Drive for Detroit: Week 9 in Review
October 25, 2016
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The MHSAA football playoffs are upon us. From 617 teams that began this season, we’re down to watching our final 272.
But before we get too far ahead, there’s plenty to review from the final week of the regular season – including a number of upsets that altered the playoff field and brackets created Sunday.
Bay & Thumb
Fenton 28, Linden 21
The Tigers (7-2) scored with three minutes to play to move past Linden (6-3) for good and claim an outright Flint Metro League championship; a Linden win would’ve created a three-way tie for the title with these two and Ortonville Brandon. Fenton has won 29 straight league games and opened this season with two nonleague losses. Click for more from the Flint Journal.
Also noted:
Lapeer 24, Flint Carman-Ainsworth 14 – Carman-Ainsworth (6-3) won the Saginaw Valley League Blue and Lapeer was only second in the Red, but the Lightning (7-2) did remain undefeated in their three-year series with the Cavaliers.
Freeland 7, Frankenmuth 3 – The Tri-Valley Conference Central champion Falcons (9-0) made it three wins in two years over TVC East winner Frankenmuth (8-1), with a chance they could meet again in a Division 5 District Final.
Pinconning 20, Whittemore-Prescott 6 – The Spartans (6-3) claimed their first playoff berth since 2009, which also was their last season with a winning record; Whittemore-Prescott (5-4) did still make the postseason with an at-large bid.
Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary 24, New Lothrop 20 – The Cardinals (7-2) got a major boost heading into the playoffs, handing New Lothrop (8-1) its first regular-season loss since 2009.
Greater Detroit
Detroit Catholic Central 17, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 14
The last 11-player game of Michigan’s high school regular season had drama right until the end. The undefeated Shamrocks (9-0) were less than a minute from falling to St. Mary’s (5-4) in a Prep Bowl A-B Final rematch of the Detroit Catholic League Central first and second-place teams this fall. DCC scored with 21 seconds remaining for its second win over the Eaglets in three weeks after losses to them the last two seasons. Click for more from the Detroit News.
Also noted:
Bloomfield Hills 21, Lake Orion 0 – The 4-year-old Black Hawks (9-0) bounced back from 1-8 last season to win the Oakland Activities Association Blue title and make the playoffs for the first time; Lake Orion (5-4) did earn an at-large bid with four losses to teams that are a combined 27-9.
Detroit Cass Tech 41, Detroit Martin Luther King 20 – The Technicians (9-0) finished off another tremendous regular season with a second win over Martin Luther King (7-2), this time in the Public School League I final at Ford Field; Cass Tech has beaten all opponents by at least 13 points.
Detroit Denby 8, Detroit Mumford 0 – The Tars (8-1) guaranteed their best record since 2006 and claimed a PSL I/II championship by handing Mumford (7-2) its first loss since opening night.
Dearborn Divine Child 35, Detroit Loyola 24 – The Falcons (7-2) had lost seven times to Loyola (7-2) over the last five seasons including 34-24 in Week 5, but came back to break the streak in the Catholic League Prep Bowl.
Mid-Michigan
Williamston 38, Lake Fenton 35
Williamston needed to win its final regular-season game and some help to earn an at-large bid to the playoffs – but really helped itself by upsetting previously-undefeated Lake Fenton (8-1). A late defensive stand kept the Hornets (5-4) in the playoff mix, and they were selected to the field after missing at 4-5 a year ago. Lake Fenton, meanwhile still finished two wins better than 2015. Click for more from the Tri-City Times.
Also noted:
Holt 30, Grand Ledge 20 – The Rams (5-4) missed the playoffs by one spot among at-large teams from Class A, but the rebounding program can go into the offseason having handed Grand Ledge (6-1) the latter’s only loss in the Capital Area Activities Conference Blue.
Ionia 35, Lake Odessa Lakewood 30 – The Bulldogs (4-5) mostly struggled in league play, but started this season with two wins and ended with two straight including this upset of longtime rival and Greater Lansing Activities Conference champion Lakewood (8-1)
Lansing Catholic 42, Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central 20 – The Cougars (8-1) won their fifth straight, good momentum for this week’s matchup with reigning Division 5 champion Grand Rapids West Catholic, and also might have eliminated SMCC (4-5).
Fowler 27, Merrill 14 – The Eagles (6-3) continued their string of eight straight playoff berths by holding Merrill (6-3) to its second-fewest points this season.
