Fugate Carries CC On 1 More Trophy Run
By
Paul Costanzo
Special for MHSAA.com
November 24, 2017
DETROIT – As classmates and fans screamed his name from the Ford Field stands Friday night, Nolan Fugate put the focus on his teammates.
“I cannot thank my offensive line and my outside receivers enough,” the Grand Rapids Catholic Central senior running back said. “Without them none of this would be possible, and I just can’t thank them enough. They’re the best offensive line in the state.”
That line paved the way for Fugate, who gained 306 yards on the ground and tied an MHSAA Finals record with five total touchdowns as the Cougars defeated Edwardsburg 42-31 in the Division 4 championship game.
It was the second straight title for Catholic Central (14-0), and the program’s fourth overall. Coach Todd Kolster has led the Cougars to three of them (2010, 2016 and 2017).
“It has nothing to do with me,” Kolster said. “I’m the beneficiary of being the head coach for three of these, but it’s the kids that do all the work. They’re outstanding. This senior class, I love them so much. I’ve been so critical of them, and I say that all the time, because I came back here to Catholic Central with that class when they were freshmen and now they’re seniors. It’s really special to see these guys enjoy this, because they’ve earned every bit of it.”
This year’s title game was in stark contrast to last season’s when the Cougars eked out a 10-7 victory in a defensive struggle against Detroit Country Day. Big plays from both offenses highlighted Friday night’s game as Catholic Central had to battle to hold off a relentless Edwardsburg team down the stretch.
“They all mean the same,” Kolster said. “They all come in the right column, so we’ll take it.”
Seven of the game’s scoring plays were 20 yards or longer, including an MHSAA Finals record-tying 99-yard kick return touchdown by Edwardsburg’s Caden Goggins, and a MHSAA Finals record-tying 90-yard touchdown run by his teammate Nick Bradley.
On the night, the Eddies (12-2) averaged 9.7 yards per play and 10.8 yards per carry, while Catholic Central averaged 7.7 yards per play in managing to outgain Edwardsburg 448-369.
“Our defense, they played well -- we gave up a couple big plays, and Edwardsburg is a heck of a football team,” Kolster said. “We gave up three (big) kickoff returns and three big plays, but we handled them pretty well. That’s what they do, and that’s why they’re so good. That’s why they’re here, because they just keep at it, they keep at it and they’ll pop one, and they have confidence in that. But we have confidence in our guys.”
The Cougars’ defense did stiffen when it absolutely had to, as sophomore Ethan Lott came up with a tackle for loss on a 4th-and-1 play late in the fourth quarter to all but seal the game.
“Our guys did a great job on that 4th-and-1; it’s just a matter of reading their keys,” Kolster said. “I’m really proud of them.”
The game was absolutely put away when Fugate went 58 yards on a 3rd-and-10 in the final minute, barely getting tripped up at the Edwardsburg 10. It was another in a long line of huge plays for Fugate, who had touchdown runs of one, five, 54 and 32 yards, as well as a 20-yard touchdown reception from Jack Bowen.
Fugate also had 86 yards receiving and came down with a 38-yard catch along the sideline on a crucial 3rd-and-28 play midway through the fourth quarter with his team clinging to a 35-31 lead.
“The long third down, I saw (Bowen) leave the pocket and I was running my route and knew I had to get open,” Fugate said. “I just kind of boxed my guy out and said throw the ball, and I just did my best to make a play on the ball, and I was able to come down with it.”
The game put Fugate over 2,900 yards rushing for the season, and capped off a brilliant career that saw him set the school’s all-time career rushing record.
“Fugate is obviously a terrific runner,” Edwardsburg coach Kevin Bartz said. “I thought he ran as hard as I’ve ever seen him. We watched a good portion of film on him, and we knew he was fast, but I guess what I was more impressed with today is how hard he ran. He picked up lots of extra yards after contact. He’s an impressive athlete.”
Bartz was equally impressed with his team, which was playing in the title game for the first time and kept finding ways to hang around despite trailing by 16 midway through the third quarter.
