If you’re a fan of rivalries and parity in boys hoops, this year’s OAA White Division is the place.

It’s a league that looks a bit different than last winter, with Lake Orion and Oxford as the only holdovers. But partially by way of the fact that it includes two fewer teams this season, it figures to be quite the wide-open race for the crown.

That should leave at least a few programs believing it can be kings, including Rochester.

It’s a challenge the Falcons appear well-suited for judging by their 3-0 start. That includes a win each over a MAC Gold (St. Clair Shores Lakeview), White (Utica) and Red (Chippewa Valley) team. All of those victories have come by at least 20 points, so early results, including the most recent one, a 66-46 triumph over the Big Reds last Saturday, have been promising.

While Rochester’s first half against Chippewa Valley may have been more ho-hum, a 30-point third quarter was convincing evidence of what the Falcons can do in an eight-minute span.

The Falcons earned their seat at the table by going 13-1 in the Blue Division (the only defeat a 53-29 loss to runner-up Pontiac) to earn themselves promotion, though a portion of the foundation was laid even before that.

“I mean, it started a few years back,” Rochester head coach Nick Evola said. “A lot of these guys are three-year varsity guys, and they took their lumps early, but they’ve always competed, you know? They were a little young a few years ago, but all of that has prepped them. They have a relentless work ethic and they come out here and they love each other. They’re a tight-knit group and they play for each other. No one cares who’s got the most points.”

The eye test seems to support Evola’s claim that his squad has great balance on offense. Senior Logan Pleasant, one of those experienced returners, provided outside shooting in the Utica win, but even when Rochester’s deep ball wasn’t the bread and butter in the most recent win, the length of its forwards and the will to drive and draw fouls presented the opposition problems.

“We have multiple guys that can do multiple things — inside-out, mid-range — so it makes it tough (defending us) because everyone’s contributing and you can’t just focus on one guy,” Evola said.

One component of the frontcourt and another of the veteran bunch, senior Anthony Chirco, scored 21 points against Chippewa Valley. He’s continued to improve as both a scorer and rebounder, and he echoed Evola’s comments on the cohesiveness of the side, saying, “This class is great. We’ve been playing together for a long time and I just think it shows and helps with our chemistry a lot.”

Some of the selflessness might even be considered hereditary. Junior Nate Tandy is one of two new starters along with sophomore Ben Bissett — Luke Lower, another senior and the team’s other returner in the starting five, scored 10 on the Big Reds — a year after Tandy’s brother, Jake, was a contributor for last year’s league champs.

Nate, who equaled Chirco’s 21 points against Chippewa Valley thanks in part to nine trips to the free-throw line, only played JV as a sophomore, but Evola and the coaching staff got him part-time reps practicing then with varsity, and it seems to have, along with some driveway battles over the years with his older brother, paid dividends.

“It’s a big leap,” Tandy said. “(Being mixed in last year), it helped mentally I would say just seeing what the varsity atmosphere is like. The first two games (this season), I was getting comfortable, and then I feel like (against Chippewa Valley) was my coming out game.”

Part of the intrigue of this year’s White Division is not just the perceived equality, or the introduction of OAA newcomer Waterford Mott (2-0, 1-0), but the fact that all three Rochester schools are paired together, which makes for rivalry battles where the stakes are increased.

“Obviously, last year, there may not have been many expectations for us coming off an eight-win season, but we knew what we were capable of and we got better,” Evola said. “But I’ve told them, not only are we now in a tougher league, we’re not under the radar. People know we’re going to come to work, and we’re going to take every team’s best shots. The league’s really tough, and it’s wide-open … and I think what’s cool about the league as well, it’s not just our rival schools, but it’s Lake Orion and Oxford, so everything’s kind of close proximity. It builds more rivalry, more cross-town travel, and I think it’s exciting.”

The feeling is shared by at least one of those rivals.

“We split with (Rochester and Stoney) last year, so certainly talent-wise, we’re right there,” Adams head coach Isaiah Novak said after his own team’s game at Saturday’s MAC/OAA Showcase hosted by Rochester. “Both teams are very well-coached, even with a new coach (Stoney’s Marko Tomich) coming in, I think he’s going to do a great job. It’s great too as far as fan engagement. I think all three schools struggle at times getting students to basketball games, but anytime we play against a Rochester school, we get a packed house, so I think it’s gonna be fun for everybody involved.”

That trio, including the Falcons, will have some time to continue and improve before those battles take place. The first of them, which sees the Cougars travel to Rochester, isn’t until Jan. 9.

ROCHESTER HILLS – The banked 3-pointer by Rochester Adams senior Josiah Fazecas to close the first quarter of Saturday’s MAC/OAA Showcase game against Dakota had teammates in a frenzy and the Highlanders feeling good.

