Possessions were at a premium in a high-scoring affair between two undefeated teams – Clinton (No. 4 in Division 6) and Hudson (No. 4 in Division 8) – on Friday, Oct. 2.
Sophomore Bronson Butts helped swing the possession battle toward Hudson with a crucial interception just before halftime, maintaining a touchdown lead going into the break. Hudson's offense got the ball first coming out of halftime and marched down the field to create a two-touchdown cushion that proved important down the stretch in a 38-30 win over Clinton in Week 6 of the Michigan high school football season.
"That was key because we knew we were chasing points," Hudson coach Dan Rogers said on Saturday. "They have a tremendous offense that can score at any point, so to get
up two scores was the key point."
Hudson, the Division 8 runner-up in 2025, didn't have many explosive plays. But the Tigers consistently moved the ball on the ground behind a young offensive line led by Koen Hinzman, an Iowa State commit. The Tigers made a handful of key fourth-down conversions, including two passes from sophomore quarterback Royce Beal, who completed all five attempts.
One of those completions was a 50-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-short to standout junior running back Beckett Campbell. Campbell, an All-State running back as a sophomore, accounted for all five of Hudson's touchdowns – four rushing and one receiving. He has picked up right where he left off in his incredible 2025 campaign.
"He is just a great running back," Rogers said. "He was the player of the year in our division last year and he's having a great season this year. ... And it starts up front. They do a great job."
Hudson (5-1) has won two straight since losing to Adrian Madison. The Tigers had over 400 yards against Madison, but penalties and turnovers kept them to just 12 points. Over the past fortnight, the focus has been cleaning up the mental mistakes and continuing to mature as a sophomore-laden team.
"I'll never be one to say losses are good for you, but that game was a little reset for how we have to take care of things and clean things up," Rogers said.
The final three weeks will have more tests, as Hudson gears up for the playoffs. The final two games are against Ida and Berrien Springs, two undefeated Division 5 teams. Those are two opportunities for a Hudson team with lots of new contributors.
"We thought, and we still think, the ceiling of this team is pretty high, but it is one of those where the floor was way down at the beginning," Rogers said. "It is going to be a nine-week process and it is just telling the kids to trust that. If we can keep getting better every week, we feel that by Week 10, whatever our record is, we're going to be prepared and a pretty good team."
Muskegon Mona Shores slides past Byron Center in D-2 showdown
Muskegon Mona Shores and Byron Center know each other intimately, having played four times over the past three seasons as two of West Michigan's top Division 2 teams.
Like the last four meetings, the 2026 edition ended with a clutch interception on the final drive to halt a comeback. Mona Shores defensive back Messiah Himes sealed a 29-28 win over Byron Center with an interception in a battle of top-25 teams. The pass was tipped twice before Himes caught the winning takeaway.
Mona Shores 2027 DB Messiah Himes with the game sealing INT!
— The D Zone (@TheD_Zone) October 3, 2026
#11 Mona Shores (4-1) leads #15 Byron Center (4-1) 29-28
in the 4th quarter
@gobcbulldogs @bcvarfootball @MSSailorFball pic.twitter.com/83qwlJFH1i
Mona Shores (5-1) has won five straight since losing to No. 5 Orchard Lake St. Mary's on a last-second touchdown in Week 1. The Sailors have already matched their 2025 win total.
"They bounced back and won four in a row pretty handily," Mona Shores coach Matt Koziak said on Saturday. "Then, we have to play a really good Byron Center team. Things went bad. Our offense stalled a bit and our defense had to get stops. We had to score in the end when we were down.
"And so, I am so proud of the response because it could have been here we go again, losing a close one. But it is a special group. We were 5-5 last year, which isn't typical for us, and a lot of these players returned."
Mona Shores' defense did enough to slow down a high-powered Bulldogs' offense led by running back Cam Payne. The secondary, led by JC Tornes, Bryce Muskovin (11 tackles, three pass breakups) and Payton Koziak, was solid. Linebacker Andrew Fisher and defensive ends DeSean Taylor and Braylon Loomis had strong games in the front seven.
"The way our defense and our D-line was able to play last night, hats off to them," Koziak said. "... They are a tough, tough team to defend. Our defensive coordinator, Dave Check, he's as good as they get."
Offensively, sophomore slot back Michael Himes ran for 143 yards and a touchdown on seven carries. His lead blocker was often fellow running back Kevin White (Ferris State), who had 39 yards and a touchdown. Junior quarterback Owen Terpstra completed eight of 10 passes for 49 yards and rushed for 49 and two touchdowns.
