Drive for Detroit: Week 9 in Review
October 23, 2012
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Just like that, another MHSAA football regular season is done. But not without hoopla that lasted into the final moments of Week 9.
The best seasons, at least for fans, are those filled with drama from the opening kickoff of Week 1 until the moment playoff brackets are announced on the Sunday Selection Show. This fall, eight teams that had never made the playoffs earned first-time trips to the postseason. A number of league title races came right down to the end.
And many of those closing moments are covered below in this week's Drive for Detroit.
West Michigan
Zeeland East 40, Muskegon 39
The Big Reds (8-1) appeared relatively invincible this fall and may yet prove to be the rest of the season. But with the O-K Black championship on the line, Zeeland East was one point better and stopped Muskegon's two-point conversion attempt during the closing minutes. Click to read more from the Holland Sentinel.
Also noted:
Grand Rapids Christian 21, Lowell 7 – Last season, Christian (8-1) beat Lowell (7-2) in the O-K White opener and made it stand up the rest of the way. This time, the Eagles had to wait until the end to claim a second-straight league title.
Grand Rapids West Catholic 17, Grand Rapids Northview 14 – Although Northview (7-2) did earn its first playoff berth this fall, West Catholic (6-3) held on to the O-K Bronze title – its sixth-straight league championship.
Hudsonville Unity Christian 28, Hamilton 27 – Hamilton needed a win to get into the playoffs automatically, and Unity Christian needed a win to have a remote shot; after a weekend of close calls, both got in at 5-4.
Muskegon Catholic Central 21, Traverse City St. Francis 13 – Few small schools have had as much football success as these two; the Crusaders (6-3) won this time to earn a playoff berth, and in the process ended any hopes of extending the MHSAA-best 22-season postseason streak held by the Gladiators (4-5).
Greater Detroit
Detroit Martin Luther King 51, Detroit East English 48
A loss to Detroit Crockett (now part of East English) in last season's Detroit Public School League championship game started a string of four straight in the regular season including three to start this fall (one was a forfeit). But King (6-3) closed the regular season strong by avenging a Week 2 loss to East English (7-2), in the process gaining a playoff berth as well. Click to read more from the Detroit Free Press.
Also noted:
Orchard Lake St. Mary 27, Detroit Catholic Central 10 – A week after falling to the Shamrocks (5-4), which resulted in a three-way shared Detroit Catholic League Central title, the Eaglets (7-2) avenged the defeat by winning this Prep Bowl game.
Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard 17, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep 12 – Notre Dame (8-1) earned a 12-point win over Gabriel Richard in the first Catholic League AA game this season, but ended with a split after this Prep Bowl stunner.
Farmington Hills Harrison 48, West Bloomfield 20 – It’s true, the Hawks have missed the playoffs twice in the last decade. But it does feel like they get in every year, and Harrison (6-3) got in again by downing the Lakers (2-7).
Carleton Airport 11, Tecumseh 10 – After losing three of its last five, Airport (6-3) got into the playoffs by edging the Indians (7-2)
Lower Up North
Grayling 21, Boyne City 0
Only one of these teams could finish unbeaten. And thanks mostly to a stout defense, it was Grayling. The Vikings finished 9-0 for the first time and also won the Lake Michigan Conference championship for the first time. Boyne City dropped to 8-1 and finished second in the league. Click to read more from the Traverse City Record-Eagle.
Also noted:
Bellaire 28, Rapid River 16 – The Eagles (6-3) opened this season with two losses and suffered another in Week 8, but regained some momentum by downing the reigning MHSAA 8-player runner-up Rockets (7-2).
Mancelona 40, Indian River Indian Lakes 8 – The Ironmen iced their second-straight 9-0 regular season finish, while dropping Inland Lakes to 4-5.
Traverse City Central 42, Cadillac 21 – After opening this fall with a loss, the Trojans (8-1) have won eight straight and put the finishing touch on the Big North Conference title by beating the Vikings (6-3).
West Branch Ogemaw Heights 42, Alpena 13 – The Falcons (6-3) finished the bounce-back from its 4-5 finish in 2011 by making the playoffs thanks to this win over Alpena (1-8).
