Pixellots top 500 in Michigan
September 22, 2020
By John Johnson
MHSAA Director of Broadcast Properties
The number of Pixellot units installed or ordered for MHSAA member schools topped the 500 mark last week as the NFHS Network program to provide units to schools across the country for the cost of installation has more than doubled the number of Pixellots in the Great Lakes State over the past few months.
Pixellot is the NFHS Network’s automated production solution. Installed on the facing of a stadium press box or a gymnasium wall, Pixellot follows the action, complete with a scoreboard connection to show the teams, game score, time remaining, quarter or period – and in sports like football, down and distance. Schools can see revenue from subscriptions and from displaying a sponsor logo on the screen. Schools also can add announcer teams to Pixellot events to enhance the game for viewers.
Nearly 700 events in multiple sports at multiple levels of play fill the coming week’s schedule for the NFHS Network and MHSAA.tv.
In the coming week, nearly 350 varsity events – about half of them in volleyball - will be available. Monthly subscriptions are $10.99. Click for lists of upcoming games and on-demand games.
Fans also can type their school name into the search field on the MHSAA.tv page to search for events. A complete list of schools participating in the School Broadcast Program can be found at the end of this release.
Here is a list of varsity broadcasts scheduled over the coming week (Home team listed first):
Football
Thursday, Sept. 24
New Lothrop vs. Byron Area - 7 PM
Friday, Sept. 25
East Grand Rapids vs. Greenville - 5:30 PM
Lowell vs. Grand Rapids Northview - 6:55 PM
Portage Central vs. Battle Creek Lakeview - 7 PM
Cass City vs. Reese - 7 PM
East Lansing vs. River Rouge - 7 PM
Walled Lake Northern vs. South Lyon - 7 PM
Bloomfield Hills vs. Royal Oak - 7 PM
Peck vs. Carsonville-Port Sanilac - 7 PM
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep vs. Harper Woods - 7 PM
Bay City John Glenn vs. Birch Run - 7 PM
Saginaw Swan Valley vs. Frankenmuth - 7 PM
Mt Morris vs. Durand - 7 PM
Freeland vs. Alma - 7 PM
Watervliet vs. Fennville - 7 PM
Jackson Lumen Christi vs. Hastings - 7 PM
Lake Orion vs. Oak Park - 7 PM
Chesaning vs. Montrose - 7 PM
Vicksburg vs. Three Rivers - 7 PM
Marquette vs. Sault Ste. Marie - 7 PM
Suttons Bay vs. Central Lake - 7 PM
Saginaw Heritage vs. Midland - 7 PM
Ithaca vs. Midland Bullock Creek - 7 PM
Mayville vs. Kingston - 7 PM
Livonia Clarenceville vs. Lutheran Westland - 7 PM
Grand Blanc vs. Davison - 7 PM
Sturgis vs. Allegan - 7 PM
Harbor Beach vs. Sandusky - 7 PM
Brownstown Woodhaven vs. Allen Park - 7 PM
Mason vs. Eaton Rapids - 7 PM
Fenton vs. Flint Kearsley - 7 PM
Dearborn Divine Child vs. Detroit Loyola - 7 PM
Novi vs. Canton - 7 PM
Northville vs. Brighton - 7 PM
Niles vs. South Haven - 7 PM
Caro vs. Bad Axe - 7 PM
