2018 Week 8 Football Playoff Listing
October 9, 2018
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 seventh 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. 26. 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. 26.
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. 21 on the Selection Sunday Show on FOX Sports Detroit. The playoff qualifiers and pairings will be posted to the MHSAA Website following the Selection Sunday Show.
11-Player Playoff Listing
1. Macomb Dakota, 3114, 6-1, 87.714
2. Dearborn Fordson, 2795, 6-1, 87.714
3. Utica Eisenhower, 2668, 4-3, 58.286
4. East Kentwood, 2651, 6-1, 88.857
5. Grand Blanc, 2637, 5-2, 73.571
6. Sterling Heights Stevenson, 2591, 3-4, 44.857
7. Clarkston, 2548, 6-1, 88.571
8. Rockford, 2481, 4-3, 59.000
9. Clinton Township Chippewa Valley, 2462, 7-0, 115.429
10. Detroit Cass Tech, 2432, 7-0, 101.333
11. Lake Orion, 2393, 4-3, 56.857
12. Howell, 2387, 4-3, 55.571
13. Canton, 2260, 5-2, 73.286
14. Southfield Arts & Technology, 2244, 3-4, 45.857
15. Brighton, 2202, 6-1, 88.857
16. Holland West Ottawa, 2190, 5-2, 73.000
17. Oxford, 2170, 5-2, 81.000
18. Ann Arbor Pioneer, 2115, 3-4, 40.714
19. Dearborn, 2106, 4-3, 54.429
20. Hartland, 2104, 3-4, 41.000
21. Plymouth, 2060, 5-2, 71.000
22. Detroit Catholic Central, 2020, 5-2, 79.048
23. West Bloomfield, 2005, 5-2, 79.857
24. Macomb L'Anse Creuse North, 1994, 4-3, 53.286
25. Monroe, 1949, 6-1, 84.857
26. Utica Ford, 1903, 3-4, 37.571
27. Hudsonville, 1879, 5-2, 70.762
28. Saline, 1834, 6-1, 88.857
29. Romeo, 1779, 5-2, 76.714
30. Detroit Western International, 1773, 5-2, 56.143
31. Lapeer, 1772, 7-0, 102.857
32. White Lake Lakeland, 1740, 5-2, 71.000
33. Grandville, 1729, 3-4, 48.429
34. Ann Arbor Skyline, 1701, 3-4, 40.000
35. Holt, 1692, 3-4, 45.714
36. Davison, 1687, 6-1, 86.429
37. Kalamazoo Central, 1672, 4-3, 59.571
38. Walled Lake Northern, 1672, 3-4, 39.286
39. Belleville, 1642, 7-0, 107.429
40. Traverse City West, 1634, 5-2, 73.571
41. Brownstown Woodhaven, 1628, 6-1, 93.143
42. Rochester Adams, 1621, 4-3, 60.000
43. Grosse Pointe South, 1593, 7-0, 102.857
44. Warren Mott, 1585, 5-2, 73.714
45. Waterford Mott, 1558, 4-3, 55.571
46. Saginaw Heritage, 1541, 4-3, 47.286
47. Warren DeLaSalle, 1474, 6-1, 92.857
48. Jenison, 1464, 4-3, 62.571
49. Temperance Bedford, 1462, 3-4, 45.571
50. Detroit U-D Jesuit, 1456, 3-4, 41.143
51. Livonia Franklin, 1443, 4-3, 55.143
52. Livonia Churchill, 1435, 5-2, 75.857
53. Ypsilanti Community, 1433, 3-4, 45.429
54. Dearborn Heights Crestwood, 1424, 7-0, 94.857
55. St. Clair Shores Lakeview, 1399, 4-3, 50.714
56. Traverse City Central, 1391, 6-1, 90.857
57. Okemos, 1381, 5-2, 65.333
58. Birmingham Seaholm, 1376, 6-1, 83.143
59. Wyandotte Roosevelt, 1376, 5-2, 71.000
60. Flint Carman-Ainsworth, 1358, 3-4, 43.857
61. Oak Park, 1349, 7-0, 99.429
62. Portage Central, 1349, 5-2, 71.857
