BY SCOTT DECAMP
For Michigan Sports Radio
The race for Ford Field begins this Friday and a number of high school football teams in the Michigan Sports Radio coverage network are eager to begin their journeys.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a team more impressive in Week 9 and looking more playoff-ready than Kenowa Hills, which captured a second straight River Cities Alliance title with a 44-0 home victory over previously undefeated Coopersville.
Kenowa Hills (8-1) kicks off the Division 4 playoffs at home against Grand Rapids Christian (5-4), the program that Knights coach Don Fellows guided to a Division 3 state championship in 2012.
“When it comes to Grand Rapids Christian, obviously I’m trying to treat it as just another game but a lot of those kids I coached because my son played with them third through sixth grade and I coached the youth program there,” the Kenowa Hills coach said about his son, senior Grayson Fellows, who is now a standout senior quarterback for the Knights.
“It’s a little bit different and obviously things didn’t end the way that I wanted them to (at Grand Rapids Christian). It’s looking at it, like, maybe there’s some closure to all of this but really trying to stay focused and really think about all of the great memories I had there and the good relationships and all of the great kids I coached. Trying to treat it like one more game, and win and move on.”
The Fellowses & Co. have been saying it prior to the start of this season: The goal is to be playing at Ford Field and make history as Kenowa Hills’ first state champion.
Since falling to reigning Division 3 state champ DeWitt, 59-21, in the Amazon Prep Kickoff Classic at Wayne State on Aug. 27, Kenowa Hills has been seemingly unstoppable. During their eight-game winning streak, the Knights are averaging 40.4 points, allowing only 8.4 per contest, and their closest margin of victory came in a 35-21 win at six-win Lowell in Week 8.
“I feel really good,” Fellows said. “The cool part about this group is, like, they’re the same (each week). They haven’t changed this whole week of practice. We’ve got the same routine. You wouldn’t know if it’s a playoff game or if it was Sparta or if it was Coopersville. They’re just a very, very focused group.”
The Division 4 bracket does not appear to be a walk in the park, however.
Should Kenowa Hills continue winning, it would host games through the regional round. The other game in the Knights’ district pits Fruitport (7-2) and Ludington (7-2). On the other side of the regional, it’s Big Rapids (5-4) vs. OK White co-champ Forest Hills Eastern (8-1) and Spring Lake (5-4) vs. Hudsonville Unity Christian (5-4).
A potential state semifinal matchup would pit Kenowa Hills vs. South Christian (8-1), which hosts Marshall (8-1) in a playoff opener Friday night at Hudsonville.
Defending Division 4 state champ Dearborn Divine Child (8-1) is on the opposite side of the Division 4 playoff bracket.
“I think (Division 4 is) super competitive,” Fellows said. “We’ve been blessed to win a state championship once, and even that run, it takes a lot (to go right). You’ve got to have a lot of breaks, you’ve got to stay injury-free. It’s a long road.
“I think in West Michigan there are probably on paper five to six programs that can make it to Ford Field and I feel like we’re one of them, which is good. We want to stay healthy, we want to compete.”
The Kenowa Hills vs. Grand Rapids Christian game will be carried live by Michigan Sports Radio. Here is the list of first-round matchups on the MSR lineup this week:
DIVISION 1
Grandville (4-5) at Howell (9-0), 7 p.m. Friday
This is the eighth straight playoff appearance and 12th in the last 13 years for Grandville, which punched its ticket with a 61-38 home victory over Grand Haven in Week 9. The Bulldogs have played an incredibly tough schedule, facing Muskegon and uber-talented Detroit Cass Tech as nonleague foes before tackling the rugged OK Red. Howell’s playoff history is not as deep as Grandville’s, but the Highlanders are on a special three-run run. They’re 29-3 in the last three seasons combined. Howell won a Division 1 district title in 2024 before falling to eventual state runner-up Hudsonville in the regional. Howell won a first-round playoff game last year before losing a wild 49-41 game to East Kentwood in the district finals.
