Casting Lines for Future Tournaments
August 12, 2016
By Jack Roberts
MHSAA Executive Director
The MHSAA is best known to the public for the tournaments it conducts to conclude the fall, winter and spring seasons each school year.
These tournaments, the first and largest program of the MHSAA, have survived the Vietnam War, the Korean conflict and two World Wars. They have survived the technology bubble, the housing collapse, the energy crisis and the Great Depression.
MHSAA tournaments existed at the dawn of aviation and at the time of our nation’s lunar landing. Popes, presidents and governors have changed and changed again and again, and MHSAA tournaments roll on year after year.
But the sense of tradition and permanence and inevitability of MHSAA tournaments doesn’t dissuade us from asking questions about our tournaments, even some of the most basic questions. Here are two.
Question #1
I have long been and will always be an advocate for a Ryder Cup format for the MHSAA Golf Finals, and a team tennis approach to the MHSAA Tennis Finals; but 90 years of tradition is hard to overcome. Might this be a more exciting format? Could it be co-ed? Could it reverse the decline in boys tennis participation, and increase girls golf participation? Wouldn’t it be fun to try?
Periodically, the International Olympic Committee requires each of the designated Olympic sports to defend its status, to state its case why the sport should remain a part of the Olympic program. Then, after a series or votes that retain one sport at a time, the IOC drops the sport that makes the weakest case. It does so to make room for one of the previously unlisted sports that makes the best case for inclusion.
This would appear to keep the existing Olympic sports on their toes, and to keep the Olympic movement fresh and reflective of modern trends in sports.
While I would not enjoy the controversy, I can see the potential for some positive results if the MHSAA were to invoke the same policy for determining the 14 tournaments it will provide for girls and the 14 for boys.
This might cause us to consider more deeply what a high school sport should look like, or at least what an MHSAA tournament sport should stand for.
On the one hand, we might be inclined to drop tournaments for those sports that involve mostly non-faculty coaches and non-school venues, or require cooperative programs to generate enough participants to support a team, or resort almost entirely to non-school funding, or cater to individuals more than teams.
Or perhaps this process would cause policymakers to forget traditional thinking and ask: “In this day and age, should we shake off traditional notions of sport and consider more where modern kids are coming from?” That might mean fewer team sports and more individual sports, more “extreme” sports like snowboarding and skateboarding, and more lifetime sports, meaning not just golf and tennis and running sports, but also fishing and even shooting sports.
Currently, MHSAA policy states that the MHSAA will consider sponsorship of a tournament series for any sport which 64 member schools conduct on an interscholastic basis as a result of action by the governing boards of those schools.
Should the only question be how many schools sponsor a sport, or must an activity also have certain qualities and/or avoid certain “defects?” What should an MHSAA tournament sport look like and stand for?
Question #2
Bristling from criticism that his association is a money-grabbing exploiter of children, my counterpart in another state said, “If we were running our programs just to make money, we would do very many things very differently.” I knew exactly what he meant.
Because we care about the health and welfare of students, because we mean what we say that the athletic program needs to maximize the ways it enhances the school experience while minimizing academic conflicts, and because we try to model our claim that no sport is a minor sport when it comes to its potential to teach young people life lessons, we operate our programs in ways that make promoters, marketers and business entrepreneurs laugh, cry or cringe.
If money were the only object, we would seed and select sites to assure the teams that attracted the most spectators had the best chance to advance in our tournaments, regardless of the travel for any team or its fan base. If money were the only object, we would never schedule two tournaments to overlap and compete for public attention, much less tolerate three or four overlapping events. If money were the only object, we would allow signage like NASCAR events and promotions like minor league baseball games.
Those approaches to event sponsorship may not be all wrong; they’re just not all right for us. And we will live with the consequences of our belief system.
During a typical school year, more than 20 percent of the MHSAA’s 2,097 District, Regional and Final tournaments lose money. Not a single site in golf, skiing or tennis makes a single penny. In no sport did every District, Regional and Final site have revenue in excess of direct expenses.
In fact, in only three sports – boys and girls basketball and football – is revenue so much greater than direct expenses overall that it helps to pay for all the other tournaments in which the MHSAA invests.
That’s right: invests. When we present our budget to our board, we talk about the MHSAA’s investment in providing tournament opportunities in all those sports and all those places that cannot sustain the cost of those events on their own. How much is this investment worth to students, schools and society?
These two are core questions that require our focus far in advance of talk about scheduling, site selection, seeding and the myriad matters that too often hijack our time and attention.
1st & Goal: 2025 Playoffs Week 3 Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
November 12, 2025
The MHSAA Football Playoffs turn into a second season for teams still alive at this late date – and it’s impossible to not begin sensing the opportunities opening up for those teams as we move into mid-November.
With two weeks remaining in the 8-player season, we’re running a counter and starting this week with a little deeper dive into our four Semifinals in those divisions. One reigning champion is still in pursuit of a Superior Dome return, and two teams are seeking Saturday to reach Finals for the first time.
