Football

There was initial excitement that we might be onto something, but that brief infatuation began to wane as we dug deeper and discussed the plan more widely.

Jack Schugars led five Muskegon Oakridge teams to MHSAA football championship games during his 32 seasons running the program. He finished his high school coaching career in 2010 with a record of 262-78.  And of course, he impacted hundreds of lives in a communi...

The NFL has administered a self-inflicted wound, shot itself in the foot, and made FOOTBALL the face of America’s youth sports concussion problem.

This year's Super Bowl was an occasion for an unusual amount of commentary on the state of football safety, especially concussions.

Drake Harris may not have expected the full force of the performance he put up Saturday to cap an incredible junior season for Grand Rapids Christian. But he had a pretty good idea at the start that it could turn into a special night.

Dylan Carroll and Adam Goodman knew the request was coming long before coach John Novara asked them to make a big change for their senior seasons on the Portland football team. The writing was on the scale, so to say. At 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, Carroll was among the t...

Champions representing five regions of our state. The fifth to win three-straight MHSAA titles. Two more repeat champions, and three teams that hoisted trophies for the first time. Plus four games decided by a touchdown or less, including a Final won on an overtime...

A funny thing happened on Drake Harris’ way to hoops stardom. He discovered he’s even greater on the gridiron. The junior wide receiver didn’t intend to play high school football at Grand Rapids Christian, but now figures that’s his meal ticket ...

Half of Portland’s division of the Capital Area Activities Conference has made it to the MHSAA Finals over the last three seasons. So before bringing the Raiders to Ford Field this week, coach John Novara spoke with a number of coaches who had occupied the spot h...

Thomas Wilcher is a former Detroit Public School League football star who has become one of the most successful coaches in the state.  Perhaps such a future awaits the city’s brightest current star, Detroit Cass Tech quarterback Jayru Campbell. 

When Ishpeming coach Jeff Olson watched film this week of Saturday opponent Detroit Loyola, he saw a team that continuously “demoralized” its opponents. By midway through the second quarter of the MHSAA Division 7 Final, his players understood what he meant...

The Grand Rapids South Christian community wouldn't allow Derek Woltjer to feel nervous or unsure of himself. As soon as it became apparent that he would start for injured star quarterback Jon Wassink in the MHSAA Division 4 championship game, Woltjer was bombarded w...

Logan Hessbrook started at quarterback for Ithaca’s junior varsity last season as a sophomore, and probably would start for a few hundred teams that don't have the luxury of all-state quarterbacks every season. But neither takes away from the fact that ...

Jason Alessi appeared to be running out of gas.  For someone who spent the day chasing Muskegon's speedy backs, who could blame him if fatigue was setting in? With a championship on the line, however, Alessi still had the dream of a lifetime within him.

Harbor Beach always has considered itself a football town. Beginning with its last run to an MHSAA championship game in 1991, the Pirates have amassed six seasons with at least 10 wins – including four over the last decade. But the 1,600 residents living along th...

Recognize more than a few of this season's MHSAA 11-player football finalists? You should.  Only three first-timers will be making the trip to Ford Field this weekend. The other 13 contenders have combined for 68 championship game appearances over the 37-year hist...

Here's what we got from Saturday's MHSAA 11-player Semifinals: Four reigning champions headed back to Ford Field. Two rematches of 2011 championship games. And three teams – welcome Grand Rapids Christian, Portland and Detroit Loyola – t...

Deckerville sophomore Ryan Stone had serious doubts about playing on the varsity team this year. Stone thought he was better suited for the junior varsity. But following Friday night's MHSAA 8-player football championship game, everyone in the city of Deckerville is gl...

Alex Grace knew there would be high expectations when he joined Saginaw Swan Valley’s varsity football team this fall as a sophomore.  But he also spent all last season – and most of his life – learning how to fulfill them from one of the Vikings...

Starting with this Saturday's Semifinals, every team left in the MHSAA football playoffs hits the road.  Some face longer trips than others. But all 32 hope their final journeys last long enough to land them at Ford Field for an extended Thanksgiving celebration.&...