2017 Week 9 Football Playoff Listing
October 17, 2017
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Here is a list of Michigan High School Athletic Association football playing schools, displaying their win-loss records and playoff averages through the eighth week of the season.
Schools on this list are in enrollment order for 11-player teams, with 8-player teams ordered by playoff average. An asterisk (*) beside a record indicates a team has eight or fewer games scheduled.
Those schools with 11-player teams with six or more wins playing nine-game schedules, or five or more wins playing eight games or fewer, will qualify for the MHSAA Football Playoffs beginning Oct. 27. Schools with 5-4, 4-3 or 4-4 records may qualify if the number of potential qualifiers by win total does not reach the 256 mark. Schools with six or more wins playing nine-game schedules or five or more wins playing eight games or fewer may be subtracted from the field based on playoff average if the number of potential qualifiers exceeds the 256 mark.
Once the 256 qualifying schools are determined, they will be divided by enrollment groups into eight equal divisions of 32 schools, and then drawn into regions of eight teams each and districts of four teams each. Those schools with 8-player teams will be ranked by playoff average at season’s end, and the top 32 programs will then be divided into two divisions of 16 each based on enrollment. The playoff in that division also begins Oct. 27.
To review a list of all football playoff schools, individual school playoff point details and to report errors, visit the Football page of the MHSAA Website.
The announcement of the qualifiers and first-round pairings for both the 11 and 8-player playoffs will take place at 7 p.m. Oct. 22 on the Selection Sunday Show on FOX Sports Detroit PLUS. The playoff qualifiers and pairings will be posted to the MHSAA Website following the Selection Sunday Show. The MHSAA Football Finals are presented by the Michigan Army National Guard.
11-Player Playoff Listing
1. Macomb Dakota, 3016, 5-3, 62.393
2. Dearborn Fordson, 2741, 7-1, 94.875
3. Utica Eisenhower, 2689, 8-0, 116.000
4. Grand Blanc, 2660, 6-2, 77.375
5. East Kentwood, 2639, 5-3, 60.018
6. Clarkston, 2603, 6-2, 78.375
7. Rockford, 2485, 5-3, 73.000
8. Clinton Township Chippewa Valley, 2434, 7-1, 95.875
9. Detroit Cass Tech *, 2434, 5-2, 69.500
10. Troy, 2422, 5-3, 65.000
11. Brighton, 2247, 4-4, 55.000
12. Canton, 2212, 7-1, 94.750
13. Holland West Ottawa, 2200, 7-1, 93.875
14. Ann Arbor Pioneer, 2094, 4-4, 49.500
15. Salem, 2090, 4-4, 50.125
16. Detroit Catholic Central, 2080, 5-3, 66.393
17. Hartland, 2050, 4-4, 53.000
18. West Bloomfield, 1990, 6-2, 80.375
19. New Baltimore Anchor Bay, 1956, 6-2, 72.625
20. Monroe, 1934, 4-4, 48.056
21. Utica, 1907, 4-4, 51.250
22. Hudsonville, 1893, 4-4, 49.625
23. Saline *, 1869, 7-1, 92.500
24. Bloomfield Hills, 1842, 6-2, 74.375
25. Lapeer, 1837, 5-3, 60.125
26. Livonia Stevenson, 1811, 5-3, 72.500
27. Walled Lake Central, 1804, 5-3, 64.839
28. White Lake Lakeland *, 1765, 5-2, 72.393
29. Romeo, 1753, 6-2, 84.339
30. Grandville, 1750, 6-2, 76.125
