A Game for Every Fan: Week 6
October 1, 2014
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
We’ve reached October, and that means two things – league titles and lots of numbers.
We’ll cover the former by telling you which teams are winning what in our weekly Drive for Detroit reports posted each Monday. As for those piles of numbers, here are a few: Ishpeming is the first to qualify for the 2014 MHSAA playoffs because it started 5-0 and is playing eight games this season; 66 more teams have started 5-0 and can qualify with victories this weekend.
Below are some of the best games from every corner of the state, most of which will help define those league title races while giving us more numbers to crunch with playoff selection only four weeks away. (All games are Friday unless noted.)
Greater Detroit
Detroit East English (4-1) at Detroit Cass Tech (5-0), Saturday
All 16 Detroit Public School League football teams are playing in one division this season after being split into multiple the past many years. The top six contenders have begun to separate from the pack – with East English, Cass Tech and Martin Luther King the only three with perfect league records. Because of the way the schedule fell, neither East English nor Cass Tech plays King in a league game – so whichever wins this weekend’s matchup should receive a top seed in the PSL playoffs that begin Week 8. East English is a nine-point nonleague loss to Lansing Sexton from being undefeated, but hasn’t given up a point since that opening weekend defeat.
Others that caught my eye: Waterford Mott (4-1) at Walled Lake Central (4-1) on Thursday, Orchard Lake St. Mary's (5-0) at Birmingham Brother Rice (5-0), Morenci (5-0) at Clinton (5-0), Monroe (4-1) at Saline (4-1).
Mid-Michigan
DeWitt (5-0) at St. Johns (5-0)
This feels a lot like the rivals’ matchup in 2010, when DeWitt came into Week 9 undefeated and dominating everyone and left with a 49-35 loss (the Panthers went on to make the Division 3 Semifinals). Once again, the Panthers are likely considered heavy favorites despite the teams’ matching records – but St. Johns has enough speed to try to match DeWitt’s high-octane offensive attack. There’s another big difference from 2010– this time, both are in the same league, the Capital Area Activities Conference Red.
Others that caught my eye: Coldwater (5-0) at Jackson Lumen Christi (5-0) on Saturday, Stockbridge (4-1) at Olivet (4-1), Manchester (4-1) at Grass Lake (5-0), Portland (3-2) at Williamston (5-0).
Lower Up North
Ishpeming (5-0) vs. Beal City (5-0) at Gaylord
Although technically neither of these teams is from the counties of the northern Lower Peninsula, this game will be played in between them at Gaylord – and could be the most entertaining game of the weekend. Beal City has finished Division 8 runner-up the last two seasons and hasn’t given up a point in the last two games. Ishpeming has won the last two Division 7 championships and hasn’t allowed an opponent this season within 26 points.
Others that caught my eye: Gaylord (4-1) at Cadillac (5-0), Whittemore-Prescott (5-0) at Tawas (4-1), St. Ignace (5-0) at Mancelona (3-2), Petoskey (4-1) at Traverse City Central (4-1).
Southwest and Border
Niles (4-1) at Portage Central (3-1)
It’s time to give Niles a look and some credit for a solid turnaround; the Vikings are 4-1 after winning two games last season and no more than four since 2003. They did fall to Portage Northern two weeks ago – but can cement themselves as a probable playoff team and possible Southwest Michigan Athletic Conference West spoiler for some other contenders by beating reigning champion Portage Central.
Others that caught my eye: Portage Northern (4-1) at Stevensville Lakeshore (4-1), Paw Paw (3-2) at Berrien Springs (3-2), South Haven (2-3) at Edwardsburg (4-1), Buchanan (2-3) at Mendon (4-1).
West Michigan
Grand Rapids Christian (4-1) at Lowell (5-0)
The Ottawa-Kent Conference White includes these two plus a Caledonia (3-2) team that beat Rockford 42-0 last week, improved East Grand Rapids (3-2), and a Forest Hills Central team that is 1-4 but beat Caledonia and has losses to teams that are a combined 14-6. Lowell already has gotten EGR out of the way, and a win over the Eagles – 35-34 winners over the Red Arrows a year ago – would solidify its frontrunner status in arguably the state’s most competitive conference.
Others that caught my eye: East Kentwood (5-0) at Holland West Ottawa (4-1), Stanton Central Montcalm (3-2) at Remus Chippewa Hills (5-0), North Muskegon (3-2) at Ravenna (4-1), Holland Christian (2-3) at Holland (3-2).
Bay and Thumb
Saginaw Swan Valley (5-0) at Freeland (5-0)
Alex Grace is up to 994 yards rushing this fall and more than 6,100 for his three-year varsity career, and as such Swan Valley remains one of the scariest Class B teams in the state. But Freeland actually has outscored the Vikings by seven points this fall – although Swan Valley also has given up only 22 to Freeland’s 83. The last seven matchups between the two have been decided by 15 points or fewer, which could make a standout runner and his offensive line the difference-makers once again.
Others that caught my eye: Birch Run (5-0) at Frankenmuth (4-1), Warren Woods-Tower (5-0) at Marysville (3-2), Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary (4-1) at St. Charles (3-2), Lake Fenton (2-3) at Flint Beecher (5-0).
