Photo Credit: Lou Murray
Hardware is on the line across the state of Michigan. In 11-player football, District Championships are on the line. In the 8-man game, Regional Championships were up for grabs. Who won, and who will they play next? Look at our scores below, listen to Saturday’s games LIVE on MSR, and get your complete audio recap of the action on the MSR Football Show.
DIVISION 1
Hudsonville 42 Rockford 31: The Eagles remain unbeaten to capture a District Championship over their rivals. Luke Ahern gave Rockford the first quarter lead, but two straight touchdowns, including a 48-yard run by Brady Van Laecke put Hudsonville ahead 14-10 at halftime. Braylon Miller and Ahern each tallied their second touchdown, and it was 21-17 Hudsonville heading into the fourth. Miller would catch hi third score from Van Laecke, before a Peyton Rodenhouse interception return touchdown put this one out of reach.
East Kentwood (8-2) 70.222 at Howell (9-1) 80.111, 1:00 Saturday
REGIONALS: East Kentwood/Howell Winner at Hudsonville (11-0, 85.556)
DIVISION 2
Traverse City Central 16 Muskegon 14: The Trojans deliver a stunning upset on the road! Check out our game story here.
Portage Central 34 Byron Center 7: The Mustangs defense steps up yet again, avenging last year’s Regional Final defeat (and 2023’s opening round loss) to win their second straight District Title. Two turnovers on downs led to easy PC scores, giving them a 14-0 lead just moments into the second quarter. That lead expanded to 20 with a 59-yard touchdown run from Rylan McNally. Cam Payne hauled in a 33-yard touchdown catch for Byron Center just before the half, their lone touchdown of the night. Portage Central added rushing scores in each of the final two quarters.
REGIONALS: Traverse City Central (7-4) 53.889 at Portage Central (11-0) 76.111
DIVISION 3
East Grand Rapids 17 Coopersville 0: The Pioneers are District Champions for the first time since 2020 with a playoff shutout of the Broncos. The last time EGR shutout a playoff foe? That came against next week’s opponent, Mount Pleasant, in the 2015 Regional Finals. Jacob Goossens started the scoring for EGR with a 5-yard touchdown run, before Asa Cox hauled in a 10-yard touchdown pass. Will Klein booted a field goal with just under two minutes to go to seal the win.
Mount Pleasant 42 Gaylord 0: In a battle of undefeated teams, the Oilers got the running clock going by putting up 42 points in the first half. They had lost in the District Finals in each of the past four seasons, and they are now District Champions for the first time since 2015, the last time they faced the Pioneers.
REGIONALS: East Grand Rapids (9-2) 60.778 at Mount Pleasant (11-0) 76.444
Zeeland West 48 St Joseph 24: The Dux, despite being the #4 seed, are once again District Champions. Brandon Holman had a huge night for West, as he rushed for 174 yards and three touchdowns, as well also hauling in three passes for 73 yards and two scores. Those two passing scores put the Dux ahead 16-0, and they led by at least two scores for most of the night. In defeat, Ish Dixon rushed for 81 yards and two touchdowns for the Bears.
Lowell 28 Middleville 21: The Red Arrows led 21-0 at halftime, before a ferocious Trojans rally. Lowell secures their first District Championship since they made the 2019 Semifinals.
REGIONALS: Zeeland West (8-3) 50.889 at Lowell (9-2) 58.778
DIVISION 4
Unity Christian 34 Spring Lake 19: The ‘Saders capture a District Championship for the first time since 2021, taking down Spring Lake. The Lakers led 7-0 early, and this game was just 12-7 Unity heading into the fourth quarter. Justin Febus had a big night for Unity, completing 3/5 passes for 120 yards and a 63-yard touchdown pass to Joshua Bremer. He also turned 15 carries into 156 yards and three rushing scores. Jack Portenga iced the game with a fourth quarter rushing score. Jack Nash had a great game for spring Lake, rushing for 119 yards and two touchdowns.
Big Rapids (9-1) 52.667 at Escanaba (9-1) 58.222, 1:00 Saturday
REGIONALS: Big Rapids/Escanaba Winner at Unity Christian (10-1) 61.334
Portland 28 Grand Rapids Christian 0: The Raiders remain unbeaten, taking down their second Grand Rapids parochial school in as many rounds. Nolan Zybtowski had 134 rushing yards and two touchdowns for Portland, while Brade Meyers and Ethan Cassel also ran for touchdowns. Five Eagles’ drives ended in either interceptions (2) or turnovers on downs (3). Charlie King ended with 117 passing yards and 70 rushing yards.
Vicksburg 21 Three Rivers 17: The Bulldogs secure their first ever District Championship against fellow Wolverine Conference foe Three Rivers. In two wins over Three Rivers this season, they each were by four points (28-24 in Week 5). After losing three of four games to end the season, Vicksburg will play in their first Regional Final next weekend.
