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Week 9 Football Playoff Listing

October 16, 2012

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. 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 Oct. 26-27. 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 Oct. 26-27. All 8-player teams, regardless of win total, are listed below.

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 at 6 p.m. on Oct. 21 on the Selection Sunday Show 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, 6-2, 85.250

2. Sterling Heights Stevenson, 2766, 6-2, 81.375

3. Clarkston, 2721, 8-0, 109.000

4. Howell ^, 2692, 5-3, 67.750

5. Grand Blanc, 2644, 4-4, 57.000

6. Macomb Dakota, 2608, 7-1, 94.750

7. Lake Orion, 2565, 7-1, 94.875

8. Rockford, 2526, 6-2, 81.625

9. Troy ^, 2502, 5-3, 65.125

10. Clinton Township Chippewa Valley ^, 2462, 5-3, 69.750

11. Dearborn Fordson, 2442, 7-1, 102.375

12. Holland West Ottawa, 2262, 6-2, 77.250

13. Northville ^, 2220, 5-3, 65.875

14. Detroit Cass Tech, 2200, 6-2, 80.125

15. Canton ^, 2166, 5-3, 63.500

16. Monroe, 2154, 6-2, 72.250

17. Detroit Catholic Central ^, 2060, 5-3, 65.792

18. Plymouth, 2050, 7-1, 89.875

19. Salem ^, 2039, 5-3, 67.500

20. Livonia Stevenson, 2005, 6-2, 78.250

21. Holt ^, 1992, 5-3, 61.750

22. Hartland, 1932, 7-1, 92.625

23. Warren Mott, 1879, 7-1, 79.625

24. Livonia Churchill, 1877, 8-0, 111.000

25. Macomb L'Anse Creuse North, 1853, 6-2, 76.125

26. Saline, 1849, 7-1, 91.500

27. Grandville, 1846, 4-4, 47.750

28. Romeo, 1802, 4-4, 59.500

29. Dearborn ^, 1790, 5-3, 71.000

30. Rochester Hills Stoney Creek ^, 1777, 5-3, 62.125

31. Flint Carman-Ainsworth, 1772, 7-1, 80.875

32. Grand Ledge, 1743, 6-2, 76.125

33. Rochester ^, 1725, 5-3, 63.125

34. Traverse City West ^, 1720, 5-3, 64.625

35. White Lake Lakeland ^, 1700, 5-3, 62.750

36. Harrison Township L'Anse Creuse, 1680, 4-4, 48.500

37. Belleville, 1678, 4-4, 54.500

38. Ann Arbor Pioneer ^, 1670, 5-3, 65.625

39. Davison, 1664, 6-2, 69.750

40. Grosse Pointe South, 1648, 7-1, 90.625

41. Walled Lake Northern, 1599, 6-2, 84.375

42. Temperance Bedford ^, 1581, 5-3, 63.125

43. Walled Lake Western, 1553, 6-2, 77.375

44. Warren DeLaSalle, 1550, 4-4, 53.292

45. Brownstown Woodhaven, 1520, 7-1, 88.750

46. Ypsilanti Lincoln ^, 1520, 5-3, 58.500

47. Wyoming, 1515, 4-4, 41.429

48. Dearborn Edsel Ford ^, 1508, 5-3, 60.625

49. Midland, 1485, 8-0, 109.000

50. Oxford ^, 1481, 5-3, 69.875

51. Port Huron, 1473, 6-2, 76.000

52. Pinckney, 1448, 4-4, 50.000

53. Traverse City Central, 1429, 7-1, 88.250

54. Oak Park, 1391, 7-1, 99.500

55. Bay City Central, 1385, 4-4, 46.000

56. Kalamazoo Loy Norrix, 1364, 4-4, 46.250

57. Lansing Everett, 1359, 8-0, 111.000

58. Grosse Pointe North ^, 1353, 5-3, 60.875

59. Midland Dow ^, 1350, 5-3, 58.500

60. Birmingham Seaholm, 1349, 7-1, 90.750

61. Battle Creek Lakeview ^, 1347, 5-3, 61.875

62. Garden City, 1344, 4-4, 48.125

63. Portage Central ^, 1340, 5-3, 62.375

64. Muskegon Mona Shores, 1337, 4-4, 48.750

65. Birmingham Brother Rice, 1336, 6-2, 84.250

66. Portage Northern, 1328, 7-1, 87.875

