Okay, that was pretty incredible. What an opening kickoff weekend for Michigan high school football. I cannot remember an opening weekend as exciting, crazy and filled with rivalry games, out-state match-ups and "I can't believe that just happened" moments. Here are just a few of the top games this past weekend in Week 1 -- in what looks to be another fantastic year -- in Michigan high school football.
1. "You-Simply-Had-To-Be-There" games
-- Davison 56, Southfield A & T 54 (3OT) -- In the Prep Kickoff Classic at Wayne State University, Southfield led 26-12 in fourth quarter, before Davison rallied. The Cardinals scored with 1:30 left in the game to send the contest into overtime. Senior Tariq Reid (Michigan's No. 1-ranked RB) scored the game-winning 2-point conversion run in the third OT. Reid finished with 132 yards rushing with four touchdowns. Eric McArn (Michigan's No. 3-ranked RB, CMU verbal) ended up with 176 yards rushing with four TDs for the Warriors.
-- Belleville 34, Brighton 31 (OT) -- In the Battle at the Big House at U-M Stadium, Brighton led 28-16 in the fourth quarter. After a Belleville TD cut the Bulldogs' lead to 28-22, Tigers' senior DB Kmare Carey (WMU verbal) scooped up a fumble and returned the ball 70 yards for a TD with 27 seconds left in the game. Brighton blocked the ensuing PAT sending the contest into OT tied at 28-28. After a Bulldog field goal gave Brighton a 31-28 advantage, Belleville scored a touchdown on its first play from scrimmage in the extra session, running behind junior OT Devontae Dobbs (6-4, 295, Michigan's No. 3-ranked player overall for the class of 2019).
-- Grand Blanc 51, Flint Carman-Ainsworth 46 -- In a wild shoot-out, Grand Blanc rallied from a 15-point second half deficit to defeat Carman-Ainsworth. Despite an appearance from former Cavalier and current Michigan State tailback Gerald Holmes, Carman-Ainsworth was unable to hold off the explosive Bobcats in an incredible Flint area season-opener.
2. "Battle-Of-State-Champions" games
-- Jackson Lumen Christi 27, Grand Rapids West Catholic 24 -- In a battle between the defending Division 5 state champion (West Catholic) and the defending Division 6 state title-holder (Lumen Christi), the Titans came out on top. The Titans have won nine football state championships in their history, while the Falcons have captured five state titles in their history, including four straight.
-- No. 7 Grand Rapids Catholic Central 20, Detroit Country Day 7 -- In a rematch of last season's Division 4 state title game, Catholic Central defeated Country Day for the second straight time. In last year's D-4 final, the Cougars topped the Yellowjackets 10-7 for the title. The Catholic Central-Country Day tussle was one of many games pitting powerhouse programs from Michigan's West side versus top teams from the state's East side.
-- East Grand Rapids 33, Farmington Hills Harrison 8 -- In another West side vs. East side contest, two legendary programs squared off with the Pioneers defeating the Hawks 33-8. East Grand Rapids has won 11 football state titles (third most all-time in Michigan), while Harrison has captured 13 football state championships (first all-time in Michigan).
3. "Michigan vs. Everybody" games
-- No. 1 Detroit King 38, Indianapolis (IN) Cathedral 35
-- Colon 20, Fremont (IN) 7
-- Pickerington (OH) Central 24, No. 4 Detroit Cass Tech 21
-- Temperance Bedford 35, Toledo (OH) St. John's Jesuit 28
-- Millington 29, Sylvania (OH) Southview 26
-- Menominee 26, Marinette (WI) 6 -- * See below
-- Norway 34, Niagara (WI) Northern Elite 7
-- Menasha (WI) 21, Kingsford 14
-- Hurley (WI) 44, Bessemer 20
-- Calumet 14, Eagle River (WI) Northland Pines 6
Michigan finished 7-3 versus out-state competition this past weekend.
4. "Significant Rivalry" games
-- Clinton 32, Manchester 14 -- The "Battle of M-52" (signifying the 7-mile stretch of highway separating the two towns in southern Michigan) is one of Michigan's oldest rivalry games. The Redskins and Flying Dutchmen first played in 1898. The state's oldest rivalry contest is Kalamazoo Central vs. Battle Creek Central (first played in 1893), while other long-standing football rivalries in Michigan include Saginaw vs. Saginaw Arthur Hill (began in 1894), Plainwell vs. Otsego (1896), Adrian vs. Monroe (1896) and Menominee vs. Escanaba (1897).
-- Rochester Adams 38, Rochester 6 -- In the annual battle of Madonna's hometown, the "Fighting Matt Sokols" (former Adams standout and current Michigan State starting TE) defeated the "Ragin' L.J. Sheltons" (former Rochester and EMU OT and No. 1 NFL draft pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 1999).
-- Menominee 26, Marinette (WI) 6 -- In one of my favorite rivalries, known as the "M & M Game," the Maroons defeated the Mighty Marines 26-6. The Menominee vs. Marinette football contest is the longest running interstate rivalry game in the nation. The two towns, separated by the Menominee River (which drains into Green Bay -- yes, THAT Green Bay), is the border between Michigan's Upper Peninsula and Wisconsin. The two squads have been squaring off on the football field since 1894. Sidenote -- If you've never been to Menominee, take the trip, it's an interesting U.P. town on the shores of Green Bay, with one of the coolest "throw-back-in-time" high school football stadiums you will ever see (Walton Blesch Field, Google it). Trust me... Surrounded by stone walls on all four sides, grandstands that run the length of the field (from end zone to end zone) and shoe-horned smack-dab in the middle of a local neighborhood, it is truly an experience for any high school football stadium fanatic (like me) to see. I once drove the seven hours just to check out the place (yes, I have no life, don't judge me --ha!).
5. "Other Really Good/Interesting" games
-- No. 6 Walled Lake Western 19, No. 5 West Bloomfield 14
-- Trenton 20, Allen Park 14
-- Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central 28, Pewamo-Westphalia 21
-- Traverse City St. Francis 21, Marquette 7
-- Dearborn Divine Child 42, Benton Harbor 12
-- Detroit East English Village 38, No. 10 River Rouge 29
-- Lowell 36, Warren DeLaSalle 6
-- Grand Rapids Christian 38, DeWitt 30
-- Macomb Dakota 31, Orchard Lake St. Mary's 24
Updated Top 10 State Rankings --
1. Detroit King (1-0)
2. Detroit Catholic Central (1-0)
3. Muskegon (1-0)
4. Walled Lake Western (1-0)
5. Grand Rapids Catholic Central (1-0)
6. Utica Eisenhower (1-0)
7. Lowell (1-0)
8. East Grand Rapids (1-0)
9. Detroit East English Village (1-0)
10. Davison (1-0)
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