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: 12/5/22

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

December 5, 2022

1. GIRLS BASKETBALL West Bloomfield downed South Lyon East 63-28 to lead the Oakland Activities Association to an OAA-LVC Challenge win – Oakland Press

2. HOCKEY Undefeated and Division 3 No. 8 Traverse Bay Reps handed Division 2 No. 8 Alpena its first loss 5-4 in overtime – Traverse City Record-Eagle

3. GIRLS BASKETBALL Grosse Pointe North improved to 2-0 with a 56-45 win over Detroit Country Day – Detroit News

4. HOCKEY Division 1 top-ranked Detroit Catholic Central downed Division 3 No. 4 Riverview Gabriel Richard to clinch the Detroit Catholic League Bishop championship – Oakland Press

5. BOYS SWIMMING & DIVING Ludington opened with a win at its home relays – Ludington Daily News

6. GIRLS BASKETBALL Lake City defeated the host Northmen 35-27 to win the Petoskey Invitational – Cadillac News

7. GIRLS BASKETBALL Chelsea went on a late run to edge Freeland 58-52 in a game honoring late coach Tom Zolinski – Saginaw News

8. HOCKEY Division 2 No. 4 Marquette earned a big win over reigning Division 3 champion Midland Dow – Midland Daily News

9. GIRLS BASKETBALL Taylor improved to 3-0 with a 38-33 win over Dearborn Heights Crestwood – Southgate News-Herald

10. HOCKEY Division 1 No. 5 Muskegon Mona Shores welcomed back its goalie, who posted a 3-0 shutout of Jenison – Local Sports Journal

Also of note …

FOOTBALL Longtime coach Dan Anderson is retiring from Detroit Catholic Central after 23 years including the last six as head coach – MLive-Detroit