Manchester vs. Napoleon - 7 PM
Calumet vs. Gwinn - 7 PM
East Kentwood vs. Grandville - 7 PM
Troy vs. Walled Lake Central - 7 PM
Grand Rapids Catholic Central vs. Middleville Thornapple Kellogg - 7 PM
Kinde North Huron vs. Bay City All Saints - 7 PM
Birmingham Seaholm vs. Farmington - 7 PM
Haslett vs. Fowlerville - 7 PM
Zeeland West vs. Grand Rapids Union - 7 PM
Ovid-Elsie vs. Otisville LakeVille - 7 PM
Birmingham Groves vs. Rochester Adams - 7 PM
Ortonville Brandon vs. Goodrich - 7 PM
Gladstone vs. Negaunee - 7 PM
Saturday - Sept. 26
White Lake Lakeland vs. South Lyon East - 7 PM
Warren De La Salle Collegiate vs. Orchard Lake St. Mary Prep - 1 PM
Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood vs. Clarkston Everest Collegiate - 1 PM
Munising vs. Newberry - 7 PM
Boys Soccer
Tuesday - Sept. 22
Jackson Lumen Christi vs. Battle Creek Harper Creek - 5 PM
East Grand Rapids vs. TBA - 5:45 PM
Portage Northern vs. Portage Central - 6:30 PM
Grand Rapids Catholic Central vs. Ada Forest Hills Eastern - 6:45 PM
Northville vs. Brighton - 7 PM
Howell vs. Novi - 7 PM
Livonia Clarenceville vs. Allen Park Inter-City Baptist - 7 PM
West Bloomfield vs. Bloomfield Hills - 7 PM
Walled Lake Northern vs. Walled Lake Western - 7 PM
Waterford Kettering vs. Auburn Hills Avondale - 7 PM
South Lyon East vs. South Lyon - 7 PM
Clare vs. Taylor Prep - 7 PM
Walled Lake Central vs. Highland Milford - 7 PM
Troy Athens vs. Troy - 7 PM
East Kentwood vs. Grandville - 7:15 PM
Wednesday - Sept. 23
Saginaw Swan Valley vs. Freeland - 4:30 PM
Cass City vs. Bad Axe - 5:30 PM
Ithaca vs. Standish-Sterling - 5:30 PM
Romulus Summit Academy North vs. Garden City - 6 PM
Vicksburg vs. Otsego - 6 PM
Corunna vs. Ortonville Brandon - 6:15 PM
Saginaw Heritage vs. Midland Dow - 6:45 PM
Cedar Springs vs. Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills - 6:45 PM
Manchester vs. Hillsdale Academy - 7 PM
Clare vs. McBain Northern Michigan Christian - 7 PM
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep vs. TBA - 7:30 PM
Thursday - Sept. 24
Bay City John Glenn vs. Saginaw Swan Valley - 4:30 PM
Warren De La Salle Collegiate vs. Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice - 6 PM
Chesaning vs. Ovid-Elsie - 6 PM
Fenton vs. Clio - 6:15 PM
Portage Central vs. Kalamazoo Loy Norrix - 6:30 PM
St. Joseph vs. Battle Creek Central - 6:30 PM
Cadillac vs. Gaylord - 6:45 PM
Bloomfield Hills vs. Royal Oak - 7 PM
Troy vs. Dearborn Heights Crestwood - 7 PM
Birmingham Groves vs. West Bloomfield - 7 PM
Birmingham Seaholm vs. Rochester - 7 PM
Saline vs. Ann Arbor Skyline - 7 PM
Holt vs. Okemos - 7 PM
Riverview Gabriel Richard Catholic vs. Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard - 7 PM
White Lake Lakeland vs. Walled Lake Northern - 7 PM
Grand Rapids South Christian vs. Lansing Catholic - 7:15 PM
Friday - Sept. 25
Vicksburg vs. Parchment - 5:30 PM
South Lyon vs. Walled Lake Central - 7 PM
Saturday - Sept. 26