31. Grand Ledge, 1726, 7-1, 90.750
32. Warren Mott, 1712, 4-4, 52.750
33. Belleville, 1709, 8-0, 104.000
34. Detroit Western International *, 1701, 5-3, 53.750
35. Davison, 1695, 7-1, 89.750
36. Walled Lake Northern, 1678, 5-3, 60.750
37. Grosse Pointe South, 1644, 5-3, 68.696
38. Rochester Adams, 1626, 7-1, 91.625
39. Waterford Mott, 1586, 7-1, 94.571
40. Fraser, 1584, 4-4, 53.250
41. Traverse City West, 1582, 8-0, 103.000
42. Brownstown Woodhaven, 1569, 6-2, 77.625
43. Temperance Bedford, 1548, 6-2, 74.375
44. Warren DeLaSalle, 1538, 6-2, 86.851
45. Flint Carman-Ainsworth, 1502, 5-3, 63.125
46. Livonia Churchill, 1486, 7-1, 93.500
47. Livonia Franklin, 1469, 6-2, 75.250
48. Jenison, 1457, 5-3, 61.375
49. Roseville, 1412, 5-3, 62.571
50. Detroit Martin Luther King, 1404, 7-1, 87.163
51. Dearborn Edsel Ford, 1396, 6-2, 68.625
52. Oak Park, 1395, 6-2, 81.500
53. Grosse Pointe North *, 1371, 5-2, 71.143
54. Portage Central, 1353, 7-1, 90.750
55. Port Huron, 1351, 4-4, 50.339
56. Traverse City Central, 1345, 5-3, 65.125
57. Wyandotte Roosevelt, 1345, 8-0, 108.000
58. Royal Oak, 1332, 5-3, 55.750
59. Okemos, 1326, 5-3, 57.500
60. Walled Lake Western, 1318, 7-1, 94.464
61. Midland, 1316, 7-1, 92.875
62. Flushing, 1312, 6-2, 76.500
63. Birmingham Groves, 1300, 7-1, 92.625
64. Port Huron Northern, 1277, 7-1, 91.750
65. St. Clair Shores Lake Shore, 1273, 4-4, 46.375
66. Pinckney, 1272, 7-1, 86.750
67. Detroit East English, 1270, 8-0, 92.000
68. Midland Dow, 1263, 7-1, 86.375
69. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, 1258, 8-0, 109.000
70. Muskegon Mona Shores, 1238, 7-1, 101.875
71. Birmingham Brother Rice, 1224, 5-3, 71.601
72. Ypsilanti Lincoln, 1222, 6-2, 81.250
73. Lowell, 1195, 5-3, 69.250
74. Muskegon Reeths-Puffer, 1186, 5-3, 54.125
75. Ferndale, 1180, 7-1, 85.500
76. Mattawan, 1171, 6-2, 73.375
77. Holly, 1166, 4-4, 47.625
78. Fenton, 1163, 8-0, 108.000
79. Greenville, 1158, 4-4, 47.000
80. Holland, 1140, 5-3, 59.125
81. Hamtramck, 1135, 6-2, 64.125
82. Detroit Renaissance, 1131, 4-4, 43.250
83. Gibraltar Carlson, 1125, 7-1, 93.875
84. Bay City Central, 1116, 4-4, 54.500
85. East Lansing, 1108, 6-2, 74.500
86. Redford Thurston, 1102, 5-3, 55.875
87. Eastpointe, 1101, 4-4, 45.750
88. Warren Woods Tower, 1095, 6-2, 73.500
89. Mt. Pleasant, 1085, 4-4, 44.750
90. Byron Center, 1083, 4-4, 44.875
91. Allen Park, 1078, 4-4, 51.625
92. Muskegon, 1058, 8-0, 109.000
93. Marquette, 1044, 4-4, 45.617
94. St. Joseph, 1043, 6-2, 76.000
95. Auburn Hills Avondale, 1033, 5-3, 64.625
96. Farmington Hills Harrison, 1030, 6-2, 80.625
97. East Grand Rapids, 1010, 8-0, 105.000
98. DeWitt, 994, 7-1, 97.750
99. Zeeland East, 994, 8-0, 99.000
100. St. Johns, 990, 5-3, 59.000
101. Gaylord, 980, 4-4, 46.375
102. Ortonville-Brandon, 969, 5-3, 64.125
103. Zeeland West, 960, 6-2, 77.375
104. Melvindale, 956, 4-4, 49.125
105. Cedar Springs, 946, 5-3, 67.250
106. Coldwater, 933, 5-3, 55.569
107. Riverview, 928, 7-1, 80.625
108. Detroit Cody, 924, 5-3, 53.696
109. Linden, 924, 6-2, 83.625
110. Trenton, 911, 4-4, 54.500
111. Warren Fitzgerald, 903, 6-2, 69.500
112. Grand Rapids Christian, 896, 7-1, 94.875