Winner plays: Hudsonville (6-3) at Portage Central (8-1) winner
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Rockford (5-4) at Grand Ledge (9-0), 7 p.m. Friday
Rockford’s consistency is incredible. This is the Rams’ 32nd straight season making the playoffs. This Rockford team has been competitive, with one of the highlights a 42-6 home win over Muskegon in Week 2, but to put into perspective how strong the Rams have been the last three decades plus: This is their lowest win total since the 3-6 squad of 1994. In the series against Grand Ledge, Rockford is 6-3 overall with the most recent meeting a 40-7 Rams victory in a 2021 playoff opener. This is Grand Ledge’s first 9-0 regular season since 2015, when the Comets advanced to the semifinals and finished 12-1. Grand Ledge defeated DeWitt, 28-14, in Week 8.Rockford and Grand Ledge share one common opponent: West Ottawa. Grand Ledge defeated West Ottawa in the season opener (40-21) and Rockford beat WO in Week 4 (29-14).
Winner plays: Brighton (5-4) at East Kentwood (9-0) winner
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Hudsonville (6-3) at Portage Central (8-1), 7 p.m. Friday
This is Hudsonville’s fourth straight playoff appearance and 11th in the last 14 years. The Eagles still had a shot in Week 9 to share the OK Red title with East Kentwood, but they fell to the high-powered Falcons, 42-14. It’s been a strong run for Hudsonville’s program, as in 2024 the Eagles made a run to Ford Field and finished as state runners-up and in 2025 they made it back to the regional finals. Portage Central moved up to Division 1 this season after playing in Division 2 for a long time. This is the Mustangs’ 19th playoff appearance in the last 21 years. Portage Central is riding an eight-game winning streak after losing the season opener to Toledo Central Catholic, 24-14. Hudsonville has won the only other two meetings against Portage Central, the most recent one in 2014 in a Division 2 district final, 28-14.
Winner plays: Grandville (4-5) at Howell (9-0) winner
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DIVISION 3
East Grand Rapids (6-3) at Coopersville (8-1), 7 p.m. Friday
East Grand Rapids has qualified for the playoffs in 12 of the last 13 years. The Pioneers are one of those tradition-rich programs with an incredible run in the first decade of this century, when they captured seven state titles, including five in a row. Coopersville is in the playoffs for a seventh straight season. This is only the second time in the last 19 years that the Broncos have won eight games in a season. The last time they won nine games in a season was in 2006, when that time made it to the Division 4 state finals and finished runner-up with an 11-3 record. This game is a rematch of last year’s district final, won 17-0 by East Grand Rapids, which holds a 3-2 edge in the all-time series with Coopersville. EGR and Coopersville have one common opponent this season: Lowell. EGR beat Lowell in the season opener (27-21) and Coopersville defeated Lowell in Week 5 (14-13).
Winner plays: Lowell (6-3) at DeWitt (7-2) winner
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DIVISION 4
Grand Rapids Christian (4-5) at Kenowa Hills (8-1), 7 p.m. Friday
This is Kenowa Hills’ third straight season in the playoffs. The Knights competed in Division 3 the previous two years. Kenowa Hills is seeking its program’s first playoff win since 1992, when that squad advanced to the Class BB state finals and finished runner-up. For Grand Rapids Christian, it’s the second straight playoff berth after missing the postseason two years in a row. Prior to that, the Eagles made the playoffs 13 straight years and in 16 of 17 seasons. Grand Rapids Christian is 5-0 all-time against Kenowa Hills with the most recent meeting being a 27-10 victory in 2013. While Kenowa Hills is on the roll, as stated in the story above, Grand Rapids Christian started the season 1-5 but won its last three games to get into the playoffs.
