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Drive for Detroit: Week 9 in Review

October 23, 2017

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

By now, you know which teams made the playoffs, what the first-round matchups look like and what the roads will be for your favorites to arrive at either the Superior Dome or Ford Field next month.

But a lot was still undecided heading into Week 9 – in fact, nearly one third of the playoff berths were still up for grabs.

So as we’ve done each Monday since mid-August, our “Drive for Detroit” – powered by MI Student Aid – will give you 45 glimpses below into how we got to this point. 

Bay & Thumb

Lapeer 35, Flint Carman-Ainsworth 23

With both 5-3 entering the weekend, a win would guarantee the victor a playoff berth. In the end, both teams qualified, but Carman-Ainsworth had to wait a little longer to find out its season would go on. Lapeer has made the playoffs all four years since the former West and East high schools merged into one. Carman-Ainsworth made the playoffs as an at-large qualifier for the second straight year, no doubt helped that its losses this fall came to to Grand Blanc, Davison, Midland Dow and Lapeer (which are a combined 28-8). Click for more from the Lapeer County Press.

Also noted:

Bridgeport 54, Chesaning 31 – The Bearcats (6-3) have as many wins as the last three seasons combined and earned their first playoff berth since 1999; Chesaning (4-5) missed the playoffs but did double its win total from a year ago.

Frankenmuth 20, Freeland 7 – After missing perfect regular seasons the last two because of losses to Freeland (6-3), Frankenmuth (9-0) got past its nemesis and ended up with the highest playoff point average in Division 5.

Midland 49, Midland Dow 21 – The Chemics (8-1) broke a four-game losing streak to rival Dow (7-2), in doing so doubling their win total from a year ago.

Lake Fenton 35, Williamston 28 – The Blue Devils (8-1) staved off their most challenging opponent since a Week 1 loss to New Lothrop … and earned the opportunity to face Williamston (5-4) again this week in a Division 4 opener. 

Greater Detroit

Detroit Martin Luther King 21, Detroit East English 0

King completed its second Detroit Public School overall title run in three seasons with this win in the PSL A final at Ford Field. The Crusaders also made it eight straight victories over East English (8-1), which hadn’t been shut out since 2013. King, the two-time reigning MHSAA Division 2 champion, finished the regular season 8-1 with its only loss to Toledo Central Catholic (which also is 8-1). Click for more from MLive-Detroit.

Also noted:

Warren DeLaSalle 35, Detroit Catholic Central 14 – The Pilots (7-2) beat Detroit Catholic Central (5-4) in Week 8 to clinch the Catholic League Central title, and then again Saturday for the A-B championship.

Detroit Central 40, Detroit Denby 0 – After opening the Detroit Public School League Black schedule with a 12-6 loss to Denby (6-2), Central (7-2) avenged in a big way in Friday’s PSL B championship game.

Waterford Mott 42, Fenton 28 – The Corsairs (8-1) reached eight wins for the first time since 1973 by handing Fenton (8-1) its lone loss of the regular season.

Canton 35, Livonia Churchill 21 – The overall Kensington Lakes Activities Association championship went to the Chiefs (8-1), who have won eight straight and swept the KLAA Black; Churchill (7-2) swept the Red to reach this final.

Mid-Michigan

Clare 38, Beaverton 14

Clare continues to own the Jack Pine Conference. Both of these teams entered the regular-season finale undefeated in league play – Beaverton undefeated overall as well – but the Pioneers (8-1) emerged with a big win to claim their 10th league title in 11 seasons and run their league winning streak back up to 14 straight games. The Beavers (8-1) do still have their best record since 1970, and home-field advantage this week and should they advance to a Division 7 District Final. Click for more from the Mount Pleasant Morning Sun.

Also noted:

Ithaca 38, Carrollton 6 – It becomes easy to take for granted after so many years, but Ithaca (9-0) completed its eighth straight perfect regular season by downing playoff qualifier Carrollton (6-3); the Yellowjackets’ only losses since the start of 2010 were in the 2014 Division 6 Final and in a Division 5 Regional Final last season.

