News - What to know about all 16 teams playing in the MHSAA football state finals

The 2025 Michigan high school football season ends, as in years past, this coming weekend in downtown Detroit at Ford Field with the state finals for all eight divisions of 11-player football. This year, four MHSAA football championship games will be played Friday, Nov. 28, with the other four Sunday, Nov. 30. There is a one-day break in the state finals schedule due to Michigan State playing its season finale against Maryland at Ford Field on Saturday. The action starts Friday with the Division 8 final at 9:30 a.m., and ends Sunday with the Division 7 final at 9:30 p.m. The Free Press will be there every minute of every game to chronicle history with live updates, videos, feature stories and more. All state championship games will be exclusively streamed on NFHS Network. There is no cable broadcast of the state finals for football or boys and girls basketball in the winter. Watch MHSAA football games live, on demand. Here is what you need to know on the final 16 teams competing for state titles at Ford Field. Division 1, Sunday at 7 p.m. Detroit Cass Tech (13-0) Nickname: The Technicians. How they've fared in playoffs: Beat Northville 46-3; beat Dearborn Fordson 46-3; beat Saline 42-28; beat Rochester Adams 48-22. Key players: WR/DB C.J. Sadler, LB Marcus Jennings, QB Donald Tabron II, OL Khalief Canty Jr., DL Victor Polk, LB Collin Sumpter, WR Will Sykes Jr., RB Julian Taylor. What to know: Cass Tech is the defending Division 1 state champion. The Technicians have followed up their 2024 run with a perfect 2025. They have one of the best players in Michigan with Sadler, a top quarterback in Tabron, and a swarming defense with Division 1 college athletes at all three levels. The Technicians spent all summer focused on a new goal of creating a dynastic team on Second Ave. Cass started the season with two close calls against Toledo CC and Grandville, but has gotten better throughout the season to extend the program's winning streak to 23 games. Novi Detroit Catholic Central (13-0) Nickname: The Shamrocks. How they've fared in playoffs: Beat Hartland 35-7; beat Brighton 45-7; beat Clarkston 42-13; beat East Kentwood 46-6. Key players: WR/DB Samson Gash, TE/DL Jack Janda, OL/DL Benjamin Eziuka, QB Duke Banta, OL Eric Anderson, DB/WR Gideon Gash, DL Hunter Stokes, RB Cedric Williams. What to know: Catholic Central went undefeated in the regular season for the second straight season and broke through in the semifinals for the program's first trip to Ford Field since 2016. The Shamrocks only trailed twice through the first 12 games, and shut down East Kentwood quarterback Kayd Coffman, a Michigan State commit. Gash (Michigan State), Janda (Wisconsin) and Eziuka (Penn State) are future Big Ten players and vocal leaders. Banta, a junior captain, is a humble leader with a great arm capable of attacking downfield. The defensive line, led by Janda, has been disruptive against both the run and pass, with Gideon Gash serving as a top corner matching up with the other team's best guy. After losing in last year's semifinals to Cass Tech, Catholic Central has taken care of business with the ultimate goal to "finish what we started" and now gets a rematch in the final. Division 2, Friday at 7 p.m. Orchard Lake St. Mary's (10-2) Nickname: The Eaglets. How they've fared in playoffs: Beat North Farmington 35-7; beat Birmingham Brother Rice 35-14; beat Midland Dow 42-7; beat Portage Central 42-7. Key players: QB Jabin Gonzales, DB/RB Camari Patterson, WR Lorenzo Barber, DL Treighjan Gibson, DL Kyrie Williams, LB Luke Jackson, RB Jamari Givhan. What to know: The Eaglets are the defending Division 2 state champions, and have one of the best defenses in the state, led by Patterson and a disruptive defensive line. Williams and Gibson are a terrific tandem that eat up blocks, while Jackson leads the group from middle linebacker. St. Mary's running game has picked up in the playoffs, with Givhan as the featured