Week 7 Football Playoff Listing
October 8, 2013
Here is a list of Michigan High School Athletic Association football playing schools, displaying their win-loss records and playoff averages through the sixth week of the season. Schools on this list are in enrollment order. An asterisk (*) beside a record indicates that a team has eight or fewer games scheduled. A caret (^) beside a school’s name indicates that a team is one win away from playoff qualification.
Those schools with 11-player teams with six or more wins playing nine-game schedules, or five or more wins playing eight games or fewer, will qualify for the MHSAA Football Playoffs beginning Nov. 1-2. Schools with 5-4, 4-3 or 4-4 records may qualify if the number of potential qualifiers by win total does not reach the 256 mark. Schools with six or more wins playing nine-game schedules or five or more wins playing eight games or fewer may be subtracted from the field based on playoff average if the number of potential qualifiers exceeds the 256 mark.
Once the 256 qualifying schools are determined, they will be divided by enrollment groups into eight equal divisions of 32 schools, and then drawn into regions of eight teams each and districts of four teams each.
Those schools with 8-player teams will be ranked by playoff average at season’s end, and the top 16 programs will be drawn into regions of eight teams each for the playoff in that division, which also begins Nov. 1-2.
To review a list of all football playoff schools, individual school playoff point details and to report errors, visit the Football page of the MHSAA Website.
The announcement of the qualifiers and first-round pairings for both the 11 and 8-player playoffs will take place on Oct. 27 on the Selection Sunday Show at 7 p.m. on FOX Sports Detroit. The playoff qualifiers and pairings will be posted to the MHSAA Website following the Selection Sunday Show.
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11-Player Playoff Listing
1. Sterling Heights Stevenson, 2781, 3-3, 45.667
2. Utica Eisenhower, 2772, 3-3, 49000
3. Clarkston ^, 2737, 5-1, 83.167
4. Macomb Dakota, 2693, 6-0, 101.333
5. Howell, 2672, 4-2, 66.500
6. Grand Blanc ^, 2624, 5-1, 86.000
7. East Kentwood, 2612, 4-2, 65.000
8. Rockford ^, 2572, 5-1, 86.000
9. Clinton Township Chippewa Valley, 2506, 6-0, 100.000
10. Lake Orion ^, 2490, 5-1, 82.000
11. Dearborn Fordson, 2309, 4-2, 67.733
12. Holland West Ottawa, 2293, 4-2, 65.500
13. Northville ^, 2275, 5-1, 79.000
14. Detroit Cass Tech, 2262, 6-0, 92.000
15. Brighton, 2164, 4-2, 69.500
16. Monroe, 2145, 4-2, 61.500
17. Detroit Catholic Central ^, 2132, 5-1, 78.433
18. Plymouth ^, 2126, 5-1, 75.000
19. Canton, 2078, 6-0, 100.000
20. Novi, 1986, 4-2, 62.333
21. Macomb L'Anse Creuse North ^, 1965, 5-1, 79.167
22. West Bloomfield, 1941, 3-3, 45.667
23. Saline ^, 1897, 5-1, 83.500
24. Westland John Glenn, 1880, 3-3, 48.333
25. Holt, 1866, 3-3, 52.500
26. Warren Mott, 1796, 6-0, 92.000
27. Romeo, 1793, 3-3, 54.333
28. Rochester Hills Stoney Creek ^, 1759, 5-1, 80.667
29. Livonia Franklin, 1746, 3-3, 51.000
30. Hudsonville, 1736, 3-3, 55.333
31. Ann Arbor Skyline, 1715, 4-2, 62.000
