#TBT: End of an Era in Saginaw
October 23, 2014
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Michigan will wave farewell this weekend to one of its longest-running high school football rivalries as Saginaw High and Arthur Hill play one last time before one of the schools is closed in December.
The 120-year-old rivalry is tied for second-oldest in Michigan history, ranks third with 128 games played and first among rivalries between Lower Peninsula schools.
The Saginaw News reported last month that the district’s Board of Education will vote on which to close in December after voting in July to shut down one of the two.
The schools – first called simply West Side and East Side – have met annually dating to 1894, save for four years – including in 1897 when it was deemed too large a mismatch and 1910 because of a smallpox outbreak. That fall marked the last the two didn’t play at least once – they played each other twice in 1895 and 1974.
Arthur Hill owns a 58-49 advantage in the series, and the teams tied 11 times. The Lumberjacks won last season’s Week 9 tilt, 43-22, but Saginaw holds a 12-8 edge over the last two decades.
Saginaw won the 1999 MHSAA Division 2 championship under coach Donald Durrett, while Arthur Hill claimed the Class AA title in 1991 under coach Jim Eurick and finished runner-up in 1992 – winning the 1991 game over Detroit Catholic Central 13-12 before losing to DCC in the following year's championship game rematch 21-20.
Sadly, both are finishing on softer notes; Saginaw has lost 16 straight games since winning on opening night 2013, while Arthur Hill has lost 13 of its last 14 with that lone win in between coming against the Trojans last fall.
Click to read select pages from the 1994 game program, itself a history book recalling a proud era in Saginaw history.
PHOTO: Arthur Hill defeated Saginaw 43-22 in last season's meeting between the longtime rivals. (Click to see more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)
Highlight Reel: Friday Football Finals
November 28, 2015
By John Johnson
MHSAA Communications Director
Champions were crowned Friday (Nov. 27) in four divisions of the 2015 MHSAA 11-Player Football Playoffs – presented by the Michigan Army National Guard – at Ford Field in Detroit.
Below are highlight clips from every game plus links to watch them in full.
Division 8
Muskegon Catholic Central 7, Waterford Our Lady 0
Senerius To Senerius – Waterford Our Lady threatened several times in the first half, including late, when Clay Senerius hit Devin Senerius for a 30-yard gain.
Crusaders Go On Top – The only score of the Division 8 title game came early in the fourth quarter when Muskegon Catholic Central's Christian Martinez ran it in from 8 yards out.
Watch the whole game and order DVDs by Clicking Here.
Division 2
Detroit Martin Luther King 40, Lowell 38
Dean’s Second TD For Lowell – Lowell jumped out to a 24-7 lead late in the first half on this 3-yard run by Max Dean, his second score of the game.
Incredible Finish - Corley Winning TD – On the final play of the game, Detroit King's Donnie Corley hauls in a 40-yard TD pass from Armani Posey to give the Crusaders the win over Lowell for the MHSAA Division 2 title.
Watch the whole game and order DVDs by Clicking Here.
Division 6
Ithaca 27, Clinton 20
Sexton Takes It To The House – Clinton scored the first 13 points of the Division 6 Football Final against Ithaca. Here's the second touchdown on a 56-yard run by Mathew Sexton early in the third quarter.
Ithaca Takes The Lead – Ithaca's run of 27 unanswered points included this 18-yard pass from Jake Smith to Spence DeMull in the third quarter. The Yellowjackets added the PAT and never trailed again.
Watch the whole game and order DVDs by Clicking Here.
Division 4
Zeeland West 40, Flint Powers Catholic 14
Dux Take Flight – Zeeland West QB Casey Brinks was 4 for 4 passing for 103 yards against Flint Powers, getting half of that yardage on this pass to Tyler Thompson in the first quarter. This pass set up the Dux’ first TD.
Sargent Hits Brcic For Six – Noah Sargent makes a nice TD pass on the run to Luke Brcic for Flint Powers Catholic against Zeeland West in the Division 4 Final.
Watch the whole game and order DVDs by Clicking Here.
The MHSAA Football Finals are sponsored by the Michigan National Guard.
PHOTO: Ithaca quarterback Jake Smith dives ahead for an extra yard during the Division 6 Final.