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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.

St. Clair Shores Lakeview pulled away from Roseville 37-33.

1st & Goal: 2023 Week 3 Review

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

September 11, 2023

This weekend’s statewide football schedule didn’t include many of the matchups we circle every fall knowing they’ll be difference-makers by the time we get to the end of October.

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Instead, Week 3 seemed to provide an opportunity to expect the unexpected – and indeed it was full of surprises.

We won’t call anything an upset this early in the season, but there were results we didn’t anticipate. We also watched losing streaks of 38 and 17 games come to an end, another contender for top team in the Upper Peninsula rise and a resurgent power next door to Grand Rapids continue its return to the elite. And those were just the start.

Bay & Thumb

HEADLINER Grand Blanc 53, Saginaw Heritage 33 The Hawks (2-1) rightfully are generating some buzz coming off their much-improved 2022 and solid start this fall. But Grand Blanc, after falling 41-13 to Grandville in its opener, clearly has found its footing going over 50 points both of the last two weeks with quarterback Jake Morrow running for three touchdowns and throwing for three more this time. Click for more from WJRT.

Watch list Croswell-Lexington 53, Armada 28 After tying for third in the Blue Water Area Conference last season, Croswell-Lexington (3-0) is among those setting the early pace after this win over last year’s co-champion Tigers (1-2). The Pioneer trailed 14-0 during the second quarter and 14-13 at halftime.

On the move Goodrich 34, Lake Fenton 15 The Martians (3-0) made it two straight over the Blue Devils (2-1) as Flint Metro League play got underway. Freeland 51, Essexville Garber 14 The Falcons are off to their fourth 3-0 start over the last five seasons and have won all four matchups with the Dukes (2-1) since they’ve been in the same Tri-Valley Conference division. Pinconning 23, Harrison 14 The Spartans (1-2) broke a 17-game losing streak going back to Week 3 of 2021, also avenging a 48-13 defeat last season to the Hornets (1-2).

Greater Detroit

HEADLINER Clarkston 28, Rochester Adams 7 The Wolves may have put to rest notions they might be heading for a down season after an 0-2 start. After sharing the Oakland Activities Association Red championship with Adams and West Bloomfield last season – and also defeating the Highlanders by three in a Division 1 Regional Final – Clarkston joined West Bloomfield and Lake Orion this time among winners in OAA openers. The Wolves also should continue to benefit in playoff points from those first two losses, as both opponents remain undefeated. Click for more from the Oakland Press.

Watch list St. Clair Shores Lakeview 37, Roseville 33 Roseville (2-1) and its impressive start had been among the top stories of the first few weeks, and may continue to be moving forward as well. But Lakeview (2-1) is one of the top stories of this week after avenging last year’s 53-10 loss to the Panthers to open the Macomb Area Conference White schedule.

On the move Flat Rock 33, Carleton Airport 21 A week ago Airport (2-1) looked like the Huron League favorite after defeating reigning champ Riverview, but it might be Flat Rock (3-0) with its meeting with Riverview coming up in Week 5. Dearborn Divine Child 26, Milford 23 The Falcons (2-1) should continue to benefit from a season-opening loss to still-undefeated Parma Western and will get another nice boost as Milford was ranked No. 4 in Division 2 heading into the weekend. Bryce Young tossed to Tyler Eby with 29 seconds to play for the game-winner. Warren Michigan Collegiate 26, Detroit Country Day 20 While finishing a combined 21-5 over the last two seasons, Michigan Collegiate also took a loss both years from Country Day – but moved to 3-0 this time while handing the Yellowjackets (1-2) their second one-score defeat of the fall.

Iron Mountain's Alex Jayne prepares to pull in a pass from quarterback Ian Marttila that he runs into the end zone.

Mid-Michigan

HEADLINER Pewamo-Westphalia 26, Laingsburg 7 The Pirates (2-1) have rebounded nicely from a three-point opening loss to still-undefeated North Muskegon, as they’ve opened Central Michigan Athletic Conference play 2-0 and still given up only 24 points total over three games. This win ran P-W’s streak against the Wolfpack (2-1) to 14 straight. Click for more from the Lansing State Journal.

Watch list Charlotte 35, Lansing Catholic 33 The Orioles (3-0) are coming off their best season since 2004, and the offense that averaged 33 points per game in getting them to 9-2 last fall is churning at 42 points per game through the first three.  