113. Stevensville Lakeshore, 891, 7-1, 94.500
114. Hazel Park, 889, 5-3, 63.125
115. Battle Creek Harper Creek, 884, 8-0, 95.000
116. Parma Western, 880, 5-3, 54.000
117. New Boston Huron, 877, 5-3, 57.875
118. Romulus, 864, 6-2, 70.500
119. Haslett, 856, 6-2, 74.250
120. Marshall, 854, 4-4, 46.375
121. Dearborn Divine Child, 852, 7-1, 86.768
122. Tecumseh, 850, 5-3, 59.750
123. Chelsea, 841, 7-1, 87.625
124. River Rouge, 836, 6-2, 78.431
125. Edwardsburg, 835, 7-1, 80.750
126. Bay City John Glenn, 831, 4-4, 47.375
127. Detroit Mumford, 829, 5-3, 56.946
128. Coopersville, 824, 6-2, 64.125
129. Sparta, 815, 4-4, 41.625
130. Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood, 812, 7-1, 73.750
131. Plainwell, 808, 6-2, 69.500
132. Vicksburg, 801, 6-2, 65.375
133. Ionia, 792, 4-4, 46.125
134. Milan, 772, 5-3, 56.000
135. Madison Heights Lamphere, 768, 5-3, 53.500
136. Detroit Old Redford, 763, 4-4, 32.875
137. Goodrich, 759, 7-1, 74.750
138. Escanaba, 739, 7-1, 83.615
139. Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy, 727, 5-3, 56.089
140. Center Line, 720, 4-4, 34.125
141. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, 718, 6-2, 57.625
142. Three Rivers, 707, 7-1, 80.500
143. Armada, 685, 4-4, 37.625
144. Croswell-Lexington, 681, 5-3, 50.125
145. Wyoming Godwin Heights, 679, 6-2, 57.500
146. Wyoming Kelloggsville, 678, 8-0, 93.000
147. Romulus Summit Academy North, 674, 4-4, 40.375
148. Paw Paw, 662, 4-4, 41.750
149. Whitehall, 661, 6-2, 60.750
150. Flint Powers Catholic, 660, 5-3, 63.625
151. Lake Fenton, 660, 7-1, 78.875
152. Flat Rock, 658, 6-2, 72.625
153. Grand Rapids Catholic Central, 646, 8-0, 86.143
154. Alma, 642, 6-2, 68.375
155. Comstock Park, 636, 5-3, 61.000
156. Benton Harbor, 634, 4-4, 51.000
157. Corunna, 633, 4-4, 41.500
158. Williamston, 628, 5-3, 55.000
159. Lansing Sexton, 620, 5-3, 69.625
160. Lake Odessa Lakewood, 608, 7-1, 76.875
161. Hudsonville Unity Christian, 606, 5-3, 58.000
162. Dearborn Heights Robichaud, 605, 4-4, 40.500
163. Grand Rapids South Christian, 602, 7-1, 78.750
164. Belding, 597, 6-2, 72.625
165. Bridgeport, 594, 5-3, 51.375
166. Muskegon Oakridge, 592, 6-2, 60.500
167. Saginaw Swan Valley, 586, 7-1, 84.875
168. Hancock, 584, 6-2, 57.665
169. North Muskegon, 579, 5-3, 40.125
170. Dowagiac, 568, 5-3, 56.000
171. Freeland, 564, 6-2, 69.375
172. Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard, 555, 7-1, 67.893
173. Olivet, 552, 8-0, 90.000
174. Lansing Catholic, 551, 6-2, 69.000
175. Remus Chippewa Hills, 550, 6-2, 66.375
176. Cheboygan, 548, 4-4, 40.375
177. Kingsford *, 542, 6-1, 77.540
178. Algonac, 534, 7-1, 80.750
179. Portland, 534, 7-1, 87.500
180. Frankenmuth, 528, 8-0, 92.286
181. Hopkins, 524, 4-4, 41.375
182. Carrollton, 520, 6-2, 65.375
183. Ida, 520, 6-2, 58.000
184. Marine City, 514, 7-1, 94.875
185. Grant, 512, 5-3, 46.000
186. Kalkaska, 512, 4-4, 32.750
187. Richmond, 510, 7-1, 76.750
188. Grand Rapids West Catholic, 505, 6-2, 71.625
189. Onsted, 505, 5-3, 44.875
190. Reed City, 501, 7-1, 79.875
191. Almont, 494, 6-2, 62.500
192. Gladstone, 493, 7-1, 63.750
193. Grayling, 492, 5-3, 49.375
