South Christian 2022 Finishes Best in Division 4, Best in Sailors' History
By
Scott DeCamp
Special for MHSAA.com
November 25, 2022
DETROIT – Grand Rapids South Christian’s football team wasn’t perfect Friday night at Ford Field, and it didn’t have to be. Now, the Sailors’ season as a whole – that was flawless.
Even when they faced adversity, they never panicked. They moved on and kept making plays, all the way to a Division 4 championship and 14-0 record.
South Christian shut out Goodrich, 28-0, in the MHSAA Final to become the first group of Sailors in program history to finish a season unbeaten.
“I mean, it’s crazy. We’ve had a lot of great teams at South and just to imagine that we’re the only ones to be undefeated is a great feeling,” said South Christian senior quarterback and defensive back Jake DeHaan, whose squad became the fourth in program history to capture a state title and the first since 2014.
South Christian’s first Finals championship came in 2002, when now-coach Danny Brown was a Sailors player. This is Brown’s first state title as a coach.
South Christian, which made its eighth Finals appearance Friday, also won it all in 2012.
“I think I was more nervous as a coach. I think as a player, at least in my experience, I never really got that nervous,” Brown said. “It was another way to hang out with your friends and play the game you loved. But as a coach, you start thinking about all the what-ifs and things that can happen. You want the kids to win so bad that you kind of take on that pressure.”
It wasn’t easy against Goodrich (12-2), which was making its first Finals appearance, as South Christian scored 14 points in the second quarter and 14 in the fourth.
DeHaan, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound playmaker, finished 14-of-21 passing for 266 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. He ran 12 times for a game-high 99 yards and one TD, plus he finished with four tackles and an interception. DeHaan’s signature moment was his 54-yard scoring run to give South Christian a 21-0 lead midway through the third quarter.
Junior Jake Vermaas, who fractured his collarbone in Week 3 and returned for the Sailors’ playoff opener, was the other “Jake” to make big plays. He made seven receptions for 152 yards and returned an interception 32 yards for a TD to put it away with 5:07 remaining in the game.
“It makes us that much better, right, to have all these playmakers. I mean, every guy can make a play and that’s what makes us so good,” Vermaas said. “We put in so much work to be that good and it shows, right? Fourteen-and-0.
“We’re the best – you can’t be better than that,” he added. “We were the best to do it at South Christian.”
Goodrich senior standout running back Jace Simerson finished with 91 yards on 20 carries. Martians senior quarterback Gavin Hart was 9-of-25 passing for 100 yards with two picks.
South Christian’s bevy of playmakers on offense and athletes with length on defense made it tough on opponents all season, and Friday was no different. Those strengths allowed the Sailors to overcome three turnovers.
“This is just one of those teams, and I know there’s a lot of them out there that no matter what the situation is, no matter what the moment is, there’s never a panic. They just continue to rise to the occasion,” Brown said.
“We felt that Week 6 with the (Grand Rapids) Catholic win, I think that kind of solidified – that was a back-and-forth game – that even when things get tight and there’s adversity, they can step up.”
That, the Sailors did.
In a scoreless game, DeHaan hit senior Nate Brinks on a 3-yard TD pass with 9:48 left in the first half. Four minutes later, he found sophomore Carson Vis on a 23-yard scoring strike.
Veteran Goodrich coach Tom Alward said he felt his team had opportunities to make plays, but the Martians just couldn’t capitalize. He attributed much of that to the Sailors.
“They’ve got athletes galore. They’ve got athletes at every position. I mean, it’s incredible,” Alward said. “You’re trying to match up. We thought we’ve got some athletes as well, but it’s tough to match up everybody.
“They do a good job. They sit there and they look, ‘Oh, that’s a linebacker.’ You run out of defensive backs against these guys. Plus, that quarterback, he’s a special young kid.”
DeHaan directed South Christian to this championship, helping the Sailors survive tests in the previous three rounds of the playoffs.
South Christian put away Hudsonville Unity Christian late, 35-20, in the District Final. In a No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup in the Regional Final, the Sailors outlasted Whitehall, 28-21. In the icy Semifinal, South Christian held off Edwardsburg, 26-20.
