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Remington's 'All-State' Remains in Play

By Ron Pesch
MHSAA historian

October 28, 2016

Unfortunately, or perhaps fittingly, Richard E. Remington’s time on earth ended during football season.

Age 69 at the time of his passing, Remington was well-known as one of Michigan’s best football referees, at both the high school and college level. But for tens of thousands of high school football fans, players and parents, he was once best-known as the father of the Michigan All-State football team.

Now some might argue that there were others before. Indeed, “all-state” or “all-scholastic” teams go back nearly to the start of prep football in Michigan. From the beginning, fans have wanted to identify the state’s and the nation’s most talented athletes.

However, most of those selections were made by a local newspaper writer, or perhaps a high school coach. Usually, they were built around the finest players seen among opponents, and featured a more-than-healthy dose of local athletes. Coach “Bull” Green of Saginaw High named four from Saginaw and one from Saginaw Arthur Hill among his 1907 All-State eleven.  In 1912, William H. Stocking, coach of Detroit Central, named an 11-member “all-scholastic” team that included four ballplayers from his own Detroit Central squad. Across the state that same year, Louis Gudelsky, coach of Muskegon’s high-scoring team, included four MHS players among his All-State selections.

Remington began officiating high school games before graduation from the University of Michigan in 1910. Born in Auburn, N.Y., he was educated as a civil engineer. But it was his interest in high school athletics that led him to a career in education. In 1912 and 1913, he guided Orchard Lake St. Mary’s through its first two seasons of football. Next came work at Detroit Eastern (now Detroit Martin Luther King), where he served as an assistant coach in multiple sports in 1914 before taking over as head coach of the school’s football and baseball teams in 1915. With the opening of Detroit Northeastern in 1917, Remington again changed schools when he was named director of athletics for the Green and Brown.

By then, he was recognized as one of the state’s finest officials. Of the opinion that “schoolboy athletes didn’t receive sufficient recognition,” Remington picked his first All-State squad in 1917 for the Detroit News, adding a paragraph on each describing his assessment of the athlete. Who better than an impartial judge – a referee – to select an all-state squad?

Remington’s article announcing his picks included his summation on the top team he had seen on the year, (in this case, Scott High of Toledo, Ohio) and his first-team selections, including player weights. While no second team was named, he did include a brief “honorable mention” list, noting “no team is stronger than its substitutes.”

He also admitted the possible shortfall of his choices. 

“I have refereed behind the majority of the larger teams, and if there is some one man in a smaller team deserving of especial mention whom I have left off, I am indeed sorry. I base my conclusions on what I have seen right on the field, close to the boys, and at that angle one has a little better view point than from the stands or coaches benches.”

Discussing the team named by Remington, C.D. McNamee, editor and publisher of the Muskegon Chronicle, wrote, “The selections of the Detroit tutor are by far the best of any made this fall by various writers and officials.”

Despite an influenza pandemic sweeping the nation in 1918 that affected the number of games played, Remington was one of the few to name an All-State squad that fall. This time around, he added a second team, and also called out six other players for special mention.

Remington’s writing was unique, in depth, and captured the public’s attention. His selections included fewer clusters from a single school.

Within the write-up of his 1919 team, again published by the News, he singled out Lansing Central quarterback Don Graham (who had also appeared among his 1918 selections) and called him “the brainiest high school player in Michigan.”  As such, Graham was named captain of Remington’s mythical squad. 

Those selections did create a stir, at least in one part of the state.

“R.E. Remington, Detroit, who selected the Detroit News “all-state” prep school football team, probably is unaware of the fact that Cloverland – the upper peninsula – is part of Michigan,” stated a column that appeared in the Ironwood Daily Globe. “Mr. Remington knows considerable about the southern half of the state, but his education is bounded by Lakes Michigan and Huron.” The author noted that only six cities were represented on the Detroit official’s first team: Lansing, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, Detroit and Muskegon.

“‘As a center,’ says Mr. Remington, ‘B. Springsteen (Detroit Northwestern) is without peer in the state.’ Mebbe, but that’s coming strong, unless Remington saw Umnus of Menominee. No all-state quarterback could be selected fairly without consideration of ‘Bud’ Finch of Escanaba.”

Of course, similar sentiments would be repeated often in the years that followed, as fans, coaches and writers felt slighted when a favorite athlete from a school was ignored.

