Get to know the Greater Lansing high school football teams headed to the MHSAA playoffs
The dust has settled on the high school football regular season.
And after nine weeks of play, 20 teams from Greater Lansing have qualified for the Michigan High School Athletic Association state playoffs.
Each of the state qualifiers finished among the top 32 teams in their division in playoff points or the top 16 in 8-player. The area has 18 teams in the field for the 11-player playoffs and two qualifiers in 8-player
Lansing Catholic is the lone area team to make the field with a losing record. Three area teams that finished the regular season at 6-3 – CMAC champion Laingsburg, Lakewood and Stockbridge – didn’t make the field.
Here’s a look at each of the 20 area programs that will have an opportunity to compete for state championships starting this weekend. The pairings will be announced on Sunday evening.
BATH
▶ Coach: Shane Lorenz
▶ Record: 6-3
▶ Division: 7
▶ Playoff points total / ranking: 30.222 / 26
▶ Best win: d. Perry 30-10
▶ What to know: Outside of the COVID-19 impacted season when everyone made the state playoffs, the Bees are part of the postseason for the first time since 2013. Bath's six victories are its most since 2013 and mark a four-win improvement from 2021. The Bees finished fourth in the CMAC and won three of four to close the regular season with their lone loss coming to Pewamo-Westphalia.
CARSON CITY-CRYSTAL
▶ Coach: Tim Swore
▶ Record: 8-1
▶ Division: 8
▶ Playoff points total / ranking: 30.667 / 22
▶ Best wins: d. Riverview Gabriel Richard 23-20; d. Flint Hamady 44-34
▶ What to know: The Eagles head into the postseason with one of the longest win streaks in the area and have won eight straight since a season-opening loss to Fowler. Carson City-Crystal, which played as an independent this fall, allowed seven points or less in four games.
CHARLOTTE
▶ Coach: Mike Sparks
▶ Record: 8-1
▶ Division: 4
▶ Playoff points total / ranking: 56.000 / 10
▶ Best wins: d. Olivet 29-22; d. Lansing Catholic 16-13; d. Flint Hamady 44-34
▶ What to know: The Orioles finished as the CAAC White runner-up and have their highest win total in a season since 2004 when they went 11-1. Braden Hill has been a major factor for Charlotte, which has scored at least 29 points in seven of nine games. The Orioles closed the regular season with three straight wins, which included a road victory over previously unbeaten Flint Hamady in Week 8.
CORUNNA
▶ Coach: Steve Herrick
▶ Record: 7-2
▶ Division: 5
▶ Playoff points total / ranking: 57.889 / 5
▶ Best wins: d. Schwartz Creek 28-27; d. Ortonville Brandon 49-14
▶ What to know: The Cavaliers had their best regular-season finish since 2016 with their seven wins. Corunna has spent a majority of the season ranked among the top 10 teams in Division 5 and finished as the runner-up in the Flint Metro League Stars division. The Cavs went 2-1 in games decided by a touchdown or less, beating Pinckney and Swartz Creek but falling to Ovid-Elise in an overtime game to close the regular season.
DEWITT
▶ Coach: Rob Zimmerman
▶ Record: 6-3
▶ Division: 3
▶ Playoff points total / ranking: 56.149 / 14
▶ Best wins: d. Haslett 21-14; d. Portland 39-34
▶ What to know: The Panthers have ended their last two playoff runs at Ford Field, winning a state title in 2020 and finishing as the state runner-up last season. DeWitt begins its latest title chase with three losses but each of those came in games that went down to the wire against Detroit Catholic Central, East Lansing and Grand Ledge. The Panthers went 2-3 in games decided by a touchdown or less this fall. Bryce Kurncz has been a big all-around threat offensively, while kicker Brandon Soltis recently set the state record for career made extra points.
EAST LANSING
▶ Coach: Bill Feraco
▶ Record: 6-3
▶ Division: 2
▶ Playoff points total / ranking: 57.944 / 21
▶ Best wins: d. Fenton 28-14; d. DeWitt 36-30
▶ What to know: The Trojans finished tied for third with DeWitt in the CAAC Blue after ending the regular season with back-to-back losses to Holt and Grand Ledge. East Lansing went 2-3 against playoff teams during the regular season with the losses coming to Grand Blanc, Holt and Grand Ledge and the wins over DeWitt and Fenton. The Trojans have shown big-play ability with a dangerous receiver combination of Evan Boyd and Dorijan Jackson.
