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A Game for Every Fan: Week 8

October 15, 2015

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

All but one of the top-billed games of this week’s statewide football preview will decide a league champion. There are great ones to watch, no matter where you call home.

At the same time, we’re turning an eye to the growing 11-player playoff field, which includes 109 teams with 86 more able to qualify with a win this weekend. For that reason, you’ll see below a few more games than usual featuring teams with three-loss records – because those teams’ seasons are on the line as they attempt to win out and guarantee a postseason spot.

Read on for games that could carry the most impact from every region of the state during Week 8. And remember to check MHSAA Score Center this weekend for results as they come in, updated standings and playoff-point averages.

Bay & Thumb

Algonac (7-0) at Richmond (6-1)

Algonac, 1-8 a year ago, can finish its first league title run since 1972 after clinching a share of the Blue Water Area Conference championship last week against previously-undefeated Almont. But don’t forget Richmond, a regular in this kind of game and a one-point loss to Almont from being undefeated. The Blue Devils would love to spoil the party; they beat Algonac 42-21 in 2014.

Others that caught my eye: Montrose (4-3) at Flint Beecher (5-1), New Lothrop (7-0) at Flint Hamady (6-1), Corunna (6-1) at Lake Fenton (4-3), Holly (4-3) at Swartz Creek (4-3).

Greater Detroit

Sterling Heights Stevenson (6-1) at Macomb Dakota (5-2)

The Macomb Area Conference Red race has been one of the state’s most exciting this season, with five of six teams in the league still in the hunt for a share of the title and for automatic playoff berths as well. These two carry one-win leads into this weekend’s final league games; both are 3-1, while Clinton Township Chippewa Valley, Utica Eisenhower and Warren Mott are all 2-2 in league play. Dakota has won the league three straight seasons, including last fall despite a 19-12 loss to Stevenson.

Others that caught my eye: St. Clair Shores South Lake (7-0) at Madison Heights Madison (6-1), Northville (7-0) at Plymouth (6-1), Hartland (5-2) at Walled Lake Western (7-0), Detroit Catholic Central (5-2) at Warren DeLaSalle (6-1).

Mid-Michigan

Fowler (6-1) at Pewamo-Westphalia (7-0)

This will be the 50th game between these neighbors and rivals, with Fowler holding a 27-22 advantage. This matchup has decided the last three Central Michigan Athletic Conference championships, with Fowler taking two of those three, and the Eagles hope to gain a share this time as P-W has a one-win edge with this the final week of the conference season. This has been a special one overall for the Pirates, who on opening night handed Madison Heights Madison its only loss and since have outscored six teams by a combined 340-27.

Others that caught my eye: Haslett (4-3) at Williamston (4-3), East Lansing (4-3) at Grand Ledge (7-0), Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard (4-3) at Lansing Catholic (6-1), Fruitport (4-3) at St. Johns (5-2).

Northern Lower Peninsula

Frankfort (6-1) at Charlevoix (5-2)

The Panthers will play the region’s game to watch for the second straight week, with both of these teams undefeated in the Northern Michigan Football League Legends division and Frankfort a half-win ahead in the standings with one more league game played. A conference title would be the Panthers’ first since 2008 and Charlevoix’s first since 2000 – and the Red Rayders won this matchup 27-6 a year ago.

Others that caught my eye: Hillman (6-1) at Whittemore-Prescott (4-3), Traverse City St. Francis (7-0) at Kalkaska (4-3), Lincoln Alcona (5-2) at Lake City (3-4), Maple City Glen Lake (4-3) at Kingsley (4-3).

Southeast & Border

Vandercook Lake (7-0) at Manchester (6-1)

The Cascades Conference championship is on the line with both teams undefeated in league play. Vandercook Lake has its most wins since 1996 and is chasing its first undefeated regular season since 1970 after surviving a three-point victory over Michigan Center last week. This is much more familiar territory for Manchester, which has won outright or shared the Cascades title the last three seasons.

Others that caught my eye: Ypsilanti Community (4-3) at Saline (7-0), Brooklyn Columbia Central (6-1) at Dundee (4-3), Ida (7-0) at Hillsdale (5-2), Holt (5-2) at Jackson (5-2).

Southwest Corridor

Buchanan (7-0) at Berrien Springs (7-0)

The victor will remain perfect and become the Berrien-Cass-St. Joseph Conference White champion. That should be enough to sell this tilt, but there are additional details of note. Berrien Springs finished second in the Wolverine B Conference West last season and has its most wins since 2011 with a shot at its best finish since 2004. Buchanan is coming off two losing seasons and has its most wins since 2012, when it won the Lakeland Conference. This also is the first game between the longtime rivals since 2011.

Others that caught my eye: Bridgman (6-1) at Niles Brandywine (5-2), Saugatuck (7-0) at Delton Kellogg (5-2), Watervliet (6-1) at Decatur (5-2), Battle Creek Lakeview (5-2) at St. Joseph (6-1).