Upper Peninsula
Crystal Falls Forest Park (3-1) at Felch North Dickinson (3-2)
While these two remain in different leagues, this remains one of the best annual matchups in the Upper Peninsula. Forest Park came back from a 2012 28-point loss to North Dickinson by sweeping the Nordics in two games in 2013, including 24-20 in a Regional Final. North Dickinson also is trying to avoid losing three regular-season games for the first time since 2008. Both are playing only eight games this fall, so both need only two more wins to qualify for the postseason and the potential to face off again.
Others that caught my eye: Iron River West Iron County (5-0) at Calumet (3-2), Gladstone (3-2) at Sault Ste. Marie (2-3), Marquette (4-1) at Kingsford (2-3), Rudyard (2-3) at Munising (4-1).
8-Player
Cedarville (5-0) at Rapid River (5-0)
Lawrence (5-0) at Deckerville (5-0) on Saturday
It’s impossible to separate these two – Friday’s game matches the top two 8-player programs in the Upper Peninsula, while Saturday’s matches arguably the two best from the Lower Peninsula not including reigning MHSAA champion Peck and last week’s 89-point scorer Battle Creek St. Philip. Needless to say, the results could mean a lot when playoffs are drawn up and home teams for Regionals are assigned at the end of this month.
Others that caught my eye: Battle Creek St. Philip (5-0) at Webberville (3-2), Peck (5-0) at Kingston (3-2).
PHOTO: Detroit East English (in blue) fell to Lansing Sexton during opening weekend but hasn’t given up a point since that Saturday afternoon. (Click to see more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com).
Bills Steps Into Key Role in Hudson Backfield, Steps Up to Make All-State
By
Doug Donnelly
Special for MHSAA.com
December 11, 2024
HUDSON – Hudson has a storied football history, with tales filled with state championships, a winning streak that gained national fame and lists of all-state players.
The most unlikely all-stater of all is probably from this fall. Grayson Bills, a 5-foot-9, 160-pound junior, wasn’t even in the Tigers’ starting lineup when the season began. In fact, in Week 1, he didn’t touch the ball on offense.
“I figured I would just be playing on defense, and it was going to be a defensive kind of year,” said Bills.
The featured back in coach Dan Rogers’ T backfield was set to be Brennan Marshall. He was a 1,000-yard rusher in 2023 and was primed for a big senior season. However, at some point during the summer Marshall began experiencing headaches and blackouts. Although he was in the starting lineup in Week 1, he left the game early. It was later discovered he had a brain tumor.
With him out, Rogers turned to Bills, a player who had previously benefitted from the MHSAA rule that allows players to play in five quarters a week.
“Last year I was a five-quarter guy,” Bills said. “I would play the JV game and then usually go up and get into the varsity game. I carried the ball some of my sophomore year. I would get in toward the end of the game.”
In Week 2, Bills was in the starting lineup and responded with 130 yards on 20 carries. By Week 5, he was the top rusher in Lenawee County after rushing for 172 yards on just six carries against Blissfield – including touchdown runs of 50, 30 and 55 yards. He wore down the Adrian Madison defense in Week 6 with 230 yards and three touchdowns. He followed that up with a 211-yard effort against Clinton that clinched the Lenawee County Athletic Association championship and was still going strong when Hudson beat Union City for the District championship, as he rushed for 226 yards.
“After about Week 3, I knew that I could have a great year. It was nice to see all of the hard work pay off,” Bills said. “I just needed the opportunity to show what I could do.”
Rogers was ecstatic about the running back Bills became.
“He had a very good sophomore year for us on JV,” Rogers said. “This year, we expected him to add depth at running back. When he got his opportunity, he made the best of it.”
He finished the season with 1,784 yards rushing, averaging 9.5 per carry, and also was Hudson’s top receiver. He earned all-state honors from the Michigan Sports Writers.
“I was definitely satisfied,” Bills said. “I think I had a really good first year of starting. I know I’m going to come back next year and be better.”
Bills learned football in the backyard with his dad. He fell in love with the sport at a young age and has developed into a two-way player. He plays cornerback on defense.
While he still has a season left on the field, Rogers said Bills will forever be an example to future Hudson players to be ready when called upon.
“He waited his turn, he was patient, then when it came, he was ready for it,” Rogers said. “He was ready for the moment. We didn’t know for sure, but he was. He showed it.”
Bills already has started running and weightlifting for next season, when he will go into the season not only as the featured back, but with a target on his back from running over so many opponents this season.
If he’s being honest, Bills said, he was a little nervous at first.
“I was a little nervous,” he said. “This was my first time playing in front of the big crowds.”
Next year, Bills will be the one drawing them.
Doug Donnelly has served as a sports and news reporter and city editor over 25 years, writing for the Daily Chief-Union in Upper Sandusky, Ohio from 1992-1995, the Monroe Evening News from 1995-2012 and the Adrian Daily Telegram since 2013. He's also written a book on high school basketball in Monroe County and compiles record books for various schools in southeast Michigan. E-mail him at [email protected] with story ideas for Jackson, Washtenaw, Hillsdale, Lenawee and Monroe counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Hudson running back Grayson Bills looks upfield while carrying the ball against Schoolcraft in their Regional Final this season. (Middle) Bills races Napoleon defenders during a District Semifinal win. (Photos by Deloris Clark-Cheaney.)