UP Tennis Finals to be Streamed Live
September 29, 2020
By John Johnson
MHSAA Director of Broadcast Properties
For the first time, action from the MHSAA Upper Peninsula Girls Tennis Finals will have live streaming video on the NFHS Network and MHSAA.tv, with the School Broadcast Program crew from Negaunee High School providing the coverage at the Division 1 event.
Coverage is scheduled to begin at noon, EDT, on Thursday (Oct. 1), weather permitting, with the semifinals of singles competition. There will be a dedicated camera for each flight, covering two courts for the semis and then the championship match which follows.
SBP crews have a history of delivering championships taking place in the Upper Peninsula. Marquette High School has produced the U.P. Swimming & Diving Finals for several years, and Marquette also produced an MHSAA Skiing Final in 2016.
More than 700 events in multiple sports at multiple levels fill the coming week’s schedule for the NFHS Network and MHSAA.tv. In the coming week, nearly 300 varsity events – more than half of them in volleyball – will be available. Monthly subscriptions are $10.99. Click for a complete list of upcoming games and on-demand broadcasts.
Fans also can type their school name into the search field on the MHSAA.tv page to search for events. Varsity games being streamed also have links from the MHSAA Website’s Score Center and from the schedules on individual school pages. Clicking on the green TV set icon listed next to an event will take you directly to a game.
Here is a list of Varsity sports events taking place over the coming week on the NFHS Network/MHSAA.tv (Home team generally listed first):
Football
Friday - Oct. 2
Redford Union vs. Redford Thurston - 5 PM
East Grand Rapids vs. Grand Rapids Northview - 5:30 PM
Pewamo-Westphalia vs. Dansville - 6:45 PM
Garden City vs. Dearborn Heights Annapolis - 7 PM
Durand vs. Otisville LakeVille - 7 PM
Portage Northern vs. Richland Gull Lake - 7 PM
Brighton vs. Canton - 7 PM
Mayville vs. New Haven Merritt Academy - 7 PM
Cadillac vs. Traverse City Central - 7 PM
Negaunee vs. L'Anse - 7 PM
Walled Lake Central vs. Walled Lake Northern - 7 PM
East Lansing vs. Lansing Waverly - 7 PM
Birmingham Seaholm vs. Rochester Adams - 7 PM
Cass City vs. Harbor Beach - 7 PM
Howell vs. Hartland - 7 PM
Livonia Clarenceville vs. Dearborn Advanced Technology Academy - 7 PM
St Johns vs. Mason - 7 PM
Dearborn Divine Child vs. White Lake Lakeland - 7 PM
Saginaw Swan Valley vs. Bay City John Glenn- 7 PM
Fowlerville vs. Holt - 7 PM
Munising vs. Superior Central - 7 PM
Watervliet vs. Constantine - 7 PM
Grand Rapids South Christian vs. Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills - 7 PM
Montrose vs. New Lothrop - 7 PM
Hemlock vs. Midland Bullock Creek - 7 PM
South Lyon East vs. Highland Milford - 7 PM
Romulus Summit Academy North vs. Detroit Leadership Academy - 7 PM
Waterford Kettering vs. Walled Lake Western - 7 PM
Madison Heights Lamphere vs. Center Line - 7 PM
Ovid-Elsie vs. Chesaning - 7 PM
Grand Rapids Catholic Central vs. Cedar Springs - 7 PM
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep vs. Detroit Country Day - 7 PM
Zeeland West vs. Zeeland East - 7 PM
St. Joseph vs. Portage Central - 7 PM
DeWitt vs. Okemos - 7 PM
Troy Athens vs. Auburn Hills Avondale - 7 PM
Troy vs. Berkley - 7 PM
Plainwell vs. Edwardsburg - 7 PM
Clare vs. Farwell - 7 PM
Saginaw Heritage vs. Midland Dow - 7 PM
