Week 8 Football Playoff Listing

October 9, 2012

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 carrot (^) 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 Oct. 26-27. 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 Oct. 26-27. All 8-player teams, regardless of win total, are listed below.

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 at 7 p.m. on Oct. 21 on the Selection Sunday Show 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, 5-2, 75.571

2. Sterling Heights Stevenson, 2766, 6-1, 88.714

3. Clarkston, 2721, 7-0, 100.571

4. Howell, 2692, 4-3, 56.857

5. Grand Blanc, 2644, 4-3, 59.571

6. Macomb Dakota, 2608, 6-1, 88.714

7. Lake Orion, 2565, 7-0, 102.857

8. Rockford ^, 2526, 5-2, 73.571

9. Troy, 2502, 4-3, 58.286

10. Clinton Township Chippewa Valley ^, 2462, 5-2, 74.143

11. Dearborn Fordson, 2442, 6-1, 95.143

12. Holland West Ottawa ^, 2262, 5-2, 69.714

13. Northville ^, 2220, 5-2, 72.000

14. Detroit Cass Tech, 2200, 6-1, 87.571

15. Canton, 2166, 4-3, 52.714

16. Monroe, 2154, 6-1, 79.571

17. Detroit Catholic Central, 2060, 4-3, 54.952

18. Plymouth, 2050, 6-1, 80.857

19. Salem ^, 2039, 5-2, 74.143

20. Livonia Stevenson, 2005, 6-1, 86.286

21. Holt, 1992, 4-3, 56.571

22. Hartland, 1932, 7-0, 99.429

23. Warren Mott, 1879, 7-0, 88.000

24. Livonia Churchill, 1877, 7-0, 105.143

25. Macomb L'Anse Creuse North ^, 1853, 5-2, 71.857

26. Saline, 1849, 6-1, 88.429

27. Grandville, 1846, 4-3, 52.714

28. Dearborn, 1790, 4-3, 61.571

29. Rochester Hills Stoney Creek, 1777, 4-3, 52.429

30. Flint Carman-Ainsworth, 1772, 6-1, 78.571

31. Grand Ledge ^, 1743, 5-2, 67.429

32. Rochester ^, 1725, 5-2, 68.000

33. Traverse City West ^, 1720, 5-2, 70.857

34. White Lake Lakeland ^, 1700, 5-2, 70.857

35. Harrison Township L'Anse Creuse, 1680, 4-3, 52.000

36. Ann Arbor Pioneer, 1670, 4-3, 61.000

37. Davison ^, 1664, 5-2, 64.571

38. Grosse Pointe South, 1648, 6-1, 85.143

39. Walled Lake Northern ^, 1599, 5-2, 75.714

40. Temperance Bedford, 1581, 4-3, 52.286

41. Walled Lake Western ^, 1553, 5-2, 71.000

42. Brownstown Woodhaven, 1520, 6-1, 85.286

43. Ypsilanti Lincoln, 1520, 4-3, 52.857

44. Wyoming, 1515, 4-3, 44.905

45. Dearborn Edsel Ford, 1508, 4-3, 55.143

46. Midland, 1485, 7-0, 99.429

47. Oxford, 1481, 4-3, 58.000

48. Port Huron ^, 1473, 5-2, 64.857

49. Traverse City Central, 1429, 6-1, 86.000

50. Oak Park, 1391, 7-0, 108.571

51. Lansing Everett, 1359, 7-0, 109.714

52. Grosse Pointe North, 1353, 4-3, 55.571

53. Midland Dow, 1350, 4-3, 52.857

54. Birmingham Seaholm, 1349, 6-1, 87.571

55. Battle Creek Lakeview, 1347, 4-3, 56.571

56. Garden City, 1344, 4-3, 53.286

57. Portage Central ^, 1340, 5-2, 66.857

58. Muskegon Mona Shores, 1337, 4-3, 53.429

59. Birmingham Brother Rice ^, 1336, 5-2, 75.714

