Rejuvenated Dryden Football Hungry for More After Undefeated Start, Signature Win
By
Paul Costanzo
Special for MHSAA.com
October 1, 2026
Santiago Perales and his Dryden football teammates aren’t patting themselves on the back for anything.
The Cardinals are 5-0 and just knocked off the Thumb’s 8-player giant, Deckerville. It’s the start of a season anyone would be celebrating, but especially a program that just restarted in 2023 after a four-year hiatus.
But looking back on how far they’ve come only makes Perales more resolute in making sure he and his senior classmates don’t lose the edge that helped them get here.
“For me, it kind of still feels the same,” Perales said. “I still feel like we’re the underdogs. The job’s not done. We have to keep working. We have to motivate the younger players to keep working hard. Everyone on the team still has more work to put in. We have to keep our heads down and keep working.”
Perales is one of six Dryden seniors who has been there since Year 1 of the return, enduring the ups and downs of a program starting from scratch.
He, Gianni Coscione, Luke Taylor, Tyler Roberts, Logan Korth and Collin Tyrkus are all in their fourth years with the program and at the heart of the unbeaten start.
“It’s pretty amazing, honestly, watching them grow from freshmen,” said Dryden coach Hunter Gall, who is also in his fourth year leading the program. “They weren’t that confident in that first year, and even the second year. But I think, honestly, it’s been good for us. They’re still super hungry even though we’re 5-0, because they’re not used to it and they don’t want that feeling to go away. But it’s been interesting to watch these freshmen who barely spoke the first year turn into huge leaders on our team. Now we’re watching them teach the underclassmen everything they learned.”
Gall, a 2018 graduate of Dryden, was part of the 2017 team, which was the last to complete a season before 2023.
The following year, the Cardinals played through September before low numbers and injuries forced them to forfeit their final three games. In 2019, they never started, and eventually players from Dryden who were interested in playing football could join Imlay City as part of a co-op.
That included at the middle school level, where Perales, Coscione and some others were playing, and succeeding.
While the co-op provided opportunity, Gall and others wanted to bring back the identity and community excitement that came with having a team representing the school.
A petition was circulated and enthusiastically moved through the process to start things back up again for the 2023 season, with Gall in charge along with his classmate and assistant coach Sam Peyerk.
The Cardinals actually won their first game back, defeating Carsonville-Port Sanilac 52-12, but they would finish the season 2-7, dropping seven in a row before defeating Akron-Fairgrove in Week 9.
“The biggest challenge, honestly, was just teaching the game of football to a bunch of kids who had virtually never played,” Gall said. “Just basic football terms. Teaching sophomores, juniors and seniors how to get into a three-point stance is not a typical issue for most football programs. Almost half our starting lineup was freshmen, and everyone else, they were older, but they had the experience of freshmen. The biggest hurdle was just keeping them confident and keeping them from hanging their heads.”
Fortunately for Gall, his players bought in and even had a belief that very bright days could be ahead.
“I really did know that, eventually, after us putting in the hard work, we’d get to this point,” said Coscione, who is now in his fourth year as starting quarterback for the Cardinals. “Our whole team believed it. I’m not gonna lie, it was pretty hard to believe, but we all (toughed) it out together, stayed together as a team and put in the work. You can’t just start up a new program and expect to be undefeated. We all knew we had to go through those ups and downs of it sucking really bad. (Gall and Peyerk), all the coaches definitely motivated us and got us through that.”
Not all players who had to suffer through the building years were able to enjoy the fruits of the program’s labor, however, and they knew it. That, Coscione said, made their hard work even more impressive. That includes Gall’s younger brother Owen and Coscione’s older brother Sonny, who both graduated in 2025 and were part of the 2023 and 2024 teams.
“(Sonny) is so proud of not just me, but everyone,” Gianni Coscione said. “Even though he’s not out there playing with us, he knows that us being out there and doing what we are today, it wouldn’t be possible without him and the other upperclassmen that we learned from. Without them, all of this probably wouldn’t be possible. I think that shows a big part in how they’re great people. They knew they weren’t going to be part of the greatness, but they were going to be a part of the rollercoaster.”
Dryden won four games in 2024 and five in 2025, barely missing the 8-player playoffs. With just one senior graduated from the 2025 team, expectations were high surrounding this year’s group.
“The first two years, I would have said no, that I didn’t think this was going to happen,” Taylor said. “We were never going to be able to keep up with these kids at the bigger schools. But as a junior we were able to stick with them, and we knew if we locked in over the offseason (the current success was possible). A lot of us got in the gym over the summer, and we really wanted to get in and go far in the playoffs.”
Starting 4-0 was certainly a sign that it was all coming together, but it was the win against Deckerville that has added a new layer of belief in the team, at least in the community. The Eagles were the 2024 Division 1 8-Player Finals champion and advanced to the Semifinals a year ago. They’ve won two Finals titles and have two other runner-up finishes since moving to 8-player in 2012.