After that, we check out Regional Finals in every 11-player division, with four games matching undefeated opponents. All of those games are Friday unless noted below, and Semifinals sites will be announced Sunday.
Tickets this weekend are $9 for 11-Player Regional Finals and $10 for 8-Player Semifinals and can be purchased at GoFan.co. All four 8-Player Semifinals and all 32 11-Player Regional Finals will be broadcast and available to watch with subscription on the NFHS Network.
8-Player Division 1
Blanchard Montabella (10-1) vs. Norway (11-0) at Traverse City’s Thirlby Field WATCH
Montabella has pulled within one more win of reaching the Finals for the first time, its only loss this season to Division 2 semifinalist Portland St. Patrick. As a team, the Mustangs are averaging 8.5 yards per carry, paced by senior Brady Kieff (1,475 yards, 8.5 per carry, 16 touchdowns rushing). Norway last reached the Semifinals in 2006 (in 11-player) but has seemed on the verge of a run since moving to 8-player in 2021. Senior quarterback Owen Baij has run for a team-high 1,443 yards and 30 touchdowns and thrown for 817 yards and 13 more scores.
Kingston (10-1) vs. Martin (11-0) at Chelsea WATCH
Martin moved to a combined 13-2 in playoff games this decade with last week’s 36-20 win over Climax-Scotts, and the Clippers are once again led by a two-way threat in senior quarterback Haylen Buell, who has run for a team-high 1,528 yards and 32 touchdowns and thrown for 866 and 13 scores. Kingston has run into eventual champions the last two seasons, falling to Martin in a Semifinal in 2023 and then Deckerville in a Regional Final last year. The Cardinals are attempting to reach their first championship game powered as well by a dangerous two-way quarterback in senior Tanner James (524 yards/11 TDs rushing, 902/20 passing).
8-Player Division 2
Felch North Dickinson (11-0) vs. Onekama (11-0) at Marquette WATCH
North Dickinson has stormed into its first Semifinal since 2001 (in 11-player) with senior quarterback Brady Jungwirth directing an offense that has outpaced every opponent by at least three touchdowns, including adding to a 38-34 win over Lake Linden-Hubbell in Week 1 with a 32-12 win in their rematch last weekend. Jungwirth has thrown for 1,888 yards and 28 touchdowns, with just three interceptions. Onekama is playing in a second-straight Semifinal seeking to get to the Superior Dome for the first time since 2018, paced by a pair of running backs both averaging more than nine yards per carry – senior Tyler Hart (859 yards, 15 TDs rushing) and freshman Bennett Zeller (821/13).
Deckerville (10-1) vs. Portland St. Patrick (11-0) at Mount Pleasant WATCH
Deckerville won Division 1 last season and is seeking to return to Superior Dome with junior Brandon Salowitz moving up from supporting cast in 2024 to the starring role. He’s the leading rusher with 1,311 yards and 24 touchdowns, starts at linebacker and punts. The Shamrocks are working to get back to the Finals for the first time since 2020 and showed off a dynamic playmaker as well last week in senior running back/linebacker/punter Brady Leonard, who has run for 1,091 yards and 14 touchdowns and intercepted 10 passes. He scored five touchdowns in last week’s 51-22 win over previously-undefeated Mendon.
11-Player Division 1
Detroit Catholic Central (11-0) at Clarkston (10-1) WATCH
These two have met twice previously in playoff games, with Clarkston winning both including their Division 1 championship matchup in 2013. These days, Detroit Catholic Central has won 22 of its last 23 games – the only loss to eventual champion Detroit Cass Tech during last year’s Semifinals – and perhaps most impressively this fall hasn’t given up more than 14 points in a game despite playing Grand Ledge and Detroit Martin Luther King on top of a loaded Catholic High School League Central slate. Clarkston is a 27-21 Week 2 loss to undefeated Harper Woods from a perfect run through this season as well, and handed previously-unbeaten Grand Blanc its only loss last week – doubling up the Bobcats 44-22. The Wolves also won all of their games in the power-packed Oakland Activities Association Red by at least two touchdowns.
Other Regional Finals FRIDAY Detroit Cass Tech (11-0) at Saline (10-1) WATCH, Romeo (8-3) at Rochester Adams (9-2) WATCH. SATURDAY East Kentwood (9-2) at Hudsonville (11-0) WATCH.
11-Player Division 2
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (8-2) at Midland Dow (10-1) WATCH
Reigning Division 2 champion St. Mary’s cleared a major hurdle last week, avenging a Week 8 loss with a 35-14 win over rival Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice. But the Eaglets obviously can’t rest this weekend. Dow played three teams during the regular season playing this weekend for Regional championships (and went 2-1 against them), and a win would send the Chargers to the Semifinals for the first time since 1997. That only loss this fall came to still-undefeated Mount Pleasant in Week 3, and Dow hasn’t given up more than 15 points since.
Other Regional Finals FRIDAY Traverse City Central (7-4) at Portage Central (11-0) WATCH, Dexter (10-1) at Gibraltar Carlson (11-0) WATCH, Birmingham Groves (8-3) at St. Clair Shores Lakeview (9-2) WATCH.