32. Grand Ledge, 1715, 3-3, 43.167
33. Belleville, 1714, 4-2, 61.000
34. Davison, 1692, 3-3, 43.167
35. Walled Lake Northern, 1688, 4-2, 62.333
36. White Lake Lakeland, 1655, 3-3, 52.333
37. Traverse City West, 1653, 4-2, 66.833
38. Rochester, 1615, 3-3, 48.167
39. Waterford Kettering, 1604, 3-3, 47.167
40. Temperance Bedford, 1600, 6-0, 104.000
41. Grosse Pointe South, 1598, 3-3, 48.167
42. Rochester Adams, 1582, 4-2, 66.667
43. Saginaw Heritage, 1575, 4-2, 64.000
44. Warren DeLaSalle, 1564, 4-2, 71.000
45. Walled Lake Western, 1556, 6-0, 98.667
46. Kalamazoo Central, 1554, 3-3, 40.167
47. Brownstown Woodhaven, 1502, 3-3, 46.667
48. Flint Carman-Ainsworth ^, 1488, 5-1, 80.833
49. Detroit U-D Jesuit, 1476, 4-2, 65.000
50. Midland ^, 1462, 5-1, 87.333
51. Ypsilanti Lincoln ^, 1460, 5-1, 76.833
52. Pinckney, 1452, 4-2, 67.833
53. Traverse City Central, 1448, 3-3, 44.167
54. Oak Park ^, 1438, 5-1, 80.667
55. Detroit Martin Luther King *, 1432, 5-0, 89.867
56. Ypsilanti Community, 1399, 3-3, 42.000
57. Port Huron, 1398, 4-2, 63.800
58. Wyandotte Roosevelt, 1373, 6-0, 98.667
59. Portage Central, 1372, 6-0, 94.667
60. Lansing Everett ^, 1369, 5-1, 73.667
61. Portage Northern, 1364, 4-2, 65.667
62. Southfield ^, 1356, 5-1, 86.167
63. North Farmington *^, 1352, 4-2, 59.267
64. Caledonia ^, 1350, 5-1, 76.667
65. Battle Creek Lakeview, 1348, 6-0, 82.667
66. Birmingham Seaholm, 1337, 6-0, 94.667
67. Birmingham Brother Rice, 1326, 6-0, 110.667
68. Grosse Pointe North, 1323, 4-2, 63.667
69. Muskegon Mona Shores ^, 1314, 5-1, 78.000
70. Midland Dow ^, 1304, 5-1, 76.667
71. Farmington Hills Harrison ^, 1300, 5-1, 82.000
72. South Lyon, 1277, 4-2, 67.833
73. Swartz Creek, 1277, 4-2, 63.000
74. Birmingham Groves, 1274, 6-0, 88.000
75. Berkley, 1260, 3-3, 40.333
76. Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills, 1231, 4-2, 52.833
77. Fenton, 1188, 6-0, 94.667
78. Grand Rapids Northview, 1182, 4-2, 63.500
79. Warren Woods Tower, 1170, 4-2, 49.667
80. St Clair Shores Lake Shore, 1168, 3-3, 40.333
81. Muskegon Reeths-Puffer ^, 1151, 5-1, 84.333
82. Lowell, 1146, 6-0, 103.467
83. Taylor Truman ^, 1131, 5-1, 80.500
84. Holly, 1124, 3-3, 48.667
85. East Lansing, 1124, 3-3, 46.333
86. Muskegon ^, 1118, 5-1, 88.833
87. Lapeer East, 1113, 3-3, 44.500
88. Marquette *, 1110, 5-1, 78.667
89. Detroit East English, 1109, 4-2, 59.233
90. Detroit Cody, 1106, 3-3, 46.333
91. Allen Park, 1103, 4-2, 68.167
92. Detroit Renaissance, 1097, 3-3, 39.167
93. Detroit Mumford, 1090, 6-0, 86.667
94. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern ^, 1079, 5-1, 70.167
95. St Johns, 1079, 3-3, 44.500
96. Zeeland East ^, 1071, 5-1, 79.333
97. Lapeer West ^, 1063, 5-1, 85.833
98. Redford Thurston, 1063, 3-3, 53.167
99. Byron Center, 1039, 4-2, 60.833
100. Mt. Pleasant ^, 1033, 5-1, 82.167
101. Riverview ^, 993, 5-1, 67.500
102. St. Joseph, 986, 6-0, 100.000
103. Orchard Lake St. Mary's, 980, 3-3, 50.000
104. Saginaw Arthur Hill, 973, 3-3, 43.167
105. Petoskey, 965, 3-3, 48.667
106. Mason, 958, 4-2, 58.667
107. East Grand Rapids, 949, 3-3, 48.667
108. Linden, 944, 4-2, 58.833
109. DeWitt, 941, 6-0, 100.667