63. Royal Oak, 1335, 3-4, 43.571
64. Roseville, 1303, 5-2, 63.524
65. Birmingham Groves, 1298, 5-2, 65.429
66. Port Huron Northern, 1295, 6-1, 84.000
67. Midland, 1289, 4-3, 54.286
68. Portage Northern, 1284, 5-2, 73.286
69. Midland Dow, 1277, 5-2, 64.286
70. St. Clair Shores Lake Shore, 1276, 6-1, 78.429
71. Flushing, 1275, 5-2, 77.857
72. North Farmington, 1264, 3-4, 38.857
73. Swartz Creek, 1262, 6-1, 86.571
74. Walled Lake Western, 1258, 5-2, 72.000
75. Jackson, 1229, 7-0, 101.714
76. Ypsilanti Lincoln, 1226, 4-3, 51.000
77. South Lyon, 1225, 7-0, 102.857
78. Muskegon Mona Shores, 1215, 7-0, 104.000
79. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, 1212, 3-4, 46.714
80. Southgate Anderson, 1206, 3-4, 40.714
81. Dexter, 1172, 5-2, 62.000
82. Birmingham Brother Rice, 1168, 4-3, 62.762
83. Detroit Renaissance, 1168, 4-3, 45.571
84. Ferndale, 1162, 5-2, 67.714
85. Fenton, 1160, 5-2, 69.857
86. Muskegon Reeths-Puffer, 1154, 4-3, 48.286
87. Mattawan, 1153, 5-2, 66.667
88. Detroit Martin Luther King, 1149, 6-1, 77.429
89. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern, 1142, 4-3, 54.000
90. Warren Woods Tower, 1126, 7-0, 81.143
91. Auburn Hills Avondale, 1115, 5-2, 67.571
92. Gibraltar Carlson, 1114, 6-1, 89.857
93. East Lansing, 1111, 6-1, 86.762
94. Farmington, 1111, 6-1, 91.143
95. Allen Park, 1105, 5-2, 75.429
96. Redford Thurston, 1098, 4-3, 45.571
97. Grand Rapids Northview, 1096, 5-2, 68.571
98. Garden City, 1080, 5-2, 61.571
99. South Lyon East, 1063, 4-3, 57.857
100. Mt. Pleasant, 1053, 7-0, 92.571
101. Eastpointe, 1022, 3-4, 40.429
102. Muskegon, 1022, 7-0, 105.143
103. Battle Creek Central, 1014, 4-3, 54.524
104. St. Joseph, 1010, 5-2, 72.857
105. Gaylord, 1002, 5-2, 59.429
106. DeWitt, 1001, 7-0, 108.762
107. East Grand Rapids, 998, 5-2, 72.429
108. Zeeland West, 997, 6-1, 87.429
109. Cedar Springs, 992, 6-1, 85.429
110. Warren Fitzgerald, 981, 3-4, 38.429
111. Linden, 977, 3-4, 43.714
112. Mason, 968, 3-4, 36.714
113. St. Johns, 955, 4-3, 54.286
114. Zeeland East, 955, 6-1, 80.714
115. Marquette, 952, 3-4, 43.393
116. Petoskey, 948, 4-3, 58.143
117. Detroit Mumford, 943, 5-2, 64.286
118. Orchard Lake St. Mary's, 940, 3-4, 38.321
119. Trenton, 914, 4-3, 59.143
120. Riverview, 913, 6-1, 72.571
121. Middleville Thornapple Kellogg, 903, 5-2, 64.000
122. River Rouge, 897, 6-1, 71.714
123. Haslett, 895, 6-1, 78.429
124. Ortonville-Brandon, 887, 6-1, 87.429
125. Grand Rapids Christian, 886, 5-2, 74.429
126. Niles, 884, 3-4, 42.143
127. Parma Western, 870, 6-1, 72.857
128. Stevensville Lakeshore, 864, 4-3, 55.429
129. Hazel Park, 859, 3-4, 32.714
130. Chelsea, 851, 5-2, 69.400
131. Farmington Hills Harrison, 849, 5-2, 67.571
132. Spring Lake, 845, 5-2, 57.143
133. Marysville, 843, 4-3, 47.429
134. Fowlerville, 842, 3-4, 33.000
135. Edwardsburg, 838, 7-0, 91.429
136. Marshall, 830, 3-4, 39.714
137. Wayland Union, 829, 4-3, 51.571