“Our coaches stress (not to panic), which just helps us to keep persevering. And we knew that if we keep going and keep going that eventually our team’s going to come out on top and make plays when we need to make plays,” said DeHaan, who suffered a shoulder stinger late in the game but re-entered a play later.
It was a tough finish for Goodrich, which reeled off 12 straight wins to get to Ford Field after suffering a 27-2 season-opening loss to Frankenmuth, which is competing in the Division 5 Final on Saturday.
Alward said he loves every one of his teams, but this one will always have a special place in his heart.
“This team is exceptional – they’re exceptional,” the 30-year head coach said. “And not just football players, I’m talking about young men.”
PHOTOS (Top) Grand Rapids South Christian’s Jake Vermaas (2) tries to pull away from the grasp of Goodrich’s Owen Deciechi during Friday’s Division 4 Final. (Middle) Vermaas leaps over defender Gavin Valley (32). (Below) A Martians defender bats away a pass intended for the Sailors’ Carson Vis (13). (Click for more from Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)
MHSAA Provides Update on 2025 Football Playoff Hopefuls, Bracket Reveal Schedule
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 23, 2025
Here is a list of Michigan High School Athletic Association football playing schools, displaying their win-loss records and playoff averages through the eighth week of the season, plus information on this season's MHSAA Playoffs bracket and Finals schedule announcements.
Schools on this list are divided by division and ordered by playoff average. The top 32 teams by playoff average in each 11-player division and top 16 teams by playoff average in each 8-player division will qualify for the MHSAA Football Playoffs beginning Oct. 31. Divisions were determined prior to the start of the season, and the lists below include not only teams currently positioned to potentially qualify, but also the next eight teams in each division.
To review a list of all football playoff schools, individual school playoff point details and to report errors, visit the Football Playoff Point Summary page.
The announcement of the qualifiers and first-round pairings for both the 11 and 8-player playoffs will take place at 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, on the “Selection Sunday Show” on the NFHS Network. A subscription is not required to watch the Selection Sunday Show.
The playoff qualifiers and pairings will be posted to the MHSAA Website following the Selection Sunday Show, and times and dates will be added Monday, Oct. 27.
The MHSAA Football Playoffs conclude with the 8-Player Finals on Nov. 22 at Northern Michigan University’s Superior Dome and 11-Player Finals to be played Nov. 28 and 30 at Ford Field.
11-Player Division 1
1. Clarkston, 7-1, 83.125
2. Hudsonville, 8-0, 82.000
3. Detroit Catholic Central, 8-0, 76.661
4. Grand Blanc, 8-0, 76.625
5. Saline, 7-1, 75.875