Multi-team Event @ Troy Athens - 10 AM
West Bloomfield vs. Rochester - 10 AM
Plainwell vs. Mattawan - 10:30 AM
St. Joseph vs. Paw Paw - 11:30 AM
West Bloomfield vs. Rochester - 11:45 AM
Holt vs. Grand Ledge - 12 PM
Warren De La Salle Collegiate vs. Grosse Pointe North - 12 PM
Mason vs. Haslett - 1 PM
Jackson Lumen Christi vs. Battle Creek Harper Creek - 1 PM
Saline vs. An Arbor Pioneer - 2 PM
Northville vs. Canton - 4:30 PM
Multi-team Event @ Troy - 6:30 PM
Monday - Sept. 28
Saginaw Swan Valley vs. Shepherd - 4:30 PM
Watervliet vs. Lawton - 4:30 PM
Cass City vs. Harbor Beach - 5:30 PM
Manchester vs. Grass Lake - 5:30 PM
Ithaca vs. Saginaw Nouvel - 5:30 PM
Bad Axe vs. Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker - 5:30 PM
Warren De La Salle Collegiate vs. Imlay City - 6 PM
Brownstown Woodhaven vs. Wyandotte Roosevelt - 6 PM
Holt vs. Lansing Waverly - 6 PM
Fenton vs. Lake Fenton - 6:15 PM
Plainwell vs. Edwardsburg - 6:30 PM
Grand Rapids South Christian vs. TBA - 6:45 PM
Saginaw Heritage vs. Grand Blanc - 6:45 PM
Cedar Springs vs. Lowell - 6:45 PM
East Kentwood vs. Ada Forest Hills Eastern - 6:45 PM
Walled Lake Western vs. South Lyon - 7 PM
Walled Lake Central vs. Waterford Mott - 7 PM
White Lake Lakeland vs. Royal Oak - 7 PM
Brighton vs. Northville - 7 PM
Waterford Kettering vs. South Lyon East - 7 PM
Clare vs. Roscommon - 7 PM
Tuesday - Sept. 29
Chesaning vs. Durand - 6 PM
Stevensville Lakeshore vs. St. Joseph - 6:30 PM
Grand Rapids Catholic Central vs. Grand Rapids West Catholic - 6:45 PM
Petoskey vs. Alpena - 6:45 PM
Troy vs. North Farmington - 7 PM
Freeland vs. Essexville Garber - 7 PM
Livonia Clarenceville vs. Oakland Christian - 7 PM
West Bloomfield vs. Oxford - 7 PM
Saline vs. Ypsilanti Community - 7 PM
Dearborn Divine Child vs. Detroit U Of D Jesuit - 7 PM
Birmingham Seaholm vs. Troy Athens - 7 PM
East Kentwood vs. Caledonia - 7:15 PM
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep vs. TBA - 7:30 PM
Detroit Catholic Central vs. Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice - 7:30 PM
Girls Volleyball
Tuesday - Sept. 22
Rockford vs. Caledonia - 5 PM
East Lansing vs. Grand Ledge - 6 PM
Romulus Summit Academy North vs. Detroit Community - 6 PM
Madison Heights Lamphere vs. Hazel Park - 6 PM
Grand Rapids Catholic Central vs. Cedar Springs - 6 PM
Holt vs. DeWitt - 6 PM
Grand Rapids South Christian vs. Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills - 6 PM
Dryden vs. Mayville - 6 PM
New Lothrop vs. Montrose - 6:15 PM
Ovid-Elsie vs. Byron Area - 6:15 PM
Otisville LakeVille vs. Durand - 6:15 PM
Chesaning vs. Mt Morris - 6:15 PM
Galesburg-Augusta vs. Parchment - 6:30 PM
Ishpeming vs. Manistique - 6:30 PM
Watervliet vs. Martin - 6:30 PM
Riverview Gabriel Richard vs. Clarkston Everest Collegiate - 6:30 PM
Frankfort vs. Onekama - 6:30 PM
Flint Powers Catholic vs. Saginaw Arthur Hill - 6:30 PM
South Lyon vs. Waterford Kettering - 6:30 PM