138. Plainwell, 825, 5-2, 58.714
139. Carleton Airport, 811, 3-4, 36.000
140. Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood, 809, 4-3, 54.429
141. St. Clair, 807, 5-2, 64.143
142. Sparta, 793, 4-3, 47.429
143. Charlotte, 766, 3-4, 33.000
144. Vicksburg, 762, 3-4, 33.857
145. Milan, 761, 5-2, 59.857
146. Goodrich, 758, 5-2, 62.143
147. Detroit Cody, 755, 5-2, 68.857
148. Allendale, 749, 3-4, 36.857
149. North Branch, 726, 6-1, 68.286
150. Croswell-Lexington, 724, 4-3, 49.429
151. Center Line, 720, 4-3, 45.286
152. Battle Creek Pennfield, 709, 4-3, 51.857
153. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, 702, 4-3, 46.786
154. Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy *, 701, 3-3, 37.143
155. Sault Ste. Marie, 700, 4-3, 45.714
156. Escanaba, 691, 5-2, 65.286
157. Detroit Country Day *, 687, 5-2, 72.286
158. Flint Powers Catholic, 687, 4-3, 53.571
159. Romulus Summit Academy North, 684, 3-4, 31.238
160. Three Rivers, 682, 6-1, 78.571
161. Holland Christian, 672, 4-3, 47.857
162. Paw Paw, 670, 5-2, 59.857
163. Whitehall, 669, 5-2, 51.714
164. Wyoming Kelloggsville, 663, 4-3, 44.429
165. Grand Rapids Catholic Central, 662, 6-1, 75.000
166. Wyoming Godwin Heights, 659, 4-3, 50.714
167. Otsego, 651, 4-3, 46.714
168. Lake Fenton, 648, 4-3, 38.143
169. Yale, 647, 4-3, 42.714
170. Ludington, 645, 5-2, 44.571
171. Alma, 643, 6-1, 71.714
172. Lake Odessa Lakewood, 643, 5-2, 61.429
173. Williamston, 619, 6-1, 80.429
174. Bridgeport, 618, 3-4, 39.143
175. Grand Rapids South Christian, 615, 4-3, 58.095
176. Big Rapids, 613, 4-3, 44.000
177. Grosse Ile, 609, 7-0, 84.571
178. Dearborn Heights Robichaud, 608, 6-1, 70.571
179. Hudsonville Unity Christian, 602, 6-1, 79.571
180. Harper Woods, 594, 5-2, 48.429
181. Howard City Tri-County, 585, 3-4, 38.714
182. Freeland, 584, 5-2, 57.571
183. Dowagiac, 580, 3-4, 38.000
184. Essexville Garber, 576, 3-4, 36.286
185. Gladwin, 575, 3-4, 29.429
186. Saginaw Swan Valley, 573, 7-0, 98.286
187. Belding, 572, 5-2, 57.143
188. Muskegon Oakridge, 571, 6-1, 67.000
189. Macomb Lutheran North, 560, 6-1, 65.571
190. Birch Run, 552, 4-3, 48.429
191. St. Clair Shores South Lake, 551, 3-4, 35.429
192. Clawson, 550, 4-3, 40.143
193. Portland, 550, 7-0, 84.571
194. Frankenmuth, 549, 6-1, 75.143
195. Kingsford, 547, 3-4, 38.643
196. Olivet, 542, 7-0, 85.714
197. Detroit Osborn, 537, 6-1, 65.714
198. Lansing Catholic, 531, 6-1, 70.571
199. Remus Chippewa Hills *, 531, 3-4, 40.000
200. Cheboygan, 527, 4-3, 47.286
201. Grant, 525, 4-3, 40.571
202. Richmond, 524, 4-3, 51.143
203. Grand Rapids West Catholic, 513, 4-3, 53.571
204. Ida, 512, 5-2, 56.429
205. Hopkins, 507, 6-1, 71.714
206. Benzie Central, 505, 4-3, 47.714
207. Detroit Denby, 504, 5-2, 56.571
208. Reed City, 504, 7-0, 88.000
209. Almont, 503, 7-0, 81.143
210. Marine City, 503, 5-2, 63.143
211. Berrien Springs, 500, 6-1, 68.667
