Week 8 Football Playoff Listing
October 15, 2013
Here is a list of Michigan High School Athletic Association football playing schools, displaying their win-loss records and playoff averages through the seventh week of the season.
Schools on this list are in enrollment order. An asterisk (*) beside a record indicates that a team has eight or fewer games scheduled. A caret (^) beside a school’s name indicates that a team is one win away from playoff qualification.
Those schools with 11-player teams with six or more wins playing nine-game schedules, or five or more wins playing eight games or fewer, will qualify for the MHSAA Football Playoffs beginning Nov. 1-2. Schools with 5-4, 4-3 or 4-4 records may qualify if the number of potential qualifiers by win total does not reach the 256 mark. Schools with six or more wins playing nine-game schedules or five or more wins playing eight games or fewer may be subtracted from the field based on playoff average if the number of potential qualifiers exceeds the 256 mark.
Once the 256 qualifying schools are determined, they will be divided by enrollment groups into eight equal divisions of 32 schools, and then drawn into regions of eight teams each and districts of four teams each.
Those schools with 8-player teams will be ranked by playoff average at season’s end, and the top 16 programs will be drawn into regions of eight teams each for the playoff in that division, which also begins Nov. 1-2.
To review a list of all football playoff schools, individual school playoff point details and to report errors, visit the Football page of the MHSAA Website.
The announcement of the qualifiers and first-round pairings for both the 11 and 8-player playoffs will take place on Oct. 27 on the Selection Sunday Show at 7 p.m. on FOX Sports Detroit. The playoff qualifiers and pairings will be posted to the MHSAA Website following the Selection Sunday Show.
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11-Player Playoff Listing
1. Utica Eisenhower, 2772, 4-3, 58.429
2. Clarkston, 2737, 6-1, 87.286
3. Macomb Dakota, 2693, 7-0, 100.571
4. Howell, 2672, 4-3, 57.857
5. Grand Blanc, 2624, 6-1, 91.000
6. East Kentwood ^, 2612, 5-2, 73.143
7. Rockford, 2572, 6-1, 91.000
8. Clinton Township Chippewa Valley, 2506, 7-0, 104.000
9. Lake Orion, 2490, 6-1, 85.143
10. Dearborn Fordson, 2309, 4-3, 61.048
11. Holland West Ottawa, 2293, 4-3, 59.286
12. Northville, 2275, 6-1, 86.000
13. Detroit Cass Tech, 2262, 7-0, 100.571
14. Brighton ^, 2164, 5-2, 77.000
15. Monroe ^, 2145, 5-2, 67.857
16. Detroit Catholic Central, 2132, 6-1, 85.810
17. Plymouth ^, 2126, 5-2, 67.429
18. Canton, 2078, 7-0, 106.286
19. Novi, 1986, 4-3, 55.571
20. Macomb L'Anse Creuse North, 1965, 6-1, 85.000
21. West Bloomfield, 1941, 4-3, 57.857
22. Saline, 1897, 6-1, 88.000
23. Westland John Glenn, 1880, 4-3, 54.143
24. Holt, 1866, 4-3, 58.000
25. Warren Mott, 1796, 7-0, 92.571
26. Rochester Hills Stoney Creek ^, 1759, 5-2, 72.000
