2020 Football Playoff Pairings Released
October 25, 2020
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Here are the pairings for the 2020 MHSAA Football Playoffs, which begin Oct. 29-31 with District First Round games in the 11-Player Playoffs and Regional First Round Games in the 8-Player Playoffs.
For the first time this season, all 11-player teams were divided into eight divisions before play began. Because of the shortened 2020 regular season due to COVID-19, all 11-player teams were then divided into Districts of up to eight teams each, then paired into four regions. For 8-player, teams also were divided into two divisions before the start of play this fall, and the top 32 teams in each division based on playoff-point average were selected to a postseason field of 64 teams, which were then divided into four regions of eight teams apiece.
Pairings for the first four weeks of the tournament are based on regular-season playoff point averages, with the highest-ranked team hosting, regardless of the distance between the two schools. For District First Round and Regional First Round play, the top-seeded team in each bracket will host the eighth-seeded team; and the second-seeded team will host the seventh-seeded team, etc.
District Semifinals for 11-player and Regional Semifinals for 8-player will follow during the weekend of Nov. 6-7, and the weekend of Nov. 13-14 will have District Finals in the 11-Player Playoffs and Regional Finals in the 8-Player Playoffs. Both rounds will be played at the site of the highest-ranked team which was victorious in the previous round of play.
Regional Finals in the 11-Player Playoffs will take place Nov. 20-21, at the site of the highest-ranked team that was victorious in District Final play. The 8-Player Playoff Semifinals will take place on Nov. 20-21, pairing the winners of Region 1 vs. Region 2 and the winners of Region 3 vs. Region 4, at the sites of the highest-ranked team.
Semifinal games in the 11-Player Playoffs will take place Nov. 27-28, pairing the winners of Region 1 vs. Region 2 and the winners of Region 3 vs. Region 4. Highest-ranked teams will host unless participating teams are 200 or more miles apart; in those cases the MHSAA will assign the game at a prearranged site if one can be secured in a reasonable location.
All playoff tickets will be sold online only via GoFan to provide for a cashless and contactless purchasing process that also allows for contact tracing. Tickets for single-session Pre-District, District and Regional games are $6. Single-session Semifinal tickets are $8. A per-ticket convenience fee will be applied.
The 8-Player Finals will take place Nov. 27-28, and the 11-Player Finals will be played Dec. 4-5. An announcement on where those Finals will be played, and including additional spectator information, will be forthcoming.
A total of 10 8-player teams did not qualify for the MHSAA Playoffs, and they are allowed to schedule one more game, against another of the non-qualifier group, to be played this upcoming week. Four schools with enrollments too large to qualify for the 8-player postseason – Bridgman, Vandercook Lake, Vermontville Maple Valley and Concord – will play a two-round playoff over the next two weeks to conclude their seasons. That playoff is not sponsored by the MHSAA but allowed because of the shortened schedule.
A total of nine 11-player teams and seven 8-player teams that began this season withdrew from participation in the MHSAA Playoffs. Eight tie-breakers were necessary to determine bracket placement in 11-player; the first tie-breaker of head-to-head winner was used once, the second tie-breaker of opponents’ winning percentage was used five times, and the third tie-breaker – coin flip – was employed for two games. Those tie-breakers are noted below.
Pairings for both the 11 and 8-Player brackets are as follows:
11-Player Pairings
DIVISION 1
REGION 1
DISTRICT 1
Holland West Ottawa (0-5) 16.500 at Rockford (4-0) 69.500
East Kentwood (2-3) 34.667 at Hudsonville (4-2) 51.567
Grand Haven (0-6) 19.700 at Grandville (5-1) 62.067
Grand Rapids Union (1-5) 25.333 at Traverse City West (5-1) 53.167
DISTRICT 2
Ann Arbor Pioneer (0-5) 9.500 at Saline (5-1) 66.533
Ann Arbor Huron (2-2) 31.000 at Kalamazoo Central (2-4) 33.567
Kalamazoo Loy Norrix (0-6) 10.167 at Grand Ledge (4-2) 51.100
Ann Arbor Skyline (1-4) 20.000 at Holt (2-3) 38.167
REGION 2
DISTRICT 3
White Lake Lakeland (6-0) 64.167 - BYE
Howell (3-3) 42.000 at Hartland (3-3) 46.000
Walled Lake Northern (2-4) 33.833 at Detroit Catholic Central (6-0) 61.917
Novi (2-4) 35.000 at Brighton (4-2) 57.000
DISTRICT 4
Oxford (2-4) 31.367 at Clarkston (6-0) 75.333
Lake Orion (3-2) 45.000 at Grand Blanc (5-1) 60.667
Rochester Adams (2-4) 36.167 at Rochester (6-0) 70.000
Lapeer (3-3) 40.000 at Davison (6-0) 64.667
REGION 3
DISTRICT 5
Wayne Memorial (0-6) 15.000 at Canton (6-0) 75.000
Westland John Glenn (2-4) 33.167 at Livonia Stevenson (3-3) 44.000
Plymouth (1-5) 24.000 at Belleville (6-0) 74.333
Salem (1-5) 24.000 at Northville (4-2) 57.000
(Salem won tie-breaker with Plymouth, head-to-head result.)