East Lansing 21, Okemos 7 – The Trojans (7-2) have come back from a 1-2 start to earn a home playoff game, while this victory kept Okemos (5-4) out of the postseason; the Chiefs still finished with more wins than their last two seasons combined.

Middleville Thornapple Kellogg 24, Grand Rapids Christian 20 – In easily one of the most massive upsets of the regular season, Middleville TK (2-7) won for the first time since opening night and avenged last season’s 54-0 loss to the Eagles (7-2).

Ovid-Elsie 23, Richmond 14 – The Marauders (7-2) continued their bounce-back from 4-5 a year ago with what likely would be considered an upset of the Blue Water Area Conference runner-up Blue Devils (7-2). 


Northern Lower Peninsula

Boyne City 19, Traverse City St. Francis 13

Arguably the most dramatic play statewide this weekend gave Boyne City the go-ahead points during the final minute (click the link below for more). The Ramblers (9-0) broke a three-game losing streak against the rival Gladiators and clinched the Northern Michigan Football League Legends championship outright. Boyne City also completed its second perfect regular season in four years, its 19 points only the second-most St. Francis (8-1) has given up this season. Defense certainly prevailed – the Rambers’ 19 also tied their second-fewest scored this season. Click for more from the Petoskey News-Review.

Also noted:

Johannesburg-Lewiston 50, Harbor Springs 8 – The Cardinals (6-3) clinched a playoff berth after missing last season for the first time in six; Harbor Springs (4-5) fell shy of an at-large opportunity.

Grayling 50, Kalkaska 33 – The Vikings (6-3) clinched a third straight playoff berth and eighth in nine seasons, while Kalkaska also (4-5) missed out on a chance at an at-large bid.

Hillman 58, Indian River Inland Lakes 8 – The Tigers (5-4) got the needed win to extend their playoff streak to 12 straight seasons; Inland Lakes (2-7) did take a step this fall after going winless in 2016.

AuGres-Sims 50, Adrian Lenawee Christian 6 – The Wolverines (8-0) capped their first perfect regular season since 2006 and with a big win over another playoff team in Lenawee Christian (6-3), which qualified after missing the postseason in 2016. 

Southeast & Border

Michigan Center 45, Reading 43

Michigan Center also has the argument for the most dramatic play of the weekend, scoring during the final minute to cap a fourth-quarter comeback and beat Reading in the crossover of champions from the Cascades and Big 8 conferences, respectively. The Rangers (7-2) suffered their first loss since Week 1 but still have more victories this season than the last two combined. Michigan Center (8-1) needs one more win to tie its program record. Click for more from the Jackson Citizen Patriot.

Also noted:

Union City 44, Addison 20 – The Chargers (7-2) have rebounded from two straight sub-.500 finishes to tie for second in the Big 8 Conference and earn this win over Cascades co-champion Addison (7-2).

Hudson 54, Blissfield 8 – The Tigers (8-1) locked up the Lenawee County Athletic Association championship, made more impressive as Blissfield (5-4) was one of six teams in the league, out of eight, to finish with overall winning records in the regular season.

Hillsdale 17, Brooklyn Columbia Central 10 – The Hornets (5-4) closed with three straight wins over playoff teams to earn an at-large berth after missing last season for the first time in 16; Columbia Central (6-3) is headed to the postseason for the third straight season.

Morenci 40, Petersburg Summerfield 28 – After opening this season 0-2, Morenci (6-3) won all but one of their Tri-County Conference games to finish second and secure their fourth straight playoff berth; Summerfield (6-3) finished third in the league and also qualified for the fourth straight season.

Southwest Corridor

Vicksburg 30, Three Rivers 20

Vicksburg (7-2) had only an outside chance Friday of gaining a share of the Wolverine B Conference championship. But the Bulldogs could prevent rival Three Rivers from claiming part of the league title – and this 30-20 win gave the outright championship to Edwardsburg, while Vicksburg, Three Rivers and Plainwell ended up tied for second place. Three Rivers (7-2) will have to wait only six days for a chance at vengeance; emotions surely will be running high when these two meet again in a Division 4 District opener Friday. Click for more from JoeInsider.com.

