Inside Selection Sunday: Mapnalysis '13
October 28, 2013
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
At the end of the day – Sunday, in this case – the 2013 MHSAA football playoff field was determined based on a set of numbers we began working with long before the first kickoff of this season.
So to kick off our discussion of how some of the 2013 playoff-selection decisions were made, here are a few numbers that might boggle the mind – or at least surprise:
- A total of 3,111 high school results were used in determining this season’s field – 2,978 for 11-player and 133 for 8-player games.
- We inputted and then followed the schedules for 623 MHSAA teams.
- We also inputted and followed weekly the schedules for 50 teams from surrounding states and Ontario that played at least one game against one of our MHSAA schools.
- We worked through complicated maneuverings made necessary by seven teams playing a mix of 11 and 8-player games, plus two more teams that played a mix of varsity and junior varsity opponents.
- And by Sunday morning we ended up with a few more numeric rarities: only 225 automatic qualifiers, the fewest since the current playoff system was introduced in 1999, and also an uneven number of at-large bids from our four classes because only six Class D teams reached the number of victories needed to be considered. (This was balanced by taking more at-large qualifiers from Classes A, B and C.)
And that was just the start of one of our most exciting days of the school year.
Following are more details. First, I explain some of the history of the MHSAA playoffs – I’ve lifted this in part from our 2012 report, so skip ahead if you’ve already got that down. Next, I touch on five themes that emerged as we built the brackets for this season’s tournament.
The process
Our past: The MHSAA playoff structure – with 256 teams in eight divisions, and six wins equaling an automatic berth (or five wins for teams playing eight or fewer games) – debuted in 1999, as mentioned above. An 8-player tournament was added in 2011, resulting in nine champions total when November is done.
That’s a long way from our start. The first playoffs were conducted in 1975 with four champions. Four more football classes were added in 1990 for a total of eight champions each fall. Through 1998, only 128 teams made the postseason, based on their playoff point averages within regions (four for each class) that were drawn before the beginning of the season. The drawing of Districts and Regions after the end of the regular season did not begin until the most recent playoff expansion.
In early years of the current process (or until the middle of the last decade), lines were drawn by hand. Dots representing qualifying schools were pasted on maps, one map for each division, and those maps were then covered by plastic sheets. Districts and Regionals literally were drawn with dry-erase markers.
Our present: After a late Saturday night tracking scores, we file in as the sun rises Sunday morning for a final round of gathering results we may still need (which can include making a few early a.m. calls to athletic directors). Then comes re-checking and triple-checking of enrollments, what schools played in co-ops, some records and more before the numbers are crunched and the fields are set.
Those 256 11-player teams are then split into eight equal divisions based on enrollment, and their locations are marked on digital maps that are projected on wall-size screens and then discussed by nearly half of the MHSAA staff plus a representative from the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association. Only the locations themselves are marked (by yellow dots) – not records, playoff point averages or names of the schools or towns. In fact, mentions of those are strictly prohibited. Records and playoff points are not part of the criteria. Matchups, rivalries, previous playoff pairings, etc. also DO NOT come into play. The same process is followed for organizing the 8-player bracket.
Observations and answers: 2013
This doesn’t happen overnight: Preparation for selecting the MHSAA playoff field begins long before the first kickoff of fall, much less the first practice. We load schedules for all 600-plus varsity teams during the summer, and many schedules remain fluid right up until the first Friday of the season – and this fall, a few weren’t settled until Week 2 or 3.
This summer as in some past we also worked through schools closing (Inkster, Saginaw Buena Vista, Detroit Northwestern, Flint Northern), and others deciding in mid-July and early August they would not field teams because of a lack of players.
Sometimes we have to take odd paths to find scores for these games. The last 11-player score to be added to our data this regular season came in as a result of tweeting the sports anchor of a Wheeling, W.Va., television station. Our last 8-player score came in via email from a Wisconsin athletic director at 10:30 Saturday night. Thankfully, we get plenty of assistance from some of our friends in the field, who keep an eye on the data and alert us when something appears missing or incorrect.
