A Game for Every Fan: Week 3
September 6, 2012
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
It's coach speak for sure, but true all the same: First, teams focus on winning the league title. And after that, bigger things tend to take care of themselves.
Many across Michigan started that quest last weekend. But for most of the rest, the first steps toward a conference championship will come tonight.
Need a game to watch? No problem. See below for what's playing near you. And remember to visit the MHSAA Score Center for updated scores and standings
(All are tonight unless noted. Go to Score Center for additional dates and kickoff times.)
West Michigan
Muskegon (2-0) at Rockford (1-1)
After four seasons of defining the O-K Red as arguably the best league in the state, these two are now split up as Muskegon moved to the O-K Black this fall. But there will continue to be a share of statewide eyes watching this one. The Big Reds put potential playoff opponents back on notice by opening with a 21-14 win over reigning MHSAA Division 3 champion Orchard Lake St. Mary, and Rockford came back from a tough opening loss to Lowell by shutting out Holt last week, 22-0.
Others that caught my eye: East Kentwood at Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, Grand Rapids Christian at Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills, Grand Haven at Lowell, Montague at Muskegon Oakridge.
Greater Detroit
Dearborn Fordson (2-0) at Warren DeLaSalle (1-1), Saturday
The Detroit Catholic League Central also has annual claim as the state's toughest conference, so wins are at a premium for that league's teams -- and DeLaSalle has its work cut out tonight. Fordson has opened with victories over 2011 playoff teams Macomb Dakota and Redford Thurston, and fell to the Pilots only 31-28 a year ago. Quarterback Shane Morris and company will be hoping to shift momentum after last week's 49-13 loss to Cleveland St. Ignatius -- and with Birmingham Brother Rice and Detroit Catholic Central up next.
Others that caught my eye: Romeo at Macomb Dakota, Rochester Adams at Oak Park, Cincinnati Moeller at Detroit Catholic Central (Saturday), Detroit Renaissance at Detroit Cass Tech.
Upper Peninsula
Hurley, Wis., (2-0) at Crystal Falls Forest Park (2-0)
Hurley actually plays more teams from Michigan than from its home state, and has opened by dominating two of them by a combined score of 90-13. Forest Park just missed a ninth-straight season with at least 10 wins last fall in part because it lost to Hurley 33-16 -- the Trojans' only loss of the regular season. In fact, Forest Park has lost two of its last three against the Midgets, which probably gives this the sense of a rivalry game for the home team located only a few miles from the border.
Others that caught my eye: Bessemer at Baraga, Iron Mountain at Iron River West Iron County, Calumet at Ishpeming, Stephenson at Norway.
Southwest and Border
Dowagiac (2-0) at Plainwell (2-0)
The upstart Trojans are hoping to break a six-game losing streak to Dowagiac, although for the first time during that string they are no longer in the same division -- the Wolverine B split into North and South this fall. Still, this would be significant for a few reasons: Plainwell is 2-0 for the first time since 2001 and after finishing 0-9 only two seasons ago, and a win tonight would give the team its first 3-0 start since 1998. For Dowagiac, it's a chance to be 3-0 for the first time since 2006, and this potentially is its toughest test until the Wolverine B South finale against Edwardsburg on Oct. 12 or a week earlier against Three Rivers.
Others that caught my eye: Sturgis at Battle Creek Harper Creek, Olivet at Schoolcraft, St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran at St. Joseph Lake Michigan Catholic, Coloma at Paw Paw.
Bay and Thumb
Millington (2-0) at Frankenmuth (2-0)
For a few decades, this was THE GAME in the Tri-Valley Conference East just about every season. But the Cardinals have won four straight and at least 10 games total in each of the last three seasons, and often that sort of one-sidedness drains some of the mystique. In this case, that's doubtful. This matchup decided the league title again last fall, and Frankenmuth is 2-0 for the first time since 2007. But if the Eagles score tonight, it will be a first against Millington this season. The Cardinals have outscored their first two opponents by a combined 92-0.
Others that caught my eye: Comstock Park at Bay City John Glenn, Lapeer East at Lapeer West, Saginaw at Midland Dow, Alma at Freeland.
Lower Up North
Cadillac (2-0) at Petoskey (2-0)
Petoskey has won three of the last four Big North Conference championships, with that lone lapse in 2009 -- when Cadillac finished one game ahead to claim the title. The Northmen were first and the Vikings tied for second last season, and this could be the decider again. Petoskey won big last season, 63-24, but Cadillac is 2-0 for the first time since 2006.
Others that caught my eye: Benzie Central at Frankfort, Manton at McBain, Johannesburg-Lewiston at Mancelona, Elk Rapids at Traverse City St. Francis.
