Performance: GR Catholic Central's Nolan Fugate
October 13, 2017
Nolan Fugate
Grand Rapids Catholic Central senior – Football
Fugate, a 6-foot-1, 210-pound running back, ran 37 times for 477 yards and five touchdowns in GRCC’s 57-50 win over Comstock Park on Oct. 6. His rushing yardage ranked fourth-most in MHSAA history for one game and second-most in the state since 1990, earning Fugate the Michigan Army National Guard “Performance of the Week.”
Also the leading rusher on last season’s team that won the Division 4 championship, Fugate has carried the ball 111 times for 1,137 yards and 13 touchdowns this fall – averaging 10 yards per carry. He's amassed those numbers despite limited attempts in four running clock games this fall. After coming up for the playoffs but seeing little action as a sophomore, and then moving into a prominent role the last two seasons, Fugate is fourth in GRCC history with 335 career carries, second with 2,537 career yards, tied for second with 27 career rushing touchdowns and fifth with a career average of 7.6 yards per carry. And like any good back, he knows to credit those clearing the way – Fugate follows an outstanding line led by 6-5, 270-pound Jalen Mayfield, who has committed to sign with University of Michigan.
Fugate also ran track last season for the first time in high school and plans to do so again this spring. He hopes to return to the basketball program as well – he played subvarsity his first two years before taking last season off. He’s aiming to continue his football career after high school and has interest from many of the state’s top Division II programs plus a few at the Division I mid-major and NAIA levels. Fugate is planning to study business and carries a 3.2 grade-point average. Wherever he goes, that program will get a proven winner – GRCC is 7-0 this fall heading into tonight’s Ottawa-Kent Conference Blue title-deciding matchup with reigning Division 5 champion Grand Rapids West Catholic, and the Cougars are 21-2 with Fugate on the roster.
Coach Todd Kolster said: "I think the world of Nolan. He is a very self-motivated young man. He is very mentally tough and has worked extremely hard to help lead our team. He is a great teammate and a high-character person. He's is a great competitor. ... He is one of the best tailbacks in the state of Michigan; he rushed for over 1,600 yards and 21 touchdowns a year ago. He could have very gaudy statistics and surpassed those totals already if I played him in those other (running clock) weeks."
Performance Point: “We had a good gameplan coming in, and I think we executed really well and our line blocked really well and it was just a good night offensively,” Fugate said of the Comstock Park win. “I knew I was having a pretty good night. I knew I had some big runs, and I was just following my blocks, but I didn’t know the exact yards I had. I was actually pretty surprised (at the yardage total). I had some big runs the first possession, and I could see our offensive line executing their blocks well so I was figuring I would have a pretty big night. The first play we had the ball in the second half, I broke a 72-yard run. That was my favorite run because I broke out into the open and I just ran past everyone and I could hear the crowd screaming.”
Following Jalen: “He’s my best friend too, and it’s pretty special. You don’t get a chance to run behind the best lineman in the state very often, so I’m pretty fortunate. We shared a moment when we talked about how good of a night it was, and it was just a really special night overall.”
Great expectations: “We’ve just been listening to the coaching staff, and whatever they’ve asked we’ve been executing to the best of our ability. And we’ve been staying focused throughout the week trying to have the best practices we could have. We realize the expectations are high, so we just have to stay focused on each game and play united and just get better each day. You’ve just got to worry about one thing at a time and for that (opponent), and you can’t look ahead to the playoffs. … We knew the expectations were high, but I had faith. We definitely had more talent last year, but I feel like we’ve executed a lot better this year up to this point. I knew we could be special, and if we just keep working out each day and bringing it every day I think it will turn out really well.”
Running like “All Day” Adrian: “My favorite running back is probably (the Phoenix Cardinals’) Adrian Peterson, so growing up I always watched him. He’s a strong, explosive, physical runner. I like how he runs downhill and he’s always physical, and when he gets an opening he’s very explosive.”
Hooping like a football player: “A kid I grew up with (point guard Austin Braun) has been talking to me about (playing basketball). I was thinking about it, and I think I’m just going to do it. I think our team will do really well this year, so it would be fun to be a part of it. I’ll probably play really physical. I’ll probably be like the sixth man, bring intensity and defense and rebounding. That’ll probably be my job."
- Geoff Kimmerly, Second Half editor
Every week during the 2017-18 school year, Second Half and the Michigan Army National Guard will recognize a “Performance of the Week" from among the MHSAA's 750 member high schools.
