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A Game for Every Fan: Week 5
September 25, 2014
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The MHSAA football season nearly stretches over four full months from the first practices until the final championship game ends at Ford Field in November.
But the regular season seems to fly by; just like that, we’re already halfway through and today a month away from the selection of this fall’s playoff divisions and brackets.
One team – two-time reigning Division 7 champion Ishpeming – can earn the first playoff berth of this fall with a win tonight and because it is playing only eight games during the regular season.
Read on for more of the most significant match-ups this weekend across the state.
West Michigan
Muskegon Oakridge (3-1) at Ravenna (4-0)
After three straight MHSAA Semifinal appearances from 2008-10, Ravenna fell back to the pack the last three seasons – finishing 4-5 each of the last two, even despite outscoring its opponents by 62 points in 2013. But the Bulldogs already have equaled that win total and can take another giant step back against Oakridge, a favorite in the West Michigan Conference that lost only on opening night to reigning Division 5 champion Grand Rapids West Catholic.
Others that caught my eye: Fruitport (2-2) at Muskegon Catholic Central (4-0), Rockford (4-0) at Caledonia (2-2), Grand Rapids South Christian (2-2) at Grand Rapids Catholic Central (2-2), Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern (4-0) at Ada Forest Hills Eastern (2-2).
Bay and Thumb
Richmond (4-0) at Almont (4-0)
The Blue Devils are back on the march in the Blue Water Area Conference after finishing the league schedule perfect in 2013. Only seven points kept Almont from that accomplishment instead, and the Raiders are surely raring for this rematch after falling 42-35 to Richmond a year ago and finishing second in the conference. Almont opened this fall with three shutouts before giving up six points last week to Capac.
Others that caught my eye: Burton Atherton (3-1) at Flint Hamady (4-0), Goodrich (3-1) at Montrose (4-0), Midland Dow (4-0) at Flint Powers Catholic (3-1), Flint Kearsley (2-2) at Fenton (4-0).
Southwest and Border
Plainwell (3-1) at Vicksburg (4-0)
Vicksburg will look to keep its best start since 2010 going in this Wolverine B Conference East opener that could end up deciding the league champion. Plainwell was the league runner-up last season to Paw Paw, which this fall moved to the Wolverine B West, and has beaten Vicksburg in three straight including 26-3 a year ago. Plainwell fell to Edwardsburg by two last week, but Vicksburg has beaten the Eddies and Paw Paw over the last two weeks, respectively.
Others that caught my eye: Edwardsburg (3-1) at Paw Paw (3-1), Stevensville Lakeshore (4-0) at Battle Creek Lakeview (2-1), Battle Creek Harper Creek (2-2) at Battle Creek Pennfield (1-3), Lawton (2-2) at Decatur (4-0).
Greater Detroit
Clarkston (4-0) at Oxford (4-0)
Clarkston is tied with three others for the highest playoff point average in Michigan as it seeks to repeat as MHSAA Division 1 champion. But first up is Oakland Activities Association Red play and a quest for a fourth straight league title – although new to the league this season is Oxford, which fell to the Wolves by a mere 30-27 in last season’s Division 1 playoff opener.
Others that caught my eye: Detroit Catholic Central (2-2) at Birmingham Brother Rice (4-0), Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central (4-0) at Carleton Airport (3-1), Farmington Hills Harrison (3-1) at Southfield (3-1), Orchard Lake St. Mary's (4-0) at Warren DeLaSalle (3-1).
Lower Up North
Traverse City St. Francis (3-1) at Boyne City (4-0)
St. Francis is back in a league – the first-year Northern Michigan Football Conference – for the first time since 2011, and draws its toughest opponent so far in Boyne City. The Ramblers finished Lake Michigan Conference runners-up to Grayling the last two seasons after St. Francis left that conference for football. All three teams are in the Leaders division this season, but Boyne City is the only Michigan team to not yet give up a point – it’s outscored its first four opponents by a combined 166-0.
Others that caught my eye: Traverse City Central (3-1) at Gaylord (4-0), Mancelona (3-1) at Indian River Inland Lakes (3-1), Manistee (3-1) at McBain (2-2), Lincoln Alcona (3-1) at Whittemore-Prescott (4-0).