110. Sault Ste. Marie, 928, 3-3, 42.467
111. Grand Rapids Christian ^, 927, 5-1, 82.000
112. Cedar Springs, 911, 3-3, 47.833
113. Detroit Denby ^, 909, 5-1, 68.500
114. Haslett, 907, 4-2, 62.500
115. Stevensville Lakeshore, 892, 4-2, 56.333
116. Fruitport, 886, 4-2, 53.333
117. Romulus, 882, 3-3, 39.000
118. Coldwater, 878, 3-3, 44.667
119. Milan, 872, 6-0, 94.667
120. St. Clair, 869, 6-0, 86.667
121. Tecumseh, 869, 4-2, 62.167
122. Sturgis, 868, 3-3, 45.833
123. Wayland Union, 861, 3-3, 51.167
124. Melvindale ^, 860, 5-1, 79.500
125. Plainwell, 852, 6-0, 85.333
126. Sparta ^, 851, 5-1, 68.333
127. Ionia, 851, 4-2, 54.667
128. Jackson Northwest, 847, 3-3, 40.500
129. Eaton Rapids, 844, 4-2, 55.333
130. Detroit Old Redford *, 838, 5-1, 64.667
131. Zeeland West ^, 833, 5-1, 75.333
132. Carleton Airport, 832, 3-3, 38.833
133. Charlotte ^, 830, 4-2, 66.667
134. Battle Creek Harper Creek ^, 823, 5-1, 72.833
135. Dearborn Heights Annapolis, 818, 4-2, 53.833
136. North Branch ^, 809, 5-1, 66.000
137. Dearborn Divine Child, 802, 3-3, 48.000
138. Marysville, 791, 4-2, 57.000
139. Detroit Collegiate Prep, 790, 4-2, 49.667
140. Three Rivers, 789, 4-2, 48.333
141. Edwardsburg, 787, 6-0, 78.667
142. Holland Christian, 785, 3-3, 42.000
143. Spring Lake ^, 783, 5-1, 66.000
144. Cadillac, 779, 6-0, 86.933
145. Ogemaw Heights, 754, 4-2, 53.600
146. Croswell-Lexington, 738, 4-2, 53.167
147. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, 732, 4-2, 58.833
148. Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy ^, 724, 5-1, 67.433
149. Yale, 704, 4-2, 55.667
150. Comstock Park, 701, 6-0, 97.600
151. Detroit Country Day, 700, 3-3, 44.667
152. Fremont, 697, 3-3, 35.167
153. St. Clair Shores South Lake, 690, 3-3, 46.667
154. Otsego, 688, 4-2, 47.000
155. Corunna, 686, 3-3, 40.333
156. Lansing Sexton, 684, 6-0, 93.333
157. Grand Rapids Catholic Central, 678, 3-3, 41.333
158. Allendale *, 676, 5-1, 71.500
159. Cheboygan ^, 660, 5-1, 74.000
160. Belding, 654, 4-2, 50.833
161. Battle Creek Pennfield ^, 652, 5-1, 55.333
162. Williamston *^, 651, 4-2, 52.333
163. Grand Rapids South Christian ^, 645, 5-1, 71.333
164. Saginaw Swan Valley, 644, 6-0, 81.333
165. Richmond ^, 642, 5-1, 70.167
166. Dearborn Heights Robichaud, 635, 3-3, 44.667
167. Paw Paw, 632, 6-0, 70.667
168. Grosse Ile, 632, 3-3, 41.833
169. Dowagiac ^, 621, 5-1, 60.833
170. Lake Fenton ^, 613, 5-1, 67.333
171. Ludington, 610, 4-2, 46.500
172. Remus Chippewa Hills, 600, 3-3, 38.000
173. Marine City, 596, 6-0, 94.667
174. Mt. Morris, 593, 3-3, 39.333
175. Wyoming Kelloggsville, 591, 4-2, 51.167
176. Clawson, 584, 4-2, 48.333
177. Essexville Garber, 583, 4-2, 54.667
178. Birch Run, 579, 3-3, 43.000
179. Livonia Clarenceville, 577, 6-0, 82.667
180. Portland *, 572, 6-0, 86.667
181. Freeland ^, 568, 5-1, 67.500
182. River Rouge ^, 568, 5-1, 54.967
183. Kingsford, 561, 4-2, 49.310
184. Wyoming Godwin Heights, 560, 4-2, 39.500
185. Parchment, 552, 3-3, 36.833
186. Ovid-Elsie, 549, 4-2, 51.000
187. Clinton Township Clintondale, 544, 6-0, 80.000
188. Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard ^, 544, 5-1, 71.500
189. North Muskegon ^, 541, 5-1, 56.667