212. Dundee, 485, 4-3, 45.286
213. Caro, 473, 3-4, 27.143
214. Grayling, 473, 3-4, 38.143
215. Detroit Henry Ford, 472, 3-4, 34.429
216. Manistee, 472, 7-0, 76.571
217. Durand, 468, 3-4, 31.714
218. Coloma, 460, 3-4, 37.286
219. Gladstone, 459, 3-4, 33.857
220. Perry, 459, 3-4, 32.143
221. Ovid-Elsie, 453, 5-2, 57.714
222. Kalamazoo Hackett, 450, 7-0, 78.857
223. Clare, 449, 6-1, 63.571
224. Montague, 445, 6-1, 68.286
225. Newaygo, 445, 5-2, 60.571
226. Kingsley, 443, 6-1, 69.429
227. Hillsdale, 441, 7-0, 77.714
228. Houghton, 421, 3-4, 29.714
229. Boyne City, 418, 3-4, 28.143
230. Tawas *, 418, 4-2, 42.190
231. Michigan Center, 412, 6-1, 54.571
232. Brooklyn Columbia Central, 410, 6-1, 72.571
233. Negaunee, 404, 4-3, 40.000
234. Muskegon Catholic Central, 402, 3-4, 33.143
235. Constantine, 400, 6-1, 63.571
236. Fennville, 400, 6-1, 56.571
237. Maple City Glen Lake, 395, 3-4, 33.571
238. Detroit Edison Public School Academy, 394, 3-4, 26.810
239. Calumet, 392, 7-0, 83.429
240. Warren Michigan Collegiate, 392, 7-0, 80.000
241. Ishpeming Westwood, 391, 5-2, 55.429
242. Millington, 390, 5-2, 60.286
243. Ithaca, 388, 6-1, 62.571
244. Ecorse, 387, 6-1, 65.143
245. Sanford Meridian Early College, 387, 3-4, 31.857
246. Blissfield, 383, 5-2, 64.571
247. Byron, 380, 4-3, 46.857
248. Montrose, 379, 5-2, 59.714
249. Delton Kellogg, 378, 5-2, 57.571
250. Hemlock, 374, 6-1, 57.857
251. Harrison, 372, 3-4, 32.571
252. Morley Stanwood, 369, 5-2, 48.286
253. Quincy, 369, 4-3, 40.143
254. Elk Rapids, 366, 5-2, 44.143
255. Napoleon, 365, 5-2, 46.143
256. Beaverton, 362, 5-2, 53.000
257. Grass Lake, 357, 7-0, 76.571
258. Jackson Lumen Christi *, 356, 7-0, 91.429
259. Traverse City St. Francis, 355, 7-0, 93.714
260. Flint Hamady, 353, 7-0, 82.286
261. Schoolcraft, 353, 6-1, 76.143
262. Niles Brandywine, 352, 5-2, 46.429
263. Kent City, 351, 7-0, 73.143
264. Lutheran Westland, 349, 3-4, 24.810
265. Detroit Central, 348, 3-4, 31.143
266. Lake City, 348, 7-0, 73.143
267. Leroy Pine River, 348, 5-2, 46.000
268. Vermontville Maple Valley, 347, 3-4, 30.857
269. L'Anse, 344, 3-4, 34.286
270. Ravenna, 344, 4-3, 38.571
271. Lakeview, 340, 3-4, 30.286
272. Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian, 332, 3-4, 27.143
273. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central, 331, 5-2, 69.429
274. St. Louis, 331, 3-4, 33.429
275. Oscoda, 329, 6-1, 55.000
276. Riverview Gabriel Richard, 328, 4-3, 49.429
277. McBain, 327, 5-2, 54.143
278. North Muskegon, 327, 4-3, 35.000
279. Hartford, 322, 4-3, 33.857
280. Roscommon, 319, 6-1, 70.286
281. Madison Heights Madison, 316, 7-0, 102.857
282. Pewamo-Westphalia, 315, 7-0, 69.714
283. Clinton, 313, 6-1, 58.857
284. Bad Axe, 311, 4-3, 36.429
285. Detroit Community, 308, 7-0, 63.048
286. Madison Heights Bishop Foley, 306, 6-1, 60.476
287. New Lothrop, 302, 7-0, 84.571
288. Springport, 302, 7-0, 67.429