194. Chesaning, 485, 4-4, 39.625
195. Berrien Springs, 484, 6-2, 59.250
196. Coloma, 480, 5-3, 47.625
197. Menominee, 479, 5-3, 57.464
198. Kalamazoo Hackett, 474, 6-2, 62.250
199. Newaygo, 474, 6-2, 64.375
200. Detroit Denby *, 461, 6-1, 73.321
201. Ovid-Elsie, 458, 6-2, 56.625
202. Clare, 457, 7-1, 66.875
203. Detroit Voyageur, 446, 4-4, 41.250
204. Parchment, 443, 5-3, 52.875
205. Hillsdale, 434, 4-4, 43.750
206. Boyne City, 428, 8-0, 84.000
207. Brooklyn Columbia Central, 426, 6-2, 68.250
208. Michigan Center, 419, 7-1, 65.625
209. Ecorse, 417, 5-3, 44.750
210. Fennville, 414, 4-4, 30.875
211. Harrison, 410, 5-3, 47.500
212. Montague, 409, 8-0, 88.000
213. Millington, 407, 7-1, 78.875
214. Hemlock, 405, 5-3, 43.875
215. Morley Stanwood, 405, 7-1, 61.875
216. Negaunee, 405, 4-4, 32.500
217. Ithaca, 403, 8-0, 84.000
218. Clinton Township Clintondale, 401, 7-1, 75.500
219. Delton Kellogg, 398, 4-4, 44.750
220. Calumet, 396, 5-3, 49.708
221. Byron, 387, 4-4, 44.000
222. Detroit Henry Ford, 385, 5-3, 39.857
223. Warren Michigan Collegiate, 382, 8-0, 95.000
224. Montrose, 381, 6-2, 60.500
225. Maple City Glen Lake *, 376, 5-2, 46.036
226. Quincy, 376, 5-3, 49.000
227. Kent City, 375, 8-0, 76.000
228. Lakeview, 374, 5-3, 45.500
229. Napoleon, 373, 6-2, 58.375
230. Schoolcraft, 372, 5-3, 52.000
231. Blissfield, 371, 5-3, 56.875
232. Niles Brandywine, 370, 4-4, 31.875
233. Detroit Central, 369, 6-2, 61.893
234. Laingsburg, 367, 6-2, 52.375
235. Grass Lake, 365, 4-4, 34.375
236. Traverse City St. Francis, 362, 8-0, 91.714
237. Jackson Lumen Christi *, 361, 7-1, 83.875
238. Houghton Lake, 357, 5-3, 44.125
239. Watervliet, 355, 8-0, 79.714
240. Beaverton, 353, 8-0, 82.000
241. Elk Rapids, 353, 6-2, 58.750
242. Burton Bendle, 352, 5-3, 43.250
243. L'Anse, 351, 4-4, 39.373
244. Vermontville Maple Valley, 346, 4-4, 33.750
245. Allen Park Cabrini, 344, 4-4, 30.000
246. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central, 344, 5-3, 56.875
247. Hanover-Horton, 342, 4-4, 31.500
248. Ishpeming Westwood, 342, 7-1, 56.321
249. Riverview Gabriel Richard, 341, 7-1, 57.750
250. Lake City, 333, 8-0, 81.000
251. Oscoda, 332, 5-3, 37.857
252. Detroit Delta Prep, 329, 5-3, 53.464
253. St. Louis, 329, 5-3, 45.000
254. Flint Hamady, 327, 6-2, 54.625
255. Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian, 327, 5-3, 55.125
256. Union City, 327, 6-2, 54.250
257. Bloomingdale, 325, 4-4, 33.500
258. Madison Heights Madison, 323, 8-0, 98.000
259. Hartford, 318, 5-3, 44.875
260. McBain, 314, 6-2, 55.250
261. New Lothrop, 311, 8-0, 80.000
262. Clinton, 309, 5-3, 47.875
263. Harbor Springs, 306, 4-4, 30.893
264. Pewamo-Westphalia, 305, 7-1, 63.500
265. Homer, 299, 5-3, 45.875
266. Saugatuck, 297, 6-2, 53.125
267. Sandusky, 295, 4-4, 35.625
268. Saranac, 285, 5-3, 43.000
269. Springport, 285, 6-2, 52.375
270. Cass City, 282, 7-1, 68.750
271. Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest, 279, 8-0, 67.143
272. Blanchard Montabella, 273, 4-4, 28.375
273. Evart, 270, 4-4, 35.375
274. Cassopolis, 268, 7-1, 64.875
275. Unionville-Sebewaing, 267, 5-3, 45.125
276. Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker, 263, 7-1, 67.750