27. Hudsonville, 1736, 4-3, 62.571
28. Ann Arbor Skyline, 1715, 4-3, 54.143
29. Grand Ledge, 1715, 4-3, 55.571
30. Belleville ^, 1714, 5-2, 69.714
31. Davison, 1692, 4-3, 47.571
32. Walled Lake Northern ^, 1688, 5-2, 70.714
33. Traverse City West, 1653, 4-3, 61.857
34. Rochester, 1615, 4-3, 55.286
35. Waterford Kettering, 1604, 4-3, 54.571
36. Temperance Bedford, 1600, 7-0, 108.571
37. Grosse Pointe South, 1598, 4-3, 57.571
38. Rochester Adams, 1582, 4-3, 60.286
39. Saginaw Heritage, 1575, 4-3, 57.000
40. Warren DeLaSalle ^, 1564, 5-2, 79.200
41. Walled Lake Western, 1556, 7-0, 99.429
42. Flint Carman-Ainsworth, 1488, 6-1, 84.286
43. Detroit U-D Jesuit, 1476, 4-3, 59.857
44. Midland, 1462, 6-1, 87.571
45. Ypsilanti Lincoln, 1460, 6-1, 79.714
46. Pinckney ^, 1452, 5-2, 72.143
47. Traverse City Central, 1448, 4-3, 52.952
48. Oak Park ^, 1438, 5-2, 71.143
49. Detroit Martin Luther King *, 1432, 6-0, 97.714
50. Ypsilanti Community, 1399, 4-3, 49.000
51. Port Huron ^, 1398, 5-2, 68.548
52. Wyandotte Roosevelt, 1373, 7-0, 102.857
53. Portage Central, 1372, 7-0, 99.429
54. Lansing Everett ^, 1369, 5-2, 63.714
55. Portage Northern ^, 1364, 5-2, 72.571
56. Southfield, 1356, 6-1, 93.429
57. North Farmington *^, 1352, 4-3, 53.810
58. Caledonia ^, 1350, 5-2, 66.714
59. Battle Creek Lakeview, 1348, 7-0, 84.571
60. Birmingham Seaholm, 1337, 7-0, 93.714
61. Birmingham Brother Rice, 1326, 7-0, 104.857
62. Grosse Pointe North, 1323, 4-3, 58.571
63. Muskegon Mona Shores, 1314, 6-1, 86.429
64. Midland Dow, 1304, 6-1, 83.000
65. Farmington Hills Harrison, 1300, 6-1, 91.000
66. South Lyon ^, 1277, 5-2, 72.143
67. Swartz Creek, 1277, 4-3, 57.024
68. Birmingham Groves, 1274, 7-0, 93.714
69. Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills, 1231, 4-3, 46.143
70. Fenton, 1188, 7-0, 97.143
71. Grand Rapids Northview, 1182, 4-3, 54.857
72. Warren Woods Tower ^, 1170, 5-2, 55.429
73. Muskegon Reeths-Puffer, 1151, 6-1, 86.143
74. Lowell, 1146, 7-0, 110.857
75. Taylor Truman, 1131, 6-1, 81.714
76. Holly, 1124, 4-3, 55.714
77. Muskegon, 1118, 6-1, 92.286
78. Lapeer East, 1113, 4-3, 55.714
79. Marquette *, 1110, 5-1, 79.381
80. Detroit East English ^, 1109, 5-2, 64.738
81. Detroit Cody, 1106, 4-3, 51.429
82. Allen Park ^, 1103, 5-2, 72.429
83. Detroit Renaissance, 1097, 4-3, 48.857
84. Detroit Mumford, 1090, 6-1, 78.571
85. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern, 1079, 6-1, 77.429
86. Zeeland East ^, 1071, 5-2, 72.286
87. Lapeer West, 1063, 6-1, 89.571
88. Redford Thurston, 1063, 4-3, 60.714
89. Byron Center ^, 1039, 5-2, 63.714
90. Mt. Pleasant, 1033, 6-1, 87.714
91. Riverview ^, 993, 5-2, 59.857
92. St. Joseph, 986, 7-0, 97.143
93. Petoskey, 965, 4-3, 55.571
94. Mason ^, 958, 5-2, 62.000
95. East Grand Rapids, 949, 4-3, 56.857
96. Linden, 944, 4-3, 52.000
97. DeWitt, 941, 7-0, 101.943
98. Sault Ste. Marie, 928, 4-3, 52.857
99. Grand Rapids Christian, 927, 6-1, 87.571