6. Belleville, 7-1, 74.500
7. Howell, 7-1, 72.875
7. Rochester Adams, 6-2, 72.875
7. Rockford, 6-2, 72.875
10. Detroit Cass Tech, 8-0, 72.500
11. Brownstown Woodhaven, 7-1, 70.750
12. Oxford, 6-2, 70.000
13. Romeo, 6-2, 69.875
14. Brighton, 6-2, 68.250
15. West Bloomfield, 6-2, 67.750
16. Davison, 7-1, 67.375
17. East Kentwood, 6-2, 67.000
18. Dearborn Fordson, 6-2, 66.250
19. Farmington, 6-2, 65.875
20. Macomb Dakota, 6-2, 64.625
21. Northville, 6-2, 63.750
22. Utica, 6-2, 63.375
23. Grand Ledge, 6-2, 62.000
24. Rochester Hills Stoney Creek, 5-3, 58.750
25. Utica Eisenhower, 5-3, 57.375
26. Sterling Heights Stevenson, 5-3, 57.125
27. Grandville, 4-4, 54.125
28. Jenison, 4-4, 53.375
29. Hartland, 4-4, 52.500
30. Dearborn, 4-4, 50.500
31. Salem, 4-4, 50.250
32. Ann Arbor Huron, 4-4, 49.625
33. Rochester, 4-4, 48.875
34. Kalamazoo Central, 5-3, 48.500
35. Caledonia, 3-5, 44.286
36. Novi, 3-5, 44.250
37. Ann Arbor Pioneer, 3-5, 43.750
38. Livonia Stevenson, 3-5, 43.625
39. Holt, 4-4, 43.250
40. Walled Lake Northern, 3-5, 42.375
11-Player Division 2
1. South Lyon, 8-0, 75.875
2. Dexter, 7-1, 73.875
3. Gibraltar Carlson, 8-0, 73.375
4. Portage Central, 8-0, 72.500
5. Grosse Pointe South, 7-1, 70.125
6. Midland Dow, 7-1, 66.750
7. Walled Lake Western, 6-2, 65.875
8. Port Huron Northern, 6-2, 65.625
9. Livonia Franklin, 6-2, 64.750
10. Muskegon, 6-2, 64.458
11. White Lake Lakeland, 6-2, 64.375
12. St. Clair Shores Lakeview, 6-2, 61.125
13. Byron Center, 5-3, 59.875
14. North Farmington, 5-3, 59.500
15. Portage Northern, 6-2, 59.179
16. Warren Cousino, 6-2, 59.125
17. Orchard Lake St. Mary's, 5-2, 58.893
18. Birmingham Groves, 5-3, 55.000
18. Birmingham Seaholm, 5-3, 55.000
20. Lansing Everett, 5-3, 54.875
20. Traverse City Central, 5-3, 54.875
22. Lincoln Park, 5-3, 53.500
23. Allen Park, 5-3, 53.250
24. Traverse City West, 4-4, 52.500
25. Roseville, 4-4, 52.000
25. Temperance Bedford, 4-4, 52.000
27. Muskegon Mona Shores, 5-3, 51.875
28. Waterford Mott, 4-4, 51.000
29. East Lansing, 3-5, 49.000
30. Grand Rapids Northview, 5-3, 48.875
31. Milford, 4-4, 47.250
32. Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, 4-4, 47.161
33. South Lyon East, 4-4, 47.125
34. Warren Mott, 4-4, 46.875
35. Midland, 4-4, 45.000
36. Dearborn Heights Crestwood, 5-3, 44.375
37. Saginaw Heritage, 3-5, 43.000
38. Ferndale, 4-4, 41.875
39. Southgate Anderson, 3-5, 41.750
40. Battle Creek Central, 4-4, 41.625
40. Berkley, 4-4, 41.625
40. Oak Park, 3-5, 41.625
11-Player Division 3
1. DeWitt, 8-0, 76.458
2. Mount Pleasant, 8-0, 75.000
3. Gaylord, 8-0, 65.625
4. Niles, 8-0, 65.000
5. Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills, 7-1, 64.750
6. Warren Fitzgerald, 7-1, 63.750
7. Adrian, 7-1, 58.500
7. East Grand Rapids, 6-2, 58.500
9. Detroit Martin Luther King, 5-3, 57.667
10. Cedar Springs, 7-1, 57.500
11. Ypsilanti Lincoln, 6-2, 56.875
12. Port Huron, 5-3, 56.250
13. Hastings, 6-2, 56.000
13. Lowell, 6-2, 56.000
15. Fenton, 5-3, 55.625