“It was a huge win,” Gall said. “Probably one of the biggest wins that we’ve had in program history so far. My high school coach, who was also on the 2008 Dryden team that went undefeated, he’s on my staff, and he said that even including the 2008 season, that was the biggest win of his career. Definitely, by far, it’s the biggest win of mine.”
The players acknowledge how big that win was, especially after suffering through a 2023 game against the Eagles during which they were shutout and gained just 25 yards of total offense.
But last weekend’s success hasn’t changed their goal moving ahead, which is to beat Byron, their Week 6 opponent.
“It definitely feels good, and we know that we deserved it because we put in a lot of work throughout the years,” Perales said. “But we’re not satisfied with our record right now. We want to go undefeated every week, and we know we still have to keep our heads down and keep working toward what we want.”
Paul Costanzo served as a sportswriter at The Port Huron Times Herald from 2006-15, including three years as lead sportswriter, and prior to that as sports editor at the Hillsdale Daily News from 2005-06. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Genesee, Lapeer, St. Clair, Sanilac, Huron, Tuscola, Saginaw, Bay, Arenac, Midland and Gladwin counties.
PHOTOS (Top) From left, Gianni Coscione and Santiago Perales stand with their team for the national anthem. (Middle) Coscione eyes his target before throwing a pass. (Photos courtesy of the Dryden football program.)
1st & Goal: 2025 Playoffs Week 1 Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 30, 2025
The MHSAA begins its second half-century of football playoffs this weekend, the 51st aspiring to the same goal as our first in 1975 – to provide an unforgettable experience while celebrating Michigan’s best high school football teams.
A total of 288 will begin postseason play, with the 8-player brackets concluding in four weeks and the 11-player divisions cheering their champions in five.
To kick things off, there are 129 games scheduled for Friday and 15 for Saturday. Tickets to both District and Regional Semifinals this weekend cost $7 and can be purchased at GoFan.co. The majority of our playoff openers also will be broadcast and available to watch with subscription on the NFHS Network.
Below are glances at some of the most intriguing first-round matchups in each division:
11-Player Division 1
Davison (8-1) at Clarkston (8-1) WATCH
These two powers will meet in the playoffs for the first time since 2022, and the matchup will likely be one of the most attended this first weekend. Clarkston is coming off winning the Oakland Activities Association Red championship, with its only loss by just six points in Week 2 to still-undefeated Harper Woods. Davison’s loss also came to a still-unbeaten team, Grand Blanc, in Week 7 in what ended up the deciding game in the Saginaw Valley League South.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Brighton (6-3) at West Bloomfield (7-2) WATCH, Dearborn Fordson (7-2) at Farmington (7-2) WATCH, Macomb Dakota (6-3) vs. Utica (7-2) WATCH at Sterling Heights Stevenson.
11-Player Division 2
Traverse City Central (5-4) at Traverse City West (5-4) WATCH
Just a week ago, West won the annual Patriot Game matchup between these two at Thirlby Field in overtime, 21-20. They’ll return to the stadium they share for their first playoff meeting since 2017. The first round was decided in part by the Titans blocking Central’s overtime extra-point attempt, then following up with the tying touchdown and game-winning PAT. That ran West’s winning streak in the rivalry to three and pushed the Titans ahead of the Trojans in playoff-point average and into position to be the home team for this game.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY East Lansing (4-5) at White Lake Lakeland (7-2) WATCH, Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (5-4) at Walled Lake Western (7-2) WATCH, St. Clair Shores Lakeview (7-2) at Port Huron Northern (7-2) WATCH.
11-Player Division 3
Zeeland West (6-3) at Niles (9-0) WATCH
These two both ended last season at Ford Field, although a few things have changed since last Thanksgiving weekend. Zeeland West is the reigning Division 3 champion and under new leadership with Jeff Bolhouse taking over this season for retired John Shillito and taking the Dux back to the playoffs for the 16th-straight season. Niles finished last fall as Division 4 runner-up before moving into Division 3 this season and running its regular-season winning streak to 17.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Cedar Springs (8-1) at East Grand Rapids (7-2) WATCH, Zeeland East (6-3) at St. Joseph (5-4) WATCH, Linden (6-3) at Mason (5-4) WATCH. SATURDAY Marysville (7-2) at Port Huron (6-3) WATCH.
11-Player Division 4
Big Rapids (8-1) at Ludington (9-0)
Ludington will carry its first undefeated regular season since 1989 into a rematch of last season’s District Semifinal, won by Big Rapids 28-21. The Orioles have thrived on both sides of the ball, but it’s hard to not notice they’ve scored 40 or more points in all but one game, when they put up just 32. Big Rapids’ only loss came Week 8 against Coopersville, 38-28. But over its other eight games, the Cardinals allowed only 40 points total.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Redford Union (7-2) at Madison Heights Lamphere (6-3) WATCH, Grand Rapids South Christian (4-5) at Portland (9-0), Tecumseh (6-3) at Dearborn Divine Child (8-1) WATCH. SATURDAY Freeland (7-2) at Escanaba (8-1) WATCH.
