Calumet Invite Produces Northern Stars
September 18, 2013
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The Calumet Invitational dates back roughly 30 years as an annual staple of the cross country schedule for schools at the northernmost tip of Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
A creative move by the Copper Kings last year added some statewide prestige to the event.
Last week, for the second season, Calumet ran the series of races at Keweenaw Mountain Lodge, a resort near Copper Harbor and the northern bank of the Keweenaw Peninsula.
Calumet is the northernmost high school in Michigan. And moving this race another 35 miles northeast more or less guaranteed it's the northernmost event run in the state.
"We figured it was pretty safe. We're the northernmost school in the state, and you can only go four more miles and you're in Lake Superior," Calumet athletic director Sean Jacques said. "Nobody else is going to do anything more north than that."
A total of 10 schools were represented this fall in the races for boys and girls varsity, junior varsity and middle schoolers.
Jacques said the event formerly was run at a golf course in Calumet. But a few years ago, Calumet graduate and former Copper Kings cross country runner Dan Harri moved home from Florida to become general manager at the Mountain Lodge (he's also a renowned chef and has owned restaurants in Miami with Hall of Fame Dolphins coach Don Shula).
Harri had asked a few times about bringing a cross country or golf event to the lodge. Jacques told him last year they'd give it a try, so Harri set up a course that includes golf course, a couple of bridges, trails and finishes with a climb on the No. 1 fairway. It also provides various points for fans to watch runners go by, not always available on other courses.
"We were looking for a little bit of a change, and it's a beautiful course," Jacques said. "We thought if people were willing to make the extra drive, it would be really nice."
Calumet won the boys race this season, just ahead of runner-up Houghton. Houghton's girls were victorious, followed by the host Copper Kings.
Click to read more about this year's event from the Houghton Mining Gazette.
Michigan's claim to an NFL evolution
As part of its NFL preview this month, Sports Illustrated reported on one of the most significant developments for offenses over the last few decades – the silent snap count, which is used regularly by visiting teams because offensive linemen can’t hear the quarterback calling for the ball over the clamor of the home crowd.
And the article explained that the silent snap count might’ve gotten its start at one of Michigan’s smallest high schools – Flint’s Michigan School for the Deaf.
Offensive linemen during the 1980s were feasted on by pass rushers like Lawrence Taylor and Bruce Smith, who built record sack totals by blasting past blockers who seemed a step slow. Turns out, that was true. Defensive players were getting an edge by attacking as soon as they saw the ball move. But blockers (especially offensive tackles), focused instead on the defensive ends and linebackers lined up across from them, and didn’t have the luxury of watching the ball – and since they also couldn’t hear the snap count, started each play a step behind.
Enter the silent count. The quarterback signals to the center that he is ready to receive the ball (with a pat on the back, by raising a foot, etc.). The center then raises his head, and after a predetermined count of at least one second snaps the ball without a sound. This means an offensive tackle doesn’t have to listen for a snap count – he just counts after seeing the center get set.
The SI report recognized longtime offensive line coach Howard Mudd as the guru of the silent snap count. But Mudd recalled a conversation he’d had while working for the Seattle Seahawks with another coach, the late Andy MacDonald, who also had coached early in his career at a school for the deaf in Michigan.
The article doesn’t mention Michigan School for the Deaf by name. But it seems to make sense that the Tartars were the first to use the now-revolutionary count. MacDonald – who played at Central Michigan University and went on to coach at Michigan State and four other colleges and also for the Buffalo Bills – grew up in Flint and attended Flint Northern before playing for the Chippewas from 1950-53. The historical web site Michigan-football.com has results for Flint’s Michigan School for the Deaf dating to 1950, making it a decent assumption that MacDonald might’ve gotten in a little early coaching experience at the school down the road from his home.
Click for the SI story and go to page 4 for the mention of Michigan’s school.
Michigan mourns trooper, running standout
The law enforcement community is mourning the death of Michigan State Police trooper Paul Butterfield, who was shot Sept. 9 during a traffic stop in Mason County. He also was a well-known distance runner during the 1980s and the MHSAA Class A cross country champion running for Bridgeport in 1987.
According to a Ludington Daily News report, Butterfield continued running after high school at the University of Tennessee, and also competed at the 1989 Pan American Junior Games in Argentina.
