Week 8 Football Playoff Listing
October 15, 2013
Here is a list of Michigan High School Athletic Association football playing schools, displaying their win-loss records and playoff averages through the seventh 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. Utica Eisenhower, 2772, 4-3, 58.429
2. Clarkston, 2737, 6-1, 87.286
3. Macomb Dakota, 2693, 7-0, 100.571
4. Howell, 2672, 4-3, 57.857
5. Grand Blanc, 2624, 6-1, 91.000
6. East Kentwood ^, 2612, 5-2, 73.143
7. Rockford, 2572, 6-1, 91.000
8. Clinton Township Chippewa Valley, 2506, 7-0, 104.000
9. Lake Orion, 2490, 6-1, 85.143
10. Dearborn Fordson, 2309, 4-3, 61.048
11. Holland West Ottawa, 2293, 4-3, 59.286
12. Northville, 2275, 6-1, 86.000
13. Detroit Cass Tech, 2262, 7-0, 100.571
14. Brighton ^, 2164, 5-2, 77.000
15. Monroe ^, 2145, 5-2, 67.857
16. Detroit Catholic Central, 2132, 6-1, 85.810
17. Plymouth ^, 2126, 5-2, 67.429
18. Canton, 2078, 7-0, 106.286
19. Novi, 1986, 4-3, 55.571
20. Macomb L'Anse Creuse North, 1965, 6-1, 85.000
21. West Bloomfield, 1941, 4-3, 57.857
22. Saline, 1897, 6-1, 88.000
23. Westland John Glenn, 1880, 4-3, 54.143
24. Holt, 1866, 4-3, 58.000
25. Warren Mott, 1796, 7-0, 92.571
26. Rochester Hills Stoney Creek ^, 1759, 5-2, 72.000
27. Hudsonville, 1736, 4-3, 62.571
28. Ann Arbor Skyline, 1715, 4-3, 54.143
29. Grand Ledge, 1715, 4-3, 55.571
30. Belleville ^, 1714, 5-2, 69.714
31. Davison, 1692, 4-3, 47.571
32. Walled Lake Northern ^, 1688, 5-2, 70.714
33. Traverse City West, 1653, 4-3, 61.857
34. Rochester, 1615, 4-3, 55.286
35. Waterford Kettering, 1604, 4-3, 54.571
36. Temperance Bedford, 1600, 7-0, 108.571
37. Grosse Pointe South, 1598, 4-3, 57.571
38. Rochester Adams, 1582, 4-3, 60.286
39. Saginaw Heritage, 1575, 4-3, 57.000
40. Warren DeLaSalle ^, 1564, 5-2, 79.200
41. Walled Lake Western, 1556, 7-0, 99.429
42. Flint Carman-Ainsworth, 1488, 6-1, 84.286
43. Detroit U-D Jesuit, 1476, 4-3, 59.857
44. Midland, 1462, 6-1, 87.571
45. Ypsilanti Lincoln, 1460, 6-1, 79.714
46. Pinckney ^, 1452, 5-2, 72.143
47. Traverse City Central, 1448, 4-3, 52.952
48. Oak Park ^, 1438, 5-2, 71.143
49. Detroit Martin Luther King *, 1432, 6-0, 97.714
50. Ypsilanti Community, 1399, 4-3, 49.000
51. Port Huron ^, 1398, 5-2, 68.548
52. Wyandotte Roosevelt, 1373, 7-0, 102.857
53. Portage Central, 1372, 7-0, 99.429
54. Lansing Everett ^, 1369, 5-2, 63.714
55. Portage Northern ^, 1364, 5-2, 72.571
56. Southfield, 1356, 6-1, 93.429
57. North Farmington *^, 1352, 4-3, 53.810
58. Caledonia ^, 1350, 5-2, 66.714
59. Battle Creek Lakeview, 1348, 7-0, 84.571
60. Birmingham Seaholm, 1337, 7-0, 93.714
61. Birmingham Brother Rice, 1326, 7-0, 104.857
62. Grosse Pointe North, 1323, 4-3, 58.571
63. Muskegon Mona Shores, 1314, 6-1, 86.429
64. Midland Dow, 1304, 6-1, 83.000
65. Farmington Hills Harrison, 1300, 6-1, 91.000
66. South Lyon ^, 1277, 5-2, 72.143
67. Swartz Creek, 1277, 4-3, 57.024
68. Birmingham Groves, 1274, 7-0, 93.714
69. Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills, 1231, 4-3, 46.143
70. Fenton, 1188, 7-0, 97.143
71. Grand Rapids Northview, 1182, 4-3, 54.857
72. Warren Woods Tower ^, 1170, 5-2, 55.429
73. Muskegon Reeths-Puffer, 1151, 6-1, 86.143
74. Lowell, 1146, 7-0, 110.857
75. Taylor Truman, 1131, 6-1, 81.714
76. Holly, 1124, 4-3, 55.714
77. Muskegon, 1118, 6-1, 92.286
78. Lapeer East, 1113, 4-3, 55.714