Win and advance: This season’s list of 5-4 teams includes a number of heavy hitters that did not receive at-large bids – East Grand Rapids, Utica Eisenhower, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s and Flint Powers Catholic to name a few. All were solid teams and played strong competition. All missing the playoffs likely raised some eyebrows.
But we have to take a look at this from a statewide view. There admittedly can be some argument about what schools qualified for the 226-256 spots in the field – but the important part is that 225 qualified because they all met the minimum win requirement. A playoff is simply that – it decides a champion based on teams winning. For some it’s harder to pile wins, of course, because they play in tough leagues. But the winners of those leagues are in the field – and surely will credit that tough road with getting them prepared to now play the state’s best.
Geography rules: This long has been rule number one for drawing MHSAA brackets in any sport, and is a repeat as well for those who have read this report the last two Octobers. Travel distance and ease DO come into play. Jumping on a major highway clearly is easier than driving across county-wide back roads, and that’s taken into consideration.
Also, remember there’s only one Mackinac Bridge and hence only one way to cross between peninsulas – and boats are not considered a possible form of transportation. When opponents from both peninsulas will be in the same District, distance to the bridge is far more important than as the crow flies.
The best example of this comes this season in Division 5. Grayling clearly is east of both Kingsley and Kalkaska – but also sits on I-75, while those two do not. So while those more western teams are geographically closer to Houghton, Menominee and Kingsford from the Upper Peninsula, we instead paired the three U.P. teams with Grayling because being on a main highway made for a shorter trip. The trip to Grayling for any of those U.P. teams would be 36 miles shorter to Grayling than Kingsley and 13 miles shorter to Grayling than Kalkaska.
Sometimes it’s where the points aren’t: Sure, it would be best-case scenario to have perfect sets of eight dots split into four quadrants from Calumet to Bedford. But generally that doesn’t occur. “Dots determine the map” is a common phrase heard here during this selection process, but that works the other way as well. If there are no qualifiers in a division from a specific area of the state – see Division 1, with none south of Holland or west of the greater Lansing area – there’s no choice but to create the unusual Regional Final possibility of Traverse City West vs. Brighton. Brighton is simply closer to the west side of the state than our other options.
Border to border vs. coast to coast: Should Regions be grouped north to south or east to west? There isn't a right or wrong answer – it just depends on that set of dots.
Whenever we have Upper Peninsula teams in a division, they’ll be grouped with those from the northernmost points of the Lower Peninsula for a District. The next northernmost schools will be grouped into a District, and together those eight will form a Region.
But the tough decision comes with the other six Districts. Look at this season’s Division 5 map: Six Districts are grouped south of U.S. 10 with three near or west of U.S. 127 and three east of that highway, which runs through the center of the Lower Peninsula. We grouped the two southwestern Districts into a Region and the two southeastern Districts into a Region – leaving a final Region that stretches from Muskegon on Lake Michigan to Almont, about 35 miles west of Lake Huron.
That’s a haul. But it’s also the best of our possible compromises. We could’ve instead paired regions that would’ve stretched from Hopkins to Monroe – only 19 fewer miles in distance than Muskegon Oakridge to Almont, but a scenario that could’ve created travel increases for a number of additional teams. Another option included a possible trip from Detroit University Prep to Freeland, which also would take more than two hours.
Bottom line – it’s been written here before – we pour all we have into this process, asking questions often more than once until we come up with a consensus. We do appreciate the arguments that arise once brackets are released to the public: The discussions are proof of how much players, coaches and fans care – and often show us new ways we can look at a system that’s now 15 years old.
But we must remember that the good news is the tournament is still set up to reward nine champions over the next five weeks, and five schools – Auburn Hills Oakland Christian, Coldwater, Detroit Allen, Eaton Rapids and Muskegon Mona Shores – will be competing for those titles for the first time.
It’s not so much how the tournament starts as how it ends. And we’re preparing for nine more memorable conclusions.
PHOTO: Each collection of grouped dots is a District on this season's Division 3 playoff map.
1st & Goal: 2026 Week 6 Review
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 5, 2026
The races are on for 90 leagues featuring Michigan high school football teams this fall.