The Michigan Army National Guard provides trained and ready forces in support of the National Military Strategy, and responds as needed to state, local, and regional emergencies to ensure peace, order, and public safety. The Guard adds value to our communities through continuous interaction. National Guard soldiers are part of the local community. Guardsmen typically train one weekend per month and two weeks in the summer. This training maintains readiness when needed, be it either to defend our nation's freedom or protect lives and property of Michigan citizens during a local natural disaster.
Previous 2017-18 honorees:
October 5: Marissa Ackerman, Munising tennis - Read
September 28: Minh Le, Portage Central soccer - Read
September 21: Olivia Theis, Lansing Catholic cross country - Read
September 14: Maddy Chinn, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep volleyball - Read
PHOTOS: (Top) Grand Rapids Catholic Central’s Nolan Fugate runs away from the Comstock Park defense during last week’s 57-50 win. (Middle) Fugate prepares to take on a Comstock Park defender. (Photos by Murray Sports Photography.)
2024 MHSAA Football Playoff Pairings Announced
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 27, 2024
Here are the pairings for the 2024 MHSAA Football Playoffs, which begin Nov. 1-2 with District Semifinals in the 11-Player Playoffs and Regional Semifinals in the 8-Player Playoffs.
Teams were divided into divisions before the start of play this fall. The top 32 teams in each division in 11-player and top 16 per division in 8-player, based on playoff-point average, were selected to the field. For 11-player, qualifiers were then divided into four regions with eight teams apiece, and for 8-player qualifiers were divided into four regions with four teams in each.
Pairings for the first three weeks of the tournament are based on regular-season playoff point averages, with the highest-ranked team hosting, regardless of the distance between the two schools. For 11-Player District Semifinal and 8-Player Regional Semifinal play, the top-seeded team in each bracket will host the fourth-seeded team, and the second-seeded team will host the third-seeded team.
District Finals for 11-player and Regional Finals for 8-player will follow during the weekend of Nov. 8-9, and the weekend of Nov. 15-16 will have Regional Finals in the 11-Player Playoffs and Semifinals in the 8-Player Playoffs. The 8-Player Semifinals will pair the winners of Region 1 vs. Region 2 and the winners of Region 3 vs. Region 4, at the sites of the highest-ranked team.
Semifinal games in the 11-Player Playoffs will take place Nov. 22-23, pairing the winners of Region 1 vs. Region 2 and the winners of Region 3 vs. Region 4. The MHSAA will assign 11-Player Semifinals at neutral sites.
All playoff tickets except for Finals (both 11 and 8-player) will be sold online only via GoFan.
For 11-Player, tickets to District Semifinals and District Finals cost $7, tickets to Regional Finals are $9, and tickets to Semifinals cost $10. For 8-player, tickets for Regional Semifinals are $7, tickets for Regional Finals are $9, and tickets for Semifinals cost $10.
The 8-Player Finals will take place Nov. 23 at Northern Michigan University’s Superior Dome in Marquette, and the 11-Player Finals will be played Nov. 29-30 at Ford Field in Detroit. An all-day ticket for 8-Player Finals costs $10 and includes admission to both games, and an all-day ticket for the 11-Player Finals costs $20 and includes admission to that day’s four games.