60. Portage Northern, 1328, 6-1, 79.714

61. Caledonia, 1308, 6-1, 81.857

62. Wyandotte Roosevelt, 1304, 6-1, 84.143

63. Farmington Hills Harrison, 1302, 4-3, 57.714

64. Detroit Martin Luther King, 1287, 4-3, 53.857

65. Detroit Cody ^, 1282, 5-2, 65.600

66. Farmington, 1278, 6-1, 85.429

67. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, 1278, 4-3, 57.143

68. Taylor Truman, 1253, 6-1, 85.286

69. Swartz Creek, 1223, 7-0, 96.000

70. Southfield, 1218, 4-3, 63.429

71. Fenton, 1202, 6-1, 80.714

72. Grand Rapids Northview, 1180, 6-1, 82.714

73. Lowell, 1177, 6-1, 86.571

74. Bay City Western, 1171, 7-0, 86.857

75. Gibraltar Carlson, 1160, 4-3, 50.714

76. Muskegon, 1144, 7-0, 109.714

77. East Lansing ^, 1142, 5-2, 65.286

78. Mattawan, 1124, 7-0, 96.000

79. Allen Park ^, 1120, 5-2, 66.571

80. Marquette *^, 1112, 4-3, 58.857

81. Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills, 1109, 4-3, 62.714

82. Lapeer West ^, 1101, 5-2, 72.286

83. Detroit Renaissance, 1094, 4-3, 49.714

84. Redford Thurston ^, 1088, 5-2, 65.571

85. Auburn Hills Avondale, 1080, 6-1, 78.429

86. St. Johns ^, 1068, 5-2, 67.429

87. Zeeland East, 1067, 7-0, 97.143

88. Byron Center, 1032, 4-3, 54.714

89. Detroit East English, 1030, 6-1, 80.857

90. Owosso, 1012, 4-3, 51.143

91. Lansing Waverly, 1011, 4-3, 45.714

92. Mason ^, 969, 5-2, 56.286

93. Petoskey, 967, 4-3, 57.857

94. Milan, 959, 7-0, 88.000

95. Sault Ste. Marie, 959, 4-3, 46.914

96. Grand Rapids Christian, 954, 6-1, 86.286

97. Cedar Springs, 950, 4-3, 40.429

98. DeWitt, 931, 6-1, 86.571

99. Fruitport, 929, 7-0, 83.429

100. Orchard Lake St. Mary's, 926, 6-1, 95.143

101. Bloomfield Hills Lahser ^, 925, 5-2, 66.714

102. Linden, 923, 6-1, 82.857

103. Niles, 920, 4-3, 50.429

104. Hazel Park, 909, 4-3, 52.000

105. Stevensville Lakeshore, 906, 7-0, 109.714

106. St. Clair, 901, 7-0, 90.286

107. Haslett, 894, 4-3, 55.429

108. Tecumseh, 887, 6-1, 74.714

109. Sturgis, 882, 4-3, 51.000

110. Carleton Airport ^, 868, 5-2, 60.714

111. Detroit Central Collegiate, 868, 4-3, 50.714

112. Charlotte ^, 851, 5-2, 64.286

113. Chelsea, 851, 4-3, 59.000

114. Hastings, 850, 6-1, 72.857

115. Plainwell ^, 832, 5-2, 65.714

116. Cadillac ^, 820, 5-2, 65.000

117. Edwardsburg, 805, 6-1, 65.857

118. North Branch, 803, 4-3, 46.429

119. Hamilton, 801, 4-3, 50.000

120. Marysville ^, 794, 5-2, 64.429

121. Zeeland West ^, 791, 5-2, 68.714

122. Battle Creek Harper Creek ^, 780, 5-2, 73.429

123. Spring Lake, 778, 4-3, 49.143

124. Three Rivers, 760, 4-3, 44.429

125. Ogemaw Heights, 759, 4-3, 54.143

126. Goodrich ^, 748, 5-2, 59.714

127. Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy *, 729, 5-1, 67.524

128. Hudsonville Unity Christian, 727, 4-3, 50.714

129. Marshall, 723, 4-3, 48.143

130. Dearborn Heights Robichaud, 720, 7-0, 99.429

