Preview: Peninsula Powers Collide
November 20, 2015
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
For the fourth time in five seasons of the MHSAA 8-Player Football Tournament, tonight’s championship game will match finalists from the Upper and Lower Peninsulas.
And there’s little argument both teams are the best from their sides of the bridge.
Battle Creek St. Philip and Powers North Central are both undefeated and have both dominated opponents all fall in earning this trip to Legacy Field in Greenville.
See below for a glance at both teams. Tickets for the 8-player Final cost $8. The game also will be broadcast live on FoxSportsDetroit.com, with live audio streaming on MHSAANetwork.com. On-demand video will be available shortly after the game’s conclusion at MHSAA.tv.
BATTLE CREEK ST. PHILIP
Record: 12-0
Coach: David Downey, fourth season (38-7)
League finish: First in Southern Central Athletic Association.
Championship history: Class D 11-player champion 1985.
Best wins: 65-32 over Morrice, 47-44 and 58-14 (Regional Final) over Lawrence, 52-24 over Deckerville in Semifinal, 55-16 over Waldron.
Players to watch: RB/LB Brayden Darr, 5-10/185, sr. (1,465 yards/27 TDs rushing, 993 yards/17 TDs receiving, 114 tackles); QB Brendan Gausselin, 6-2/190, sr. (2,333 yards/38 TDs passing, 338 yards/8 TDs rushing); WR/DB David Downey, 6-1/150, sr. (739 yards/13 TDs receiving, 83 tackles/5 interceptions); WR/LB Drew Latinga, 6-2/160, jr. (319 yards/5 TDs receiving, 138 tackles), OL/DL Trevor Searls, 6-0/190, sr. (124 tackles/13 sacks).
Outlook: After three seasons finishing a combined 26-7 but falling in the Regional Final at the end of each, St. Philip has broken through with a perfect run and entered the playoffs with the highest playoff point average of any 8-player team. Only rival Lawrence, in their first of two meetings this fall, came within four touchdowns of St. Phil. The offense runs through Darr, who scored seven touchdowns – four rushing and three receiving – in the Semifinal and also combines with Latinga and Searls to lead a defense giving up an incredible 17.2 points per game, which would be impressive even without considering the offense-driven nature of 8-player.
POWERS NORTH CENTRAL
Record: 12-0
Coach: Kevin Bellefeuil, 10th season (52-52)
League finish: First in Western 8 Conference.
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 70-6 over Cedarville in Semifinal, 82-20 and 64-8 (Regional Final) over Rapid River, 68-16 over Engadine.
Players to watch: QB/DB Jason Whitens, 6-4/200, jr. (2,315 yards/43 TDs passing, 605 yards/10 TDs rushing, 24 tackles/5 interceptions); WR/LB Dawson Bilski, 6-3/170, jr. (857 yards/15 TDs receiving, 62 tackles/6 interceptions); RB/OLB Bobby Kleiman, 6-0/165, jr. (1,414 yards/21 TDs rushing, 760 yards/16 TDs receiving, 26 tackles/3 interceptions); DE Morgan Cox, 6-2/210, sr. (48 tackles/14 sacks); DB Dylan Gagne, 5-11/160, jr. (413 yards/5 TDs rushing, 243 yards/4 TDs receiving, 37 tackles).
Outlook: North Central has taken 8-player football by storm in its first season, averaging 71.4 points per game and giving up only 11.1. No opponent has come within 46 points of the Jets. Not coincidentally, Whitens and Bilski also started on last season’s Class D championship basketball team, while Kleiman was the first sub off the bench and a handful of other football players were contributors. Whitens’ 43 touchdown passes have come on 165 attempts – and with zero interceptions. But the defense is averaging two interceptions per game – junior defensive back Marcus Krachinski has grabbed eight, while senior linebacker Max Krachinski has two and also has recovered two fumbles.
Flashback 100: Multi-Sport Star Look Becomes Super Bowl Officiating Legend
February 6, 2025
In 1960, Dean Look was drafted by both the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball and the Denver Broncos of the American Football League. For those familiar with Look’s athletic career at Lansing Everett and Michigan State University, his professional prospects in multiple sports came as no surprise.
A standout in football, baseball, and track, Look instead would make his most memorable pro sports mark as one of the NFL’s top officials.
