Drive for Detroit: 11-Player Semis Review
November 20, 2017
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Five of Saturday’s 11-player Semifinals were decided by seven points or fewer.
Four reigning champions earned opportunities to repeat as champions.
Three teams advanced to the Finals for the first time.
Two of the five winningest coaches in MHSAA history – and the top two among active coaches – will make the trip again.
One more weekend remains to decide the last of this season’s football champions.
The countdown is on for our annual voyage to Detroit’s Ford Field. West Bloomfield, Saginaw Swan Valley and Edwardsburg earned first-time MHSAA Finals berths Saturday, while a handful of surprises also helped shape an intriguing championship field.
Below is a glance at all 16 Semifinals, plus links to coverage both print and broadcast. The MHSAA Playoffs are sponsored by the Michigan Army National Guard, and “Drive for Detroit” is sponsored by MI Student Aid.
Division 1
Clarkston 27, Detroit Catholic Central 7
The Wolves (11-2) held the reigning Division 1 runner-up Shamrocks (8-5) scoreless until late in the third quarter to earn their return to Ford Field looking for a third title in five seasons after winning Division 1 back-to-back in 2013-14. Click for more from the Oakland Press.
ICYMI: Watch the highlights from from Clarkston's 27-7 win over Detroit Catholic Central as the Wolves advanced to the @MHSAA Division 1 State Final for the first time since 2014! @CtownAthSec @ClarkstonWolves @ClarkstonFB2013 @ClarkstonBball @TheeJungle pic.twitter.com/yw6SDvJ6sT
— STATE CHAMPS! (@statechampsnet) November 19, 2017
West Bloomfield 9, Detroit Cass Tech 7
West Bloomfield (11-2) held off the reigning champion Technicians (9-3) to advance to the MHSAA Finals for the first time, with Nick O’Shea kicking a 31 and two 26-yard field goals. Click for more from the Detroit News.
ICYMI: Check out the highlights from West Bloomfield's win over Cass Tech as the Lakers advanced to the Division 1 State Championship game for the first time in school history! @wbhslakernation @wbhsTHESWAMP @19Bellamy pic.twitter.com/9TFH4EOtEr
— STATE CHAMPS! (@statechampsnet) November 19, 2017
Division 2
Livonia Franklin 20, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central 0
Franklin (11-2) earned its first Finals berth since the first year of MHSAA playoffs in 1975, shutting down a Forest Hills Central offense that averaged 38 points per game during a 12-0 start. Click for more from Observer & Eccentric.
Forest Hills Central's comes up short against Livonia Franklin in State Semis https://t.co/6rVIOGYiNM
— FOX 17 Blitz (@FOX17Blitz) November 19, 2017
Warren DeLaSalle 14, Detroit Martin Luther King 13
In a matchup of Detroit area powers, Catholic League Central champion Warren DeLaSalle (11-2) edged Public School League champion and back-to-back Division 2 title winner King (11-2); the Pilots will be going for their second title in four seasons after winning Division 2 in 2014. Click for more from the Macomb Daily.
ICYMI: Watch the highlights from Warren De La Salle's @MHSAA Division 2 Semifinal win over Detroit King as the Pilots are headed back to the D-2 Final for the first time since 2014! @delasallehs @DLSBrozone @DeLaSalleAD @DLSFootball_MI @mgiannone pic.twitter.com/O4p1rIUlQ9
— STATE CHAMPS! (@statechampsnet) November 19, 2017
Division 3
Muskegon 42, Battle Creek Harper Creek 0
This Muskegon playoff drive is becoming legendary; the Big Reds (13-0) haven’t given up a point in their last two games and this time handed Harper Creek (12-1) its first and only loss of the season. Click for more from the Muskegon Chronicle.
ICYMI: Watch the highlights from Muskegon's 42-0 win over Harper Creek as the Big Reds advanced to the Division 3 State Championship Game for the second straight year! @OnMuskegon @BigRed_RNetwork @HoopsBigReds @LaDariusJ2 pic.twitter.com/6E0E2txo9C
— STATE CHAMPS! (@statechampsnet) November 19, 2017
Farmington Hills Harrison 21, Riverview 0
Likewise, Harrison’s run is becoming something of a storybook end for a program guided by the newly-anointed all-time winningest coach in state history that will also will play only one more season as the school will close in 2019. The Hawks (10-3) earned their second shutout of the playoffs as well, this time as Riverview (11-2) was averaging 35 points per game. Click for more from Observer & Eccentric.
ICYMI: Be sure to check out the highlights from Farmington Hills Harrison's 21-0 win over Riverview to advance to the @MHSAA State Finals for the 18th time in school history! @FHHarrisonFB @rod_heard @OvieOghoufo @HersteinJon @FPSInformation pic.twitter.com/40OvkYeyOh
— STATE CHAMPS! (@statechampsnet) November 19, 2017
Division 4
Grand Rapids Catholic Central 24, Escanaba 0
The reigning champion Cougars (13-0) ran into one of few opponents that has slowed down its offense; GRCC scored fewer than 32 points for the first time since Week 2. But Escanaba (10-3) didn’t manage a point for the first time since last year’s Regional Final, when GRCC downed the Eskymos 34-0. Click for more from the Grand Rapids Press.