REGIONALS: Vicksburg (7-4) 48.556 at Portland (11-0) 58.444
DIVISION 5
Swan Valley 36 Whitehall 20: The Swan Valley club raced out to a 29-0 lead before holding off a late Whitehall charge, capturing the program’ first District Title since 2019. Keller Bedford threw for two touchdowns, and Swan Valley got a 53-yard interception return touchdown from Hayden Taylor. Cole Essebaggers threw two touchdowns in the final four minutes for Whitehall, but it was too late to save their season.
Kingsford (7-3) 43.222 at Ogemaw Heights (9-1) 54.389, 1:00 Saturday
REGIONALS: Kingsford/Ogemaw Heights Winner at Swan Valley (10-1) 54.777
West Catholic 21 GR Catholic Central 20 F/OT: The “Holy War” lived up to the billing. Check out our game story for the game of the year so far!
Kalamazoo United 21 Berrien Springs 6: The Titans are headed to the Regional Finals after defeating the Shamrocks. Ezra Rowekamp had a pair of 70 yard catches in the first half, but only his second one (72 yards) went for a touchdown. The first big play stalled after a goal line stand, so it was 7-0 United at half. Berrien Springs responded with an 18-yard keeper from Braelin Hurst, but they missed the PAT. Rowekamp had another explosive catch, as a 54-yard passing play pushed the lead to eight. Jackson Herder’s third touchdown toss late in the fourth quarter gave United their second straight District Championship, both with wins over Berrien Springs.
REGIONALS: Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep (9-2) 43.286 at Grand Rapids West Catholic (10-1) 62.111
Frankenmuth 38 Richmond 6
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep 49 Detroit Denby 0
REGIONALS: Frankenmuth (10-1) 57.778 at Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (9-2) 62.444
DIVISION 6
Reed City 45 Montague 14: The Coyotes rushed for 438 yards en route to their fourth straight District Championship. Reed City scored on their first six drives in this game to take a 42-7 lead into half time. Ethan Hanson booted a field goal for Reed City on their first drive of the second half, extending their scoring streak to seven consecutive drives.
Kingsley 57 Traverse City St Francis 6
REGIONALS: Reed City (9-2) 47.667 at Kingsley (9-2) 48.167
Kent City 24 Belding 16: The Eagles went on the road to Belding, took down the Black Knights, and now can proclaim themselves as District Champions for the first time in school history! Eleven wins is also a school record, as they were tied with the 2017 team for the most wins (10).
Durand (8-2) 40.222 at Montrose (10-0) 45.889, 1:00 Saturday
REGIONALS: Durand/Montrose Winner at Kent City (11-0) 49.667
DIVISION 7
Shelby 30 Harrison 16: The Tigers are District Champions for the first time since 2013, returning home from Harrison with a thrilling win. Shelby scored on their first two drives to lead 14-0, before the Hornets responded with 16 straight points. DayDay Garcia gave Shelby the lead back with a 51-yard jet sweep run, and iced the game with a 99-yard touchdown march. Brody Fessenden’s third touchdown of the night secured the hardware for the Tigers.
McBain (8-2) 36.667 at Menominee (10-0) 52.486, 12:00 Saturday
REGIONALS: Shelby (7-4) 26.667 at McBain/Menominee Winner
North Muskegon (7-3) 35.514 at Pewamo-Westphalia (9-0) 41.889, 1:00 Saturday
Ithaca (7-3) 34.222 at Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker (8-2) 37.778, 1:00 Saturday
REGIONALS: Winners
Schoolcraft 26 Lawton 0: The Eagles beat Lawton for the second time this season, improving on their 18-14 victory with a shutout. Schoolcraft is now 9-2, with losses to two teams (Unity Christian and Kalamazoo United) that are still playing in next week’s Regional Finals. This is the second straight season that Schoolcraft shut out Lawton in the District Finals.
Hanover-Horton 20 Bronson 12
REGIONALS: Schoolcraft (9-2) 39.333 at Hanover-Horton (9-2) 42.889
8-PLAYER DIVISION 1
Norway 58 Pickford 12
Blanchard Montabella 26 Merrill 0
Martin 36 Climax-Scotts 20: The Clippers took down the Panthers to return to the Semifinals for the fifth time in six seasons. They will look to return to the finals if they can get past Kingston next weekend.
Kingston 32 Capac 8
SEMIFINAL: Blanchard Montabella (10-1) 35.222 vs Norway (11-0) 37.625
SEMIFINAL: Kingston (10-1) 36.222 vs Martin (11-0) 38.667
8-PLAYER DIVISION 2
Lake Linden-Hubbell (8-2) 31.444 at Felch North Dickinson (10-0) 34.708, 12:00 Saturday
Onekama 46 Gaylord St. Mary 6
Mendon (10-0) 37.375 at Portland St Patrick (10-0) 37.750, 3:00 Saturday
Deckerville (9-1) 36.556 at Britton Deerfield (9-1) 36.889, 2:00 Saturday
SEMIFINAL: Onekama (11-0) 36.667 vs LLH/FND winner
SEMIFINAL: Mendon/PSP winner v Deckerville/BD winner