190. Gladwin, 539, 4-2, 45.333
191. Chesaning, 532, 3-3, 37.500
192. Frankenmuth ^, 527, 5-1, 76.167
193. Hopkins, 527, 4-2, 57.000
194. Almont ^, 524, 5-1, 64.667
195. Newaygo ^, 523, 5-1, 66.167
196. Standish-Sterling Central, 520, 6-0, 78.667
197. Flint Powers Catholic, 517, 3-3, 37.500
198. Olivet, 505, 6-0, 69.333
199. Ida ^, 504, 5-1, 65.667
200. Allen Park Cabrini, 504, 3-3, 36.333
201. Menominee, 501, 6-0, 83.048
202. Detroit University Prep, 501, 4-2, 49.333
203. Macomb Lutheran North, 501, 3-3, 44.500
204. Stanton Central Montcalm, 501, 3-3, 31.833
205. Muskegon Oakridge ^, 496, 5-1, 63.500
206. Bridgeport, 495, 3-3, 37.500
207. Grayling ^, 494, 5-1, 56.500
208. Reed City, 490, 6-0, 78.667
209. Riverview Gabriel Richard, 490, 4-2, 48.833
210. Dundee, 489, 4-2, 37.333
211. Lansing Catholic, 480, 3-3, 41.000
212. Brooklyn Columbia Central, 474, 3-3, 31.500
213. Clare, 451, 4-2, 45.500
214. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central ^, 445, 5-1, 66.167
215. Jackson Lumen Christi, 441, 6-0, 88.000
216. Kingsley, 439, 4-2, 46.667
217. Houghton, 437, 3-3, 27.548
218. Roscommon, 431, 3-3, 34.000
219. Millington, 430, 4-2, 57.167
220. Warren Michigan Collegiate, 428, 4-2, 47.667
221. Kalkaska ^, 425, 5-1, 54.000
222. Madison Heights Madison, 424, 6-0, 84.000
223. Sanford Meridian, 423, 6-0, 68.000
224. Detroit Consortium, 422, 3-3, 32.000
225. Harper Woods, 420, 3-3, 29.333
226. Negaunee, 416, 6-0, 60.000
227. Michigan Center ^, 416, 5-1, 54.000
228. Hanover-Horton, 412, 3-3, 28.167
229. Montrose Hill-McCloy, 411, 6-0, 77.333
230. Lakeview, 409, 4-2, 49.500
231. Grass Lake ^, 402, 5-1, 620
232. Shelby, 401, 6-0, 74.667
233. Elk Rapids, 400, 4-2, 51.833
234. Ithaca, 399, 6-0, 74.667
235. Manchester ^, 398, 5-1, 60.833
236. Niles Brandywine, 397, 6-0, 72.838
237. Hillsdale, 397, 3-3, 36.333
238. Mt. Clemens, 390, 3-3, 34.333
239. Jonesville ^, 389, 5-1, 62.167
240. Maple City Glen Lake, 388, 6-0, 68.000
241. Grandville Calvin Christian, 388, 3-3, 44.167
242. Watervliet, 387, 6-0, 61.333
243. Vassar, 385, 3-3, 28.833
244. Clinton, 383, 6-0, 72.000
245. Boyne City ^, 383, 5-1, 62.167
246. Byron Area ^, 380, 5-1, 52.833
247. Constantine, 379, 4-2, 45.000
248. Burton Bendle, 374, 4-2, 44.967
249. Adrian Madison, 374, 3-3, 27.167
250. Montague, 373, 4-2, 49.500
251. St. Charles, 367, 3-3, 29.667
252. Quincy, 361, 4-2, 34.667
253. Whitmore Lake, 360, 3-3, 36.667
254. Hartford, 351, 3-3, 29.000
255. Cass City, 350, 3-3, 36.167
256. Indian River Inland Lakes, 348, 4-2, 34.500
257. Schoolcraft ^, 346, 5-1, 64.833
258. Flint Beecher ^, 345, 5-1, 62.000
259. Reese ^, 337, 5-1, 50.167
260. Saginaw Nouvel ^, 333, 5-1, 69.633
261. Marlette, 332, 6-0, 65.333
262. Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian ^, 331, 5-1, 59.167
263. Iron Mountain, 330, 3-3, 30.500
264. McBain, 326, 4-2, 41.333
265. Bath, 325, 3-3, 28.167
266. Hesperia, 324, 4-2, 42.500
267. Carson City-Crystal, 323, 6-0, 69.333
268. Bridgman, 320, 4-2, 42.433
269. Lake City, 314, 6-0, 61.333
270. Whittemore-Prescott, 309, 4-2, 45.667
271. Springport ^, 308, 5-1, 52.667
272. Lawton, 307, 6-0, 60.000