Northern Lower Peninsula
Traverse City St. Francis 22, Boyne City 0
St. Francis (9-0) repeated as Northern Michigan Football Conference Legends champion with a second straight shutout and by ending a six-game winning streak by runner-up Boyne City (6-3). It was the second straight season this matchup determined the league title winner. The Gladiators have won 22 straight regular-season games. Click for more from the Traverse City Record-Eagle.
Also noted:
Frankfort 46, Onekama 20 – The Portagers (9-0) completed their first perfect regular season since 2004 and an outright title in the NMFC Leaders by avoiding a spoiler attempt by Onekama (6-3).
Traverse City Central 49, Cadillac 6 – Central (8-1) bounced back from a Week 8 triple-overtime loss to Birmingham Brother Rice to finish a Big North Conference championship run against third-place Cadillac (6-3).
Grayling 34, Kalkaska 27 – The Vikings (6-3) clinched a seventh playoff berth in eight seasons but only after edging the playoff-bound Blazers (6-3), who are in for the first time since 2013.
Hillman 32, Indian River Inland Lakes 29 – By the slimmest of margins, Hillman (5-4) was able to extend its playoff streak to 11 seasons, earning an at-large bid with five wins over the last six games.
Southeast & Border
Saline 38, Birmingham Groves 3
The Hornets further strengthened their status as a Division 1 championship contender, winning big in a matchup of undefeated teams. Saline (9-0) completed its second straight perfect regular season with its second-best defensive performance this fall, holding Groves (8-1) to the latter's fewest points in a game since 2013. Click for more from the Ann Arbor News.
Also noted:
Grass Lake 43, Springport 27 – The Warriors (8-1) got clipped by Michigan Center in Week 8, but came back to down Springport (7-2) in the Big 8/Cascades Conference championship game.
Ottawa Lake Whiteford 38, Clinton 12 – The Bobcats (9-0) completed their first perfect regular season since 1965 and an outright Tri-County Conference title by sending fourth-place Clinton to 6-3.
Napoleon 25, Concord 20 – The Pirates (7-2) have won seven straight to guarantee their best finish since 2002, first winning season since 2006 and first playoff berth since 2005; Concord also finished the regular season 7-2.
Morenci 42, Adrian Madison 7 – The Bulldogs (6-3) have three losses by a combined eight points, but are back in the playoffs for the third straight season after ending any chance for Madison (4-5).
Southwest Corridor
Portage Central 24, St. Joseph 14
Portage Central (8-1) secured the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference West championship outright after these teams shared the title in 2015. The Mustangs took a 14-0 lead late into the third quarter and extended it to 17 in the fourth before St. Joseph (6-3) added a late score. Portage Central hasn’t lost more than once during a regular season since 2012, building a record of 35-6 over the last four years.
Also noted:
Benton Harbor 54, Muskegon Heights Academy 6 – This is worth mention because it gave the Tigers (9-0) their first undefeated regular season since going 7-0-2 in 1962.
Three Rivers 14, Vicksburg 13 – The Wildcats (7-2) added to their comeback from 3-6 a year ago by just edging Vicksburg (7-2) to tie the Bulldogs for second in the Wolverine Conference.
Coldwater 31, Traverse City West 14 – The Cardinals (7-2) continued a nice run after their one-point loss in Week 6, sending West (6-3) home with a defeat.
Battle Creek Pennfield 22, Olivet 19 – Pennfield (5-4) got the needed boost from beating Olivet (5-4) to earn an at-large playoff berth after seasons of 2-7 in 2014 and 3-6 in 2015.
Upper Peninsula
St. Ignace 62, Newberry 20
The Saints (8-1) made another argument as the top 11-player title contender from the Upper Peninsula with a dominating performance against Mid-Eastern Conference runner-up Newberry (7-2). St. Ignace won the NMFC Legacy title this fall, and its only loss was to reigning Division 8 champion Muskegon Catholic Central, 21-6. Those two could meet again in a Semifinal next month. Click for more from 9&10 News.
Also noted:
Gwinn 38, Ishpeming 6 – With its first winning record since 2000, Gwinn (6-3) clinched its first playoff berth since 1999 while guaranteeing Ishpeming (3-5) wouldn’t be in the playoffs for the first time since 2001.