79. Marquette *, 1110, 5-1, 79.381
80. Detroit East English ^, 1109, 5-2, 64.738
81. Detroit Cody, 1106, 4-3, 51.429
82. Allen Park ^, 1103, 5-2, 72.429
83. Detroit Renaissance, 1097, 4-3, 48.857
84. Detroit Mumford, 1090, 6-1, 78.571
85. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern, 1079, 6-1, 77.429
86. Zeeland East ^, 1071, 5-2, 72.286
87. Lapeer West, 1063, 6-1, 89.571
88. Redford Thurston, 1063, 4-3, 60.714
89. Byron Center ^, 1039, 5-2, 63.714
90. Mt. Pleasant, 1033, 6-1, 87.714
91. Riverview ^, 993, 5-2, 59.857
92. St. Joseph, 986, 7-0, 97.143
93. Petoskey, 965, 4-3, 55.571
94. Mason ^, 958, 5-2, 62.000
95. East Grand Rapids, 949, 4-3, 56.857
96. Linden, 944, 4-3, 52.000
97. DeWitt, 941, 7-0, 101.943
98. Sault Ste. Marie, 928, 4-3, 52.857
99. Grand Rapids Christian, 927, 6-1, 87.571
100. Detroit Denby ^, 909, 5-2, 60.833
101. Haslett ^, 907, 5-2, 65.143
102. Stevensville Lakeshore, 892, 4-3, 51.429
103. Fruitport ^, 886, 5-2, 58.571
104. Romulus, 882, 4-3, 44.000
105. Milan, 872, 7-0, 94.857
106. St. Clair, 869, 7-0, 92.571
107. Tecumseh ^, 869, 5-2, 66.000
108. Sturgis, 868, 4-3, 53.286
109. Wayland Union, 861, 4-3, 59.143
110. Melvindale, 860, 6-1, 84.286
111. Plainwell, 852, 6-1, 77.429
112. Ionia ^, 851, 5-2, 62.000
113. Sparta ^, 851, 5-2, 61.571
114. Eaton Rapids, 844, 4-3, 49.143
115. Detroit Old Redford *, 838, 5-2, 59.571
116. Zeeland West, 833, 6-1, 78.286
117. Charlotte ^, 830, 5-2, 71.000
118. Battle Creek Harper Creek, 823, 6-1, 76.286
119. Dearborn Heights Annapolis, 818, 4-3, 49.143
120. North Branch, 809, 6-1, 70.429
121. Marysville, 791, 4-3, 51.000
122. Detroit Collegiate Prep, 790, 4-3, 44.286
123. Three Rivers, 789, 4-3, 43.429
124. Edwardsburg, 787, 7-0, 81.143
125. Holland Christian, 785, 4-3, 50.000
126. Spring Lake, 783, 6-1, 72.714
127. Cadillac, 779, 7-0, 94.095
128. Ogemaw Heights ^, 754, 5-2, 63.381
129. Croswell-Lexington, 738, 4-3, 47.714
130. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep ^, 732, 5-2, 65.571
131. Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy, 724, 6-1, 70.476
132. Yale ^, 704, 5-2, 58.143
133. Comstock Park, 701, 7-0, 98.667
134. Detroit Country Day, 700, 4-3, 54.571
135. Fremont, 697, 4-3, 40.714
136. St. Clair Shores South Lake, 690, 4-3, 49.571
137. Otsego ^, 688, 5-2, 54.143
138. Corunna, 686, 4-3, 45.143
139. Lansing Sexton, 684, 7-0, 99.429
140. Grand Rapids Catholic Central, 678, 4-3, 48.429
141. Allendale *, 676, 6-1, 77.429
142. Cheboygan ^, 660, 5-2, 66.238
143. Belding, 654, 4-3, 44.429
144. Battle Creek Pennfield, 652, 6-1, 65.857
145. Williamston *^, 651, 4-3, 46.714
146. Grand Rapids South Christian, 645, 6-1, 81.857
147. Saginaw Swan Valley, 644, 7-0, 85.714
148. Richmond, 642, 6-1, 74.000
149. Dearborn Heights Robichaud, 635, 4-3, 54.714
150. Grosse Ile, 632, 4-3, 47.571
151. Paw Paw, 632, 7-0, 78.857
152. Dowagiac, 621, 6-1, 67.000
153. Lake Fenton, 613, 6-1, 70.429
154. Ludington, 610, 4-3, 43.000
155. Remus Chippewa Hills, 600, 4-3, 43.286
156. Marine City, 596, 7-0, 98.286
157. Wyoming Kelloggsville ^, 591, 5-2, 53.286
158. Clawson ^, 584, 5-2, 55.429
159. Essexville Garber ^, 583, 5-2, 60.857
160. Livonia Clarenceville, 577, 7-0, 84.571
161. Portland *, 572, 7-0, 89.143
162. Freeland, 568, 6-1, 69.429
163. River Rouge, 568, 6-1, 57.619
164. Kingsford ^, 561, 5-2, 56.095
