Photo courtesy of Lou Murray
To see photos of the Coopersville East Grand Rapids game click here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/45681226@N02/albums/72177720312275242
The first week of the MHSAA Football playoffs are here! 288 teams across 10 divisions vie for trips to Ford Field (or the Superior Dome) and the chance for the ultimate prize, a State Championship ring. 144 of these teams will have a short one-week journey, while others will advance to a trophy round next week. Scores, future matchups and links to recaps below:
DIVISION 1
DISTRICT FINALS: Grandville (8-2) at Rockford (10-0)
DIVISION 2
Muskegon 41 Forest Hills Northern 0
Mona Shores 29 Reeths-Puffer 20
DISTRICT FINALS: Mona Shores (7-3) at Muskegon (8-2)
Byron Center 42 Portage Central 23
Caledonia 72 Portage Northern 30
DISTRICT FINALS: Byron Center (9-1) at Caledonia (8-2)
DIVISION 3
Mount Pleasant 31 Northview 17
Forest Hills Central 35 Lowell 20: The Rangers were able to complete a season sweep of the Red Arrows with an equally dominant win in the playoff rematch. JT Hartman had 28 carries for 205 yards and three rushing touchdowns. Hartman added a passing score and 8 tackles. Max Hosler was 2/3 passing for 50 yards and a score, while adding 52 rushing yards. Max Richardson caught both touchdown passes with 44 yards receiving. Nolan Hartl (10 tackles) and Drew Fortino (6 tackles) added to the Rangers defense.
DISTRICT FINALS: Forest Hill Central (9-1) at Mount Pleasant (9-1)
Coopersville 14 East Grand Rapids 13: The Broncos deliver a thrilling victory with their win over the Pioneers. This is the third time in four seasons that the Broncos have won their playoff opener. After three scoreless quarters, the teams exchanged touchdowns. After Coopersville’s second score gave the, a 14-7 lead, EGR was able to respond. Coach Josh Shattuck elected to go for two, and the Pioneers’ go-ahead conversion attempt was stopped.
Zeeland West 52 Zeeland East 22
DISTRICT FINALS: Coopersville (8-2) at Zeeland West (7-3)
Parma Western 38 Battle Creek Harper Creek 0
Stevensville Lakeshore 20 St Joseph 15
DISTRICT FINALS: S-Lakeshore (6-4) at Parma Western (9-1)
DIVISION 4
Whitehall 28 Allendale 7
Big Rapids 27 Spring Lake 20 (F/OT): The Cardinals captured a playoff victory for the first time since the 2020 season with a thrilling win over Spring Lake. Trailing by eight with minutes to play, Riley Vennix led the Cards down the field for an equalizer. He carried the football for a 6-yard score and found Garrett Foster on the tying conversion try. In the overtime period, Vennix used his legs for the go-ahead score. Spring Lake got the football next and fumbled it away on their first play. In total, Venix was 9/14 passing for 109 yards and added 82 rushing yards and two scores on 17 carries. BR now has nine wins for the first time since 2009.
DISTRICT FINALS: Big Rapids (9-1) at Whitehall (10-0)
Forest Hills Eastern 27 Ionia 0
DISTRICT FINAL: South Christian (7-3) @ Forest Hill Eastern (8-2)
Hastings 30 Charlotte 28
Portland 27 Lansing Sexton 6
DISTRICT FINALS: Portland (10-0) at Hastings (8-2)
Goodrich 35 Ortonville Brandon 6
DISTRICT FINALS: Goodrich (9-1) at Freeland (9-1)
Harper Woods 20 Croswell-Lexington 13
Marysville 33 Madison Heights Lamphere 20
DISTRICT FINALS: Marysville (8-2) at Harper Woods (7-3)
DIVISION 5
Ogemaw Heights 28 Gladwin 23
Kingsford v Tri-County – Saturday, 1:00
DISTRICT FINALS: Ogemaw Heights (9-1) v Kingsford/Tri-County
Frankenmuth 65 Essexville Garber 13
Birch Run 37 Swan Valley 15
DISTRICT FINALS: Birch Run (6-4) at Frankenmuth (9-1)
West Catholic 70 Comstock Park 0
Oakridge 13 Belding 7
DISTRICT FINALS: Oakridge (7-3) at West Catholic (10-0)
Grand Rapids Catholic Central 42 Benton Harbor 6: The Cougars easily disposed of Benton Harbor in their playoff opener. Connor Wolf tossed six touchdown passes. He completed 23/33 passes for 317 yards. Ace Natte and Raef Goosen each hauled in two touchdowns, while Jami Williams finished with 146 receivign yards. Lucas Thelen paced GRCC defensively with 10 tackles, while they also forced a pair of fumbles.
Berrien Springs 42 South Haven 22
DISTRICT FINALS: Berrien Springs (6-3) at GRCC (9-1)
DIVISION 6
Kingsley 61 Mason County Central 12
Manistee 44 Lake City 6
DISTRICT FINALS: Manistee (8-2) at Kingsley (8-2)
Reed City 41 Montague 13
Hart 44 Kent City 22
DISTRICT FINALS: Hart (9-1) at Reed City (7-3)
Midland Bullock Creek 22 Clare 19
Chesaning 31 Central Montcalm 12
DISTRICT FINALS: Midland Bullock Creek (7-3) at Chesaning (9-1)
Constantine v Olivet – Saturday, 1:00
Buchanan 29 Kalamazoo United 21
DISTRICT FINALS: Buchanan (7-3) vs Constantine/Olivet
DIVISION 7
North Muskegon v Union City – Saturday, 1:00
Lawton 36 Schoolcraft 18
DISTRICT FINALS: Lawton (9-1) vs North Muskegon/Union City
DIVISION 8
Beal City 42 Frankfort 7
Muskegon Catholic Central 21 Evart 19: The Crusaders advance to the District Finals with a victory over Evart. MCC raced out to a 21-7 lead early in the third quarter, thanks to three rushing scores by Bryan Convertini. The Wildcats scored twice in the final six minutes to draw within two, but their two-point equalizer failed. With 156 yards on 26 carries, Convertini is now up to 825 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns on the season.
DISTRICT FINALS: Muskegon CC (6-4) at Beal City (9-1)
Saugatuck 42 Saranac 27
White Pigeon 40 Centreville 12
DISTRICT FINALS: White Pigeon (10-0) vs Saugatuck (8-2)
8-MAN DIVISION 1
Pickford 38 Rudyard 16
Norway 56 Newberry 48
REGIONAL FINALS: Norway (8-2) at Pickford (9-1)
Brown City 22 Carson City-Crystal 14
Kingston 46 Merrill 6
REGIONAL FINALS: Kingston (8-2) at Brown City (10-0)
Martin 44 Marcellus 18
Gobles 50 Mendon 14
REGIONAL FINALS: Gobles (8-2) at Martin (8-2)
8-MAN DIVISION 2
Adrian Lenawee Christian 56 Camden-Frontier 6
Climax-Scotts 32 Pittsford 20
REGIONAL FINALS: Climax-Scotts (10-0) at Adrian Lenawee Christian (10-0)
