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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. 

Okemos' Jamaris Graham (5) works to pull away from a Clio tackler Friday.

1st & Goal: 2024 Week 2 Review

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

September 9, 2024

Every Monday during football season we provide at least a glance at the “story behind the scores” from nearly 50 of the previous weekend’s games across Michigan.

MI Student AidSeveral of those storylines were obvious during Week 2.

One of the most notable celebrations took place in Okemos, where the Wolves defeated Clio 35-0 to end a 41-game losing streak dating back to the third game of the 2019 season.

Martin, meanwhile, has celebrated two straight 8-player Division 1 championships, and can add ending Bridgman’s 35-game winning streak to the list after the Clippers prevailed 42-36.

Eyes are always on the champions, and five of last season’s Finals title winners fell during Week 2 – Clarkston defeated Southfield Arts & Technology (11-player Division 1), Rockford held off Muskegon (11-D2), Oxford downed Harper Woods (D4), Pontiac Notre Dame Prep defeated Jackson Lumen Christi (D7) and Clarkston Everest Collegiate edged Ubly (D8).

And finally, New Baltimore Anchor Bay and Roseville set the record for most points scored in a single-overtime 11-player game with 131 as Anchor Bay won 66-65. Tawas’ 70-69 win over Shepherd in 2002 – in four overtimes – remains the only higher-scoring 11-player game to go past regulation.

For many more “stories behind the scores” of Week 2, see below.

Bay & Thumb

HEADLINER Armada 14, Croswell-Lexington 0 Armada (2-0) has been on an upward trajectory for the last three seasons, and this first win over Croswell-Lexington since 2004 will certainly be remembered among the most important wins during the ascension. Not only did it end a 19-game losing streak against the Pioneers, but the Tigers handed Cros-Lex its first shutout since 2020. Click for more from the Port Huron Times-Herald.

Watch list Flushing 27, Zeeland East 21 The Raiders are 2-0 for the first time since 2011 and after finishing 3-6 a year ago. This one was especially impressive as East (1-1) was a playoff team last year. Flushing is seeking its first winning season since 2018.

On the move Fenton 21, Haslett 14 The Tigers and especially quarterback Noah Sheil made a series of big plays when needed to move to 2-0 for the first time since 2020 and send the Vikings to 0-2. Saginaw Heritage 28, Midland Dow 27 (OT) Jeremiah Walker was the hero with the overtime touchdown to move Heritage to 2-0 and Dow to 0-2. Bay City Central 12, Flint Kearsley 6 (OT) A tough Saginaw Valley League Blue schedule lies ahead, but Bay City Central (1-1) already has equaled last season’s win total and did so against a Kearsley team that had won impressively in its season opener.

Greater Detroit

HEADLINER Warren De La Salle 35, Detroit Martin Luther King 13 In arguably the most anticipated matchup of the weekend statewide, De La Salle opened a 14-0 lead by the end of the first quarter and led 28-7 at halftime. The defense especially continued to impress in following up on the three points allowed to Davison in Week 1. Click for more from the Detroit News.

Watch list Oxford 38, Harper Woods 0 The Wildcats (1-1) bounced back from a season-opening defeat with one of the loudest wins in the state over the first two weeks, shutting out last season’s Division 4 champion. Harper Woods (1-1) averaged 34 points per game during last year’s run and had put up 43 against Redford Union to start this fall.

On the move Pontiac Notre Dame Prep 28, Jackson Lumen Christi 24 Notre Dame Prep (2-0) has strung together 11 playoff seasons over the last 15 and lost only once a year ago – but downing the reigning Division 7 champion Titans (1-1) will certainly have the Fighting Irish getting some significant attention, and with last season’s Division 5 champion Grand Rapids Catholic Central coming to town this week. Birmingham Groves 28, West Bloomfield 13 Groves (2-0) avenged last season’s 41-10 loss to West Bloomfield (1-1), made even more impressive by the Lakers’ 42-0 win over Clinton Township Chippewa Valley to start this season. Detroit Catholic Central 21, Toledo Central Catholic (Ohio) 7 It's early, but this is massive in the Catholic High School League Central as TCC was last season’s champion and defeated the Shamrocks 42-21 in 2023.

Mid-Michigan

HEADLINER Durand 22, New Lothrop 16 Coming off a league championship in 2022, Durand fell back to 3-6 a year ago – but that’s becoming a distant memory quickly with the Railroaders (2-0) already having avenged two losses from a year ago. They lost 29-12 to New Lothrop last year but nearly flipped that result this time and have two more possible revenge games coming up with Montrose and Ovid-Else over the next two weeks, respectively. Click for more from the Flint Journal.