Mid-Michigan
Hanover-Horton (4-0) at Manchester (3-1)
Hanover-Horton is quickly advancing a turnaround after finishing 4-5 a year ago and a combined 14-31 over the last five seasons. The Comets already have avenged 2013 losses to Addison and Michigan Center over the last two weeks and now get Manchester, last season’s Cascades Conference co-champion and owner of six straight playoff berths.
Others that caught my eye: Fowler (4-0) at Dansville (3-1), Haslett (2-2) at DeWitt (4-0), Homer (4-0) at Jonesville (3-1), Newaygo (3-1) at Stanton Central Montcalm (3-1).
Upper Peninsula
Marquette (3-1) at Gladstone (3-1)
The road to Gladstone’s first playoff berth since 2008 doesn’t get any easier after last week’s loss to reigning MHSAA Division 5 runner-up Menominee. Marquette put 63 points on Gladstone in 2013 – although the Braves defense has been impressive holding its other three opponents this fall to 19 or fewer points.
Others that caught my eye: Iron Mountain (2-2) at Ishpeming Westwood (3-1), Menominee (4-0) at Kingsford (2-2), Maple City Glen Lake (2-1) at Lake Linden-Hubbell (3-1), Hurley, Wis. (4-1) at Bessemer (3-1)
8-Player
Posen (2-2) at Bellaire (4-0)
Bellaire on paper has looked more dominant during the season’s first half, outscoring three opponents 137-32 (the fourth win came as a forfeit). But the Eagles won’t look past Posen after falling to the Vikings 62-14 last season, a defeat that started a 1-4 skid to finish 2013. Posen’s two losses this season were to powerful Cedarville and Rapid River during the first two weeks.
Others that caught my eye: Waldron (3-1) at Webberville (3-1), Burr Oak (2-2) at Portland St. Patrick (4-0).
PHOTO: DeWitt defeated Lansing Waverly last week 56-12 and has won 30 straight league games dating to 2008. (Click to see more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com).
![Muskegon's Jakob Price (20) finds room to run in his team's win over DeWitt.](/sites/default/files/2022-11/221121_1st%26Goal_2H.png)
1st & Goal: 2022 11-Player Semifinals Review
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
November 21, 2022
This season's 11-Player Football Finals field is set. And it's fair to expect phenomenal after how this weekend's Semifinals played out.
Both Division 1 games went to overtime. The Division 5 and Division 8 Semifinals produced Ford Field matchups of undefeated contenders. Three reigning champions advanced, as did two teams that won Semifinals for the first time and two more that won their first during the lifetimes of the players on their rosters this fall.
And that's just a sample of what's to come, as we'll preview all eight matchups Wednesday. For today, we're taking a glance back at all 16 games from a snowy, stormy and mostly frigid but forever memorable Friday and Saturday.
Division 1
SEMIFINAL Belleville 29, Detroit Cass Tech 28 (OT) Arguably the game of the weekend was played Friday night as Belleville took an early 14-0 lead, got behind 21-14, scored with 1:04 left in regulation to force overtime, then answered Cass Tech’s overtime touchdown with a score and game-winning 2-point conversion. The reigning Division 1 champion Tigers improved to 13-0, while the Technicians finished 9-4. Click for more from MLive-Detroit.
Belleville sophomore Bryce Underwood with the game-winning 2-point conversion in OT as the Tigers beat Cass Tech 29-28 in the Division 1 Semifinal. Powered by @LTUAthletics @BryceUnderwoo16 | @BellevilleFB | @BHSBelleville pic.twitter.com/nweEl5iffn
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 19, 2022
SEMIFINAL Caledonia 21, Clarkston 0 An anticipated offense back-and-forth turned into one of the most impressive defensive performances in the state this season as Caledonia shut out a Clarkston offense averaging nearly 41 points per game. The Fighting Scots (12-1) will be playing in their first Final since winning the Division 3 title in 2005. Clarkston finished 10-3. Click for more from the Grand Rapids Press.
Caledonia celebrates after beating Clarkston 21-0 in the Division 1 Semifinal. Powered by @USNRecruiter pic.twitter.com/YM6zg2PTl9
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 19, 2022
Division 2
SEMIFINAL Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central 20, Dexter 17 (2OT) A Forest Hills Central defense that has been a big part of the story all season showed well again as the Rangers (13-0) advanced to their first Final since 1994. Quarterback Mason McDonald certainly did his part as well, and especially at crunch time, with a game-tying touchdown pass on the last play of regulation and the game-winning scoring run. Dexter finished its first Semifinal season at 12-1. Click for more from the Grand Rapids Press.