Dakota head coach Paul Tocco, whose team trailed 13-6 at that point, wasn’t quite as enthused about those opening eight minutes.

“I thought we came out lethargic and a little lazy in the first quarter,” Tocco said. “Credit to Adams, who played really hard. They moved the ball well, played disciplined basketball. We didn’t come out with our normal enthusiasm.”

The tables turned swiftly as the Cougars outscored Adams 17-2 in the second quarter, the catalyst for their 60-53 win over the Highlanders at Rochester High School.

Simply put, Tocco said his team “played Dakota basketball” in that second stanza.

Highlanders junior Cannon Flynn scored his team’s only points early in that second quarter, but he collected his third foul that subjected him to the bench for the final four minutes before halftime.

“They got up and pressured us and we couldn’t get into any of our sets, our actions,” Highlanders head coach Isaiah Novak said. “We really rely on attacking closeouts, getting into space and knocking down shots, and we had a really tough time creating advantageous situations for ourselves. Then when we did and got the open shot, they just weren’t falling for us tonight. I think we probably missed five layups in the first half. And it was hard to get those layups, right? So we just didn’t take advantage of the options we did have.”

Novak was reluctant to place too much blame on the foul trouble of his standout player and lone returning starter for his team’s struggles, though it was clear what impact he had when he was on the floor. Flynn scored 13 of his game-high 15 points in the second half of the loss.

“A lot of what we do goes through (Cannon), but in some ways, these early season challenges are a good thing,” Novak said. “There’s gonna be times throughout the season where he’s in foul trouble or something else happens and he’s got to be on the bench. Although they’re difficult when you reflect on one game, I think in the overall season, things like that can be challenges that can be good for us in the long run.”

Photos of Dakota vs. Rochester Adams in boys basketball action at the MAC/OAA Showcase

While that disparity in the second quarter didn't put the game away for the Cougars, they continued to utilize a balanced offensive effort in the third when they outscored Adams 21-13 to effectively put the game to bed.

"I've got nine seniors, and I've never coached (that many seniors) before," Tocco said. Five (start) and any one of them can play on the floor at a time. I have really good underclassmen as well, so we've got a really deep team."

One of those seniors, Tovin Williams, led Dakota with 13 points, while classmates Brayden Lee and Benji Jackson added 11 and nine, respectively. Seniors Daniel Terski and Zeke Wilson each finished with 10 for Adams.

The Cougars (2-1) also won at this event last year, beating Lake Orion as part of an 8-1 start. They finished the year just 14-10, though Tocco attributes that just as much to a difficult set of league opponents as anything. "If you look at the Red, you're looking at Warren Lincoln, back-to-back state titles. Grosse Pointe South, a very well-coached team, a lot of good pieces. Chippewa's athletic, Roseville are a really good team this year, and Port Huron Northern, they beat us last year (in districts), it was tough to beat them. So it's a tough MAC Red, and coming back (this year) it's even tougher, so we've got to get ready for that play, and that's what we're doing playing in tournaments and and against good teams like Adams right now."

As to what the Cougars can do to improve upon last year's 3-7 league mark and how they're better this go-around, he added, "We're better defensively this year in our half-court defense. We have five guys that are locked in like we were in that second quarter. And we probably want to start and finish quarters a little better, or start and finish games better. I won't say I'm not happy to win, but we didn't start well and didn't finish well (tonight)."

Novak didn't want to use the fact that his team was coming off a game against Clarkston (a 68-44 loss) on Friday night, though said it could have played into some tired legs for the Highlanders (1-1). "It's possible, but we know the challenges that come with scheduling the way we do," he said. "You're playing Clarkston and Dakota, those are two of the best teams in Macomb and Oakland County, and playing back-to-back makes it even more difficult, but I think it's an opportunity for our kids to come out and know where we're at compared to the best. It exposed our weaknesses early, and now we can identify them and work on them, hopefully correct al ot of those things before we get into the league."

Adams continues with another non-league game on Tuesday at home against Birmingham Seaholm. The Cougars resume play on Wednesday with a MAC Crossover at Utica Ford.

Dakota trailed after the opening quarter, then jumped out to a big lead by halftime and went on to beat Rochester Adams 60-53 in the MAC/OAA Showcase on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 at Rochester High School.

When Pontiac Notre Dame Prep senior quarterback Sam Stowe’s injury prevented him from finishing last weekend’s D5 state championship, it gave those unfamiliar with the Irish a chance to see one of the other cannons at the team’s disposal.

Fellow senior Drake Roa, one of Stowe’s most-preferred targets this season, let it rip for another, classmate Brody Sink, for a 60-yard touchdown reception on the first play of the fourth quarter of the 42-14 loss to Grand Rapids West Catholic.