131. Big Rapids, 706, 6-1, 60.286

132. Croswell-Lexington, 704, 7-0, 86.857

133. St. Clair Shores South Lake, 704, 6-1, 76.143

134. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, 701, 7-0, 93.714

135. Otsego, 698, 6-1, 68.000

136. Detroit Country Day, 685, 6-1, 84.714

137. Comstock Park, 678, 6-1, 75.286

138. Grand Rapids Catholic Central, 674, 7-0, 85.714

139. Armada, 667, 4-3, 47.571

140. Whitehall, 663, 4-3, 41.714

141. Grand Rapids South Christian, 660, 4-3, 47.714

142. Battle Creek Pennfield, 656, 6-1, 61.429

143. Richmond ^, 656, 5-2, 64.143

144. Grosse Ile, 649, 6-1, 70.571

145. Saginaw Swan Valley ^, 642, 5-2, 61.857

146. Paw Paw, 639, 7-0, 77.714

147. Allendale, 636, 6-1, 77.286

148. Williamston, 636, 4-3, 46.857

149. Cheboygan ^, 631, 5-2, 67.143

150. Marine City, 629, 6-1, 81.714

151. Alma ^, 614, 5-2, 60.714

152. Saginaw Valley Lutheran ^, 608, 5-2, 41.571

153. Dowagiac, 605, 7-0, 80.000

154. Livonia Clarenceville ^, 597, 5-2, 57.286

155. Clawson, 582, 4-3, 45.714

156. Remus Chippewa Hills, 581, 4-3, 43.429

157. Essexville Garber, 572, 4-3, 45.429

158. Clinton Township Clintondale, 570, 7-0, 81.143

159. Lake Fenton, 564, 6-1, 72.714

160. Grant, 562, 4-3, 47.714

161. Freeland ^, 561, 5-2, 65.286

162. Kingsford, 559, 6-1, 79.571

163. Portland, 555, 6-1, 73.857

164. Gladwin ^, 547, 5-2, 60.571

165. Almont, 543, 4-3, 53.429

166. Flint Powers Catholic, 542, 7-0, 97.143

167. Menominee, 539, 6-1, 85.286

168. Macomb Lutheran North ^, 537, 5-2, 58.714

169. North Muskegon, 532, 4-3, 44.286

170. Standish-Sterling Central ^, 532, 5-2, 59.286

171. Hopkins, 531, 7-0, 80.000

172. Detroit University Prep, 528, 6-1, 65.81

173. Grayling, 516, 7-0, 76.571

174. Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard, 515, 6-1, 74.000

175. Allen Park Cabrini, 512, 6-1, 61.429

176. Olivet ^, 509, 5-2, 50.714

177. Frankenmuth, 507, 7-0, 85.714

178. Newaygo, 507, 6-1, 64.857

179. Grand Rapids West Catholic, 503, 4-3, 56.339

180. Ida, 503, 4-3, 41.857

181. River Rouge, 495, 7-0, 75.810

182. Manistee, 493, 4-3, 42.029

183. Carrollton, 492, 6-1, 61.429

184. Lansing Catholic, 487, 6-1, 74.857

185. Reed City, 480, 7-0, 86.857

186. Dundee ^, 476, 5-2, 52.571

187. Muskegon Oakridge, 474, 7-0, 78.857

188. Kingsley ^, 473, 5-2, 48.143

189. Jackson Lumen Christi, 472, 7-0, 92.571

190. Buchanan, 467, 6-1, 65.857

191. Leslie, 467, 7-0, 74.286

192. Clare ^, 465, 5-2, 58.762

193. Roscommon, 461, 4-3, 39.905

194. Kalkaska ^, 459, 5-2, 41.714

195. Millington, 459, 6-1, 71.714

196. Lakeview, 457, 4-3, 40.857

197. Warren Michigan Collegiate, 446, 6-1, 68.143

198. Harper Woods, 440, 4-3, 36.457

199. Boyne City, 437, 7-0, 66.286

200. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central ^, 437, 5-2, 61.000

