There was a little extra juice for the always-emotional rivalry meeting Friday, Oct. 16, between Grand Blanc and Davison football in Week 8 of the Michigan high school football season.
The Bobcats and Cardinals played for the final time as members of the Saginaw Valley League South conference, with the two Flint-area Division 1 schools set to join the Oakland Activities Association in 2027.
In the final meeting as SVL foes, Grand Blanc outlasted Davison, 28-21, to win its third straight SVL football title.
"With the rivalry, the significance of the game with it being both of our and Davison's last SVL game, there was a lot on the line," Grand Blanc coach Kaleb Forr said Saturday.
Grand Blanc (8-0), ranked No. 9 overall in Michigan, had to rally
in the second half after Davison (6-2) took a touchdown lead with a third-quarter pick-six.
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Grand Blanc mishandled the ensuing kickoff, forcing the Bobcats to start at their own 2-yard line. Led by junior quarterback Jake Dewitt, Grand Blanc marched 98 yards for the tying score. Grand Blanc took the lead with a Dewitt touchdown run in the fourth quarter, while the defense held the lead late.
"It wasn't a perfect game by any means, but that's how it is when you play in these big games against tough teams," Forr said. "You have to take it one step at a time, one drive at a time. I'm really excited about how we finished."
Dewitt settled in and made plays after throwing the pick-six. Grand Blanc's running back duo of Jeremiah Coleman and Ashton Brown kept the offense on schedule behind an offensive line led by left tackle Joey Asperger (Grand Valley State commit).
Defensive tackle Braylon Toins and linebacker Robert Giles continued their strong senior seasons to lead Grand Blanc's defense.
"I think [the defense] has been consistent all year with how well our front four has been able to play and how aggressive they play," Forr said.
"The good thing about the personnel we have is we could switch things up if things aren't going the way we want it to go. The kids do a great job adjusting and taking in the coaching."
East Grand Rapids survives Hail Mary with 2-point stop
East Grand Rapids collectively breathed a sigh of relief after surviving one of the crazier fourth quarters of the 2026 Michigan high school football season.
Middleville Thornapple Kellogg covered 80 yards in the final 22 seconds of regulation and found the end zone with a Hail Mary thrown against the strong wind, making it 28-27 East GR. Rather than playing for overtime, Middleville opted to go for the win with a 2-point conversion.
With no timeouts, Middleville lined up for the 2-point try right away and ran the ball to the right. East Grand Rapids sophomore linebacker Ray Moore snuck into the backfield for first contact, allowing junior defensive tackle Jack Leestma to finish the tackle at the line of scrimmage.
EGR stops the 2pt conversion!
— The D Zone (@TheD_Zone) October 17, 2026
This was an instant classic.
#58 East Grand Rapids (6-2) beat #84 Middleville Thornapple Kellogg (6-2) 28-27
@EastGRFootball pic.twitter.com/gFKO5hjNjv
EGR rallied with 22 fourth-quarter points. The Pioneers tied the game on the first play of the final quarter, which Middleville answered with a long kickoff return and quick touchdown. EGR answered, converting a fourth-and-10 at midfield with a key completion between Tripp Hoekstra and Gibson Putnam to set up a touchdown. But the 2-point conversion failed, keeping EGR behind by a point.
EGR forced a fumble on the ensuing possession and recovered with 2:50 left. The Pioneers scored the go-ahead touchdown with 22 seconds left, and had to hold on late to survive.
"Wild game," EGR coach Josh Shattuck said. "It was what high school football is all about. I've got a lot of respect for Middleville. They do a great job with great kids over there."
EGR senior offensive/defensive lineman Grant Adloff, a Michigan State commit, continued his strong senior season. The four-year starter set the tone immediately with a 6-yard tackle for loss on a toss, prompting Middleville to run away from him for the rest of the game. Offensively, he led an offensive line that opened up holes for Hoekstra and running back Liam Ondras, who combined for 165 rushing yards.
"Grant is the best high school football player in West Michigan," Shattuck said. "He's the most overlooked kid in the state and it is because of the position he plays. If you watch the tape, Grant is a destroyer of worlds on both sides of the ball."
EGR (6-2) has now won three straight since losing to Grand Rapids Catholic Central, the No. 1 team in Division 5. The Pioneers restructured their offense entering the GRCC game, moving to more two tight-end sets and shuffling positions.
"We've really had to redefine ourselves," Shattuck said. "Especially on offense. What we thought we'd be coming into the year is not what we are now, and that is not a bad thing."
Kingsford stays unbeaten, snaps Menominee streak for conference title
In a showdown between two of the Upper Peninsula's best teams, Menominee started hot.
The defending Division 7 state champions, tied for the state's longest active winning streak (21 games) entering Friday, jumped ahead with two early touchdowns.
Kingsford didn't panic and stuck to its game plan. The defense piled up stops, and the offense found enough room to run. Kingsford eventually flipped the 14-point deficit into a touchdown lead by the fourth quarter. The Flivvers iced the win by holding the ball over the final seven minutes with their efficient rushing attack.
"Our guys just hung in," Kingsford coach Mark Novara said Saturday. "We were able to overcome some stuff and basically stayed in the fight for the whole game."
Kingsford moved to 8-0 and clinched the West-PAC Copper Conference title over Menominee, which lost its first game since the playoff regional round to North Muskegon in 2024.
Senior running back Jake Lockhart, who missed time with a hamstring injury this season, led the Flivvers with 27 carries for 173 yards and two touchdowns. Senior quarterback Blake Tomasoski added a 16-yard touchdown run and kept the offense on schedule during the drive to ice the game.
Kingsford's defense locked in and held an eighth straight opponent under 20 points. Defensive back Dom Fredrickson broke up multiple passes, and the defensive line consistently created havoc for Menominee at the line of scrimmage.
"It is a collaborative effort from all of them," Novara said. "They were ultra-physical last night, which was big. We've got a whole bunch of guys that contribute defensively."
Kingsford can complete an undefeated season Friday, a tall task against Division 3 Marquette, which has won six straight games since dropping its first two to Negaunee and Menominee.
Regardless of the Week 9 outcome, Kingsford has put itself in a strong position to potentially host early postseason rounds as one of the top teams in Division 5 MHSAA playoff points.
"One of the goals is to win your league and when you do that, it means your program is in the right spot," Novara said. "Menominee is a D-7 school, but they are a powerhouse. Negaunee is fantastic. We are probably going to see them again at some point if we both advance and they are going to be a bugger as well."
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Jared Ramsey covers high school sports for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jramsey@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: MHSAA football: Grand Blanc repeats; East GR survives; UP streak snapped
