Football Fridays Return to Bally Sports Detroit

August 19, 2022

Bally Sports Detroit continues its commitment to Michigan High School Athletic Association sports with Football Fridays presented by Southeast Michigan Ford Dealers.

Bally Sports Detroit will broadcast MHSAA football games each Friday night during the regular season and into the playoffs. Football Fridays Overtime powered by State Champs, a one-hour scores-and-highlights show, will follow each game.

Football Fridays presented by Southeast Michigan Ford Dealers will run the entire MSHAA season, beginning Thursday with the Xenith Prep Kickoff Classic at Wayne State University, through the MHSAA playoffs and state championship games at Ford Field on Nov. 25 and 26.

"Everyone at Bally Sports Detroit is thrilled to kick off this year's coverage of MHSAA football," said Greg Hammaren, senior vice president/general manager of Bally Sports Detroit. "Our crew is excited to feature another season of great rivalries, sportsmanship and great plays that make MHSAA football so fun and compelling. We know that fans are anxious to get this season started, so we'll see you at the Kickoff Classic."

The initial schedule (below) highlights the games, locations and broadcast schedule. Dates and matchups beyond Sept. 23 will be released at a later date. Information will be updated on BallySports.com as it becomes available.

AUGUST

25, 4 p.m., Kickoff Classic: Macomb Dakota vs. Brother Rice, BSD, Bally Sports app, Bally Sports+

25, 7 p.m., Kickoff Classic: Sterling Heights Stevenson vs. West Bloomfield, BSD, Bally Sports app, Bally Sports+

SEPTEMBER

2, 7 p.m.: Birmingham Groves at Oxford, BSD EXTRA, Bally Sports app, Bally Sports+

9, 7:30 p.m.: Clarkson at Rochester Adams, BSD EXTRA, Bally Sports app, Bally Sports+

16, 7:30 p.m.: Detroit MLK at Detroit Cass Tech, BSD EXTRA, Bally Sports app, Bally Sports+

23, 7:30 p.m.: Detroit Catholic Central at Brother Rice, BSD EXTRA, Bally Sports app, Bally Sports+

Montrose Junior Named NFHS Network's Best

By John Johnson
MHSAA Communications Director emeritus

April 26, 2017

Eric Vandefifer, a junior at Montrose High School, was named today the Best Student Broadcaster nationally in the NFHS Network School Broadcast Program Awards. 

For the second straight year, James Kitts, the coordinator of the School Broadcast Program at Montrose, was a finalist in the Teacher of the Year category.

Just last week, Montrose was named the “Program of the Year” in the MHSAA’s School Broadcast Program Excellence Awards for 2016-17, claiming the top honor for the fourth straight year.  Montrose took first place in four categories.

Vandefifer also was honored recently by the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association as the top Student Broadcaster in Division 3. Vandefifer and his broadcast partner David Sackrider placed second in the Play-By-Play Category in the MHSAA SBP awards and first in the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Foundation Sports Announcing Team category this year.

In its eighth year, the School Broadcast Program gives members an opportunity to showcase excellence in their schools by creating video programming of athletic and non-athletic events, with students gaining skills in announcing, camera operation, directing/producing and graphics. 

The program also gives schools the opportunity to raise money through advertising and viewing subscriptions.  

All sporting events – live or delayed – are available on a subscription basis only for their first 72 hours online. They become available for free, on-demand viewing approximately 72 hours following their completion.

Here’s this week’s MHSAA.tv schedule of live video streams being produced by SBP members (All times Eastern):

Wednesday, April 26

Thursday, April 27

Monday, May 1

Tuesday, May 2

Be sure to check the Upcoming Events page at MHSAA.tv for schedule additions every day.

The NFHS Network has announced new pricing for 2016-17, eliminating the Day Pass and lowering the cost of a Month Pass to $9.95. Subscribers will have access to all live video and streaming statistics across the country. All content becomes available for free, on-demand viewing 72 hours after being shown live. A portion of every subscription sold by a school goes to benefit its program.

A complete list of participating schools can be found on the School Broadcast Program page of the MHSAA website.

PHOTO: Montrose's Eric Vandefifer (left) and Conner Pyrc call an MHSAA Girls Soccer Semifinal last season for the NFHS Network. (Photo courtesy of Montrose High School digital media.)