DISTRICT 6
Dearborn Edsel Ford (1-5) 20.000 at Detroit Cass Tech (6-0) 62.167
Detroit Western (5-1) 48.500 at Dearborn Fordson (4-2) 54.167
Taylor (1-5) 21.767 at Brownstown Woodhaven (5-1) 59.267
Dearborn (2-4) 32.000 at Monroe (4-2) 54.167
(Monroe won tie-breaker with Dearborn Fordson, opponents’ winning percentage.)
REGION 4
DISTRICT 7
Farmington (0-6) 15.400 at Sterling Heights Stevenson (5-1) 64.367
Troy Athens (2-3) 37.000 at Southfield Arts & Technology (2-3) 39.000
Utica Ford (1-5) 25.500 at West Bloomfield (5-1) 64.167
Troy (3-3) 34.867 at Bloomfield Hills (3-3) 46.067
DISTRICT 8
Rochester Hills Stoney Creek (6-0) 71.900 - BYE
Utica Eisenhower (2-4) 38.400 at Clinton Township Chippewa Valley (2-3) 39.000
Macomb L'Anse Creuse North (0-4) 7.000 at Macomb Dakota (5-1) 67.733
Romeo (2-4) 36.200 at New Baltimore Anchor Bay (4-2) 50.833
DIVISION 2
REGION 5
DISTRICT 9
Wyoming (1-3) 18.000 at Muskegon Mona Shores (6-0) 62.667
Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern (4-2) 47.667 at Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central (5-1) 59.333
Caledonia (2-4) 37.167 at Jenison (5-1) 62.067
Lowell (3-3) 39.333 at Byron Center (5-1) 59.500
DISTRICT 10
East Lansing (6-0) 69.900 - BYE
Jackson (3-3) 32.833 at Portage Central (2-4) 34.033
Battle Creek Central (1-4) 17.500 at Portage Northern (5-1) 54.733
Okemos (0-6) 18.000 at Battle Creek Lakeview (4-2) 49.733
REGION 6
DISTRICT 11
Alpena (0-6) 12.167 at Midland (6-0) 62.500
Flushing (2-4) 29.667 at Midland Dow (4-2) 45.000
Saginaw Heritage (0-5) 19.667 at Traverse City Central (5-1) 58.167
Flint Carman-Ainsworth (1-5) 21.833 at Swartz Creek (4-2) 47.833
DISTRICT 12
Walled Lake Central (0-6) 14.700 at Fenton (6-0) 67.667
Waterford Kettering (2-4) 35.233 at North Farmington (3-3) 44.000
Milford (1-5) 26.400 at South Lyon (4-2) 49.200
Waterford Mott (2-3) 30.000 at Walled Lake Western (4-2) 46.067
REGION 7
DISTRICT 13
Livonia Churchill (4-2) 55.167 - BYE
Ypsilanti Lincoln (3-3) 40.533 at Dexter (4-2) 47.333
Ypsilanti Community (3-3) 35.167 at Dearborn Heights Crestwood (5-1) 53.167
Temperance Bedford (3-3) 39.033 at Livonia Franklin (3-3) 48.000
DISTRICT 14
Oak Park (0-6) 15.600 at Grosse Pointe South (4-2) 56.567
Detroit U-D Jesuit (2-4) 31.400 at Grosse Pointe North (3-3) 38.667
Lincoln Park (1-5) 21.767 at Wyandotte Roosevelt (4-1) 56.167
Detroit Renaissance (2-4) 28.333 at Ferndale (4-2) 53.400
REGION 8
DISTRICT 15
Sterling Heights (0-5) 12.200 at Birmingham Seaholm (4-2) 56.333
Birmingham Groves (3-3) 40.333 at Auburn Hills Avondale (3-3) 40.700
Warren Cousino (1-5) 21.567 at Warren Mott (5-1) 56.000
Royal Oak (1-5) 22.333 at Berkley (4-2) 50.900
DISTRICT 16
St Clair Shores Lake Shore (1-5) 25.167 at Port Huron (6-0) 70.400
Harrison Township L'Anse Creuse (4-2) 48.700 at Fraser (4-2) 49.067
Port Huron Northern (2-3) 34.000 at St Clair Shores Lakeview (4-2) 51.167
Warren De La Salle Collegiate (2-4) 37.083 at Roseville (4-2) 49.833
DIVISION 3
REGION 9
DISTRICT 17
Greenville (0-5) 10.667 at Muskegon (5-1) 58.333
Petoskey (2-4) 32.833 at Cedar Springs (4-2) 44.167
Gaylord (1-5) 23.000 at Mount Pleasant (5-1) 57.333
Muskegon Reeths-Puffer (2-4) 31.367 at Marquette (5-1) 45.167
DISTRICT 18
Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills (0-6) 10.000 at Zeeland West (4-1) 52.167
Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills (2-4) 27.500 at Middleville Thornapple Kellogg (3-3) 35.833
Holland (0-6) 14.667 at Zeeland East (4-2) 46.333
Grand Rapids Northview (1-5) 20.667 at East Grand Rapids (3-3) 39.333
REGION 10
DISTRICT 19
Richland Gull Lake (0-6) 10.000 at St Joseph (5-1) 56.333
Parma Western (4-2) 37.833 at Battle Creek Harper Creek (4-2) 41.833
Niles (1-5) 18.667 at Stevensville Lakeshore (4-2) 56.200
Sturgis (3-3) 31.833 at Coldwater (4-2) 43.333
DISTRICT 20
Jackson Northwest (0-5) 10.333 at DeWitt (6-0) 66.833
St Johns (2-4) 31.333 at Lansing Waverly (3-3) 37.867
Ionia (1-5) 17.500 at Mason (6-0) 60.167
Haslett (2-4) 28.333 at Fowlerville (3-3) 42.400
REGION 11
DISTRICT 21
Linden (4-2) 47.833 - BYE
Holly (1-5) 21.500 at Bay City Western (2-4) 28.833
Clio (0-6) 8.833 at Flint Kearsley (3-3) 44.333
Pontiac (0-6) 15.000 at Bay City Central (3-3) 38.167