Mid-Michigan
Lansing Sexton (0-2) at Grand Ledge (2-0)
Sexton is anything but a typical 0-2 team; the Big Reds, who played in the Division 4 postseason in 2011, opened this fall with a loss to Division 1 power Plymouth before falling to Monroe by a point for the second straight season. Now comes another much larger school in Grand Ledge, which beat Sexton 14-0 last fall. The Comets began this season with a 40-30 loss to East Kentwood, but aren't having much trouble scoring -- the came back with a 31-10 win over Holland West Ottawa and are led by multi-talented quarterback Jalen Brady.
Others that caught my eye: Pewamo-Westphalia at Laingsburg, Portland at Corunna, Burr Oak at Portland St. Patrick, Morrice at Webberville.
PHOTO: Warren DeLaSalle quarterback Shane Morris attempts to break away from two Ann Arbor Pioneer defenders during their opening-night game, a 35-7 DeLaSalle win. (Click to see more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)
After Team's 2024 Turnaround, Cranmore Eager to Add to Leslie's Return to Glory
By
Doug Donnelly
Special for MHSAA.com
August 19, 2025
Joel Cranmore is getting a head start on his budding college career, and it will probably make him an even better high school quarterback this fall.
As a first-year starting sophomore last season, Cranmore busted all expectations by throwing for 2,682 yards and 35 touchdowns. He not only completed 153 of his whopping 274 passes, but he also rushed 95 times for 472 yards and another 11 touchdowns in Leslie’s quarterback-friendly offense.
Leslie coach Tim McCann called Cranmore “the face of the program” at their school.
“We look forward to him building off of that going into his junior year,” McCann said.
It would be hard for any signal-caller to top those numbers, but Cranmore just might be the one to do it. Since the winter, he has spent two days a week attending Donovan Dooley’s Quarterback University – known by most as QBU – in Detroit. The work he put in, Cranmore said, will help him get to the next level.
It also will help him shred even more defenses in 2025.
“We do 45 minutes of field work, then we go into classroom and go over coverages, blitz concepts, the things you will need at the next level,” Cranmore said. “It really helps me learn what (offensive) concepts you will want against different coverages and how to see blitzes coming. We learn how to break down film.”
Cranmore is leaving nothing to chance. He said his film study sessions helped him earn even more trust from McCann – and that he’ll have more input on the play calling once he gets to the line of scrimmage.
“He trusts me and sees my growth,” Cranmore said.
Leslie had its best season in 16 last year, thanks to McCann’s high-powered offense and Cranmore winging the ball all over the place.
The Blackhawks went 10-2, won the Cascades Conference championship and won two playoff games before losing to eventual Division 7 runner-up Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central in the Regional Finals.
The Blackhawks put up monster numbers. They scored 62 against Vandercook Lake, 45 against previously-unbeaten Manchester, 54 against East Jackson and 49 against Burton Atherton in a playoff game. They squeaked by Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett to get to the Regional Finals.
It was the first time Leslie qualified for the playoffs since 2012 and its first season with double-digit wins since 2008.
Leslie was once a regular in the playoffs and regularly competed for conference championships. From 2000 to 2012, the Blackhawks were in the playoffs all but four times and had 11 winning seasons. Then hard times hit. Leslie went 0-9 in 2013, starting a string of 11 sub-.500 finishes.
McCann played football at Leslie during its successful era. And when the Blackhawks started last season 7-0, he knew the team was ahead of schedule.
“It goes back to my roots when I was in high school here,” he said. “We are playing Leslie High School football, doing things right on and off the field, building life skills, getting it done in the classroom. These kids really bought into that."
The climb back to respectability began in 2023 when Cranmore was a freshman. McCann summoned him to the varsity despite Leslie having athletic Jaydin Colby occupying the quarterback position. Cranmore got into a few late-season games. He earned the starting job in 2024, with Colby shifting to receiver where he had an all-state season.
"We knew he was going to blossom into something special," McCann said of Cranmore. "He spent a tremendous amount of time in the offseason being a student of the game. He spent a lot of time with the guys around him, building relationships.”
Colby and some of those other weapons have graduated, but Cranmore continued building relationships and getting comfortable with his new crew of receivers. That could spell trouble for opponents this season.
“When I was in middle school, I always told myself I wanted to change things and bring it back to when Leslie was making the playoffs every year and the state championship game,” he said. “I think we are just as good if not better than last year. Now we know what it’s like to win. Nothing is given to you. You have to work a lot harder than you did last year.”
Doug Donnelly has served as a news and sports reporter at the Adrian Daily Telegram and the Monroe News for 30 years, including 10 years as city editor in Monroe. He's written a book on high school basketball in Monroe County and compiles record books for various schools in southeast Michigan. He is now publisher and editor of The Blissfield Advance, a weekly newspaper. E-mail him at [email protected] with story ideas for Jackson, Washtenaw, Hillsdale, Lenawee and Monroe counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Leslie quarterback Joel Cranmore and his teammates celebrate a touchdown last season. (Middle) Cranmore looks back while running off the field. (Photos courtesy of Jeff Steers/JTV.)