Also noted:

Coldwater 24, Traverse City West 9 – The Cardinals (6-3) took a long trip north needing a win to earn a fifth straight playoff appearance, and got it by holding the Titans (8-1) to 20 fewer points than they’d scored in any game over the first eight.

Dowagiac 21, Paw Paw 12 – The Chieftains (6-3) needed a third straight win over Paw Paw (4-5) to make the playoffs for the third straight year, and in the process took an at-large opportunity away from the Redskins.

Delton Kellogg 40, Constantine 7 – The Panthers (5-4) got what they needed to earn an at-large playoff bid for the second time in three seasons, and one more win would tie their most since 2001; Constantine (3-6) saw an 18-year playoff streak come to an end.

Battle Creek Pennfield 28, Olivet 21 – The Panthers (4-5) didn’t make the playoffs and were out of consideration after Week 8, but they rallied to give Olivet (8-1) its first loss. 

Upper Peninsula

Kingsford 21, Escanaba 14

First a few weeks ago, it looked like Escanaba/Gladstone might be the matchup of the best in the Upper Peninsula. After the Eskymos won that game, Kingsford (6-2) emerged from an early schedule of Wisconsin opponents to become the next challenger. So it’s fair to call the Flivvers the best above the bridge after it finished a perfect run through the Great Northern Conference while suffering its only loss this season to Menasha, Wis., in Week 1. Escanaba (7-2) could host up to two playoff games, however, and its losses were by a combined 14 points. Kingsford is in line to host up to three playoff games. Click for more from the Iron Mountain Daily News.

Also noted:

Calumet 20, Gladstone 16 – The Copper Kings (6-3) needed a win to guarantee a fourth straight playoff appearance and 12th in 13 seasons, and had to get it against a Gladstone team that at 7-2 is enjoying its first winning season since 2009 and first playoff season since 2008.

Ishpeming Westwood 30, Negaunee 14 – The Patriots (8-1) set a program single-season record for wins and after going only 2-7 a year ago; in the process they also helped end Negaunee’s five-year playoff streak as the Miners finished 4-5.

Menominee 34, Marquette 17 – The Maroons (6-3) earned their 22nd straight playoff berth, good to tie for second-longest streak all-time, but only by getting past the rival Redmen (4-5) as they sought an at-large opportunity.

Hancock 21, Houghton 0 – The win over Houghton (1-8) wasn’t a huge surprise, but Hancock (7-2) obviously should celebrate its first playoff berth since 2006. 

West Michigan

Montague 34, Muskegon Catholic Central 10

This meeting of league champions – Montague from the West Michigan Conference and MCC (7-1) from the Lakes 8 – was anticipated as well because both were undefeated and both are potential MHSAA champions, MCC in Division 8 and Montague in Division 6. This meeting was the first between the two Muskegon-area powers, and the Wildcats (9-0) were able to finish off a second perfect regular season in three years and end MCC’s 27-game winning streak. Click for more from the Local Sports Journal.

Also noted:

Holland West Ottawa 34, Grandville 18 – In the end, what looked a few weeks ago like an unpredictable Ottawa-Kent Conference Red race turned into an outright championship for West Ottawa (8-1); the title had been split three straight seasons, and a Grandville win would’ve earned the Bulldogs and Rockford shares.

Zeeland East 28, Zeeland West 8 – East (9-0) completed a perfect regular season for the first time since 2012 and claimed the outright O-K Green title, the Chix’ first league title since winning the O-K Black also in 2012. But East also must see West (6-3) again immediately in a Division 3 opener.   

East Grand Rapids 13, Grand Rapids South Christian 7 – The Sailors (7-2) also had a chance to turn the O-K Gold into a three-team title share, but East Grand Rapids (9-0) held on not just for the outright championship but its first perfect regular season since 2010.

Fennville 40, Saugatuck 7 – Fennville (5-4) fell shy of the playoffs and Saugatuck (6-3) will play on, but this win gave the Blackhawks the outright Southwestern Athletic Conference Lakeshore title with one more league win than the Indians.