DISTRICT 22
Redford Thurston (1-4) 22.000 at Chelsea (6-0) 67.000
Garden City (3-3) 35.833 at South Lyon East (4-2) 50.500
Dearborn Divine Child (2-4) 25.500 at Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (5-1) 62.250
Orchard Lake St Mary's (1-3) 27.083 at Pinckney (4-2) 50.833
REGION 12
DISTRICT 23
Melvindale (2-4) 28.500 at Riverview (6-0) 54.000
Gibraltar Carlson (4-2) 47.433 at River Rouge (4-1) 48.667
Southgate Anderson (2-4) 33.967 at New Boston Huron (5-1) 49.833
Trenton (3-3) 40.167 at Allen Park (4-2) 49.667
DISTRICT 24
Detroit East English (2-4) 22.667 at Eastpointe (6-0) 63.000
Warren Fitzgerald (4-2) 34.000 at Detroit Mumford (3-3) 39.167
Warren Woods Tower (2-4) 28.667 at Detroit Martin Luther King (3-3) 48.667
Harper Woods (2-4) 33.167 at Marysville (5-1) 42.000
DIVISION 4
REGION 13
DISTRICT 25
Cadillac (4-2) 45.500 - BYE
Escanaba (1-2) 18.600 at Alma (2-4) 24.333
Bay City John Glenn (1-5) 14.833 at Ludington (4-2) 37.667
Saginaw Arthur Hill (1-5) 18.500 at Sault Ste Marie (4-2) 37.467
DISTRICT 26
Fremont (2-4) 23.833 at Spring Lake (4-2) 42.667
Ada Forest Hills Eastern (3-3) 35.000 at Allendale (3-3) 35.167
Fruitport (2-4) 25.833 at Whitehall (5-1) 38.667
Coopersville (2-4) 26.833 at Sparta (4-2) 36.833
REGION 14
DISTRICT 27
Holland Christian (0-6) 9.333 at Hudsonville Unity Christian (6-0) 58.333
Hamilton (2-4) 26.000 at Wyoming Godwin Heights (2-4) 26.000
Wyoming Kelloggsville (1-5) 16.500 at Grand Rapids South Christian (5-1) 54.167
Wayland (1-5) 18.333 at Grand Rapids Christian (3-3) 41.833
(Godwin Heights won tie-breaker with Hamilton, opponents’ winning percentage.)
DISTRICT 28
Edwardsburg (6-0) 59.667 - BYE
Plainwell (3-2) 38.500 at Vicksburg (4-2) 41.167
Three Rivers (1-5) 21.667 at Hastings (5-1) 47.667
Otsego (2-4) 27.500 at Paw Paw (4-2) 45.667
REGION 15
DISTRICT 29
Owosso (1-5) 18.167 at Williamston (5-1) 54.167
Lake Fenton (2-4) 27.667 at Charlotte (2-4) 28.167
Eaton Rapids (1-5) 21.500 at Battle Creek Pennfield (3-3) 34.500
Marshall (2-4) 26.333 at Flint Powers Catholic (2-4) 32.833
DISTRICT 30
Dearborn Heights Annapolis (1-5) 8.833 at Redford Union (5-1) 49.667
Tecumseh (1-4) 25.200 at Livonia Clarenceville (4-2) 31.333
Adrian (0-5) 11.000 at Milan (5-1) 49.167
Romulus (2-3) 23.667 at Carleton Airport (3-3) 34.833
REGION 16
DISTRICT 31
Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood (0-4) 8.167 at Madison Heights Lamphere (6-0) 48.500
Center Line (2-4) 24.667 at Harper Woods Chandler Park (3-3) 26.500
Hazel Park (1-5) 18.167 at Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (5-1) 48.000
Detroit Henry Ford (3-3) 24.500 at Detroit Country Day (3-2) 43.500
DISTRICT 32
Yale (0-6) 12.333 at North Branch (6-0) 56.667
Imlay City (4-2) 40.167 at Croswell-Lexington (5-1) 47.000
St Clair (1-5) 23.500 at Ortonville Brandon (5-1) 51.167
Armada (3-3) 36.000 at Goodrich (5-1) 48.667
DIVISION 5
REGION 17
DISTRICT 33
Cheboygan (0-6) 10.667 at Reed City (6-0) 51.433
Ogemaw Heights (3-3) 25.833 at Kingsford (3-2) 28.133
Standish-Sterling (1-5) 17.133 at Kingsley (6-0) 48.167
Hancock (2-3) 20.967 at Gladwin (3-3) 31.333
DISTRICT 34
Saginaw Valley Lutheran (1-4) 8.100 at Freeland (5-1) 44.167
Carrollton (2-4) 22.667 at Midland Bullock Creek (3-3) 32.167
Saginaw (0-6) 12.500 at Essexville Garber (5-1) 43.000
Shepherd (2-3) 20.333 at Saginaw Swan Valley (3-3) 33.500
REGION 18
DISTRICT 35
Howard City Tri County (2-4) 21.967 at Central Montcalm (4-2) 36.800
Grant (2-3) 25.333 at Muskegon Orchard View (2-4) 27.000
Remus Chippewa Hills (2-4) 23.500 at Muskegon Oakridge (4-2) 33.333
Newaygo (2-4) 24.100 at Big Rapids (3-3) 30.433
DISTRICT 36
Grand Rapids Catholic Central (6-0) 62.500 - BYE
Belding (5-1) 41.833 at Hopkins (5-1) 44.000
Comstock Park (1-5) 17.333 at Grand Rapids West Catholic (5-1) 50.833
Lake Odessa Lakewood (3-3) 22.833 at Portland (5-1) 50.167
REGION 19
DISTRICT 37
Berrien Springs (3-3) 28.833 at Lansing Catholic (4-2) 41.000
South Haven (4-2) 35.333 at Dowagiac (3-3) 36.167
Benton Harbor (2-4) 30.667 at Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep (5-1) 39.333
Hillsdale (4-2) 34.000 at Olivet (5-1) 39.333
(Hackett won tie-breaker with Olivet, opponents’ winning percentage.)