The 8-Player Finals will kick off at 11 a.m. for Division 1 and 2 p.m. for Division 2 on Nov. 23.
There is one switch of note this season regarding the schedule for the 11-Player Finals weekend. The first games both days will kick off at 9:30 a.m., with the final games both days tentatively scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
The 11-Player Finals schedule will be as follows:
Friday, Nov. 29
9:30 a.m. - Division 8
12:30 p.m. - Division 4
4 p.m. - Division 6
7 p.m. - Division 2
Saturday, Nov. 30
9:30 a.m. - Division 7
12:30 p.m. - Division 3
4 p.m. - Division 5
7 p.m. - Division 1
Pairings for both the 11 and 8-Player brackets are as follows:
11-Player Pairings
DIVISION 1
REGION 1
DISTRICT 1
East Kentwood (5-4) 58.111 at Hudsonville (8-1) 80.222
Grandville (5-4) 60.778 at Rockford (7-2) 70.472
DISTRICT 2
Kalamazoo Central (6-3) 51.222 at Howell (9-0) 89.333
Grand Ledge (5-4) 55.222 at Brighton (7-2) 72.111
REGION 2
DISTRICT 1
Lapeer (5-4) 54.444 at Grand Blanc (7-2) 71.889
Oxford (6-3) 69.111 at Davison (7-2) 70.306
DISTRICT 2
Rochester Hills Stoney Creek (5-4) 59.778 at Rochester Adams (7-2) 74.111
Clarkston (6-3) 67.333 at Lake Orion (6-3) 70.778
REGION 3
DISTRICT 1
Ann Arbor Pioneer (5-4) 53.556 at Belleville (8-1) 78.333
Saline (6-3) 64.889 at Northville (6-3) 66.000
DISTRICT 2
Livonia Stevenson (5-4) 54.333 at Detroit Catholic Central (9-0) 83.611
West Bloomfield (4-5) 57.444 at Novi (5-4) 58.667
REGION 4
DISTRICT 1
Sterling Heights Stevenson (5-4) 54.111 at Detroit Cass Tech (7-2) 64.444
Dearborn (5-4) 57.667 at Dearborn Fordson (5-4) 58.222
DISTRICT 2
Utica (4-5) 51.333 at Macomb Dakota (8-1) 77.333
Romeo (4-5) 60.667 at Utica Eisenhower (7-2) 73.444
DIVISION 2
REGION 1
DISTRICT 1
Traverse City West (6-3) 57.556 at Muskegon Mona Shores (8-1) 74.361
Grand Rapids Northview (9-0) 68.444 at Byron Center (8-1) 71.361
DISTRICT 2
Portage Northern (5-4) 56.222 at Portage Central (6-3) 62.222
Lansing Everett (6-3) 60.333 at Mattawan (6-3) 61.222
REGION 2
DISTRICT 1
Flushing (7-2) 54.444 at Midland (8-1) 71.111
Midland Dow (5-4) 55.667 at Saginaw Heritage (6-3) 60.778
DISTRICT 2
South Lyon East (6-3) 56.472 at Dexter (9-0) 81.222
Milford (7-2) 65.361 at East Lansing (6-3) 67.333
REGION 3
DISTRICT 1
Orchard Lake St. Mary's (6-3) 57.639 at North Farmington (6-3) 63.667
Farmington (6-3) 59.000 at White Lake Lakeland (6-3) 59.139
DISTRICT 2
Temperance Bedford (5-4) 55.444 at Gibraltar Carlson (8-1) 70.778
Livonia Franklin (5-4) 59.556 at Allen Park (6-3) 62.000
REGION 4
DISTRICT 1
Ferndale (6-3) 57.556 at Birmingham Groves (9-0) 78.778
Warren Mott (7-2) 60.111 at Birmingham Seaholm (6-3) 63.111
DISTRICT 2
Roseville (7-2) 66.889 at Grosse Pointe South (9-0) 81.444
Warren De La Salle Collegiate (6-2) 67.875 at Port Huron Northern (7-2) 70.333
DIVISION 3
REGION 1
DISTRICT 1
Bay City John Glenn (5-4) 41.889 at Petoskey (9-0) 66.000
Cadillac (4-5) 44.111 at Mount Pleasant (5-4) 51.889
DISTRICT 2
St. Johns (6-3) 49.333 at DeWitt (9-0) 82.611
Cedar Springs (7-2) 56.111 at Lowell (7-2) 62.444
REGION 2
DISTRICT 1
Stevensville Lakeshore (3-6) 40.889 at St. Joseph (8-1) 70.222
Zeeland East (5-4) 50.889 at Zeeland West (8-1) 67.917
DISTRICT 2
East Grand Rapids (5-4) 49.889 at Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central (7-2) 65.889
Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills (6-3) 53.111 at Coopersville (6-3) 53.333
REGION 3
DISTRICT 1
Jackson (4-5) 40.667 at Mason (7-2) 64.000
Linden (4-5) 45.556 at Fenton (7-2) 63.556
DISTRICT 2
Garden City (7-2) 53.778 at Walled Lake Western (9-0) 78.361