100. Detroit Denby ^, 909, 5-2, 60.833
101. Haslett ^, 907, 5-2, 65.143
102. Stevensville Lakeshore, 892, 4-3, 51.429
103. Fruitport ^, 886, 5-2, 58.571
104. Romulus, 882, 4-3, 44.000
105. Milan, 872, 7-0, 94.857
106. St. Clair, 869, 7-0, 92.571
107. Tecumseh ^, 869, 5-2, 66.000
108. Sturgis, 868, 4-3, 53.286
109. Wayland Union, 861, 4-3, 59.143
110. Melvindale, 860, 6-1, 84.286
111. Plainwell, 852, 6-1, 77.429
112. Ionia ^, 851, 5-2, 62.000
113. Sparta ^, 851, 5-2, 61.571
114. Eaton Rapids, 844, 4-3, 49.143
115. Detroit Old Redford *, 838, 5-2, 59.571
116. Zeeland West, 833, 6-1, 78.286
117. Charlotte ^, 830, 5-2, 71.000
118. Battle Creek Harper Creek, 823, 6-1, 76.286
119. Dearborn Heights Annapolis, 818, 4-3, 49.143
120. North Branch, 809, 6-1, 70.429
121. Marysville, 791, 4-3, 51.000
122. Detroit Collegiate Prep, 790, 4-3, 44.286
123. Three Rivers, 789, 4-3, 43.429
124. Edwardsburg, 787, 7-0, 81.143
125. Holland Christian, 785, 4-3, 50.000
126. Spring Lake, 783, 6-1, 72.714
127. Cadillac, 779, 7-0, 94.095
128. Ogemaw Heights ^, 754, 5-2, 63.381
129. Croswell-Lexington, 738, 4-3, 47.714
130. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep ^, 732, 5-2, 65.571
131. Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy, 724, 6-1, 70.476
132. Yale ^, 704, 5-2, 58.143
133. Comstock Park, 701, 7-0, 98.667
134. Detroit Country Day, 700, 4-3, 54.571
135. Fremont, 697, 4-3, 40.714
136. St. Clair Shores South Lake, 690, 4-3, 49.571
137. Otsego ^, 688, 5-2, 54.143
138. Corunna, 686, 4-3, 45.143
139. Lansing Sexton, 684, 7-0, 99.429
140. Grand Rapids Catholic Central, 678, 4-3, 48.429
141. Allendale *, 676, 6-1, 77.429
142. Cheboygan ^, 660, 5-2, 66.238
143. Belding, 654, 4-3, 44.429
144. Battle Creek Pennfield, 652, 6-1, 65.857
145. Williamston *^, 651, 4-3, 46.714
146. Grand Rapids South Christian, 645, 6-1, 81.857
147. Saginaw Swan Valley, 644, 7-0, 85.714
148. Richmond, 642, 6-1, 74.000
149. Dearborn Heights Robichaud, 635, 4-3, 54.714
150. Grosse Ile, 632, 4-3, 47.571
151. Paw Paw, 632, 7-0, 78.857
152. Dowagiac, 621, 6-1, 67.000
153. Lake Fenton, 613, 6-1, 70.429
154. Ludington, 610, 4-3, 43.000
155. Remus Chippewa Hills, 600, 4-3, 43.286
156. Marine City, 596, 7-0, 98.286
157. Wyoming Kelloggsville ^, 591, 5-2, 53.286
158. Clawson ^, 584, 5-2, 55.429
159. Essexville Garber ^, 583, 5-2, 60.857
160. Livonia Clarenceville, 577, 7-0, 84.571
161. Portland *, 572, 7-0, 89.143
162. Freeland, 568, 6-1, 69.429
163. River Rouge, 568, 6-1, 57.619
164. Kingsford ^, 561, 5-2, 56.095
165. Wyoming Godwin Heights, 560, 4-3, 36.000
166. Parchment, 552, 4-3, 43.286
167. Ovid-Elsie ^, 549, 5-2, 55.429
168. Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard, 544, 6-1, 77.429
169. Clinton Township Clintondale, 544, 7-0, 81.143
170. North Muskegon ^, 541, 5-2, 51.571 |
171. Gladwin ^, 539, 5-2, 55.000
172. Frankenmuth, 527, 6-1, 79.000
173. Hopkins ^, 527, 5-2, 66.286
174. Almont, 524, 6-1, 71.571
175. Newaygo, 523, 6-1, 66.000