Traverse City St. Francis vs. Kingsley - 7 PM
Corunna vs. Ortonville Brandon - 7 PM
Jackson Lumen Christi Catholic vs. Battle Creek Harper Creek - 7 PM
Fulton vs. Laingsburg - 7 PM
Saturday - Oct. 3
St. Clair Shores Lake Shore vs. Port Huron - 1 PM
Warren Woods-Tower vs. Roseville - 1 PM
Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood vs. Detroit Loyola - 1 PM
Traverse City West vs. Petoskey - 1 PM
Boys Soccer
Tuesday - Sept. 29
Reed City vs. Fremont - 4:30 PM
Chesaning vs. Durand - 6 PM
Stevensville Lakeshore vs. St. Joseph - 6:30 PM
Grand Rapids Catholic Central vs. Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills - 6:45 PM
Petoskey vs. Alpena - 6:45 PM
Troy vs. North Farmington - 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
Seaholm vs. Troy Athens - 7 PM
Notre Dame Preparatory School vs. TBA - 7:30 PM
Detroit Catholic Central vs. Birmingham Brother Rice - 7:30 PM
Wednesday - Sept. 30
Garden City vs. Redford Thurston - 5:30 PM
St. Clair Shores Lake Shore vs. St. Clair - 6 PM
Vicksburg vs. Bronson - 6 PM
Fenton vs. Goodrich - 6:15 PM
Plainwell vs. Sturgis - 6:30 PM
Cedar Springs vs. TBA - 6:45 PM
Hemlock vs. Ithaca - 7 PM
Madison Heights Lamphere vs. Roseville - 7 PM
Clare vs. Big Rapids Crossroads Academy – 7 PM
Thursday - Oct. 1
Manchester vs. Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard - 5:30 PM
Royal Oak Shrine vs. Clarkston Everest Collegiate - 5:30 PM
East Grand Rapids vs. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern - 5:45 PM
Portage Central vs. St. Joseph - 6:30 PM
Stevensville Lakeshore vs. Kalamazoo Central - 6:30 PM
Cadillac vs. Petoskey - 6:45 PM
Livonia Clarenceville vs. Detroit Cesar Chavez Academy - 7 PM
Northville vs. Hartland - 7 PM
Birmingham Groves vs. Auburn Hills Avondale - 7 PM
Novi vs. Canton - 7 PM
Grand Rapids South Christian vs. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central - 7:15 PM
Chesaning vs. Byron Area - 7:30 PM
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep vs. Goodrich - 7:30 PM
Detroit Catholic Central vs. Warren De La Salle Collegiate - 7:30 PM
Friday - Oct. 2
Livonia Clarenceville vs. Westland Huron Valley Lutheran - 4 PM
St. Clair Shores Lake Shore vs. Madison Heights Lamphere - 4:30 PM
Bay City John Glenn vs. Gaylord - 5 PM
South Lyon vs. Highland Milford - 5:30 PM
Wayland Union vs. Hamilton - 6:45 PM
Saturday - Oct. 3
Petoskey vs. Elk Rapids - 12 AM
Comstock Park vs. Ravenna - 10 AM
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep vs. Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard - 10 AM
Holt vs. Lansing Catholic - 11 AM
West Bloomfield vs. North Farmington - 11:30 AM
St. Joseph vs. Battle Creek Central - 11:30 AM
Birmingham Groves vs. Ferndale - 2 PM
Walled Lake Central vs. Walled Lake Western - 7 PM
Monday - Oct. 5
Watervliet vs. Saugatuck - 4:30 PM
Ithaca vs. Saginaw Valley Lutheran - 4:30 PM
Bay City John Glenn vs. Freeland - 4:30 PM
Warren Woods-Tower vs. St. Clair Shores Lakeshore - 5 PM
Cass City vs. Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker - 5:30 PM
Romulus Summit Academy North vs. Dearborn Henry Ford Academy - 6 PM
Vicksburg vs. Edwardsburg - 6 PM
Corunna vs. Linden - 6:15 PM
Heritage vs. Midland - 6:45 PM
South Lyon East vs. TBA - 7 PM
Clare vs. Ogemaw Heights - 7 PM
Macomb Dakota vs. Clinton Township Chippewa Valley - 7 PM
Grand Blanc vs. Davison - 7 PM
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep vs. Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett - 7:30 PM