16. Mason, 5-3, 53.625
16. St. Joseph, 5-3, 53.625
18. Zeeland West, 6-2, 53.125
19. Holly, 5-3, 52.500
20. Marysville, 6-2, 51.125
21. Redford Thurston, 6-2, 50.625
22. Zeeland East, 5-3, 50.250
23. Coldwater, 6-2, 49.375
24. Linden, 6-2, 49.125
24. Middleville Thornapple Kellogg, 5-3, 49.125
26. Trenton, 4-4, 48.250
27. Marquette, 5-3, 48.000
28. Riverview, 6-2, 45.750
29. Coopersville, 4-4, 45.500
30. Warren De La Salle Collegiate, 3-5, 44.929
31. Owosso, 5-3, 44.875
32. Bay City John Glenn, 5-3, 42.625
33. Bay City Western, 3-5, 41.375
34. Fruitport, 4-4, 40.875
35. Petoskey, 4-4, 40.125
36. Stevensville Lakeshore, 3-5, 38.000
37. Ypsilanti Community, 3-5, 37.500
38. Jackson Northwest, 3-5, 36.125
39. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, 2-6, 35.375
40. River Rouge, 2-6, 35.292
11-Player Division 4
1. Harper Woods, 8-0, 84.750
2. Williamston, 8-0, 65.375
3. Goodrich, 8-0, 64.875
4. Hudsonville Unity Christian, 8-0, 64.750
5. Chelsea, 7-1, 63.750
6. Battle Creek Harper Creek, 7-1, 61.625
7. Haslett, 6-2, 58.125
8. Escanaba, 7-1, 57.750
9. Dearborn Divine Child, 7-1, 57.042
10. Portland, 8-0, 56.000
11. Ludington, 8-0, 54.375
12. Redford Union, 6-2, 52.625
13. Wyoming Godwin Heights, 7-1, 52.375
14. Madison Heights Lamphere, 5-3, 51.875
15. Center Line, 7-1, 51.250
15. Paw Paw, 5-3, 51.250
17. Big Rapids, 7-1, 51.125
18. Edwardsburg, 6-2, 50.375
19. Vicksburg, 5-3, 48.875
20. Grand Rapids South Christian, 4-4, 47.625
21. Freeland, 6-2, 47.375
22. Tecumseh, 5-3, 47.000
23. Macomb Lutheran North, 7-1, 45.625
24. Grand Rapids Christian, 5-3, 45.500
25. Harper Woods Chandler Park, 6-2, 44.250
26. Spring Lake, 5-3, 43.750
26. Three Rivers, 4-4, 43.750
28. St. Johns, 4-4, 42.500
29. Lansing Sexton, 5-3, 42.250
30. St. Clair, 5-3, 41.750
31. Ortonville Brandon, 4-4, 39.000
32. Fowlerville, 4-4, 38.875
33. Holland Christian, 4-4, 38.750
34. Detroit Henry Ford, 4-4, 37.500
35. Lake Fenton, 3-5, 37.375
36. Croswell-Lexington, 4-4, 36.750
37. Clio, 4-4, 35.875
38. Otsego, 3-5, 35.542
39. Charlotte, 4-4, 35.500
40. Sparta, 3-5, 34.500
11-Player Division 5
1. Grand Rapids Catholic Central, 8-0, 72.475
2. Grand Rapids West Catholic, 7-1, 58.625
3. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, 6-2, 55.375
4. Frankenmuth, 7-1, 55.250
5. Romulus Summit Academy North, 7-1, 54.375
6. Saginaw Swan Valley, 7-1, 53.500
7. Richmond, 7-1, 53.125
8. Ogemaw Heights, 7-1, 52.250
9. Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard, 8-0, 51.736
10. Monroe Jefferson, 7-1, 51.625
11. Detroit Southeastern, 6-2, 50.250
12. Armada, 6-2, 46.750
13. Whitehall, 5-3, 45.000
14. Clare, 6-2, 44.000
15. Michigan Center, 8-0, 43.875
16. Kingsford, 6-2, 43.444
17. Berrien Springs, 5-1, 43.375
18. Detroit Denby, 6-2, 42.667
19. Flat Rock, 5-3, 41.750
20. Gladwin, 5-3, 41.500
21. Howard City Tri County, 5-3, 40.875
22. Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep, 6-2, 40.542
23. Muskegon Oakridge, 5-3, 40.250
24. Dowagiac, 5-3, 40.167