Escanaba 49, Kingsford 42 – The Eskymos (7-2) secured their best record since 2011 despite losing by a point in Week 8 and ended up locking up a home playoff game by getting past also playoff-bound Kingsford (6-3).
Felch North Dickinson 56, Bark River-Harris 24 – This is reportedly the last season of 11-player for the Nordics (6-3), but they’re going out on a high note after earning their first playoff berth since 2013 with four wins over their last five games.
Iron Mountain 28, Norway 7 – Four of six Mid-Peninsula Athletic Conference teams made the playoffs, including these two both at 7-2 for the regular season.
West Michigan
Hudsonville 14, Rockford 7
The Eagles (8-1) bounced back after a Week 4 loss to Grandville to win four straight in commanding fashion and earn the opportunity to take a share of the Ottawa-Kent Conference Red title in Week 9. Hudsonville finished the run with a late score on Rockford that created a three-way share of the championship with the Rams (6-3) and Grandville – and the Eagles also cemented home-field advantage through a District that includes both, with Rockford up again this week. Click for more from the Grand Rapids Press.
Also noted:
Allendale 30, Grand Rapids West Catholic 27 – Allendale’s first win over West Catholic since 2008 created a three-way championship in the O-K Blue between those two (both 7-2 overall) and Grand Rapids Catholic Central (8-1).
Byron Center 40, Hudsonville Unity Christian 19 – The Bulldogs (8-1) finished their O-K Green title by sending Unity Christian (7-2) into a tie for second in a league that will send five of seven teams to the playoffs.
Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern 27, Greenville 16 – Scheduling tough does matter; Forest Hills Northern (5-4) was 0-4 against teams with winning records heading into Week 9 but earned an at-large bid thanks in part to this victory over also playoff-bound Greenville (5-4).
Whitehall 37, Battle Creek Harper Creek 30 – The Vikings (6-3) came back from two straight one-point losses Weeks 6 and 7 to get into the playoffs for the third season in a row; Harper Creek (7-2) is headed back after going 3-6 last season.
8-Player
Powers North Central 68, Stephenson 32
The reigning MHSAA champ Jets (9-0) finished their Western Eight Conference run and moved into the top seed in 8-player with a solid boost from beating third-place Stephenson (7-2). North Central is only a little behind the pace of its incredible numbers from a year ago – the Jets are outscoring opponents on average 69-17, and Stephenson was the first to score more than 18 since Week 3. Click for more from the Marinette EagleHerald.
Also noted:
Lawrence 22, Battle Creek St. Philip 14 – The final game to finish in 8-player over the weekend saw Lawrence (8-1) come back from two losses last season to St. Philip (5-4) to knock the reigning MHSAA runner-up out of the playoff mix.
Camden-Frontier 44, Waldron 18 – The Redskins (6-1) played their way into the playoffs after two straight 0-9 finishes by getting a key win over Waldron (4-5).
PHOTO: Holt over Grand Ledge was one of a number of upsets during Week 9 of the football regular season. (Click to see more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)
Parchment's 1st-Time Football Seniors Writing Unforgettable Story
By
Pam Shebest
Special for MHSAA.com
October 18, 2022
PARCHMENT — Nothing beats Friday night lights, said Parchment senior Will Kovl.
“The fans, the atmosphere, scoring a touchdown, nothing beats it. It’s amazing,” he exclaimed.
What is amazing is that Kovl, who has become one of the Panthers’ top receivers, never played football before this year.
In fact, Kovl is one of nine seniors who are playing their first season of football for coach Brian Huberty.
During the summer, athletic director Brennan Davis heard rumblings about the seniors trying out for the team.
“My initial thought was disbelief because I hear a lot, so my mindset was ‘I'll believe it when I see it,’” Davis said.
“Once football started working out this summer, I heard these kids were actually attending and at that point it became a reality. We have a quality senior group, and those kids have a very strong bond. It is a special group of young people.”
Senior tight end/linebacker Jacob Guzior said it was definitely a group decision.
“At first it was a joke,” he said. “Eventually it turned into ‘We are actually playing football now.’”
The other senior newbies are kicker/cornerback Mason Ragan, wide receiver/linebacker Blake Smith, defensive back Breckyn Bootland, defensive end/tight end Ashtian McClanahan, wide receiver Tanner Slack, kicker McKaylah Shank and team manager McKenna Nunn.