Remington moved away from coaching football, when his employment led him to Detroit Northwestern in the fall of 1919.  However, he did coach basketball there until early in 1922.

“Everyone was sorry to see Richard E. Remington forced to resign as basketball coach,” it was noted in the school yearbook that spring.  “Mr. Remington’s ill health lost Northwestern a fine basketball coach. As a coach few surpassed him.”

He did recover from health issues, and would continue to serve as a mathematics instructor at Northwestern. Athletics continued to fill his weekends as he was in constant demand as an official at both the college and prep level.

In 1920, the National Federation of State High School Athletic Associations was formed. The Roaring Twenties saw explosive growth in sports coverage across media, and that became a major reason for men to purchase newspapers. Interscholastic sports and the heroic accomplishments of local “boys” were highlighted in the local newspaper and saved in scrapbooks. Civic pride meant great joy when a local earned recognition in one of the statewide papers.

As the circulation and marketing departments recognized the value, advertisements in a variety of newspapers began to highlight the release of Remington’s teams as a reason to pick up a copy of the News from a local newsstand across the state. By 1922, Remington’s prep all-state selections were viewed as the ultimate achievement for a gridiron athlete and took on status as official. Individual photos of each of the first team selections were featured in a near half-page layout in the News that season.

Remington’s 1923 edition added a third team, and his Honorable Mention picks swelled to 31 players across all positions. That same fall, Remington named an “All-Time, All-State High School Team, highlighting players from as far back as 1911. His 22 picks, spread over a first and second team, included 10 from Detroit high schools.  Hindsight, as is said, is 20/20, and Remington’s choices were, no doubt, influenced by play at the college level.

But one thing no one could argue – it certainly made for great press. 

When Michigan State athletic director Ralph H. Young invited Remington and his all-state selections to East Lansing to attend the Spartans’ annual football bust banquet in 1924, the Remington stamp-of-approval only grew in value. Among the athletes selected that year was Russell Becks (Tackle, 5-foot-9, 190 pounds), likely the first African-American to be named first-team all-state in Michigan, although this fact was not mentioned in Remington’s write-up. He now relied on personal observation and, with the aid of some 20 men, had “access files, reports and data on every boy” playing high school football in classes ‘A’ and ‘B’ in Michigan.

Other papers published All-State selections.  Since these were the days of mid-September starts to the season and Thanksgiving Day games between prep rivals, All-State teams generally received publication in late November and into December. Remington’s selections traditionally were the last announced.

The Detroit Free Press decided to fight fire with fire, and in 1926 hired George M. Lawton, another well-respected football official, to select its all-state team. One of the greatest punters ever developed at the University of Michigan, Lawton also had served as head coach at the University of Detroit in 1913 and 1914. A year before, Lawton and two other well-respected football officials, J.J. Ritter and Wit Duncan, selected an All-State squad for the Detroit Times, a Michigan tabloid-style newspaper.

In 1927, Lawton’s All-State selections were invited to attend the University of Michigan Club of Detroit’s annual Football Bust at the Statler Hotel in early December.

Edgy design and elaborate layouts announcing the All-State teams were a sight to behold in the Detroit publications in the coming years as the newspapers battled for readers.

“By the early 1930s, high school coaches were torn between the welcome impact and adverse effects of newspaper publicity,” notes Michael Oriard in his book, King Football. “While it helped to boost attendance and gate receipts, the added attention could also negatively affect the impressionable boys who played the game.”

As the battle for recognition raged, high schools across the state engaged Remington’s crew to insure area athletes were seen by the referee.

Remington continued with detailed analysis of his first-team selections, adding players’ heights and ages to his reports. In his write-up on the 1933 team, he noted weekly reports from 112 scouts from around the state had helped him in making selections. In the write-up accompanying his selections that appeared in the Free Press, Lawton thanked numerous football coaches and officials for assisting him with compiling his 1933 team. In both cases, the list of Honorable Mentions continued to expand.

Criticism still rained down.

“Remington names 33 men for his first, second and third teams, and then proceeds to give honorable mention to nearly 200 other high school players,” reported the Ironwood Daily Globe in mid-December of 1936. “The designation ‘all-state team’ is a misnomer, however, for out of all that crew of gridders not one has been selected from a high school north of the Straits of Mackinac.”

For unexplained reasons, in 1938, Lawton separated from the Free Press. He would die five years later at age 55.