67. Caledonia, 1308, 6-2, 73.500

68. Wyandotte Roosevelt, 1304, 7-1, 90.750

69. Farmington Hills Harrison ^, 1302, 5-3, 67.750

70. Detroit Martin Luther King ^, 1287, 5-3, 66.375

71. Detroit Cody ^, 1282, 5-3, 57.589

72. Farmington, 1278, 6-2, 79.250

73. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, 1278, 4-4, 52.000

74. South Lyon, 1262, 4-4, 48.625

75. Taylor Truman, 1253, 7-1, 91.750

76. Berkley, 1225, 4-4, 47.125

77. Flushing, 1225, 4-4, 44.375

78. Swartz Creek, 1223, 7-1, 86.750

79. Southfield ^, 1218, 5-3, 69.625

80. Fenton, 1202, 7-1, 88.750

81. Grand Rapids Northview, 1180, 7-1, 82.500

82. Lowell, 1177, 7-1, 93.875

83. Holly, 1172, 4-4, 48.875

84. Bay City Western, 1171, 7-1, 79.875

85. Gibraltar Carlson, 1160, 4-4, 46.375

86. Muskegon, 1144, 8-0, 114.000

87. East Lansing ^, 1142, 5-3, 59.000

88. Mattawan, 1124, 7-1, 86.875

89. Allen Park ^, 1120, 5-3, 60.250

90. Marquette *, 1112, 5-3, 66.875

91. Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills, 1109, 4-4, 57.125

92. Lapeer West, 1101, 6-2, 78.375

93. Detroit Renaissance, 1094, 4-4, 45.125

94. Redford Thurston ^, 1088, 5-3, 60.000

95. Auburn Hills Avondale, 1080, 7-1, 84.750

96. St. Johns ^, 1068, 5-3, 62.375

97. Zeeland East, 1067, 8-0, 102.000

98. Byron Center ^, 1032, 5-3, 63.000

99. Detroit East English, 1030, 7-1, 89.750

100. Mt. Pleasant, 1014, 4-4, 52.125

101. Owosso ^, 1012, 5-3, 57.875

102. Lansing Waverly ^, 1011, 5-3, 57.375

103. St. Joseph, 974, 4-4, 53.875

104. Mason ^, 969, 5-3, 52.000

105. Petoskey ^, 967, 5-3, 64.875

106. Milan, 959, 8-0, 93.000

107. Sault Ste. Marie ^, 959, 5-3, 55.625

108. Grand Rapids Christian, 954, 7-1, 92.625

109. Cedar Springs, 950, 4-4, 37.000

110. DeWitt, 931, 6-2, 78.625

111. Fruitport, 929, 8-0, 86.000

112. Orchard Lake St. Mary's, 926, 6-2, 85.575

113. Bloomfield Hills Lahser ^, 925, 5-3, 60.375

114. Linden, 923, 7-1, 87.625

115. Niles, 920, 4-4, 45.750

116. Hazel Park, 909, 4-4, 46.625

117. Stevensville Lakeshore, 906, 8-0, 117.000

118. St. Clair, 901, 7-1, 83.750

119. Haslett, 894, 4-4, 50.125

120. South Lyon East, 891, 4-4, 51.125

121. Tecumseh, 887, 7-1, 78.500

122. Sturgis, 882, 4-4, 47.375

123. Melvindale, 879, 4-4, 49.500

124. Carleton Airport ^, 868, 5-3, 55.250

125. Detroit Central Collegiate ^, 868, 5-3, 59.750

126. Charlotte, 851, 6-2, 67.375

127. Chelsea ^, 851, 5-3, 63.875

128. Hastings, 850, 6-2, 67.750

129. Plainwell, 832, 6-2, 67.750

130. Cadillac, 820, 6-2, 68.000

131. Edwardsburg, 805, 6-2, 61.500

132. North Branch ^, 803, 5-3, 51.000

133. Hamilton ^, 801, 5-3, 60.071

134. Marysville, 794, 6-2, 71.500

135. Escanaba, 791, 4-4, 48.750

136. Warren Lincoln, 791, 4-4, 42.250

137. Zeeland West ^, 791, 5-3, 62.750

138. Detroit Old Redford, 787, 4-4, 33.107

139. Coopersville ^*, 781, 4-3, 48.607

140. Battle Creek Harper Creek, 780, 6-2, 78.375

141. Spring Lake ^, 778, 5-3, 53.321

142. Holland Christian, 771, 4-4, 46.750

143. Three Rivers ^, 760, 5-3, 48.125

144. Ogemaw Heights ^, 759, 5-3, 63.750

145. Goodrich, 748, 6-2, 61.500

146. Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy *, 729, 6-1, 73.036