Petoskey vs. Alpena - 6:30 PM
Macomb L'Anse Creuse North vs. Sterling Heights Stevenson - 6:30 PM
Suttons Bay vs. Maple City Glen Lake - 6:30 PM
Zeeland West vs. Zeeland East - 6:30 PM
Painesdale Jeffers vs. Baraga Area - 6:30 PM
Oakland Christian vs. Plymouth Christian Academy - 6:30 PM
Howell vs. Northville - 6:30 PM
South Lyon East vs. Lakeland - 6:30 PM
Kalamazoo Christian vs. Delton Kellogg - 6:30 PM
Cadillac vs. Traverse City West - 7 PM
Bear Lake vs. Walkerville - 7 PM
Hart vs. Montague - 7 PM
Saline vs. Ypsilanti Community - 7 PM
Escanaba vs. Gladstone - 7 PM
Troy Athens vs. North Farmington - 7 PM
Lake Orion vs. Birmingham Seaholm - 7 PM
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep vs. Warren Regina - 7 PM
Marcellus vs. Mendon - 7 PM
St Charles vs. Coleman - 7 PM
Livonia Clarenceville vs. Brighton Charyl Stockwell Prep - 7:30 PM
Wednesday - Sept. 23
Holly vs. Flint Kearsley - 5:15 PM
Fenton vs. Linden - 5:15 PM
Niles vs. Bridgman - 6 PM
St. Joseph vs. Stevensville Lakeshore - 6:30 PM
Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood vs. Riverview Gabriel Richard - 6:30 PM
Hart vs. Mason County Central - 7 PM
Saginaw Swan Valley vs. Frankenmuth - 7 PM
Freeland vs. Birch Run - 7 PM
Bay City John Glenn vs. Essexville Garber - 7 PM
Hemlock vs. Carrollton - 7:30 PM
Clare vs. Harrison - 7:30 PM
Thursday - Sept. 24
Fremont vs. Shelby - 5:30 PM
Madison Heights Lamphere vs. St. Clair Shores South Lake - 6 PM
Vicksburg vs. Three Rivers - 6 PM
Mayville vs. Deckerville - 6 PM
DeWitt vs. Mason - 6 PM
Williamston vs. Portland - 6 PM
Sturgis vs. Allegan - 6 PM
South Lyon vs. Salem - 6:30 PM
Novi vs. Franklin - 6:30 PM
Westland Huron Valley Lutheran vs. Sterling Heights Parkway Christian - 6:30 PM
Brighton vs. Westland John Glenn - 6:30 PM
Northville vs. Livonia Stevenson - 6:30 PM
Highland Milford vs. Walled Lake Western - 6:30 PM
Watervliet vs. Kalamazoo Christian - 6:30 PM
Houghton vs. Ishpeming - 6:30 PM
White Lake Lakeland vs. Waterford Kettering - 6:30 PM
Negaunee vs. Gwinn - 6:30 PM
South Lyon East vs. Walled Lake Central - 6:30 PM
Harbor Beach vs. Capac - 6:45 PM
Dearborn Heights Robichaud vs. Romulus - 7 PM
Brownstown Woodhaven vs. Trenton - 7 PM
Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian vs. Wyoming Godwin Heights - 7 PM
Pentwater vs. Bear Lake - 7 PM
Troy Athens vs. Farmington - 7 PM
Traverse City West vs. Petoskey - 7 PM
Bloomfield Hills vs. Oxford - 7 PM
Cadillac vs. Gaylord - 7 PM
Escanaba vs. Marquette - 7 PM
Lake Orion vs. West Bloomfield - 7 PM
Birmingham Seaholm vs. Rochester Adams - 7 PM
Troy vs. Birmingham Groves - 7 PM
Kingston vs. Peck - 7:30 PM
Bad Axe vs. Pigeon Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port - 7:30 PM
Caro vs. Cass City - 7:30 PM
Friday - Sept. 25
Dollar Bay vs. Baraga Area - 6:25 PM
Westland Huron Valley Lutheran vs. Taylor Prep - 6:30 PM
Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood vs. Detroit Country Day - 6:30 PM
Dearborn Divine Child vs. Wixom St. Catherine - 7:15 PM
Saturday - Sept. 26
Northville vs. TBA - 8:30 AM
Williamston vs. TBA - 9 AM
Brownstown Woodhaven vs. TBA - 9 AM
Rockford vs. DeWitt - 9 AM
Niles vs. Stevensville Lakeshore - 9 AM
Grandville vs. Lowell - 9 AM
Flint Powers Catholic - 9 AM
Mt Morris vs. TBA - 2 PM
Monday - Sept. 28
Madison Heights Lamphere vs. Warren Fitzgerald - 6 PM
Romulus Summit Academy North vs. Canton Prep - 6 PM
Plainwell vs. Vicksburg - 6:30 PM
St. Joseph vs. Battle Creek Lakeview - 6:30 PM
Calumet vs. Ishpeming - 6:45 PM
Marquette vs. Gladstone - 7 PM
Pentwater vs. Big Rapids Crossroads Charter Academy - 7 PM
Linden vs. Hartland - 7 PM
Tuesday - Sept. 29
Part 1 | Durand Area vs. New Lothrop - 4:30 PM
Williamston vs. TBA - 5 PM
Norway vs. Bark River-Harris - 6 PM
Bear Lake vs. Manistee Catholic Central - 6 PM
DeWitt vs. East Lansing - 6 PM
North Huron vs. Akron-Fairgrove - 6 PM
Wayland Union vs. Ada Forest Hills Eastern - 6 PM
Fowlerville vs. Haslett - 6 PM
Peck vs. Deckerville - 6 PM
Holt vs. Lansing Waverly - 6 PM
Mayville vs. Genesee - 6 PM
St Johns vs. Grand Ledge - 6:05 PM
Montrose vs. Otisville LakeVille - 6:15 PM
Mt Morris vs. Ovid-Elsie - 6:15 PM
Dollar Bay vs. Ontonagon - 6:20 PM
St. Clair Shores Lake Shore vs. Warren Cousino - 6:30 PM
Kalamazoo Christian vs. Schoolcraft - 6:30 PM
Negaunee vs. Hancock - 6:30 PM
Westland Huron Valley Lutheran vs. Whitmore Lake - 6:30 PM
Northville vs. Brighton - 6:30 PM
Walled Lake Central vs. South Lyon - 6:30 PM
Novi vs. Howell - 6:30 PM
Walled Lake Western vs. Waterford Mott - 6:30 PM
Walled Lake Northern vs. South Lyon East - 6:30 PM
Watervliet vs. Parchment - 6:30 PM
Grand Blanc vs. Bay City Western - 6:30 PM
Southfield Christian vs. Oakland Christian - 6:30 PM
Manchester vs. Michigan Center - 6:30 PM
Hopkins vs. Wyoming Godwin Heights - 7 PM
Macomb Lutheran North vs. Algonac - 7 PM
Robichaud vs. Ferndale University - 7 PM
Troy vs. Farmington - 7 PM
Brownstown Woodhaven vs. Allen Park - 7 PM
Fremont vs. Grant - 7 PM
Escanaba vs. Menominee - 7 PM
St. Charles vs. Carson City-Crystal - 7 PM
Big Rapids vs. Reed City - 7 PM
Marcellus vs. White Pigeon - 7 PM
Bloomfield Hills vs. West Bloomfield - 7 PM
Riverview Gabriel Richard Catholic vs. TBA - 7:15 PM
Livonia Clarenceville vs. Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest - 7:30 PM
Pellston vs. Onaway - 7:30 PM
Bad Axe vs. Unionville Sebewaing - 7:30 PM
Kingston vs. Dryden - 7:30 PM
Part 2 | Durand Area vs. New Lothrop - 7:30 PM
Cass City vs. Reese - 7:30 PM
Now in its 12th 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. Pixellot – The NFHS Network’s automated streaming solution – is used by schools wishing to live stream games, but lacking the ability to staff the events. The program also gives schools the opportunity to raise money through advertising and viewing subscriptions.