On top of the record-tying touchdowns, the Eddies had scoring runs of 55 and 78 yards from Kyle Shrider, and 64 yards from Chase Sager. Shrider finished with 162 yards rushing, while Bradley had 96 and Sager had 73.
“Just to make it to this point, this was a team that was not expected to be here,” Bartz said. “With the number of kids we lost last year, we were kind of expected, I think, by most to be average at best. For them to come out here and perform against a top-level team like Grand Rapids CC, I’m extremely proud of these kids. They’ve now set the bar pretty high for everybody else at Edwardsburg.”
Bowen finished with 128 yards passing for the Cougars, while Erik Grabow had a 14-yard touchdown run.
The MHSAA Playoffs are sponsored by the Michigan Army National Guard.
PHOTOS: (Top) Grand Rapids Catholic Central players raise the winner's trophy after Friday night’s Division 4 championship game. (Middle) Edwardsburg’s Kyle Shrider pulls away from a Cougars defender.
1st & Goal: 2026 Week 7 Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 9, 2026
It’s an enjoyable coincidence that several football games we annually forecast to be the most consequential of the regular season generally are played near the end, even as league schedules rotate when teams face off year to year.
Season-long anticipation is being fulfilled in many parts of the state this week, as numerous league championships are set to be decided, including by most of the matchups we glance at below.
Games highlighted are Friday unless noted. Tune in to the NFHS Network to watch the majority and follow the MHSAA Scores page for results as they’re submitted.
Bay & Thumb
Fenton (5-1) at Linden (5-1)
Fenton has clinched a share of the Flint Metro League Stripes championship, but Linden has a chance to do the same if it can break a 13-year regular-season Tigers winning streak in the series. Of the teams’ last 16 regular-season meetings, 13 have been decided by eight points or fewer, including Fenton’s 46-41 victory a year ago. Intriguing as well: These two also met in the playoffs in 2022 and 2024, and Linden won both rematches. Both are Division 3 this season.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Macomb Lutheran North (6-0) at Almont (6-0), Ovid-Elsie (3-3) at Montrose (5-1), New Lothrop (5-1) at Chesaning (4-2), Cass City (5-1) at Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker (4-2).
Greater Detroit
Detroit Catholic Central (6-0) at Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (5-1)
This matchup of the reigning Division 1 and 2 champions, respectively, has been one of the state’s most anticipated all season. The Shamrocks have won the last six meetings, including 29-14 a year ago. DCC’s closest challenge this fall came a week ago in a 31-12 win over Toledo Central Catholic, while the Eaglets similarly have marched through the Catholic High School League Central since falling to Detroit Martin Luther King 44-42 in Week 2.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Northville (5-1) at Belleville (4-2), Allen Park Cabrini (4-2) at Royal Oak Shrine Catholic (6-0), Detroit Central (5-1) at Detroit Denby (5-1), Brownstown Woodhaven (5-1) at Gibraltar Carlson (6-0).
Mid-Michigan
Saginaw Valley Lutheran (5-1) at Ithaca (6-0)
Valley Lutheran’s 23-22 win in last year’s matchup gave the Chargers the Tri-Valley Conference Blue title and also was Ithaca’s first league loss since 2019. Ithaca certainly has stormed back this fall and already clinched a share of the league championship, shutting out three opponents this season and allowing only 19 points over six games total while scoring at least 47 in all of them. Valley Lutheran will attempt to rebound quickly from a 35-0 loss to Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary last week, but otherwise has been mostly dominant with three shutouts as well.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Harrison (5-1) at Farwell (4-2), Brighton (4-2) at Howell (6-0), Mason (6-0) at Williamston (4-2), Pewamo-Westphalia (6-0) at Saranac (5-1).