It’s not the first time the pair have played pass and catch this year, either. The Irish opted for some trickery in the first quarter of their Week 3 loss against Gibraltar Carlson and Roa found Sink on a crossing route for a 35-yard gain.

Baseball knowers are aware of the arm that Roa has. Earlier in the fall, he committed as a shortstop to Michigan.

But Irish head coach Pat Fox has had the scouting report long before most, and indicated that at one point, it looked like it would be Roa, not Stowe, who would lead offensive coordinator Jason Whalen’s unit.

“Initially when (Drake) and Sam came in, we thought Sam was going to be a tight end and Drake was gonna quarterback,” Fox said.

“After about two weeks, we figured out that’s probably not how it’s gonna roll.”

It worked out pretty well for both. Stowe led the Irish to the state title in his first year as starter in 2024, completing over 71% of his passes for 2,751 passing yards and 37 passing touchdowns (to go with seven rushing TDs).

This season, Stowe tossed over 40 TDs, with Roa hauling in 16 scores as he also accounted for nearly 1,000 of Stowe’s passing yards.

The injury suffered late in the first half at Ford Field marked an unfortunate ending to a brilliant two-year run for Stowe.

“Sam’s a tremendous quarterback, so fantastic of a young man,” Fox said. “It was hard to see him get hurt. He wanted to come back in and he couldn’t. We couldn’t let him come back in. We didn’t want to put him at risk, and he’s going to be shooting 3-balls in two weeks playing basketball.”

West Catholic head coach Landon Grove was very complimentary of Notre Dame Prep’s QB1, too, saying, “I don’t know how Sam Stowe doesn’t have a scholarship somewhere. He’s one of the better quarterbacks we’d seen on film. He’s a fantastic player and it was a testament to our defense (how we) defended him.”

Fox was choked up once or twice when elaborating on the legacy that this year’s senior team has left considering how far he’s watched them come, or perhaps more appropriately, watched them grow.

“I remember Sam whipping off his sweater and dancing at the Christmas concert and his sister tackling him trying to get it back on him when he was four years old,” Fox said. “I’ve known Brody since he was in fifth grade. Anthony Tartaglia, Ben Liparoto, Jack Williams, and Logan Tuttle, I’ve known all of them since they were little boys, little teeny kids.”

Fox has boasted about being one of Oakland County’s winningest programs over the past seven years, and the senior class specifically helped ND Prep compile a 39-9 record over the last four seasons, including that coveted title win last year over Frankenmuth, who Fox admitted he was glad not to face again in the final.

“My sophomore season, we had a great team,” Sink said following the championship loss. “We had a great quarterback, some great players, and we ended up losing to a really good Corunna team. But I knew. Because we have a strong senior class, I didn’t hang my head. I knew we’d come back the next year. We had a great senior class last year, and at the beginning of last year we started rolling, and I was like, ‘This is going to be something special the next two seasons.’ We stayed the course and it was a very special past two years.”

Asked whether the next generation of Irish who witnessed this group accomplish all it did might be more inclined to dream big, Fox responded, “You would hope they do. But every group is different. Every challenge is great. We have great kids.”

Replacing the current bunch becomes Fox’s next task, but one he knows won’t come easy.

“We’ve got five juniors,” Fox said. “We’ve got work to do.”

Trailing Grosse Pointe South by four points, Farmington Hills Mercy edged out the Blue Devils in the last event of Saturday’s D2 girls swimming and diving state finals in Ypsilanti to be crowned champs for the third year in a row.

The foursome of Avery Tack, Campbell Shore, Lyla Collins and Ella Hafner — none of which are graduating following this season — slipped past GP South by a little over a second with a time of 3:26.05 in the 400-meter relay. That gave Mercy 337 points to South’s 335.

It secured the sixth title under head coach Michael Venos, including the second three-peat. The Marlins’ previously won a handful of titles in a row (2007-10 in D2, 2011 in D1) under former coach Shannon Dunworth. The win also marked Mercy’s 14th championship overall.

The schools from Birmingham came in just behind the Mercy-GP South tandem. Seaholm came third place with 260.5 points, followed by Groves with 155.5. Berkley took eighth with 96 and South Lyon East came in ninth with 94 to round out the top-10.

Beyond that, Royal Oak finished 11th (74 points), Rochester Adams ended 12th (69), South Lyon was 15th (47), Walled Lake Northern finished 17th (27), North Farmington took 23rd (19) and Holly finished 26th (13).

GP South beat out Seaholm (Leah Isaksen, Payton Garn, Layla Stephens, Madailein Howard; 1:46.96) and Groves to win the 200 medley relay and jump out in front to start the day at Eastern Michigan. In the 200 free relay, the Blue Devils won again, just barely defeating Mercy’s same quartet by 31-hundredths of a second.