On the move New Lothrop 26, Clarkston Everest Collegiate 15 While a Week 2 loss to league opponent Chesaning stung, the Hornets do have an impressive pair of wins over teams in their playoff division with Everest having made the Division 8 Semifinals last season. Grand Ledge 41, Holt 13 The Comets avenged a 14-6 loss to Holt from a year ago that eventually led to Grand Ledge and the Rams sharing the Capital Area Activities Conference Blue title. Beal City 48, McBain 7 The Aggies (3-0) are pursuing a potential fourth-straight Highland Conference title and put McBain (2-1) a game back with the other two co-leaders coming up over the next three weeks.

Northern Lower Peninsula

HEADLINER Ogemaw Heights 56, Traverse City St. Francis 17 The Falcons (2-1) have been rising in a hurry over the last 13 months, and they are halfway to a possible Northern Michigan Football League Legends title with one of the annually more difficult obstacles out of the way. The reigning-champ Gladiators (1-2) had won their three recent matchups all by at least 21 points, including 42-19 last season. Click for more from the Bay City Times.

Watch list Charlevoix 26, Boyne City 13 The Rayders (2-1) appear the team to chase in the NMFL Leaders after handing Boyne City (2-1) its lone loss to avenge last year’s 42-14 defeat – which eventually clinched the league title for the Ramblers as Charlevoix ended up second.

On the move Manistee 20, Muskegon Oakridge 15 Bring on the Mariners (3-0) as the latest entrant into the West Michigan Conference Lakes race after they avenged last season’s 46-19 loss to always-contending Oakridge (1-2). Frankfort 27, Benzie Central 20 The NMFL Legacy-leading Panthers (3-0) picked up a nice nonleague win with two conference contests up next, but also notable is Benzie is 1-2 but with two losses by seven points or fewer as the Huskies look to challenge in the Leaders as well. Cadillac 14, Sault Ste. Marie 7 The Vikings (2-1) are 2-0 in Big North Conference play after a second seven-point win over a new league member from the old Great Northern Conference. The 14 points were the first given up by the Blue Devils (2-1).

Southeast & Border

HEADLINER Jackson 50, Tecumseh 49 (OT) The Vikings (2-1) returned a kickoff for a touchdown to tie the score with 1:29 left in regulation, and after Tecumseh took the lead first in overtime came back to score and convert a 2-point conversion to win this Southeastern Conference White opener over the reigning champion. These two have combined for 85, 115 and now 99 points over their last three meetings. Click for more from JTV.

On the move Dexter 44, Temperance Bedford 0 The Dreadnaughts (1-2) were replacing some major star power this fall and faced an opening three games against teams that won at least eight last season. They bounced back from two losses to shut out the Kicking Mules (1-2), who were 8-3 in 2022.

On the move Grass Lake 40, Jonesville 32 The Warriors are 3-0 for the first time since 2020 and already halfway to last season’s 10-game scoring output after reaching 40 for the second time in three games. Addison 58, Leslie 14 The Panthers (3-0) have reached 50 points all three games this season and this time put up a number against a Leslie defense that had given up a combined 20 points over its opening two wins. Adrian 38, Ypsilanti Lincoln 30 The Maples are 3-0 for the first time since 2010 and are on pace for their highest offensive output since that season.

Southwest Corridor

HEADLINER Constantine 22, Lawton 10 Days after Lawton earned one of Week 2’s headlining victories over Traverse City St. Francis, Constantine bounced back from a Week 2 loss to make headlines as well. While the Falcons also had won last year’s meeting 47-21, the rematch was at Lawton – and the Blue Devils hadn’t lost at home since 2018. Click for more from the Kalamazoo Gazette.

Watch list Parchment 36, Galesburg-Augusta 14 Jalen Kampen ran for a touchdown and threw for three more as Parchment reached 3-0 for the first time since 2011 and avenged last season’s 40-0 loss to the Rams.

On the move Edwardsburg 28, Plainwell 0 After opening with two losses against tough nonleague teams, the Eddies (1-2) broke away against one of their most familiar rivals – and after winning last year’s matchup with the Trojans (1-2) only 25-21. Stevensville Lakeshore 33, Mattawan 26 The Lancers (2-1) have bounced back nicely from a tough opening loss to Zeeland West as they look to bounce back from last year’s 3-6 finish. Schoolcraft 33, Kalamazoo United 14 The Eagles head into this week’s rivalry game with Constantine at 3-0 for the second-straight season and this time coming off a big-time comeback as they entered the fourth quarter against the Titans (2-1) down 14-7.