8-Player

Kinde-North Huron 56, Bay City All Saints 46

North Huron (8-1) finished its North Central Thumb League Stripes championship run against All Saints, who were tied with the Warriors for first place entering the weekend. It’s been an incredible turnaround for North Huron, which was 2-7 a year ago and last won a league title in 2006 (sharing it that year with Kingston). These teams could meet again; North Huron is home in their shared Division 2 Regional and All Saints (6-3) will open on the road at Marion. Click for more from the Huron Daily Tribune.

Also noted:

Pickford 53, Rudyard 14 – The Panthers (9-0) held off Rudyard’s attempt at creating a shared Bridge Alliance title, as the Bulldogs (7-2) instead fell into a three-way tie for second.

Bellaire 42, Onaway 20 – Although Onaway finished only 3-6, this was a key game because it was Bellaire’s fourth straight win and likely the playoff clincher after a 1-4 start to this season.

Powers North Central 32, Stephenson 20 – After the reigning MHSAA champion Jets (6-2) started 1-2, things looked dim; in retrospect, those losses were by only a combined 10 points and this win over Stephenson (7-2) was their fifth straight.

Eben Junction Superior Central 46, Rapid River 22 – Superior Central (4-5) fell short of the playoffs but closed with three straight wins for the second straight season, and this time dealt Western Eight Conference champion Rapid River (7-2) its only league loss. 

Second Half’s weekly “Drive for Detroit” previews and reviews 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: Montague, here on defense surrounding a ball carrier, won a meeting of undefeated teams Friday in its first game ever against Muskegon Catholic Central. (Photo by Tim Reilly.)

Detroit Cass Tech’s Alex Graham pulls away for a touchdown against Detroit Martin Luther King at Ford Field.

1st & Goal: 2024 Week 8 Review

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

October 21, 2024

This forecast for late October never fails:

MI Student AidAs expected, championships were celebrated and big playoff pushes were made all over the state during Week 8 of another football regular season that will be over by this time next week. 

This week's "Review" details several of those league races now decided, but also the movements of several teams in, or out, of the potential playoff field as we inch closer to Sunday's selection announcement. 

Bay & Thumb

HEADLINER Frankenmuth 21, Freeland 20 Frankenmuth (8-0) clinched the Tri-Valley Conference Red title and extended its league winning streak to 66 games, but with Freeland (7-1) providing one of the strongest challenges to the decade-plus run. Logan Diener’s second touchdown, with 3:58 to play, and Aiden Labissoniere’s go-ahead extra point helped put the game, and title, away. Click for more from the Saginaw News.

Watch list Grand Blanc 55, Davison 49 Grand Blanc (7-1) finished a perfect run through the Saginaw Valley League Red by handing Davison its lone Valley loss, although the Cardinals (6-2) finish with Lapeer this week. The Bobcats’ championship was their first since 2021 and came after finishing second to Davison a year ago.

On the move Goodrich 42, Fenton 3 Goodrich (7-1) won the overall Flint Metro League championship game and in doing so handed the Tigers (7-1) their first loss, finished a run of reaching 42 points in all seven league games and gave up a total of 45 points to Metro opponents. Ubly 30, Cass City 12 No one should have thought Ubly (5-3) was going away quietly with its 0-3 start this fall after last season’s Division 8 championship. Those first three opponents are a combined 23-1, and the Bearcats are up to No. 19 on the Division 8 playoff point list. Midland Dow 23, Lapeer 14 Dow (5-3) has won five of its last six games to jump into the Division 2 playoff picture for the first time this season, moving up seven spots to No. 26 while sending Lapeer to 5-3 and the No. 24 position on the Division 1 list.

Greater Detroit

HEADLINER Detroit Cass Tech 30, Detroit Martin Luther King 14 Cass Tech (6-2) again broke the recent trend in this rivalry, taking the Detroit Public School Blue City championship after King won their first meeting this season and finished with the PSL Blue regular-season title. It was the second time in three years the Technicians have avenged a King loss from a month earlier, and also only the second time in five years that the winner of the first matchup didn’t finish with a sweep. Cass Tech’s Alex Graham scored on a kickoff return and catching a pass as the Technicians reached the end zone three times through the air. Click for more from the Detroit News.