25. Romulus, 4-4, 39.500
26. Negaunee, 5-3, 39.194
27. Detroit Cody, 5-3, 38.250
28. Wyoming Kelloggsville, 5-3, 37.375
29. Yale, 4-4, 36.125
30. Whitmore Lake, 6-2, 36.054
31. Shepherd, 5-3, 36.000
32. Hopkins, 4-4, 35.625
33. Hazel Park, 5-3, 35.375
34. Detroit Voyageur College Prep, 4-4, 34.625
35. Lake Odessa Lakewood, 3-5, 32.125
36. Muskegon Orchard View, 4-4, 31.375
37. Alma, 3-5, 30.750
37. Cheboygan, 3-5, 30.750
39. Midland Bullock Creek, 4-4, 30.500
40. Birch Run, 4-4, 29.125
11-Player Division 6
1. Almont, 8-0, 59.375
2. Jackson Lumen Christi, 5-3, 56.042
3. Detroit Edison, 7-1, 53.000
4. Belding, 7-1, 52.375
5. Olivet, 7-1, 49.625
6. Kent City, 8-0, 48.500
6. Marine City, 6-2, 48.500
8. Montrose, 8-0, 45.750
9. Reed City, 6-2, 45.500
10. Kingsley, 6-2, 45.000
11. Traverse City St. Francis, 6-2, 43.446
12. Flint Hamady, 6-2, 42.375
13. Ecorse, 6-2, 41.875
14. Dearborn Heights Robichaud, 5-3, 41.054
15. Ovid-Elsie, 6-2, 39.625
16. Calumet, 6-2, 39.230
17. Boyne City, 5-3, 39.000
18. Durand, 6-2, 38.625
19. Ida, 6-2, 37.750
20. Detroit Pershing, 5-3, 37.375
21. Clawson, 5-3, 34.875
21. Napoleon, 5-3, 34.875
23. Warren Michigan Collegiate, 4-4, 34.250
24. Central Montcalm, 6-2, 34.000
25. Montague, 4-4, 33.500
26. Flint New Standard Academy, 7-1, 32.750
27. Buchanan, 5-3, 32.333
28. Adrian Madison, 5-3, 32.250
28. Detroit Central, 5-3, 32.250
30. Sanford Meridian, 5-3, 30.875
31. Brooklyn Columbia Central, 5-3, 29.500
32. Clinton Township Clintondale, 4-4, 29.250
33. Kalkaska, 5-3, 29.143
34. Lansing Catholic, 2-6, 29.000
35. Gladstone, 3-5, 28.444
36. Hart, 4-4, 28.375
37. St. Clair Shores South Lake, 3-5, 28.250
38. Royal Oak Shrine Catholic, 5-3, 27.125
39. Onsted, 3-5, 27.000
40. Mason County Central, 4-4, 26.625
11-Player Division 7
1. Menominee, 8-0, 54.028
2. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central, 7-1, 51.000
3. Charlevoix, 8-0, 43.250
4. Millington, 7-1, 41.000
5. Pewamo-Westphalia, 7-0, 40.893
6. Schoolcraft, 7-1, 40.125
7. Clinton, 6-2, 39.500
8. Constantine, 6-2, 39.250
9. Saginaw Valley Lutheran, 8-0, 38.125
10. Hanover-Horton, 6-2, 37.500
11. Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker, 6-2, 37.250
12. Cass City, 6-2, 36.625
12. Lawton, 6-2, 36.625
14. North Muskegon, 6-2, 35.571
15. Ottawa Lake Whiteford, 7-1, 34.875
16. Bronson, 7-1, 34.625
17. McBain, 6-2, 34.375
18. Ithaca, 6-2, 33.250
19. Harrison, 6-2, 31.500
20. Saranac, 6-2, 30.321
21. LeRoy Pine River, 5-3, 29.375
22. Detroit Community, 5-3, 29.278
23. Ravenna, 4-4, 29.125
24. Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest, 4-4, 28.554
25. Union City, 5-3, 27.875
26. Shelby, 5-3, 27.500
27. Jonesville, 5-3, 26.750
27. Leslie, 4-4, 26.750
29. Manton, 5-3, 26.500
30. Burton Bendle, 5-3, 26.250
31. Galesburg-Augusta, 4-4, 25.625
32. Burton Atherton, 4-4, 25.250
33. Morley Stanwood, 3-5, 24.500
34. Quincy, 5-3, 24.000
35. Stockbridge, 4-4, 23.250
36. Coloma, 3-5, 23.125
37. Houghton Lake, 3-5, 22.500