11-Player Division 3
Warren De La Salle Collegiate (5-6) at Detroit Martin Luther King (7-4) WATCH
As likely anticipated, both of these teams have surged in the postseason after navigating two of the toughest schedules in the state. The Pilots actually have won four of their last six games and opened the playoffs with a 56-34 victory over Macomb Area Conference Gold champion Warren Fitzgerald before downing Port Huron last week. King provides another level of challenge, and it opened the playoffs defeating Huron League co-champ Riverview before downing Trenton to clinch a District title.
Other Regional Finals FRIDAY East Grand Rapids (9-2) at Mount Pleasant (11-0) WATCH, Zeeland West (8-3) at Lowell (9-2) WATCH, Fenton (8-3) at DeWitt (11-0) WATCH.
11-Player Division 4
Goodrich (11-0) at Williamston (11-0) WATCH
This could be a clash of styles as Williamston rode big plays to a comeback win last week over Haslett, while Goodrich has won 24 straight games (including last season’s championship decider) with a powerful running attack and physical defense that earned its first shutout of this season last week against Chelsea. The Hornets trailed Haslett 21-7 at halftime last week before scoring 28 third-quarter points mixing speed to get to the perimeter and a potent downfield passing attack.
Other Regional Finals FRIDAY Big Rapids (10-1) vs. Hudsonville Unity Christian (10-1) at Hudsonville Baldwin WATCH. SATURDAY Vicksburg (7-4) at Portland (11-0) WATCH, Dearborn Divine Child (10-1) vs. Harper Woods (11-0) at Westland John Glenn WATCH.
11-Player Division 5
Frankenmuth (10-1) at Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (9-2) WATCH
It was easy at the start of these playoffs to circle this rematch of last year’s Division 5 championship game as one of the most notable matchups in the entire bracket. Notre Dame Prep won last season’s 42-7 and has continued to follow the lead of quarterback San Stowe, putting up 50 or more points against five playoff teams over the course of this fall. The Eagles will counter with a defense that has shown itself plenty capable allowing only 10 points a game and giving up only 17 in its lone loss to reigning Division 4 champ Goodrich.
Other Regional Finals FRIDAY Kalamazoo United (9-2) at Grand Rapids West Catholic (10-1) WATCH, Michigan Center (10-1) at Monroe Jefferson (10-1) WATCH. SATURDAY Ogemaw Heights (10-1) at Saginaw Swan Valley (10-1) WATCH.
11-Player Division 6
Montrose (11-0) at Kent City (11-0), Saturday WATCH
Montrose has built on its first perfect regular season since 2013 with a pair of big home playoff wins the last two weeks, but will travel for this one to take on a Kent City team that finished the regular season undefeated for the first time since 2017 and has added the first District championship in program history. The Eagles no doubt are enjoying a little bit of an additional bump this week with this game at home after playing their first two playoff games – and five of their last seven total – on the road.
Other Regional Finals FRIDAY Reed City (9-2) at Kingsley (9-2) WATCH, Ida (9-2) at Jackson Lumen Christi (8-3) WATCH, Detroit Edison (9-2) at Almont (11-0) WATCH.
11-Player Division 7
Clinton (9-2) at Millington (9-2), Saturday WATCH
This will be the first playoff meeting between these two annual contenders, and neither will shy away from taking on an unfamiliar but powerful opponent. Clinton’s losses this season were to undefeated Hudson and last year’s Division 7 runner-p Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central, and the Redwolves avenged the latter last week by a 22-14 score. The Cardinals won the Division 7 title a year ago downing SMCC 24-0. They lost early this fall to Cass City and then to undefeated Harbor Beach in the regular-season finale – but stormed back to win both of their first two playoff games 49-0.
Other Regional Finals FRIDAY Ithaca (8-3) at Pewamo-Westphalia (10-0) WATCH. SATURDAY Shelby (7-4) at Menominee (11-0) WATCH, Schoolcraft (9-2) at Hanover-Horton (9-2) WATCH.
11-Player Division 8
Beal City (11-0) at Harbor Beach (11-0), Saturday WATCH
The reigning Division 8 champion Aggies have rumbled through their competition this season, winning all of their games by at least two touchdowns and by 40 points on average. Harbor Beach is pursuing a first Regional title since 2018 and has been similarly dominant, winning its games by an average score of 41-8. Both closed the regular-season with a notable nonleague win as well – Harbor Beach over reigning Division 7 champion Millington, and Beal City over Ithaca, which like the Cardinals is also playing for a Division 7 Regional title this weekend.
Other Regional Finals FRIDAY Springport (11-0) at Hudson (11-0) WATCH, Bark River Harris (9-1) at Maple City Glen Lake (9-1) WATCH, Allen Park Cabrini (10-1) at Madison Heights Madison (10-1) WATCH.
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PHOTO Clarkston's Griffin Boman (0) follows his blockers as a Grand Blanc defender pursues during the Wolves' District Final win last Friday. (Photo by Terry Lyons)