DISTRICT 38
Flat Rock (0-6) 12.667 at Romulus Summit Academy North (5-1) 38.833
Whitmore Lake (3-3) 20.333 at Dearborn Heights Robichaud (2-4) 28.000
Dundee (1-5) 15.500 at Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard (2-1) 29.000
Monroe Jefferson (1-5) 19.833 at Grosse Ile (3-3) 29.000
(Father Gabriel Richard won tie-breaker with Grosse Ile, opponents’ winning percentage.)
REGION 20
DISTRICT 39
Bridgeport (1-5) 16.833 at Frankenmuth (6-0) 52.500
Ovid-Elsie (3-3) 25.000 at Almont (2-2) 27.417
Birch Run (1-5) 18.333 at Corunna (3-3) 35.000
Richmond (2-4) 24.167 at Macomb Lutheran North (4-2) 33.000
DISTRICT 40
Detroit Osborn (0-6) 7.833 at Marine City (5-1) 46.833
Detroit Communication Media Arts (3-3) 24.667 at Warren Lincoln (3-3) 30.833
Detroit Cody (1-5) 16.667 at Detroit Denby (3-3) 39.500
Clawson (2-4) 24.167 at St Clair Shores South Lake (4-2) 36.333
DIVISION 6
REGION 21
DISTRICT 41
Menominee (4-2) 39.000 - BYE
Houghton (2-2) 22.100 at Calumet (2-3) 23.033
Ishpeming Westwood (5-1) 33.967 - BYE
Negaunee (3-3) 22.000 at Gladstone (2-3) 24.933
DISTRICT 42
Kalkaska (0-5) 6.333 at Manistee (4-2) 36.167
Benzie Central (2-4) 23.667 at Grayling (3-3) 26.667
Elk Rapids (1-5) 13.833 at Maple City Glen Lake (4-2) 33.167
Mason County Central (2-4) 19.667 at Boyne City (4-2) 29.333
REGION 22
DISTRICT 43
Shelby (0-6) 9.333 at Muskegon Catholic Central (6-0) 51.333
Harrison (4-2) 31.933 at Sanford Meridian (4-2) 33.333
Hart (1-5) 13.833 at Montague (6-0) 46.333
Kent City (5-1) 30.000 at Clare (6-0) 44.767
DISTRICT 44
Tawas (0-6) 10.333 at Montrose (5-1) 40.500
Chesaning (2-4) 20.500 at Caro (3-3) 22.167
Otisville LakeVille Memorial (1-5) 10.833 at Millington (5-1) 39.500
Pinconning (0-6) 11.467 at Mt Morris (2-4) 23.833
REGION 23
DISTRICT 45
Fennville (0-6) 10.667 at Buchanan (6-0) 52.833
Comstock (3-3) 26.767 at Niles Brandywine (3-3) 31.667
Watervliet (2-4) 18.833 at Constantine (5-1) 40.667
Parchment (2-4) 21.333 at Coloma (4-2) 32.000
DISTRICT 46
Onsted (0-6) 9.000 at Jonesville (5-1) 38.967
Stockbridge (2-4) 20.000 at Brooklyn Columbia Central (2-4) 20.167
Napoleon (1-5) 12.167 at Michigan Center (3-1) 28.917
Quincy (2-4) 18.033 at Adrian Madison (5-1) 28.167
REGION 24
DISTRICT 47
Lutheran Westland (2-2) 18.083 at Blissfield (6-0) 45.167
Dearborn Advanced Tech Academy (3-3) 26.167 at Ida (3-3) 26.667
Detroit Voyageur Prep (2-4) 19.333 at Clinton (5-1) 40.833
Ecorse (2-4) 25.500 at Erie Mason (6-0) 34.500
DISTRICT 48
Southfield Bradford Academy (0-6) 8.000 at Warren Michigan Collegiate (6-0) 46.833
Flint Hamady (3-3) 23.500 at Detroit Pershing (3-3) 26.000
Algonac (1-5) 16.000 at Detroit Edison (4-2) 34.667
Detroit Collegiate Prep (2-4) 16.667 at Durand (4-2) 31.500
DIVISION 7
REGION 25
DISTRICT 49
Roscommon (1-4) 11.000 at Charlevoix (6-0) 41.000
Manistique (2-3) 19.700 at Mancelona (2-4) 21.333
L'Anse (1-5) 15.533 at Traverse City St Francis (4-2) 35.000
Lake City (2-4) 19.100 at Harbor Springs (3-3) 22.500
DISTRICT 50
Farwell (0-6) 11.467 at McBain (6-0) 38.333
Houghton Lake (4-2) 25.767 at Evart (4-2) 28.600
LeRoy Pine River (1-5) 12.667 at Beaverton (5-1) 38.267
St Louis (2-4) 21.133 at Oscoda (6-0) 31.100
REGION 26
DISTRICT 51
Lakeview (0-6) 6.667 at Ithaca (6-0) 41.667
Morley Stanwood (4-2) 27.000 at Ravenna (3-3) 28.167
Hesperia (4-2) 24.500 at Pewamo-Westphalia (5-1) 31.167
Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian (2-4) 24.500 at North Muskegon (3-3) 28.167
(North Muskegon won tie-breaker over Ravenna, coin flip. NorthPointe Christian won tie-breaker over Hesperia, opponents’ winning percentage.)