38. Detroit Northwestern, 2-6, 22.250
39. Otisville LakeVille Memorial, 2-6, 22.125
40. Bath, 4-4, 21.946
11-Player Division 8
1. Hudson, 8-0, 46.000
2. Melvindale Academy for Business & Tech, 8-0, 44.903
3. Madison Heights Madison, 7-1, 43.375
4. Harbor Beach, 8-0, 40.000
5. Beal City, 8-0, 39.875
6. Maple City Glen Lake, 6-1, 38.554
7. Allen Park Cabrini, 8-0, 37.750
8. Springport, 8-0, 36.250
9. Decatur, 6-2, 35.000
10. Bark River-Harris, 6-1, 34.605
11. Fowler, 6-2, 34.571
12. New Lothrop, 5-3, 34.500
13. White Pigeon, 6-2, 32.750
14. Unionville-Sebewaing, 6-2, 32.375
15. Southfield Bradford Academy, 5-3, 31.722
16. Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Central, 6-2, 31.250
17. Mancelona, 5-3, 29.250
17. Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary, 5-3, 29.250
19. East Jordan, 5-3, 28.643
20. Genesee, 4-4, 28.250
20. Manchester, 5-3, 28.250
22. Iron Mountain, 5-2, 27.911
23. Frankfort, 5-3, 27.893
24. Clarkston Everest Collegiate, 5-3, 27.875
25. Centreville, 4-4, 27.625
26. Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes, 4-4, 27.375
27. Riverview Gabriel Richard, 3-5, 26.625
28. Auburn Hills Oakland Christian, 5-3, 25.667
29. Reese, 4-4, 24.500
30. L'Anse, 5-3, 24.375
31. Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart, 4-4, 22.929
32. Petersburg Summerfield, 4-4, 22.875
33. Muskegon Catholic Central, 3-5, 22.375
34. Reading, 3-5, 22.000
35. Ubly, 3-5, 21.750
36. West Iron County, 3-4, 21.250
37. Farwell, 3-5, 20.750
37. St Louis, 2-6, 20.750
39. Vassar, 2-6, 18.500
40. Vermontville Maple Valley, 2-6, 18.375
8-Player Division 1
1. Norway, 8-0, 37.696
2. Martin, 8-0, 37.333
3. Blanchard Montabella, 8-0, 35.125
4. Indian River Inland Lakes, 8-0, 34.375
5. Kingston, 7-1, 32.750
6. Gobles, 6-2, 31.190
7. Pickford, 6-1, 31.179
8. Bessemer, 7-1, 31.083
9. Bay City All Saints, 6-2, 30.268
10. Central Lake, 5-3, 30.250
11. Merrill, 6-2, 29.625
12. Capac, 6-2, 29.500
13. Brown City, 6-2, 29.250
14. Climax-Scotts, 6-2, 29.125
15. Newberry, 6-2, 28.768
16. Breckenridge, 5-3, 28.643
17. Marcellus, 5-3, 26.565
18. Concord, 4-4, 24.875
19. Colon, 5-3, 24.625
20. Fulton, 4-4, 24.500
21. Dryden, 4-4, 24.393
22. Rogers City, 4-4, 23.589
23. Brimley, 3-5, 22.601
24. Eau Claire, 4-4, 21.833
8-Player Division 2
1. Onekama, 8-0, 36.250
2. Portland St. Patrick, 8-0, 35.607
3. Mendon, 8-0, 34.750
4. Britton Deerfield, 7-1, 34.625
5. Deckerville, 7-1, 33.875
6. Grand Rapids Sacred Heart, 7-1, 33.565
7. Felch North Dickinson, 8-0, 33.458
8. Pittsford, 7-1, 32.375
9. Mio, 7-1, 31.143
10. Morrice, 7-1, 30.875
11. Powers North Central, 6-2, 30.375
12. Cedarville, 6-2, 30.000
13. Lake Linden-Hubbell, 6-2, 29.833
14. Gaylord St. Mary, 7-1, 29.000
15. Marion, 6-2, 28.125
16. Hillman, 5-3, 26.714
17. Waldron, 5-3, 26.250
18. Adrian Lenawee Christian, 5-3, 26.125
18. Au Gres-Sims, 5-3, 26.125
20. St. Ignace, 5-3, 26.018
21. Kinde North Huron, 5-2, 25.357
22. Bear Lake, 6-2, 24.750
23. Peck, 5-3, 24.089
24. Brethren, 4-4, 23.375