A few championships have been decided, and several more are in the process. Those races and how they stack up heading into these final weeks are easily the theme as we look back on Week 6 below.
Bay & Thumb
HEADLINER Sanford Meridian 42, Harrison 14 The Mustangs (6-0) clinched a share of the Jack Pine Conference Division 2 title and can make the championship outright this week against Beaverton. While the offense was mighty, the defense arguably was more impressive – Harrison (5-1) entered the game averaging 44.8 points per. Click for more from the Midland Daily News.
Watch list Port Huron 29, Macomb L’Anse Creuse North 14 Port Huron (6-0) clinched its first league title since 2023, claiming a share of the Macomb Area Conference Blue championship with a chance to finish the league schedule perfect this week against Warren Cousino. The Red Hawks have doubled up every league opponent so far, with LCN (4-2) providing the toughest challenge.
On the move Unionville-Sebewaing 30, Ubly 16 The Patriots (4-2) made the playoff last season for the first time this decade, and a year later have clinched a share of the Big Thumb Conference Black title with their two losses by a combined eight points. Holly 30, Flushing 29 Holly (4-2) can’t win the Flint Metro League Stripes title but with this result took Flushing (3-3) out of the race as well. Midland Dow 52, Traverse City West 24 The Chargers (4-2) kept pace one game behind Saginaw Valley League North leader Mount Pleasant and put West (3-3) in the same spot by dealing the Titans their first league defeat.
Greater Detroit
HEADLINER Detroit Catholic Central 31, Toledo Central Catholic (OH) 12 The Catholic High School League Central race still includes four teams with three league games (or two for two teams) to play, but it may realistically be down to just two contenders after the Shamrocks (6-0) handed TCC (5-2) its first league defeat. Next up for DCC is Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, the only other Central team without a league loss. Click for more from the Detroit Free Press.
Watch list Dearborn Fordson 14, Northville 10 Fordson (5-1) will be Northville’s biggest fan this week as the Tractors’ Kensington Lakes Activities Association Black title hopes now rest with the Mustangs (5-1), who play leader Belleville next. A five-point Week 3 loss to the Tigers has been Fordson’s only setback, with this win over Northville interestingly its fourth by seven points or fewer.
On the move Grosse Pointe South 28, Macomb Dakota 21 GPS (5-1) will need some help to finish next weekend with a share of the MAC Red title, but the Blue Devils are up to No. 7 in Division 2 playoff-point average with this win over Division 1 Dakota (3-3). Oxford 15, Rochester Adams 14 The Wildcats (5-1) avenged last season’s 27-point loss to Adams (3-3) to move up to a tie for No. 6 in Division 1 playoff-point average. Monroe Jefferson 36, New Boston Huron 21 Jefferson (5-0) paced a step closer to facing Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central in a winner-take-all Huron League decider in Week 8, while sending New Boston Huron (4-2) into a tie for third.
Mid-Michigan
HEADLINER Pewamo-Westphalia 34, Fowler 28 (2OT) It probably didn’t seem possible to exceed expectations in this rivalry matchup, and yet this game arguably did so as P-W prevailed for its first back-to-back wins over Fowler since 2020 and 2021. The Pirates (6-0) clinched at least a share of the league championship with the Eagles (5-1) now rooting for Saranac this week to give them a chance of still claiming a share. Click for more from WLNS.
Watch list Howell 28, Hartland 27 (OT) The Highlanders (6-0) held on to send Hartland (4-2) a game back in the KLAA Gold and set up a potential title decider this week against Brighton.
On the move Brighton 28, Dearborn 27 The Bulldogs (4-2) similarly had to survive a close one to make this week’s matchup with Howell mean even more. Dearborn fell to 3-3 with a second single-digit loss over the last three weeks. New Lothrop 49, Ovid-Elsie 14 The Hornets (5-1) kept pace in the Mid-Michigan Activities Conference, a game behind leader Montrose, while making a title pursuit much tougher for the Marauders (3-3) as they prepare to face Montrose this week. Okemos 37, Holt 20 At 4-2, Okemos has as many wins this fall as the last six years combined and sits No. 30 in Division 1 playoff-point average.