Defense and Nolan Fugate fuel Grand Rapids Catholic Central's state semifinal win: https://t.co/JPZiCQug3z Highlights at 11. #Frenzy8 pic.twitter.com/HkLopjAFQ1
— WOOD TV8 (@WOODTV) November 18, 2017
Edwardsburg 32, River Rouge 21
Edwardsburg (12-1) scored the final 14 points of the game to earn its first trip to the MHSAA Finals and tie a program record for most wins in a season with last year’s semifinalist team. River Rouge (10-3) was playing in a Semifinal for the third straight season and hadn’t lost to an instate opponent since opening night. Click for more from the Niles Daily Star.
Division 5
Saginaw Swan Valley 29, Reed City 14
Both teams were playing to make the MHSAA Finals for the first time, and Swan Valley (12-1) earned the trip while also tying a program record for wins in a season. Four rushing touchdowns including two by Chase Mendoza doomed the Coyotes (11-2), who won a program-record 11 games for the second straight season. Click for more from the Saginaw News.
Grand Rapids West Catholic 25, Frankenmuth 21
Four-time reigning champion West Catholic (11-2) came back from a 21-0 deficit to clinch a sixth straight MHSAA Finals appearance, holding off the Eagles (12-1) as they attempted to reach the Finals for the first time. Click for more from the Grand Rapids Press.
ICYMI: Check out the highlights from Grand Rapids West Catholic's comeback win over Frankenmuth to advance to the Division 5 State Championship Game for a sixth consecutive year! @GRWCatholic @GRWCFootball @wcatholicsports @WEST_is_BEST17 pic.twitter.com/Rq4JSa2QWR
— STATE CHAMPS! (@statechampsnet) November 19, 2017
Division 6
Ithaca 27, Traverse City St. Francis 0
Most of the time, Ithaca’s offense is cast in the starring role. But the Yellowjackets (13-0) have two shutouts this playoffs and are giving up only 7.8 points per game – and St. Francis (11-2) hadn’t been held scoreless since 2013. Click for more from the Mount Pleasant Morning Sun.
Jackson Lumen Christi 44, Warren Michigan Collegiate 12
Reigning champion Lumen Christi (11-1) earned a shot at its first repeat title since winning two straight in 2003-04. The Titans put up 38 points in the first half and held Michigan Collegiate (12-1) to its fewest since opening night 2016. Click for more from the Jackson Citizen Patriot.
Lumen Christi vs. Warren Michigan Collegiate Semifinal Football Video Highlights - JTV Jackson https://t.co/EgHr35Gkqw
— JTV (@JTVJackson) November 18, 2017
Division 7
Pewamo-Westphalia 51, Lake City 8
The reigning champion Pirates are headed back to the Finals after holding Lake City scoreless until the final minutes. Over four playoff games, P-W (12-1) has outscored its opponents 158-29. Lake City did set a program record for wins in finishing 12-1, making the Semifinals for the first time and all after going 2-7 a year ago. Click for more from the Lansing State Journal.
Pewamo-Westphalia Rolls past Lake City in division 7 semifinal https://t.co/xOcZuvQ6zm
— FOX 17 Blitz (@FOX17Blitz) November 19, 2017
Saugatuck 14, Madison Heights Madison 7
The Indians (10-3) earned their first Finals berth since 2010 with a third straight playoff win by seven points or fewer – an incredible showing of perseverance considering also that this run has come after they missed out on a league title because of a Week 9 loss. Madison (12-1) entered the postseason with the highest playoff point average in the division by a large margin, but couldn’t get an offense going that averaged 33 points heading into the weekend. Click for more from the Holland Sentinel.
Defense leads Saugatuck to semifinal win over Madison Heights Madison https://t.co/KDTQpkCSGK
— FOX 17 Blitz (@FOX17Blitz) November 19, 2017
Division 8
Saginaw Nouvel 17, Iron River West Iron County 14
Nouvel (13-0) outlasted a physical West Iron front on both sides of the ball and made a third-quarter field goal stand for 22 minutes to reach the Finals for the first time since winning Division 7 in 2011. While West Iron (11-2) did hold the Panthers to their season low points, the Wykons also scored their fewest since Week 5. Click for more from the Saginaw News.
Ottawa Lake Whiteford 50, Mendon 21
This shouldn’t be called an upset, but Mendon (12-1) had to be considered the Division 8 favorite by at least a few after eliminating reigning four-time champ Muskegon Catholic Central in the District Final. Instead, reigning runner-up Whiteford (13-0) scored 50 points for the 10th time in 11 games, those points accounting for 39 percent of all the points the staunch Hornets gave up this season. Click for more from the Monroe Evening News.
