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Together, Unity Earns 1st Championship

November 24, 2018

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor 

DETROIT – Hudsonville Unity Christian’s varsity carried 22 players during the regular season.

The Crusaders had six on the playoff roster who weighed more than 200 pounds – and one who weighed more than 210.

And talk about small, Unity is by far the smallest school in an Ottawa-Kent Conference Green that sent four teams to the playoffs and champion Zeeland East to the Division 3 Semifinals.

So before Saturday’s Division 5 Final at Ford Field, coach Craig Tibbe reminded his now 47 players (including moved-up freshmen and sophomores) they hadn’t been picked to make it this far – and probably weren’t the choice to win this game.

But the Crusaders absolutely belonged in their first MHSAA Football Final – and deserved to hoist their first championship trophy in this sport after handing Portland its first and only defeat this fall, 42-7 in a game Unity controlled from just about the opening kickoff.

“We’re not supposed to win. But our coaches put a gameplan in for us to win,” Crusaders senior defensive back Noah Wiswary said. “And every week, we go to practice and we can’t hit because we only have 20 guys that can play, so we can’t hurt each other. But we work on our gameplan. We know what we’ve got to do to get to our spots. And we do what we’re supposed to do.”

As noted, the championship was the first in football for Unity Christian, which has had great success in other sports, especially soccer, where the Crusaders girls have won 10 MHSAA titles and the boys have won five.

The football program got its start only in 2003, with this season’s 12-2 finish setting a record for wins and also including the Crusaders’ second trip to the Semifinals after they first advanced that far two years ago.

Tibbe’s pregame challenge ran parallel with the pep talks offered throughout a playoff run that might have been the toughest road of any team in any division over the last five weeks.

Unity Christian – which was ranked No. 10 in Division 4 by The Associated Press during the regular season before slotting in Division 5 for the playoffs – downed reigning Division 5 champion Grand Rapids West Catholic and four teams ranked among the top six in the division. In addition to No. 2 Portland (13-1), the Crusaders eliminated No. 1 Saginaw Swan Valley in the Semifinal, No. 4 Kalamazoo United in the Regional Final and No. 6 Muskegon Oakridge in the District Final.

Against Oakridge, Unity Christian trailed by 27 before charging back for a 40-37 win. Like Portland, Kalamazoo United and Swan Valley also were undefeated before Unity dealt them their only loss.

“They’ve done that each week. They’ve pulled for each other,” said Tibbe, who has led the program since its start. “I’m proud of what they’ve become as a group of guys.

“Part of that comes from we have to battle all the way through the teams we’re playing each game of the season, (and) low numbers, but they learn to fight. And I thought they did a nice job again today.”

It didn’t take long to get rolling. Both Unity and Portland boasted strong running attacks this fall – what they planned to do Saturday was no secret. But the Crusaders built a 28-0 lead five minutes into the second quarter having rushed for 173 yards while allowing the Raiders only one first down to that point.

The Crusaders ran for 279 yards on 50 carries total, with junior quarterback Isaac TeSlaa rushing for 97 yards and two touchdowns and also competing 3 of 4 passes for 70 yards and a score to senior TJ VanKoevering. Junior Hayden Large and seniors Max Buikema and Mason Odehal also ran for touchdowns.

The defense – led by junior defensive back Nick Tibbe’s nine tackles – pitched a shutout as Portland’s only points came on senior Jacob Veale’s 91-yard kickoff return touchdown with four minute to play in the third quarter.

Portland ran for more than 3,000 yards over their first 13 games, but for only 95 on 29 carries Saturday. Senior defensive back Hunter Hohman led the defense with 10 tackles and a forced fumble.

“Obviously we got beat up a little bit up front, both sides of the ball,” Portland coach John Novara said. “Their offensive and defensive lines played great. They’re a super athletic football team, and they’ve just got athletes all over the place … probably the most athletic football team we’ve played all season. We don’t get (shut down) too many times, but they did it to us today.”

Portland did tie its program record with 13 wins this fall, its fourth straight with double-digit victories. The playoff run was the Raiders’ longest since they won their first title in 2012.

“It’s still kinda surreal that we’re here. We had to replace a ton from last year. We had no skill kids coming back, and the kids really stepped up,” Novara said. “We started out really slow this season. … (But) I think we made a great playoff run. I know we were 13-0, but we got a ton better during the playoffs.”

Click for the full box score.  

PHOTOS: (Top) A pair of Unity Christian defenders make a tackle during Saturday’s Division 5 Final at Ford Field. (Middle) Crusaders quarterback Isaac TeSlaa braces for contact.

Dearborn Divine Child running back Marcello Vitti (2) takes a handoff into the line during his team's Division 4 Semifinal win over Goodrich.

1st & Goal: 2025 11-Player Semifinals Review

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

November 24, 2025

The pairings are set for the MHSAA 11-Player Football Finals at Ford Field, with seven teams earning opportunities Saturday to finish this fall without a loss – although three of next weekend’s championship games will feature matchups of undefeated contenders.

MI Student AidThe weekend’s Semifinals also saw four reigning champions earn chances at repeat titles, and Dexter earn its first trip to the final weekend of the season for the first time.

It’s a short week because of Thanksgiving, but we’ll be back Wednesday with game-by-game previews of all eight upcoming contests. For now, see below for a glance at all 16 games that got us here.

(Note: Highlights from Saturday's 8-Player Finals will be included in a final football championship "Review" next week.)

Division 1

Detroit Catholic Central 46, East Kentwood 6

The Shamrocks (13-0) will play in their first Final since 2016 after shutting down an East Kentwood offense that had scored  fewer than 35 points only one other time this season. The Falcons (10-3) had reached the Semifinals for the first time since 2014. Click for more from the Detroit Free Press.