Southwest and Border
Lawton 33, Watervliet 26
The Southwestern Athletic Conference South has been one of the state's most competitive leagues all season, with four of six teams contending for the title and a fifth just missing joining them in the playoffs. Watervliet (8-0) looked good to finish off the championship run for the second straight season. But Lawton (8-1) forced a share by avenging its 33-0 loss to the Panthers that cost it a share of the title last season. Click to read more from the St. Joseph Herald-Palladium.
Also noted:
Paw Paw 46, Edwardsburg 36 – The Redskins finished 9-0 for the first time since 2005, but gave up a season-high number of points to the Eddies (6-3).
Mattawan 20, Portage Northern 14 – This only meant second place in the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference West, but Mattawan (8-1) and Portage Northern (7-2) both will continue this week.
Mendon 15, Pewamo-Westphalia 12 (OT) – The Hornets won their 23rd straight game, but P-W (6-3) gave them the closest of the streak (not counting a 1-0 forfeit win earlier this fall).
Bridgman 34, Wyoming Tri-unity Christian 18 – Not only did the Bees (6-3) complete their best regular season since 1997, but they made the playoffs for the first time since 1977.
Thumb and Bay
Montrose 22, Lake Fenton 21
The Genesee Area Red Conference title came down to the final play of double overtime in the final game of the regular season. Montrose (8-1) stopped Lake Fenton's attempt and claimed the championship for the second straight season, while the Blue Devils (7-2) finished runners-up for the second straight. Click to read more from the Flint Journal.
Also noted:
Midland 21, Midland Dow 6 – The Chemics (9-0) made it 10 wins in 11 games against the rival Chargers (5-4), and also won the Saginaw Valley Association North title outright.
Linden 43, Swartz Creek 0 – The Eagles (8-1) claimed half of the Flint Metro League championship while denying the Dragons (7-2) of the same.
Fenton 30, Lapeer West 21 – Same for Fenton (8-1), which won the other half of the Metro League title while knocking Lapeer West (6-3) out of the running.
Deckerville 24, Peck 18 (3 OT) – The Eagles (8-1) needed a third overtime to win the North Central Thumb 8-Man League title against runner-up Peck (7-2).
Upper Peninsula
Manistique 12, Harbor Springs 6 (2 OT)
The Emeralds, winners of one game each the last two seasons, won six of their last seven this fall to finish 6-3 and earn a first playoff berth since 2008; Harbor Springs finished 3-6. Click to read more from the Marquette Mining Journal.
Also noted:
Iron Mountain 34, Norway 13 – The Mountaineers needed this one to squeak into the playoffs at 5-4; Norway finished 3-6.
St. Ignace 14, Cheboygan 10 – The Saints capped their second straight 9-0 regular season against a Cheboygan team that also made the playoffs at 6-3.
Stephenson 35, Powers North Central 6 – The Eagles (7-2) were already in the playoffs, and Powers North Central (5-4) still got in despite the loss.
Calumet 36, Gladstone 12 – The Copper Kings (6-3) got the necessary win to keep an eight-season playoff streak alive, while dropping Gladstone to 2-7.
Crystal Falls Forest Park 33, Lake Linden-Hubbell 14 – Forest Park (7-2) won its third straight over the rival Lakes (4-5), which may have lost out on an opportunity to reach the playoffs at 5-4.
Mid-Michigan
Howell 24, Jackson Lumen Christi 21
The Highlanders (6-3) drilled a late field goal to earn a playoff berth and keep the Titans (8-1) from a perfect regular season. Lumen Christi still made the playoffs for the 15th straight season. Howell didn't make it in 2011, but this will be its sixth appearance in seven years. Click for more from the Livingston Daily Press & Argus.
Also noted:
DeWitt 21, Fruitport 20 – The Panthers (7-2) bounced back from a Week 8 loss to Portland by handing Lakes 8 Conference champion Fruitport (8-1) its only loss of the regular season.
Lansing Waverly 41, Fowlerville 14 – The Warriors (6-3) earned their first playoff berth since 2002, but more impressively finished their finest regular season since 1982; Fowlerville ended 1-8.
Grass Lake 28, Leslie 14 – The Warriors (8-1) made it three straight over two seasons against the Blackhawks (8-1) while handing them their only regular-season loss.
Portland St. Patrick 34, Waldron 26 – The Shamrocks (9-0) won the Southern Michigan 8-Man Football League title by beating the second-place Spartans (6-3).