Watch list Lansing Sexton 13, Lansing Catholic 9 The J-Dubbs (1-1) quickly bounced back from a 28-0 loss to Everett in their season opener to win an important Capital Area Activities Conference White matchup. Sexton contended with eventual champion Portland last season, but Lansing Catholic (1-1) also looks to be in the mix this fall.

On the move DeWitt 55, Mason 21 The Panthers have scored 124 points over two games and with this one avenging a pair of losses from last season to the eventual Division 3 runner-up Bulldogs (1-1). Hastings 16, Williamston 12 That Hastings is off to a solid start isn’t stunning given its success over the last four seasons, but the Saxons should savor this one after taking the lead for good in the fourth quarter against a Williamston team that has made the playoffs eight straight seasons. Ionia 43, Eaton Rapids 7 Ionia is 2-0 for the first time since 2016 and also avenged a 2023 loss to Belding in Week 1 – two nice boosts heading into this week’s league matchup with Portland.

A Belleville defender closes in on Livonia Stevenson's Tasso Kotsogiannis (24).

Northern Lower Peninsula

HEADLINER Kingsley 16, Gaylord 0 The reigning Division 6 champion Stags (1-1) got back on track after a Week 1 loss to Reed City, avenging a 42-39 loss to Gaylord from a year ago. The shutout was Kingsley’s first in two years. Gaylord, meanwhile, is 0-2 but has given up only a combined 22 points over those defeats. Click for more from the Traverse City Record-Eagle.

Watch list Traverse City St. Francis 31, Lawton 14 St. Francis (2-0) is another program that lives among the statewide contenders most seasons, but the Gladiators were just 4-5 a year ago. The rebound is on, as their two wins so far this fall have come against opponents that went a combined 18-4 in 2023.

On the move Cheboygan 35, Sault Ste. Marie 12 Cheboygan’s only win last season came in its final game, but against playoff-bound Benzie Central. The Chiefs (1-1) took another notable step in avenging their 26-0 loss from last year to Sault Ste. Marie (0-2), which is coming off a sixth-straight winning season. Maple City Glen Lake 50, Frankfort 7 After scoring 221 points a year ago, Glen Lake (2-0) has nearly half that over two games and after this one avenging a 28-15 loss to Frankfort (1-1) from last season. Lake City 38, Evart 27 Lake City was another team that didn’t let an opening loss send it off-course. The Trojans (1-1) came back after falling to Hart in Week 1 by avenging last season’s 20-12 loss to Evart (1-1), which is coming off a fourth-straight playoff season.

Southeast & Border

HEADLINER Saline 34, Dexter 14 Saline (2-0) earned a potentially-important early advantage in the Southeastern Conference Red – so important, that the result of this matchup a year ago ended up deciding the league title in the Hornets’ favor. James Rush had two touchdowns to open the Saline scoring, and the defense held Dexter (1-1) to its fewest points in a game since the 2020 opener. Click for more from the Ann Arbor News.

Watch list Ida 21, Ottawa Lake Whiteford 6 Keep an eye on Ida, which is 2-0 for the first time since 2018. Whiteford entered this weekend with a 24-game regular-season winning streak, but the Bluestreaks earned their first win in the series since the two began playing each other again in 2021. Whiteford had won last year’s meeting 22-7.

On the move Hanover-Horton 21, Michigan Center 20 Hanover-Horton (2-0) is 2-0 for the first time since 2014, has as many wins this season as all of last, and edged a Cardinals team that while 0-2 is almost annually a league title contender (now on the other side of the two-division Cascades Conference). Manchester 20, Addison 8 In another cross-division Cascades matchup, Manchester (2-0) earned a notable win over last season’s West title winner. Blissfield 20, Tecumseh 19 Both are 1-1 and finished 5-5 a year ago, but there’s some intrigue here for the Division 7 Royals with a solid win over a returning Division 4 playoff team.

Southwest Corridor

HEADLINER White Pigeon 16, Buchanan 9 White Pigeon (2-0) extended its regular-season winning streak to 15 with its closest win of the string. In doing so, the Chiefs also held Saugatuck (1-1) to single-digit scoring for only the second time since 2021. Click for more from WBET.

Watch list St. Joseph 36, Edwardsburg 29 Two weeks into the season, St. Joseph (2-0) has arguably the best start in the southwest with this win following up its victory over Niles in the opener. This was the first meeting between the Bears and Eddies (1-1) since the 2019 playoffs.

