A Game for Every Fan: Week 1
August 28, 2014
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
It’s a lot like birds knowing to fly north in the spring.
If you’ve played, coached, parented or followed high school football, you’re likely having a hard time not jumping out of your shoes in anticipation of opening night.
So let’s get right to it; below are some of the most intriguing matchups from this first weekend of the MHSAA football season. More than 250 of the total 310-plus games will be played tonight, with 50 more Friday and a handful Saturday.
Tune in to MHSAA.com’s Score Center all weekend for game times, scores as we get them, standings for those starting league play immediately and all the playoff-point equating that will start to matter to most as we get rolling into the season’s second half. (Records below are from 2013. Games are organized based on the region of Michigan where they'll be played.)
West Michigan
Detroit Catholic Central (11-3) at Muskegon (12-2), Friday
This is set up to be arguably the most high-octane opener in Michigan in some time. DCC is back-to-back-to-back Division 1 runner-up, while Muskegon has finished runner-up in Division 2 the last two seasons. Granted, rosters turn over – but Joeviar Kennedy was Muskegon’s leading receiver in last season’s championship game and Alezay Coleman its leading tackler, and both are back. So are Alex Bock and Jordan Jenkins, two of the most noticeable Shamrocks during their run to Ford Field.
Others that caught my eye: Detroit Country Day (8-4) at Zeeland West (13-1), Grand Rapids South Christian (12-2) at Grand Rapids Christian (8-3) on Friday, Grand Rapids West Catholic (10-4) at Muskegon Oakridge (11-2) on Friday, Grand Rapids Catholic Central (6-4) at East Grand Rapids (5-4).
Greater Detroit
Lansing Sexton (12-1) vs. Detroit East English (9-3), Saturday at Wayne State
Many of the best from Detroit will be playing at Wayne State University over the next three days (see a few more big-time contests listed below), but this one carries the most intrigue because it features one of the best from the city against a Sexton team that missed making last season’s Division 4 Final by a touchdown. The Big Reds have all of their playmakers and much of their outstanding defense back; East English is keyed by run/pass dynamo Anton Curtis, one of the state’s most exciting quarterbacks.
Others that caught my eye: Macomb Dakota (11-1) at Clarkston (13-1), Pewamo-Westphalia (10-2) at Madison Heights Madison (11-1), Detroit Cass Tech (12-1) vs. Oak Park (6-5) on Friday at Wayne State, Southfield (7-3) vs. Orchard Lake St. Mary's (5-4) on Friday at Wayne State.
Bay and Thumb
Saginaw Swan Valley (11-1) at Saginaw Nouvel (9-2)
A nail-biting 27-20 win for Swan Valley in this opener last season kicked off a run to the Regional Finals and the team’s best season in the last eight. Senior running back Alex Grace returns from the most potent offense in school history and arguably is the most potent runner in MHSAA history with more than 5,000 yards in his career and nearly 3,000 last season alone. Nouvel’s lineup will include more new names – but the Panthers rattled off nine straight wins after the 2013 opening loss and will be prepared to get the streak started a week earlier this time.
Others that caught my eye: Flint Carman-Ainsworth (11-2) at Grand Blanc (7-3), Freeland (6-4) at Lake Fenton (8-3), Montrose (12-1) at Reese (8-2), Mount Pleasant (10-2) at Midland Dow (8-3).
Mid-Michigan
Ithaca (14-0) at Clare (7-3), Friday
The Yellowjackets’ 56-game winning streak stretches over four seasons and is the longest of any in MHSAA history achieved entirely during the playoff era. But Clare – the Jack Pine Conference champion for seven years running – should be Ithaca’s toughest regular-season test of at least the last two or three. Ithaca star quarterback Travis Smith is graduated and gone to Wake Forest University, but younger brother Jake Smith has been similarly anticipated and takes over the offense to start his junior year.
Others that caught my eye: Manchester (7-3) at Clinton (13-1), St. Johns (5-4) at East Lansing (4-5), Jackson Northwest (5-4) at Eaton Rapids (7-5), South Lyon (6-4) at Pinckney (7-4).
Lower Up North
New Lothrop (11-1) at Traverse City St. Francis (5-5), Friday
This is the second chapter of a series started a year ago that allows both to start out against a tough opponent before jumping into league play against more familiar foes. New Lothrop won last season’s matchup and went on to make the Division 8 Semifinals for the second time in three seasons. St. Francis hasn’t had two straight middling seasons like this since 2000-01 (it also finished 4-5 in 2012). But the Gladiators are back in a league for the first time since 2011 and should be able to add on last season’s return to the playoffs.
