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Milford/Walled Lake Western football

1st & Goal: 2021 Week 5 in Review

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

September 27, 2021

The paths to league championships are getting clearer for many teams all over Michigan as we sprint past the midpoint of this regular season.

MI Student AidMultiple teams clinched at least shares of conference titles during the final weekend of September – while many others now have located paths (some straight forward, and others with plenty of twists and turns) to accomplishing the same.

Read on as we highlight 45 games from Week 5 that likely helped shape where we’re headed over the final four weeks before playoff selection.

Bay & Thumb

HEADLINER Frankenmuth 48, Freeland 21 The Eagles (5-0) set themselves up well in the Tri-Valley Conference East race by handing Freeland its first loss this season. Frankenmuth moved into first place alone, with Week 8 opponent Essexville Garber its only league opponent left with a record above .500 at this point in the season. Cole Lindow ran for 318 yards including a 93-yarder as the Eagles scored more points than Freeland (4-1) had given up total over its first four games. Click for more from the Saginaw News.

Watch list Montrose 35, New Lothrop 14 The Rams’ first win over three-time reigning champ New Lothrop since the Mid-Michigan Activities Conference was formed in 2018 also was the Hornets’ first defeat in any league play since 2009. Now both and Durand are one game behind solo league leader Ovid-Elsie.

Remember this one Flint Hamady 26, Flint Beecher 20 This rivalry matchup is always memorable and this season once again decided at least part of a league title, with Hamady (3-2) clinching a share of the Genesee Area Conference championship.

More shoutouts Millington 30, Carrollton 12 The Cardinals (5-0) clinched a share of the TVC-West I after finishing league runner-up a year ago. Mount Pleasant 26, Midland 19 This win combined with Midland Dow’s 45-44 edging of Bay City Western sent the Oilers (5-0) into first place alone in the Saginaw Valley League Blue.

Greater Detroit

HEADLINER Brownstown Woodhaven 33, Allen Park 28 On a night with its share of last-second go-ahead scores, Woodhaven benefited from one of the loudest as Cornell Perry pulled in an Ashton Mohlman pass with 10 seconds left to pull the Warriors (5-0) past Allen Park and into first place alone in the Downriver League. The Warriors have won the last three meetings with Allen Park (4-1) since a 2018 loss to the Jaguars cost Woodhaven an outright league title. Click for more from the Southgate News-Herald

Watch list Belleville 21 Dearborn Fordson 19 Belleville (4-1) potentially earned its way back into the Kensington Lakes Activities Association East race by pulling Fordson (4-1) out of a first-place tie with Livonia Churchill, and with Fordson and Churchill set to meet Week 7.

Remember this one Warren De La Salle Collegiate 49, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 25 The Pilots (4-0) clinched a share of the Detroit Catholic League Central title and can claim it outright this week against Detroit Catholic Central, while St. Mary’s (4-1) could still earn a Prep Bowl rematch.

More shoutouts Clinton Township Chippewa Valley 37, Romeo 34 This combined with Sterling Heights Stevenson’s 31-16 win over Macomb Dakota has Stevenson first and Chippewa Valley and Romeo tied for second in the Macomb Area Conference Red, with Stevenson seeing Chippewa Valley next and Romeo on Oct. 8. South Lyon 49, White Lake Lakeland 35 The Lakes Valley Conference will still be playing out for a few weeks, but this sent South Lyon (5-0) into first place alone with Waterford Mott in Week 8 the most major obstacle left. Lakeland (4-1) sits a half-game back with Week 9 against Milford potentially becoming a huge matchup.

Mid-Michigan

HEADLINER Beal City 55, Evart 20 The Aggies (4-1) suddenly have what appears a very defendable lead in the Highland Conference after sending Evart into second place. Beal City’s final three league opponents are a combined 4-11 and Evart (4-1) had defeated those same opponents to open league play 3-0. The Wildcats hadn’t scored fewer than 40 points in a game before Beal’s defense cut that in half. Click for more from the Mount Pleasant Morning Sun.

Watch list Ovid-Elsie 35, Chesaning 0 As noted above, Ovid-Elsie (4-1) moved into the lead in the MMAC, and reigning champ New Lothrop is up next. But the Marauders also are coming off two straight shutouts after sending Chesaning to 3-2.