147. Hudsonville Unity Christian, 727, 4-4, 48.125

148. Marshall ^, 723, 5-3, 55.500

149. Dearborn Heights Robichaud, 720, 7-1, 89.750

150. Big Rapids, 706, 7-1, 68.875

151. Croswell-Lexington, 704, 8-0, 91.000

152. St. Clair Shores South Lake, 704, 6-2, 70.000

153. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, 701, 8-0, 98.000

154. Otsego, 698, 6-2, 62.500

155. Yale, 689, 4-4, 45.250

156. Detroit Country Day, 685, 7-1, 90.125

157. Comstock Park, 678, 7-1, 83.071

158. Grand Rapids Catholic Central, 674, 8-0, 93.000

159. Armada, 667, 4-4, 44.750

160. Whitehall, 663, 4-4, 38.625

161. Grand Rapids South Christian ^, 660, 5-3, 58.000

162. Battle Creek Pennfield, 656, 7-1, 64.875

163. Richmond ^, 656, 5-3, 58.750

164. Grosse Ile, 649, 7-1, 76.875

165. Saginaw Swan Valley, 642, 6-2, 64.375

166. Paw Paw, 639, 8-0, 85.000

167. Allendale, 636, 7-1, 81.750

168. Williamston ^, 636, 5-3, 54.375

169. Cheboygan, 631, 6-2, 72.000

170. Marine City, 629, 7-1, 89.500

171. Alma ^, 614, 5-3, 54.750

172. Saginaw Valley Lutheran ^, 608, 5-3, 38.125

173. Dowagiac, 605, 8-0, 88.000

174. Livonia Clarenceville ^, 597, 5-3, 53.125

175. Midland Bullock Creek, 586, 4-4, 45.125

176. Clawson ^, 582, 5-3, 50.250

177. Remus Chippewa Hills ^, 581, 5-3, 49.250

178. Essexville Garber ^, 572, 5-3, 49.125

179. Clinton Township Clintondale, 570, 8-0, 83.000

180. Lake Fenton, 564, 7-1, 76.750

181. Grant ^, 562, 5-3, 54.000

182. Freeland, 561, 6-2, 70.250

183. Kingsford, 559, 7-1, 83.750

184. Portland, 555, 7-1, 83.750

185. Gladwin, 547, 6-2, 62.125

186. Almont ^, 543, 5-3, 57.125

187. Detroit Community, 543, 4-4, 25.696

188. Flint Powers Catholic, 542, 8-0, 98.000

189. Menominee, 539, 7-1, 90.750

190. Macomb Lutheran North ^, 537, 5-3, 53.875

191. North Muskegon, 532, 4-4, 40.875

192. Standish-Sterling Central ^, 532, 5-3, 54.750

193. Hopkins, 531, 8-0, 81.000

194. Detroit University Prep, 528, 7-1, 65.714

195. Grayling, 516, 8-0, 77.000

196. Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard, 515, 7-1, 81.875

197. Allen Park Cabrini, 512, 6-2, 56.625

198. Olivet ^, 509, 5-3, 47.375

199. Frankenmuth, 507, 8-0, 90.000

200. Newaygo, 507, 6-2, 59.625

201. Grand Rapids West Catholic ^, 503, 5-3, 65.542

202. Ida ^, 503, 5-3, 48.875

203. Capac, 495, 4-4, 42.125

204. River Rouge, 495, 8-0, 74.286

205. Manistee ^, 493, 5-3, 44.958

206. Carrollton, 492, 7-1, 65.875

207. Lansing Catholic, 487, 7-1, 85.625

208. Reed City, 480, 8-0, 90.000

209. Dundee, 476, 6-2, 58.125

210. Muskegon Oakridge, 474, 8-0, 84.000

211. Kingsley ^, 473, 5-3, 42.750

212. Jackson Lumen Christi, 472, 8-0, 94.000

213. Buchanan, 467, 6-2, 61.625

214. Leslie, 467, 8-0, 77.000

215. Clare, 465, 6-2, 66.500

216. Roscommon ^, 461, 5-3, 48.125

217. Kalkaska, 459, 6-2, 44.750

218. Millington, 459, 7-1, 72.875

219. Lakeview ^, 457, 5-3, 43.000

220. Warren Michigan Collegiate, 446, 6-2, 62.464

221. Harper Woods ^, 440, 5-3, 41.083

222. Boyne City, 437, 8-0, 72.000

223. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central, 437, 6-2, 63.625