Redford Thurston (7-2) 56.111 at Auburn Hills Avondale (6-3) 57.222
REGION 4
DISTRICT 1
River Rouge (4-4) 48.542 at Southgate Anderson (7-2) 63.444
Riverview (8-1) 57.000 at Trenton (6-3) 62.028
DISTRICT 2
Warren Fitzgerald (4-5) 42.222 at Detroit Martin Luther King (6-3) 65.417
Grosse Pointe North (4-5) 45.111 at Port Huron (4-5) 49.222
DIVISION 4
REGION 1
DISTRICT 1
Ludington (7-2) 47.556 at Big Rapids (8-1) 55.111
Whitehall (6-3) 51.111 at Ada Forest Hills Eastern (7-2) 54.778
DISTRICT 2
Hamilton (5-4) 44.556 at Hudsonville Unity Christian (9-0) 72.278
Holland Christian (6-3) 48.778 at Grand Rapids South Christian (5-4) 48.889
REGION 2
DISTRICT 1
Edwardsburg (6-3) 50.556 at Battle Creek Harper Creek (8-1) 62.000
Paw Paw (8-1) 61.556 at Niles (8-1) 61.667
DISTRICT 2
Lansing Sexton (5-4) 42.889 at Portland (9-0) 60.778
Ionia (6-3) 51.000 at Hastings (8-1) 60.222
REGION 3
DISTRICT 1
Pinckney (5-4) 45.444 at Chelsea (7-2) 63.444
Parma Western (6-3) 54.889 at Haslett (6-3) 55.222
DISTRICT 2
Ortonville Brandon (6-3) 49.778 at Goodrich (8-1) 63.556
Lake Fenton (6-3) 50.278 at Freeland (8-1) 56.444
REGION 4
DISTRICT 1
Dearborn Divine Child (6-3) 54.254 at Madison Heights Lamphere (8-1) 65.000
Harper Woods (6-3) 63.556 at Redford Union (8-1) 64.778
DISTRICT 2
Croswell-Lexington (6-3) 46.889 at Marysville (8-1) 55.778
St. Clair (6-3) 47.111 at Macomb Lutheran North (8-1) 48.069
DIVISION 5
REGION 1
DISTRICT 1
Gladwin (6-3) 43.222 at Kingsford (9-0) 58.111
Clare (7-2) 49.333 at Ogemaw Heights (8-1) 53.889
DISTRICT 2
Howard City Tri County (5-4) 38.444 at Frankenmuth (9-0) 63.667
Saginaw Swan Valley (6-3) 47.000 at Belding (8-1) 54.431
REGION 2
DISTRICT 1
Muskegon Oakridge (4-5) 35.111 at Grand Rapids West Catholic (6-3) 54.889
Hopkins (6-3) 43.208 at Grand Rapids Catholic Central (5-4) 54.730
DISTRICT 2
South Haven (5-4) 37.222 at Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep (7-2) 49.222
Dowagiac (6-3) 39.486 at Berrien Springs (6-3) 43.111
REGION 3
DISTRICT 1
Williamston (3-6) 38.000 at Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (7-1) 61.500
Flint Hamady (5-3) 42.028 at Corunna (7-2) 59.222
DISTRICT 2
Richmond (4-5) 37.111 at Armada (8-1) 56.444
Hazel Park (6-3) 37.889 at St. Clair Shores South Lake (5-4) 38.556
REGION 4
DISTRICT 1
Romulus (4-5) 36.611 at Detroit Lincoln-King (9-0) 42.444
Whitmore Lake (7-2) 37.111 at Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard (5-4) 37.472
DISTRICT 2
Detroit Denby (6-3) 36.667 at Flat Rock (7-2) 47.222
Detroit Voyageur College Prep (7-2) 44.611 at Romulus Summit Academy North (6-2) 46.639
DIVISION 6
REGION 1
DISTRICT 1
Calumet (6-3) 36.111 at Kingsley (7-2) 44.444
Negaunee (6-3) 41.556 at Boyne City (7-2) 42.111
DISTRICT 2
Manistee (5-4) 37.222 at Reed City (7-2) 48.222
Standish-Sterling (6-3) 45.111 at Mason County Central (8-1) 46.431
REGION 2
DISTRICT 1
Montague (4-5) 35.889 at Newaygo (7-2) 48.778
Kent City (6-3) 37.986 at Central Montcalm (8-1) 43.444
DISTRICT 2
Ovid-Elsie (7-2) 42.889 at Almont (9-0) 62.333
Lansing Catholic (6-3) 46.111 at Chesaning (9-0) 46.778
REGION 3
DISTRICT 1
Buchanan (6-3) 38.222 at Olivet (7-2) 47.778
Constantine (6-3) 38.556 at Parchment (7-2) 40.222
DISTRICT 2
Dearborn Heights Robichaud (4-5) 36.778 at Jackson Lumen Christi (8-1) 60.302
Dearborn Advanced Tech Academy (6-3) 37.222 at Ida (8-1) 43.222
REGION 4
DISTRICT 1
Royal Oak Shrine Catholic (7-2) 35.000 at Warren Michigan Collegiate (8-1) 54.278
Clinton Township Clintondale (6-3) 38.000 at Marine City (7-2) 51.778
DISTRICT 2