Northern Lower Peninsula
HEADLINER Petoskey 42, Gaylord 21 The Northmen (4-2) control their destiny in the Big North Conference, with this win over the Blue Devils (3-3) leaving open an opportunity to face Marquette in Week 8 for a share of the league title – or more, if Marquette slips up this week against Gaylord. Cadillac also remains in the mix, tied with Petoskey for second place. Click for more from the Petoskey News-Review.
Watch list Maple City Glen Lake 34, Oscoda 14 With three league games to go, three teams are chasing leader East Jordan in the Northern Michigan Football Conference – and Glen Lake (4-2) is one of those three teams 4-1 in league play thanks to this key victory over Oscoda (3-3).
On the move Traverse City St. Francis 49, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep 28 The Gladiators (4-2) quietly have strung together three straight wins after a tough season start. After facing similarly tough competition, Notre Dame Prep (2-4) is hanging on to the No. 31 spot in the Division 5 playoff-point rankings. Elk Rapids 26, Boyne City 6 The Elks (4-2) avenged a 36-0 loss last season to the Ramblers (3-3) with their first win over them since 2011. Harbor Springs 18, Lakeview 13 The Rams (5-1) are now a win away from their most since 2019, and Lakeview (3-3) is enjoying the same scenario despite this defeat.
Southeast & Border
HEADLINER Hudson 38, Clinton 30 Four teams are back in the hunt in the Lenawee County Athletic Association after Hudson handed Clinton its first defeat in both league play and overall. Ida stands alone atop the standings at 5-0, but Hudson, Clinton and Adrian Madison are all 4-1 – with Hudson playing Ida in Week 8 and Clinton getting Ida this week followed by Madison on Oct. 16. Click for more from the Adrian Daily Telegram.
Watch list Temperance Bedford 38, Dexter 35 Bedford made the District Finals last season while finishing 5-6 overall, and the Kicking Mules (6-0) already have surpassed that win total as they prepare for a potential Week 8 winner-take-all against Saline in the Southeastern Conference Red.
On the move Manchester 80, Leslie 35 This battle for first in the Cascades Conference North turned high scoring and then some, with the end result Manchester (5-1) gaining an opportunity to earn a share of the league title this week as Leslie (4-2) already had done so. Adrian 15, Tecumseh 14 Adrian (5-1) needs help to have a chance at a share of the SEC White championship, but the Maples continued to improve their playoff position jumping up to No. 14 in Division 4 while sending Tecumseh to No. 22. Springport 61, Reading 8 Springport (5-1) took the last step to set up this week’s matchup of Big 8 Conference leaders with Union City.
Southwest Corridor
HEADLINER Decatur 34, Galesburg-Augusta 7 The Raiders (6-0) clinched a share of a second-straight Southwest 10 Conference championship with another dominating victory and have given up only 28 points total over their last five. Galesburg-Augusta (5-1) will be hoping for some help from Hartford in Decatur’s league finale in Week 8. Click for more from the Kalamazoo Gazette.
Watch list Berrien Springs 29, Dowagiac 28 Berrien Springs (6-0) clinched a share of a fourth-straight Lakeland Conference title but needed its closest league win in decades to do so. Dowagiac (3-3) lost by 21 and 14 in its two meetings with the Shamrocks last season, but made this one much closer.
On the move Kalamazoo United 7, Schoolcraft 0 The Titans (6-0) strengthened their hold significantly on first place in the Southwestern Athletic Conference and lead two others by a game with three to play – all against teams 2-4 or 1-5. Battle Creek Harper Creek 38, Coldwater 19 The Beavers (5-1) kept pace just behind Marshall in the Interstate 8 Athletic Conference and surely will root for Coldwater (4-2) against the Redhawks in Week 8. Battle Creek Central 36, Kalamazoo Central 23 The Bearcats (3-3) broke a three-game losing streak as they pursue a first playoff appearance since 2022, and this win jumped them 15 spots in the Division 3 playoff-point average rankings to No. 32.