Elsewhere, the Marlins made headway when Hafner (1:47.53) came runner-up in the 200 free to Adrienne Schadler (1:46.85) of Ann Arbor Skyline as both surpassed the former D2 record held by Marian’s Mollie Pulte. Tack, who took second in the 200 IM as a sophomore, won it this time around with a time of 2:04.64.

Hafner set a new D2 record in the 500 free with her prelim time of 4:49.74, but a mark of 4:49.90 in the finals was only good for second as Schadler raised the bar with a winning time of 4:48.50.

West Bloomfield’s Eichbrecht wraps career in record-breaking fashion at D1 swim and dive finals

South Lyon senior Emma Klotz was just two-hundredths away from winning the 50 free event a year after Whitney Handworth of GP South, who again took first, beat Klotz out by three-hundredths. However, Klotz got her revenge in the 100 free, banking the Lions 20 points with her time of 50.70 that beat out runner-up Handwork (50.92).

Seaholm's Isaksen was just the winner of the consolation final in the 100 backstroke last fall as a sophomore, but showed off her improvement and came second this year by finishing with in 56.83. Her teammate, freshman Payton Garn, shared the spoils with Groves' Livvy Kamp as both split first-place honors in the 100 breaststroke with their finals times of 1:02.76.

Additionally, Rochester Adams junior Morgan Rea scored 431.75 points to handily win the diving competition.

Berkley senior Tessa Moleski was the victor in both the 50 and 100-yard paralympic freestyle.

Division 3 at Holland Aquatic Center

Bloomfield Hills Marian finished runner-up for the second year in a row, ending Saturday's finals with 228 points compared to the 373 scored by winner East Grand Rapids.

Cranbrook-Kingswood, who took second in 2023, finished sixth place this year with 134 points, and Country Day was seventh with 116. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep ended 24th place with 16 points, and Bishop Foley came 30th with six points -- five of those earned by sophomore Avery Wood in the 100 breaststroke.

EGR won all three relays. The Pioneers set a new D3 record of 1:44.65 in the 200 medley, which saw the Yellowjackets (Quinn Norlander, Jill Heller, Allie Schwartz, Lauren Clark) end just behind them in a time of 1:48.55. Marian (Cece Grace, Lila Soloman, Peyton Rehbine, Catherine Howe) was runner-up to EGR in the 200 free relay. The Mustangs finished that one ahead of Country Day (1:39.33) with a mark of 1:37.43.

Country Day's Norlander, a third-place finisher in two individual events as a sophomore last season, ended only behind Wayland's Laney Wolf as she came second in the 100 freestyle in a time of 51.32. Additionally, Norlander shaved almost three seconds off her finals time from 2024 in the 100 backstroke. Her second-place mark of 54.77 was only second-best to Camryn Siegers, who set a new D3 record (53.37).

In the 500 free, Marian junior Stella Glorio (5:10.58) only trailed repeat winner Ella Dziobak of Divine Child as no one came close to her finish of 4:56.20. The Mustangs also scored 16 points with Soloman's third-place finish in the 100 breaststroke (1:06.06).

All of the Irish's points derived from freshman Anna Caudill's third-place finish in diving (369 points).

BLOOMFIELD HILLS — In nearly every set of Tuesday night’s D1 regional semifinal, Birmingham Groves built an early lead of at least four points over St. Clair Shores Lakeview.

Twice the Huskies tied those sets, and though they controlled another from start to finish, it proved to not be enough as the Falcons emerged victorious in four sets, winning by scores of 25-22, 25-23, 17-25, 25-17.

Tuesday’s second semifinal at Marian High School between the two young teams began with the Falcons jumping out to a 10-4 start, yet eventually Lakeview vanquished the deficit and led at 17-16.

With Groves up 22-21, sophomore Kamryn Bambrough and Olivia Michalak provided points to leave the Falcons one away, and though a tip by sophomore Lauren Boatman provided the Huskies hope, Groves didn’t let it slip.

Again, the Falcons established a 9-3 advantage in the next set, but Lakeview was pesky as ever to get it even at 16-all. When Groves followed that up with three unanswered, Lakeview answered with five of the next six. Still even at 23-23, senior libero Margaux Nollet stepped up to push one over, then a tandem effort at the net for the winning point put Groves up two sets.

Asked bout the team’s propensity to come out of the gate on a roll in sets, Groves assistant coach Ashley Dixon responded, “Our girls have been working hard all season to make that who they want to be. In that third set, we kind of fall short sometime, but I think we’ve been proving time and time again that that’s not us.”

The exception to the Falcons’ early rule came with Lakeview on the brink of elimination. This time, the Huskies (15-21-1) got off to a 10-5 start, and as Groves labored through some attacking errors, Lakeview’s lead remained steady around six or seven points throughout as senior CeCe Decker set up Boatman and classmate Emma Mulrenin on back-to-back kills to win the third set.