Northern Lower Peninsula
Gladwin (4-2) at Ogemaw Heights (5-1)
Three teams are tied for first in the Jack Pine Conference Division 1 with 3-1 league records, and at least one will end up with a share or more of the championship this weekend. Bullock Creek is the third team in the hunt and defeated Gladwin last week, while Ogemaw’s lone league loss came to Shepherd two weeks ago. A Falcons title would be their fourth straight, including the last three in the JPC1 with last season’s outright thanks to an early 49-14 win over the eventual runner-up Flying Gs.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Johannesburg-Lewiston (3-3) at East Jordan (5-1), Boyne City (3-3) at Kingsley (6-0), Frankfort (5-1) at Maple City Glen Lake (4-2), Mount Pleasant (6-0) at Traverse City West (3-3).
Southeast & Border
Union City (6-0) at Springport (5-1)
A Union City win would clinch the Chargers a share of the Big 8 Conference title, while Springport would still need one more victory after this weekend to accomplish the same. The Spartans clinched last year’s with a 35-34 victory over Union City in the league finale. A 42-13 Week 3 loss to undefeated Beal City remains Springport’s only regular-season loss over the last two years, while Union City has thrived this fall with a defense giving up only 7.7 points per game.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Ypsilanti Community (3-3) at Adrian (5-1), Ida (6-0) at Clinton (5-1), Leslie (4-2) at Hanover-Horton (5-1), Brooklyn Columbia Central (5-1) at Napoleon (5-1).
Southwest Corridor
Lawton (5-1) at Constantine (5-1)
Both are chasing Kalamazoo United with three league games left on the Southwestern Athletic Conference schedule, and the winner of this matchup will have a chance to claim a share of the league title if the Titans slip up. Lawton has taken the last three meetings with Constantine, including in back-to-back weeks last fall with the regular-season finale followed by a Division 7 District Semifinal.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Portage Central (5-1) at Battle Creek Central (3-3), Vicksburg (6-0) at Niles (3-3), Kalamazoo Loy Norrix (4-2) at Stevensville Lakeshore (5-1), Redford Union (4-2) at St. Joseph (5-1).
Upper Peninsula
Menominee (6-0) at Negaunee (4-2)
Arguably the most anticipated matchup in the Upper Peninsula this season will pit Menominee against also potentially undefeated Kingsford next week. But Negaunee can make a mess of that scenario if it can end the Maroons’ 20-game winning streak. Menominee has claimed the last two meetings between this pair, including 40-12 a year ago, but the Miners are just a combined eight points from being undefeated as well this fall.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Calumet (4-2) at Escanaba (2-4), Bark River-Harris (5-1) at Hancock (3-3), L’Anse (3-3) at Iron Mountain (4-2), Gaylord (3-3) at Marquette (4-2).
West Michigan
East Kentwood (6-0) at Caledonia (5-1)
This is another one we’ve been waiting for, as these two have separated themselves in the Ottawa-Kent Conference Red. East Kentwood is seeking its first league title since 2018 and also must still face reigning champion Hudsonville in Week 9. Caledonia earned a 13-7 win over the Eagles two weeks ago, the middle result of three straight victories decided by seven points or fewer. The Falcons have won the last two in this series, including 42-6 in 2025.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Battle Creek Harper Creek (5-1) at Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills (5-1), Berrien Springs (6-0) at Hopkins (6-0), Zeeland West (5-1) at Hudsonville Unity Christian (4-2), Muskegon Mona Shores (5-1) at Muskegon (3-3).
8-Player
Blanchard Montabella (5-1) at Merrill (6-0)
Montabella has several strong reasons to be dreaming of another run to the Superior Dome next month, and last year’s on the way to finishing Division 1 runner-up included 36-26 and 26-0 victories over Merrill, the first that decided the Mid-State Activities Blue championship. This weekend’s matchup will do the same as both enter 4-0 in league play and full of playmakers who have allowed them to break 50 points regularly.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Rudyard (5-1) at St. Ignace (5-1), Pickford (5-1) at Indian River Inland Lakes (4-2), Pittsford (4-2) at Litchfield (6-0). SATURDAY Crystal Falls Forest Park (5-1) at Lake Linden-Hubbell (6-0).
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PHOTO Ithaca senior quarterback Gibson Rondy (2) releases a pass under pressure during the first half of his team’s Week 3 win over Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Central. (Photo by Kolleth Photography.)