Remember this one DeWitt 57, Grand Ledge 15 With heavies East Lansing, Holt and now Grand Ledge behind them, the Panthers (4-1) have paved a nice path toward continuing a league title streak that began in 2006.

More shoutouts Pewamo-Westphalia 42, Fowler 6 This rivalry win put P-W (5-0) in position to clinch a share of the Central Michigan Athletic Conference title in two weeks, although first the Pirates take on another league leader this Friday in Olivet. Portland 49, Charlotte 7 Portland (5-0) and Lansing Catholic will decide the Capital Area Activities Conference White title again this week after the Raiders got past a Charlotte contender that at 3-2 is off to its best start in eight years.

Northern Lower Peninsula

HEADLINER Kingsley 24, Grayling 20 Gage Hessem’s touchdown pass to True Beeman with 5:38 to play helped the Stags (5-0) pull away from their biggest scare so far this fall as they play for a third-straight league title. Circle Week 9 against Traverse City St. Francis as a likely decider in the Northern Michigan Football League Legends division. Click for more from the Traverse City Record-Eagle.

Watch list East Jordan 38, Oscoda 0 This is the second time East Jordan has been listed here this season, and we’ll keep watching. The Red Devils (4-1) are lining up potentially their best season in two decades, with this second-straight shutout putting them in position to play for the NMFL Legacy title over the final two weeks of the regular season.

Remember this one Traverse City St. Francis 48, Boyne City 14 This was arguably the most impressive offensive performance of plenty this fall for the Gladiators (5-0), and no doubt will be recalled as we move closer to playoff time as Boyne City (4-1) was unbeaten and otherwise hasn’t budged much defensively.

More shoutouts Mancelona 14, Kalkaska 8 The Ironmen’s score on the game’s final play put them at 5-0 for the first time since 2012. Traverse City Central 56, Petoskey 0 After downing Traverse City West last week, Central (4-1) kept charging ahead as it awaits this week’s potential Big North Conference title-decider against Cadillac.

Southeast & Border

HEADLINER Jackson Lumen Christi 33, Hastings 22 The Titans (5-0) moved into first place alone in the Interstate 8 Athletic Conference while also avenging last season’s one-point loss to the Saxons. Hastings (4-1) fell into a second-place tie with Battle Creek Harper Creek and Coldwater; Lumen sees Harper Creek this week and defeated Coldwater in Week 2. Click for more from FOX 17.

Watch list Ann Arbor Huron 38, Monroe 14 The River Rats (4-1) continued to build on a fall full of highlights, with this win giving them their most victories for a season since 2009 and pulling them up to No. 17 in Division 1 playoff points.

Remember this one Hudson 22, Ida 14 The Tigers (5-0) moved into first alone in the Lenawee County Athletic Association, and Week 9 opponent Dundee is the only one of three second-place teams Hudson has yet to face.

More shoutouts Ottawa Lake Whiteford 58, Sand Creek 30 The Bobcats (4-1) remain with Erie Mason the only teams undefeated in Tri-County Conference play after handing Sand Creek (3-2) its first league loss. Homer 28, Union City 22 A week after Union City (2-3) downed another contender in Reading, Big 8 Conference second-place Homer (3-2) edged the Chargers to remain in the title hunt. Homer will be hoping for help this week as Reading takes on league leader Jonesville.

Southwest Corridor

HEADLINER Centreville 32, White Pigeon 16 The reigning Division 8 champ Bulldogs have bounced back well after an opening-night loss to Niles Brandywine, and with this win kept themselves in position to earn a share of the Southwest 10 Conference championship this week against co-leader Cassopolis. White Pigeon (4-1) also entered this game tied for first before Centreville’s defense slowed a Chiefs offense that was averaging 46 points per game. The Bulldogs (4-1) have given up a total of 23 points over their last four. Click for more from the Sturgis Journal.

Watch list Berrien Springs 34, Watervliet 6 The Shamrocks (5-0) begin league play this week in the Berrien-Cass-St. Joseph Conference, and will do so after shutting down formerly-undefeated Watervliet (4-1).

Remember this one Portage Central 23, Battle Creek Lakeview 22 A late touchdown and two-point conversion pushed Portage Central (3-2) past the Spartans (3-2) and kept them in the hunt in the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference with league leader St. Joseph coming to Portage this week.