DISTRICT 52
Vassar (0-6) 8.833 at Hemlock (6-0) 45.667
Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker (4-2) 26.833 at Bad Axe (4-2) 29.833
Reese (2-4) 20.000 at Cass City (6-0) 36.333
St Charles (4-2) 21.567 at Sandusky (6-0) 35.000
REGION 27
DISTRICT 53
New Lothrop (6-0) 46.167 - BYE
Byron (1-5) 13.667 at Burton Bendle (2-4) 15.533
Laingsburg (3-3) 21.333 - BYE
Perry (0-6) 7.667 at Bath (3-3) 18.833
DISTRICT 54
New Haven (0-6) 9.500 at Detroit Loyola (5-1) 53.333
Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett (2-4) 17.417 at Clinton Township Clintondale (2-4) 23.167
Madison Heights Madison (0-6) 11.000 at Madison Heights Bishop Foley (5-1) 36.167
Detroit Community (1-5) 15.167 at Detroit Central (4-2) 32.000
REGION 28
DISTRICT 55
Galesburg-Augusta (0-5) 6.667 at Schoolcraft (5-1) 39.667
Delton Kellogg (3-3) 22.667 at Bronson (3-2) 26.250
Hartford (0-6) 8.200 at Lawton (5-1) 32.833
Union City (2-4) 15.283 at Homer (4-2) 28.800
DISTRICT 56
Springport (1-3) 9.950 at Riverview Gabriel Richard (5-1) 37.833
Jackson Lumen Christi (2-4) 29.833 at Hanover-Horton (4-2) 30.000
Leslie (2-4) 18.867 at Monroe St Mary Catholic Central (4-2) 36.833
Manchester (2-4) 19.167 at Grass Lake (4-2) 33.500
DIVISION 8
REGION 29
DISTRICT 57
Rogers City (2-4) 11.833 at Iron Mountain (5-1) 36.933
Gwinn (3-3) 18.867 at East Jordan (3-3) 19.833
Norway (1-4) 11.900 at West Iron County (6-0) 32.600
St Ignace (1-5) 13.167 at Bark River-Harris (3-2) 22.300
DISTRICT 58
Alcona (0-5) 5.500 at Johannesburg-Lewiston (6-0) 34.333
Frankfort (3-3) 22.167 at Saginaw Nouvel (4-2) 27.967
Coleman (1-4) 10.100 at Beal City (5-1) 32.267
Manton (1-5) 11.167 at Breckenridge (5-1) 32.183
REGION 30
DISTRICT 59
Fulton (0-6) 6.000 at Fowler (4-2) 26.500
White Cloud (2-4) 16.083 at Holton (2-4) 19.167
Blanchard Montabella (1-4) 10.500 at Carson City-Crystal (3-1) 25.500
Saranac (1-5) 11.167 at Potterville (3-3) 20.667
DISTRICT 60
Flint New Standard Academy (0-6) 6.433 at Flint Beecher (5-1) 37.533
Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary (2-4) 21.633 at Harbor Beach (3-3) 23.500
Brown City (2-4) 16.267 at Ubly (4-2) 28.500
Marlette (3-3) 20.667 at Unionville-Sebewaing (4-2) 25.833
REGION 31
DISTRICT 61
Centreville (6-0) 34-733 - BYE
Saugatuck (3-3) 21.933 at White Pigeon (3-2) 23.500
Decatur (1-4) 12.333 at Reading (5-1) 32.250
Cassopolis (2-4) 16.800 at Mendon (5-1) 28.400
DISTRICT 62
Addison (6-0) 36.500 - BYE
Morenci (2-4) 18.833 at Dansville (4-2) 25.333
Pittsford (0-6) 9.500 at Sand Creek (5-1) 28.167
East Jackson (1-5) 11.167 at Hudson (3-3) 27.000
REGION 32
DISTRICT 63
Detroit Douglass (0-5) 5.833 at Detroit Southeastern (5-1) 35.833
Petersburg Summerfield (1-5) 14.167 at Allen Park Cabrini (2-4) 15.533
Melvindale Academy for Business & Tech (1-5) 11.417 at Detroit Leadership Academy (3-3) 26.500
Britton Deerfield (1-5) 14.167 at Ottawa Lake Whiteford (4-2) 23.333
(Summerfield won tie-breaker over Britton Deerfield, coin flip.)