224. Negaunee, 433, 7-1, 73.500

225. Elk Rapids, 432, 4-4, 37.000

226. Manistique ^, 430, 5-3, 43.875

227. Beaverton, 422, 4-4, 33.750

228. Hemlock, 421, 7-1, 82.875

229. Shelby, 417, 6-2, 64.625

230. Detroit Consortium, 416, 6-2, 53.411

231. Vassar, 416, 7-1, 59.875

232. Clinton, 413, 8-0, 80.000

233. Maple City Glen Lake, 409, 8-0, 66.000

234. Michigan Center, 406, 7-1, 65.625

235. Manchester, 404, 6-2, 57.625

236. Calumet ^, 402, 5-3, 50.375

237. Ithaca, 402, 8-0, 84.000

238. Montrose Hill-McCloy, 400, 7-1, 74.875

239. Niles Brandywine, 396, 6-2, 50.982

240. Grass Lake, 395, 7-1, 69.750

241. Hillsdale, 391, 8-0, 80.000

242. Madison Heights Madison, 391, 7-1, 78.250

243. Ecorse ^, 390, 5-3, 43.411

244. Montague, 390, 7-1, 72.875

245. Laingsburg, 388, 4-4, 33.375

246. Sanford Meridian ^, 388, 5-3, 46.625

247. Jonesville, 383, 6-2, 54.250

248. Saranac, 383, 4-4, 39.250

249. Cass City, 379, 4-4, 34.375

250. Constantine, 371, 7-1, 64.875

251. Grandville Calvin Christian, 371, 6-2, 56.625

252. Vandercook Lake, 371, 4-4, 37.375

253. Watervliet, 369, 8-0, 69.000

254. Schoolcraft, 366, 8-0, 83.000

255. Blissfield, 364, 4-4, 43.500

256. Byron Area, 364, 7-1, 56.875

257. Indian River Inland Lakes, 364, 4-4, 33.500

258. Bronson ^*, 361, 4-3, 34.679

259. Iron Mountain, 354, 4-4, 41.625

260. Reese, 350, 8-0, 78.000

261. Union City ^, 350, 5-3, 40.875

262. Burton Bendle, 348, 7-1, 56.875

263. Flint Beecher, 347, 4-4, 39.375

264. Pellston, 347, 4-4, 20.375

265. Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian ^, 346, 5-3, 38.750

266. Saginaw Nouvel, 344, 6-2, 77.250

267. Carson City-Crystal, 337, 6-2, 48.125

268. Hartford, 337, 6-2, 65.929

269. Marlette, 336, 4-4, 35.375

270. Flint Hamady ^, 334, 5-3, 39.375

271. Whittemore-Prescott, 328, 6-2, 59.375

272. Sandusky, 327, 4-4, 37.554

273. Bloomingdale, 326, 4-4, 31.375

274. Dansville, 323, 6-2, 52.375

275. Springport ^, 319, 5-3, 43.750

276. Bridgman ^, 318, 5-3, 47.089

277. Lawton, 317, 7-1, 65.625

278. Lake City, 316, 7-1, 58.875

279. Pewamo-Westphalia, 316, 6-2, 56.500

280. Manton, 315, 4-4, 26.500

281. Madison Heights Bishop Foley, 309, 4-4, 38.625

282. Ishpeming, 307, 7-1, 66.750

283. Detroit Douglass *, 306, 5-3, 58.750

284. Unionville-Sebewaing, 303, 4-4, 34.750

285. Evart, 302, 6-2, 44.625

286. Homer, 302, 4-4, 29.375

287. Traverse City St. Francis, 299, 4-4, 41.125

288. Detroit Loyola, 298, 8-0, 87.000

289. Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest *, 298, 5-3, 45.875

290. Lincoln Alcona *, 292, 6-2, 47.125

291. Genesee ^, 288, 5-3, 36.000

292. Mancelona, 288, 8-0, 63.000

293. Royal Oak Shrine Catholic, 284, 4-4, 45.500

294. Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett, 283, 7-1, 63.625

295. Reading, 283, 7-1, 65.375

296. Decatur, 277, 6-2, 48.625

297. Britton Deerfield ^, 276, 5-3, 49.250

298. Ubly ^, 275, 5-3, 36.625

299. Brown City ^, 272, 5-3, 51.000

300. Gobles, 271, 7-1, 53.750

301. Iron River West Iron County, 270, 4-4, 38.375

302. Ottawa Lake Whiteford, 268, 7-1, 61.875

303. Hudson, 264, 4-4, 39.125

304. Waterford Our Lady, 263, 6-2, 57.500

305. Mayville ^, 258, 5-3, 44.554

306. Saugatuck, 257, 4-4, 30.125

307. Melvindale Academy for Business & Tech, 254, 6-2, 54.137