Remington also separated from the News that year without explanation. Both papers continued selecting All-State squads, using in-house writers.

Yet the Remington tradition of selecting teams continued, with the announcement of his picks now occurring exclusively at the MSC football banquet. They were eagerly anticipated.  Invitations to the event were sent to prep players across the state. In nearly all cases, “an invitation to a high school boy usually means a selection on at least the honorable mention list.”

“A crowd of 700 grid fans, alumni, students, players and sportswriters from throughout the state including 212 high school players” attended the Saturday, Dec. 10 banquet at the M.S.C. gymnasium. Remington’s selections were carried in a variety of newspapers including, for the first time, the Detroit Free Press.

The same arrangement with Michigan State took place in 1939. In 1940, the banquet program included a large photo of Richard Remington, next to his first, second and third-team selections. It would be Remington’s last All-State squad.

In 1941, the annual prep selections presented at the Michigan State banquet were chosen by the Michigan Officials Association.

The change, announced in late November by John H. Kobs of the Association, indicated that 200 ballots were mailed to member officials, and that players would be selected based on the returns.

Writing in his “Sports Patter” column in the Benton Harbor News-Palladium, sports editor Nort Baser celebrated the change.

“The conductor of this Patter has an idea the new order will be welcomed especially by the boosters of high school football as played in southwestern Michigan. … Since that team released at the Spartan banquet has been looked upon by many as being more or less official, we in this section of the state have always deplored the fact that a Detroit newspaper man should be the sole judge of the state’s talent.”

The void was filled by The Associated Press, who with the help of “a blue ribbon jury of sports editors of Associated Press newspapers, reflecting the opinions of their staffs, and 50 widely known coaches and officials,” selected its first All-State team. Following the formula established by Remington nearly 20 years before, the AP named first, second and third All-State squads, as well as a host of Honorable Mentions for recognition. Ironically, Watson Spoelstra, the AP writer who penned the column that accompanied the 1941 list, would later work as a sportswriter for the News for nearly 40 years.

Remington remained active into the 1940s as a college referee, frequently officiating MSC games. Slowly, his name faded from the sports spotlight. In 1952, AP writer Harry Stapler mentioned his name in his article on the season’s all-state selections:

“This is the 12th annual team picked by the Associated Press. The AP took over the job of picking all-state teams in 1941 when Dick Remington, widely known official and coach, retired from the job of picking what were considered the official all-state teams.”

Remington continued to work as a mathematics instructor at Detroit Northwestern until retirement in 1956. He died a year later, in late October at age 69, survived by his wife Ruth, three sons and two daughters.

His obituary, carried by some papers, did celebrate his contribution to Michigan prep sports. Perhaps more importantly, the die cast years ago by Remington, with slight modification, is still used by the Detroit papers and The Associated Press in honoring prep football’s finest athletes – the ultimate tribute to Remington’s lifetime of work.

Ron Pesch has taken an active role in researching the history of MHSAA events since 1985 and began writing for MHSAA Finals programs in 1986, adding additional features and "flashbacks" in 1992. He inherited the title of MHSAA historian from the late Dick Kishpaugh following the 1993-94 school year, and resides in Muskegon. Contact him at [email protected] with ideas for historical articles.

PHOTOS: (Top) Richard Remington's 1922 "All-State Team," selected for the Detroit News. (Top middle) A 1929 ad for Remington's team ran in the Lansing State Journal. (Middle) Ann Arbor all-stater Russell Becks. (Middle below) George M. Lawton's 1928 team for the Detroit Free Press. (Below) Remington's "All-State" selections, as shown in the program for Michigan State's 17th annual football banquet. (Photos collected by Ron Pesch.)

Drive for Detroit: Playoff Week 2 Review

November 6, 2017

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

From 288 to 144 to 72, these MHSAA Football Playoffs are shaking out a little differently than the last few seasons.

All in all, this fall’s postseason over the first two weeks has included more surprises than what seem usual. This week’s action was endured through uncharacteristic stormy weather – and saw two more of last season’s finalists leave the field, meaning this month’s championship games will include at least nine teams that didn’t play for titles a year ago.

Below is a look at games from every division that especially jumped out as 11-player District champions and 8-player Regional champions were celebrated. The MHSAA Playoffs are sponsored by the Michigan Army National Guard, and “Drive for Detroit” is sponsored by MI Student Aid.