“I think it’s somewhat (to do) with the perception we started the year with ourselves,” Lakeview head coach Kevin Nugent said of his side’s ability to battle back after falling behind. “Being a strong team and figuring out as the match goes along that we can do a lot of things that we’re prepared to do and just sticking with the process. I think that’s probably the difference in a lot of these games. We’ve just had those slow starts, and then you work a lot to get back in it, and you kind of get spent. And then you need every point at that point, and it gets exhausting trying to win points, especially against a team that has good hitters that can put the ball away.”

Photos of Birmingham Groves vs. St. Clair Shores Lakeview in a D1 volleyball regional semifinal

As Nugent alluded to, that effort seemed to finally take its toll by the time the Huskies battled back from Groves' third early lead. Ahead just 7-6, the Falcons went on a 7-1 run and gradually mounted a cushion of double-digits.

Still, Lakeview made the Falcons breathe a sigh of relief after staving off the match point seven consecutive times before Groves could finish the job.

On laboring to get that decisive point, Nollet, one of just four seniors for the Falcons, said, "(It was) just trying to stay confident. Don't be afraid. We were up by a lot, so I wasn't too afraid. It would have been nice to get it done quicker, but we stayed as a team and finished it strong, so it was OK ... I think our energy definitely up (as much in the third), and we had troubles with communication, but we cleaned it up pretty quickly."

As with Groves, Lakeview relied on few (three) seniors this season, so its future remains bright despite what it will miss from Decker, Mulrenin and Bethann Dostine.

"We return a lot of young kids," Nugent said. "Our seniors were incredible this year. They really set a great example, so I think the team coming back next year has a much better understanding of what's required to be successful. I owe that debt of gratitude to them and their sacrifices. So I really look forward to next year, but gonna miss the seniors, because they were really valuable to the culture, the team, everything."

Groves' next task on Thursday is formidable in No. 2 Bloomfield Hills, who beat Grosse Pointe South in the evening's first semifinal. But in the moment, the focus for the Falcons was on going as far as anyone in the building from the program could recall. They were last district champs in back-to-back years in 2013-14.

"I've been with Groves for four years, and we've always kind of lost earlier during districts, so it means a lot to be able to push into regionals, especially since we haven't done it for volleyball in a long time," Nollet said.

With so much returning, she speculated like it could be the first leg of another back-to-back, adding, "Honestly, the underclassmen are really, really strong, and it just makes me excited for what Groves has to come. I'm excited for them next year to kind of build on this momentum."

CLARKSTON — When Clarkston was forced to settle for a 42-yard field goal from Aidan O’Neill in the last 10 seconds of the first half, it seemed consequential considering Grand Blanc’s offense was also thriving up to that point.

That turned out to not be the case.

The Wolves’ offense continued to feed many mouths Friday night, which ended in hoisting a D1 district championship following their 44-22 win over the No. 4 Bobcats.

It’s a stark contrast to the Wolves’ 41-0 loss in the district final last year to Rochester Adams, who then beat the Bobcats 21-14 in regionals.

“Last season was tough, and we had a horrible game (against Adams), not gonna lie,” Wolves senior Griffin Boman said. “But this just shows where we can be and we’re gonna try to make it to Ford Field.”

Though Boman and his brother, Lukas, tend to get plenty of due praise for their offensive accomplishments, the spotlight was big enough for many others in Friday’s triumph, which never saw the sixth-ranked Wolves punt.

Signs of a shootout began when Clarkston junior quarterback Alex Waszczenko spun out of a tackle and dove across the pylon on a 17-yard touchdown run with 8:49 on the clock in the opening quarter. Within the next 1:50, a tipped pass from Grand Blanc senior quarterback Jake Morrow fell into the hands of Angelo Chapman for a 60-yard gain, then Jeremiah Coleman’s 24-yard completion down the left sideline tied the game, 7-7.

The Wolves quickly chunked down the field in response, and Waszczenko, who had three receivers lined up right, opted to go over the middle to Hank Hornung. It resulted in a 27-yard touchdown, the first of a few significant plays by Clarkston’s senior receiver.

Morrow, who threw for over 300 yards in the loss, orchestrated the Bobcats down the field on their next drive, but Griffin Boman got his hands on a fumble recovery when Grand Blanc was approaching the end zone and ran it back roughly half the length of the field to the Bobcats’ 27-yard line. Clarkston handed the ball to Griffin on fourth-and-2 for a 4-yard gain, and several plays later he turned a 12-yard run around the left edge, making it 20-7 with 8:01 to go in the second quarter after Grand Blanc blocked the extra point.