VIDEO: Highlights and post-game interviews from Whiteford's 50-21 win over Mendon in the Michigan D-VIII State Semifinal game. Whiteford will head back to the state championship game for the second-straight year. Bobcats will face Saginaw Nouvel Friday at 10 a.m. at Ford Field pic.twitter.com/Aaf0jsZ0MV
— Danielle Dwyer (@danielleWTOL11) November 18, 2017
Second Half’s weekly “Drive for Detroit” previews and reviews are powered by MI Student Aid, a part of the Student Financial Services Bureau 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, including various student financial assistance programs to help make college more affordable for Michigan students. MI Student Aid administers the state’s 529 savings programs (MET/MESP) and eight additional aid programs within its Student Scholarships and Grants division. Click for more information and connect with MI Student Aid on Facebook and Twitter @mistudentaid.
PHOTO: Muskegon quarterback La'darius Jefferson breaks into the second level of Harper Creek's defense Saturday as a pair of tacklers work to wrap him up. (Photo by Tim Reilly.)
Team of the Month: Martin Football
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
December 13, 2022
Two straight trips to 8-Player Semifinals
Two seasons over the last three with double-digit wins.
Three straight seasons where the only loss on the field came in the playoffs to the eventual Division 1 champion.
Martin’s football team had come so close a few times to earning the ultimate prize in Michigan high school football. And finally, this fall, it was the Clippers’ turn.
Paced by 11 seniors, the MHSAA/Applebee’s “Team of the Month” for November claimed the 8-Player Division 1 championship at the Superior Dome in Marquette – the Clippers’ first Finals title since 1987 – with a 74-24 win over previously-undefeated Merrill.
“This is the most seniors we’ve ever had, as long as I’ve been coaching here,” said Martin coach Brad Blauvelt, a 2003 graduate of the school who just finished his fifth season leading the program after serving as an assistant coach nearly as long before taking over. “Program kids – from rocket football to middle school, all the way up, they’ve been committed to the program the whole time.”
Martin has an interesting recent history as a program, to say the least. After five straight winning seasons from 2003-07, the Clippers didn’t win a game from 2008-2013. They got back on the plus side at 6-4 in 2018, then made the move to 8-player – where they’ve gone a combined 40-6 over the last four seasons.
This one started with a 30-28 win over Mendon – the eventual 8-Player Division 2 runner-up – and over 13 games Martin averaged 54 points while giving up only 14.5. There were a pair of losses along the way – to Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian and Bridgman, which both finished 9-0 but have enrollments too high to qualify for the 8-Player Playoffs. Those losses helped Martin move forward, especially the 35-34 defeat against Bridgman in the regular-season finale.
“The biggest thing was being OK with a loss, because we were so used to winning … not being OK with it, just understanding we’ll get better from it,” Blauvelt said.
The Bees were able to get their playmakers outside on the Clippers – which generally means big plays in the 8-player format. So Martin’s coaches made a sharp adjustment heading into the postseason, putting all-state safety Sam Jager at one outside linebacker, and moving middle linebacker (and all-state quarterback) JR Hildebrand outside on the other side.
So while Hildebrand was able to continue leading the offense to totals of 68, 56, 42 and 74 points over the four playoff games, the Clippers during the playoffs gave up just 52 points total – and held a two-time reigning champion Adrian Lenawee Christian team averaging 48 points per game to just 14 in a 59-14 Regional Final win.
The Cougars had eliminated Martin from the playoffs the last two Semifinals on the way to those two straight Division 1 championships. In 2019, Martin lost to Colon in a Regional Final, and the Magi went on to claim the Division 1 title.
“The last couple of years, we lost the last game of the season, and you can’t do anything about it,” Blauvelt said. “Losing in-season, we were able to fix and change some things around that I think ultimately helped us.”
Hildebrand was one of the state’s best at his position this fall, rushing for 1,340 yards and 23 touchdowns and throwing for 1,234 yards and 25 scores. He owns two school records on offense, and also led the team with 90 tackles, to go with four sacks and seven more tackles for loss.
Jager caught seven of those touchdown passes and was the best blocker for a team that ran for more than 2,600 yards. He had 51 tackles and five interceptions, including one he brought back for a score. Another senior, Karter Ribble, topped 300 yards rushing and receiving, with a combined 12 touchdowns, plus scored twice on kickoffs and again on a punt return. He also made 90 percent of his extra-point tries and set a school record with a 43-yard field goal.
They were part of that senior class that, although graduating, has helped bring a buzz and momentum that Blauvelt hopes carries over into other sports, academics and the community as a whole.
“They come to morning workouts, they come to all the summer stuff, and they do the extra work to push themselves over the hump,” Blauvelt said. “They’re so talented athletically too, that doing that pushed them over the top even more so.”
Past Teams of the Month, 2022-23
October: Gladwin volleyball - Report
September: Negaunee girls tennis - Report