289. Allen Park Cabrini, 300, 5-2, 44.429
290. Sandusky, 300, 7-0, 65.143
291. Lawton, 299, 3-4, 26.286
292. Iron Mountain, 298, 5-2, 58.571
293. Union City, 297, 4-3, 39.857
294. Cass City, 291, 6-1, 64.571
295. Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett, 287, 3-4, 29.857
296. Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker, 282, 6-1, 60.143
297. Detroit Loyola, 280, 5-2, 66.286
298. Harbor Springs, 280, 6-1, 54.810
299. Manton, 280, 4-3, 38.571
300. Centreville, 279, 7-0, 65.143
301. Whitmore Lake, 278, 3-4, 28.429
302. Saugatuck, 273, 6-1, 59.000
303. Blanchard Montabella, 269, 3-4, 26.286
304. Sand Creek, 266, 4-3, 36.143
305. Detroit Leadership Academy, 264, 3-4, 27.524
306. Cassopolis, 261, 7-0, 70.857
307. Saranac, 257, 5-2, 39.143
308. Concord, 255, 3-4, 28.857
309. Marlette, 255, 3-4, 32.714
310. Hudson, 252, 3-4, 30.000
311. Royal Oak Shrine Catholic, 252, 3-4, 28.429
312. Ottawa Lake Whiteford, 250, 7-0, 67.429
313. Carson City-Crystal, 248, 6-1, 48.857
314. Gwinn, 246, 5-2, 44.571
315. Iron River West Iron County, 246, 5-2, 44.000
316. Dansville, 244, 5-2, 46.714
317. Reading, 244, 7-0, 70.857
318. Addison, 243, 4-3, 35.286
319. Flint Beecher, 237, 5-2, 48.429
320. Holton, 234, 5-2, 43.714
321. Ishpeming, 233, 7-0, 74.286
322. Ubly, 232, 5-2, 46.143
323. Johannesburg-Lewiston, 226, 6-1, 60.238
324. White Pigeon, 225, 5-2, 49.143
325. Breckenridge, 224, 7-0, 67.429
326. Harbor Beach, 222, 6-1, 59.714
327. Norway, 220, 3-4, 29.143
328. Rogers City, 220, 6-1, 60.143
329. Sterling Heights Parkway Christian, 220, 7-0, 60.952
330. Petersburg-Summerfield, 219, 4-3, 37.714
331. Decatur, 216, 4-3, 36.429
332. St. Ignace, 209, 4-3, 33.714
333. Detroit Public Safety Academy, 206, 6-1, 52.524
334. Munising, 201, 4-3, 34.286
335. Mendon, 193, 4-3, 32.714
336. Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary, 193, 6-1, 53.286
337. Merrill, 186, 4-3, 32.952
338. Pittsford, 186, 6-1, 54.286
339. Three Oaks River Valley, 186, 4-3, 33.714
340. Athens *, 185, 3-3, 31.857
341. Adrian Lenawee Christian, 183, 6-1, 53.333
342. Martin, 183, 4-3, 34.905
343. Saginaw Nouvel, 180, 4-3, 36.429
344. Frankfort, 174, 4-3, 34.714
345. Fowler, 170, 4-3, 32.857
346. Detroit Southeastern, 154, 4-3, 46.000
347. Climax-Scotts *, 148, 3-3, 33.429
348. Waterford Our Lady, 128, 4-3, 39.000
8-Player Playoff Listing
1. Colon, 162, 7-0, 64.000
2. Pickford, 156, 7-0, 64.000
3. Morrice, 182, 7-0, 59.429
4. Wyoming Tri-unity Christian, 173, 7-0, 58.667
5. Powers North Central, 109, 6-1, 53.286
6. AuGres-Sims, 160, 7-0, 52.571
7. Onekama, 131, 6-1, 50.381
8. Suttons Bay, 189, 6-1, 48.286
9. Bellevue, 185, 6-1, 48.095
10. Engadine, 102, 6-1, 47.714
11. Hillman, 140, 6-1, 47.714
12. Deckerville, 175, 5-2, 42.571
13. Posen, 78, 6-1, 41.857
14. Kingston, 187, 6-1, 41.714
15. Rapid River, 127, 5-2, 40.429
16. Brethren, 143, 5-2, 40.190
17. Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart, 122, 5-2, 38.143
18. Peck, 136, 5-2, 37.810
19. Tekonsha, 121, 5-2, 35.571
20. Fife Lake Forest Area, 183, 4-3, 35.429
21. Battle Creek St. Philip, 178, 4-3, 34.000
22. New Haven Merritt Academy, 154, 4-3, 33.857
23. Mayville, 185, 4-3, 32.857
24. Kinde-North Huron, 130, 4-3, 32.571
25. Genesee, 169, 4-3, 30.857
26. Camden-Frontier, 176, 4-3, 30.429
27. Stephenson, 159, 4-3, 28.714
28. Marion, 139, 4-3, 28.048
29. Crystal Falls Forest Park, 125, 4-3, 27.714
30. Portland St. Patrick, 102, 3-4, 27.571
31. Webberville, 176, 3-4, 27.429
32. Cedarville, 151, 4-3, 26.857
33. Eben Junction Superior Central, 121, 3-4, 26.571
34. North Adams-Jerome, 146, 4-3, 26.286
35. Onaway, 187, 4-3, 26.238
36. Manistee Catholic Central, 181, 4-3, 25.905
37. Ontonagon, 173, 4-3, 25.571
38. Bellaire, 131, 3-4, 24.500
39. Pellston, 167, 3-4, 23.143
40. Mesick, 202, 3-4, 22.857
41. Lawrence, 171, 3-4, 22.286
42. Caseville *, 95, 3-3, 20.952
43. Burr Oak, 74, 3-4, 19.286
44. Rudyard, 159, 3-4, 17.714
45. Central Lake *, 190, 2-4, 16.810
46. Bay City All Saints, 77, 2-5, 16.381
47. Ashley, 94, 2-5, 14.714
48. Owendale-Gagetown, 57, 2-5, 12.571
49. Waldron, 65, 2-5, 12.286
50. Big Rapids Crossroads Academy, 201, 2-5, 11.143
51. Bear Lake *, 94, 1-5, 10.048
52. Hale, 122, 1-6, 9.143
53. Atlanta, 74, 1-6, 8.714
54. St. Helen Charlton Heston Academy, 156, 1-6, 8.429
55. Burton Madison Academy, 163, 1-6, 7.476
56. Brimley, 154, 1-6, 7.143
57. Litchfield, 81, 1-6, 7.143
58. Felch North Dickinson, 83, 0-7, 3.714
59. Flint International Academy, 171, 0-7, 3.143
60. Carney-Nadeau, 133, 0-7, 2.857
61. St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran, 100, 0-7, 2.429
62. Baldwin *, 120, 0-6, 1.881
Rebuilt Culture Driving Success as Roelens Steps Away at Port Huron Northern
By
Paul Costanzo
Special for MHSAA.com
November 13, 2024
The spark that helped ignite the past decade of success for the Port Huron Northern football program came early in Larry Roelens’ tenure, and, ironically, during the one full season that the Huskies finished with a losing record under him.
Northern, which had just three winning seasons over the previous 15, started 0-2 in 2015, but rattled off four straight wins under its first-year coach, who was noticing that things were changing for the better.
“I’ll be honest, Northern wasn’t in a very good state when I got the job,” Roelens said. “But for me and the guys that stayed around (on the coaching staff), I could never have done what I did without the guys on my staff. They’re like family to me and to my kids; they call them uncles. We went in with the mindset that we have to change the culture.
“We started 0-2 that first season, but then won four in a row. We lost three tough games to end the season, but that kind of changed the culture. We built on that, and the next year went 6-3.”