On the move Niles 46, Stevensville Lakeshore 0 Niles (1-1) quickly bounced back from its opening loss to St. Joseph, avenging last season’s 15-14 defeat against Lakeshore (0-2) that ended up the Vikings’ lone loss before the Regional Finals. Schoolcraft 28, Centreville 6 The Eagles (2-0) have opened with a pair of wins over 2023 playoff teams in advance of this week’s matchup with rival Constantine. Bronson 26, Sand Creek 6 Bronson (1-1) is seeking its first winning record since 2012 and has to be pleased with opening Big 8 Conference play by avenging last season’s 8-6 loss to the Aggies (1-1).

Grand Rapids South Christian's Owen Burgess (2) works to wrap up an East Grand Rapids ball carrier. 

Upper Peninsula

HEADLINER Escanaba 28, Cadillac 21 (OT) It’s been a tough run lately for Escanaba, but this is the kind of win that could spark things. Escanaba (1-1) had lost to Cadillac the last two seasons, including 43-36 last fall after joining the Vikings in the Big North Conference. Cadillac is 0-2, but with both losses by seven points. Click for more from the Escanaba Daily Press.

Watch list Calumet 30, Ishpeming Westwood 14 The Copper Kings (2-0) are only one win away from equaling last season’s total, with this their best start since 2019 – when they went on to finish 10-2. A significant test against Negaunee is up next.

On the move Kingsford 28, Houghton 8 The Flivvers (2-0) have begun with another solid opening stretch, outscoring their first two opponents by a combined 49-8. Negaunee 28, Gladstone 7 Negaunee (2-0) certainly enjoyed this start to league play after falling to Gladstone 42-14 a year ago and going on to share the Western Peninsula Athletic Conference Copper title with Kingsford because of it. Marquette 51, Alpena 0 Gaylord this week could provide the toughest challenge yet for Marquette (2-0), but the Sentinels are 2-0 for the first time since 2013 and haven’t given up a point.

West Michigan

HEADLINER Rockford 28, Muskegon 21 To no one’s surprise, this was exciting until the end as Muskegon scored the final 14 points of the game but couldn’t come all the way back. Rockford improved to 2-0 with both wins this season by seven points, while Muskegon fell to 0-2 and is off this week before beginning league play. Click for more from the Grand Rapids Press.

Watch list Muskegon Mona Shores 21, River Rouge 6 Mona Shores (2-0) is opening this season with three straight road games (and four over the first five weeks) but added this successful trip to an impressive Week 1 win at Grand Blanc.

On the move Montague 14, Muskegon Oakridge 7 The Wildcats (1-1) are back on top in this rivalry for the first time since 2021 and after losing to Oakridge (1-1) by 21 points in their Week 9 meeting last season. Grand Rapids South Christian 42, East Grand Rapids 28 South Christian (2-0) avenged last season’s 23-21 loss to EGR (1-1), a nice boost heading into this week’s matchup with Grand Rapids West Catholic. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central 7, Portage Central 0 The reigning Division 3 champion Rangers (2-0) made a second-quarter touchdown stand in handing Portage Central (0-2) its first shutout since its matchup with FHC in 2022.

8-Player

HEADLINER Martin 42, Bridgman 36 After two losses by a combined three points the last two years, Martin earned this one-score win over Bridgman – and in the process ended the Bees’ 35-game winning streak. The Clippers built a 36-14 lead and held on to defeat the only opponent they hadn’t beaten at least once during their back-to-back Division 1 championship seasons. Click for more from the Kalamazoo Gazette.

Watch list Ontonagon 72, Rapid River 22 Ontonagon’s offense couldn’t have started this season more in stride, as the Gladiators (2-0) have scored a combined 158 points over the first two weeks.

On the move Atlanta 38, Whittemore-Prescott 12 For the second-straight week, Atlanta (2-0) avenged a loss from 2023, this time after falling to Whittemore-Prescott 54-34 a year ago. St. Charles 32, Carson City-Crystal 24 St. Charles (1-1) bounced back from a heavy Week 1 loss to down last season’s Mid-State Activities Conference Blue champion in a league opener. Climax-Scotts 54, Newberry 28 Climax-Scotts (1-1) was another Week 2 rebounder, evening its record against a Newberry team that is 0-2 but coming off three straight winning seasons.

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PHOTOS (Top) Okemos' Jamaris Graham (5) works to pull away from a Clio tackler Friday. (Middle) A Belleville defender closes in on Livonia Stevenson's Tasso Kotsogiannis (24). (Below) Grand Rapids South Christian's Owen Burgess (2) works to wrap up an East Grand Rapids ball carrier. (Top photo by John Johnson. Middle photo by Douglas Bargerstock. Below photo by Michigan Sports Photo.)