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Scheduling Solution
September 27, 2016
One of our state's consistently best high school football programs needed a ninth game this season but could find no opponent within the state of Michigan. It was able to find a game with an equally prestigious football program in an adjacent state that was having the same problem – the "problem" of being such a formidable program year after year that other schools shied away from scheduling them.
Two different schools in two different states with two different football playoff formats and qualifying procedures, facing the same problem.
This helps to demonstrate that it is not any particular football playoff system that is at the heart of high school football scheduling difficulties. Much more at fault is human nature. One could change the qualifying system or double the number of qualifiers so that even winless teams make the playoffs, and some schools would still refuse to schedule others, which would then have to travel out of state to complete their schedules.
The solution to football scheduling will have very little to do with expanding the playoff field or changing the qualifying criteria. It is only when the scheduling of varsity football games is removed from the local level and assigned to the MHSAA that all teams will play the opponents that are closest to them in enrollment and location. Hard to fathom that will ever occur. But then, no team would have to travel out of state, or even across the state, to complete a varsity football schedule.
Unforgettable 5ive: 2022 Football Week 1
By
Jon Ross
MHSAA Director of Broadcast Properties
August 31, 2022
Here's a look at our Week 1 "Unforgettable 5ive" from MHSAA.tv and MHSAA media partner broadcasts:
► Haslett's Nakai Amachree scored both of the Vikings' touchdowns in a 21-14 loss to DeWitt. He returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown and a punt 75 yards for another score.
► West Bloomfield's Deonte Pippen Jr. scored two touchdowns including this 87 yarder in the Lakers' 47-7 win over Sterling Heights Stevenson.
► Charlevoix's Henry Herzog scored from 21 yards out in a 24-15 win over East Jordan.
► Flint Beecher's Jaylin Townsend returned a kickoff 79 yards for a touchdown during a 47-26 loss to Saginaw Nouvel. Townsend also had three touchdown catches in the game.
► In 8-player action, Morrice scored a game-winning touchdown with a minute left to defeat Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart 14-8. Travis Farrow carried it six yards into the end zone for the winner.