NFHS Network subscriptions begin at $10.99 a month. 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 an SBP 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.
Century of School Sports: State's Storytellers Share Fall Memories
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 15, 2024
The story of school sports always has been, and remains, one of its most valuable commodities – a collection of memories tying together generations who have learned, competed and endured with their classmates, representing their communities over the 100-year history of the Michigan High School Athletic Association.
High School sports in Michigan have had the great benefit of being featured prevalently in the state’s media going back to their start – first in the local newspaper, then over the local radio airwaves, followed by local TV stations and now joined by an online presence allowing anyone from anywhere to keep up with their favorite school team.
Once per season – Fall, Winter and Spring – during this 2024-25 “Century of School Sports” celebration, we’ll feature memories from several of our state’s storytellers who have played major roles in getting out the good word on school sports. Below is our first edition, taken from a survey of more than 20 media members past and present along with our longtime MHSAA historian and staff communications specialist.
Dad Role Provides Perspective for Role as Storyteller
Jack Doles, WOOD TV (Grand Rapids)
I have been covering high school sports in the state of Michigan since 1987. I have seen some of the most incredible games played at the Silverdome and Ford Field in the MHSAA football state championships. Nothing will top watching my son Tommy win a state championship with Grand Rapids Christian in 2012. They beat Orchard Lake St. Mary's in overtime 40-37. Drake Harris, who would go on to play football at the University of Michigan, had a game for the ages.
But the thing I'll never forget was interviewing my son afterward. I could hardly get the questions out. I wasn't the reporter for that game; that wouldn't be right. Still, I came away from that championship run with a different perspective. I saw first-hand how a school community rallies around a team. It gave me a better understanding of how we should try and cover teams and tournaments.
Sexton Takes Lansing on Unforgettable Ride
Brian Calloway, Lansing State Journal
One of the best things about high school sports is seeing teams take communities on special rides and to places they have never been before. I have seen it plenty with football teams I have covered, like Mason and Corunna last season making their historic runs to Ford Field. But the instance that stands out the most is when Lansing Sexton reached the Division 4 state championship game in 2014 under Dan Boggan. The trip ended with a 28-27 loss to Grand Rapids South Christian, but the experience marked a major moment for the Lansing School District, which has produced plenty of football talent over the years but never had any of its schools get to a football state final.
Livonia Schools Set Stage as 1st Class A Boys Soccer Finalists
Brad Emons, Detroit Free Press (formerly of Observer & Eccentric newspapers)
The first MHSAA Class A boys soccer championship game, on Nov. 6, 1982, ironically featured two Livonia schools, Stevenson vs. Churchill, at Flint’s Atwood Stadium.
Stevenson, coached by Pete Scerri and led by prolific goal scorer Gary Mexicotte, earned a 4-1 victory over the Chargers.
Reese Refuses to Let Championship Party End
Rob Kaminski, MHSAA communications coordinator since 1999
In a sport that has seen a host of repeat champions and schools with numerous Finals appearances, it’s a school that had only one shot at the Finals and made the most of it against long odds that comes to mind: The 2021 Reese Rockets.
The Rockets, in fact, had only reached the MHSAA Semifinals one other time (2010), and coach Angie Compton’s team was facing a tall task being asked to dethrone two-time defending champion Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central in the Division 3 championship match. SMCC was making its 11th Finals appearance. Before reaching the Final, however, Reese was extended to four sets in a thrilling 25-20, 25-18, 23-25, 28-26 victory over Muskegon Western Michigan Christian.
Facing the perennial power Kestrels the next day, Compton’s team appeared to be running on empty as SMCC took the first two sets, 25-18, 25-19. Unfazed, and actually singing and dancing to music blaring over the public address system during each break in the action, Reese pounded out a 25-25 win in set 3 and put the champs on the ropes with a 25-21 win in set 4 to tie the match, 2-2.
