Highlight Reel: Saturday Football Finals

November 28, 2016

By John Johnson
MHSAA Communications Director

The final day of the MHSAA 11-Player Football Finals at Ford Field in Detroit – powered by the Michigan Army National Guard – produced a first-time gridiron champion and a game-winning play that will be talked about for a long time.

Division 7

Pewamo-Westphalia 28, Detroit Loyola 14

Logan & Lehman Go Long - The Pewamo-Westphalia combo of quarterback Jimmy Lehman and receiver Logan Hengesbach connected for two touchdowns in the Division 7 title game against Detroit Loyola. Here's the second TD in the third quarter, with Hengesbach winning the jump ball to complete a 37-yard scoring play.

Johnson Powers Into the End Zone - Detroit Loyola gets on the board midway through the fourth quarter, when TE Keith Johnson makes a great play to catch a pass from Price Watkins and then power into the end zone to complete the 18-yard score.

Division 1

Detroit Cass Tech 49, Detroit Catholic Central 20

CC Takes the Early Lead - Detroit Catholic Central led 14-7 at the end of the first quarter, taking the lead on this 35-yard pass interception return by Jack Morris.

The Peoples' Choice for Cass Tech - Detroit Cass Tech QB Rodney Hall tied a Finals record with five touchdown passes against Detroit Catholic Central - two going to Donovan Peoples-Jones, including this 49-yarder in the third quarter.

Division 5

Grand Rapids West Catholic 43, Menominee 7

Meyers Off to the Races - Grand Rapids West Catholic scored its first TD against Menominee on a pitch and catch from Gaetano Vallone to Brett Meyers covering 91 yards.

Hass Records a Finals First - Menominee uses special teams to get on the board in the third quarter. Sam Larson blocks the West Catholic field goal attempt, and Hunter Hass returns it 76 yards for a TD – the first time in Finals history a blocked field goal has been returned for a score.

Division 3

Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 29, Muskegon 28

Pimpleton's Second Score - Lined up in the slot, Muskegon's Kalil Pimpleton gets his second 18-yard rushing touchdown of the Division 3 Final against Orchard Lake St. Mary's on the end-around to give his team a 21-20 lead early in the fourth quarter.

A Catch for the Ages - In the closing seconds of the Division 3 Final, Orchard Lake St. Mary's QB Caden Prieskorn hits Ky’ren Cunningham in the end zone with an 18-yard touchdown strike to give the Eaglets the win.

The MHSAA Football Finals are sponsored by the Michigan National Guard.  

PHOTO: Orchard Lake St. Mary's Chris Bean celebrates during Saturday's Division 3 Final. 

Today in the MHSAA: 4/22/24

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

April 22, 2024

1. SOFTBALL Lainey McDaniel threw a perfect game as undefeated Muskegon Reeths-Puffer handed previously-unbeaten Hamilton its first loss 10-0 in the Hawkeyes’ home invitational – Local Sports Journal

2. TRACK & FIELD Gladstone swept its home invitational’s team titles, and Ishpeming’s Lola Korpi broke a school record in the 3,200 from 1979 – Escanaba Daily Press

3. BASEBALL Division 1 No. 2 Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice swept No. 4 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 12-4 and 5-1 – The PreP

4. SOFTBALL Division 3 honorable mention Evart defeated Central Montcalm, Benzie Central and honorable mention Sanford Meridian to win its Cat Classic – Cadillac News

5. BASEBALL Division 3 No. 7 Charlevoix won the Cat Classic on the baseball side, with Hunter Lemerand throwing a perfect game against Marion – Petoskey News-Review

6. BOYS GOLF Grand Blanc shot a 605 to win the Traverse City Tee-Off – Traverse City Record-Eagle

7. TRACK & FIELD The Hartland boys and Pinckney girls won Howell Highland Games championships, with Eagles sprinter Cameron Cheetam among individual standouts – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

8. BOYS LACROSSE Bay City Western won its fourth-straight Michigan North/South Invitational, defeating West Bloomfield 5-2 to finish a perfect day – Bay City Times

9. BASEBALL Williamston defeated Division 3 No. 10 Traverse City St. Francis and Charlotte to win the Charlotte Invitational – Lansing State Journal

10. TRACK & FIELD St. Joseph swept team championships at the Portage Northern Invitational, and among individual highlights Coldwater’s Ella Grabowski broke a school long jump record set 43 years ago – Coldwater Daily Reporter