Watch list Detroit Central 22, Detroit Denby 18 Central (6-2) has won six straight games and avenged a pair of losses from last season to Denby (5-3) to take the PSL Gold City championship after these two shared the regular-season title. The Trail Blazers gave up six points total with four shutouts over five division games and cooled a Denby offense that was averaging 33 points per game.

On the move Gibraltar Carlson 42, Allen Park 0 Carlson (7-1) clinched a share of the Downriver League title, its fourth straight, with Allen Park (6-2) holding out hope for a share as well if Lincoln Park can catch the Marauders this week. Clarkston Everest Collegiate 42, Royal Oak Shrine Catholic 3 The Mountaineers (8-0) finished off an outright title run in the Catholic High School League Intersectional #2, their second straight as they ran their league game winning streak to 12 with a seventh in a row over Shrine (6-2) – which has guaranteed its best record since 2020. Belleville 31, Dearborn Fordson 0 Belleville (8-0) closed out an eighth-straight league title by finishing another sweep of the Kensington Lakes Activities Association East, with this the Tigers’ second-straight shutout and third over seven KLAA games. Walled Lake Western 20, Mason 17 Walled Lake Western (8-0) entered the week No. 2 in the Division 3 coaches poll, and Mason (6-2) was No. 6 and had won both matchups with the Warriors last season including in a Regional Final.

Mid-Michigan

HEADLINER Howell 36, Brighton 14 The Highlanders (8-0) completed a KLAA West outright championship, defeating Brighton (6-2) for the second-straight season to avoid what would have been a shared league title with the Bulldogs. Justin Jones ran for three touchdowns and caught a fourth to pace Howell, which faces Belleville this week in the overall KLAA championship game. Click for more from the Livingston Daily Press & Argus.

Watch list Portland 33, Lansing Sexton 0 Portland coach John Novara reached 200 career wins as the Raiders (8-0) finished another perfect run through the Capital Area Activities Conference White, extending their league game winning streak to 20. The shutout kept Portland at No. 9 on the Division 4 playoff list and Sexton (4-4) just outside the field at No. 34.

On the move Clare 54, Pinconning 28 After sharing the Jack Pine Conference Division 1 title, Clare (7-1) won this matchup with JPC Division 2 runner-up Pinconning (5-3) to move up to No. 11 on the Division 5 playoff list. Ionia 16, St. Johns 13 After this close win over St. Johns (5-3), the Bulldogs (5-3) are a win away from guaranteeing their best record since 2013 with rival Lake Odessa Lakewood up next. Olivet 27, Lansing Catholic 14 Olivet has two wins over Lansing Catholic (5-3) in two seasons in the CAAC White, with this one giving the Eagles (6-2) second place in the league and sending the Cougars into a tie for third.

Northern Lower Peninsula

HEADLINER East Jordan 33, Frankfort 6 This could pay off in multiple ways for East Jordan (6-2). The Red Devils can continue to hold out hope of a title share in the Northern Michigan Football League Legacy (if Mancelona defeats first-place Maple City Glen Lake this week), and East Jordan also jumped past Frankfort on the Division 8 playoff list after trailing the Panthers (6-2) by one position entering Friday. Click for more from the Traverse City Record-Eagle.

Watch list Ogemaw Heights 64, Harrison 28 The JPC Division 1 co-champion Ogemaw Heights (7-1) handed Division 2 winner Harrison (7-1) its first loss and scored a season high in bouncing back from a Week 6 defeat to Standish-Sterling.

On the move Boyne City 36, Oscoda 0 Boyne City (6-2) has climbed the Division 6 playoff list for the fourth-straight week, this time up to No. 18 while sending Oscoda (5-3) down only two slots to No. 30 in Division 7. Maple City Glen Lake 32, Saginaw Valley Lutheran 13 Glen Lake (7-1) has put together its best season since 2019 and heads into a potential outright league title clincher after a solid win over the Chargers (4-4). Manistee 65, Montague 32 Manistee (5-4) moved up from No. 30 to 24 on the Division 6 playoff list and moved Montague (3-5) from 31 to just outside the field at No. 33.

