As we step away from the football season into the winter season, we are looking back at some takeaways from our Football coverage.
First Time Champions
We were able to see four first-time champions crowned in their respective divisions for football.
It all started early on Saturday as Ubly won their first state title during the division 8 game. This was their fourth trip to the championship game, and it was a rematch of the game from a year ago, with the only difference being a 21-6 Ubly victory over Ottawa Lake Whiteford.
Harper Woods also followed up the Ubly win with their first State Title. Not only was it Harper Woods’s first State Title, but it was also their first trip to the finals. They were able to edge out the defending State Champion Grand Rapids South Christian by a final of 33-27.
The old saying is the third time is the charm, and that was the case for Forest Hills Central as they won their first State Title on their third try. After falling to De La Salle in the Division Two game a year ago, they dropped down to Division Three, and they were able to come out victorious 27-10 over Mason.
The Final first-time Champion this year was in the last game of the football season, as Southfield A&T was able to hold off the two-time champion Belleville Tigers. This was a first for Southfield A&T as it was their first trip and the first title for the school. With the talent on the field, it went down as an instant classic and a game that showcased what Michigan Football had to offer.
Big Names Go Without Titles
In the last few years, we have been lucky enough to see some of Michigan’s best and most talented players walk away with state titles in their senior years. Three players that didn’t even get the ability to try and do that this year were Saline’s CJ Carr, Detroit King’s Marvell Eggleston Jr, and River Rouge’s Nick “Megatron” Marsh.
While Marsh and Eggleston have both been to the finals, Carr has yet to make it past the regional round of the playoffs. Marsh had success as a Freshman, making it to the finals in a game that was his coming out party, and quickly became a fan favorite, if not for his play on the field then for his nickname that is so endearing to the people of this area. For Eggleston, he has reached the top of the Michigan High School mountain as a two-time state champion, but those came in his sophomore and junior seasons. While none of them are going out on top this year, they left behind memories of outstanding plays and great times for the people of their communities.
Repeat Champ
This year, Jackson Lumen Christi was the only team to repeat as a champion. However, they weren’t the only ones trying. This was their 16th trip to the State Final, which is third all-time, and their 13th title in school history, which is tied for first all-time with Farmington Hills Harrison. The next title that Lumen Christi wins will give them the number one spot all by themselves since Harrison closed following the 2018-19 school year.
Two Coaches Retire on top.
One of the biggest things that came out of the State Finals weekend was two coaches going out on top. Eric Sweeney of Ubly and Tim Rogers of Forest Hills Central decided to go out on a high note and retire following their respective games during the post-game press conferences.
Eric Sweeney calls it a career after four years at Ubly. Sweeney made it to Ford Field three times in those four years and won one title this past season. It was also the first time that Ubly had won the state title. Sweeney leaves with a 48-5 record at the school, along with a state title.
Tim Rogers called it “the worst kept secret in the state” with his decision to go out on top. Rogers had been at Forest Hills Central since 2012 and decided to go out with the team’s first state title. Rogers leaves with an 87-41 mark at Forest Hills Central and the school’s first state title.
OAA League of Champions
The OAA is home to two current State Champions, and they play championship-level competition every week. With Harper Woods and Southfield A&T currently the Division 1 and 4 champs and other teams like West Bloomfield, Lake Orion, and Clarkston always hanging around, could we see another contender coming from a league that produced three champions in the last four years?