back and utilizing a talented group of receivers as ball carriers. Gonzales is a dual-threat quarterback capable of making quick throwing decisions or torching a defense as a runner. Dexter (12-1) Nickname: The Dreadnaughts. How they've fared in playoffs: Beat Livonia Franklin 42-7; beat South Lyon 41-27; beat Gibraltar Carlson 56-42; beat Birmingham Groves 41-6. Key players: QB Cooper Arnedt, WR Cole Novara, LB Nathan Gersh, LB Charlie Pomo, OL Owen Winder, TE/DL Holden Niemi, WR Oliver Hutchison. What to know: The Dreadnaughts are in the midst of the best season in school history with their first-ever trip to the state finals. Arnedt is one of the most feared quarterbacks in Michigan, throwing for over 4,000 yards and 40 touchdowns during his senior season for an offense averaging 46.5 points entering the semifinals. His top target is Novara, a Michigan State baseball commit, who is a walking mismatch out wide, and set state records this season. Gersh, a Toledo commit, and Pomo are an experienced linebacker tandem leading the defense. Winder is an Iowa State commit up front. Division 3, Sunday at 12:30 p.m. Mount Pleasant (13-0) Nickname: The Oilers. How they've fared in playoffs: Beat Bay City Western 35-14; beat Gaylord 42-0; beat East Grand Rapids 28-14; beat Lowell 41-21. Key players: WR/DB Riley Olson, DB Will Garcia, QB Xavier Creguer, LB Graham Phillips, LB/TE Jack Mozurkewich, OL/DL Kurt Freling, DL Kaed Wheeler. What to know: Mount Pleasant is back at Ford Field for the second time in school history in search of the program's first state title. The Oilers dominated their schedule, winning their first 12 games by double-digit margins. Olson and Garcia lead the team as the starting safeties. Garcia leads the team in tackles. Olson is a three-year, two-way starter and returns punts and kicks. Creguer is a team leader who can create for himself or set up receivers. Mount Pleasant is a deep, senior-heavy team. That experience has led to success week after week. DeWitt (13-0) Nickname: The Panthers. How they've fared in playoffs: Beat Owosso 70-13; beat Linden 45-0; beat Fenton 70-26; beat Warren De La Salle 41-20. Key players: QB Traverse Moore, WR/DB Jadon Bender, TE/DE Jacob Schorfhaar, OL/DL Drew Rumsey, OL/DL Jackson Nehf, OL/DL Luke Nolen, DB Lucas Brandell, RB Channing Ridley, DB Ian Sosebee. What to know: DeWitt is headed back to Ford Field for the first time since 2021 after coming up one game short in 2024. The Panthers have an explosive offense featuring Moore, who transitioned from running back to quarterback, and Ridley leading the way behind a big, powerful and experienced offensive line group. The Panthers' defense held seven of their first 12 opponents to single-digit or zero points to pair with an offense averaging 52.6 points per game. Division 4, Friday at 12:30 p.m. Hudsonville Unity Christian (12-1) Nickname: The Crusaders. How they've fared in playoffs: Beat Holland Christian 53-42; beat Spring Lake 34-19; beat Big Rapids 52-14; beat Vicksburg 45-17. Key players: QB/DB Justin Febus, LB/RB Jared DeVries, OL/LB Max Baragar, OL Levi Offringa, TE/DL Jonathan Heuker, RB/DB Lucas Elliot. What to know: Unity Christian is headed back to Ford Field for the first time since 2021 with a new-look group. The Crusaders replaced 18 starters from their 2024 team and had plenty of players step up around key returners like Febus and DeVries to start the season with eight wins and four straight in the playoffs. Unity Christian got a wake-up call with a close loss to Notre Dame Prep in Week 9, and it has led to a strong run in the playoffs. Febus does it all for the team as a passer, runner and safety. DeVries is the team's leading tackler and rarely leaves the field for plays on either side of the ball. Dearborn Divine Child (12-1) Nickname: The Falcons. How they've fared in playoffs: Beat Tecumseh 55-19; beat Madison Heights Lamphere 41-7; beat Harper Woods 10-6; beat Goodrich 10-7. Key players: RB/DB Marcello Vitti, WR/DB Giancarlo Vitti, WR/DB Antonio