DISTRICT 64
Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest (0-6) 7.667 at Clarkston Everest Collegiate (6-0) 38.833
Marine City Cardinal Mooney (2-3) 14.000 at Sterling Heights Parkway Christian (3-3) 21.700
Mount Clemens (1-3) 7.750 at Auburn Hills Oakland Christian (5-1) 36.667
Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes (0-6) 9.600 at Royal Oak Shrine Catholic (4-2) 24.533
Opted out of tournament: Allegan, Bessemer, Burton Bentley, Concord, Mattawan, Memphis, Three Oaks River Valley, Utica, Wyoming Lee.
8-Player Pairings
DIVISION 1
REGION 1
Brimley (2-4) 15.333 at Pellston (6-0) 31.500
Munising (4-2) 24.167 at Indian River Inland Lakes (5-1) 25.933
Newberry (3-3) 19.300 at Onaway (6-0) 30.200
Stephenson (3-3) 20.800 at Pickford (5-1) 27.833
REGION 2
Manistee Catholic Central (1-5) 12.667 at Suttons Bay (6-0) 33.500
Fife Lake Forest Area (2-4) 17.833 at Whittemore-Prescott (4-2) 23.767
Central Lake (2-4) 15.333 at Gaylord St Mary (5-1) 28.833
Vestaburg (2-3) 16.100 at Mesick (4-2) 27.167
REGION 3
Kingston (1-5) 14.167 at Morrice (6-0) 33.600
Deckerville (4-2) 26.167 at Merrill (5-1) 30.333
International Academy of Flint (3-3) 18.500 at Adrian Lenawee Christian (6-0) 32.700
Genesee (4-2) 23.167 at Mayville (6-0) 32.000
REGION 4
Athens (1-5) 12.367 at Martin (5-1) 28.833
Camden-Frontier (2-4) 16.833 at New Buffalo (3-3) 20.300
Gobles (2-3) 15.800 at Lawrence (5-1) 26.633
Bellevue (2-4) 16.333 at Marcellus (3-2) 21.800
DIVISION 2
REGION 1
Engadine (0-6) 8.500 at Powers North Central (6-0) 31.250
Lake Linden-Hubbell (3-3) 21.500 at Crystal Falls Forest Park (4-1) 25.000
Carney-Nadeau (3-3) 18.900 at Cedarville (5-1) 29.833
Rudyard (3-3) 19.000 at Rapid River (5-1) 27.833
REGION 2
Bellaire (1-5) 14.167 at Marion (5-1) 26.233
Hillman (2-4) 19.033 at Atlanta (3-3) 22.500
Posen (2-3) 15.500 at Hale (5-1) 24.533
Bear Lake (2-4) 15.933 at Brethren (4-2) 22.767
REGION 3
Au Gres-Sims (1-5) 10.267 at Kinde North Huron (5-1) 27.633
Ashley (3-3) 18.700 at Peck (3-3) 20.500
Akron-Fairgrove (1-5) 10.367 at Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (5-1) 26.133
Carsonville-Port Sanilac (1-5) 11.667 at Bay City All Saints (3-2) 21.000
REGION 4
North Adams-Jerome (2-4) 15.633 at Portland St Patrick (6-0) 33.200
Waldron (4-2) 21.667 at Tekonsha (4-2) 22.667
Wyoming Tri-unity Christian (2-4) 16.933 at Burr Oak (5-1) 28.833
Climax-Scotts (3-3) 19.500 at Colon (5-1) 27.833
Did not qualify: (Division 1) Battle Creek St Philip, Eau Claire, Eben Junction Superior Central, Litchfield, New Haven Merritt Academy, St Helen Charlton Heston, Webberville. (Division 2) Baldwin, Caseville, Mio.
Opted out of tournament: Felch North Dickinson, Onekama, Ontonagon, St Joseph Michigan Lutheran.
PHOTO by Robert Batzloff.
1st & Goal: 2021 Week 2 in Review
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
September 6, 2021
From Niles to Napoleon to Petoskey, teams that frequently were stopped in their tracks a year ago have successfully made that first cut into the open over the first two weeks of the 2021 season.
Others like Detroit Cass Tech and Martin Luther King have found full stride – their breakaways coming over the weekend against a pair of annual contenders from the opposite side of the Lower Peninsula and right on time to set up potentially the most high-powered matchup of this regular season.
Below is a glance at especially eye-catching scores and some of the stories behind them from Week 2.
Bay & Thumb
HEADLINER Bad Axe 42, Cass City 0 The game that couldn’t be played last season was finally played last week, and Bad Axe sent a statement in the Greater Thumb Conference West. Both Bad Axe (2-0) and Cass City (0-2) had finished unbeaten in the league last season, but their early-season game had been canceled. The Hatchets won this matchup for the first time since 2014, ripping 50 and 60-yard touchdown runs on the way. Click for more from the Huron Daily Tribune.
Watch list Croswell-Lexington 28, North Branch 7 The Pioneers’ lost last season only twice, both times to eventual Blue Water Area Conference and District champion North Branch. Circle Croswell-Lexington’s Week 5 against Richmond as a potential BWAC title decider.
Remember this one Standish-Sterling 27, Ithaca 20 While last week’s big win over Pinconning was worth celebrating too, this week’s Panthers victory over Ithaca could be much more telling of a potential turnaround. Standish-Sterling (2-0) is seeking its first winning season since 2013; its only victory last season came by forfeit.
