More Football Classic on FOX Sports Detroit
July 7, 2020
By John Johnson
MHSAA Director of Broadcast Properties
Another series of MHSAA Football Finals “Classics” will be shown on FOX Sports Detroit on Friday.
Here’s the complete schedule:
Noon – 2012 Division 1 Final: Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice vs. Muskegon – A wild fourth quarter ended with Brother Rice scoring on a 91-yard gadget kick return by Jason Alessi to claim a 35-28 win. With the score tied at 21-21, Rice scored on a 77 yard flea-flicker pass from Alex Malzone to Corey Lacanaria. The Big Reds returned the favor just three plays later with Deshaun Thrower hitting Keondre Craig on a 51-yard scoring play to set the stage for the ensuing kickoff and the win for the Warriors.
2:30 p.m. – 2012 Division 3 Final: Grand Rapids Christian vs. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s – This game had three lead changes during the final period before Christian’s Joel Schipper sent it to overtime at 37-37 with a 28-yard field goal with four seconds left in regulation. When St. Mary’s failed in overtime, Schipper came right back out and nailed a 27-yard kick for the 40-37 victory. Key was the play of Drake Harris, who had eight catches for a Finals-record 243 yards and one score.
5:30 p.m. – 2015 Division 2 Final: Detroit Martin Luther King vs. Lowell – In the only MHSAA Football Final decided as time expires, Armani Posey’s 40-yard Hail Mary pass was caught in the end zone by Donnie Corley to give King a 40-38 victory. Posey directed the Crusaders 95 yards in six plays over 37 seconds during the game-winning drive. Lowell led all the way until the final snap, with Max Dean scoring three times and Ryan Stevens scoring once. Posey completed 19 of 27 passes in the game with no INTs and five touchdowns – two to Corley and two to Lavert Hill.
8 p.m. - 2018 Division 1 Final: Clinton Township Chippewa Valley vs. Clarkston – It all came down to a 2-point conversion attempt by Clarkston which was foiled by the Chippewa Valley defense in this thriller. The Wolves pulled to within a point at 31-30 with 23 seconds to play when Matt Miller took in a seven-yard scoring pass from Jake Jenson; Clarkston decided to go for the win. Chippewa Valley QB Tommy Schuster was a perfect 14-for-14 passing for 209 yards and two touchdowns.
Some portions of the games may be edited out due to time constraints.
Highlight Reel: Saturday Football Finals
November 28, 2016
By John Johnson
MHSAA Communications Director
The final day of the MHSAA 11-Player Football Finals at Ford Field in Detroit – powered by the Michigan Army National Guard – produced a first-time gridiron champion and a game-winning play that will be talked about for a long time.
Division 7
Pewamo-Westphalia 28, Detroit Loyola 14
Logan & Lehman Go Long - The Pewamo-Westphalia combo of quarterback Jimmy Lehman and receiver Logan Hengesbach connected for two touchdowns in the Division 7 title game against Detroit Loyola. Here's the second TD in the third quarter, with Hengesbach winning the jump ball to complete a 37-yard scoring play.
Johnson Powers Into the End Zone - Detroit Loyola gets on the board midway through the fourth quarter, when TE Keith Johnson makes a great play to catch a pass from Price Watkins and then power into the end zone to complete the 18-yard score.
Division 1
Detroit Cass Tech 49, Detroit Catholic Central 20
CC Takes the Early Lead - Detroit Catholic Central led 14-7 at the end of the first quarter, taking the lead on this 35-yard pass interception return by Jack Morris.
The Peoples' Choice for Cass Tech - Detroit Cass Tech QB Rodney Hall tied a Finals record with five touchdown passes against Detroit Catholic Central - two going to Donovan Peoples-Jones, including this 49-yarder in the third quarter.
Division 5
Grand Rapids West Catholic 43, Menominee 7
Meyers Off to the Races - Grand Rapids West Catholic scored its first TD against Menominee on a pitch and catch from Gaetano Vallone to Brett Meyers covering 91 yards.
Hass Records a Finals First - Menominee uses special teams to get on the board in the third quarter. Sam Larson blocks the West Catholic field goal attempt, and Hunter Hass returns it 76 yards for a TD – the first time in Finals history a blocked field goal has been returned for a score.
Division 3
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 29, Muskegon 28
Pimpleton's Second Score - Lined up in the slot, Muskegon's Kalil Pimpleton gets his second 18-yard rushing touchdown of the Division 3 Final against Orchard Lake St. Mary's on the end-around to give his team a 21-20 lead early in the fourth quarter.
A Catch for the Ages - In the closing seconds of the Division 3 Final, Orchard Lake St. Mary's QB Caden Prieskorn hits Ky’ren Cunningham in the end zone with an 18-yard touchdown strike to give the Eaglets the win.
The MHSAA Football Finals are sponsored by the Michigan National Guard.
PHOTO: Orchard Lake St. Mary's Chris Bean celebrates during Saturday's Division 3 Final.