Detroit Cass Tech 48, Rochester Adams 22

The reigning Division 1 champion Technicians (13-0) will have the opportunity to play for a first Finals repeat since winning in 2011 and 2012 after continuing a playoff streak of scoring at least 42 points in all four wins. Adams (10-3) finished its season in the Semifinals for the second straight. Click for more from the Detroit News.

Division 2

Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 42, Portage Central 7

St. Mary’s (10-2) will play for a chance to repeat as Division 2 champion after finding its way against a Portage Central defense that otherwise gave up only 64 points this season. The Mustangs finished 12-1, tying their 2013 team for most wins in program history. Click for more from the Oakland Press.

Dexter 41, Birmingham Groves 6

The Dreadnaughts’ Cooper Arendt and Cole Novara continued two of the most incredible statistical seasons in MHSAA history in lifting Dexter (12-1) into its first championship game. The pair connected on four touchdowns in ending Groves’ second-straight Semifinal run at 9-4. Click for more from the Ann Arbor News.

Division 3

Mount Pleasant 41, Lowell 21

Mount Pleasant (13-0) turned in one of its highest-scoring offensive days this season to earn its first trip to the Finals since 2011. Lowell concluded its longest run since 2016 at 10-3. Click for more from the Mount Pleasant Morning Sun.

DeWitt 41, Warren De La Salle Collegiate 20

Traverse Moore scored four touchdowns to help bring DeWitt (13-0) back from a 13-7 halftime deficit and return to the Finals for the first time since 2021. De La Salle (6-7) turned a 1-4 start this season into its fifth Semifinal trip over the last six and after missing a year ago. Click for more from the Lansing State Journal.

Division 4

Hudsonville Unity Christian 45, Vicksburg 17

Unity Christian (12-1) again cleared its playoff opponent by double digits and will return to the Finals after last making the trip in 2021. Vicksburg finished its longest playoff run at 8-5 for the season. Click for more from the Grand Rapids Press.

Dearborn Divine Child 10, Goodrich 7

Divine Child (12-1) put an end both to reigning champ Goodrich’s repeat hopes and 25-game winning streak, handing the lone defeat to an opponent for the second-straight week after downing Harper Woods 10-6 in a Regional Final. The Martians ended 12-1, while the Falcons advanced to their first Final since 1985. Click for more from MLIVE-Detroit.

Division 5

Grand Rapids West Catholic 34, Ogemaw Heights 24

West Catholic (12-1) had slightly fewer yards than Ogemaw Heights, but made them count a little bit more taking a 13-12 halftime lead all the way to earning its first Finals trip since 2022. Collin Abram (two touchdowns) on offense and Jael Djouguem (12 tackles) on defense led the Falcons. Ogemaw finished 11-1 while making its first Semifinal appearance since 2009. Click for more from the Bay City Times.

Pontiac Notre Dame Prep 51, Monroe Jefferson 21

Reigning champion Notre Dame Prep (11-2) will get the chance to win it all again after doing so for the first time a year ago. Several Fighting Irish found the end zone to earn that opportunity, with quarterback Sam Stowe throwing three scoring passes and running for a TD as well. Jefferson finished its first Semifinal season since 1999 at 11-2. Click for more from the Oakland Press.

Division 6

Kingsley 14, Kent City  0

Kingsley (11-2) is headed to Ford Field for the second time in three years after handing Kent City (12-1) its only loss of its winningest season. The teams were tied at halftime, but the Stags’ defense was just slightly more successful during the final two quarters in posting its first shutout this fall. Click for more from the Traverse City Record-Eagle.

Jackson Lumen Christi 25, Almont 19 (3OT)

This came down to the most dramatic ending of the weekend, as both contenders went scoreless during the first overtime and couldn’t convert after touchdowns during the second before Lumen (10-3) scored in the third and kept Almont (12-1) out of the end zone. Click for more from the Jackson Citizen Patriot.

Division 7

Menominee 32, Pewamo-Westphalia 28

The Maroons (13-0) came back from a 21-6 halftime deficit and scored the game-winner with 24 seconds to play to earn a second trip in three seasons to Ford Field. The Pirates (11-1) were held to their fewest points this season and had given up only 86 over their first 11 games before Menominee broke through. Click for more from Upper Michigan’s Source.

Schoolcraft 43, Clinton 14

Schoolcraft will play in its first championship game since 2001 after scoring this game’s first 37 points. The Eagles (11-2) put up their third-most points in a game this season and held Clinton (10-3) to its fewest since opening weekend. Click for more from the Kalamazoo Gazette.

Division 8

Harbor Beach 40, Bark River-Harris 0

Harbor Beach (13-0) earned its second shutout of a season during which the Pirates are giving up only eight points per game, this one to earn a first trip to Ford Field since 2012. Bark River-Harris completed its first Semifinal season since 2003 at 10-2. Click for more from the Huron Daily Tribune.

Hudson 67, Allen Park Cabrini 14

Hudson will return to the Finals for the second time in five years with a chance for a second undefeated championship run this decade. The Tigers (13-0) topped 60 points for the fifth time this season but second week in a row in ending Allen Park Cabrini’s longest tournament run and winningest season at 11-2. Click for more from the Adrian Daily Telegram.

DeWitt's Traverse Moore (2) follows a blocker during the Panthers' Division 3 win over Warren De La Salle Collegiate.

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PHOTOS (Top) Dearborn Divine Child running back Marcello Vitti (2) takes a handoff into the line during his team's Division 4 Semifinal win over Goodrich. (Middle) DeWitt's Traverse Moore (2) follows a blocker during the Panthers' Division 3 win over Warren De La Salle Collegiate. (Divine Child/Goodrich photo by Terry Lyons. DeWitt/De La Salle photo by Kolleth Photo.)