The Rockets would have to battle back from one last deficit, trailing in the see-saw fifth set, 9-7, before capping the Cinderella season on the second championship point of the night as senior Maddi Osantowski and junior Abby Karst combined for a block for a 16-14 victory. Osantowski finished with 34 kills and totaled 110 attack attempts while setter Aydan Dalak had 42 assists.
Muskegon Reminds Us that It’s Never ‘Game Over’
Ron Pesch, MHSAA historian
Part of a rare double bill hosted at MSU's Spartan Stadium, the 2008 Muskegon-Davison Division 2 Semifinal provided countless Big Reds fans with the opportunity to depart early. And many did.
Everything that could go wrong did go wrong for unbeaten, top-ranked, and heavily-favored Muskegon. Turnover after turnover – six in total, including two muffed punts – aligned with a stellar performance by Davison's sophomore quarterback, Jake Thompson, and an opportunistic Cardinals squad. Davison led 21-13 at the half, 35-13 with 4:45 to play in the third quarter, and 35-19 with under five minutes remaining when a blown defensive assignment allowed Muskegon to cut the margin to 35-25 on a 77-yard TD pass. But a failed 2-point conversion meant the Big Reds still needed two scores.
For several in the press box, as well as the great majority in the stands, it was game over. However, in a game filled with life lessons, Muskegon's recovery of a pair of onside kicks – with touchdowns to follow – made the Big Reds’ eventual 38-35 victory the most improbable of improbable comebacks in MHSAA playoff history. It's still stunning to watch.
Good-bye to Legendary Program, Legendary Coach
Brad Emons, Detroit Free Press (formerly of Observer & Eccentric newspapers)
In the final year of Farmington Hills Harrison before it closed its doors, the state’s all-time winningest coach with a career record of 443-112-1 saw his team surrender a 14-7 fourth-quarter lead and fall in a Division 4 Regional Final at home to Chelsea, 21-14, on Nov. 11, 2018.
Afterward, legendary Harrison coach John Herrington addressed the media and said, “The only thing I thought about was Don Meredith and Monday Night Football. He used to say, ‘Turn out the lights, the party is over.’ I guess that’s my quote.” Herrington finished his career at Harrison with 34 playoff appearances, 13 state titles and five runner-up finishes from 1970-2018.
Mercy Completes Miracle at Calihan Hall
Mick McCabe, Detroit Free Press since 1970
(From its start as an MHSAA-sponsored sport in 1973 through 2006, girls basketball was played during the fall.)
On Dec. 11, 1982, the Flint Northern girls basketball team was well on its way to making MHSAA history. After three quarters the Vikings, who were attempting to become the first girls team to win five consecutive state championships, led upstart Farmington Hills Mercy by 19 points.
With less than seven minutes remaining the lead was 18 points, and Mercy was in trouble. Left with no alternative, Mercy applied a full-court trapping press and suddenly Northern began turning the ball over like crazy. The Marlins got within five when sophomore Amy DeMattia (13 points, 10 rebounds) scored three straight baskets to give Mercy the lead while Northern, which had 31 turnovers, responded with four consecutive turnovers. Sophomore Annette Ruggiero came up with a key steal and hit a free throw for a two-point lead and then another sophomore, Mary Rosowski, nailed a clutch free throw with 11 seconds left to seal the deal – a 61-58 win over the Vikings.
Junior Sarah Basford led Mercy with 20 points. Mercy started one senior, one junior and three sophomores, and the Marlins may have been too naive to realize they were supposed to be intimidated by Northern. After the final buzzer sounded, Mercy coach Larry Baker looked like he was in a daze as he wandered around the court repeating: “I don’t believe it ... I don’t believe it.” Neither did anyone else.