273. Southfield Christian ^, 306, 5-1, 48.667
274. East Jordan, 302, 3-3, 28.500
275. Ishpeming, 301, 6-0, 60.571
276. Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker ^, 301, 5-1, 55.333
277. Sandusky, 299, 3-3, 25.167
278. Dansville, 298, 4-2, 38.833
279. Pewamo-Westphalia, 295, 6-0, 65.333
280. Madison Heights Bishop Foley, 295, 4-2, 53.167
281. Evart ^, 292, 5-1, 51.500
282. Traverse City St. Francis, 291, 4-2, 54.833
283. Genesee, 289, 3-3, 30.000
284. Mancelona, 286, 4-2, 41.167
285. Unionville-Sebewaing, 285, 4-2, 33.000
286. Homer, 284, 6-0, 64.000
287. Detroit Loyola, 282, 6-0, 96.000
288. Gobles, 280, 3-3, 28.500
289. St. Joseph Lake Michigan Catholic *, 279, 36647, 56.800
290. Decatur ^, 279, 5-1, 52.833
291. Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett, 279, 3-3, 34.167
292. Royal Oak Shrine Catholic ^, 278, 5-1, 63.167
293. Cassopolis Ross Beatty, 278, 3-3, 34.867
294. Auburn Hills Oakland Christian, 276, 4-2, 37.000
295. Lincoln Alcona, 273, 6-0, 57.333
296. Iron River West Iron County, 268, 6-0, 66.667
297. Hudson ^, 268, 5-1, 51.333
298. Reading, 268, 3-3, 23.500
299. Burton Bentley, 264, 3-3, 27.833
300. Britton Deerfield, 260, 4-2, 47.833
301. Saugatuck ^, 255, 5-1, 43.333
302. New Buffalo, 253, 3-3, 34.533
303. Suttons Bay, 253, 3-3, 29.833
304. Harbor Beach ^, 252, 5-1, 58.167
305. Merrill, 250, 3-3, 34.333
306. Kalamazoo Christian, 250, 3-3, 31.000
307. Ottawa Lake Whiteford, 248, 4-2, 43.833
308. Vestaburg, 248, 4-2, 37.767
309. Johannesburg-Lewiston, 246, 4-2, 36.667
310. New Lothrop, 243, 6-0, 72.000
311. Bessemer, 241, 4-2, 37.748
312. Onekama, 240, 3-3, 23.000
313. Petersburg-Summerfield, 239, 3-3, 34.833
314. L'Anse ^, 236, 5-1, 47.500
315. Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary ^, 233, 5-1, 60.833
316. White Pigeon, 228, 4-2, 41.433
317. Detroit Allen Academy *, 226, 41335, 41.700
318. Coleman ^, 225, 5-1, 46.433
319. St. Ignace La Salle ^, 224, 5-1, 58.667
320. Pittsford, 219, 4-2, 33.667
321. Beal City, 218, 6-0, 73.333
322. Mendon, 211, 6-0, 66.133
323. Mio ^, 210, 5-1, 47.167
324. Stephenson, 206, 3-3, 26.333
325. Morenci, 205, 4-2, 44.167
326. Fowler ^, 200, 5-1, 52.833
327. Powers North Central ^, 196, 5-1, 42.167
328. Munising, 196, 3-3, 26.167
329. Rogers City, 192, 3-3, 24.500
330. Atlanta, 186, 3-3, 25.667
331. Climax-Scotts, 185, 6-0, 56.000
332. Waterford Our Lady, 173, 4-2, 53.333
333. Bellevue, 172, 4-2, 34.167
334. Muskegon Catholic Central, 167, 4-2, 43.667
335. Lake Linden-Hubbell, 166, 4-2, 38.714
336. Crystal Falls Forest Park, 163, 6-0, 62.857
337. Sterling Heights Parkway Christian, 160, 3-3, 25.500
338. Adrian Lenawee Christian, 155, 4-2, 34.667
339. Gaylord St. Mary, 154, 3-3, 27.600
340. Hillman, 151, 3-3, 26.667
341. Pickford, 150, 4-2, 37.267
342. Baldwin, 129, 4-2, 35.100
343. Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart ^, 124, 5-1, 48.833
344. Clarkston Everest Collegiate ^, 110, 5-1, 60.500
345. Felch North Dickinson *, 103, 5-1, 46.167
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8-Player Playoff Listing
1. Rapid River, 120, 6-0, 52.000
2. Peck, 171, 6-0, 49.600
3. Portland St. Patrick, 107, 6-0, 46.667