At Everett during the mid-1950s, Look played a key role in leading his school to two state track & field championships (1954 and 1956) under legendary coach Archie Ross. Look also captured three individual state titles – two as part of 880-meter relay teams (1954 and 1956) and one in the pole vault (1956). In addition to his track achievements, Look was a star performer for Everett’s football and baseball teams.
After high school, Look continued his multi-sport career at Michigan State, excelling in both football and baseball. He finished sixth in the 1959 Heisman Trophy voting and was a key contributor to MSU’s shared football national championship in 1957.
Following college, Look signed with the White Sox, turning down an opportunity with the Broncos. After a brief stint in professional baseball, he returned to football, playing for the AFL’s New York Titans in 1962.
However, it was as an NFL official that Look truly left his legacy. Over a 29-year officiating career (1972–2001), he was assigned to three Super Bowls – Super Bowl XIII (1979), Super Bowl XV (1981) and Super Bowl XXVII (1993). One of his most iconic moments came during the 1981 NFC Championship Game, where he signaled "touchdown" after Joe Montana's legendary pass to Dwight Clark – forever known as “The Catch.”
Listen to Look discuss that historic play here: Watch on YouTube.
Athletic talent ran in the family, as Dean’s brother Bruce Look also played professional baseball, spending time with the Minnesota Twins.
Michigan has produced several notable Super Bowl officials, including brothers Carl, Dino, and Perry Paganelli from Wyoming Rogers High School. Carl officiated in Super Bowls XXXIX, XLI, XLVI, and XLVIII. In Super Bowl XLI, he and Perry made history as the first brothers to work on the same Super Bowl officiating crew. Perry also officiated Super Bowl LII, while Dino has been part of three Super Bowls – XLVII, LV, and LVII. Remarkably, at least one Paganelli has officiated in eight of the 59 Super Bowls.
This year’s Super Bowl referee is Ron Torbert, a fellow Michigan State graduate who has been an NFL official since 2010. Like Look and the Paganellis, Torbert also got his start officiating Michigan high school football.
For more information on becoming an MHSAA official, visit the MHSAA Officials page.
Previous "Flashback 100" Features
Jan. 31: Johnson Family Put Magical Stamp on Michigan High School Hoops - Read
Jan. 24: Future Hall of Famers Face Off First in MHSAA Class A Final - Read
Jan. 17: First-Ever WNBA Draft Pick Rocked at Salem, Won Titles at Tennessee - Read
Jan. 10: Despite Launching Before 3-Point Line, Smith Still Tops Scoring List - Read
Jan. 3: Edison's Jackson Earns Place Among State's All-Time Elite - Read
Dec. 20: Future Olympian Piper Leads Grosse Pointe North to Historic Heights - Read
Dec. 13: The Other Mr. Forsythe in Michigan School Sports - Read
Dec. 6: Coleman's Legendary Heroics Carry Harrison Through Repeat - Read
Nov. 29: Harbaugh Brothers' Football Roots Planted in Part at Pioneer - Read
Nov. 22: 8-Player Football Finals Right at Home at Superior Dome - Read
Nov. 15: Leland Career Helps Set Stage for Glass' International Stardom - Read
Nov. 8: Future Baseball Pro Led Escanaba's Legendary Football Title Run - Read
Nov. 1: Michigan High School Baseball Trio Provide World Series Voices - Read
Oct. 25: Before Leading Free World, Ford Starred for Champion GR South - Read
Oct. 18: Mercy Links Legend Becomes World Golf Hall of Famer - Read
Oct. 11: Fisher Races to Finals Stardom on Way to U.S. Olympic First - Read
Oct. 4: Lalas Leaves High School Legacies on Ice & Pitch - Read
Sept. 27: Tamer's History-Making Run Starts in Dexter, Continues to Paris - Read
Sept. 20: Todd Martin’s Road to Greatness Starts at East Lansing - Read
Sept. 13: James Earl Jones, Dickson High Hoops to Hollywood Legend - Read
Sept. 6: Pioneers' Unstoppable Streak Stretches 9 Seasons - Read
Aug. 30: Detroit dePorres Rushes to 1995 Class CC Football Championship - Read
(Photos courtesy of Referee Magazine.)