Montrose Junior Named NFHS Network's Best

By John Johnson
MHSAA Communications Director emeritus

April 26, 2017

Eric Vandefifer, a junior at Montrose High School, was named today the Best Student Broadcaster nationally in the NFHS Network School Broadcast Program Awards. 

For the second straight year, James Kitts, the coordinator of the School Broadcast Program at Montrose, was a finalist in the Teacher of the Year category.

Just last week, Montrose was named the “Program of the Year” in the MHSAA’s School Broadcast Program Excellence Awards for 2016-17, claiming the top honor for the fourth straight year.  Montrose took first place in four categories.

Vandefifer also was honored recently by the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association as the top Student Broadcaster in Division 3. Vandefifer and his broadcast partner David Sackrider placed second in the Play-By-Play Category in the MHSAA SBP awards and first in the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Foundation Sports Announcing Team category this year.

In its eighth year, the School Broadcast Program gives members an opportunity to showcase excellence in their schools by creating video programming of athletic and non-athletic events, with students gaining skills in announcing, camera operation, directing/producing and graphics. 

The program also gives schools the opportunity to raise money through advertising and viewing subscriptions.  

All sporting events – live or delayed – are available on a subscription basis only for their first 72 hours online. They become available for free, on-demand viewing approximately 72 hours following their completion.

Here’s this week’s MHSAA.tv schedule of live video streams being produced by SBP members (All times Eastern):

Wednesday, April 26

Thursday, April 27

Monday, May 1

Tuesday, May 2

Be sure to check the Upcoming Events page at MHSAA.tv for schedule additions every day.

The NFHS Network has announced new pricing for 2016-17, eliminating the Day Pass and lowering the cost of a Month Pass to $9.95. Subscribers will have access to all live video and streaming statistics across the country. All content becomes available for free, on-demand viewing 72 hours after being shown live. A portion of every subscription sold by a school goes to benefit its program.

A complete list of participating schools can be found on the School Broadcast Program page of the MHSAA website.

PHOTO: Montrose's Eric Vandefifer (left) and Conner Pyrc call an MHSAA Girls Soccer Semifinal last season for the NFHS Network. (Photo courtesy of Montrose High School digital media.)

Football Finals Replay on FOX For Christmas

December 18, 2018

By John Johnson
MHSAA Director of Broadcast Properties

The eight championship games of 2018 MHSAA 11-Player Football Finals will re-air on FOX Sports Detroit on Christmas Day. 

Here’s the complete schedule:

Dec. 25

8 a.m. – Division 8 – Reading 39, Breckenridge 20  – The Rangers hold the Huskies to 22 yards rushing, while Elijah Strine and Hunter Midtgard each score twice for Reading.

Watch/Buy Instant Download @ MHSAA.tv - Listen/Buy Instant Audio Download @ MHSAANetwork.com

10 a.m. – Division 2 – Warren DeLaSalle 29, Muskegon Mona Shores – Make it two in a row for the Pilots! QB Nolan Schultz rushes for three TDs and passes for a fourth.

Watch/Buy Instant Download @ MHSAA.tv - Listen/Buy Instant Audio Download @ MHSAANetwork.com

Noon – Division 6 – Jackson Lumen Christi 42, Montague 28 – Nick Thomas rushes for 249 yards and two touchdowns to carry the Titans to the championship.

Watch/Buy Instant Download @ MHSAA.tv - Listen/Buy Instant Audio Download @ MHSAANetwork.com

2 p.m. – Division 4 - Edwardsburg 28, Chelsea 7 – The Eddies put it away in the second half. Caden Goggins and Chase Sager combine for 243 yards to lead the way.

Watch/Buy Instant Download @ MHSAA.tv - Listen/Buy Instant Audio Download @ MHSAANetwork.com

4 p.m. – Division 7 – New Lothrop 50, Madison Heights Madison 44 - The highest-scoring Finals game ever! Hornets QB Avery Moore rushes for four TDs and 132 yards and passes for a fifth score in this one.

Watch/Buy Instant Download @ MHSAA.tv - Listen/Buy Instant Audio Download @ MHSAANetwork.com

6 p.m. – Division 1 – Clinton Twp. Chippewa Valley 31, Clarkston 30 - A Finals game for the ages. In the final minute of regulation, Clarkston scores and goes for the win, with Chippewa Valley stopping the 2-point conversion!

Watch/Buy Instant Download @ MHSAA.tv - Listen/Buy Instant Audio Download @ MHSAANetwork.com

8 p.m. – Division 5 – Hudsonville Unity Christian 42, Portland 7 – A total team effort for Unity, outrushing Portland 279-95. QB Isaac TeSlaa runs for two TDs and passes for a third.

Watch/Buy Instant Download @ MHSAA.tv - Listen/Buy Instant Audio Download @ MHSAANetwork.com

10 p.m. – Division 3 – Detroit Martin Luther King 41, Muskegon 25 – King breaks it open with three scores during a four-minute span of the final period. QB Dequan Finn throws four scoring passes, two to Dom Polidore-Hannah.

Watch/Buy Instant Download @ MHSAA.tv - Listen/Buy Instant Audio Download @ MHSAANetwork.com

Instant Video Downloads are $19.99, and Instant Audio Downloads are $4.99. 

Things are winding down for the holidays on MHSAA.tv with School Broadcast Program members heading into a break.

In its 10th year, the School Broadcast Program gives members an opportunity to showcase excellence in their schools by creating video programming of athletic and non-athletic events, with students gaining skills in announcing, camera operation, directing/producing and graphics. Pixellot – The NFHS Network’s automated streaming solution – is used by schools wishing to live stream games but lacking the ability to staff the events. The SBP also gives schools the opportunity to raise money through advertising and viewing subscriptions.

Here’s this week’s MHSAA.tv schedule of video streams being produced by School Broadcast Program members and the NFHS Network:

Tuesday, Dec. 18

Wednesday, Dec. 19

Thursday, Dec. 20