308. New Buffalo, 250, 4-4, 29.875

309. Marcellus ^, 249, 5-3, 34.250

310. Harbor Beach, 245, 7-1, 65.750

311. Johannesburg-Lewiston, 243, 6-2, 40.536

312. Vestaburg, 242, 6-2, 50.375

313. Coleman, 239, 4-4, 34.125

314. New Lothrop, 237, 8-0, 71.000

315. Bessemer *, 233, 5-2, 41.929

316. L'Anse, 233, 6-2, 45.375

317. Petersburg-Summerfield, 232, 4-4, 33.625

318. Stephenson, 229, 6-2, 44.125

319. Merrill ^, 228, 5-3, 46.000

320. Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary, 220, 4-4, 38.375

321. Manistee Catholic Central ^, 219, 5-3, 34.625

322. Mendon, 216, 8-0, 76.571

323. Beal City, 213, 8-0, 82.000

324. Pittsford, 213, 6-2, 43.250

325. St. Ignace La Salle, 207, 8-0, 56.000

326. Lutheran Westland ^, 204, 5-3, 50.679

327. Mio ^, 203, 5-3, 36.696

328. AuGres-Sims ^, 199, 5-3, 36.071

329. Pickford, 197, 6-2, 47.750

330. Onaway ^, 194, 5-3, 36.000

331. Powers North Central ^, 194, 5-3, 30.875

332. Central Lake ^, 193, 5-3, 38.411

333. Fowler, 186, 7-1, 67.875

334. Climax-Scotts, 183, 8-0, 56.000

335. Muskegon Catholic Central ^, 181, 5-3, 49.458

336. Morrice, 171, 4-4, 28.875

337. St. Joseph Lake Michigan Catholic *, 171, 6-1, 50.196

338. Colon ^, 164, 5-3, 31.750

339. Crystal Falls Forest Park, 164, 6-2, 44.446

340. Baldwin *, 160, 6-2, 42.286

341. Lake Linden-Hubbell, 159, 4-4, 26.321

342. Hillman, 145, 4-4, 28.768

343. Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart, 121, 7-1, 70.875

344. Iron Mountain North Dickinson *, 112, 8-0, 66.429

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8-Player Playoff Listing

1. Deckerville, 194, 7-1, 55.875

2. Marine City Cardinal Mooney, 185, 4-4, 24.917

3. Battle Creek St. Philip, 182, 5-3, 34.375

4. Kinde-North Huron, 180, 4-4, 27.583

5. Kingston, 175, 4-4, 27.583

6. Cedarville, 169, 8-0, 65.571

7. Tekonsha, 163, 1-7, 10.750

8. Carsonville-Port Sanilac, 162, 4-4, 32.625

9. Bellaire, 161, 5-3, 36.429

10. Peck, 156, 7-1, 46.083

11. Ewen-Trout Creek *, 146, 1-6, 9.250

12. Brimley *, 145, 2-5, 15.107

13. Eben Junction Superior Central *, 132, 5-2, 39.196

14. New Haven Merritt *, 130, 1-5, 9.542

15. St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran *, 118, 1-5, 7.208

16. Litchfield, 115, 1-7, 8.625

17. Rapid River, 115, 7-1, 48.875

18. Portland St. Patrick, 104, 8-0, 57.000

19. Akron-Fairgrove, 95, 6-2, 36.458

20. Caseville, 90, 0-8, 3.750

21. Engadine *, 89, 3-4, 21.554

22. Rock Mid Peninsula, 87, 2-6, 17.418

23. Waldron, 87, 6-2, 37.375

24. Posen, 84, 2-6, 14.268

25. Burr Oak, 79, 3-5, 17.875

26. Owendale-Gagetown, 60, 6-2, 36.333

27. Flint Michigan School For The Deaf *, 45, 1-5, 7.833

'Wakers' Continue Marching Together

November 5, 2019

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

First the local media picked it up, which made sense – it was a great story, and easy to appreciate whether you’ve heard of Maple City or could find Fife Lake on the map.

In what was still perhaps surprising but a logical next step, The Associated Press and then Detroit Free Press and MLive took the story statewide. But then CNN and NPR told the rest of the U.S. – which was followed by interest from The Kelly Clarkson Show and a Skype interview with one of Ellen DeGeneres’ representatives.