FOWLER
▶ Coach: John Spicer
▶ Record: 8-1
▶ Division: 8
▶ Playoff points total / ranking: 36.611 / 9
▶ Best wins: d. Carson City-Crystal 29-0; d. Bath 35-0; d. Pewamo-Westphalia 20-16
▶ What to know: The Eagles have spent all season ranked in the top 10 by the Associated Press and captured their first CMAC title since 2014 this fall. Fowler's eight wins in the regular season were the most for the program since 2019 when it also went 8-1 before making a run to the state semifinals. The Eagles surrendered just 84 points during the regular season and posted three shutouts.
FULTON
▶ Coach: Steve Clements
▶ Record: 7-2
▶ Division: 8-player Division 1
▶ Playoff points total / ranking: 31.278 / 11
▶ Best wins: d. Blanchard Montabella 78-60; d. Morrice 40-38
▶ What to know: The Pirates have had a strong second season competing in 8-player football and have boosted their win total by three this season. Bruce Thelen has rushed for more than 2,000 yards and led the charge for Fulton, who heads into the postseason on a six-game winning streak. The seven wins for the Pirates this season are their most since winning seven games in 2017.
GRAND LEDGE
▶ Coach: Joe Brya
▶ Record: 7-2
▶ Division: 1
▶ Playoff points total / ranking: 62.278 / 24
▶ Best wins: d. Jackson 29-28; d. DeWitt 56-49; d. East Lansing 45-30
▶ What to know: The Comets put together their best regular season since 2017 while capturing their first CAAC Blue championship since that year. Quarterback Shawn Foster has done plenty of damage on the ground while fueling Grand Ledge, which has averaged 30.1 points. The Comets have scored at least 28 points in eight of their nine games. Grand Ledge won five of six to close the regular season with the lone loss coming to then Division 1 state-ranked Lapeer in Week 7.
More:In new role, Shawn Foster showcasing playmaking abilities for Grand Ledge football
HASLETT
▶ Coach: Brad Thomas
▶ Record: 6-3
▶ Division: 3
▶ Best wins: d. Williamston 30-27
▶ Playoff points total / ranking: 49.778 / 24
▶ What to know: The Vikings finished as the CAAC Red runner-up and had five games with at least 42 points in the regular season while averaging 37.3 points. Junior running back Nakai Amachree led that success and also was a big special teams threat. Defensively, Haslett allowed just 15.7 points per game. The Vikings has their late-season three-game winning streak halted with a loss to playoff qualifier Jackson on Friday. Haslett went 1-3 against playoff qualifiers in the regular season.
HOLT
▶ Coach: Chad Fulk
▶ Record: 6-3
▶ Division: 1
▶ Playoff points total / ranking: 64.833 / 19
▶ Best wins: d. Grand Ledge 14-6; d. East Lansing 16-13; d. Ann Arbor Huron 14-8
▶ What to know: The Rams won four straight and six of their final seven games while capturing the CAAC Blue title. Defense has been the backbone of the success for Holt. After allowing a combined 70 points during an 0-2 start that featured losses to Caledonia and Mason, the Rams gave up just 78 points and held opponents to 11.1 points per game. Holt held five of its final seven opponents to eight points or less.
ITHACA
▶ Coach: Jordan Hessbrook
▶ Record: 8-1
▶ Division: 7
▶ Playoff points total / ranking: 43.972 / 5
▶ Best wins: d. Homer 60-39; d. Saginaw Nouvel 48-6; d. Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary 50-18; d. Shepherd 21-7
▶ What to know: The Yellowjackets ended the regular season on a seven-game winning steak and captured another TVC 10-2 championship. Ithaca allowed just 40 points over its final seven games and beat three teams that ended the regular season with winning records in that stretch. Dual-threat quarterback Bronson Bupp has led a high-powered offense that averaged 45.7 points. The Yellowjackets have been ranked in the top 10 in the AP poll all season.
LANSING CATHOLIC
▶ Coach: Jim Baker
▶ Record: 4-5
▶ Division: 6
▶ Playoff points total / ranking: 36.333 / 25
▶ Best win: d. Pewamo-Westphalia 42-7
▶ What to know: The reigning state champion Cougars rallied to extend their playoff streak with victories over Fowlerville and Pewamo-Westphalia to close the regular season. Jack Jacobs has taken over under center to lead an offense that has averaged 41.5 points the last two weeks. Lansing Catholic is in the playoffs for a 14th consecutive season and last ended a season with a losing record in 2007. The Cougars needs to win two playoff games to finish at least .500.