176. Standish-Sterling Central *, 520, 6-1, 72.571
177. Olivet, 505, 6-1, 63.571
178. Ida ^, 504, 5-2, 60.143
179. Detroit University Prep ^, 501, 5-2, 52.714
180. Menominee, 501, 7-0, 86.857
181. Muskegon Oakridge, 496, 6-1, 67.143
182. Grayling, 494, 6-1, 63.286
183. Reed City, 490, 7-0, 83.429
184. Riverview Gabriel Richard ^, 490, 5-2, 56.857
185. Dundee ^, 489, 5-2, 45.857
186. Lansing Catholic, 480, 4-3, 50.429
187. Clare ^, 451, 5-2, 51.857
188. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central, 445, 6-1, 76.286
189. Jackson Lumen Christi, 441, 7-0, 93.714
190. Kingsley ^, 439, 5-2, 48.286
191. Houghton, 437, 4-3, 34.196
192. Roscommon, 431, 4-3, 36.286
193. Millington ^, 430, 5-2, 59.571
194. Warren Michigan Collegiate ^, 428, 5-2, 57.143
195. Kalkaska ^, 425, 5-2, 49.429
196. Madison Heights Madison, 424, 7-0, 86.857
197. Sanford Meridian, 423, 6-1, 61.143
198. Michigan Center, 416, 6-1, 56.714
199. Negaunee, 416, 6-1, 52.286
200. Hanover-Horton, 412, 4-3, 35.857
201. Montrose Hill-McCloy, 411, 7-0, 82.286
202. Lakeview ^, 409, 5-2, 56.429
203. Grass Lake, 402, 6-1, 64.714
204. Shelby, 401, 7-0, 76.571
205. Elk Rapids ^, 400, 5-2, 57.143
206. Ithaca, 399, 7-0, 80 .000
207. Manchester, 398, 6-1, 61.429
208. Hillsdale, 397, 4-3, 47.429
209. Niles Brandywine, 397, 7-0, 79.286
210. Jonesville, 389, 6-1, 66.000
211. Grandville Calvin Christian, 388, 4-3, 47.143
212. Maple City Glen Lake, 388, 7-0, 72.000
213. Watervliet, 387, 7-0, 62.857
214. Vassar, 385, 4-3, 36.429
215. Boyne City, 383, 6-1, 62.571
216. Clinton, 383, 7-0, 76.571
217. Byron Area, 380, 6-1, 58.000
218. Constantine ^, 379, 5-2, 46.857
219. Adrian Madison, 374, 4-3, 35.000
220. Burton Bendle ^, 374, 5-2, 51.476
221. Montague ^, 373, 5-2, 58.714
222. St. Charles, 367, 4-3, 36.000
223. Quincy, 361, 4-3, 32.571
224. Hartford, 351, 4-3, 39.000
225. Cass City, 350, 4-3, 35.714
226. Indian River Inland Lakes ^, 348, 5-2, 40.333
227. Schoolcraft, 346, 6-1, 70.429
228. Flint Beecher ^, 345, 5-2, 55.286
229. Reese, 337, 6-1, 58.000
230. Saginaw Nouvel, 333, 6-1, 73.429
231. Marlette, 332, 7-0, 69.714
232. Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian, 331, 6-1, 68.000
233. McBain, 326, 4-3, 38.571
234. Bath, 325, 4-3, 38.000
235. Hesperia, 324, 4-3, 38.714
236. Carson City-Crystal, 323, 7-0, 74.286
237. Bridgman, 320, 4-3, 39.000
238. Lake City, 314, 6-1, 55.714
239. Whittemore-Prescott ^, 309, 5-2, 49.571
240. Springport ^, 308, 5-2, 47.286
241. Lawton, 307, 7-0, 60.571
242. Southfield Christian, 306, 6-1, 55.571
243. East Jordan, 302, 4-3, 33.857
244. Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker ^, 301, 5-2, 51.714
245. Ishpeming, 301, 7-0, 67.857 &
Resilient, 'Grounded' North Muskegon Building on 2022 Breakout with Superb Start
By
Tom Kendra
Special for MHSAA.com
September 7, 2023
To appreciate Landon Christiansen’s euphoria Thursday night, you have to understand the depths of his despair last fall.