201. Negaunee, 433, 7-0, 78.857

202. Elk Rapids, 432, 4-3, 39.857

203. Manistique, 430, 4-3, 38.571

204. Beaverton, 422, 4-3, 36.571

205. Hemlock, 421, 6-1, 79.714

206. Shelby ^, 417, 5-2, 61.000

207. Detroit Consortium ^, 416, 5-2, 49.381

208. Vassar, 416, 6-1, 55.714

209. Clinton, 413, 7-0, 75.429

210. Maple City Glen Lake, 409, 7-0, 64.000

211. Michigan Center, 406, 7-0, 69.714

212. Manchester ^, 404, 5-2, 48.429

213. Calumet, 402, 4-3, 45.857

214. Ithaca, 402, 7-0, 84.571

215. Montrose Hill-McCloy, 400, 6-1, 70.571

216. Niles Brandywine ^, 396, 5-2, 45.714

217. Grass Lake, 395, 6-1, 64.857

218. Hillsdale, 391, 7-0, 80.000

219. Madison Heights Madison, 391, 6-1, 75.571

220. Ecorse, 390, 4-3, 38.952

221. Montague, 390, 6-1, 67.143

222. Laingsburg, 388, 4-3, 37.286

223. Sanford Meridian ^, 388, 5-2, 50.190

224. Jonesville ^, 383, 5-2, 54.857

225. Cass City, 379, 4-3, 38.000

226. Constantine, 371, 6-1, 56.857

227. Grandville Calvin Christian ^, 371, 5-2, 50.714

228. Watervliet, 369, 7-0, 62.857

229. Schoolcraft, 366, 7-0, 83.429

230. Blissfield, 364, 4-3, 48.143

231. Byron Area, 364, 6-1, 54.571

232. Iron Mountain, 354, 4-3, 44.571

233. Reese, 350, 7-0, 73.143

234. Union City ^, 350, 5-2, 44.429

235. Burton Bendle, 348, 6-1, 50.000

236. Pellston, 347, 4-3, 22.000

237. Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian, 346, 4-3, 34.857

238. Saginaw Nouvel ^, 344, 5-2, 75.629

239. Carson City-Crystal ^, 337, 5-2, 45.571

240. Hartford ^, 337, 5-2, 59.857

241. Marlette, 336, 4-3, 37.000

242. Flint Hamady, 334, 4-3, 38.857

243. Whittemore-Prescott ^, 328, 5-2, 49.286

244. Sandusky, 327, 4-3, 41.571

245. Dansville ^, 323, 5-2, 50.429

246. Springport, 319, 4-3, 38.143

247. Bridgman, 318, 4-3, 39.857

248. Lawton, 317, 6-1, 68.000

249. Lake City, 316, 6-1, 52.476

250. Pewamo-Westphalia ^, 316, 5-2, 51.714

251. Manton, 315, 4-3, 29.000

252. Madison Heights Bishop Foley, 309, 4-3, 42.143

253. Ishpeming, 307, 6-1, 62.571

254. Detroit Douglass, 306, 4-3, 50.857

255. Unionville-Sebewaing, 303, 4-3, 36.143

256. Evart ^, 302, 5-2, 41.762

257. Traverse City St. Francis, 299, 4-3, 44.571

258. Detroit Loyola, 298, 7-0, 83.429

259. Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest *, 298, 5-2, 48.143

260. Lincoln Alcona ^, 292, 5-2, 44.429

261. Genesee ^, 288, 5-2, 38.857

262. Mancelona, 288, 7-0, 62.857

263. Royal Oak Shrine Catholic, 284, 4-3, 47.429

264. Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett, 283, 6-1, 54.286

265. Reading, 283, 6-1, 58.714

266. Decatur, 277, 6-1, 52.143

267. Britton Deerfield, 276, 4-3, 44.429

268. Ubly, 275, 4-3, 37.000

269. Brown City, 272, 4-3, 44.286

270. Gobles, 271, 6-1, 49.857

271. Ottawa Lake Whiteford, 268, 6-1, 60.286

272. Hudson, 264, 4-3, 40.429

273. Waterford Our Lady ^, 263, 5-2, 51.857

274. Mayville ^, 258, 5-2, 48.571

275. Melvindale Academy for Business & Tech ^, 254, 5-2, 52.714

276. New Buffalo, 250, 4-3, 31.000

277. Marcellus ^, 249, 5-2, 35.857

278. Harbor Beach, 245, 6-1, 60.143

279. Johannesburg-Lewiston ^, 243, 5-2, 39.048

280. Vestaburg ^, 242, 5-2, 45.857

281. Coleman, 239, 4-3, 36.714

282. New Lothrop, 237, 7-0, 67.429