Solares-Vitti, QB Drew Sheridan, DB Michael DiSalvo; DL Chris Hammock, OL Jack Bobin, OL Nico Schwartz, DL Jackson Kelly. What to know: Divine Child is playing for its first state title since 1985 after running through a gauntlet that featured top-ranked Harper Woods and defending champion Goodrich, ending The Martians' state-leading win streak at 25 games. Marcello Vitti is the featured back of the offense and leader of the defense from safety alongside his brother Giancarlo. Solares-Vitti is a big target on offense and a good corner, playing opposite of DiSalvo. Sheridan is a young star under center. The Falcons have an imposing group on both the offensive and defensive lines, led by Bobin and Hammock. Division 5, Sunday at 4 p.m. Grand Rapids West Catholic (12-1) Nickname: The Falcons. How they've fared in playoffs: Beat Muskegon Oakridge 56-7; beat Grand Rapids Catholic Central 21-20; beat Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep 27-0; beat Ogemaw Heights 34-24. Key players: QB Grady Augustyn, OL/DL Jacob Timmer, LB/RB Collin Abram, WR/DB Thomas Puksta, RB/DB Connor Olszewski, LB/TE Noah Gillespie. What to know: Grand Rapids West Catholic is no stranger to Ford Field and will head back to the state title game for the ninth time since 2010, with their first appearance since 2022. The Falcons have won 12 straight since dropping their first game of the season to Grand Rapids Northview. The defense held 11 straight opponents to 21 points or less with a strong front seven headlined by Timmer. Abram and Olszewski are a dynamic running back duo and Augustyn is a senior signal-caller who can do it with both his arms and legs. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (11-2) Nickname: The Fighting Irish. How they've fared in playoffs: Beat Hazel Park 59-0; beat Detroit Denby 49-0; beat Frankenmuth 42-28; beat Monroe Jefferson 51-21. Key players: QB Sam Stowe, WR/LB Brody Sink, WR/DB Drake Roa, OL/DL Henry Ewles, TE/DL Lucas Kattula, OL/DL Logan Tuttle, OL/DL Jack Williams. What to know: The Fighting Irish, the defending Division 5 champions, have won 10 straight to return to Ford Field after a 1-2 start. The slow start lit a fire under the group, and a new-look defense started to gel with Sink leading the way. Stowe has produced a second straight season of gaudy passing numbers while mainly targeting Sink and Roa. Notre Dame Prep has a big offensive and defensive line for its class, helping them dictate games at the point of attack. Division 6, Friday at 4 p.m. Kingsley (11-2) Nickname: The Stags. How they've fared in playoffs: Beat Calumet 41-14; beat Traverse City St. Francis 57-6; beat Reed City 18-14; beat Kent City 14-0. Key players: OL/DL Collin McCoy, RB/DB Gavin Lewis, DL/OL/FB Isaiah Cosgrove, LB/TE Coleton Goethals, LB/TE Alex Figueroa, RB/LB Perry Smith, RB Nolan Hodges, RB/DB Alex Drury, QB Tucker Dreves. What to know: Kingsley is back at Ford Field trying to win its second state championship in the last three years. The Stags started the season 3-2 while dealing with injuries to their top three running backs, but have won eight straight as the team has gotten healthier. The team developed depth with five running backs all being used in their offense. Cosgrove and McCoy are key two-way players on the lines, while Cosgrove also racked up over 700 rushing yards as a fullback. The defense is stout up front, holding teams to just over 14 points per game. Jackson Lumen Christi (10-3) Nickname: The Titans. How they've fared in playoffs: Beat Onsted 56-7; beat Napoleon 44-0; beat Ida 21-7; beat Almont 25-19 (3OT). Key players: QB Benny Gaston, LB/FB Sean Walicki, OL/DL Antwon Baker, RB/DB Paul Sattler, WR Wes Learned, WR Isaac Maki, RB Amarion Clay. What to know: Lumen Christi is fighting for its fourth straight state championship and 15th overall as a program under legendary coach Herb Brogan, who passed Al Fracassa for the second-most wins by a coach in state history by beating Almont. The Titans started the season 2-3 with three losses to state