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: 1/31/23

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

January 31, 2023

1. GIRLS BASKETBALL Wayne Memorial held off Belleville 75-57 to hold on to first place alone in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association East – Detroit News

2. BOYS BASKETBALL Cadillac handed Ludington its first loss this season, 66-35 – Cadillac News

3. GIRLS BASKETBALL Harbor Springs bounced back with a 70-47 win over St. Ignace – Petoskey News-Review

4. SKIING Traverse City Central’s girls and West’s boys won the latest Big North Conference meets – Traverse City Record-Eagle

5. BOYS BASKETBALL Napoleon edged Hanover-Horton 61-58 to remain undefeated – Jackson Citizen Patriot

6. GIRLS BASKETBALL Hillman earned a key North Star League Little Dipper win over Posen – Alpena News

7. GIRLS BASKETBALL Rochester avenged an earlier loss with a 27-point win over Clarkston – Oakland Press

8. GIRLS BASKETBALL Durand ran its winning streak to seven with a 37-32 victory over Webberville – Owosso Argus-Press

9. GIRLS BASKETBALL Macomb Lutheran North held off a late charge by Riverview Gabriel Richard for a 47-40 win – Southgate News-Herald

10. BOYS SWIMMING & DIVING Holland downed Muskegon Mona Shores/Greater Muskegon 107-65 – Local Spots Journal

Also of note …

TENNIS Dave Sukup is retiring after nearly 50 years coaching tennis at Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern – FOX 17