Hard to believe we are already past the half-way point of the 2026 campaign and the chase to the playoffs is really on now! Week five was an interesting one that solidified the hierarchy of the conference chases around the area in many cases, as we are starting to work with one or two clear favorites throughout most leagues.
FIRST DOWN: Scots Stay Winning
Caledonia has been maybe the biggest break out team of 2026. Surprise team shouldn’t be the phrase to use with them though, they suffered a lot of injuries in 2025 and returned QB Bryce Backus along with the majority of his major weapons across the board as well on offense this year to reach their full potential. But, they had already risen to #2 in our Power Poll last week and only solidified that spot this week as they ground out a 13-7 win over Hudsonville to move to 4-1 on the year (including that lone L coming due to a week one forfeit).
This win for the Scots was particularly big and interesting to me because they’ve been a team that previously scored 27+ points in every week and are known for that high flying offense. But, now holding Hudsonville to 7 points in an absolute grinder shows they can win multiple ways as well. The Scots are very much for real and their week 7 date with Kentwood will determine the OK-Red.
SECOND DOWN: Green on the Line
Week 6’s biggest game will be played out on the lakeshore at Mona Shores and will determine the OK-Green as Byron Center visits town with both teams coming off week five statements to move to 2-0 in the league and 4-1 overall.
The Bulldogs absolutely dominated Muskegon 48-20 and ended the solid streak the Big Reds were on that we discussed here a week ago. The Sailors on the other hand racked up a controlling cross-town rivalry win of their own taking down Reeths Puffer 42-13.
This will be one of the games of the year, between a couple of teams that have played some big ones recently (think 2024 district championship game). Points likely are to be scored here with a couple of teams that have showed the ability to pile them on this season already.
THIRD DOWN: Cougars Pound to Victory
Catholic Central and EGR is such a classic rivalry game that the OK-Black gets to host every season between two of the most storied brands in Grand Rapids HS football. In recent years, EGR has been thought of the ground and pound, defense first team – continuing that in 2026 with MSU-committed Grand Adloff leading the way on the line. While, the high flying Cougars have provided the big-play offensive spark in many games in recent memory.
Friday night it was was the Cougars going to the ground game to physically take a 10-point 28-18 win over the Pioneers. Quarterback Odin Spencer led the way with 28 carries and over 200 yards on the ground and four total TDs (three of them on the ground).The CC/West Catholic playoff date is looming, both are winning – but this was one of the most impressive performances for either yet, as we try to handicap who the favorite will be for that D5-deciding early round game.
FOURTH DOWN: D1 Playoff Check-In
There are plenty playoff stories we can check into as things begin to take shape, but a quick check of everyone’s most used website this time of year – Snooze2You.com – shows how interesting D1 is going to get with seeded regions now. And the chase is very much on beyond the current interesting seeding, as a team like Jenison at 2-3 that is currently out of the playoff window, very much could find some closing wins and shake up this picture more.
But, as of right now a crowded crowd of mid-state teams in D1 that appear to be playoff-bound create a very unique playoff situation that shows off how the region-seeding could tweak some of the traditional OK-Red rematches we have seen in the district rounds.
As of now EK, Rockford, and Hudsonville all find themselves in one district along with Kalamazoo Central while Grandville is set to go east as a part of the other side of the region with Grand Ledge, Portage Central, and Okemos. A reprieve from a second round of OK-Red matchups I think that would be well-received by whatever team from the west may wind up getting seeded out of playing some of those games… If that happens.