11-Player Division 1

Canton 28, Belleville 25

The Chiefs (10-1) ran their winning streak this fall to 10 straight and reached 10 wins for the second time in three seasons by putting up the second-most points given up by a stellar Belleville defense this fall. The Tigers (10-1) were allowing only 7.5 points per game heading into the District Final, and finished with their best record since also going 10-1 in 1995. Click for more from the Detroit News.

Also noted:

Holland West Ottawa 33, Rockford 28 – The Ottawa-Kent Conference Red champion Panthers (10-1) downed runner-up Rockford (7-4) the second time this season as both games were decided by five points.

Detroit Cass Tech 27, Dearborn Fordson 22 – A late score and then defensive stand gave Cass Tech (8-2) its eighth straight District title and Fordson (9-2) only its second loss of its best season since 2014.

Utica Eisenhower 10, Rochester Adams 6 – Eisenhower (11-0) crossed for the game’s only touchdowns with 1:33 to play in what was the lowest-scoring game for both teams this fall; Adams finished 9-2.

Clinton Township Chippewa Valley 45, Macomb Dakota 20 – Chippewa Valley (10-1) reached double-digit wins for the first time since 2003 with its second victory this season over rival Dakota (7-4). 

11-Player Division 2

Traverse City Central 17, Traverse City West 14

Central ran its recent record against neighbor West to five wins in six games by avenging the 29-27 Week 3 defeat to the Titans (9-2) that ended up deciding the Big North Conference. Central (8-3) scored the eventual winning points with just under two minutes to play as the teams met in the playoffs for the second straight season. The District title was Central’s first since West opened in 1997. Click for more from the Traverse City Record-Eagle.

Also noted:

Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central 28, Muskegon Mona Shores 21 – The Rangers (11-0) tied a program record for wins set in 1994 by holding Mona Shores (9-2) to its fewest points this season.

Flushing 28, Fenton 21 – Flushing (9-2) hadn’t beaten rival Fenton (9-2) during their four years together in the Flint Metro League, including a 52-35 defeat in Week 7, but did so this time to win a District title after not making the playoffs the last two years.

Livonia Franklin 21, Livonia Churchill 19 – Franklin’s 14-point loss to Churchill in Week 4 ended up deciding the Kensington Lakes Activities Association Gold title for the Chargers (8-3), but this rematch win gave Franklin (9-2) its second District title in three seasons.

Ypsilanti Lincoln 21, Wyandotte Roosevelt 19 – Lincoln (9-2) is making history every week, first with its first playoff win ever on Oct. 27 and now with its first District title after stopping a two-point conversion that would’ve pulled previously-undefeated Roosevelt (10-1) even late. 

11-Player Division 3

Riverview 38, Gibraltar Carlson 14

The Pirates (10-1) have enjoyed one of the best turnaround seasons in Michigan this fall. This win gave them their first District title since 2004 and double-digit wins in a season also for the first time since that season, to go with a Huron League title – all after finishing just 2-7 a year ago. Carlson (9-2) also has reason to be pleased despite the loss; the Marauders were 4-5 a year ago and hadn’t made the playoffs since 2009. Click for more from the Southgate News-Herald.

Also noted:

DeWitt 36, Cedar Springs 12 – The Panthers (10-1) reached double-digit wins for the 13th time in 17 seasons by stopping an offense that was scoring 40 points per game heading into the night; Cedar Springs finished 7-4.

Battle Creek Harper Creek 42, Stevensville Lakeshore 24 – Harper Creek (11-0) won a matchup of league champions to claim its first District title since 2012, also the last season it had faced (and lost to) Lakeshore (9-2).

Farmington Hills Harrison 33, Warren Woods-Tower 0 – The Hawks (8-3) secured their third District title in five years but first since 2014 by shutting down a Titans offense averaging nearly 34 points per game; Woods-Tower finished 8-3.

Muskegon 55, Zeeland West 20 – West (7-4) scored first, but Muskegon (11-0) scored the next 28 to claim a sixth straight District title. 

11-Player Division 4

Grand Rapids Catholic Central 45, Wyoming Kelloggsville 34

The reigning Division 4 champion Cougars (11-0) held off a serious threat from Kelloggsville, which came back from a big deficit to lead in the third quarter. But the Rockets (10-1) ultimately couldn’t stop GRCC standout back Nolan Fugate, who shined again against a defense giving up only 14 points per game entering the night. Click for more from WOODTV.