Mona Shores will have another big test in Week 7 against rival Muskegon. The Big Reds sit at 3-3 but beat Mona Shores twice in 2025.
"I doubt there will be a letdown because that's a crosstown rival," Koziak said. "Those kids know each other. And our kids have been really good [at resetting]."
Gideon Gash keeps DCC rolling despite injury to QB Banta
No. 2 Novi Detroit Catholic Central won its 20th straight game on Saturday, beating Toledo Central Catholic, 31-12, in the 82nd annual Boys Bowl. It was mostly a positive day, but one of the Shamrocks' best and most important players picked up an injury.
Senior quarterback Duke Banta left the game in the second quarter with an apparent arm/shoulder injury. Banta scrambled toward the sideline and landed on his arm on the tackle. He did not move his arm and walked off the field with trainers.
"He is going to go to the hospital and get an X-ray," Catholic Central coach Justin Cessante said postgame. "Not sure if it is his wrist or shoulder. But the team definitely rallied around Peyton Sofran [a backup QB who is typically a starting receiver], who has his own tools and played quarterback a lot in his life."
DCC jumped out to a 24-0 lead against one of Ohio's top teams. Banta opened with a QB sneak for a touchdown, and then hit Gash for a 21-yard touchdown in the corner of the end zone. Banta deked an unblocked rusher and then lofted a jump ball to Gash, who made a handsy catch over a defender.
BANTA SCRAMBLES OUT OF THE POCKET THROWS IT UP TO GASH FOR THE SHAMROCK TOUCHDOWN‼️ SHAMROCKS LEAD 14-0 WITH 1:11 IN THE 1ST@DETROITCCAD @DCCShamrocks pic.twitter.com/wiJjPV3wX4
— Detroit Catholic Central Football (@DCCfootball) October 3, 2026
DCC's defense set up Gash's first touchdown with an interception deep in TCC territory. Junior defensive tackle Kevin Schandevel hit Toledo quarterback Lincoln Sellers – who played last season at Belleville – as he threw and the pass went straight into the arms of senior linebacker Luke Jadan. Schandevel and the rest of the Shamrocks' defensive line pressured Sellers all game. Safety Aiden Kersey also intercepted a tipped pass in the second half.
Kicker Ty Goddard nailed a 49-yard field goal – with room to spare. Then Gash returned another punt for a touchdown, this time going 65 yards and breaking multiple TCC tackle attempts, making it 24-0.
Central Catholic answered with a 44-yard touchdown, but had two empty red-zone possessions before halftime. DCC controlled the clock and held off the Fighting Irish in the second half. Gash added a third touchdown with a ridiculous toe-tapping catch on a nice pass from Sofran late in the third quarter.
"[Gash] makes everyone around him better," Cessante said. "He builds confidence in his teammates. And when we need him to make a play, he makes it."
Rochester Hills Stoney Creek keeps rolling, wins OAA White
Rochester Hills Stoney Creek has lived up to expectations through six weeks.
The Cougars won their fourth straight, 41-14, over crosstown rival Rochester to clinch the OAA White crown with a perfect 4-0 conference record. Stoney Creek dominated on the ground, running for over 300 yards behind a stout offensive line.
"Our offensive line has stepped up tremendously and been a huge, huge proponent of how we run the ball consistently," Stoney Creek coach Rick Powell said.
Quarterback Brandon Gergics accounted for four touchdowns, while running back Brosie Telegadas kept the offense on schedule. Running backs Mason Black, Travis Beloungea and Ricky Schneider also contributed to the big rushing day. Defensively, Aidan White had a crucial interception which helped Stoney Creek build a three-touchdown lead by halftime. Receiver/safety Quinn Zezula also received praise for his performance.
Stoney Creek (5-1) has mostly been dominant so far. Outside of a tight 14-7 loss to No. 6 Clarkston in Week 2, the Cougars have won their other five games by an average margin of 35 points. Little mistakes were magnified in the Clarkston loss, helping the group refocus over the last month.
"Our guys believe in themselves because of the work they put in," Powell said. "We talk a lot about how confidence is about the preparation and trust in yourself. That's what our guys are doing and they are seeing the fruits of their labors."
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Jared Ramsey covers high school sports for theDetroit Free Press. Contact him at jramsey@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Beckett Campbell keeps Hudson rolling in MHSAA football Week 6