Butterfield was stationed in Hart after previously serving in Manistee, and lived in Mason County. He also had served in the U.S. Army. Click to read more from the Ludington Daily News.
PHOTO: Calumet's Chelsea Jacques (right) won this season's Calumet Invitational with a time of 21:08.06, just ahead of Ironwood's Jessica Gering at 21:46.16. (Photo courtesy of Calumet athletic department.)
1st & Goal: 2025 Week 7 Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 10, 2025
The MHSAA Football Playoffs don't start for three more weeks. But this weekend definitely feels playoff caliber.
At least 25 games could end tonight or Saturday with a team celebrating a share or more of a league championship. A few more of our top matchups will set up similar showdowns over the final two weeks of the regular season.
Follow scores for every game across the state this weekend on the MHSAA Scores page, check out standings for every league on those teams' pages, and watch several of those title deciders unfold on the NFHS Network, including all games with “WATCH” linked below.
Bay & Thumb
Millington (5-1) at Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker (6-0) WATCH
Millington’s loss to Cass City in Week 4 was in league play since 2022, but the Cardinals still can claim a share of the Big Thumb Conference West title with a win over the Lakers, whose only single-digit game this season was an 18-13 win over Cass City in Week 3. Millington won last year’s regular-season matchup 28-0 and then a 42-14 playoff rematch on the way to claiming the Division 7 title. Laker has given up only 47 points this season with impressive shutouts of Ubly and Central Montcalm.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Linden (5-1) at Fenton (4-2) WATCH, Bay City John Glenn (4-2) at Freeland (5-1) WATCH, Reese (4-2) at Harbor Beach (6-0) WATCH, Ithaca (5-1) at Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Central (5-1) WATCH.
Greater Detroit
Gibraltar Carlson (6-0) at Brownstown Woodhaven (6-0) WATCH
Carlson brings a combined 34-3 record in Downriver League play this decade as it seeks a fifth-straight league title – and fifth-straight win over Woodhaven, which last won the Downriver in 2019. The Marauders spent their lone nonleague week doubling up reigning Division 5 champion Pontiac Notre Dame Prep 42-21 in Week 3, and a week later they avenged last season’s lone Downriver defeat by edging Trenton 17-14. Woodhaven also working to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2022 and hasn’t had a game closer than 24 points this fall.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Clarkston (5-1) at West Bloomfield (5-1) WATCH, Detroit Central (5-1) at Detroit Pershing (4-2), Almont (6-0) at Richmond (6-0) WATCH, Detroit Edison (5-1) at Harper Woods Chandler Park (5-1).
Mid-Michigan
Fowler (5-1) at Pewamo-Westphalia (5-0) WATCH
These longtime rivals have split their last four games against each other, Fowler claiming last year’s 14-11 on the way to the Central Michigan Athletic Conference title. This time they’ll meet in a league schedule finale, with a winner-take-all for the title guaranteed. The lone loss between them this fall was Fowler’s to still-undefeated Hudson in a season opener, and the Eagles have not given up more than seven points in a game since. The Pirates haven’t given up more than six points in a game all season and had an extra week to prepare for this one with an open date last week.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Kent City (6-0) at Central Montcalm (5-1) WATCH, Montrose (6-0) at New Lothrop (5-1) WATCH, Grand Ledge (6-0) at DeWitt (6-0) WATCH, Battle Creek Harper Creek (5-1) at Hastings (5-1) WATCH.
Northern Lower Peninsula
Mancelona (4-2) at Charlevoix (6-0) WATCH
Charlevoix has clinched an outright championship in the Northern Michigan Football Conference Leaders division, while Mancelona is tied for first in the Legacy with two league games to play and the big one a Week 9 date with co-leader Maple City Glen Lake. The Rayders certainly will provide some prep as the Ironmen ready for that deciding matchup, but there’s plenty at stake for Charlevoix too as it’s downed Mancelona in eight straight and is one of only six Division 7 teams still undefeated this fall.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Kingsley (4-2) at Cheboygan (3-3) WATCH, East Jordan (3-3) at Harbor Springs (3-3) WATCH, LeRoy Pine River (4-2) at Manton (4-2), Bay City Western (3-3) at Traverse City Central (3-3).