283. Bessemer *^, 233, 4-2, 36.095

284. L'Anse, 233, 6-1, 48.429

285. Petersburg-Summerfield, 232, 4-3, 37.000

286. Stephenson ^, 229, 5-2, 43.286

287. Merrill, 228, 4-3, 37.286

288. Manistee Catholic Central, 219, 4-3, 30.143

289. Mendon, 216, 7-0, 67.810

290. Beal City, 213, 7-0, 82.286

291. Pittsford ^, 213, 5-2, 38.857

292. St. Ignace La Salle, 207, 7-0, 50.286

293. Lutheran Westland, 204, 4-3, 45.857

294. Mio, 203, 4-3, 30.905

295. AuGres-Sims, 199, 4-3, 31.762

296. Pickford ^, 197, 5-2, 47.429

297. Onaway ^, 194, 5-2, 39.143

298. Powers North Central, 194, 4-3, 29.429

299. Central Lake, 193, 4-3, 30.762

300. Fowler, 186, 6-1, 66.000

301. Climax-Scotts, 183, 7-0, 51.429

302. Muskegon Catholic Central ^, 181, 5-2, 53.171

303. Morrice, 171, 4-3, 30.571

304. St. Joseph Lake Michigan Catholic, 171, 5-1, 45.524

305. Colon, 164, 4-3, 30.524

306. Crystal Falls Forest Park, 164, 6-1, 46.571

307. Baldwin *, 160, 5-2, 41.571

308. Lake Linden-Hubbell, 159, 4-3, 26.500

309. Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart, 121, 6-1, 64.857

310. Iron Mountain North Dickinson *, 112, 7-0, 64.000

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8-Player Playoff Listing

1. Deckerville, 194, 6-1, 51.143

2. Marine City Cardinal Mooney, 185, 3-4, 22.029

3. Battle Creek St. Philip, 182, 4-3, 32.000

4. Kinde-North Huron, 180, 3-4, 21.029

5. Kingston, 175, 4-3, 28.600

6. Cedarville, 169, 7-0, 59.810

7. Tekonsha, 163, 1-6, 11.000

8. Carsonville-Port Sanilac, 162, 4-3, 33.714

9. Bellaire, 161, 5-2, 37.976

10. Peck, 156, 6-1, 45.743

11. Ewen-Trout Creek *, 146, 1-6, 9.476

12. Brimley *, 145, 1-5, 9.262

13. Eben Junction Superior Central *, 132, 4-2, 34.524

14. New Haven Merritt *, 130, 1-4, 10.000

15. St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran *, 118, 1-4, 8.543

16. Litchfield, 115, 1-6, 8.714

17. Rapid River, 115, 6-1, 45.048

18. Portland St. Patrick, 104, 7-0, 53.714

19. Akron-Fairgrove, 95, 5-2, 34.514

20. Caseville, 90, 0-7, 2.857

21. Engadine *, 89, 3-3, 23.857

22. Rock Mid Peninsula, 87, 2-5, 17.417

23. Waldron, 87, 5-2, 35.571

24. Posen, 84, 2-5, 15.548

25. Burr Oak, 79, 3-4, 19.000

26. Owendale-Gagetown, 60, 5-2, 34.371

27. Flint Michigan School For The Deaf *, 45, 1-4, 8.114

Hanover-Horton Off to Record-Setting Start, with More Program 1sts Possible

By Doug Donnelly
Special for MHSAA.com

October 15, 2024

Hanover-Horton’s football team is in uncharted territory.

Southeast & BorderThe Comets had never won a playoff game, never won an overall Cascades Conference championship and never started the season with seven straight victories before this fall.

One of those milestones was reached Friday when Hanover-Horton shut out Addison 42-0 for its seventh consecutive victory. The other two are still possible.

“There are a lot of firsts for everybody here,” third-year Comets head coach David Messer said. “Our plan is to just keep it one play at a time.”

Hanover-Horton’s best previous start to a season was 4-0.

“When we got to 5-0, the kids celebrated that,” Messer said. “We talked about getting to 5-0. But I told them we are only going to celebrate over the weekend because Monday we had to get back to work.”