277. Hudson, 263, 7-1, 78.625
278. Reading, 263, 7-1, 69.250
279. Carson City-Crystal, 258, 5-3, 37.875
280. Breckenridge, 254, 7-1, 57.875
281. Addison, 253, 7-1, 61.750
282. Auburn Hills Oakland Christian *, 248, 5-2, 47.089
283. Beal City, 247, 4-4, 39.000
284. Iron River West Iron County, 245, 7-1, 69.486
285. Ubly, 243, 6-2, 54.500
286. Ottawa Lake Whiteford, 239, 8-0, 76.000
287. St. Joseph Lake Michigan Catholic, 238, 6-2, 42.357
288. Petersburg-Summerfield, 235, 6-2, 52.375
289. Decatur, 234, 5-3, 46.125
290. Lincoln Alcona, 233, 6-2, 54.018
291. Norway, 230, 7-1, 59.794
292. Whittemore-Prescott, 230, 4-4, 33.143
293. Johannesburg-Lewiston, 228, 5-3, 37.750
294. Detroit Southeastern, 223, 4-4, 39.500
295. Harbor Beach, 218, 7-1, 63.875
296. Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary, 216, 4-4, 36.875
297. Marcellus, 210, 4-4, 34.000
298. New Buffalo, 209, 4-4, 32.625
299. Saginaw Nouvel, 208, 8-0, 82.333
300. Mendon, 205, 8-0, 76.000
301. Newberry *, 205, 5-2, 46.161
302. Pittsford, 204, 7-1, 65.625
303. Morenci, 200, 5-3, 44.375
304. Munising *, 200, 4-3, 33.643
305. Bark River-Harris, 197, 4-4, 37.857
306. Sterling Heights Parkway Christian, 194, 5-3, 45.839
307. Adrian Lenawee Christian, 181, 6-2, 43.375
308. Athens, 181, 5-3, 29.000
309. Gaylord St. Mary, 173, 8-0, 76.000
310. Frankfort *, 170, 6-2, 48.429
311. Muskegon Catholic Central *, 169, 7-0, 73.286
312. Fulton, 167, 6-2, 49.375
313. Climax-Scotts, 162, 6-2, 49.500
314. AuGres-Sims *, 148, 7-0, 64.429
315. Hillman, 140, 4-4, 35.732
316. Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart, 133, 6-2, 48.125
317. Waterford Our Lady *, 124, 5-2, 44.875
318. Clarkston Everest Collegiate, 112, 7-1, 59.018
8-Player Playoff Listing
1. Central Lake, 191, 8-0, 63.000
2. Deckerville, 182, 7-1, 61.750
3. Camden-Frontier, 156, 8-0, 61.000
4. Pickford, 151, 8-0, 57.000
5. Morrice, 175, 7-1, 55.625
6. Onekama, 136, 7-1, 53.875
7. Bellevue, 174, 7-1, 52.875
8. Rapid River, 118, 7-1, 52.857
9. Portland St Patrick, 103, 7-1, 51.750
10. Stephenson, 160, 7-1, 49.480
11. Rudyard, 193, 7-1, 47.625
12. Kingston, 191, 6-2, 46.375
13. Crystal Falls Forest Park *, 146, 5-2, 44.087
14. Engadine, 95, 6-2, 42.625
15. Flint International Academy, 150, 6-2, 42.500
16. Marion, 136, 6-2, 42.357
17. Cedarville, 152, 6-2, 41.500
18. Kinde-North Huron, 148, 7-1, 41.250
19. Powers North Central *, 112, 5-2, 39.857
20. Mayville, 197, 5-3, 39.125
21. Bay City All Saints, 97, 6-2, 37.250
22. Webberville, 179, 5-3, 36.375
23. Wyoming Tri-unity Christian *, 182, 5-3, 36.125
24. Battle Creek St Philip, 135, 5-3, 34.750
25. Mesick, 180, 5-3, 33.857
26. Suttons Bay, 201, 5-3, 33.125
27. Ontonagon *, 187, 4-3, 32.071
28. Tekonsha, 145, 4-4, 27.750
29. North Adams-Jerome, 150, 4-4, 26.625
30. Bellaire, 142, 4-4, 24.875
31. Waldron, 79, 4-4, 24.375
32. Lawrence, 181, 3-5, 24.250
33. Atlanta, 74, 4-4, 23.625
34. Brimley, 164, 4-4, 23.625
35. Peck, 127, 4-4, 23.375
36. Brethren *, 159, 3-4, 20.643
37. Hale, 129, 3-5, 20.429
38. Manistee Catholic Central *, 178, 3-4, 20.375
39. Carsonville-Port Sanilac, 106, 3-5, 19.625