North Muskegon enjoyed a breakout football season in 2022 – going unbeaten in conference play to win the West Michigan Conference Rivers title – but Christensen missed almost all of it with a knee injury.
But he has returned with a vengeance, leading the Norse to a 2-0 start, hauling in six passes for 260 yards and four touchdowns in a 41-21 win at Muskegon Catholic Central last week.
“I felt like I was due for something good to happen,” said Christensen, a 6-foot, 170-pound senior. “That game kind of made up for last season, in a way. It was such a great feeling.”
North Muskegon (2-0), which is in Division 7, is no longer flying under the radar after back-to-back wins over state powerhouses – a thrilling, 17-14 win in the opener against Pewamo-Westphalia and then the air show at MCC.
The leader of the Norse is junior James Young (6-3, 195), a third-year starter with a Division I college arm and pocket presence.
North Muskegon coach Larry Witham said after Thursday’s big win at MCC that he has given Young “the keys to the kingdom” – referring to the dizzying number of playmakers he has all around him.
While Christensen was the man against MCC – scoring on touchdown passes of 59, 32, 12 and 78 yards – in future games the leading role could go to junior wideout TJ Byard, senior slot Alec Newville, senior running back Ben Meyers or junior H-back Drew Bartos.
“I have a lot of skill guys to throw to, and the chemistry is great,” said Young, who completed 70 percent of his passes for 2,022 yards and 26 touchdowns in nine games last season. “We’ve been playing together since we were little kids.”
That special bond was apparent from the emotion displayed by Young and other teammates after Christensen’s return to glory Thursday.
“Getting him the ball and then watching him do his thing was honestly very emotional for me and a lot of the guys on the team,” said Young, who was near perfect against MCC, finishing 19-of-20 for 391 yards and four touchdowns.
Witham said this year’s 26-member Norsemen team is incredibly humble, unselfish and grounded – characteristics that could be attributed to the injuries and health issues the team has endured.
Christensen was just one of many injured players for the Norsemen last season, joined by leading rusher Denny Belmonte (knee) and Young, who had a torn labrum which required surgery after the season.
The team also has dealt with more serious life-threatening issues, with Tate Pannucci and Ethan Bates battling cancer (Pannucci has returned to the field) and senior Mitchel Peterson hospitalized much of last season with blood clots.
“These kids are very grounded, and they keep each other in check,” Witham said.
North Muskegon starts WMC Rivers play this week at Mason County Central.
While the Norse broke through with an 8-1 regular season last year, the playoffs haven’t been kind. NM hasn’t advanced out of Districts since 2006, when it lost to Saginaw Swan Valley in a Division 5 Regional Final. The Norse were eliminated by Pewamo-Westphalia in 2019 and 2020, then lost low-scoring Pre-District games to Ravenna the past two years.
Witham said his team learned valuable lessons during those losses.
“We know that we have to be balanced and have to be able to run the football,” said Witham, a 1980 North Muskegon graduate who is in his eighth year as head coach. “Wintertime approaches early in the state of Michigan. We are not going to live and die throwing the football when it’s 32 degrees and snowing.”
With those early playoff exits in mind, Christensen and his teammates are putting in extra practice time on a daily basis.
“None of us are comparing stats,” said Christensen. “We all have different strengths, and that’s what makes it hard for teams to guard us. We just want to win games and make it as far as we can.”
Tom Kendra worked 23 years at The Muskegon Chronicle, including five as assistant sports editor and the final six as sports editor through 2011. E-mail him at [email protected] with story ideas for Muskegon, Oceana, Mason, Lake, Oceola, Mecosta and Newaygo counties.
PHOTOS (Top) North Muskegon junior quarterback James Young drops back to pass at Muskegon Catholic Central on Aug. 31. Young completed 19-of-20 passes for 390 yards and four touchdowns in the Norsemen's 41-21 victory. (Middle) North Muskegon senior receiver Landon Christensen hauls in a pass during last week's win. He caught six for 260 yards, including TD receptions of 59, 32, 12 and 78 yards. (Photos by Mike Banka.)