Hanover-Horton went 2-7 last season and 3-6 the year before. The last time the school won seven games in a season was 2014 when they went 8-2, setting a school record for victories that the Comets can equal against Brooklyn Columbia Central on Senior Night this Friday.

“We aren’t looking past that game,” Messer said.

The Addison win also clinched a share of the league's West division title, which the Comets can claim outright Friday. The West and East divisions winners will play for the overall Cascades Conference championship in Week 9. 

The Hanover-Horton seniors are on cloud nine about this football season, guaranteed to be the first winning one for the Comets since that 2014 campaign.

“They are on top of the world, but they are not strutting down the hallways or anything,” Messer said. “They are keeping everything in perspective.”

Hanover-Horton has eight seniors. Luke Soper is the quarterback and a two-way starter. Gavin Berkeypile is a physical player who has a nose for the ball. Center Bryant Hamisfar is a captain and makes the calls for the offensive line. Jackson Johnson and Jack Wooster are split ends on offense who have turned into excellent blockers, and Wyatt Ashworth has developed into a solid two-way starter.

The Comets defense is led by junior Adam Ley, a third-year starter despite being only a junior.

“We brought him up as a freshman out of necessity,” Messer said. “He’s really become a great football player. The play of our defensive front has been so strong, it has helped Adam be able to make a lot of tackles from his linebacker spot. Last year he had offensive linemen in his face every play. This year, he’s able to fill the gaps and make plays.”

Ley made 19 tackles last week against Addison during Hanover-Horton’s third consecutive shutout and fourth of the season, also a school record.

On offense, the Comets already have set the single-season school scoring record. Soper directs an offense that has been heavy on the run through the first seven games with multiple backs, including freshman Austyn Hocter.

Comets coach David Messer talks things over with his players.“We are still finding our way on offense,” Messer said. “We try to be a little more balanced. Luke is a heck of a quarterback who has a really good arm. We want to find ways to be more balanced.”

The offense is averaging 43 points a game, while the defense is allowing just 8.4.

“I don’t really look at how many points we score or give up,” Messer said. “I will look at those kinds of things after the season when we have a chance to sit down and assess how things went. We are really focused on the next play, next play.”

Messer comes from a football background rooted in success.

“I’m a Hudson guy through and through,” Messer said. “I was born in Hudson, played football at Hudson and coached for 15 years at Hudson.”

He coached for several years under Hall of Fame coach Chris Luma, and coached defense with current Hudson head coach Dan Rogers.

“Every step of the way, I’ve had some great coaches to help me,” Messer said. “Chris was a tremendous mentor. I know I can still pick up the phone at any time and give him a call.”

One of the first things Messer did at Hanover-Horton was work on the physical strength of the team.

“When I first got here, it was obvious to me that we weren’t a very physical football team,” he said. “The weight room part of it did not come quickly. I’ve had old-timers here tell me they’ve never had so many kids in the weight room. That was one of the things we needed to turn around.”

There already have been several big wins this season for the Comets, but close ones over Michigan Center (21-20) and Jonesville (21-18) made Messer particularly proud.

“We’ve had some moments this year where we reverted to the Hanover-Horton of old, but I’m so proud of the guys to overcome that and stay focused,” Messer said. “That third quarter against Jonesville things weren’t going our way, but we held on. Our goal is to just keep it one play, one drive at a time and make this a historic season.”

Doug DonnellyDoug Donnelly has served as a sports and news reporter and city editor over 25 years, writing for the Daily Chief-Union in Upper Sandusky, Ohio from 1992-1995, the Monroe Evening News from 1995-2012 and the Adrian Daily Telegram since 2013. He's also written a book on high school basketball in Monroe County and compiles record books for various schools in southeast Michigan. E-mail him at [email protected] with story ideas for Jackson, Washtenaw, Hillsdale, Lenawee and Monroe counties.

PHOTOS (Top) From left, Hanover-Horton’s Luke Soper (5), Jack Wooster (11), Braden Cogan (71) and Bryan Hamisfar (77) take the field together arm-in-arm. (Middle) Comets coach David Messer talks things over with his players. (Top photo courtesy of the Hanover-Horton athletic department; middle photo courtesy of Karson Durocher/JTV.)