Others that caught my eye: Midland (10-2) at Traverse City West (5-5), Cadillac (11-1) at Big Rapids (3-6), Kingsley (6-4) at McBain (5-5), Marquette (5-4) at Traverse City Central (5-4).
Upper Peninsula
Munising (6-4) at Iron River West Iron County (10-1), Friday
These two did some celebrating in 2013. West Iron tied its school record for wins, while Munising bounced back from 2-7 in 2012 to make the playoffs for the second time in three seasons – and also for only the second time since 1990. Both should be looking for more this fall; West Iron’s lone loss came in the playoffs to eventual Division 7 champion Ishpeming, while Munising – after falling to West Iron 7-0 in last season’s opener – then lost its next two games by a combined six points before rattling off six straight wins.
Others that caught my eye: Houghton (6-4) at L'Anse (8-3), Ishpeming (14-0) at Iron Mountain (4-5), Petoskey (5-4) at Sault Ste. Marie (7-4) on Friday, Posen (4-6) at Cedarville (8-2).
Southwest and Border
Dowagiac (7-4) at Plainwell (8-2)
Dowagiac was cruising along on a 17-game regular-season winning streak when Plainwell broke it last fall with a 10-0 win on the way to a third straight playoff berth. These two haven’t played in the same division of the Wolverine B since 2011, but the rivalry continues to run hot now that both are division favorites on an annual basis.
Others that caught my eye: Watervliet (10-1) at Gobles (5-4), Parchment (7-4) at Schoolcraft (10-2), Edwardsburg (9-1) at Three Rivers (5-4), Portage Central (12-1) at Mattawan (4-5).
PHOTO: Lansing Sexton, practicing earlier this month, fell just a touchdown shy last season of reaching its first MHSAA Final.
1st & Goal: 2025 Week 8 Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 16, 2025
A sense of urgency builds throughout the football regular season – and we’re right on schedule again this fall, although we might be reaching the peak even a little early with another week of games still to play.
Week 8 has it all – a pair of matchups featuring undefeated teams with league titles on the line, several more winner-take-all championship showdowns, and of course plenty of games that could decide who’s in and who’s home when playoff brackets are plugged in Oct. 26.
In addition to following scores on the MHSAA Scores page and watching games on the NFHS Network, you’ll also want to keep a close eye this weekend on the Playoff Point Summary page as it will give you a real-time look at which teams are still in the hunt to continue playing in November.
Bay & Thumb
Davison at Grand Blanc WATCH
Grand Blanc took back the upper hand in this rivalry last season with a 55-49 win after Davison swept regular-season and playoff matchups in 2022 and 2023. These two easily could face off in the postseason again next month as well, but first this meeting will end either with Grand Blanc winning the Saginaw Valley League South outright or Davison claiming a share with one more league game to play. Neither has had a league game closer than 21 points this fall.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Harrison (6-1) at Gladwin (4-3), Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker (6-1) at Harbor Beach (7-0) WATCH, Freeland (6-1) at Frankenmuth (6-1) WATCH. SATURDAY Fenton (5-2) at Goodrich (7-0) WATCH.
Greater Detroit
Detroit Martin Luther King (5-2) vs. Detroit Cass Tech (7-0) at Ford Field WATCH
This will be the sixth season in a row these two will meet for a second time in a city championship game, and two of the last three seasons the series has ended in a split. Cass Tech won the first meeting this fall 27-22 in Week 4. That game was played over two days, with Cass Tech taking a 27-0 lead into the stoppage in the middle of the third quarter but King scoring all 22 points when the teams reconvened the following day.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Farmington (6-1) at Clarkston (6-1) WATCH, Grand Ledge (6-1) at Detroit Catholic Central (7-0), Detroit Pershing (5-2) vs. Detroit Denby (5-2) at Ford Field WATCH, Detroit Edison (6-1) at Ecorse (6-1).
Mid-Michigan
Howell (6-1) at Brighton (6-1) WATCH
For the second season in a row, these two will meet in the final week of Kensington Lakes Activities Association West play to decide some portion of the league championship. A year ago, Howell won 36-14 to finish an outright title, and then defeated the Bulldogs again 35-33 in a Division 1 District Final. This time, Brighton is undefeated in league play and Howell has a loss – but with the possibility of a Highlanders’ victory creating a three-way shared championship between these two and Northville.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Ithaca (6-1) at Fowler (5-2) WATCH, New Lothrop (5-2) at Ovid-Elsie (5-2), Charlotte (4-3) at Portland (7-0), Midland (4-3) at Mount Pleasant (7-0) WATCH.