More shoutouts Marlette 36, Sandusky 12 The Red Raiders (1-1) defeated reigning GTC East champion Sandusky for the first time since 2013. Grand Blanc 38, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central 34 The Bobcats moved to 2-0 thanks to Hunter Ames’ 74-yard go-ahead touchdown toss to Nasir Carson with 30 seconds to play.
Greater Detroit
HEADLINER Detroit Martin Luther King 40, Muskegon Mona Shores 19 With their first of three recent meetings in the 2019 Division 2 Final, these two have arguably the best cross-state series running. The Sailors (1-1) won the first two matchups and had won 19 straight including the last two Division 2 titles. King (1-1) couldn’t have earned a better bounce-back after falling in its opener on a game-ending touchdown pass. Click for more from the Detroit Free Press.
Detroit King junior running back Sterling Anderson Jr. (@TheRealSterl) with two rushing touchdowns in the win over Mona Shores tonight. @DetKingFootball @coachtspence #StateChamps X @LTUAthletics pic.twitter.com/hBHdTPqW6z
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) September 4, 2021
Watch list Detroit Cass Tech 49, Muskegon 14 Undefeated Cass Tech’s dominating performance on the road against one of the top programs in the state just added to the anticipation of this week’s matchup with King.
Remember this one Warren De La Salle 38, River Rouge 29 Both had to scramble after losing Week 2 opponents, and the result was a high-caliber matchup between two teams that ended at Ford Field last season.
More shoutouts Detroit Catholic Central 35, Davison 14 The Shamrocks quickly bounced back from their Week 1 loss to Chippewa Valley with a solid win over a Davison team that while 0-2 has to be one of the best teams in Michigan still looking for a first win. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 17, Hudsonville 15 The Eaglets are 2-0 with those wins by a combined seven points against strong opponents; consider Hudsonville another of the best 0-2 teams in the state after two defeats by a combined six points against top competition.
Mid-Michigan
HEADLINER Portland 20, DeWitt 17 Keeping in mind that Portland played for the Division 5 championship just three seasons ago and had split games the last two seasons with the Panthers (1-1), this one still reverberated across the state. That’s mostly because of how the Raiders pulled it off. First, Portland (2-0) stopped a veteran DeWitt offense that averaged 45 points per game last year and scored 47 in its season opener. Then came the game-winning score with 22 seconds to play. Click for more from the Ionia Sentinel-Standard.
Watch list Hartland 19, Novi 7 The Eagles are seeking their first winning season since 2015 and are off to a 2-0 start for the second season in a row. They just missed getting back over the hump last year finishing 3-4 with two close losses at the end.
Remember this one Corunna 20, Hemlock 13 The Cavaliers (1-1) won more games last season than the previous two combined in going 5-4. If they take another step, this could be remembered as the win that put them back on the right track. Jaden Edington’s touchdown run with 10:26 left was the game-winner.
More shoutouts Hastings 38, Battle Creek Harper Creek 35 The reigning Interstate 8 Athletic Conference champ Saxons (2-0) survived a close one as they embarked on their repeat quest. Lansing Catholic 30, Williamston 21 Portland is going to get all the buzz coming out of this week, but the Cougars also showed against a top-tier program that they’ll be in the thick of the Capital Area Activities Conference White race as well.
Northern Lower Peninsula
HEADLINER Kingsley 48, Maple City Glen Lake 0 The Stags (2-0) are going to be a team we all watch this season. They’ve now won 22 of their last 23 on the field, and Glen Lake (1-1) hadn’t taken a loss of this magnitude since the teams’ 2019 meeting (after which the Lakers bounced back to finish Division 6 runner-up). League play starts next week for both, and you can already circle Kingsley vs. Traverse City St. Francis in Week 9 among the most intriguing regular-season finales statewide. Click for more from the Traverse City Record-Eagle.
Watch list Petoskey 44, Escanaba 27 The Northmen (2-0) haven’t won more than two games in a season since 2018, but that’s almost assured with this especially impressive as Escanaba (1-1) has been one of the Upper Peninsula’s best again over the last half-decade.
Remember this one Boyne City 27, Charlevoix 8 The Ramblers (2-0) had dropped two straight to the Red Rayders, who suffered their first regular-season loss since Week 8 of 2019.
More shoutouts Traverse City Central 60, Marquette 28 The Trojans (1-1) bounced back from an opening loss to DeWitt with their seventh-straight win over Marquette (1-1). Elk Rapids 48, Johannesburg-Lewiston 28 Even with the Cardinals (0-2) off to a rare slow start, this provided plenty of reason to celebrate after Elk Rapids won once last season.
Southeast & Border
HEADLINER Hudson 22, Erie Mason 0 The Tigers raised some eyes with an opening-night win over Ithaca, and many more will be watching now that they’ve shut out the reigning Tri-County Conference champion as well. They are 2-0 for the first time since 2017, and they have another opportunity to make some noise this week when they start the Lenawee County Athletic Association schedule against last season’s Division 6 runner-up Clinton. Click for more from the Adrian Daily Telegram.
Watch list Napoleon 54, East Jackson 0 The Pirates are 2-0 for the first time since 2002, and already have doubled their victory total from 2020.
Remember this one Ottawa Lake Whiteford 34, Ida 14 In these teams’ first meeting since 1976, Whiteford earned its first win over Ida since 1968 according to Michigan-football.com.
More shoutouts Reading 30, Grass Lake 12 The Rangers’ defense has been especially impressive so far, following up a shutout by giving up only 12 points to a Warriors team that hasn’t finishing below .500 since 2001. Milan 27, New Boston Huron 19 These two tied for second in the Huron League last season behind Riverview. This season’s race is only getting started, of course, and Huron (1-1) gets the undefeated Pirates this week while Milan has defeated opponents that went a combined 16-3 in 2020.
