Hanover-Horton Off to Record-Setting Start, with More Program 1sts Possible
By
Doug Donnelly
Special for MHSAA.com
October 15, 2024
Hanover-Horton’s football team is in uncharted territory.
The Comets had never won a playoff game, never won an overall Cascades Conference championship and never started the season with seven straight victories before this fall.
One of those milestones was reached Friday when Hanover-Horton shut out Addison 42-0 for its seventh consecutive victory. The other two are still possible.
“There are a lot of firsts for everybody here,” third-year Comets head coach David Messer said. “Our plan is to just keep it one play at a time.”
Hanover-Horton’s best previous start to a season was 4-0.
“When we got to 5-0, the kids celebrated that,” Messer said. “We talked about getting to 5-0. But I told them we are only going to celebrate over the weekend because Monday we had to get back to work.”
Hanover-Horton went 2-7 last season and 3-6 the year before. The last time the school won seven games in a season was 2014 when they went 8-2, setting a school record for victories that the Comets can equal against Brooklyn Columbia Central on Senior Night this Friday.
“We aren’t looking past that game,” Messer said.
The Addison win also clinched a share of the league's West division title, which the Comets can claim outright Friday. The West and East divisions winners will play for the overall Cascades Conference championship in Week 9.
The Hanover-Horton seniors are on cloud nine about this football season, guaranteed to be the first winning one for the Comets since that 2014 campaign.
“They are on top of the world, but they are not strutting down the hallways or anything,” Messer said. “They are keeping everything in perspective.”
Hanover-Horton has eight seniors. Luke Soper is the quarterback and a two-way starter. Gavin Berkeypile is a physical player who has a nose for the ball. Center Bryant Hamisfar is a captain and makes the calls for the offensive line. Jackson Johnson and Jack Wooster are split ends on offense who have turned into excellent blockers, and Wyatt Ashworth has developed into a solid two-way starter.
The Comets defense is led by junior Adam Ley, a third-year starter despite being only a junior.
“We brought him up as a freshman out of necessity,” Messer said. “He’s really become a great football player. The play of our defensive front has been so strong, it has helped Adam be able to make a lot of tackles from his linebacker spot. Last year he had offensive linemen in his face every play. This year, he’s able to fill the gaps and make plays.”
Ley made 19 tackles last week against Addison during Hanover-Horton’s third consecutive shutout and fourth of the season, also a school record.
On offense, the Comets already have set the single-season school scoring record. Soper directs an offense that has been heavy on the run through the first seven games with multiple backs, including freshman Austyn Hocter.
“We are still finding our way on offense,” Messer said. “We try to be a little more balanced. Luke is a heck of a quarterback who has a really good arm. We want to find ways to be more balanced.”
The offense is averaging 43 points a game, while the defense is allowing just 8.4.
“I don’t really look at how many points we score or give up,” Messer said. “I will look at those kinds of things after the season when we have a chance to sit down and assess how things went. We are really focused on the next play, next play.”
Messer comes from a football background rooted in success.
“I’m a Hudson guy through and through,” Messer said. “I was born in Hudson, played football at Hudson and coached for 15 years at Hudson.”
He coached for several years under Hall of Fame coach Chris Luma, and coached defense with current Hudson head coach Dan Rogers.
“Every step of the way, I’ve had some great coaches to help me,” Messer said. “Chris was a tremendous mentor. I know I can still pick up the phone at any time and give him a call.”
One of the first things Messer did at Hanover-Horton was work on the physical strength of the team.
“When I first got here, it was obvious to me that we weren’t a very physical football team,” he said. “The weight room part of it did not come quickly. I’ve had old-timers here tell me they’ve never had so many kids in the weight room. That was one of the things we needed to turn around.”
There already have been several big wins this season for the Comets, but close ones over Michigan Center (21-20) and Jonesville (21-18) made Messer particularly proud.
“We’ve had some moments this year where we reverted to the Hanover-Horton of old, but I’m so proud of the guys to overcome that and stay focused,” Messer said. “That third quarter against Jonesville things weren’t going our way, but we held on. Our goal is to just keep it one play, one drive at a time and make this a historic season.”
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) From left, Hanover-Horton’s Luke Soper (5), Jack Wooster (11), Braden Cogan (71) and Bryan Hamisfar (77) take the field together arm-in-arm. (Middle) Comets coach David Messer talks things over with his players. (Top photo courtesy of the Hanover-Horton athletic department; middle photo courtesy of Karson Durocher/JTV.)
