Final-Seconds Field Goal Ends Defensive Stalemate, Delivers Gladwin's 1st Title
By
Paul Costanzo
Special for MHSAA.com
November 26, 2022
DETROIT – As Treyton Siegert warmed up with the kicking net on the Gladwin sideline late in the Division 5 Football Final on Saturday, he was kind of hoping it wouldn’t be necessary.
“I was just trying to focus on making good contact with the ball, and just hoping they would score a touchdown,” the junior kicker said. “I knew it would probably come to me.”
It did, and Siegert delivered with a 21-yard field goal from the right hash to give Gladwin a 10-7 win against Frankenmuth and its first MHSAA football title.
“It was a crazy moment,” Siegert said. “I never doubted it once we got up close enough, but it was just a crazy moment. I’m really speechless. It was awesome to have that feeling. … I wouldn’t have that opportunity without a team behind me. It was really a great moment.”
Siegert’s moment capped a defensive struggle between two unbeaten teams, each in search of a first Finals title. For Frankenmuth, it was the second trip to the Finals in three seasons. Gladwin, meanwhile, was making its first appearance in a Final, and it came just three seasons after the team went 1-8 to cap a four-year stretch during which it won seven games total.
The 1-8 season was the first for coach Marc Jarstfer and his staff. Two players who were on the field Saturday – receiver/safety Kaden McDonald and running back/linebacker Logan Kokotovich – played on the 1-8 team as freshmen.
“The culture,” McDonald said of what changed. “The culture was a huge thing. And the brotherhood. We worked out all the time and got after it in the offseason.”
Gladwin needed every bit of that culture and brotherhood to overcome a Frankenmuth team that had been building the same thing for decades.
With the game tied at 7 midway through the fourth quarter, it was the Flying Gs who found just a little bit more.
Senior quarterback Nick Wheeler connected with senior receiver Lucas Mead for a 43-yard gain down the sideline to put Gladwin at the Frankenmuth 28-yard line. Senior running back Earl Esiline then chipped away for 24 yards over the next five plays to set up Siegert’s game-winning field goal.
The junior soccer player left little doubt on it, too, smashing the kick through the middle of the uprights with two seconds remaining. That was only enough time for Frankenmuth to unsuccessfully attempt multiple laterals on the ensuing kickoff.
“I never doubted it for a second,” Jarstfer said of Siegert’s kick. “I was thinking of taking knees a little bit earlier to just ensure that we had that opportunity. Upstairs, on the phones, they were telling me to keep punching it and maybe we’ll break one through and we can seal the deal that way. I have a lot of trust and faith in him, and I’m glad he’s back for another year.”
The drive that set up the winning kick was a rare win for an offense in the game. It covered 74 yards, and Gladwin finished the game with 225 of total offense.
Frankenmuth, meanwhile, was held to 199 yards of offense, and 3.9 yards per play.
“Both defenses have been pretty sound all year,” Frankenmuth coach Phil Martin said. “I think both offenses probably left a little bit on the field that they would have liked to cash in on; I know we did. But again, I thought the kids played a whale of a smash-mouth football game. Small-town football in Division 5 is a lot of fun.”
The first offensive breakthrough didn’t come until late in the third quarter, when Frankenmuth junior Griffin Barker scored on a 2-yard run. He was helped with a push from behind by senior Brenden Marker, who had started as his lead blocker. The Frankenmuth drive covered 90 yards, and featured a 56-yard pass from senior quarterback Aidan Hoard to junior receiver Hunter Bernthal.
Gladwin immediately responded, putting together a four-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a 30-yard pass from Wheeler to McDonald.
The rare flash of offense wasn’t matched previously, nor after, until the game-winning drive.
Gladwin looked to have broken the deadlock on the first play of the second quarter, but a 55-yard touchdown run by Esiline was wiped off the board by an illegal formation penalty.
The Flying Gs did get into the red zone twice in the first half, but both trips came up empty. The first ended on downs at the Frankenmuth 16. The second ended with an incomplete pass on a fake field goal at the Frankenmuth 9.