Highlights of the Forest Hills Central vs. Dexter - Division 2 @MHSAA Football Semifinal
📹WXMI-TV@fhcsportsreport | @Coachtimrogers | @rheathorntontv pic.twitter.com/kvWJDKNiYV
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 20, 2022
SEMIFINAL Warren De La Salle Collegiate 43, Birmingham Groves 15 The reigning champion Pilots (12-1) once again followed quarterback Brady Drogosh, who scored four touchdowns, while the defense took care of their side with a ninth-straight game of allowing 18 or fewer points. Groves finished 9-4, an excellent comeback from finishing 2-7 last season. Click for more from the Macomb Daily.
Here are the highlights of our Anvil Award candidate and Illinois commit Mason Muragin (@MMuragin) from De La Salle in their Division 2 Semifinal win over Groves. Delivered by @hungryhowies @DLSFootball_MI | @DLSBroZone | @DeLaSalleAD | @illinifootball pic.twitter.com/5SHl6ZW46B
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 20, 2022
Division 3
SEMIFINAL Muskegon 49, DeWitt 21 After two seasons away, Muskegon (11-2) will return to Ford Field for the fifth time in seven years. Quarterback M’Khi Guy showed the way scoring six touchdowns on the ground and throwing for a seventh. DeWitt, last season’s Division 3 runner-up, finished 9-4. Click for more from the Muskegon Chronicle.
Highlights of the Muskegon vs. DeWitt - Division 3 @MHSAA Football Semifinal
📹WXMI-TV@MuskCoFootball | @OnMuskegon | @jhutt5 pic.twitter.com/uEEO12WBWV
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 20, 2022
SEMIFINAL Detroit Martin Luther King 52, Mason 17 The reigning champion Crusaders (9-3) also are headed back to the Finals, for the sixth time in eight seasons after shutting down a Mason offense averaging 45 points per game. Dante Moore also offered a few more highlights as his career draws to a close, throwing four touchdown passes. Mason finished a second-straight Semifinal run at 12-1. Click for more from the Detroit Free Press.
Our Mr. Football candidate and Oregon commit Dante Moore from Detroit King threw 4 TDs in their 52-17 win over Mason in the Division 3 Semifinal. Delivered by @hungryhowies @dantemoore05 | @oregonfootball | @DetKingFootball | @TheRealSterl | @J2Croft pic.twitter.com/FtdAA3fLdD
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 20, 2022
Division 4
SEMIFINAL Grand Rapids South Christian 26, Edwardsburg 20 The Sailors improved to 13-0 and earned their first Finals trip since 2014 by handing Edwardsburg its first loss since the season opener. The Eddies (11-2) pulled within a score late, but South Christian held them off the rest of the way. Click for more from FOX 17.
Highlights of the South Christian vs. Edwardsburg - Division 4 @MHSAA Football Semifinal
📹WXMI-TV@RemiMonaghan | @sailorsports | @SCsailorFB pic.twitter.com/sWAUcleWm4
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 21, 2022
SEMIFINAL Goodrich 51, Riverview 26 The Martians (12-1) are headed to the season’s final weekend for the first time after piling up their second-most points in a game this season and handing Riverview (12-1) its lone defeat. Jace Simerson ran for five touchdowns to lead the way. Click for more from the Flint Journal.
Goodrich senior @JaceSimerson scored five rushing touchdowns in their Division 4 Semifinal win over Riverview. Powered by @LTUAthletics pic.twitter.com/RZtyS9m6cp
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 20, 2022
Division 5
SEMIFINAL Gladwin 28, Grand Rapids Catholic Central 21 Arguably the stunner of the playoffs goes to the Flying G’s, which is saying a lot since they remain undefeated at 13-0 but also ended Grand Rapids Catholic Central’s three-season Finals streak a win short of extending it to four. The Cougars (11-2) pulled within the final margin late and had the ball, but a Gladwin interception sealed the program’s first trip to the Finals. Click for more from the Bay City Times.
Here are the highlights of Gladwin's win over Grand Rapids Catholic Central in the Division 5 @MHSAA Football Semifinal
📹https://t.co/duQnD6Kq0j@GladwinFootball pic.twitter.com/9MxZdN3gEF
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 20, 2022
SEMIFINAL Frankenmuth 38, Detroit Country Day 0 The Eagles (13-0) earned their second trip to Ford Field in three seasons with arguably the finest defensive effort of a season full of them as they didn’t allow a first down while posting their fifth shutout. Aidan Hoard threw two touchdown passes and ran for a third score. Country Day finished 8-4. Click for more from the Saginaw News.