40. St Joseph Michigan Lutheran, 99, 4-4, 18.375
41. Eben Junction Superior Central, 131, 3-5, 18.071
42. Baldwin, 105, 3-5, 17.536
43. Onaway, 195, 3-5, 17.250
44. New Haven Merritt Academy, 164, 3-5, 16.750
45. Carney-Nadeau, 133, 2-6, 14.893
46. Fife Lake Forest Area, 165, 2-6, 14.679
47. Bear Lake, 93, 2-6, 13.625
48. Burton Madison Academy, 171, 2-6, 12.000
49. Posen, 87, 2-6, 11.250
50. Felch North Dickinson, 101, 1-7, 9.944
51. Caseville, 93, 1-7, 7.625
52. Owendale-Gagetown, 57, 1-7, 7.125
53. Burr Oak, 74, 0-8, 4.375
54. Litchfield, 81, 0-8, 4.125
55. Pellston, 167, 0-8, 4.000
56. St. Helen Charlton Heston Academy, 140, 0-8, 4.000
57. Big Rapids Crossroads Academy, 187, 0-8, 3.196
58. Akron-Fairgrove, 76, 0-8, 2.750
59. Flint Michigan School for the Deaf *, 47, 0-6, 1.833
'Refuse to Lose' Divine Child Set Tone for Teams to Come with 1st Class B Title
By
Brad Emons
Special for MHSAA.com
November 15, 2024
There was no more conjecture, no newspaper or Associated Press polls to determine the state football champions.
The champion was no longer decided on paper, but out on the field as the MHSAA launched its first playoff tournament in 1975.
Only 16 total teams over four classes were invited to the dance.
And a school with an already a rich football heritage in Dearborn Divine Child proved it on the field with a 21-0 win over Saginaw MacArthur in the Class B title game before 4,000 fans at Central Michigan University’s Perry Shorts Stadium in Mount Pleasant.
In the Semifinals, MacArthur had outlasted Flint Ainsworth, 44-38, as senior halfback Mark Neiderquill rushed for 285 yards and four touchdowns, while Divine Child ousted Sturgis, 20-3.
In the frigid championship final on Nov. 22, the Falcons’ defense held MacArthur’s high-octane offense to seven first downs and 74 yards rushing. They caused three turnovers, with two fumble recoveries and an interception leading to all three of their TDs.
“I thought we could move the ball, but MacArthur was tough,” DC coach Bob LaPointe told the Detroit Free Press.
In the second quarter, Pat Doyle returned an interception 28 yards for a TD, and Mike Surmacz added the PAT for a 7-0 Divine Child advantage.
“That first interception really got us rolling,” LaPointe said. “Doyle can run the 40 in 4.9 and speed is what made that touchdown. But he got good blocking, too.”
Two minutes later, Mike Wiacek gave DC another scoring opportunity when he recovered a MacArthur fumble at the Generals’ 24. Nine plays later, senior quarterback Dan Faletti swept right end and scored on a three-yard bootleg for a 14-0 lead.
“The big thing is that they had a good running back that we had to make sure we kept under control,” said Faletti, who went on to play at Eastern Michigan University before a neck injury prematurely ended his career as a sophomore. “We pretty much got the lead, and Bob was conservative. I just remember scoring that touchdown, and my picture made the paper the next day.”
Neither team could move the ball in the third quarter. There were no first downs.
All-stater Mike Svihra then picked up a fumbled lateral in the fourth quarter and ran 10 yards for the game’s final TD.
