Regular Season Ends in High School Football
By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports
(October 21, 2023 7:31 AM ET) The thrill of high school football came to an end last night for a number of local players.
Week nine of the Michigan high school football season brings an end to the playing career for a large majority of the players.
Thanks for all of the Friday night fun over the years for those seniors who played his/her last football game last night.
For others, the Michigan High School Athletic Association playoffs start next week. Playoff matchups are expected to be announced Sunday at 6 p.m. on the “Selection Sunday Show” on Bally Sports Detroit Extra for 11-man and 8-man football.
The top 32 teams in each division in 11-man football advance to the MHSAA playoffs and the top 16 in 8-man football.
Here are highlights from Friday night games and schedules of today’s important matchups.
Michigan Center 35, Jonesville 20: The Cardinals look strong for a playoff spot after posting a 7-2 overall record. Jonesville finishes the season at 3-6. The Cardinals were No. 17 in Division 6 playoff points heading into the contest.
Manchester 35, Columbia Central 28: The Flying Dutchmen pulled out the game with 14 points in the fourth quarter. Manchester is now 7-2 overall while CCHS falls to 4-5. Blake Sloan continued his rushing assault with 252 yards and one touchdown. Kannon Duffing finished with 88 passing yards and threw three touchdown passes to Sloan, Luke Blumenauer, and Bubba Duffing. The Flying Dutchmen were led by Bubba Duffing with 9.5 tackles and Gunner Carson with 8. Manchester was No. 12 in playoff points in Division 7 heading into the contest. Braden Ellison led CCHS with 222 rushing yards and two touchdowns and Blake Evans added 76 yards and one score. Shane Taylor finished with nine tackles and a sack and Mason Czubachowski had eight tackles including two for losses for the Golden Eagles.
Grass Lake 28, Hanover-Horton 6: The Warriors finish the regular season with a 6-3 record while Hanover-Horton is 2-7. Brayden Lape threw for 253 yards and Jack Reid recorded 11 tackles for the Warriors. Manny Schafan also recovered a pair of fumbles for Grass Lake. The Comets scored on a 49-yard pass from Jack Wooster to Logan Blackledge. Hanover-Horton was held to 135 yards of offense by the Grass Lake defense.
Concord 76, Athens 0: The Yellow Jackets finish the regular season with a 6-3 record following the impressive win. They hope to get into the 8-Man Playoffs for the first time in school history. Gavin Riske threw a school-record eight touchdown passes in the win over Athens. The Concord quarterback was 12-for-16 for 343 yards for the night. Senior Mekhi Wingfield caught eight passes for 223 yards and five scores in the lopsided contest. T.J. Allen caught three passes for 60 yards and scored on two of them. Collin Thompson finished with 13 tackles on the night for Concord. Wingfield and Riske shattered the school’s football record book this season in passing yards, receptions, and yards.
Western 65, Coldwater 7: The Panthers finished with its best regular-season record (8-1) since 2018 with the home victory. Reed Myers finished 12-for-15 passing for 258 yards and three touchdowns for Western. Alex Trudell ran for 133 yards and two touchdowns with only nine carries, Ben Parrott caught six passes for 121 yards and two scores, Caleb Rudd-Jones, Landon Heavy, Owen St. Andre, Jayden Willis, and Hunter Fullerton all scored touchdowns for Western. Gibson French led Western with seven tackles, Ryan Fullerton intercepted a pass, and Noah Berdiner connected on a 26-yard field goal in the win. The Panthers were ranked No. 8 in playoff points in Division 3 prior to the win.
Northwest 36, Marshall 6: The Mounties finish over .500 for the second consecutive season and first time posting back-to-back winning seasons since 2007-2008. The Redhawks ended the season with a 2-7 mark. Marshall scored first in the game, but Northwest responded with 36 consecutive points in the win.
Stockbridge 40, Dansville 0: The Panthers finish the season with three wins in its last four contests. Drew Robinson scored four touchdowns – three on passes from Jalen Rogozinski for the Panthers. Robinson scored on passes of 23, 54, and 9 yards finishing with 212 yards of total offense for the night. Rogozinski threw for 167 yards through the air for Stockbridge. Zac Rogozinski scored on a punt return and Noah Sandecki scored for the Panthers on a 38-yard run. Stockbridge finishes the season with a 4-5 record.
Hillsdale 48, Onsted 42: The Hornets earned its third win of the season with a crazy win over Onsted in Lenawee County Athletic Association play. Stephen Petersen was the star for the Hornets with 176 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Jace Lennox and Declan Flannery also scored touchdowns for the Hornets in the victory. Petersen and Flannery combined for 35 tackles for HHS. Hillsdale finishes the regular season with a 3-6 record.
Haslett 18, Jackson 8: The Vikings finished the season with a 4-5 record following the non-conference loss to Haslett.
Leslie 59, Homer 8: Leslie High School earned an easy win at home in the Cascades Conference Crossover game. Jayden Colby was the man for the Blackhawks with 114 rushing yards, 6-for-11 passing for 121 yards, four scores, a pick-6 interception, and a 62-yards kickoff return for a touchdown for Leslie. Jack Fossitt finished with four catches for 105 yards and two scores and Braedon Romero ran for 61 yards and two more scores for Leslie. Max Dexter led the defensive effort for Leslie with seven tackles and a forced fumble. Brogan Dodge recorded six tackles and Jacob Phillips intercepted two passes for the Blackhawks (3-6).
Saturday Football Games
Springport at East Jackson 10 a.m.
Addison at Napoleon (Cascades Championship) Noon
Lumen Christi vs. Harper Creek (Ford Field) 1:30 p.m.