Aided by a 41-yard completion to Micah Kemp and a roughing the passer penalty against the Wolves, Morrow finished off Grand Blanc’s next possession with a 1-yard keeper that cut the lead back to one score with 3:41 remaining in the first half, which preceded Clarkston’s drive that resulted in the field goal that made it 23-14.

After halftime, a sack by Gabe Mansour and a penalty against the Bobcats on their drive to start meant their punt only pushed Clarkston back to start at the Bobcats’ 42-yard line. Griffin Boman converted on fourth-and-2 from the 34 for a 12-yard gain, and on the next play Waszczenko went untouched on a run into the end zone that made it 30-14 less than five minutes into the third.

“I see what I can on the field,” said Waszczenko when asked how much of his rushing production was by design. “When we’ve got reads, I take what I can and I can use my legs. It helps our offense a little bit, having us three in the backfield, me and (the Bomans).”

Despite a sack by Hunter Kauth early in the corresponding drive by Grand Blanc, Morrow ended up throwing a 28-yard TD pass to Kemp, and then connected on a crossing route with an open Caseton Sendry for the 2-point conversion that made it 30-22 with 2:40 left in the penultimate quarter.

It only stayed a one-score contest for 19 seconds, however, as Hornung took an end-around 70 yards to the house.

“Honestly, it was great,” Hornung said. “I got great blocks. Without Cam (Love) and that block (from him), I wouldn’t have been able to get down there.”

Photos of No. 6 Clarkston vs. No. 4 Grand Blanc in a D1 district football championship

The Bobcats looked as if they might bite back yet again when their first play of the next drive resulted in a 44-yard catch by Kemp to continue his big night, but after a 14-yard catch by Daylin Taylor that got it to the Wolves' 3-yard line, Clarkston's defense stiffened. Kauth broke up a pass intended for Kemp, then Love was in on coverage on the fourth-down attempt in the corner of the end zone for Sendry, handing the ball back to Clarkston just 13 seconds into the fourth.

Clarkston then effectively put the game to bed with a 74-yard completion on third-and-6 to Hornung and a 3-yard rushing TD by Griffin Boman the next play for the game's final score with 7:25 remaining.

In desperation mode but also in Wolves' territory, Morrow went deep on third-and-15, but Love picked it off and ran it back roughly 30 yards with 5:36 left in the game. Clarkston got all the way down inside the 10-yard line and likely could've tacked on another TD, but instead knelt the rest of the time away, the only possession in which the Wolves didn't score on all night.

"(A shootout) was definitely a possibility, especially the way that the game started," Clarkston head coach Justin Pintar said. "I just thought the offense did a great job. The offensive line gave our guys opportunities to run the  ball, and when our playmakers got the ball in space they showed what they could do. I thought Alex played an outstanding game running and throwing the ball. He showed what he's capable of doing. Our offense started the season really well -- maybe had a little bit of a lull in the middle -- but I think we've played great football on that side of the ball the last couple months."

Previously unbeaten Grand Blanc finishes the season with a record now identical to the Wolves (10-1), who remain in their own backyard for next week's regional game against No. 2 Detroit Catholic Central. The Shamrocks beat Hartland 45-7 in their district final.

Grand Blanc’s offense was formidable, but Clarkston’s was even better in the Wolves’ 44-22 district title win Friday, Nov. 7, 2025 in Clarkston.

MACOMB — Despite winning a combined 77 matches the past two years, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep hadn’t added to its cabinet of postseason trophies since reaching a regional final in 2022.

For a long stretch, playoff silverware felt like a given for the program considering the fact that, amongst the three state titles the Irish won in 2013, 2017 and 2021, they were district champs in all six seasons in-between.

Since nearly all of Notre Dame Prep’s seniors weren’t yet on varsity when they were freshmen, failure this week meant they could be the first class in several decades to graduate without the experience of lifting a trophy in the playoffs.

The Fighting Irish and their seniors avoided such a fate Thursday night at Lutheran North, where they defeated the host Mustangs 25-17, 22-25, 25-20, 25-11 for a D2 district title.

“We talk all the time about the legacy that was built before us and how every game we show up to play for them and the people who built this program, and I think that’s what we did tonight,” said Notre Dame Prep’s Ellie Whalen, one of the team’s five seniors, but the only one other than Samantha Broutin who was playing varsity during that regional run in 2022.

Irish classmate Grace Hannan added, “I think we started off the season rocky, and knew from the start we really had to build this program and that we were playing for our legacy. We came, we showed up and I think we all played for the team and really played our hearts out.”

When the Irish (31-14-2) won the first set by eight and were leading by four over midway into the second, it seemed as if the Mustangs have their night and season swept away on their own floor. Instead, Lutheran North evened the game at 21-11, then won four of the next five points as a hit by an Irish player sailed too far on the last one, evening the score at a set each.