“I just couldn’t be more thankful for the defense that I have on this team,” Hoard said. “They kept us in it the entire thing, and as the quarterback, seven points, that’s not really acceptable. We should have done a better job. The defense was what really kept us in it, and it was the main key of our team. That was our identity right there, a strong defensive team. All the way from the coaching staff to every player who played on the defensive side of the ball, I couldn’t be more proud of you guys.”
Hoard was 4 of 10 passing for 77 yards for the Eagles, while Barker led the rushing attack with 43 yards. Colin Main had nine tackles to lead Frankenmuth’s defense, while Dalton DeBeau added eight.
Wheeler had 123 yards on 7 of 15 passing, and Esiline led the Gladwin rushing attack with 67 yards. Mead had 81 yards on four catches. Esiline was the leading tackler for Gladwin with eight, while McDonald had seven.
PHOTOS (Top) Gladwin celebrates its first Finals championship Saturday at Ford Field. (Middle) The Flying Gs’ Lucas Mead (4) and Frankenmuth’s Will Soulliere (13) contend for a jump ball in the end zone. (Below) Mead (4) wraps up Frankenmuth’s Hunter Bernthal (3). (Click for more from Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)
1st & Goal: 2025 Week 4 Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
September 19, 2025
Could Week 4 be the one we look back on as the most important this regular season?
It’s certainly possible.
The two biggest games this weekend might take place about 35 miles apart, as likely league title favorites in both the Detroit Public School League Blue and Catholic High School League Central face off. And several more conferences also eventually may recall tonight as the one that decided which schools add a trophy in October.
Scores for every game across the state this weekend will be posted on the MHSAA Scores page as they conclude. Tune into several on the NFHS Network, including those with “WATCH” linked below.
Bay & Thumb
Richmond (3-0) at Armada (3-0) WATCH
This decade has seen Armada join the contenders in the Blue Water Area Conference; the Tigers finished second last season with only a one-point loss to champion Almont. Richmond could be on its way to becoming a factor again. The Blue Devils last week defeated Croswell-Lexington, avenging last year’s 41-10 loss in defeating the Pioneers for the first time since 2019. Richmond also opened this season by avenging a 2024 loss to St. Clair – and hasn’t defeated Armada since 2019 as well.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Saginaw Swan Valley (2-1) at Bay City John Glenn (3-0) WATCH, Owosso (3-0) at Clio (3-0) WATCH, Holly (2-1) at Linden (3-0) WATCH, Bay City Western (2-1) at Midland Dow (2-1) WATCH.
Greater Detroit
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (3-0) at Detroit Catholic Central (3-0)
Cass Tech/King this week should be another classic, but this is a rare instance when another Metro Detroit game carries similar clout. St. Mary’s is the reigning Division 2 champion but lost three Catholic High School League Central games last season including 27-22 to eventual champion DCC. The Shamrocks already have a win this fall over 2024 CHSL Central runner-up Toledo Central Catholic, but OLSM already has avenged last year’s loss to Warren De La Salle Collegiate – rebounding from a 10-point loss for a 39-point victory.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Detroit Cass Tech (3-0) at Detroit Martin Luther King (2-1), Sterling Heights Stevenson (3-0) at Macomb Dakota (3-0) WATCH, Gibraltar Carlson (3-0) at Trenton (2-1) WATCH, Dearborn Heights Robichaud (3-0) at Redford Union (2-1) WATCH.
Mid-Michigan
Grand Ledge (3-0) at Holt (2-1) WATCH
Grand Ledge has won three straight in this rivalry, starting with its Division 1 District Final matchup in 2022. But the Rams can make a nice statement to kick off the Capital Area Activities Conference Blue schedule, especially as they are seeking their first playoff berth since that fall. The Comets opened league play last week by downing East Lansing 45-27 after having fallen to the Trojans the last two seasons. Holt’s loss came in its season opener to reigning CAAC Red champion Mason.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Ovid-Elsie (2-1) at Durand (2-1) WATCH, Haslett (2-1) at Mason (1-2), Kalkaska (3-0) at Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (2-1), Fowlerville (2-1) at Williamston (3-0) WATCH.