165. Wyoming Godwin Heights, 560, 4-3, 36.000
166. Parchment, 552, 4-3, 43.286
167. Ovid-Elsie ^, 549, 5-2, 55.429
168. Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard, 544, 6-1, 77.429
169. Clinton Township Clintondale, 544, 7-0, 81.143
170. North Muskegon ^, 541, 5-2, 51.571 |
171. Gladwin ^, 539, 5-2, 55.000
172. Frankenmuth, 527, 6-1, 79.000
173. Hopkins ^, 527, 5-2, 66.286
174. Almont, 524, 6-1, 71.571
175. Newaygo, 523, 6-1, 66.000
176. Standish-Sterling Central *, 520, 6-1, 72.571
177. Olivet, 505, 6-1, 63.571
178. Ida ^, 504, 5-2, 60.143
179. Detroit University Prep ^, 501, 5-2, 52.714
180. Menominee, 501, 7-0, 86.857
181. Muskegon Oakridge, 496, 6-1, 67.143
182. Grayling, 494, 6-1, 63.286
183. Reed City, 490, 7-0, 83.429
184. Riverview Gabriel Richard ^, 490, 5-2, 56.857
185. Dundee ^, 489, 5-2, 45.857
186. Lansing Catholic, 480, 4-3, 50.429
187. Clare ^, 451, 5-2, 51.857
188. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central, 445, 6-1, 76.286
189. Jackson Lumen Christi, 441, 7-0, 93.714
190. Kingsley ^, 439, 5-2, 48.286
191. Houghton, 437, 4-3, 34.196
192. Roscommon, 431, 4-3, 36.286
193. Millington ^, 430, 5-2, 59.571
194. Warren Michigan Collegiate ^, 428, 5-2, 57.143
195. Kalkaska ^, 425, 5-2, 49.429
196. Madison Heights Madison, 424, 7-0, 86.857
197. Sanford Meridian, 423, 6-1, 61.143
198. Michigan Center, 416, 6-1, 56.714
199. Negaunee, 416, 6-1, 52.286
200. Hanover-Horton, 412, 4-3, 35.857
201. Montrose Hill-McCloy, 411, 7-0, 82.286
202. Lakeview ^, 409, 5-2, 56.429
203. Grass Lake, 402, 6-1, 64.714
204. Shelby, 401, 7-0, 76.571
205. Elk Rapids ^, 400, 5-2, 57.143
206. Ithaca, 399, 7-0, 80 .000
207. Manchester, 398, 6-1, 61.429
208. Hillsdale, 397, 4-3, 47.429
209. Niles Brandywine, 397, 7-0, 79.286
210. Jonesville, 389, 6-1, 66.000
211. Grandville Calvin Christian, 388, 4-3, 47.143
212. Maple City Glen Lake, 388, 7-0, 72.000
213. Watervliet, 387, 7-0, 62.857
214. Vassar, 385, 4-3, 36.429
215. Boyne City, 383, 6-1, 62.571
216. Clinton, 383, 7-0, 76.571
217. Byron Area, 380, 6-1, 58.000
218. Constantine ^, 379, 5-2, 46.857
219. Adrian Madison, 374, 4-3, 35.000
220. Burton Bendle ^, 374, 5-2, 51.476
221. Montague ^, 373, 5-2, 58.714
222. St. Charles, 367, 4-3, 36.000
223. Quincy, 361, 4-3, 32.571
224. Hartford, 351, 4-3, 39.000
225. Cass City, 350, 4-3, 35.714
226. Indian River Inland Lakes ^, 348, 5-2, 40.333
227. Schoolcraft, 346, 6-1, 70.429
228. Flint Beecher ^, 345, 5-2, 55.286
229. Reese, 337, 6-1, 58.000
230. Saginaw Nouvel, 333, 6-1, 73.429
231. Marlette, 332, 7-0, 69.714
232. Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian, 331, 6-1, 68.000
233. McBain, 326, 4-3, 38.571
234. Bath, 325, 4-3, 38.000
235. Hesperia, 324, 4-3, 38.714
236. Carson City-Crystal, 323, 7-0, 74.286
237. Bridgman, 320, 4-3, 39.000
238. Lake City, 314, 6-1, 55.714
239. Whittemore-Prescott ^, 309, 5-2, 49.571
240. Springport ^, 308, 5-2, 47.286
241. Lawton, 307, 7-0, 60.571
242. Southfield Christian, 306, 6-1, 55.571
243. East Jordan, 302, 4-3, 33.857
244. Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker ^, 301, 5-2, 51.714
245. Ishpeming, 301, 7-0, 67.857 &
Clarkston Kicker Grabs QB Opportunity
By
Tom Markowski
Special for Second Half
October 13, 2015
CLARKSTON – This season seemed to be going from bad to worse for Clarkston.