There is no way Maple City Glen Lake athletic director Mark Mattson could’ve foreseen any of that publicity as he prepped for his football team’s home game Sept. 27. All he knew was that his high school didn’t have a marching band, and Fife Lake Forest Area – at least this season – didn’t have a varsity football team.

If you pay attention to high school sports in general or statewide news casually, you’ve probably heard some of the rest of this story. Mattson invited Forest Area director Brandon Deike and his band to play at Glen Lake’s game that night against Gladstone. A week later, after their story had been told all over the country, the schools combined for a “Marching for Ellen” spirit video hoping to land on the show.

Things have quieted back down substantially for the two small northern Lower Peninsula communities. But their march together continues.

“We don’t want it to end,” Mattson said. “Sometimes you see these initiatives begin, and it’s really cool, and they fizzle out. We want to work with our kids and their kids and Brandon over there to make cool things happen as we support each other – and at the end of the day to make his program grow and make our program grow over here.”

A little background: Forest Area’s high school and Glen Lake’s are 45 miles away, or about an hour’s drive whether traveling through or around Traverse City. Glen Lake has nearly 250 students in its high school, and Forest Area has about 175.

Glen Lake’s football team is 9-1 and hosts Harrison on Friday in a Division 6 District Final. Forest Area started this fall playing 8-player football, and won its first game against Brethren 64-44. But the Warriors had started with a small roster that got smaller as the season got going – and by Week 3 didn’t have enough players to finish the season, so they canceled the rest of their games.

Meanwhile, Forest Area’s band has rebuilt mightily since the school’s music program was cut in 2011 – while Glen Lake’s band began this school year with one high schooler playing with a 10-member middle school group. In fact, Mattson asked his school’s football players and cheerleaders the last time they were at a home game where there was a band – and they couldn’t remember one.

So the Sept. 27 game happens, and all of the feel-good fanfare that came with it. With a few weeks, the statewide and national attention slowed way down – but the relationship between the schools was just beginning to grow.

A week later after the Gladstone game, Glen Lake hosted Elk Rapids on the night that was supposed to be Forest Area Homecoming – so during that school day, a group of Glen Lake football players and cheerleaders went over for Forest Area’s pep assembly, at first to be part of the “Marching for Ellen” video but then sticking around to take part in the Warriors’ festivities.

Then on a Monday night, Oct. 14, Mattson took a group of students to Traverse City to support Forest Area during the area’s band expo at Thirlby Field. There was some hope the schools might unite their forces again for Glen Lake’s final regular-season home game Oct. 25. But although that didn’t completely pan out, Forest Area did sent over 20 members of its band, who sat in bleachers on the track with Glen Lake’s student section, band and choir – and cheered on the now growing Glen Lake band, which included Mattson on the saxophone he’d stopped playing in sixth grade.

“One of the Forest Area kids called over from the bleachers, ‘Mr. Mattson, come here. I think we need to call our schools ‘Wakers,’” Mattson said (with the student referring to a combination of the mascot names Warriors and Lakers). “It really had gone from literally about zero to what we’ve got, and it’s a really collaborative partnership here."

“This isn’t their band director or myself making it happen. This is by and large kid driven. Our kids keep asking, ‘Are they coming for the game Friday night?’ Or their kids talk to Mr. Deike and say, ‘Can they come to our pep assembly?’ They know they’re welcome back to play with us any time.”

Mattson has recently taken over as administrator as well of Glen Lake’s fine arts department, and rebuilding the school’s band is a high priority. Glen Lake has brought in retired Traverse City West band directors Pat Brumbaugh and Flournoy Humphreys as “artists in residence” to revive the program. They’re teaching a two-day-a-week Intro to Band class, and Mattson said there are about 35 fifth and sixth-graders signed up.

Mattson also noted how the Forest Area band has opened up the perspective of his school’s football players, who have gained a real appreciation for all of the groups – cheerleaders and band especially – who join the players on the field in making for a great football night.

“What started from one simple gesture to help a school out and vice versa turned into, and I think Brandon would echo it, turned into valuable lessons for our society about teamwork and collaboration, and that kindness matters,” Mattson said. “When it’s driven by young people and really executed by our young people, how does it get better than that? They’re the next generation of leaders. To take it from simply, ‘Yeah, that sounds cool,’ to go and play at Glen Lake, to what it’s become, it’s a great lesson for all of us. That when these kids take the initiative and make it their own, special things happen – and that has happened.”