11-Player Division 5
Detroit Denby (7-2) at Detroit Southeastern (6-3), Saturday
Denby will represent the best of its division of the Detroit Public School League after winning the Gold regular-season and city championships. Southeastern was among the leaders in the PSL Blue, tying for second thanks to a loss to Division 3 contender Martin Luther King, and all three of its regular-season defeats came to playoff qualifiers. Denby has won seven straight games (including a forfeit victory) since opening 0-2 with losses to playoff team Chelsea and Ohio power Garfield Heights.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Dowagiac (5-3) at Berrien Springs (5-2) WATCH, Flat Rock (6-3) at Monroe Jefferson (8-1), Armada (6-3) at Richmond (8-1) WATCH, Negaunee (6-3) at Ogemaw Heights (8-1) WATCH.
11-Player Division 6
Flint Elite (8-1) at Montrose (9-0) WATCH
Elite, a cooperative of Flint New Standard Academy and Burton Madison Academy, is in its sixth season and has qualified for the playoffs for the first time (not counting COVID-shortened 2020, when nearly all teams made the field). Elite also won the Genesee Area Conference title, with its only loss coming 20-16 to Genesee in Week 2. Facing Montrose – in the playoffs for the 16th-straight season – is definitely another opportunity for the Warriors to raise their profile. The Rams have given up 34 points all season and played only one game closer than two touchdowns.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Kent City (9-0) at Olivet (8-1) WATCH. SATURDAY Boyne City (6-3) at Traverse City St. Francis (6-2) WATCH, Calumet (7-2) at Kingsley (7-2) WATCH, Durand (7-2) at Flint Hamady (6-3) WATCH.
11-Player Division 7
Ottawa Lake Whiteford (8-1) at Clinton (7-2) WATCH
These two are meeting in a playoff opener for the second-straight season, with Clinton claiming last year’s 38-32. Whiteford moved this season to the Toledo Area Athletic Conference and won that league, while Clinton finished second in the Lenawee County Athletic Association to undefeated Hudson, which along with Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central provided the Redwolves’ losses. Whiteford’s defeat came to still-unbeaten Harbor Beach.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY McBain (7-2) at Charlevoix (8-1) WATCH, Ithaca (6-3) at Saginaw Valley Lutheran (9-0), Constantine (6-3) at Lawton (7-2) WATCH. SATURDAY Saranac (7-2) at North Muskegon (6-3) WATCH.
11-Player Division 8
White Pigeon (7-2) at Decatur (7-2)
Decatur secured the Southwest 10 Conference title this season with a six-point double-overtime win over Bronson in Week 2 and then an eight-point win over White Pigeon in Week 8. That was also the Raiders’ first win over White Pigeon since 2022, and this will be their first season with a playoff rematch since 2021. Decatur has won six games in a row, losing only to Lawton and still-undefeated Springport over the first three weeks. The Chiefs’ only other loss came to Bronson, and they bounced back from two straight defeats with a 46-20 win over Stockbridge last week.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary (6-3) at Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Central (7-2) WATCH, Fowler (6-3) at New Lothrop (6-3) WATCH, Auburn Hills Oakland Christian (5-4) at Madison Heights Madison (8-1), Frankfort (6-3) at East Jordan (6-3) WATCH.
8-Player Division 1
Pickford (7-1) at Indian River Inland Lakes (9-0) WATCH
This is a massive matchup for opening weekend of the postseason, and a rematch of one of last year’s Semifinals. Pickford won that 2024 meeting 34-18, going on to finish Division 1 runner-up with a two-point loss to Deckerville in the championship game. The Pirates’ only loss this season came against still-undefeated Norway, but no one else came close. Similarly, Inland Lakes’ closest game this fall was last week’s 27-point win over Gaylord St. Mary to clinch the Ski Valley Conference title.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Gogebic (8-1) at Norway (9-0) WATCH, Climax-Scotts (7-2) at Gobles (7-2) WATCH, Capac (7-2) at Brown City (7-2) WATCH.
8-Player Division 2
Morrice (8-1) at Deckerville (8-1), Saturday WATCH
The Eagles won the Division 1 title a year ago and 20 straight games before falling to Capac by eight points in Week 8. Morrice, meanwhile, also played at the Superior Dome to end last season, as the Division 2 runner-up. These two last met in a 2023 playoff opener – a 46-40 Deckerville win – and it’s difficult to forecast how this one will turn out as both defeated their one common opponent by a significant margin. Morrice’s only loss came to Portland St. Patrick, which is undefeated and could end up seeing the winner of this game in a Semifinal in two weeks.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Gaylord St. Mary (7-2) at Mio (8-1) WATCH, Pittsford (7-2) at Britton Deerfield (8-1) WATCH. SATURDAY Powers North Central (7-2) at Lake Linden-Hubbell (7-2) WATCH.
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PHOTO (Top) Ypsilanti’s Roshard Slater (8) breaks into the open during his team’s season-opening win over Okemos. (Photo by John Johnson.)