1st & Goal: 2025 Playoffs Week 1 Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 30, 2025
The MHSAA begins its second half-century of football playoffs this weekend, the 51st aspiring to the same goal as our first in 1975 – to provide an unforgettable experience while celebrating Michigan’s best high school football teams.
A total of 288 will begin postseason play, with the 8-player brackets concluding in four weeks and the 11-player divisions cheering their champions in five.
To kick things off, there are 129 games scheduled for Friday and 15 for Saturday. Tickets to both District and Regional Semifinals this weekend cost $7 and can be purchased at GoFan.co. The majority of our playoff openers also will be broadcast and available to watch with subscription on the NFHS Network.
Below are glances at some of the most intriguing first-round matchups in each division:
11-Player Division 1
Davison (8-1) at Clarkston (8-1) WATCH
These two powers will meet in the playoffs for the first time since 2022, and the matchup will likely be one of the most attended this first weekend. Clarkston is coming off winning the Oakland Activities Association Red championship, with its only loss by just six points in Week 2 to still-undefeated Harper Woods. Davison’s loss also came to a still-unbeaten team, Grand Blanc, in Week 7 in what ended up the deciding game in the Saginaw Valley League South.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Brighton (6-3) at West Bloomfield (7-2) WATCH, Dearborn Fordson (7-2) at Farmington (7-2) WATCH, Macomb Dakota (6-3) vs. Utica (7-2) WATCH at Sterling Heights Stevenson.
11-Player Division 2
Traverse City Central (5-4) at Traverse City West (5-4) WATCH
Just a week ago, West won the annual Patriot Game matchup between these two at Thirlby Field in overtime, 21-20. They’ll return to the stadium they share for their first playoff meeting since 2017. The first round was decided in part by the Titans blocking Central’s overtime extra-point attempt, then following up with the tying touchdown and game-winning PAT. That ran West’s winning streak in the rivalry to three and pushed the Titans ahead of the Trojans in playoff-point average and into position to be the home team for this game.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY East Lansing (4-5) at White Lake Lakeland (7-2) WATCH, Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (5-4) at Walled Lake Western (7-2) WATCH, St. Clair Shores Lakeview (7-2) at Port Huron Northern (7-2) WATCH.
11-Player Division 3
Zeeland West (6-3) at Niles (9-0) WATCH
These two both ended last season at Ford Field, although a few things have changed since last Thanksgiving weekend. Zeeland West is the reigning Division 3 champion and under new leadership with Jeff Bolhouse taking over this season for retired John Shillito and taking the Dux back to the playoffs for the 16th-straight season. Niles finished last fall as Division 4 runner-up before moving into Division 3 this season and running its regular-season winning streak to 17.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Cedar Springs (8-1) at East Grand Rapids (7-2) WATCH, Zeeland East (6-3) at St. Joseph (5-4) WATCH, Linden (6-3) at Mason (5-4) WATCH. SATURDAY Marysville (7-2) at Port Huron (6-3) WATCH.
11-Player Division 4
Big Rapids (8-1) at Ludington (9-0)
Ludington will carry its first undefeated regular season since 1989 into a rematch of last season’s District Semifinal, won by Big Rapids 28-21. The Orioles have thrived on both sides of the ball, but it’s hard to not notice they’ve scored 40 or more points in all but one game, when they put up just 32. Big Rapids’ only loss came Week 8 against Coopersville, 38-28. But over its other eight games, the Cardinals allowed only 40 points total.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Redford Union (7-2) at Madison Heights Lamphere (6-3) WATCH, Grand Rapids South Christian (4-5) at Portland (9-0), Tecumseh (6-3) at Dearborn Divine Child (8-1) WATCH. SATURDAY Freeland (7-2) at Escanaba (8-1) WATCH.
11-Player Division 5
Detroit Denby (7-2) at Detroit Southeastern (6-3), Saturday
Denby will represent the best of its division of the Detroit Public School League after winning the Gold regular-season and city championships. Southeastern was among the leaders in the PSL Blue, tying for second thanks to a loss to Division 3 contender Martin Luther King, and all three of its regular-season defeats came to playoff qualifiers. Denby has won seven straight games (including a forfeit victory) since opening 0-2 with losses to playoff team Chelsea and Ohio power Garfield Heights.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Dowagiac (5-3) at Berrien Springs (5-2) WATCH, Flat Rock (6-3) at Monroe Jefferson (8-1), Armada (6-3) at Richmond (8-1) WATCH, Negaunee (6-3) at Ogemaw Heights (8-1) WATCH.