Northern Lower Peninsula
Jackson Lumen Christi (4-3) at Traverse City St. Francis (6-1), Saturday
St. Francis is coming off its only loss, 63-38 to reigning Division 5 champion Pontiac Notre Dame Prep a week ago – but that also followed a pair of close wins that resulted in the Gladiators winning the Northern Michigan Football Conference Legends championship. Things obviously don’t get easier this week in this preview of a possible Division 6 playoff showdown. The reigning Division 6 champion Titans do have a win over Notre Dame Prep, 54-34 back in Week 2, and went on to share the Catholic High School League AA title.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Boyne City (5-2) at Charlevoix (7-0) WATCH, Sanford Meridian (5-2) at Ogemaw Heights (6-1) WATCH, Kingsley (5-2) at Kalkaska (5-2) WATCH, Beal City (7-0) at LeRoy Pine River (5-2).
Southeast & Border
Macomb Lutheran North (7-0) at Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard (7-0)
There are multiple league championship deciders in the southeastern part of the state this week, but this is one of only two matchups statewide of undefeated teams. The winner claims the CHSL Intersectional 1 title outright, with Lutheran North seeking to finish a third-straight perfect run through the league and FGR seeking its first perfect league run since 2009. The Mustangs have given up only 48 points this season, but might see its greatest challenge from a Fighting Irish offense that has scored at least 42 points in every game and at least 50 in six.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central (6-1) at Monroe Jefferson (7-0), Ypsilanti Lincoln (6-1) at Chelsea (6-1) WATCH, Temperance Bedford (4-3) at Saline (6-1) WATCH, Napoleon (5-2) at Michigan Center (7-0) WATCH.
Southwest Corridor
White Pigeon (6-1) at Decatur (5-2)
Although White Pigeon’s loss to Bronson last week took a bit of the punch out of this matchup, it’s still packed with possibilities. A Decatur win would give the Raiders an outright Southwest 10 Conference title, while a White Pigeon victory would create a three-way share among them. The Chiefs have won the last two meetings, including 14-6 a year ago, and had given up only 12 points over their first six games before allowing 32 to Bronson. Decatur defeated Bronson in Week 2, 26-20 in double overtime.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Hastings (5-2) at Coldwater (6-1) WATCH, Williamston (7-0) at Dowagiac (5-2) WATCH, Paw Paw (4-3) at Three Rivers (4-3) WATCH, Edwardsburg (6-1) at Vicksburg (4-3) WATCH.
Upper Peninsula
Menominee (7-0) at Kingsford (6-1) WATCH
This matchup has title implications in the Western Peninsula Athletic Conference Copper for the third season in a row, and is a winner-take-all for the second straight. Kingsford has won 18 straight league games, including 14-12 over Menominee a year ago, and the Flivvers’ only loss this season was 21-18 to Escanaba in their season opener. The Maroons haven’t played a game closer than 10 points this season and is seeking its first win over Kingsford since 2022.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY West Iron County (3-3) at Bark River-Harris (5-1) WATCH, Gladstone (3-4) at Calumet (5-2) WATCH, Negaunee (4-3) at Houghton (2-5).
West Michigan
Grand Rapids Catholic Central (7-0) at Grand Rapids Northview (5-2)
Northview can’t catch Grand Rapids Catholic Central in the Ottawa-Kent Conference Black. But the Wildcats can break up the Cougars’ perfect season and prevent them from claiming the league title outright. Catholic Central claimed a share last week against Holland Christian and sits a game ahead of East Grand Rapids after winning their Week 4 meeting 10-7. Northview won last year’s matchup 12-3 on the way to claiming the O-K Black title outright, and bounced back from two midseason losses with a win over Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills last week.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Hudsonville Unity Christian (7-0) at Grand Rapids South Christian (4-3) WATCH, East Kentwood (5-2) at Grandville (4-3), Howard City Tri County (5-2) at Kent City (7-0) WATCH, Wyoming Kelloggsville (5-2) at Wyoming Godwin Heights (6-1).
8-Player
Merrill (6-1) at Blanchard Montabella (7-0) WATCH
Montabella has enjoyed some of its most consistent success the last two seasons and carries a 10-game league winning streak into this winner-take-all for the Mid-State Activities Conference Blue title. To repeat, the Mustangs must go through Merrill, which gave them their closest league game in 2024, a 20-12 win. The Vandals are seeking their first league championship since 2022 and could also see Montabella in the Division 1 playoffs.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Powers North Central (5-2) at Gogebic (7-0) WATCH, Waldron (5-2) at Pittsford (6-1) WATCH, Climax-Scotts (6-1) at Mendon (7-0) WATCH, Bridgman (6-1) at New Buffalo (7-0).
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PHOTO As the rain falls, Pewamo-Westphalia's Ty Thelen celebrates a score during his team's win last week over Fowler. (Photo by Jim Pivarnik.)