“We just played better,” Mustangs head coach Paul Drdul said. “We had better offense going and made less mistakes, put more pressure on them, put it all together there. The third game was better, then obviously the wheels fell of a little bit.”

While Notre Dame Prep didn’t quite dominate the third game the way it did the last, the visitors were still in the driver’s seat throughout and led it at one point by eight (22-14). Lutheran North halved that advantage before senior Erin Eby lobbed a ball for junior hitter Nicole McDowell to smack down, winning the third set to open the floodgates.

Notre Dame Prep’s players experienced the same heartbreak as the Mustangs when eventual state champs Country Day beat the Irish on their own floor in the district final last fall.

“The past two years in districts, we’ve played some of the best teams in the state, and to be on the other side of it sucks,” Whalen said. “You kind of feel numb at that point, like, ‘How did I get here?’ I think (Lutheran North) did amazing. They played their hearts out, you could tell.”

“The seniors really just had to show down,” Hannan said. “We knew that this could have been our last game, but we had to show the underclassmen that this is worth fighting for and just bring the energy, help the underclassmen and hold them up, show them what leadership is.”

Photos of Macomb Lutheran North vs. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep in D2 volleyball district championship action

Irish head coach Betty Wroubel heaped praise on her seniors and tabbed it the best performance of the year for several. "It was when we needed it the most," she said. "I didn't know that we could stop their middles. Now, they got their fair share, but we stopped a few of them and it gave us a little bit of momentum.

"I thought we served extremely well. We didn't serve-receive so well. And our freshmen had freshmen moments, but they settled in, thank God, and we came out with it. It's nice to add a number to our record boards."

Wroubel estimated she watched 50 hours of film in preparation for Thursday's final. "I was talking to our assistants on the way over and (told them) I haven't scouted or looked ahead (to regionals) because this game, I knew it was going to be a war ... We haven't gotten over that district (hump) in a few years, so I had to give my kids everything I could give 'em."

The Mustangs (25-11) had won eight of their last nine, a good sign going forward for a team that graduates just four seniors (Gisela Hanna, Grace Tobey, Lillie Meier, Kate Neumeyer).

"We were super young last year (when we) lost four seniors, and we're a little bit older and have everybody coming back except the four seniors, so it's one of those things where we just keep growing," Drdul said. "This is our second time being in the district finals, so hopefully next year, the third time will be the charm."

ND Prep will play either North Branch or Imlay City in regionals at Yale High School on Tuesday night at 7 p.m.

Pontiac Notre Dame Prep defeated host Macomb Lutheran North in four sets to win a D2 district title Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025.

GRAND LEDGE — Detroit Country Day did the heavy lifting in the first 40 minutes, scoring three goals by halftime to beat South Haven 4-1 Saturday afternoon to win the D3 state title.

It marks the 16th state championship in program history and Country Day’s second under Steve Bossert after last lifting the D2 trophy seven seasons ago.

“On our practice jersey, we’ve got all the numbers,” Country Day senior forward Micah Zacks said. “I’m glad we got to add one.”

It looked written in the stars by the interval for the Yellowjackets, who already began to pepper South Haven senior netminder Alex Jaimes (1.20 goals per game allowed through regionals) within the opening 10 minutes. However, just after that a throw-in led to an aerial opportunity for sophomore Rye Clegg, whose header from seven or eight yards out was directed well to make it 1-0 Yellowjackets 10:31 into the game.

Philip Mateer executed a roulette away from his defender to carve a chance out for Yousef Darwich that required a low save by Jaimes less than five minutes later, but moments after Darwich knocked again and wouldn’t be denied, doubling the lead with a little less than 25 minutes to play in the half.

That ended any hopes the Rams (18-5-4) may have had of relying on their size and the abilities of Jaimes to weather the early onslaught unblemished.

“When we’ve scored early this year, then we can keep the ball away from teams, and then they have to try and get us and we can move it around them,” Bossert said. “It’s just really difficult to play against, so getting that first goal early, then another one, it was a little like the semifinal game (against Lansing Catholic) where we just kind of piled them on (from there).”

In this case, the pile-on initiative was carried out by Country Day’s senior offensive leaders, Tino Haratsaris (22 goals, 19 assists entering the final) and Zacks (15 G/14 A). Haratsaris got onto the ball to the goalkeeper’s right near the end line, then played a cutback pass for Zacks, who met the ball with a rising effort into the net that made it a three-goal affair with over 18 minutes still to play before the break.

Country Day had to wait until after intermission to continue padding its lead, but tacked on its last goal with 35:35 remaining as Haratsaris assisted Zacks in very similar fashion to the previous one.

“I just work with (assistant coach Ricardo Lopes) all year on driving to the baseline and dropping that slotback pass,” said Haratsaris, who estimated he’s played nearly 100 games with Zacks. “We work on it so much, I just know where he’s going to be, and he’s just a great striker.”