MASON
▶ Coach: Gary Houghton
▶ Record: 9-0
▶ Division: 3
▶ Playoff points total / ranking: 64.889 / 8
▶ Best wins: d. Holt 35-12, d. Williamston 37-29, d. Haslett 28-13; d. Jackson 35-6
▶ What to know: The Bulldogs have built on last year's historic run to the state semifinals and captured their fourth straight CAAC Red championship and three of those have come outright. Mason also completed their third unbeaten regular season in the last last four years. The Bulldogs won eight of their nine games by at least 15 points and allowed just 11.5 points per game during the regular season. Sophomore quarterback Cason Carswell has directed a balanced offense that averaged 45 points and scored at least 35 points in eight games. Mason has been part of the top 10 in the AP rankings all season and entered Week 9 ranked No. 1.
More:'There's always somebody different': Unbeaten Mason football finding success in multiple ways
More:On mission to prove himself, Colin Page making all-around impact for Mason football
MORRICE
▶ Coach: Kendall Crockett
▶ Record: 7-2
▶ Division: 8-player Division 2
▶ Playoff points total / ranking: 31.319 / 8
▶ Best wins: d. Breckenridge 42-20; d. Blanchard Montabella 50-12
▶ What to know: The Orioles are making their eighth playoff appearance in nine seasons and have been one of Greater Lansing's top 8-player programs. Morrice has spent all season ranked in the top 10 in 8-player Division 2 by the AP. The Orioles, who went 1-2 against playoff teams, scored at least 38 points in seven games.
OLIVET
▶ Coach: Brock Peters
▶ Record: 7-2
▶ Division: 5
▶ Playoff points total / ranking: 45.778 / 17
▶ Best wins: d. Pewamo-Westphalia 20-7; d. Lakewood 42-7
▶ What to know: The Eagles were dominant once again while capturing another GLAC championship, winning each of their league games by at least 35 points. Outside of that, Olivet compiled a 3-2 record in non-league play with the losses coming by identical 29-22 scores to Charlotte and Williamston programs that have been in the top 10 of the Associated Press rankings in their divisions at times this season. Ramsey Bousseau has been among the standouts for the Eagles, who have been in the playoffs every year since 2008.
OVID-ELSIE
▶ Coach: Travis Long
▶ Record: 7-2
▶ Division: 6
▶ Playoff points total / ranking: 45.556 / 13
▶ Best wins: d. Montrose 16-6; d. New Lothrop 14-13; d. Corunna 21-20 (OT)
▶ What to know: After a 1-2 start that featured setbacks to Portland and Durand, the Marauders ended the regular season with seven straight victories while finishing as the runner-up in the MMAC. Ovid-Elsie is making its fifth playoff appearance in six seasons. The seven wins are the most for the Marauders since they went 7-3 in 2017.
PEWAMO-WESTPHALIA
▶ Coach: Jeremy Miller
▶ Record: 5-4
▶ Division: 7
▶ Playoff points total / ranking: 33.000 / 20
▶ Best wins: d. Laingsburg 28-21 / d. Bath 41-12
▶ What to know: The defending state champion Pirates extended their CMAC title streak to eight this fall after finishing tied atop the league standings with Fowler and Laingsburg. Pewamo-Westphalia is in the state playoffs for a 19th straight season and won two of its final three games after sporting a 3-3 mark after Week 6. The Pirates went 1-4 in the regular season against teams that made the playoffs. That record included setbacks to three teams in higher divisions – Redford Union, Olivet and Lansing Catholic.
PORTLAND
▶ Coach: John Novara
▶ Record: 8-1
▶ Division: 5
▶ Playoff points total / ranking: 59.556 / 3
▶ Best wins: d. Ovid-Elsie 36-8; d. Charlotte 40-13; d. Lansing Catholic 33-14; d. Cadillac 32-6; d. Berrien Springs 40-6;
▶ What to know: The Raiders are in the state playoffs for the eighth straight season. Portland was the CAAC White champion and enters the postseason on a seven-game winning streak that included strong road nonleague wins in Week 8 and Week 9 over Cadillac and Berrien Springs. The Raiders, who reached the state semifinals last fall, allowed just 12.4 points per game during the regular season and held seven of their nine opponents to 14 points or less.
WILLIAMSTON
▶ Coach: Steve Kersten
▶ Record: 7-2
▶ Division: 5
▶ Playoff points total / ranking: 53.778 / 8
▶ Best wins: d. Lansing Catholic 22-0; d. Olivet 29-22
▶ What to know: The Hornets are in the playoffs for a seventh straight season and finished third in the CAAC Red behind Division 3 playoff qualifiers Mason and Haslett. Dual-threat quarterback Alex Petersburg has been a driving force for Williamston, which has scored at least 21 points in every game and has averaged 30.3 points this fall.
More:Driven by past disappointment, Alex Petersburg leading success for Williamston football
Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @brian_calloway.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Prep football: Breaking down Greater Lansing's playoff qualifiers