Detroit Central (6-3) 37.778 at Detroit Edison (6-3) 47.667
Detroit Old Redford (8-1) 38.111 at Detroit Pershing (7-2) 43.444
DIVISION 7
REGION 1
DISTRICT 1
Houghton Lake (5-4) 30.444 at Menominee (8-1) 48.333
Charlevoix (6-3) 34.444 at Traverse City St. Francis (6-3) 41.333
DISTRICT 2
Evart (6-3) 32.000 at North Muskegon (8-1) 42.222
Harrison (7-2) 36.444 at McBain (8-1) 39.778
REGION 2
DISTRICT 1
Saranac (6-3) 31.778 at Ithaca (9-0) 46.000
Pewamo-Westphalia (7-2) 35.778 at Montrose (6-3) 40.694
DISTRICT 2
Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker (5-4) 29.069 at Millington (8-0) 45.264
Saginaw Valley Lutheran (5-4) 32.111 at Cass City (6-3) 33.625
REGION 3
DISTRICT 1
Coloma (4-5) 28.889 at Lawton (7-2) 40.333
Bronson (6-3) 32.222 at Schoolcraft (8-1) 37.931
DISTRICT 2
Napoleon (6-3) 36.556 at Hudson (8-1) 48.222
Union City (8-1) 37.889 at Hanover-Horton (8-1) 40.889
REGION 4
DISTRICT 1
Bath (5-4) 29.889 at Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett (6-3) 41.583
Burton Atherton (7-2) 30.972 at Leslie (8-1) 39.444
DISTRICT 2
Blissfield (4-5) 31.778 at Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central (9-0) 58.667
Ottawa Lake Whiteford (5-4) 35.222 at Clinton (6-3) 40.333
DIVISION 8
REGION 1
DISTRICT 1
Manistique (4-5) 25.444 at Iron Mountain (9-0) 40.556
Bark River-Harris (5-4) 27.556 at East Jordan (7-2) 34.264
DISTRICT 2
Mancelona (4-5) 24.708 at Maple City Glen Lake (8-1) 38.042
Frankfort (7-2) 31.083 at Beal City (7-2) 37.333
REGION 2
DISTRICT 1
Reese (5-4) 27.403 at Fowler (9-0) 42.556
Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary (6-3) 30.556 at Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Central (8-1) 38.667
DISTRICT 2
Burton Bentley (5-4) 24.750 at Clarkston Everest Collegiate (8-1) 44.111
Ubly (6-3) 32.889 at Harbor Beach (9-0) 37.778
REGION 3
DISTRICT 1
Centreville (4-5) 27.861 at Decatur (8-1) 39.819
Saugatuck (6-3) 33.000 at White Pigeon (8-1) 38.931
DISTRICT 2
Addison (4-5) 25.222 at Springport (7-2) 31.333
Sand Creek (4-5) 25.667 at Reading (5-4) 28.444
REGION 4
DISTRICT 1
Allen Park Cabrini (5-4) 24.667 at Riverview Gabriel Richard (7-1) 42.861
Manchester (7-2) 34.889 at Petersburg Summerfield (8-1) 36.444
DISTRICT 2
Marine City Cardinal Mooney (4-5) 24.111 at Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest (6-3) 34.333
Mount Clemens (6-3) 28.000 at Detroit Loyola (3-6) 29.583
8-Player Pairings
DIVISION 1
REGION 1
Munising (6-3) 28.667 at Pickford (9-0) 38.250
Norway (7-2) 32.111 at Ishpeming (6-2) 33.583
REGION 2
Atlanta (6-3) 27.708 at Alcona (8-1) 37.556
Blanchard Montabella (6-3) 28.667 at Indian River Inland Lakes (9-0) 36.250
REGION 3
Bay City All Saints (7-2) 31.778 at Deckerville (9-0) 41.000
Fulton (8-1) 33.556 at Kingston (7-2) 34.111
REGION 4
Martin (7-1) 34.083 at Gobles (9-0) 37.500
Mendon (8-1) 34.889 at Climax-Scotts (8-1) 35.556
DIVISION 2
REGION 1
Bellaire (7-2) 28.486 at Crystal Falls Forest Park (8-1) 35.556
Gaylord St. Mary (7-2) 30.653 at Powers North Central (8-1) 34.889
REGION 2
Mio (7-2) 32.486 at Au Gres-Sims (8-1) 35.931
Marion (8-1) 32.556 at Onekama (8-1) 33.889
REGION 3
Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (6-3) 29.333 at Grand Rapids Sacred Heart (9-0) 36.208
Portland St. Patrick (8-1) 34.556 at Morrice (8-1) 35.222
REGION 4
Adrian Lenawee Christian (4-5) 28.403 at Britton Deerfield (8-1) 35.556
Burr Oak (7-2) 29.778 at Pittsford (7-2) 31.444
PHOTO Ada Forest Hills Eastern takes the field this season for its game against Hudsonville Unity Christian. (Photo by Michigan Sports Photo.)