Upper Peninsula
HEADLINER Bark River-Harris 46, L’Anse 18 The Broncos (5-1) bounced back from their lone loss to move within one more win of clinching a share of a repeat Western Peninsula Athletic Conference Iron title. Bark River-Harris can make that happen this week against Hancock, which has only one defeat in league play. L’Anse (3-3) is just outside the top 32 on the Division 8 playoff-points average list but has opportunities to gain big points the rest of the way facing Iron Mountain, Hancock and Calumet.
Watch list Marquette 34, Alpena 21 Marquette (4-2) entered this season a combined 14-4 in Big North Conference play over its three seasons in the league. But its increased that to 18-4 this fall as it attempts to close in on a first league title in the BNC after two second places and a third.
On the move Kingsford 35, Hancock 6 The Flivvers (6-0) edged another win closer to setting up a winner-take-all again in the West PAC Copper against Menominee. Calumet 34, Houghton 13 The Copper Kings (4-2) bounced back from consecutive losses to those Copper contenders and sit No. 14 in Division 6 playoff-point average. Negaunee 36, Ishpeming Westwood 14 The Miners (4-2) rank No. 18 in Division 5 playoff-point average as they prepare to host undefeated Menominee with a chance to shake up those league standings.
West Michigan
HEADLINER Muskegon Mona Shores 29, Byron Center 28 The margin was slim but the result massive in the Ottawa-Kent Conference Green as Mona Shores (5-1) sits alone atop the standings after breaking a two-game losing streak against the Bulldogs (4-2). The Sailors can clinch a share of the league title this week against Muskegon High. Click for more from the Local Sports Journal.
Watch list Hopkins 42, Belding 22 The Vikings (6-0) also sit alone atop the O-K Silver standings after handing Belding (5-1) its lone defeat and breaking a four-game losing streak against the Black Knights. The victory also gave Hopkins one more than all of last season.
On the move Grand Rapids Catholic Central 27, Middleville Thornapple Kellogg 7 The Cougars (5-1) took over first place alone in the O-K Black, handing MTK (5-1) its lone loss with an impressive defensive showing. East Kentwood 31, Rockford 10 The Falcons (6-0) did their part to set up this week’s O-K Red showdown with also-undefeated co-leader Caledonia, also sending Rockford to 3-3. Zeeland West 48, Zeeland East 14 The Dux (5-1) ran their winning streak in this neighborly rivalry to 11, bouncing back nicely from a Week 5 defeat.
8-Player
HEADLINER Portland St. Patrick 28, Pickford 18 These two remain on track to potentially finish their seasons at the Superior Dome, as St. Patrick (6-0) moved up two spots to sit tied for No. 3 in Division 2 playoff-point average and Pickford (5-1) fell just one position after entering the weekend No. 1 in Division 1. The Shamrocks led 7-6 at halftime before pulling away. Click for more from the Cheboygan Daily Tribune.
Watch list Crystal Falls Forest Park 34, Norway 26 The Trojans (5-1) dwell alone in second place in the Great Lakes Eight Conference West with a Week 9 date with leader Lake Linden-Hubbell gaining more and more steam.
On the move Climax-Scotts 56, Marcellus 52 This was another high-profile cross-division battle as Climax-Scotts moved up to No. 6 in Division 1 playoff-points average and Marcellus fell to No. 10 in Division 2. Bridgman 58, St. Joseph Our Lady of the Lake Catholic 20 The Bees (5-1) bounced back from a Week 5 defeat to hand Our Lady (4-2) this one before Our Lady attempts to finish off a league title run this week. Merrill 30, Breckenridge 14 Despite a notable defensive effort by the Huskies (3-3), high-scoring Merrill powered through to set up this week’s winner-take-all matchup with Blanchard Montabella in the Mid-State Activities Conference Blue.
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PHOTOS (Top) Portland’s Carson Spenski (7) turns a corner with several Lansing Catholic players in pursuit during a 49-14 Raiders win. (Middle) Laingsburg players celebrate a touchdown during a 44-0 shut out of Bath. (Below) Negaunee's Kyle Waterman keeps the ball and carries it to within a few yards of the end zone. (Portland/Lansing Catholic photo by TCP Photography. Laingsburg photo by John Johnson. Negaunee photo by Cara Kamps.)