Trophy Games
Every week, the MHSAA highlights trophy games played around the state. Here are three from Week 9:
Little Brown Jug – This trophy, contested by Sault Ste. Marie and Newberry, was established in 1923 and is the oldest jug game we know of in Michigan. It might possibly be the oldest trophy game in high school football in our state. Final: Sault Ste. Marie 38, Newberry 6.
Copper Bowl – Hancock and Houghton have waged this game since 1953. Houghton ended a two-game losing streak. Final: Houghton 29, Hancock 14.
The Curb – This was the first-year of this trophy game between Royal Oak and Berkley, with the prize a 30-pound piece of Woodward Avenue curb. Final: Berkley 42, Royal Oak 29.
PHOTO: Livonia Churchill's Romello Brown (13) sprints down the sideline away from the grasp of a Livonia Stevenson defender as Churchill won Friday 49-10. (Click to see more at Terry McNamara Photography.)
1st & Goal: 2023 Week 3 Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
September 7, 2023
After two weeks of high anticipation to begin this football season, we’ve moved into the grind as several leagues begin play this weekend and contenders hope to take the first steps toward potentially celebrating a local championship next month.
It’s also not too late to bounce back from a tough start. Of 288 Michigan varsity teams that opened with losses during Week 1, 129 rebounded to win in Week 2. We’ll likely see many more find their footing over the next two days.
The majority of games across the state this weekend will be broadcast on MHSAA.tv and viewable with subscription, with results updated as those games conclude on the MHSAA Scores page.
Here’s a look at some of the matchups that may end up mattering most as this season rumbles on:
Bay & Thumb
Goodrich (2-0) at Lake Fenton (2-0)
With impressive wins over Frankenmuth and Linden over the last two weeks, Goodrich is off to an even more notable start than last season when it finished Division 4 runner-up. This one kicks off Flint Metro League Stars play with a rematch of the Martians’ only close league game from a year ago – they edged Lake Fenton 14-7 to lock up the outright title. The Blue Devils have outscored their first two opponents this season by a combined 93-6 as they look to rebound from last year’s 3-6 finish.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Croswell-Lexington (2-0) at Armada (1-1), Freeland (2-0) at Essexville Garber (2-0), Saginaw Heritage (2-0) at Grand Blanc (1-1), Bad Axe (1-1) at Harbor Beach (2-0).
Greater Detroit
Detroit Pershing (2-0) at Detroit Denby (2-0)
With Cass Tech, Martin Luther King and lately Central getting most of the pub, Denby’s success over the last decade often isn’t noted enough; the Tars have nine winning seasons and eight playoff appearances over the last 10 years. They’ve also shut out their first two opponents this fall as they begin Detroit Public School League Gold play. Pershing, meanwhile, is 2-0 for the first time since 2012 and last week defeated Madison Heights Bishop Foley to avenge a 41-point loss in 2022.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Rochester Adams (2-0) at Clarkston (0-2), New Lothrop (1-1) at Clarkston Everest Collegiate (1-1), Clinton Township Chippewa Valley (1-1) at Utica Eisenhower (2-0). SATURDAY Detroit Country Day (1-1) at Warren Michigan Collegiate (2-0).
Mid-Michigan
Pewamo-Westphalia (1-1) at Laingsburg (2-0)
The Wolfpack’s drive this season certainly must be substantial after just missing the playoffs last year despite a 6-3 record. Paced by senior Jack Borgman, Laingsburg opened by avenging last season’s loss to Durand and will now seek to defeat the Pirates for the first time since 2009 after missing by just seven points a year ago. P-W bounced back from a three-point loss to North Muskegon in its opener to shut out Bath last week.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Northville (2-0) at Brighton (1-1), Lansing Catholic (1-1) at Charlotte (2-0), Grand Ledge (2-0) at Holt (1-1), Olivet (0-2) at Lansing Sexton (2-0).
Northern Lower Peninsula
Marquette (1-1) at Gaylord (2-0), Saturday
League realignments over the last few years have led to some different trips for teams in the northern half of the Lower Peninsula – see Traverse City Central welcoming Davison in the Saginaw Valley League this weekend and this Marquette drive along with Sault Ste. Marie’s to Cadillac in the newest version of the Big North Conference. Gaylord is 2-0 for the second-straight season, but last year saw that momentum paused with a 17-14 Week 3 loss to Marquette. Marquette is coming off a 49-0 win over Alpena after falling to the Wildcats by two a year ago.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Frankfort (2-0) at Benzie Central (1-1), Sault Ste. Marie (2-0) at Cadillac (1-1), Boyne City (2-0) at Charlevoix (1-1), Davison (2-0) at Traverse City Central (1-1).