More shoutouts Edwardsburg 49, Plainwell 0 The Eddies’ wild numbers grew again in handing Plainwell its first loss; Edwardsburg is 5-0 with four shutouts and only seven points allowed this season, against an average of 50 points scored per game. Constantine 64, Parchment 14 Four of five teams in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Lakeshore are 3-2 or better, including both of these – and Constantine (5-0) is tied for the early league lead.

Negaunee/Ishpeming football

Upper Peninsula

HEADLINER Hancock 20, Houghton 17 Rain soaked this season’s Copper Bowl and surely made it all the more memorable as Hancock (3-2) scored the final points to secure its fourth win in the last five games played against the rival Gremlins (3-2). This victory also muddied up the Western Peninsula Athletic Conference Copper standings a bit more – all seven teams in the league are either 3-2 or 4-1 overall, and all seven could still win the league title. Click for more from the Houghton Daily Mining Gazette.

Watch list Iron Mountain 28, Bark River-Harris 22 Don’t count the Mountaineers out of anything yet, including that West-PAC Copper race. Despite a pair of losses in Weeks 2 and 3, Iron Mountain (3-2) has bounced back with two wins including this one over the West-PAC Iron-leading Broncos (3-2).  

Remember this one Kingsford 44, Escanaba 7 The last time Kingsford (4-1) defeated Escanaba, the Flivvers won the Great Northern Conference championship. They have only Menominee left on the league schedule, in Week 9, but also will need the Maroons’ help with Marquette after losing to the latter in Week 4.

More shoutouts Sault Ste. Marie 14, Ogemaw Heights 6 The Blue Devils moved to 4-1 and still have a chance to play spoiler – or more – in the NMFL Legends with St Francis coming up in Week 7. Marquette 43, Gladstone 12 Marquette (4-1) is in position to win the GNC outright with an offense that has gone over 40 points in four of five games this fall. Marquette faces Menominee in Week 7.

West Michigan

HEADLINER Rockford 21, Hudsonville 16 The Rams (5-0) navigated their second-straight one-score win to keep pace with Caledonia atop the Ottawa-Kent Conference Red. Hudsonville went ahead 16-14 early in the second half, but Zak Ahern’s five-yard run put Rockford back on top to stay with 2:58 to go in the third quarter. Ahern averaged nearly 10 yards per carry, tallying 153 on 16 rushes. For Hudsonville (2-3), it was another heartbreaker; all three of the Eagles’ defeats have come by five points or fewer. Click for more from the Grand Rapids Press.

Watch list Coopersville 24, Allendale 6 The Broncos (5-0) have guaranteed their first winning regular season since 2017 and are off to their best start since 2003. They also are one of four teams at 3-0 in O-K Blue play.

Remember this one Sparta 21, Belding 14 (OT) The Spartans (3-2) may have worked their way back into the O-K Silver title conversation. A seven-point loss to leader Comstock Park in Week 3 put them a game back, but Belding (4-1) takes on Comstock Park this week with an opportunity to open the league race up to at least four teams.

More shoutouts Muskegon Mona Shore 49, Zeeland East 30 As a Week 7 matchup with rival Muskegon High draws nearer, the Sailors (4-1) and Big Reds have done their parts to push East (3-2) and others farther out of the O-K Green title picture. Reed City 22, Big Rapids 7 The Coyotes (4-1) might be pulling away from the Central State Activities Association Gold pack, with this win over Big Rapids (3-2) their second against a team currently tied for second in the league – and the third team, Central Montcalm, is up this week.

8-Player

HEADLINER Adrian Lenawee Christian 47, Colon 21 One of the most anticipated matchups this regular season turned into another solid win for the Cougars, even as Colon (4-1) became the first opponent to score in double digits against Lenawee Christian since last season’s Division 1 Semifinals. The Cougars (5-0) scored 47 points on a defense that had given up only 28 total through the first four weeks, including with a 31-6 run over the final three quarters. Click for more from the Adrian Daily Telegram.

Watch list Crystal Falls Forest Park 30, Norway 28 The Trojans (5-0) have won two-point games over Great Lakes Eight Conference West contenders two of the last three weeks, keeping them tied for first atop the league standings with Week 9 opponent Powers North Central.

