily Press.

Also noted:

Engadine 30, Cedarville 26 – The Eagles (5-2) are among the few who have had Cedarville’s number lately, with this win their third in two years over the Trojans (6-1).

Kingston 30, Morrice 26 – A week after knocking Deckerville out of their first-place tie in the North Central Thumb League Stars division, Morrice (6-1) fell back into a tie with this upset by the Cardinals (5-2).

Deckerville 56, Flint International Academy 36 – The Eagles (6-1) took full advantage of Morrice’s loss to climb into an NCTL Stars tie for first while sending the Flames (5-2) into third place.

Tekonsha 14, Battle Creek St. Philip 12 – Tekonsha (4-3) had never beaten St. Philip (4-3) in 8-player and had scored 20 total points over five games against the Tigers.

Second Half’s weekly “Drive for Detroit” previews 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: Newberry defenders swarm a Norway ball carrier in handing the Knights their first loss of the season Friday. (Photo by Jeff Rochefort.)

Powers North Central Extends Title Legacy

November 18, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

GREENVILLE – Their parents are taking credit for this, and for many reasons, rightfully so.

But the moms and dads who birthed the athletes rolling through Powers North Central’s football and boys basketball programs these last few years never stacked championships like this. For that matter, no class at any Michigan school has accomplished what the Jets seniors added to Friday night.

North Central’s 58-22 win over Deckerville at Legacy Field finished a second straight undefeated 8-player football championship season for the Jets, to go with two straight undefeated Class D championship teams for their boys basketball team – and ignited questions of how a school with only 115 students from a small Upper Peninsula community could come up with such a collection of talent.

Jets assistant coach Gerald Whitens provided his son, star quarterback and hoops guard Jason Whitens, with one explanation.

“Most of our parents went to North Central. It’s coming back around,” Jason Whitens said. “We had a good family group that stayed at Powers North Central, and we just kept filtering through and growing as a group. My dad said he blazed the path for us, and we just made it even bigger. So I have to give him a little credit.”

Added senior running back Bobby Kleiman, whose dad Scott also is a football assistant and played with Gerald Whitens on the school’s 1984 Class D champion basketball team: “(This kind of group) doesn’t come by often, I can tell you that. But we’re blessed to have the kids we have. The timing, everything, it just fell into place. We grew up with each other, we love each other, and it’s just a blessing to have the kids we have.”

That blessing to North Central athletics has been an unmovable obstacle for football opponents the last two seasons.

The Jets finished this run 13-0 to move to 26-0 since switching to 8-player before the start of the 2015 season.

But this most recent win didn’t come as smoothly as the score might indicate – at least during most of one quarter.

The first belonged to North Central, and the 6-foot-4, 210-pound Whitens in particular. In 2015, Kleiman became the first player in the then-five seasons of 8-player football to run for more than 200 yards in an MHSAA Final, finishing with 205. Whitens obliterated that record in the first quarter Friday, running for 231 yards and three touchdowns on only five carries as the Jets opened up a 20-0 lead.

But Deckerville, also undefeated and making its first championship game appearance since winning 8-player in 2012, didn’t fold. In fact, the Eagles (11-1) rode the running of senior tailback Austin Fritch and senior quarterback Brandon Pattullo, who combined for 162 yards rushing and three touchdowns during the second quarter to put the Eagles up suddenly 22-20 with 1:57 to play before the break.

North Central had trailed only once before this season, into the third quarter Week 2 against Crystal Falls Forest Park before coming back to win 60-42.

“We’re not used to other people scoring on us and having close games,” Bobby Kleiman said. “But we played Crystal Falls two weeks ago (a 60-50 Regional Final rematch); they’re an exact replica of this team. We had one of the craziest games ever with them, and they really prepared us for this game.”

Indeed, Whitens scored on a 44-yard run a minute after Deckerville took its lead, and the Jets never trailed again. Kleiman added a 49-yard scoring run less than three minutes into the third quarter, and Whitens added 37 and 2-yard scoring runs and a 71-yard touchdown pass to senior Marcus Krachinski.

Whitens finished with an 8-Player Finals rushing record that may not be broken in some time, 352 yards on only 17 carries (20.7 yards per carry) with six touchdowns. His numbers could’ve been greater, or at least different if for just two plays, both dropped passes that likely would’ve resulted in touchdowns. Still, Whitens completed 6 of his 12 throws for 100 yards despite rain that blew sideways for most of the first three quarters.

Deckerville had given up only 50 points total this season and only 18 during the playoffs despite facing two other undefeated teams.

“We made a nice comeback there, but you’ve still got to keep going, and we weren’t able to make some plays,” Deckerville coach Bill Brown said. “We can’t give up big plays and expect to win. We don’t have a kid like that that can get 80-yard runs every time and score.”

Fritch and Pattullo did both finish with 133 yards rushing, Pattullo on only 12 carries for an average of 11.1 yards per attempt.

Kleiman added 123 yards rushing on 10 carries despite what North Central read as Deckerville aligning to stop him early on. That read led to Whitens’ big first quarter, including a 38-yard run on the first offense play of the game, on the “dart” quarterback keeper play that North Central continued to throw at the Eagles throughout the night.

The addition of Friday’s performance gave Whitens 2,496 yards and 44 touchdowns passing this season, along with 943 yards and 22 touchdowns rushing.

He’s one of 11 seniors who played his last high school football game – and six of those seniors also played in last season’s Class D Basketball Final.

“This is the best class probably ever in the state, to do what they’ve done,” North Central coach Kevin Bellefeuil said. “Two basketball titles, two football titles, and they have to be a favorite to win a third one (in hoops).

“This is a special group of kids. We have the right mix of skill players, offensive linemen, linebackers; we have a little bit of everything.”

And some will take only a short break. Whitens said at first he’d be back to work for basketball Saturday morning. Then he self-corrected – he’ll wait until Monday instead.

“You’re never satisfied with who you were last year, or the day before. You’re always growing to get better each and every day of your life, and that’s how I go about my life,” Whitens said.

“We’ve got our eyes on the ultimate prize. This is our last year, last run at it, and we’re going to enjoy it. … I’m going to get home, join our community, let them bask in the glory with us. And then Monday morning, I’m ready to go.”

Click for the full box score.

The MHSAA Football Finals are sponsored by the Michigan National Guard.

PHOTOS: (Top) Powers North Central quarterback Jason Whitens breaks away for one of his six rushing touchdowns Friday. (Middle) A Deckerville ball carrier works to get free of a North Central defender. (Below) Whitens confers with Jets coach Kevin Bellefeuil. (Photos by John Johnson/MHSAA.)