Performance of the Week: Chelsea's Lucas Dunn

December 2, 2021

Chelsea footballLucas Dunn ♦ Chelsea
Football ♦ Senior

The Division 4 championship game provided one of the most unforgettable finishes in MHSAA Football Finals history. And Dunn had a hand, literally, in just about all of it. The senior quarterback set an 11-Player Finals record with six touchdowns passes – including four to teammate Lucas Hanifan during the final 13 minutes as the Bulldogs came back from a 28-point second-half deficit to defeat Hudsonville Unity Christian 55-52. Perhaps the most unnoticed contribution to Dunn’s sizable body of work was his hold on the game-winning field goal as time ran out, corralling a short snap to set up Hunter Shaw’s 33-yarder through the uprights.

Dunn made MHSAA Finals record book lists as well for his 25 attempts, 36 completions, 308 yards passing and 297 total yards (he lost 11 rushing). The 6-foot, 170-pounder finished the season with 1,949 yards and 26 touchdowns through the air, as Chelsea concluded its first perfect season at 14-0. The championship was Chelsea’s first in football, and the championship-game total of 107 points set the 11-Player Finals record for most combined by the two participants. The Bulldogs’ 55 points are tied for third-most in an 11-player championship game.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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MI Student Aid

Second Half’s "Performance of the Week" features are powered by MI Student Aid, a part of the Office of Postsecondary Financial Planning located within the Michigan Department of Treasury. MI Student Aid encourages students to pursue postsecondary education by providing access to student financial resources and information. MI Student Aid administers the state’s 529 college savings programs (MET/MESP), as well as scholarship and grant programs that help make college Accessible, Affordable and Attainable for you. Connect with MI Student Aid at www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid and find more information on Facebook and Twitter @mistudentaid.

2021-22 Honorees

Nov. 25: Riley Nugent, Plainwell swimming - Report
Nov. 18:
Harper Murray, Ann Arbor Skyline volleyball - Report
Nov. 11:
Abby VanderKooi, Muskegon Western Michigan Christian cross country - Report
Nov. 4:
Arianne Olson, Holland West Ottawa cross country - Report
Oct. 28:
Jack Guggemos, Okemos soccer - Report
Oct. 21:
Sachiv Kumar, Northville tennis - Report
Oct. 14:
Kate Brody, Grand Blanc golf - Report
Oct. 7:
Lilly Nelson, Negaunee tennis - Report
Sept. 30:
Stella Chapman, Ann Arbor Pioneer swimming - Report
Sept. 23:
Riley Hough, Hartland cross country - Report
Sept. 16:
Josie Bloom, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep volleyball - Report

PHOTOS courtesy of the Dunn family and Hockey Weekly Action Photos.

Be the Referee: Forward Fumble

By Paige Winne
MHSAA Marketing & Social Media Coordinator

September 9, 2025

Be The Referee is a series of short messages designed to help educate people on the rules of different sports, to help them better understand the art of officiating, and to recruit officials.

Below is this week's segment – Forward Fumble - Listen

We have a Football “You Make the Call” for you today.

Team A has the ball at their 20-yard line. Team A’s quarterback gets the snap and starts running toward the sideline.

He’s tackled and fumbles the ball forward, towards the sideline. The ball rolls forward four yards and goes out of bounds before anyone can recover it.

Whose ball is it, and where is it marked?

Since the offense fumbled the ball, it went out of bounds and it wasn’t recovered by anyone, it remains the offense’s ball.

But the ball is marked back to the spot of the fumble. There’s no advantage to fumbling the ball forward.

If the ball had been fumbled backwards and out of bounds with no recovery, then the offense would retain possession where the ball went out of bounds.

Previous 2025-26 editions

Sept. 2: Field Hockey Basics - Listen
Aug. 26: Golf Ball Bounces Out - Listen