Southeast & Border
Carleton Airport (2-0) at Flat Rock (2-0)
The Huron League and Carleton Airport headlines this section of the state for the second week in a row, this time after the Jets avenged their 2022 loss to league champion Riverview with a 48-27 win. Flat Rock gave Airport a mighty challenge last season as well, with the Jets prevailing only 21-19 but the Rams going on to finish 8-4 – their winningest since 1976. Flat Rock is off to another solid start with victories over Dundee and Grosse Ile, both playoff teams as well in 2022.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Leslie (2-0) at Addison (2-0), Temperance Bedford (1-1) at Dexter (0-2), Hillsdale (1-1) at Hudson (2-0), Clinton (1-1) at Ida (1-1).
Southwest Corridor
Kalamazoo Central (1-0) at St. Joseph (1-1)
The Maroon Giants celebrated their first win in two seasons last week, downing 2022 playoff qualifier Sturgis 47-34 to break an 11-game losing streak. St. Joseph won this matchup big a year ago and has taken 12 straight since Central’s most recent victory in the series in 2004. However, the Bears are seeking to gain momentum to start September; they were shut out by Niles in their opener and didn’t get to play last week after receiving a forfeit win from Detroit Henry Ford.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY White Pigeon (2-0) at Decatur (1-1), Constantine (1-1) at Lawton (2-0), Jackson Lumen Christi (2-0) at Richland Gull Lake (2-0), SATURDAY Kalamazoo United (2-0) at Schoolcraft (2-0).
Upper Peninsula
Gladstone (2-0) at Kingsford (2-0)
Gladstone has opened with a pair of wins over Marquette and Negaunee that puts the Braves back in the discussion for best in the Upper Peninsula. But this week they face another challenger – one that’s also familiar but under changed circumstances. Gladstone and Kingsford were past Great Northern Conference football foes who both moved to the Western Peninsula Athletic Conference Copper this fall, and the Flivvers actually had won 23 straight in this series before Gladstone’s 34-20 victory last season. Kingsford has yet to give up a point.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Houghton (0-2) at Hancock (1-1), Iron Mountain (2-0) at Ishpeming (1-1), Calumet (1-1) at Negaunee (1-1), Ishpeming Westwood (0-2) at Menominee (2-0).
West Michigan
Lowell (2-0) at East Grand Rapids (2-0)
For most of the 2000s, this was one of the spotlight games every season not only in the Grand Rapids area, but often statewide. The buzz has cooled some the last few years but could be building again. Lowell posted its first winning season last fall since 2017. East Grand Rapids is seeking its first since 2020 and last week downed reigning Division 4 champion Grand Rapids South Christian 23-21. The Pioneers edged the Red Arrows 15-14 a year ago.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY Grand Rapids West Catholic (2-0) at Coopersville (2-0), Manistee (2-0) at Muskegon Oakridge (1-1), Wayland (2-0) at Grand Rapids Catholic Central (1-1), Muskegon Reeths-Puffer (2-0) at Muskegon Mona Shores (1-1).
8-Player
Bridgman (2-0) at Martin (2-0)
This is a rematch of one of the most memorable 8-player games from last season, as Bridgman’s 35-34 win in Week 9 finished off its second-straight perfect season. The Bees’ enrollment is too high for the team to qualify for the 8-player playoffs, however, and Martin went on to finish 11-2 and an overpowering Division 1 champion after winning all of its playoff games by at least 34 points. This season has started similarly as the Clippers have outscored their first two opponents by a combined 117-6 and Bridgman has put up 90 points over its first two games. This meeting takes on extra meaning as well as a switch put these two in the same division of the Southwest Michigan 8-Man Football League this fall.
Keep an eye on these FRIDAY St. Ignace (2-0) at Alcona (2-0), Kingston (2-0) at Brown City (2-0), Newberry (2-0) at Rudyard (2-0). SATURDAY Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (2-0) at Portland St. Patrick (2-0).
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PHOTO Harper Woods pulled away from Rochester Hills Stoney Creek 34-21 in Week 1. (Photo by Olivia B. Photography.)