Upper Peninsula

Ishpeming (6-0) at St. Ignace (7-0)

This game means nothing from a league race perspective and everything from a Peninsula pride point of view. St. Ignace locked up the Ski Valley Conference title with a perfect run it finished two weeks ago, while Ishpeming owns a share of the Mid-Peninsula Conference title and can finish the outright championship next week against two-win Gwinn. What makes this game intriguing is that Ishpeming hasn’t lost a regular-season game since Week 7 of 2012 and St. Ignace is perfect for the regular season since Week 9 of 2013 – and these two powers have played each other only once, in 1988.  

Others that caught my eye: Munising (6-1) at Crystal Falls Forest Park (5-2), DeWitt (7-0) at Menominee (7-0), Sault Ste. Marie (5-2) at Escanaba (3-4), Hurley, Wis. (7-1) at Iron Mountain (4-3).

West Michigan

Muskegon (6-1) at Muskegon Mona Shores (7-0)

Before last season, when the Sailors won 48-27, they hadn’t beaten the Big Reds since 1982. Could they extend the streak to two? This latest chapter is at Mona Shores, the crowd should be huge, and the Sailors are reigning Division 2 runners-up and backed by a defense that hasn’t given up more than 14 points in a game while facing the likes of Fruitport, Rockford, Caledonia and Zeeland East. Then again, Muskegon remains what we’ve grown to expect – the Big Reds look like contenders to reach a fourth-straight MHSAA Final with wins over Grand Rapids Christian, East Grand Rapids and Zeeland East and the only loss to Detroit Catholic Central after Muskegon led by two touchdowns during the third quarter.

Others that caught my eye: Muskegon Oakridge (6-1) at Montague (7-0), East Grand Rapids (5-2) at Lowell (6-1), Remus Chippewa Hills (6-1) at Reed City (7-0), Cedar Springs (5-2) at Ada Forest Hills Eastern (7-0).

8-Player

Deckerville (6-1) at Peck (6-1)

Michigan’s thumb is a hub for 8-player football, thanks in large part to these two past MHSAA champions. Peck has a half-win lead over Deckerville in the North Central Thumb 8-Man League standings because it has played one more league game, but this likely will decide the championship. Deckerville hasn’t beaten the Pirates since its 2012 MHSAA title season, and would love to avenge last season’s 30-28 loss that gave Peck the league title.

Others that caught my eye: Battle Creek St. Philip (7-0) at Portland St. Patrick (6-1), Engadine (5-2) at Stephenson (5-2).

PHOTO: Walled Lake Western and Lowell, which faced off earlier this season, both face tough opponents in Week 8. (Click for more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.) 

Dearborn Divine Child running back Marcello Vitti (2) takes a handoff into the line during his team's Division 4 Semifinal win over Goodrich.

1st & Goal: 2025 11-Player Semifinals Review

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

November 24, 2025

The pairings are set for the MHSAA 11-Player Football Finals at Ford Field, with seven teams earning opportunities Saturday to finish this fall without a loss – although three of next weekend’s championship games will feature matchups of undefeated contenders.

MI Student AidThe weekend’s Semifinals also saw four reigning champions earn chances at repeat titles, and Dexter earn its first trip to the final weekend of the season for the first time.

It’s a short week because of Thanksgiving, but we’ll be back Wednesday with game-by-game previews of all eight upcoming contests. For now, see below for a glance at all 16 games that got us here.

(Note: Highlights from Saturday's 8-Player Finals will be included in a final football championship "Review" next week.)

Division 1

Detroit Catholic Central 46, East Kentwood 6

The Shamrocks (13-0) will play in their first Final since 2016 after shutting down an East Kentwood offense that had scored  fewer than 35 points only one other time this season. The Falcons (10-3) had reached the Semifinals for the first time since 2014. Click for more from the Detroit Free Press.

Detroit Cass Tech 48, Rochester Adams 22

The reigning Division 1 champion Technicians (13-0) will have the opportunity to play for a first Finals repeat since winning in 2011 and 2012 after continuing a playoff streak of scoring at least 42 points in all four wins. Adams (10-3) finished its season in the Semifinals for the second straight. Click for more from the Detroit News.

Division 2

Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 42, Portage Central 7

St. Mary’s (10-2) will play for a chance to repeat as Division 2 champion after finding its way against a Portage Central defense that otherwise gave up only 64 points this season. The Mustangs finished 12-1, tying their 2013 team for most wins in program history. Click for more from the Oakland Press.

Dexter 41, Birmingham Groves 6

The Dreadnaughts’ Cooper Arendt and Cole Novara continued two of the most incredible statistical seasons in MHSAA history in lifting Dexter (12-1) into its first championship game. The pair connected on four touchdowns in ending Groves’ second-straight Semifinal run at 9-4. Click for more from the Ann Arbor News.

Division 3

Mount Pleasant 41, Lowell 21

Mount Pleasant (13-0) turned in one of its highest-scoring offensive days this season to earn its first trip to the Finals since 2011. Lowell concluded its longest run since 2016 at 10-3. Click for more from the Mount Pleasant Morning Sun.