11-Player Division 6
Flint Elite (8-1) at Montrose (9-0) WATCH
Elite, a cooperative of Flint New Standard Academy and Burton Madison Academy, is in its sixth season and has qualified for the playoffs for the first time (not counting COVID-shortened 2020, when nearly all teams made the field). Elite also won the Genesee Area Conference title, with its only loss coming 20-16 to Genesee in Week 2. Facing Montrose – in the playoffs for the 16th-straight season – is definitely another opportunity for the Warriors to raise their profile. The Rams have given up 34 points all season and played only one game closer than two touchdowns.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Kent City (9-0) at Olivet (8-1) WATCH. SATURDAY Boyne City (6-3) at Traverse City St. Francis (6-2) WATCH, Calumet (7-2) at Kingsley (7-2) WATCH, Durand (7-2) at Flint Hamady (6-3) WATCH.
11-Player Division 7
Ottawa Lake Whiteford (8-1) at Clinton (7-2) WATCH
These two are meeting in a playoff opener for the second-straight season, with Clinton claiming last year’s 38-32. Whiteford moved this season to the Toledo Area Athletic Conference and won that league, while Clinton finished second in the Lenawee County Athletic Association to undefeated Hudson, which along with Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central provided the Redwolves’ losses. Whiteford’s defeat came to still-unbeaten Harbor Beach.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY McBain (7-2) at Charlevoix (8-1) WATCH, Ithaca (6-3) at Saginaw Valley Lutheran (9-0), Constantine (6-3) at Lawton (7-2) WATCH. SATURDAY Saranac (7-2) at North Muskegon (6-3) WATCH.
11-Player Division 8
White Pigeon (7-2) at Decatur (7-2)
Decatur secured the Southwest 10 Conference title this season with a six-point double-overtime win over Bronson in Week 2 and then an eight-point win over White Pigeon in Week 8. That was also the Raiders’ first win over White Pigeon since 2022, and this will be their first season with a playoff rematch since 2021. Decatur has won six games in a row, losing only to Lawton and still-undefeated Springport over the first three weeks. The Chiefs’ only other loss came to Bronson, and they bounced back from two straight defeats with a 46-20 win over Stockbridge last week.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary (6-3) at Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Central (7-2) WATCH, Fowler (6-3) at New Lothrop (6-3) WATCH, Auburn Hills Oakland Christian (5-4) at Madison Heights Madison (8-1), Frankfort (6-3) at East Jordan (6-3) WATCH.
8-Player Division 1
Pickford (7-1) at Indian River Inland Lakes (9-0) WATCH
This is a massive matchup for opening weekend of the postseason, and a rematch of one of last year’s Semifinals. Pickford won that 2024 meeting 34-18, going on to finish Division 1 runner-up with a two-point loss to Deckerville in the championship game. The Pirates’ only loss this season came against still-undefeated Norway, but no one else came close. Similarly, Inland Lakes’ closest game this fall was last week’s 27-point win over Gaylord St. Mary to clinch the Ski Valley Conference title.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Gogebic (8-1) at Norway (9-0) WATCH, Climax-Scotts (7-2) at Gobles (7-2) WATCH, Capac (7-2) at Brown City (7-2) WATCH.
8-Player Division 2
Morrice (8-1) at Deckerville (8-1), Saturday WATCH
The Eagles won the Division 1 title a year ago and 20 straight games before falling to Capac by eight points in Week 8. Morrice, meanwhile, also played at the Superior Dome to end last season, as the Division 2 runner-up. These two last met in a 2023 playoff opener – a 46-40 Deckerville win – and it’s difficult to forecast how this one will turn out as both defeated their one common opponent by a significant margin. Morrice’s only loss came to Portland St. Patrick, which is undefeated and could end up seeing the winner of this game in a Semifinal in two weeks.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Gaylord St. Mary (7-2) at Mio (8-1) WATCH, Pittsford (7-2) at Britton Deerfield (8-1) WATCH. SATURDAY Powers North Central (7-2) at Lake Linden-Hubbell (7-2) WATCH.
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PHOTO (Top) Ypsilanti’s Roshard Slater (8) breaks into the open during his team’s season-opening win over Okemos. (Photo by John Johnson.)