Huberty, who teaches in Plainwell and is the interim coach at Parchment, said he is not sure where the team (4-4 overall, 2-3 Southwestern Athletic Conference Lakeshore) would be without those nine.
“We would have had a team, but we would have been a lot younger and we would have had to pull a few more kids up, and that’s not what you want to do,” he said.
“You don’t want young kids having to come compete against 18- and 17-year-old kids.”
Kovl said senior quarterback Aaron Jasiak was instrumental in peaking his interest in playing this season after Jasiak scored the winning touchdown in last year’s homecoming game.
“I remember it like it was yesterday; it was awesome,” Kovl said. “The student section was bigger than ever, and I was in the student section.
“We rushed the field. He told me to play football (my senior year), and the story wrote itself.”
One aspect of the game was a bit daunting for Guzior.
“At first (hitting) was hard to get used to. Now I do like hitting people,” he laughed.
“It was a rough first week. By second week we were starting to get the hang of it, and by week three it felt like I’d been playing a while.”
Bootland is using football to help him with hockey.
“Hockey gave me a base idea of hitting in football, but hitting in football is going to take my physicality in hockey to another level, which is my biggest weakness on ice,” he said.
However, “the biggest shock for me was how analytical it is to make plays and how much smarts it is over pure athleticism.”
Huberty said Bootland was a surprise.
“He’s a hockey kid,” the coach said. “He surprisingly adapted well to playing defense. The physical part, it surprised me how he’s embraced it.”
Although she is not on the field, Nunn keeps everyone on time and on task as the team manager.
Her job varies during the week.
“Sometimes I get equipment out for them,” she said. “I’m usually taking pictures because I run our social media pages.”
Huberty said she also keeps him on task.
“She is so amazing to have here,” he said. “I give her a practice schedule, and she lets me know when our sessions are done.
“We have a drone we sometimes run at practice, and she’ll run the drone for us and record practice.”
Ragan, who is Parchment’s leading goal-scorer in soccer, said “I never imagined myself on a football field in my life. I like it. I think it’s really fun.
“Football has definitely helped me with soccer. It’s made me more physical on the field for sure. I think that’s definitely a benefit.”
Huberty said Ragan, who booted a 25-yard field goal two weeks ago, “came out just to be a kicker. We got him out playing defense, and he liked it.”
Smith had some experience after playing football in middle school. But after watching the Panthers games, he realized he missed it.
“Wish I had played before,” he said. “I recommend playing football all four years. It’s a great experience.”
Kovl, who pulled in eight catches for 96 yards two weeks ago, said his best game was in a losing effort against Kalamazoo United.
“I had 126 yards, six receptions, two touchdowns,” he said. “It was a tough loss, but it was definitely one of my best games.”
McClanahan spends summers in Tennessee and made the choice to return to Parchment early this time so he could play football.
“I definitely like the energy we get at practices and during games with all my teammates,” he said. “A lot of my friends were coming out, so I decided I’d just hop on the train and come out.
“We’ve been close since sixth grade and anything one does, we all do together. We’re a really close friend group.”
Two more seniors, Slack and Shank, are juggling first-year football with other fall sports and sometimes miss practices.
“(Slack) has really started to emerge as a guy who can contribute to the team,” Huberty said. “He caught a touchdown pass against United and is starting to emerge as a guy who should start getting more playing time.”
Shank is the second-string kicker and also balancing a club commitment this fall.
“She runs cross country, her primary sport, and also does travel soccer in the fall,” Huberty said. “She comes when she can be here.”
As for the veterans on the team, “They have done a great job of embracing those first-year kids,” Huberty said.
“There’s no real wedge between kids who have played in the past and those who haven’t.”
Now that they've tasted success on the football field, the "Senior 9" all agreed on one regret: Waiting until their senior year to play football.
Pam Shebest served as a sportswriter at the Kalamazoo Gazette from 1985-2009 after 11 years part-time with the Gazette while teaching French and English at White Pigeon High School. She can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Calhoun, Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Parchment’s Jacob Guzior (83) prepares to defend from his linebacker spot during a 21-17 Week 7 win over Allegan. (Middle) Front, from left: Mason Ragan, Blake Smith. Back, from left: McKenna Nunn, Will Kovl, Jacob Guzior, Breckyn Bootland and Ashtian McClanahan. (Below) The Panthers’ Will Kovl attempts to pull away from a Tigers defender. (Action photos by McKenna Nunn; group photo by Pam Shebest.)