Also noted:

Williamston 47, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep 21 – It’s seemed like there was something to be said for the Hornets (7-4) losing four games this season by a combined 21 points; they made a statement winning their first District title since 2010 by putting up the most points allowed this season by Notre Dame Prep (8-3).

Belding 55, Comstock Park 49 – Belding (9-2) has won its playoff games by a combined eight points to get to its best record since 1998; Comstock Park (7-4) capped a great run coming back from 2-7 a year ago.

Edwardsburg 30, Three Rivers 12 – The best of the Wolverine Conference have been taking turns dealing each other heartache, but Edwardsburg (10-1) ended up with the league and now also a District title by avenging a Week 7 loss to Three Rivers (8-3).

River Rouge 35, Chelsea 10 – The Panthers (9-2) clinched their fourth straight District title while denying Chelsea (9-2) the same accomplishment. 

11-Player Division 5

Frankenmuth 42, Marine City 23

This wasn’t nearly as dramatic as Frankenmuth’s first-round win over Almont, when the Eagles (11-0) scored the winning points with just more than two seconds to play. But a second-half comeback still was required to get this District Final win, which helped Frankenmuth tie its record for victories in a season. Marine City finished 8-3, bouncing back from 4-5 a year ago and with its best record since 2014. Click for more from the Saginaw News.

Also noted:

Menominee 24, Kingsford 21 – The Flivvers (8-2) were the best of the Great Northern Conference during the regular season, but Menominee (8-3) is moving on with a ninth straight District title thanks to avenging its 42-21 loss to Kingsford from Week 8.

Portland 35, Lansing Catholic 0 – The Raiders (10-1) avoided a similar fate in facing rival Lansing Catholic (8-3) for the second time, posting a third straight shutout to claim their first District title since 2012.

Algonac 24, Ida 16 – The Muskrats (10-1) have won 10 or more games now for the third straight season, this time by outlasting an Ida team hoping to accomplish the same; the Bluestreaks finished 8-3 and are 20-6 over the last three seasons.

Reed City 34, Clare 7 – The Coyotes (10-1) made it six 10-win seasons over the last seven with a third District title in four seasons; Clare (9-2) still finished with its best record since 2012. 

11-Player Division 6

Montague 37, Kent City 13

For the second time in three weeks, Montague dealt an opponent the first loss of its season – and in this case, the only loss this fall for Kent City. The Eagles (10-1) hadn’t given up more than 29 points in a game, and Montague (11-0) also shut down a Kent City offense averaging 43 points per contest entering the weekend. The District title was Montague’s first since 2011. Click for more from Local Sports Journal.

Also noted:

Traverse City St. Francis 13, Maple City Glen Lake 0 – Although closer in the rematch, St. Francis (10-1) finished a sweep of the Lakers (7-3), last year’s Division 6 runner-up.

Watervliet 58, Delton Kellogg 50 – After three weeks scoring only 36 points in each game, Watervliet (11-0) popped back over 50 for the eighth time this season and just in time to hold off a second try from league foe Delton (6-5) – which earned its most wins this fall since 2001.

Blissfield 27, Brooklyn Columbia Central 17 – The Royals (7-4) also finished a sweep of a league mate, downing Columbia Central (7-4) for the second time to win a first District title since 2007 and after going only 4-5 a year ago.

Warren Michigan Collegiate 38, Detroit Central 34 – The Cougars (11-0) tied their school record for wins, and this was a big one for the Charter School Conference as well against a Detroit Public School League tournament winner in Central (8-3).  

11-Player Division 7

Pewamo-Westphalia 35, New Lothrop 14

Reigning Division 7 champion P-W has won 24 of its last 25 games, and the Pirates leapt another giant obstacle on their repeat quest by handing New Lothrop (10-1) its lone defeat of the fall. The Hornets had won four straight District titles but were held to their fewest points since last season’s Regional Final loss. P-W has won six straight District titles. Click for more from FOX17.

Also noted:

Lake City 25, Ishpeming Westwood 16 – The Trojans (11-0) reached 11 wins for the first time with their first District title since 2013 as Westwood (9-2) ended its winningest season.

Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker 18, Cass City 14 – The two meetings between the best in the Greater Thumb Conference West went similarly this season; champion Laker (7-3) won in Week 5 by six points and this time by four over league runner-up Cass City (9-2).