4. Battle Creek St. Philip, 157, 6-0, 44.267
5. Owendale-Gagetown, 68, 6-0, 41.333
6. Cedarville, 191, 5-1, 40.033
7. Carsonville-Port Sanilac, 151, 5-1, 39.533
8. Bellaire, 147, 5-1, 35.533
9. Kinde-North Huron, 169, 4-2, 32.433
10. Lawrence *, 191, 4-1, 31.767
11. Akron-Fairgrove, 99, 5-1, 30.167
12. Burr Oak, 76, 4-2, 29.667
13. Posen, 82, 3-3, 28.867
14. Deckerville, 185, 3-3, 26.967
15. Waldron, 89, 3-3, 21.333
16. Engadine, 88, 2-4, 19.167
17. Eben Junction Superior Central *, 136, 2-3, 17.133
18. Brimley, 149, 2-4, 14.367
19. Webberville, 177, 2-4, 14.333
20. Marine City Cardinal Mooney, 182, 1-5, 12.167
21. St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran, 111, 1-5, 12.100
22. Kingston *, 195, 1-4, 10.400
23. New Haven Merritt, 141, 1-5, 9.000
24. Tekonsha, 158, 1-5, 8.000
25. Ewen-Trout Creek, 155, 1-5, 7.500
26. Flint Michigan School for the Deaf *, 50, 0-6, 3.000
27. Litchfield, 117, 0-6, 2.667
Beaudrie's Rebuild of Jefferson Football Gaining Speed with Fast Start
By
Doug Donnelly
Special for MHSAA.com
September 17, 2025
NEWPORT – Rob Beaudrie has found the secret formula to building a winning football team.
Take over as head coach. Tap his freshman son (even if unexpectedly) as the starting quarterback. Mix in a couple of years hitting the weights, consistent offseason workouts and getting the underclassmen to buy into the playbook and new culture.
Oh, and winning a few games doesn’t hurt.
“Kids like to win,” Beaudrie said. “They don’t want to go out and practice two or three hours every day and go 0-9. It’s not fun for them. These kids have bought in. They’ve been playing football together since they were in youth football. It’s a good experience for them.”
Beaudrie is the head football coach at Monroe Jefferson, a Division 6 school in Newport, along the shores of Lake Erie and home to the Fermi 2 nuclear power plant. The Bears were once a football power, winning the Class BB championship in 1994, but have struggled for the last 20 years or so.
Being from the area, Beaudrie knew all about Jefferson. He took the job three seasons ago. He stayed on the course and things slowly improved.
This year, everything has come together as the Bears are off to a 3-0 start for the first time since 2006. One more win and they’ll have more victories than in any one season since 2016, which was the last time Jefferson qualified for the playoffs.
“We’ve come a long way,” Beaudrie said. “We are doing a lot of things right. We are attacking the ball, pursuing. We’re blocking together. There are still some growing pains. We are young in some areas, but they’ve come along well. They are very talented.”
Beaudrie inserted his son Luke, then a freshman, into the starting quarterback role his first year as head coach. It was an unexpected move because Luke had been a slot receiver or running back while playing youth football and middle school football. When the player Beaudrie expected to be the starting quarterback quit the team, Beaudrie turned to his son.
“He’s not a true quarterback, but he’s learning,” Beaudrie said. “He’s learned to understand the offense and read the defense. He’s a leader.”