Northern Lower Peninsula
Kingsley (2-1) at Boyne City (3-0)
These two and Traverse City St. Francis shared the Northern Michigan Football League Legends championship last season, and all of that started with Kingsley’s 26-20 win over Boyne City. The Stags have won four straight against the Ramblers, including the last two with both back in the same NMFL division, but Boyne City last year didn’t lose again until the Division 6 Semifinals and has given up only 27 points total over its first three games this fall. Kingsley took a Week 2 loss to much-improved Gaylord but bounced back big last week against Grayling.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Mount Pleasant (3-0) at Traverse City Central (2-1), East Jordan (2-1) at Maple City Glen Lake (2-1) WATCH, Beal City (3-0) at McBain (2-1) WATCH, Shepherd (3-0) at Ogemaw Heights (2-1) WATCH.
Southeast & Border
Dexter (3-0) at Saline (3-0) WATCH
This matchup has played a major role in deciding the Southeastern Conference Red title the last three seasons. Dexter has scored at least 48 points in all three of its games so far this fall, including during a 50-27 opening win over Brighton. Saline started this season with a 37-28 win over Rockford and then has reached 50 points the last two weeks – while not allowing any.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Michigan Center (3-0) at Manchester (2-1) WATCH, Riverview (2-1) at Monroe Jefferson (3-0), Hastings (2-1) at Parma Western (1-2), Chelsea (3-0) at Tecumseh (2-1) WATCH.
Southwest Corridor
Battle Creek Pennfield (2-1) at Battle Creek Harper Creek (2-1)
Pennfield is 2-1 for the first time since 2021 and after winning one game all of last season, and last week’s 23-20 victory came over a Buchanan team that made the playoffs a year ago. A win over Harper Creek would be the Panthers’ first since 2020. The Beavers are reigning Interstate 8 Athletic Conference champions and bounced back from a Week 2 loss to Cedar Springs by downing Coldwater in a league opener.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Portage Central (3-0) at Battle Creek Central (2-1), Marshall (2-1) at Dowagiac (2-1), Plainwell (2-1) at Three Rivers (3-0) WATCH, Centreville (2-1) at White Pigeon (3-0) WATCH.
Upper Peninsula
Menominee (3-0) at Calumet (3-0) WATCH
The Maroons are marching again and looking to extend a winning streak over Calumet to four, with the last two wins coming in Western Peninsula Athletic Conference Copper play. Those two victories both came by at least 40 points, but the Copper Kings should make this a much closer game, off to their best start since 2019 and riding the momentum of a 33-18 win last week over Negaunee.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Kingsford (2-1) at Negaunee (2-1) WATCH, L’Anse (3-0) at Manistique (1-2) WATCH, Escanaba (3-0) at Sault Ste. Marie (0-3) WATCH, Houghton (1-2) at Ishpeming Westwood (0-3) WATCH.
West Michigan
Grand Rapids Northview (3-0) at Holland Christian (3-0) WATCH
It would be easy to argue East Kentwood/Rockford is a bigger game area-wide. But the Ottawa-Kent Conference Red looks full of those this season, and this O-K Black matchup may end up having larger league title implications. These two and Grand Rapids Catholic Central all have started 3-0, with two more teams 2-1. Northview defeated the Maroons last season 35-20 on the way to winning the league and finishing the regular season undefeated.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY East Kentwood (3-0) at Rockford (2-1) WATCH, Muskegon Oakridge (3-0) at Ludington (3-0), Zeeland East (3-0) at Hudsonville Unity Christian (3-0), Cedar Springs (3-0) at Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills (3-0) WATCH.
8-Player
Martin (3-0) at Gobles (3-0) WATCH
This has become one of the most intriguing rivalries in all of 8-player over the last two seasons, with Gobles winning regular-season matchups both times but Martin then winning playoff rematches. The Tigers have continued their offensive surge of the last two seasons, putting up nearly 52 per game over their first three including 54 in a 22-point win over Climax-Scotts. Martin has averaged 55 points per over its first three games, but perhaps more notably hasn’t given up more than 20 in any contest.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Brown City (3-0) at Deckerville (3-0) WATCH, Fulton (3-0) at Portland St. Patrick (3-0), Colon (2-1) at Climax-Scotts (2-1), Britton Deerfield (2-1) at Concord (2-1) WATCH.
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PHOTO East Kentwood's Ahman Edmonds bursts into the open during his team's Week 3 win over Jenison. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)