Frankenmuth celebrates after beating Country Day 38-0 in the Division 5 Semifinal on Saturday. Powered by @MIArmyGuard @FrankenmuthF | @FMuthAthletics pic.twitter.com/wdZyCSRggU
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 19, 2022
Division 6
SEMIFINAL Negaunee 13, Reed City 12 The Miners emerged from one of the snowiest Semifinals by twice coming back, the second time with the eventual game-winning touchdown run by Kai Lacar. The Negaunee (13-0) also reached its first Finals since 2002 by continuing a run of allowing no more than 15 points in a game this season, and even though Reed City (11-2) averaged 44 per game entering the day. Click for more from the Marquette Mining Journal.
Highlights of the Negaunee vs. Reed City - Division 6 @MHSAA Football Semifinal
📹 WJMN-TV pic.twitter.com/P6H47zX9lT
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 20, 2022
SEMIFINAL Grand Rapids West Catholic 33, Clinton 14 The Falcons are headed back to the Finals for the first time since 2017 by handing Clinton its only defeat and holding the Redwolves (12-1) to their fewest points scoring this fall. Tim Kloska ran for 349 yards and five more touchdowns for West Catholic (12-1). Click for more from FOX 17.
Highlights of the West Catholic vs. Clinton - Division 6 @MHSAA Football Semifinal
📹WXMI-TV@wcathleticspage | @CoachLGrove | @GRWCFootball | @jhutt5 pic.twitter.com/v1vBXkbjlv
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 20, 2022
Division 7
SEMIFINAL Traverse City St. Francis 53, New Lothrop 8 The Gladiators’ dominance seems to become more extraordinary every week as they’re 13-0 for the first time since 2009 and have now won their last two games by a combined 116-8. St. Francis led 20-0 after the first quarter in this one. New Lothrop finished 10-3. Click for more from the Traverse City Record-Eagle.
Highlights of the Division 7 @MHSAA Semifinal between Traverse City St. Francis and New Lothrop
📹 WPBN-TV@TCSFFootball | @HarrisonBeeby pic.twitter.com/nBx0oMtUIN
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 20, 2022
SEMIFINAL Jackson Lumen Christi 20, Napoleon 7 The Titans (10-3) earned a rematch with one of the opponents that contributed to their 0-3 start this season. Lumen Christi relied on a steady defense that held Napoleon to its fewest points scored in a game this fall. Napoleon also finished its first Semifinal season at 12-1. Click for more from the Jackson Citizen Patriot.
Congratulations to Jackson Lumen Christi. 20-7 win over Napoleon on Saturday in the Division 7 @MHSAA Semifinal. First trip back to the State Finals since 2019. pic.twitter.com/ygnHI7SoeJ
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 20, 2022
Division 8
SEMIFINAL Ubly 41, Iron Mountain 14 The Bearcats have equaled St. Francis’ mastery so far, with this their closest game this season. Ubly (13-0) will return to Ford Field for the second time in three seasons after holding Iron Mountain to its fewest points since a Week 1 defeat to Negaunee and scoring the most the Mountaineers (11-2) gave up this season. Click for more from the Huron Daily Tribune.
Here are the highlights of Ubly's win over Iron Mountain in the Division 8 @MHSAA semifinal. 📹 https://t.co/duQnD6sOBJ pic.twitter.com/6TTWtadwg5
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 22, 2022
SEMIFINAL Ottawa Lake Whiteford 44, Clarkston Everest Collegiate 6 The Bobcats also are headed back to the Finals for the first time since 2017 after defeating Everest (9-4) in the playoffs for the second-straight season. Quarterback Shea Ruddy ran for four scores for Whiteford (13-0). Click for more from the Monroe News.
Ottawa Lake Whiteford senior quarterback Shea Ruddy (@shea_ruddy) had four touchdown runs in their win over Clarkston Everest in the Division 8 Semifinal. Powered by @LTUAthletics pic.twitter.com/DxBJniKJur
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 19, 2022
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PHOTO Muskegon's Jakob Price (20) finds room to run in his team's win over DeWitt. (Photo by Tim Reilly.)