Southwest Corridor
HEADLINER Niles 26, Buchanan 0 Former Three Rivers coach Scott Shaw – who led that program to the 2003 Division 4 title – has made Niles another team on the rise in his first season. The Vikings won one game a year ago, two the season before and no more than three since 2014. But Niles followed up an opening-night victory over Sturgis with this shutout of the Bucks, who finished 8-1 in 2020. Click for more from the South Bend Tribune.
Watch list Niles Brandywine 30, Cassopolis 24 After opening with a win over reigning Division 8 champ Centreville, Brandywine moved to 2-0 against a Rangers team (1-1) looking to bounce back from a rare off year.
Remember this one Battle Creek Lakeview 42, Portage Northern 21 The Spartans (2-0) also are off to a strong start, including this win over the team that would’ve had a claim to the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference title if one had been awarded during the abbreviated 2020 season. Lakeview takes on River Rouge this week – an excellent test – and regardless of the result should be a contender in the SMAC when it returns to league play Week 4.
More shoutouts Centreville 28, Schoolcraft 7 The Bulldogs (1-1) rebounded from that Brandywine defeat by handing the second this fall to last season Division 7 semifinalist Schoolcraft. Stevensville Lakeshore 41, Kalamazoo United 19 Ryan Korfmacher set a Lakeshore passing record with 385 yards as his team moved to 2-0.
Upper Peninsula
HEADLINER Ishpeming Westwood 28, Iron Mountain 0 The Patriots (2-0) already look like the team to beat in the Western Peninsula Athletic Conference Copper, and running back Zack Carlson just missed getting to 10 touchdowns before Labor Day. And don’t forget the defense, which handed the Mountaineers (1-1) their first shutout since 2018. Click for more from the Iron Mountain Daily News.
Watch list Negaunee 35, Calumet 21 The Miners (1-1), who lost by two Week 1 to Iron Mountain, are now the main candidates standing in the way of a Westwood league title – although Calumet (0-2) still has a say as well and will face Westwood this week.
Remember this one Bark River-Harris 53, West Iron County 6 The Broncos (2-0) already look very good in the West-PAC Iron title race at 2-0 with two games to play and this big win over a Wykons team coming off an undefeated 2020 regular season.
More shoutouts Hancock 20, Ishpeming 12 The Bulldogs (1-1) bounced back nicely from an opening-night loss, while handing Ishpeming (1-1) its first of the fall. Kingsford 21, Gladstone 6 The Flivvers (2-0) haven’t lost in this series since 1998 and this fall have given up only 12 points total.
West Michigan
HEADLINER Muskegon Oakridge 32, Whitehall 19 Although reigning champ Montague bounced back big from its Week 1 loss, this early matchup very well could have a lot to say in the West Michigan Conference race before it’s over. Oakridge (2-0) got up by 20 during the third quarter and held on the rest of the way. The Eagles see Montague in Week 4, and Whitehall (1-1) gets the Wildcats in Week 8. Click for more from the Muskegon Chronicle.
Watch list Spring Lake 56, Zeeland East 21 Spring Lake had to wait an extra week to get started, taking a forfeit win in Week 1. But the Lakers were the talk of West Michigan once they finally got on the field, impressing against one of the region’s annual powers.
Remember this one Rockford 35, Cedar Springs 6 This was a great sign for the Rams heading into Ottawa-Kent Conference Red play, especially defensively, as Cedar Springs is likely again to make some noise in the Gold.
More shoutouts Allendale 14, Hopkins 0 The Falcons head into O-K Blue play coming off a shutout of last season’s Silver champion. East Grand Rapids 30, Grand Rapids South Christian 21 The Pioneers (1-1) rebounded from an opening loss to run their winning streak over the Sailors to five with the O-K White schedule set to begin.
8-Player
HEADLINER Deckerville 50, Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart 26 The Eagles also had to wait an extra week to get rolling, but it didn’t take long for them to catch up against an Irish team that reached the Division 2 Regional Finals last season. Both should contend in North Central Thumb League divisions, Deckerville after finishing third in the Stars last season and Sacred Heart coming off a runner-up run in the Stripes.
Watch list Mio 12, Hillman 0 The Thunderbolts went from 9-2 in 2019 to 0-6 in 2020, but at 2-0 they’re headed back up in a hurry. They have yet to give up a point.
Remember this one Rudyard 63, Cedarville 6 The Bulldogs (2-0) had lost all eight games to Cedarville since moving to 8-player football in 2016, and they also upped their scoring margin this fall to a combined 115-6.
More shoutouts Lake Linden-Hubbell 60, Rapid River 6 The Lakes (2-0) are finding their footing in 8-player and have outscored their first two opponents of the season by a combined 102-14. Pellston 36, Hale 12 After trailing at the half, Pellston (2-0) outscored Hale 28-0 during the second to run its regular-season winning streak to 10.
PHOTOS: (Top) Haslett drives on Okemos during Thursday's 47-0 win. (Middle) Detroit Catholic Central's Declan Byle unloads a pass as Davison defenders close in. (Below) Negaunee quarterback Gerald Johnson keeps the ball but is tackled by Calumet's Hans Killunen. (Photos by John Johnson, Terry Lyons and Cara Kamps, respectively.)