Remember this one Newberry 34, Rudyard 28 With three games left in the GLEC East schedule, these two are joined by Pickford and Munising tied for first in the league after Rudyard (4-1) entered the weekend alone at the top. Newberry also is 4-1 overall.

More shoutouts Climax-Scotts 52, Athens 14 The Panthers (4-1) will be the next to try to dethrone Lenawee Christian in league play with this big win keeping them tied atop the Southern Central Athletic Association A standings. Suttons Bay 46, Munising 0 The undefeated Norsemen (5-0) continued to shine on both sides of the ball, with this shutout taking their defensive points allowed average down to 9.2.

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PHOTOS: A Milford ball carrier celebrates reaching the end zone during Friday's 18-15 win over Walled Lake Western. (2) An Ithaca defender wraps up a Midland Bullock Creek ball carrier during the Yellowjackets' 41-19 victory. (3) Negaunee's Nico Lukkarinen (24) runs the ball in for the first touchdown of Friday's win over Ishpeming. (4) Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern earned its first win over East Grand Rapids of a recent five-game series, 17-14. (Photos by Terry Lyons, High School Sports Scene, Cara Kamps and Michigan Sports Photo, respectively.)

Traverse City Central’s Loralei Zielinski winds up during a discus throw.

TC Central's Zielinski Eying Finals Records, U-M Stardom, Olympic Aspirations

By Tom Spencer
Special for MHSAA.com

May 29, 2026

Lorelai Zielinski may be on the verge of winning her second-straight MHSAA Finals championships in both the discus and shot put as she prepares to compete at Saturday’s Lower Peninsula Division 1 Track & Field Finals in Rockford.

Northern Lower PeninsulaAnd, while being named a champion again would be an honor for the Traverse City Central junior star, she’s quick to put it in perspective.

“One thing that I always tell myself, the point of track & field is not to win — it’s all that hard work that you have done to build up to that point, and winning is just part of it all,” the University of Michigan commit said.  “It's just the effect of everything that you do, and it definitely is a great accomplishment because it’s ‘states’ and some people's biggest meet of the year. Having state champion next to your name, especially more than once, and more than one event, is amazing.”

Zielinski won last year’s titles as a sophomore with throws of 46 feet, 11¾ inches in the shot put and 155-1 in the discus. She has dominated the competition so much the last couple years that local media often report her success as a winning “by a long way again.”

Her personal records, both set this spring, are 52-6 in the shot put and 168-5 in the discus. Both would set MHSAA Finals records for all divisions if she replicates them Saturday.

To Paul Anderson, Central’s head coach, Zielinski is in a category all by herself. Anderson has been around high school track in New Mexico and Michigan for 30 years. He’s coached a couple of nationally recognized names over the years, but noted Zielinski really stands out.

At Central, Anderson also coached recent Stanford graduate Julia Flynn, who made national headlines when she became the first prep girl during the 2020 season to run a 5K faster than 17 minutes. In New Mexico at Los Alamos High School, Anderson coached Chase Jackson (then Chase Ealey), currently a dominant global force in track & field. Jackson made history as the first American woman to win a shot put world title, claiming outdoor gold in 2022 and 2023.

“Lorelai is a thrower, a strong woman, and is just a great person,” Anderson said. “She is probably one of the highest-rated high school athletes that I've ever coached. It’s not just her consistency, but dominance.”

During Zielinski’s early days in the sport she was coached by her mother, Amanda. Lorelai competed in shot put as a sixth grader for Traverse City East Middle School. 

Zielinski, who remains the sixth, seventh and eighth-grade record-holder at East, started exploring throwing discus the summer after seventh grade.

“Lorelai started learning about and following the sport very early, but not obsessively,” Anderson said. “She loves it — but it's not owning her — it doesn't mean that’s who she is. It’s like, ‘This is what I do, and I'm not going to be like anybody else.’  Everybody talks about what a good person she is and then being an athlete — then being a thrower — gives a nice dimension.”

Zielinski has high hopes for success in college sports and quite possibly, and most likely, as onlookers say, for the national team someday.

She has her eyes on the throwing qualifying standards for the 2028 U.S. Olympic Trials, and she realizes 2032 might be a more obtainable goal. She’s planning to focus on shot put and discus while exploring the javelin, hammer and weight throws while competing for the Wolverines and pursuing studies in physical therapy or audiology.

