Photo Credit: Lou Murray
After 13 grueling weeks of football, it all comes down to this. On “Semifinal Saturday”, or “Superior Dome Saturday” in 8-man football, we have set the stage for an epic finale. All 16 tickets to Ford Field were punched, two 8-man championships were won. Check out all of the results and next weekend’s matchups below!
DIVISION 1
Detroit Catholic Central 46 East Kentwood 6: 23 years after the Shamrocks bested the Noel Aleman-led Falcons in the 2002 Division 1 State Championship game, DCC ended the Falcons’ quest at a trip back to the State Championship. From the jump, it was all Shamrocks. Samson Gash got things started with an electrifying 90-yard punt return touchdown. He then caught a 25-yard touchdown pass that helped lift DCC to a 25-0 halftime lead. On the opening kickoff of the third quarter, Gideon Gash made a house call with a 99-yard sprint to the end zone. EK made a quick scoring strike, and actually had a returning drive reach the DCC 1 before a stonewalling effort by the Shamrocks defense to quell any comeback efforts. A 99-yard touchdown drive put this game away, with one final touchdown ending the scoring. This will be the first trip to Ford Field for DCC since 2016, when they also played (and lost to) Detroit Cass Tech.
Detroit Cass Tech 48 Rochester Adams 22: The Technicians, winners of 24 straight games, will get the chance to defend their Division 1 State Championship in prime time next Sunday night. Sophomore running back Julian Taylor was ridiculous, scoring five touchdowns in the victory. This is the sixth State Championship game for Cass Tech, all since 2011. They have won four State Championships (2011, 2012, 2016 and 2024).
FINALS: Detroit Cass Tech (13-0) 74.556 vs Detroit Catholic Central (13-0) 81.056, Sunday 7:00 PM
DIVISION 2
Orchard Lake St Mary’s 42 Portage Central 7
Dexter 41 Birmingham Groves 6
FINALS: Orchard Lake St Mary’s (10-2) 63.083 vs Dexter (12-1) 76.500, Friday 7:00 PM
DIVISION 3
Mount Pleasant 41 Lowell 21: The Oilers are headed back to Ford Field for the first time since 2011, after defeating the Red Arrows. Mt Pleasant scored the first 35 points in this game. Logan Dawson scored every touchdown for Lowell in defeat, who finished with their best season since 2016.
DeWitt 41 Warren De La Salle 20: For the first time since 2021, DeWitt will be playing in the State Championship game. They dominated Warren De La Salle, sending the Pilots backing with an infamous 6-7 record. Trav Moore was once again phenomenal, as he rushed for 320 yards and four touchdowns on 29 carries. DeWitt trailed 13-7 at the half, before stacking up 330 rushing yards after the break to cruise to victory. Lucas Brandell and Cooper Chambers each had 11 tackles on defense.
FINALS: Mount Pleasant (13-0) 76.444 vs DeWitt (13-0) 79.667, Sunday 12:30 PM
DIVISION 4
Unity Christian 45 Vicksburg 17: Unity Christian is headed back for Ford Field for the first time since 2021, after dominating Vicksburg in a semifinal at Caledonia. The ‘Saders scored on their first four drives of the first half to cruise to a 30-10 halftime lead. Vicksburg opened the second half with an onside kick, and after a quick score it got interesting at 30-17. Justin Febus and Lucas Elliott each rushed for a touchdown that put this game away. The ‘Saders will now look for their first State Championship since 2018.
Dearborn Divine Child 10 Goodrich 7: For the first time since 1985, Dearborn Divine Child will be in the State Championship game. They took down defending State Champion Goodrich, snapping the Martians’ 25-game winning streak. Our thoughts are with the Goodrich community after the sudden loss of longtime PA announcer Dan Sellers, who passed after collapsing in the final seconds of this game.
FINALS: Dearborn Divine Child (12-1) 59.667 vs Hudsonville Unity Christian (12-1) 61.333, Friday 12:30 PM
DIVISION 5
West Catholic 34 Ogemaw Heights 24: The Falcons are back in the State Championship game, and they will now square off with the defending Division 5 State Champions. Collin Abram rushed for 129 yards and two touchdowns, while Jael Ojouguem paced the defense with 12 tackles.
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep 51 Monroe Jefferson 21
FINALS: West Catholic (12-1) 62.111 vs Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (11-2) 62.444, Sunday 4:00 PM
DIVISION 6
Kingsley 14 Kent City 0
Jackson Lumen Christi 25 Almont 19 (F/3OT)
The past two State Champions in Division 6 will square off in Friday’s title bout. Kingsley ended a storybook run for Kent City, as the Eagles were 12-0 and had won the school’s first District and Regional championships. Jackson Lumen Christi needed three overtimes to defeat Almont, who was looking to set up a rematch with Kingsley of the 2023 State Championship game.
FINALS: Kingsley (11-2) 48.167 vs Jackson Lumen Christi (10-3) 61.889, Friday 4:00 PM
DIVISION 7
Menominee 32 Pewamo-Westphalia 28: For the second time in three seasons, the Maroons will make the long trek downstate to Detroit, as they won Saturday to advance to the State Championship game. Menominee was trailing 28-14 before scoring the final 18 points in the fourth quarter to punch their ticket to the Finals. Tanner Theuerkauf threw for all three scores, finding three different receivers on those drives. The game-winning score came on a 24-yard toss to Dawson Bardowski. Theuerkauf finished with 269 passing yards, with 109 hauled in by Nathan Komp. In defeat, P-W’s Ty Thelen passed for 224 yards and three touchdown, while also rushing for 161 yards.
Schoolcraft 43 Clinton 14
FINALS: Schoolcraft (11-2) 39.333 vs Menominee (13-0) 52.486, Sunday 9:30 AM
DIVISION 8
Harbor Beach 40 Bark River-Harris 0
Hudson 67 Allen Park Cabrini 14
FINALS: Harbor Beach (13-0) 42.556 vs Hudson (13-0) 49.857, Friday 9:30 AM
8-PLAYER DIVISION 1 FINALS
Martin 52 Blanchard Montabella 8: The Clippers secured their school’s fourth State Championship, and their third in four seasons (1987, 2022, 2023, 2025). Montabella scored first, before Martin rattled off 52 unanswered points. Haylen Buell, the senior quarterback of the Clippers, completed all seven of his passes for 134 yards and a touchdown, while also adding 179 rushing yards and three additional scores on just nine carries. Bryer Watson, Seth Toris and Weson Elkins also ran for scores, while Anderson Keeler caught Buell’s touchdown pass.
8-PLAYER DIVISION 2 FINALS
Portland St Patrick 53 Felch North Dickinson 0: The Fighting Irish, in their fourth trip to the 8-Player State Finals, have won the school’s first 8-Player State Championship in a rout of the UP’s Felch North Dickinson. It was a ground attack for the victors, as they ran in seven of their eight touchdowns, totaling 229 yards on 34 carries. Six different players rushed for a score for St. Patrick, with Hudson King the lone player to score twice (121 yards and two scores). This is the second state title for St Patrick as a program, with their 11-Player team winning the 1992 Class D crown.