In Jefferson’s 52-21 win over Milan on Friday, Luke Beaudrie returned a kickoff 99 yards, had touchdown runs of 65, 2, 50 and 32 and returned an interception 89 yards for a touchdown – all in the first half.
“He’s a special athlete,” Rob Beaudrie said. “He was never tackled in middle school. He’s very fast and has great vision.”
Luke said he has adapted to being the quarterback.
“When I first started, I didn’t think it was for me,” he said. “But you have to have the mindset ‘whatever is best for the team.’ I started learning it, and now I’m more comfortable.”
Through three games, Beaudrie has 487 yards rushing, 243 yards passing and has scored 13 touchdowns.
The Beaudries have used this same game plan before, but at a different school. Rob was head coach at Erie Mason, a program that had struggled. His son Noah became the starting quarterback as a freshman, went through some growing pains, but developed into an all-stater his senior season as Mason won a league championship.
Noah went on to play college football at Mount Union University (Ohio) where he quarterbacked the Purple Raiders into the Division III national championship game last season. This year, Noah transferred to Adrian College where he is the starting quarterback and has the Bulldogs off to a 2-0 start.
Being close to home has allowed him to serve as an assistant coach for Jefferson.
“The schedules line up really well,” Rob Beaudrie said. “He can be at (our) practice just about every Sunday and Monday and can be at most of our games. He helps Luke out a lot. He’s brought a lot of college experiences with him to the playbook.”
Another former player Rob had at Mason, Tanner Herrera, is helping coach the Jefferson offense.
“I didn’t want to do it all,” Beaudrie said. “I offered him the OC (offensive coordinator) job, and he’s run with it.”
Beaudrie said he thought this could be the year Jefferson turned things around. The Bears still have a difficult Huron League schedule ahead of them. This week they take on Riverview, then have Flat Rock and Division 7 No. 1-ranked Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central.
“The good thing is, these kids don’t know what they don’t know,” Beaudrie said.
Roster numbers have gone up steadily since Beaudrie took over. His first season the Bears had 23 players in the entire program. Last year they had 36 players in all and no seniors. This year Jefferson counts 61 players – plenty enough for a JV and varsity program.
“That has been a huge help,” he said.
The first two years weren’t easy as he brought his system to Jefferson. He faced skepticism over the team’s passing attack. For years, even decades, Jefferson was known for its rushing offense; at one time, the Bears would go weeks without attempting a pass.
“This is all new at Jefferson. People would tell me, ‘They don’t know anything about passing the ball; you can’t do that,’” Beaudrie said. “I told them, ‘You’d be surprised what kids can learn.’ We came in and did our thing. We were out-manned a bit the first few years.
“Sometimes the first couple of years you get a new coach in, and some people don’t like what you are doing. It wasn’t going to ruffle my feathers. I have thick skin. There’s a plan, and you have to trust the process, trust the system.
“Now, the kids are excited, the parents are excited, everyone is excited. Everybody likes a winner. I’m excited to see what happens next year as well, but we are going to enjoy these wins right now.”
Jefferson athletic director Alyssa Eppler said the football success has brought excitement to the games and district.
"There’s an incredible buzz in our school and community right now, and it’s been building for a few years now,” she said. “It’s exciting to finally see it all come together. You can feel the energy in the hallways and see it in the stands on Friday nights. Or first home game truly had the atmosphere of a homecoming. We’re proud of the momentum and what it means for our kids."
Luke Beaudrie is happy with how things have worked out, even if he had to learn a new position.
“The first few years were a little rough,” he said. “Now, everyone is starting to buy in, and everyone expects some good things the next couple of years. It feels amazing. This hasn’t happened here in a while.”
Doug Donnelly has served as a news and sports reporter at the Adrian Daily Telegram and the Monroe News for 30 years, including 10 years as city editor in Monroe. He's written a book on high school basketball in Monroe County and compiles record books for various schools in southeast Michigan. He is now publisher and editor of The Blissfield Advance, a weekly newspaper. E-mail him at [email protected] with story ideas for Jackson, Washtenaw, Hillsdale, Lenawee and Monroe counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Monroe Jefferson’s Luke Beaudrie sprints toward the end zone during a game last season. (Middle) Jefferson coach Rob Beaudrie holds a pad while Luke works on making a cut during practice. (Photos courtesy of the Monroe News.)