DeWitt 41, Warren De La Salle Collegiate 20

Traverse Moore scored four touchdowns to help bring DeWitt (13-0) back from a 13-7 halftime deficit and return to the Finals for the first time since 2021. De La Salle (6-7) turned a 1-4 start this season into its fifth Semifinal trip over the last six and after missing a year ago. Click for more from the Lansing State Journal.

Division 4

Hudsonville Unity Christian 45, Vicksburg 17

Unity Christian (12-1) again cleared its playoff opponent by double digits and will return to the Finals after last making the trip in 2021. Vicksburg finished its longest playoff run at 8-5 for the season. Click for more from the Grand Rapids Press.

Dearborn Divine Child 10, Goodrich 7

Divine Child (12-1) put an end both to reigning champ Goodrich’s repeat hopes and 25-game winning streak, handing the lone defeat to an opponent for the second-straight week after downing Harper Woods 10-6 in a Regional Final. The Martians ended 12-1, while the Falcons advanced to their first Final since 1985. Click for more from MLIVE-Detroit.

Division 5

Grand Rapids West Catholic 34, Ogemaw Heights 24

West Catholic (12-1) had slightly fewer yards than Ogemaw Heights, but made them count a little bit more taking a 13-12 halftime lead all the way to earning its first Finals trip since 2022. Collin Abram (two touchdowns) on offense and Jael Djouguem (12 tackles) on defense led the Falcons. Ogemaw finished 11-1 while making its first Semifinal appearance since 2009. Click for more from the Bay City Times.

Pontiac Notre Dame Prep 51, Monroe Jefferson 21

Reigning champion Notre Dame Prep (11-2) will get the chance to win it all again after doing so for the first time a year ago. Several Fighting Irish found the end zone to earn that opportunity, with quarterback Sam Stowe throwing three scoring passes and running for a TD as well. Jefferson finished its first Semifinal season since 1999 at 11-2. Click for more from the Oakland Press.

Division 6

Kingsley 14, Kent City  0

Kingsley (11-2) is headed to Ford Field for the second time in three years after handing Kent City (12-1) its only loss of its winningest season. The teams were tied at halftime, but the Stags’ defense was just slightly more successful during the final two quarters in posting its first shutout this fall. Click for more from the Traverse City Record-Eagle.

Jackson Lumen Christi 25, Almont 19 (3OT)

This came down to the most dramatic ending of the weekend, as both contenders went scoreless during the first overtime and couldn’t convert after touchdowns during the second before Lumen (10-3) scored in the third and kept Almont (12-1) out of the end zone. Click for more from the Jackson Citizen Patriot.

Division 7

Menominee 32, Pewamo-Westphalia 28

The Maroons (13-0) came back from a 21-6 halftime deficit and scored the game-winner with 24 seconds to play to earn a second trip in three seasons to Ford Field. The Pirates (11-1) were held to their fewest points this season and had given up only 86 over their first 11 games before Menominee broke through. Click for more from Upper Michigan’s Source.

Schoolcraft 43, Clinton 14

Schoolcraft will play in its first championship game since 2001 after scoring this game’s first 37 points. The Eagles (11-2) put up their third-most points in a game this season and held Clinton (10-3) to its fewest since opening weekend. Click for more from the Kalamazoo Gazette.

Division 8

Harbor Beach 40, Bark River-Harris 0

Harbor Beach (13-0) earned its second shutout of a season during which the Pirates are giving up only eight points per game, this one to earn a first trip to Ford Field since 2012. Bark River-Harris completed its first Semifinal season since 2003 at 10-2. Click for more from the Huron Daily Tribune.

Hudson 67, Allen Park Cabrini 14

Hudson will return to the Finals for the second time in five years with a chance for a second undefeated championship run this decade. The Tigers (13-0) topped 60 points for the fifth time this season but second week in a row in ending Allen Park Cabrini’s longest tournament run and winningest season at 11-2. Click for more from the Adrian Daily Telegram.

DeWitt's Traverse Moore (2) follows a blocker during the Panthers' Division 3 win over Warren De La Salle Collegiate.

MHSAA.com's weekly “1st & Goal” previews and reviews are powered by MI Student Aid, a division within the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP). MI Student Aid encourages students to pursue postsecondary education by providing access to student financial resources and information. MI Student Aid administers the state’s scholarship and grant programs that help make college Accessible, Affordable and Attainable for you. Click to connect with MI Student Aid and find more information on Facebook and Twitter @mistudentaid.

PHOTOS (Top) Dearborn Divine Child running back Marcello Vitti (2) takes a handoff into the line during his team's Division 4 Semifinal win over Goodrich. (Middle) DeWitt's Traverse Moore (2) follows a blocker during the Panthers' Division 3 win over Warren De La Salle Collegiate. (Divine Child/Goodrich photo by Terry Lyons. DeWitt/De La Salle photo by Kolleth Photo.)