Cassopolis 31, Reading 16 – The Rangers (10-1) won their third straight District title by holding Reading (8-3) to only 130 yards and while gaining only 186.

Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central 19, Hudson 16 – The Falcons (7-4) earned their first District title since 2014 on a field goal during the final seconds after Hudson (9-2) came back to tie the score late. 

11-Player Division 8

Mendon 26, Muskegon Catholic Central 15

Mendon made the weekend’s biggest football splash by eliminating the reigning four-time champion in this division. The Hornets (11-0) muscled to 364 yards rushing while throwing the ball only once to win their first District title since 2014 and beat MCC for the first time since 2011. The Crusaders (8-2) did manage 338 total yards, going to the air nine times during a rainy afternoon, but were able to put up only their second-fewest points over the last two seasons. Click for more from JoeInsider.com.

Also noted:

Frankfort 53, Gaylord St. Mary 30 – The Panthers (8-2) broke 50 points for the fourth time but first since Week 5 to win a third straight District title and end the best season for St. Mary (10-1) since 2003.

Lincoln Alcona 56, Hillman 34 – The Tigers (9-2) secured their first District championship against a familiar opponent, having also beaten Hillman (6-5) to open the North Star League schedule in Week 2.

Saginaw Nouvel 27, Harbor Beach 26 – The Panthers (11-0) won their first District title since 2012 thanks to a fourth-down touchdown with just more than a minute to play after Harbor Beach (9-2) built a 12-point lead.

Climax-Scotts 14, Pittsford 13 – The Wildcats (9-2) handed Climax-Scotts its first league loss since 2008 in Week 8, but the Panthers (9-2) avenged to earn a third straight District title. 

8-Player Division 1

Deckerville 38, Morrice 0

The Eagles (10-1) left no doubt in this rematch of North Central Thumb League Stars champions, avenging the 33-32 loss to the Orioles suffered in Week 6. The win also gave Deckerville its fifth Regional title in six seasons since making the switch from 11-player, while Morrice ended 9-2 after going only 4-5 a year ago. Click for more from the Huron Daily Tribune.

Also noted:

Stephenson 30, Cedarville 24 – The Eagles (9-2) earned their first Semifinal berth as the last Upper Peninsula team standing in this division, handing Cedarville (8-3) its second loss by six or fewer points this fall.

Central Lake 58, Suttons Bay 26 – The Trojans (11-0) tied their program record for wins set in 2006 with a second victory this season over another first-year 8-player program in Suttons Bay (7-4).

Bellevue 60, Lawrence 24 – This postseason has featured Bellevue’s first playoff win since 2010 and now its first advancement ever to the third round plus its first time reaching double-digit wins (at 10-1); Lawrence ended 5-6 after opening the playoffs by upsetting Camden-Frontier. 

8-Player Division 2

Pickford 26, Onekama 14

Pickford earned a second straight trip to the Semifinals with one of the most impressive defensive performances in 8-player this season. The Panthers (11-0), who are giving up only 10 points per game, held to 14 an Onekama offense that entered averaging 51. The Portagers finished their first season of 8-player at 9-2. Click for more from the Sault Ste. Marie Evening News.

Also noted:

Crystal Falls Forest Park 62, Engadine 20 – The Trojans are 9-2 for the second season in a row after making the switch to 8-player and put more points on Engadine (8-3) than the Eagles had given up in a game since Week 2 of 2015.

Kinde-North Huron 38, Bay City All Saints 36 – This rematch of the NCTL Stripes’ top teams fell the same way, although closer than when champion North Huron (10-1) beat runner-up All Saints (7-4) by 10 points in Week 9.

Portland St. Patrick 50, Flint International Academy 0 – The Shamrocks (10-1) advanced to their first Semifinal since 2012 with their second shutout of the season, limiting a Blazers offense averaging 44 points per game entering the weekend; International finished 8-3.

Second Half’s weekly “Drive for Detroit” previews and reviews are powered by MI Student Aid, a part of the Student Financial Services Bureau 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, including various student financial assistance programs to help make college more affordable for Michigan students. MI Student Aid administers the state’s 529 savings programs (MET/MESP) and eight additional aid programs within its Student Scholarships and Grants division. Click for more information and connect with MI Student Aid on Facebook and Twitter @mistudentaid. 

PHOTO: Mendon and Muskegon Catholic Central locked up for a rainy, muddy Division 8 District Final on Saturday. (Photo by Tim Reilly.)