Grand Blanc’s Caseton Sendry (18) eludes a pair of Davison defenders.

Southeast & Border

HEADLINER Hudson 22, Clinton 6 Hudson (7-1) has a share of the Lenawee County Athletic Association championship and winless Hillsdale to play this week to make it outright, while Clinton and Ida are tied for second and likely the newest Hillsdale fans. Clinton (6-2) had won 24 straight LCAA games and the last two league titles. Click for more from the Adrian Daily Telegram.

Watch list Ottawa Lake Whiteford 30, White Pigeon 16 On paper, Whiteford (4-4) has had a tougher run than usual this fall. But its losses are to teams that are a combined 31-2, and the Bobcats are up to No. 21 on the Division 7 playoff list after handing White Pigeon (7-1) its lone defeat.

On the move Hanover-Horton 28, Brooklyn Columbia Central 19 The Cascades Conference West title belongs entirely to Hanover-Horton (8-0) as the Comets clinched it outright in sending Columbia Central (3-5) into third place and avoiding a potential three-team share. Grass Lake 28, Leslie 7 Leslie (7-1) already had the Cascades Conference East outright title in hand, but this is major win for Grass Lake (5-3) nonetheless as it bumped the Warriors up four spots to No. 37 on the Division 6 playoff list. Chelsea 21, Trenton 20 Division 4 contender Chelsea (7-1) needed a score during the final minutes to get past the Trojans (5-3), who remain No. 11 on the Division 3 playoff list.

Southwest Border

HEADLINER Kalamazoo United 35, Parchment 13 In a matchup of tough defenses, United’s was able to hold its ground most and slowed a Parchment offense that was averaging 42 points per game. In doing so, the Titans (7-1) clinched the outright Southwestern Athletic Conference Lakeshore championship, sending the Panthers (6-2) to second place with their only league defeat. Click for more from the Kalamazoo Gazette.

Watch list Mattawan 42, Kalamazoo Central 20 Over the last two weeks, Mattawan (5-3) has defeated leaders of both the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference West and now East, in the process jumping from No. 39 two weeks ago to No. 22 on the Division 2 playoff list. Central (5-3) is tied for first in the East and plays Loy Norrix this week for that outright title.

On the move Decatur 18, Hopkins 0 Decatur (7-1) may have fallen eight points shy of catching champion White Pigeon in the Southwest 10 Conference, but it earned this win over Ottawa-Kent Conference Silver co-leader Hopkins (6-2) to guarantee its winningest season since 2014. Portage Northern 45, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix 0 The SMAC West could send four of its five teams to the playoffs, with this win over the Knights (5-3) bumping Northern (5-3) up to No. 21 on the Division 2 playoff list. Lawton 26, Saugatuck 10 Lawton (6-2) concluded the SAC Valley schedule by winning this matchup for second in the standings, further solidifying itself in the middle of the Division 7 field while Saugatuck (5-3) occupies the same in Division 8.

Upper Peninsula

HEADLINER Kingsford 13, Menominee 12 This season’s Western Peninsula Athletic Conference Copper race couldn’t have been much closer, with champion Kingsford (8-0) edging Menominee (7-1) this time to go with its two-point win over Negaunee in Week 4. The Flivvers will face Marquette this week as they play for a perfect regular season. Click for more from the Iron Mountain Daily News.

Watch list Calumet 19, Gladstone 6 While just a notch below contending in the Copper, Calumet (5-3) gave Kingsford a 14-point game in Week 5 and won its three games since. The Copper Kings climbed the Division 6 playoff list for the third straight week, now to No. 26.