Zielinski launches the shot while a gathered crowd watches.But for now, she is celebrating having an impact on young female athletes. She recalls her younger sports days looking up to basketball and track athletes, including current teammates.

“Obviously, track is about performing and all that, but I wanted to be able to be a role model for these younger girls,” said Zielinski, who also plays basketball for the Trojans. “I wanted to be able to inspire younger girls. It's definitely a great feeling that other people look to me for inspiration.”

Zielinski is a recognized figure around middle school and elementary track meets as she volunteers to help with events including shot put. She’s enjoyed watching anecdotal evidence of growth in the sport’s numbers and talent as well as in the presence of high school coaches helping out middle school throwers in particular.

As further evidence of Zielinski’s impact, earlier this week Traverse City kids swept the shot put podium at the MHSAA Middle School Regional in Cadillac. West’s Anna Hornacek, the school’s sixth, seventh and eighth-grade record-holder, took first with a 40-2 throw. East’s Delaney Neveau, a sixth grader, was second at 33-5, and West’s Eilley Dwyer, the second-leading sixth and seventh-grade thrower all-time, was third at 32-11.

Zielinski and Anderson are thrilled to have field events coach Chad Norton guiding her success. Zielinski especially appreciates Norton’s constant reminders that “practice doesn’t make perfection – practice makes progress.”

Norton’s been especially helpful with the mental aspects of throwing, something with which Zielinski admits she has often struggled.

“One thing Coach Doug always tells me is to breathe and have fun,” she said. “Getting in my head or setting my standards too high, I won't be having fun, and the point of it is to have fun.”

Anderson, now in his 10th year at the helm of the Trojans’ track program, is quick to point out the pride Norton has in Zielinski’s success. Anderson also points to the development of freshman thrower Nora Jensen, who already has found success under Zielinski’s mentorship.

“Doug avoids the spotlight and he’s very much honed into knowing what he had with Lorelai and his responsibility,” Anderson said. “I love Chad as a coach, because not only does he work with Lorelai, but then he takes as much time, or more, with the new shot putters. It's a great community that he has going there.”

Zielinski, who is hoping to have Norton train with her over the summer and next winter, has her freshman year MHSAA Finals in the back of her mind as she prepares for this year’s meet.

She finished second in both shot put and discus two years ago to then senior Abigail Russell of Allen Park. But she’s since exceeded Russell’s distances as she looks to become a teammate to Russell at Michigan.

Zielinski bettered Russell’s distances, in fact, at this year’s Regional Meet in Mount Pleasant.  The Trojan stellar throw topped the 50-foot mark in the shot put and exceeded 161 feet in the discus.

Expect Zielinski to be wearing her trademark different-colored shoes again at the Finals. She’s worn two colors since entering high school, and this time she’ll be sporting a new pair of yellow and orange Nikes. She introduced them this week at the Traverse City Record-Eagle Honor Roll Meet.

Zielinski must replace the shoes during the season because she wears out the bottom of her right one.

“So I buy two pair of shoes for that reason, as well as my freshman year when I started doing it I felt a little bit superstitious. So I always have different-colored shoes as a tradition,” Zielinski said. “I also write different affirmations on each of my shoes such as ‘Have fun,’ ‘Breathe,’ ‘Control,’ and ‘Be the one thing in life you can control.’”

Tom SpencerTom Spencer is a longtime MHSAA-registered basketball and soccer official, and former softball and baseball official, and he also has coached in the northern Lower Peninsula area. He previously has written for the Saginaw News, Bay County Sports Page and Midland Daily News. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Manistee, Wexford, Missaukee, Roscommon, Ogemaw, Iosco, Alcona, Oscoda, Crawford, Kalkaska, Grand Traverse, Benzie, Leelanau, Antrim, Otsego, Montmorency, Alpena, Presque Isle, Cheboygan, Charlevoix and Emmet counties.

PHOTOS (Top) Traverse City Central’s Loralei Zielinski winds up during a discus throw. (Middle) Zielinski launches the shot while a gathered crowd watches. (Top photo by Jan Michael Stump/Traverse City Record-Eagle. Middle photo by TC Rick Sports Photography.)