Southeast & Border
Hudson (6-0) at Clinton (5-1) WATCH
Undefeated and with all of its games against Division 5, 6 and 7 opponents, Hudson has the highest playoff-point average in Division 8 by a comfortable margin and can add to it against Division 7 Clinton. More importantly, they are the only two teams undefeated in Lenawee County Athletic Association play, and the winner this weekend clinches a share of the championship. They’ve split their last two meetings, Hudson claiming last year’s 22-6 during an outright championship run and after Clinton handed the Tigers their most recent league loss, in 2023.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Riverview (4-2) at Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central (6-0), Leslie (4-2) at Napoleon (4-2), Harper Woods (6-0) at Saline (6-0) WATCH, Adrian (5-1) at Ypsilanti Community (3-3).
Southwest Corridor
Portage Northern (5-1) at Portage Central (6-0) WATCH
The winner clinches a share of the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference West title. Northern also is seeking its first win in the rivalry since 2022, and they almost assuredly will meet again in the playoffs next month with Central fourth in Division 2 playoff-point average and Northern No. 13. Central also has given up only 10 points this season – all coming over the last two weeks – giving Northern another potential spoiler goal coming off last week’s 42-36 win over St. Joseph and having scored at least that many in four straight games. To that end, Central has yet to score fewer than 41 this season.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Kalamazoo Central (3-3) at Battle Creek Central (4-2), Dowagiac (4-2) at Buchanan (4-2) WATCH, Bronson (5-1) at White Pigeon (6-0) WATCH, Springport (6-0) at Quincy (4-2).
Upper Peninsula
Gaylord (6-0) at Escanaba (6-0) WATCH
Neither of these teams made the playoffs in 2024, much less competed for the Big North Conference title. But they did play one of the league’s closest games, a 19-15 Gaylord win, and this time the victor will clinch a share of the league title and keep an undefeated season going. Escanaba is coming off breaking a seven-game losing streak against rival Marquette with last week’s 38-20 victory – while Gaylord started league play with a 28-27 win over the Sentinels a month ago.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Iron Mountain (4-1) at Bark River-Harris (4-1) WATCH, L’Anse (4-2) at West Iron County (2-3) WATCH, Petoskey (3-3) at Marquette (3-3) WATCH, Negaunee (4-2) at Menominee (6-0) WATCH.
West Michigan
East Kentwood (5-1) at Hudsonville (6-0) WATCH
East Kentwood faded just a bit from the Ottawa-Kent Conference Red spotlight after a 21-14 Week 4 loss to Rockford, but can reclaim it almost entirely with a win over the Eagles – who themselves are coming off a 35-28 win over the rival Rams. When last these two met, Hudsonville edged East Kentwood 25-23 in a District opener last fall. A Falcons win this time could result in up to four teams being tied for first in the league, while a Hudsonville win would put them one away from clinching a repeat title.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Grand Rapids South Christian (3-3) at Zeeland East (4-2), Grand Rapids Catholic Central (6-0) at Holland Christian (4-2) WATCH, Whitehall (4-2) at Ludington (6-0), Belding (5-1) at Muskegon Oakridge (5-1) WATCH.
8-Player
Deckerville (6-0) at Kingston (6-0) WATCH
No one should be stunned if both of these rivals end up playing for 8-player championships next month at Superior Dome; Deckerville is No. 4 in Division 2 playoff-point average, and Kingston is No. 5 in Division 1. But first they must face off in what may turn end up one of the best 8-player games this regular season, with a share of the Big Thumb Conference Blue title on the line. Deckerville swept last year’s meetings, winning by 44 and then 34 points on the way to a perfect season and Division 1 title. Kingston has reached 64 points in four games this season and will face an Eagles defense that hasn’t given up more than 20.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Breckenridge (4-2) at Gaylord St. Mary (6-0), Rogers City (4-2) at Mio (5-1) WATCH, Norway (6-0) at Newberry (5-1). SATURDAY Gogebic (6-0) at Lake Linden-Hubbell (5-1) WATCH.
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PHOTO A pair of Holland Christian defenders pursue an East Grand Rapids ball carrier during the Pioneers' 41-21 win last week. (Click for more by MI Sports Photo.)