On the move Iron Mountain 42, Manistique 21 The Mountaineers (8-0) pulled within a win of a potential second-straight undefeated regular season. L’Anse 40, Gwinn 22 L’Anse not only reversed a 33-6 loss to Gwinn from Week 3, but ended a 15-game losing streak stretching back to 2022. Marquette 41, Cadillac 32 The Sentinels (6-2) bounced back from a heartbreaker against Petoskey to surpass last year’s victory total. Despite the loss, Cadillac (4-4) actually moved up a spot on the Division 3 playoff list, to No. 27.

East Grand Rapids’ Carson Thornton (8) finds a gap in the Grand Rapids Catholic Central defense.

West  Michigan

HEADLINER Grand Rapids West Catholic 54, Hamilton 14 After edging Ada Forest Hills Eastern by a point to take over first place alone in the O-K White in Week 7, West Catholic (6-2) sent Hamilton into third place and clinched the outright championship – its second straight after winning the O-K Blue outright last season. Click for more from the Grand Rapids Press.

Watch list Byron Center 17, Muskegon 14 With Byron Center’s move into the O-K Green this season, these two met for the first time since 2017 – and the Bulldogs (7-1) put a serious dent in the reigning Division 2 champion’s hopes of extending its playoff qualification streak that began in 2000.  

On the move Grand Rapids Northview 35, Holland Christian 20 Northview (8-0) finished an outright title run in the O-K Black while sending Holland Christian to 6-2. East Grand Rapids 31, Grand Rapids Catholic Central 28 East Grand Rapids (5-3) made second place in the O-K Black a three-team share with this win over the Cougars (5-3) in their first meeting since 2016. Big Rapids 24, Coopersville 7 Fresh off wrapping up a league title in Week 7, Big Rapids (7-1) handed a loss to River Cities Alliance co-leader Coopersville (5-3), which plays Cedar Springs this week for a potential outright league title.

8-Player

HEADLINER Climax-Scotts 46, Mendon 44 The Panthers (7-1) are outright Southern Central Athletic Association Red champions after handing the lone loss this fall to Mendon (7-1), with Jackson Bagwell scoring on a four-yard run and adding the winning 2-point conversion run with 55 seconds to play. Climax-Scotts scored first, and the teams then traded touchdowns all the way until the Panthers scored last. Click for more from WWMT.

Watch list Bay City All Saints 61, Kinde North Huron 22 The Cougars’ only loss this season came in Week 1 – to still-undefeated Deckerville – and they are Big Thumb Conference Red champions after this impressive winner-take-all performance against former co-leader North Huron (6-2).

On the move Pittsford 46, Waldron 14 The SCAA Blue belongs entirely to Pittsford (7-1), which clinched a share of the championship in Week 7 but needed to get past third-place Waldron (5-3) to finish the perfect run. Pickford 51, Norway 6 Pickford (8-0) clinched a share of the Great Lakes Eight Conference East title in this matchup of previous co-leaders. The Pirates may need to defeat third-place (tied) Munising this week to clinch it outright, with Norway (6-2) hoping to share with a win over the other third-place team, Rudyard, and a Munising victory. Indian River Inland Lakes 64, Bellaire 12 Inland Lakes (8-0) will play co-leader Gaylord St. Mary for the Ski Valley Conference title this week after turning back third-place Bellaire (6-2).

MHSAA.com's weekly “1st & Goal” previews and reviews are powered by MI Student Aid, a division within the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP). MI Student Aid encourages students to pursue postsecondary education by providing access to student financial resources and information. MI Student Aid administers the state’s scholarship and grant programs that help make college Accessible, Affordable and Attainable for you. Click to connect with MI Student Aid and find more information on Facebook and Twitter @mistudentaid.

PHOTOS (Top) Detroit Cass Tech’s Alex Graham pulls away for a touchdown against Detroit Martin Luther King at Ford Field. (Middle) Grand Blanc’s Caseton Sendry (18) eludes a pair of Davison defenders. (Below) East Grand Rapids’ Carson Thornton (8) finds a gap in the Grand Rapids Catholic Central defense. (Top photo by Olivia B. Photography. Grand Blanc/Davison photo by Terry Lyons. EGR/Catholic Central photo by Michigan Sports Photo.)