title contenders in higher divisions in Notre Dame Prep, Divine Child and Montini Catholic (Ill.), but have won eight straight in convincing fashion to get back. The Titans have a great rushing attack with Gaston leading the way. Defensively, Walicki leads the group and Baker is their best player on both the offensive and defensive line. Division 7, Sunday at 9:30 a.m. Menominee (13-0) Nickname: The Maroons. How they've fared in playoffs: Beat Manton 48-17; beat McBain 49-6; beat Shelby 43-0; beat Pewamo-Westphalia 32-28. Key players: QB/DB Tanner Theuerkauf, OL/DL Alex Parrett, OL/DL Brennan Swanson, RB Clayton Miller, LB Nathan Nelson, WR/DB Dawson Bardowski, WR/DB Nathan Komp. What to know: Menominee went undefeated, winning its first 12 games by double digits, then knocked out unbeaten Pewamo-Westphalia to reach the final for the second time in three seasons. The Maroons have a large group of seniors who were a part of the 2023 run to Ford Field. Theuerkauf was named the top player in the Upper Peninsula with more than 30 offensive touchdowns and a few interceptions. Miller takes advantage of large gaps created by the experienced line to rush for over 1,000 yards. Defensively, no team has scored more than 17 points against the Maroons through the first 12 games. Schoolcraft (11-2) Nickname: The Eagles. How they've fared in playoffs: Beat Galesburg-Augusta 42-21; beat Lawton 26-0; beat Hanover-Horton 22-14; beat Clinton 43-14. Key players: QB Jack DeVries, RB/DB T.J. Luteyn, WR/DB Brayden Boyes, OL/DL Liam Haines, TE/DL Brody Epple, LB/RB Evan Feller, WR/DB Drew Enright. What to know: Schoolcraft is headed back to the state title game for the first time since 2001 after getting through the semifinals in a second consecutive appearance. DeVries is an experienced quarterback leading the offense and peppering a deep skill position group. The Eagles suffered a loss in the final week of the regular season before going on their playoff run. Defensively, Schoolcraft has been a stout team to face outside of giving up 40 points to Hudsonville Unity Christian early in the season. Division 8, Friday at 9:30 a.m. Harbor Beach (13-0) Nickname: The Pirates. How they've fared in playoffs: Beat Reese 49-8; beat Unionville-Sebewaing 35-12; beat Beal City 26-15, beat Bark River-Harris 40-0. Key players: QB Caden Bucholtz, RB Keagun Potestivo, RB/DB Benson Harper, RB Rogan Messing, LB John Learman, DL Matt Geiger, LB Jonah Dimock, DL Skiler Cruse. What to know: Harbor Beach is playing in its first state title game since winning it all in 2012. The Pirates won the first 12 games by double digits, including knocking out defending champion Beal City 26-15 in their closest game this season. Buchholtz has been the conductor of the offense as one of the best quarterbacks in Division 8, alongside a reliable stable of running backs. The offensive and defensive line play has been a consistent positive, while a deep group of linebackers leads the defense. Hudson (13-0) Nickname: The Tigers. How they've fared in playoffs: Beat Centreville 52-13; beat White Pigeon 50-20; beat Springport 68-22; beat Allen Park Cabrini 67-14. Key players: OL/DL Malachi Marshall, OL/DL R.J. Thompson, OL/DL Koen Hinzman, TE/DL Liam Timm, RB/DB Grayson Bills, RB/DB Beckett Campbell, QB/DB Colt Perry, LB Devon Brigman. What to know: Hudson is playing in its first state championship since winning it in 2021. The Tigers have been successful living by the run, racking up nearly 5,000 rushing yards as a team. Bills and Campbell combined have rushed for almost 3,000 yards behind an experienced offensive line. Hudson's offense averaged 51.3 points through its first 12 games. Those linemen play both ways and form a formidable front, opening up lanes for players like Brigman to make plays. Nominate a high school athlete for the Detroit Free Press boys and girls athlete of the week. Jared Ramsey covers high school sports for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jramsey@freepress.com; Follow Jared on X or Bluesky.