That next season was the beginning of the most successful stretch of football during the playoff era for the Huskies, as they made the postseason nine straight years, tripling the number of playoff appearances they had made during the 40 years prior.
The ninth postseason appearance was the last for Roelens, however, as he stepped down as Northern coach following a Division 2 District Semifinal loss to Warren De La Salle Collegiate on Oct. 24. He has accepted a position as assistant principal at the school, and administrators in the district are not allowed to hold head coaching positions.
“Honestly, that was a very hard decision to make for me,” Roelens said. “I went into education to be a coach and a teacher. But it was very much based on a family decision. I’ll be able to spend more time with my kids (Audrey, 5, and Brady, 3), and coach their teams.”
Roelens leaves the Northern program in as good a place as it’s been, perhaps ever.
He was 69-30 over his 10 seasons, with the nine playoff appearances and four Macomb Area Conference Blue titles. Northern also won four postseason games under Roelens.
Before he took over the program, Northern had three playoff appearances in program history – 1986, 1999 and 2010 – and a single postseason victory.
The program had not won eight games in a season since 1987, but did so four times under Roelens, including with a 10-2 mark in 2018, which matched the school record for wins.
“It’s pretty crazy,” said Northern senior quarterback Ty Fletcher. “He kind of morphed the program to what it is today. … I feel like, when he started getting into the playoffs and they had all those playoff appearances in (consecutive) seasons, that started that trend of winning football. Then we ended up staying there and being a competitive team.”
As it so often does, the success built an excitement around the program that found its way through the youth levels.
“We were all coming up through the youth teams, and we all stayed together on the freshman level, and we always talked about how everyone wants to play for Northern,” Fletcher said. “About how cool it was to play under the lights there.”
A lot of that excitement at the youth level has also been buoyed by a string of Division I college talent that has come through the program during Roelens’ time, led by Braiden McGregor. The defensive end was among the top recruits in the country in 2020 and played a key role on Michigan’s national title team. He is now playing for the New York Jets.
He wasn’t a one-off for the Huskies in terms of DI talent, as Luke Fletcher is now in his second year at Eastern Michigan, and current juniors Amir Morelan and Lincoln Watkins have both received Power 4 offers.
“Braiden’s class, we had a few kids that went on to play college football,” Roelens said. “That right there was proof that, even in a small town, they’re going to find you if you’re good enough. I think that pushed a lot of kids, because they started to understand that if you’re good enough and you work hard enough, they’ll find you.”
Roelens even being at Northern in the first place was a bit of a surprise for those in the area, as he was a star athlete at cross-town rival Port Huron High. Roelens played quarterback at Port Huron and went on to play baseball at Saginaw Valley State after graduating in 2004.
He student taught at Northern during the 2009-10 school year, but even then he helped out with the Port Huron football program.
His journey with Northern athletics began with assistant roles in the basketball and baseball programs later that year, and in the fall of 2010 he became the JV head football coach.
For four of the next five seasons he was on the Huskies staff, before taking over the program prior to the 2015 season.
With his new position, he’ll remain in the school and around the coaches and players in the program. And, while the thrill of coaching was something Roelens cherished, those relationships are what he’s valued most.
“I’ve been very blessed with the people I’ve had around me throughout those 10 years,” he said. “The support I had from Northern, the support of the parents, the Northern community, it’s been a blessing. My family, my wife and kids, they’ve all been tremendous.”
Paul Costanzo served as a sportswriter at The Port Huron Times Herald from 2006-15, including three years as lead sportswriter, and prior to that as sports editor at the Hillsdale Daily News from 2005-06. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Genesee, Lapeer, St. Clair, Sanilac, Huron, Tuscola, Saginaw, Bay, Arenac, Midland and Gladwin counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Port Huron Northern football coach Larry Roelens, middle, is surrounded by his kneeling players during a postgame huddle. (Middle) Roelens holds daughter Audrey, and wife Kelsey holds son Brady on the field. (Below) Roelens hoists the Brick Fowler Trophy after a Northern win over rival Port Huron. (Photos courtesy of the Roelens family.)