The Wolves were blitzed by Macomb Dakota, 35-10, in the opener and in their third game were tied 14-14 with West Bloomfield when starting quarterback Anthony Reiner suffered a broken hand.
The two-time defending Division 1 champion went on to lose that game, 35-21, to fall to 1-2.
As poorly as Clarkston started the season, its fortunes changed. Alex Kessman, a senior who will in all likelihood be a place kicker at a Division I college next season, got an opportunity he really didn’t expect.
Kessman hadn’t played quarterback since the ninth grade, when he led Clarkston’s freshmen team to an undefeated season. When Reiner went out last month, coach Kurt Richardson went to Kessman – and he’s responded as if he was an experienced quarterback.
Kessman couldn’t rescue Clarkston against West Bloomfield, but the Wolves are 4-0 since with Kessman as the starter. He’s thrown seven touchdown passes including three in a 28-0 over Troy Athens.
If Kessman wasn’t such a fine place kicker and punter he likely would have started the season at quarterback. Instead he was in the secondary, kicked and was Reiner’s backup.
“We wanted to groom (Kessman) during the summer but he was always at kicking camps,” Richardson said. “The other guy was working real hard and we went with (Reiner).
“When Anthony got hurt it was a natural thing. I told him he was our best quarterback. At first it didn’t come quick. He’s gotten better every week. He’s got a very strong arm. We still run the same offense. We’re throwing more (with Kessman).”
Kessman no longer plays defense but he is still kicking, and kicking well. He kicked a 56-yard field goal against Dakota and has since kicked one from 53 yards out.
Kessman made his third visit to University of Pittsburgh last weekend and said the Panthers are at the top of his college list at this point. Mississippi State has offered Kessman preferred walk-on status and other schools such as Michigan, Florida and Tennessee also are in the mix.
Physically, Kessman is not your typical kicker. He’s 6-3 and weighs 185 pounds. He played basketball until his sophomore year, when he decided to concentrate on his kicking.
Kessman started playing football in the seventh grade and was a kicker even back then. As a sophomore he played safety and kicked as a member of the junior varsity. Last season Kessman was the punter and place kicker on varsity but did not play defense.
Now he’s showing he’s more than just a kicker, at least at this level.
“I wasn’t really rusty,” he said. “I was prepared if Anthony went down. I didn’t practice a lot (at quarterback). I threw occasionally. The first couple of plays I was nervous. I got comfortable. It was at halftime of the West Bloomfield game. Thanks to my teammates I have no trouble getting comfortable now.”
As one would guess, one of his biggest challenges was learning an extensive playbook. Richardson’s quarterbacks have much responsibility making proper decisions on read option plays and checking down on second and third receivers.
“I know the ins and outs now,” Kessman said. “That comes from off-the-field stuff. I put a lot of time in on my own. The toughest part is reading the corners and reading the safeties.”
Clarkston is averaging 40 points a game in Kessman’s four starts but it would be unfair to give him all the credit. The five offensive linemen who started in last season’s MHSAA Final graduated, and Clarkston is starting three underclassmen up front including two sophomores. The line struggled early on, but is playing much better now.
Then there’s Nolan Eriksen, a senior running back. Eriksen suffered a high ankle sprain in Clarkston’s inter-squad game during the preseason and made his season debut against Troy Athens. He scored four touchdowns in last week’s 42-0 victory over Troy.
“Eriksen is obviously fantastic,” Kessman said. “I know when I hand it off to him he’ll get at least five yards or take it all the way.”
Tom Markowski is a columnist and directs website coverage for the State Champs! Sports Network. He previously covered primarily high school sports for the The Detroit News from 1984-2014, focusing on the Detroit area and contributing to statewide coverage of football and basketball. Contact him at [email protected] with story ideas for Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties.
PHOTOS: (Top) Clarkston’s Alex Kessman lines up for a punt during last season’s Division 1 Final at Ford Field (Middle) Kessman signals before another punt. (Below) Kessman is considered a Division I college prospect as a kicker.