Winner plays: Fruitport (7-2) at Ludington (7-2) winner
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Marshall (8-1) at South Christian (8-1), 7 p.m. Friday at Hudsonville
South Christian has been one of the more successful programs in West Michigan in the last three decades. The Sailors are in the playoffs for the 11th straight season, 15th time in 16 years, and 25th time in 28 seasons. South Christian won the Division 4 state title in 2023 and finished state runner-up in 2024. Marshall had a strong program through the 1990s and into the turn of the century, but it’s been more sporadic since then. This is the Redhawks’ first playoff berth in six years. South Christian won the OK Gold championship. Its lone loss came in Week 3 against West Catholic in nonleague action, 45-34. Marshall won the Interstate 8 Athletic Conference title with its lone defeat also coming in nonleague play, 20-14 against Sparta in Week 5. South Christian lost its playoff opener last year in a 42-41 overtime heartbreaker against Portland.
Winner plays: Hastings (7-2) at Stevensville Lakeshore (8-1) winner
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DIVISION 5
MHSAA removes Grand Rapids Catholic Central from playoffs
Grand Rapids Catholic Central was considered one of the favorites to win the Division 5 state championship, but the MHSAA announced on Thursday it withdrew the Cougars from the playoffs over the use of an ineligible player during the first seven games of the regular season, according to a report by MLive.com. Division 5 top-seeded GRCC, whose record was 7-2 before the forfeitures, was scheduled to host Comstock Park (4-5) in a first-round playoff game on Friday. Comstock Park advances to the district finals, where it will face the winner of the Berrien Springs/Lake Odessa Lakewood playoff opener. With the forfeitures, the Cougars’ record officially closes at 1-8.
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Howard City Tri County (5-4) at Kingsford (9-0), 7 p.m. Friday
Tri County has been a consistently solid program under coach Phil Butler. The Vikings are in the playoffs for the seventh straight season and eighth time in nine years. Meanwhile, Kingsford truly is a “U.P. power.” Like Tri County, Kingsford is in the playoffs for the seventh straight year, but the Flivvers’ success goes back to the 1990s when they captured a Class B state title and finished state runner-up two other times. Tri County is seeking its first playoff win since 2021. All four of the Vikings’ losses have come against playoff qualifiers, two of them by six points. In traveling to and from Kingsford, Tri County is looking at a 12-hour-plus round trip. Kingsford’s most impressive win may be the 21-14 decision on the road in Week 8 against defending Division 7 state champion Menominee.
Winner plays: Negaunee (5-4) at Shepherd (7-2) winner
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DIVISION 7
Manton (7-2) at Manistee (4-5), 7 p.m. Friday
This is the second straight playoff appearance for Manton, which has more of a sporadic postseason history. For Manistee, it’s the sixth playoff berth in seven years. Manistee is one of 17 teams across the state to make the playoffs with a 4-5 record, but it’s the only one in that category to be hosting a first-round playoff game. Manton’s two losses came in back-to-back weeks early in the season against Division 8 top-ranked Beal City (35-0) and McBain (44-6). Manistee’s biggest win of the season came in Week 9 in a 34-28 thriller against longtime rival Ludington. That victory gave the Mariners home field in this matchup.
Winner plays: Lakeview (5-4) at Menominee (8-1) winner
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8-PLAYER DIVISION 2
Grand Rapids Sacred Heart (8-1) at Marion (9-0), 7 p.m. Friday
This is only the third full season for Sacred Heart competing in 8-Player football. Sacred Heart’s biggest win of the season appears to be a 52-22 victory in Week 7 against Martin, which rolled to the 8-Player Division 1 state title last season and captured three of the last four state championships in the division. This is the 10th straight playoff appearance for Marion. The Eagles have been a scoring machine, averaging 66.5 points in eight games (the forfeit win notwithstanding).
Winner plays: Onekama (6-3) at Portland St. Patrick (9-0) winner
Featured photo at the top: Kenowa Hills senior quarterback Grayson Fellows fires a pass during practice Tuesday, Aug. 11, at Kenowa Hills High School in Grand Rapids, Mich. (Photo | Scott DeCamp)