Tuesday - Oct. 6
St. Joseph vs. Kalamazoo Central - 6:30 PM
East Grand Rapids vs. TBA - 6:45 PM
Troy vs. Birmingham Seaholm - 7 PM
Novi vs. Brighton - 7 PM
Troy Athens vs. Rochester Adams - 7 PM
Girls Volleyball
Tuesday - Sept. 29
Dearborn Heights Robichaud vs. Ferndale University - 4 PM
Durand vs. New Lothrop - 4:30 PM
Williamston vs. TBA - 5 PM
Bear Lake vs. Manistee Catholic Central - 6 PM
DeWitt vs. East Lansing - 6 PM
Zeeland East vs. Muskegon - 6 PM
Kinde North Huron vs. Akron-Fairgrove - 6 PM
Wayland Union vs. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Eastern - 6 PM
Fowlerville vs. Haslett - 6 PM
Peck vs. Deckerville - 6 PM
Holt vs. Lansing Waverly - 6 PM
Mt Morris vs. Ovid-Elsie - 6 PM
Mayville vs. Genesee - 6 PM
St Johns vs. Grand Ledge - 6:05 PM
Norway vs. Bark River-Harris - 6:15 PM
Montrose vs. Otisville LakeVille - 6:15 PM
Hartland vs. Plymouth - 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
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
St Charles vs. Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary - 6:50 PM
Hopkins vs. Wyoming Godwin Heights School - 7 PM
Macomb Lutheran North vs. Algonac - 7 PM
Troy vs. Farmington - 7 PM
Garden City vs. Dearborn Heights Annapolis - 7 PM
Brownstown Woodhaven vs. Allen Park - 7 PM
Fremont vs. Grant - 7 PM
Escanaba vs. Menominee - 7 PM
Big Rapids vs. Reed City - 7 PM
Marcellus vs. White Pigeon - 7 PM
Saginaw Heritage vs. Saginaw Arthur Hill - 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
Durand vs. New Lothrop – Part 2 - 7:30 PM
Cass City vs. Reese - 7:30 PM
Wednesday - Sept. 30
Harrison vs. Pinconning - 5 PM
Holly vs. Swartz Creek - 5:15 PM
Linden vs. Flint Kearsley - 5:15 PM
Flushing vs. Fenton - 5:15 PM
Corunna vs. Owosso - 6:15 PM
Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood vs. Allen Park Cabrini - 6:30 PM
Pewamo-Westphalia vs. Portland St. Patrick - 6:30 PM
Riverview Gabriel Richard Catholic vs. Macomb Lutheran North - 7 PM
Cadillac vs. Petoskey - 7 PM
Traverse City West vs. Traverse City Central - 7 PM
Waterford Our Lady vs. Warren Regina - 7 PM
Saginaw Swan Valley vs. Bay City John Glenn - 7 PM
Bridgeport vs. Frankenmuth - 7 PM
Dearborn Divine Child vs. Bloomfield Hills Marian - 7:15 PM
Thursday - Oct. 1
Grand Rapids Catholic Central vs. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Eastern - 4 PM
Armada vs. Algonac - 6 PM
Madison Heights Lamphere vs. Clawson - 6 PM
East Grand Rapids vs. Grand Rapids Northview - 6 PM
Zeeland East vs. Holland - 6 PM
Munising vs. Ishpeming - 6 PM
Mayville vs. Peck - 6 PM
St. Clair Shores Lake Shore vs. Ferndale - 6 PM
Plainwell vs. Edwardsburg - 6 PM
Mason vs. Williamston - 6 PM
Hartland vs. Livonia Churchill - 6:15 PM
Lowell vs. Greenville - 6:15 PM
Warren Woods-Tower vs. Harrison Township L'Anse Creuse - 6:15 PM
Dollar Bay vs. Painesdale Jeffers - 6:20 PM
Novi vs. Dearborn - 6:30 PM
Brighton vs. Belleville - 6:30 PM
Howell vs. Livonia Stevenson - 6:30 PM
Flint Powers Catholic vs. Midland Dow - 6:30 PM
Northville vs. Dearborn Fordson - 6:30 PM
Grand Blanc vs. Saginaw - 6:30 PM
Highland Milford vs. South Lyon East - 6:30 PM
Ann Arbor Greenhills vs. Lutheran Westland - 6:30 PM
White Lake Lakeland vs. South Lyon - 6:30 PM
Walled Lake Western vs. Walled Lake Northern - 6:30 PM
Kalamazoo Christian vs. Calhoun Christian - 6:30 PM
Lake Orion vs. Rochester Hills Stoney Creek - 7 PM
Gladstone vs. Gwinn - 7 PM