“It was not a lot of offense; it was a bitter, cold day,” said Faletti, who went on to work for the Department of Defense for 20 years and Ford Motor Co. before recently retiring. “Bob LaPointe ran a conservative offense. We did ball-control, we didn’t put tons of points on the board ... we didn’t fumble the ball. We didn’t throw interceptions.”
The game, ironically, was played on AstroTurf, not on real grass.
“Everyone makes a bit deal of it, but there really isn’t that much difference,” LaPointe added afterwards. “The only thing I regretted about this game was that I could dress only 44 of my 56 players under the rules. It was tough (to) tell the other 12 they couldn’t suit up.”
An 18-12 loss to Madison Heights Bishop Foley during the final regular-season game, spoiling what would have been an undefeated season in 1974, had left the Falcons distraught – but even more galvanized as they made preparations for the 1975 campaign.
The Falcons also changed their offense in 1975, switching to a triple-option attack that LaPointe got from Notre Dame. The offense proved to be good enough for a 9-0 regular season and an MHSAA playoff berth.
“We were an underdog the whole thing, the whole time, we were the underdog in every big game we played in, but we didn’t allow people to beat us,” said Wes Wishart, who coached the linebackers and offensive line that season before taking over the head coaching reins for the Falcons from 1978-95. “We refused to lose, and that was the motto. From ’74 on those group of kids said, ‘We refuse to lose.’ You use that phrase as a coach all the time, but this group of kids lived it. They were the ones that invented it. When things got tight, ‘refuse, refuse, refuse.’ We’re not backing off from anybody. Great group of young men, great players.”
During the regular season, DC earned victories over highly-touted Flint Powers Catholic (20-14), previously unbeaten Southgate Aquinas (26-12) and Allen Park Cabrini (12-8).
That set up a Catholic League Prep Bowl showdown in the final game of the regular season against highly-touted 8-0 Birmingham Brother Rice, which was ranked No. 1 in the final regular-season AP Class A poll.
Although the Falcons were a decided underdog, the AA division champs upended Rice, 7-0, before a packed crowd at Eastern Michigan University’s Rynearson Stadium to snap the Warriors’ 22-game winning streak thanks to Jim Kempinski’s fumble return for a seven-yard touchdown as he snagged the ball in mid-air and never broke stride while crossing into the end zone.
“We played our butts off,” Faletti said. “It was a dog-eat-dog game.”
It was DC’s 11th Catholic League title, but more importantly put the Falcons into the first MHSAA Playoffs against Sturgis in a Semifinal match at C.W. Post Field in Battle Creek.
“I remember everything was brand new; nobody knew what they were doing,” said Wishart, who guided the Falcons to the 1985 Class A crown as their head coach. “Coach LaPointe on Monday had to get the school to get our hotel rooms in Battle Creek.”
Steve Toepper booted a 27-yard field goal for Sturgis to open the scoring, but DC responded with 20 unanswered points.
In the final quarter, DC’s Rick Rogowski scored on a seven-yard run with 9:23 left (after Steve Savini recovered a fumble caused by Joe Wiercioch) followed by a 10-yard TD run by Faletti with only six minutes to go (after Svihra recovered a fumble).
That sent the Falcons into the Final at CMU, where their defense suffocated MacArthur (9-2).
“We kind of ran a special outside zone. We had to quickly change (how) we would defend that. We shut them down,” said Wishart, who spent 50 years in CYO and high school coaching before retiring to live in New York. “There was no doubt, we were more physical than they were. We were blue collar kids. Typical Divine Child kids, hard-working, never give up.
“We believed desperately in defending Divine Child at all costs because we were a smaller school, so we had an attitude that still lingers there today that we all cultivated. We were going to be a physical squad.”
Meanwhile, what made the Falcons special and unique that title season was their “one for all and all for one” attitude.
“Everybody was the same,” Faletti said. “When we went between the lines, we were all equal. As captain, I got to be command as quarterback in the huddle. But off the field we were all equal. We played like 22 seniors. We were ready for this game.”
PHOTOS (Top) Dearborn Divine Child coaches and players receive the Class B championship trophy after winning the inaugural title game in 1975. (Middle) Falcons quarterback Dan Faletti throws a pass during the Final. (Below) Divine Child players and coaches raise their Prep Bowl trophy in celebration. (Championship game photos courtesy of Dearborn Divine Child yearbook. Prep Bowl photo provided by Dan Faletti.)