Grand Ledge Refuses to Lose in 1st Football Finals Trip
Tim Staudt, WILX (Lansing), in 53rd year of broadcasting
(Trailing 14-7 against Utica Eisenhower with less than a minute to play in the 2000 Division 1 football championship game, Grand Ledge scored 12 unanswered points – beginning with a 5-yard touchdown run by Matt Bohnet with 53 seconds to play, followed by an onside kick recovered by the Comets’ Collin O’Keefe, which led to a 45-yard game-winning scoring pass from Bohnet to Tim George with 22 seconds remaining. The 19-14 win gave Grand Ledge its first football Finals championship, notable as well as the team was coached by Pat O’Keefe, who at one time had the record for most baseball coaching wins in state history and remains second on that list.)
One of the most remarkable comebacks in state finals football history was when Grand Ledge came back to defeat Utica Eisenhower at the Silverdome, rallying to win the Division 1 state championship under coach Pat O’Keefe in 2000.
Even for Those Disappointed, 8-Player Final Tremendous
Greg Miller, formerly of 9&10 News (Cadillac)
I had the misfortune of covering a great deal of sad state championship games where our local team would fall to a team from downstate. Few were more heartbreaking than the 2012 8-Player Football Final (the second year a state championship was awarded in 8-player football) at Greenville High School's beautiful football stadium.
The Bellaire Eagles had a 6-0 halftime lead but fell behind when Deckerville scored twice in the third quarter. The Eagles would try to rally in the fourth quarter, and eventually hit a massive touchdown pass with less than a minute to play to pull within a 2-point conversion of tying the game and likely sending it to overtime. Alas, the 2-point try failed, and the subsequent onside kick was unlucky as well.
As a bit of an introduction to a new brand of football that allowed so many small schools across the state to keep playing the game, it was a tremendous game – even if the team I was there to cover came up two points short.
Power of DeYoung’s 42 Resonates for Mourning Champion
Jack Doles, WOOD TV (Grand Rapids)
Back in 2002, the South Christian Sailors had a fantastic team. They were very talented and tight knit. During the playoffs, in the week of the Semifinals, one of their teammates, Derek DeYoung was killed in a car accident. At the urging of his father, a pastor, the Sailors decided to continue to play.
Derek wore number 42, and they scored 42 points in a win over Caro in the Semifinal. After the game, both teams and fans gathered together on the field and took a knee and prayed.
The Sailors then had to go to a funeral for their friend and teammate, and then prepare for a state championship game. Instead of being distracted, they came out focused and on a mission. Derek's brother wore his jersey with the #42 and led the Sailors onto the field. They hammered Riverview and won the state championship. Late in the game, they kicked a field goal that would give them 42 points. There wasn't a dry eye in the house. Another incredible memory from covering high school sports.
Previous "Century of School Sports" Spotlights
Oct. 8: Guided by 4 S's of Educational Athletics - Read
Sept. 25: Michigan Sends 10 to National Hall of Fame - Read
Sept. 25: MHSAA Record Books Filled with 1000s of Achievements - Read
Sept. 18: Why Does the MHSAA Have These Rules? - Read
Sept. 10: Special Medals, Patches to Commemorate Special Year - Read
Sept. 4: Fall to Finish with 50th Football Championships - Read
Aug. 28: Let the Celebration Begin - Read
PHOTOS (Top) Clockwise from top left: Farmington Hills Mercy's Sarah Basford directs the offense during a 1982 Class A Semifinal against Lansing Everett. (2) Lansing Sexton's cheerleaders await their football team's entrance at Ford Field. (3) Farmington Hills Harrison football coach John Herrington sends a play in with quarterback Drew Stanton. (4) Reese volleyball players dance together during a break in the 2021 Division 3 Final. (5) The 1982 Livonia Stevenson boys soccer team takes a team photo used in the MHSAA Book of Champions. (Middle) Livonia Stevenson players carry their championship trophy after winning the 1982 Class A soccer title at Atwood Stadium. (Below) Members of the 1982 Farmington Hills Mercy girls basketball team pose for a team photo. (MHSAA file photos.)