Upper Peninsula

HEADLINER Kingsford 35, Gladstone 12 Make that Kingsford as the possible top team in the Upper Peninsula this fall. A week after Gladstone moved to the front of the conversation with a win over Negaunee, the Flivvers avenged last season’s 34-20 loss to the Braves by putting up the most points Gladstone had given up since 2021. Kingsford gets Negaunee next with an opportunity to create a notable early lead in the Western Peninsula Athletic Conference Copper. Click for more from the Iron Mountain Daily News.

Watch list Negaunee 20, Calumet 13 The Miners (2-1) bounced back from that Gladstone loss with this solid win against another regular at the top of the Copper standings.

On the move Iron Mountain 40, Ishpeming 6 As noted in previous weeks, the Mountaineers will be rivaling whichever Copper team emerges in that argument over the UP’s best, and they’ve outscored their first three opponents now by a combined 136-12. Houghton 28, Hancock 14 These two will meet again in Week 9, and the Gremlins now will bring a two-game winning streak into the neighborly rematch. West Iron County 22, L’Anse 0 The Wykons had managed to play only two games both of the last two seasons, but they’ve played all three this fall, with this their first win on the field since the 2020 regular-season finale.

West Michigan

HEADLINER East Grand Rapids 42, Lowell 14 The Pioneers (3-0) will have to keep proving it in an Ottawa-Kent Conference White that includes also-undefeated Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, Northview and Byron Center among six teams total at 2-1 or better. But one more win will tie EGR’s best showing since 2020, and their work so far definitely ranks with their best since reaching the Division 3 Regional Finals that fall. Lowell (2-1) also should continue to play a major role as this league race unfolds. Click for more from the Grand Rapids Press.

Watch list Grand Rapids West Catholic 17, Coopersville 14 The Falcons (3-0) passed this major test to start O-K Blue play and with Hudsonville Unity Christian and Spring Lake coming up. Coopersville is 2-1 and sees those two also over the next two weeks.

On the move Allegan 21, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix 14 The Tigers (3-0) have won no more than three games since 2011, and that was last fall – but they’ve equaled that total already this season. Hudsonville 17, East Kentwood 14 The Eagles (3-0) also have equaled their win total from a year ago and have the potential for much more coming off a second-straight victory over a 2022 playoff qualifier. Spring Lake 34, Hudsonville Unity Christian 28 The Lakers (3-0) are in the same conversation after last season’s 3-6 finish, and they’ve won all three of their games by scores of 34-28 – and all against teams that made the playoffs last fall.

8-Player

HEADLINER Bridgman 14, Martin 12 This has the looks of a rivalry in the making. After three Martin wins from 2018-20, the Bees have won the last two seasons – last year by a point and now this time by two to take a key first step in the Southwest Michigan 8-Man Football League White. This was the league opener for both; Bridgman is 3-0 overall and Martin fell to 2-1.

Watch list Brown City 38, Kingston 20 The Green Devils (3-0) ended Kingston’s regular-season winning streak at 12 in what likely will be a key matchup when the North Central Thumb League Stars race eventually shakes out.

On the move Caseville 38, Kinde North Huron 12 The Eagles (1-2) ended a 38-game losing streak dating to 2018, while North Huron fell to 0-3 this fall. Akron-Fairgrove 36, Peck 28 The Vikings (2-1) downed the Pirates (1-2) for the first time since 1993 after a stretch of 17 defeats. Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart 21, Portland St. Patrick 20 Sacred Heart closed last season with a win over the Shamrocks, and at 3-0 this fall the Irish are one win away from equaling their 2022 total.

Second Half’s weekly “1st & Goal” previews and reviews are powered by MI Student Aid, a part of the Office of Postsecondary Financial Planning located within the Michigan Department of Treasury. MI Student Aid encourages students to pursue postsecondary education by providing access to student financial resources and information. MI Student Aid administers the state’s 529 college savings programs (MET/MESP), as well as scholarship and grant programs that help make college Accessible, Affordable and Attainable for you. Connect with MI Student Aid at www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid and find more information on Facebook and X (Twitter) @mistu9dentaid.

PHOTOS (Top) St. Clair Shores Lakeview's Keonte Woolf (6) pulls away from a Roseville defender Friday. (Middle) Iron Mountain's Alex Jayne prepares to pull in a pass from quarterback Ian Marttila that he'll run into the end zone. (Top photo Chris Mudd/National Photo Scout. Middle photo by Cara Kamps.)