Brethren vs. Bear Lake - 7 PM
Grandville Calvin Christian vs. Belding - 7 PM
East Kentwood vs. Grandville - 7 PM
Maple City Glen Lake vs. Traverse City St. Francis - 7 PM
Marcellus vs. Centreville - 7 PM
Rockford vs. Hudsonville - 7 PM
Hart vs. Whitehall - 7 PM
Birmingham Seaholm vs. Bloomfield Hills - 7 PM
Troy Athens vs. Auburn Hills Avondale - 7 PM
Pellston vs. Indian River Inland Lakes - 7:30 PM
Dryden vs. Deckerville - 7:30 PM
Livonia Clarenceville vs. Oakland Christian - 7:30 PM
Kingston vs. Genesee - 7:30 PM
Caro vs. Bad Axe - 7:30 PM
Friday - Oct. 2
Plymouth Christian Academy vs. Brighton Charyl Stockwell Prep - 7 PM
Saturday - Oct. 3
Westland Huron Valley Lutheran vs. Bloomfield Hills Roeper - 8 AM
Saline vs. TBA - 8:30 AM
Cass City vs. TBA - 8:30 AM
Hart vs. Ludington - 8:30 AM
Troy Athens vs. TBA - 8:30 AM
Mt Morris vs. TBA - 8:30 AM
Part 1 | Multi-team Event @ Pentwater - 8:30 AM
Grand Rapids South Christian vs. Greenville - 9 AM
Ovid-Elsie vs. Byron Area - 9 AM
Hopkins vs. Wayland Union - 9 AM
East Grand Rapids vs. Forest Hills Eastern - 9 AM
Part 2 | Multi-team Event @ Pentwater - 1:30 PM
Bloomfield Hills Marian vs. Grand Rapids Christian - 2:30 PM
Rochester Hills Stoney Creek vs. Grand Rapids Christian - 4 PM
Bloomfield Hills Marian vs. TBA - 5:30 PM
Monday - Oct. 5
Frankenmuth vs. Saginaw Valley Lutheran - 5 PM
Norway vs. Powers North Central - 6 PM
East Lansing vs. Okemos - 6 PM
Armada vs. Richmond - 6 PM
Houghton vs. Marquette 6:30 PM
St. Joseph vs. Battle Creek Central - 6:30 PM
Bay City John Glenn vs. Pinconning - 7 PM
Tuesday - Oct. 6
Dearborn Heights Robichaud vs. Dearborn Heights Crestwood - 4 PM
Madison Heights Lamphere vs. New Haven - 6 PM
Maple Valley vs. TBA - 6 PM
DeWitt vs. Fowlerville - 6 PM
Zeeland West vs. Muskegon Mona Shores - 6 PM
Holt vs. Ionia - 6 PM
Williamston vs. Grand Ledge - 6 PM
Sturgis vs. Edwardsburg - 6 PM
Grand Rapids Christian vs. Byron Center - 6 PM
Wayland Union vs. Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills - 6 PM
Mayville vs. Bay City All Saints - 6 PM
Chesaning vs. Ovid-Elsie - 6:15 PM
Otisville LakeVille vs. New Lothrop - 6:15 PM
Ovid-Elsie vs. Chesaning - 6:15 PM
Brighton vs. Canton - 6:30 PM
Flint Powers Catholic vs. TBA - 6:30 PM
St. Clair Lake Shore vs. Sterling Heights - 6:30 PM
Suttons Bay vs. Kingsley - 6:30 PM
Highland Milford vs. White Lake Lakeland - 6:30 PM
Southfield Christian vs. Livonia Clarenceville - 6:30 PM
Houghton vs. Calumet - 6:30 PM
Manchester vs. Napoleon - 6:30 PM
Howell vs. Hartland - 6:30 PM
Frankfort vs. Leland - 6:30 PM
Watervliet vs. Fennville - 6:30 PM
South Lyon vs. Walled Lake Northern - 6:30 PM
South Lyon East vs. Walled Lake Western - 6:30 PM
Saline vs. Ann Arbor Pioneer - 7 PM
Morley Stanwood vs. Kent City - 7 PM
West Bloomfield vs. Rochester Hills Stoney Creek - 7 PM
Grand Rapids South Christian vs. Lansing Catholic - 7 PM
Maple City Glen Lake vs. Onekama - 7 PM
Plymouth Christian Academy vs. Lutheran Westland - 7 PM
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep vs. Dearborn Divine Child - 7 PM
East Kentwood vs. Holland West Ottawa - 7 PM
Hart vs. Ravenna - 7 PM
Bear Lake vs. Big Rapids Crossroads Charter - 7 PM
Pentwater vs. Mason County Eastern - 7 PM
Dryden vs. Owendale-Gagetown - 7:30 PM
Caro vs. Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker - 7:30 PM
Kingston vs. Akron-Fairgrove - 7:30 PM
Bad Axe vs. Cass City - 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.)