“I can’t say enough about Tino,” added Zacks. “He’s great. When I’m making a run I know he’s going to find me with the ball, and just being able to finish past a great goalie, it felt great.”

Jaimes did his best to keep it from getting too out of hand, laying out to deny Kris Bushkashi as he reached double-digit saves with still over 20 minutes remaining. Zacks nearly traded his scoring boots for the assisting hat on a ball teased behind the line to Haratsaris, but a shot off the toe of his boot swiveled wide of the post with a little over 17 minutes left.

Both attackers had a laugh when asking if there was a concerted effort to get Haratsaris a goal as time was winding down and the result all but certain.

“Yeah, I was definitely hoping (Tino) would get one,” Zacks said, “but he’s got more goals than me, so it’s alright.”

It seemed as though the best chance for South Haven would be part of a sequence just inside the final 10 minutes. A free kick where the Rams’ players were searching to get a foot to a ball rattled around among the crowd briefly before the Yellowjackets put out the fire. However, the Rams settled on a more spectacular consolation effort when, after Country Day starting goalkeeper Mitchell Hamway’s day was done, junior Jaden Bolhuis rocketed a shot from at least 35 yards distance into the opposite upper-90.

The Yellowjackets (22-2-1) began the season at the Boyne Mountain Invitational, where they suffered a 1-0 loss to Forest Hills Central. They went on and avenged the only other regular season games they didn’t win — a draw to Pontiac Notre Dame Prep and a loss to Ann Arbor Greenhills — by beating those teams back-to-back in districts (Notre Dame Prep) and regionals on their way to the summit.

“Every year I tell my wife that we don’t have it this year, and the first day of tryouts we always look kind of ragtaggy,” Bossert said. “Right after tryouts, we went right up to Boyne and had four games against some pretty good competition, and we played really well, were moving the ball all over the place, and it just seemed like we were going to be able to keep the ball … After we came back from the Boyne trip, I said (to my wife), ‘I think we might be pretty good.’ A couple weeks after that, I said, ‘I think we might do this.’

“We beat a ton of ranked teams all year, and had the top MPR, and it just seemed like we were going to get here. We just had to take care of business, and they did it today.”

Opposite top-ranked DCD, South Haven came into the playoffs outside the polls, but toppled a handful of top-15 sides to reach the final. Country Day beat the Rams for a pair of state championships while coached by Paul Bartoshuk (2004, 2009).

The Yellowjackets previously won it on Bossert’s watch in D2 in 2018, then were runners-up to Hudsonville Unity Christian in D3 two seasons ago.

“It feels great,” Haratsaris said. “We’ve been working at this for four years, and we knew we had the group of guys that was going to be able to get the job done. As long as we stayed close together, we were going to finish it off, and here we are, champions.”

HAZEL PARK — Following Friday night’s 41-20 defeat of East English Village Prep, Hazel Park head coach John Callahan joked that at over 10 yards per carry, maybe he’s not giving the ball enough to running back Montrell Parker.

The Vikings senior added to an already superb season stat line by dashing for 319 yards and three scores in the win, which essentially guaranteed the team’s name would be called when the Division 5 playoff field is officially announced on Sunday.

“It’s great,” Parker said of Hazel Park’s offense that’s put up at least 40 points eight times now in the past two seasons that he’s been the featured back. “Everybody can score, so it’s not like anybody can just look at one person. It’s great. Everyone’s an athlete around here.”

That includes senior teammate Lathan Chambers, who scored on both of his carries in the first quarter that ended with Hazel Park leading 14-0.

Not long after, Parker went just over half the length of the field to the house for his rushing TD of the night, and after Parker did most of the dirty work on the Vikings’ next offensive possession, Tavion Brinson scored from 2 yards out to make it 28-0 with 4:46 left in the half.

East English (2-7) did convert with a desperation pass on fourth-and-18 before junior Dominique Douglas scored from 8 yards out, and a pass by Douglas to Malachi Lowe for the 2-point conversion made it 28-8 with 45 ticks until intermission.

Anyone showed up after that would’ve thought the night belonged to the Bulldogs up until early in the fourth quarter. Their drive to start the second half lasted over eight minutes before they were forced to punt, which netted few yards, but a fumble on the first play by Hazel Park (6-3) gave it right back to East English at the Vikings 32-yard line. The Bulldogs continued to milk clock and ended up punching it in on third-and-goal from the 1-yard line on an outside run right by Kelah Thorns, though Hazel Park’s Will Eddy (six carries, 81 yards) and Malaki Randle helped stuffed the conversion attempt with 27 seconds remaining in the third quarter

At that point, the Vikings took back over. Parker broke off a 51-yard run for his second score of the night that made it 35-14 with 10:25 remaining. When the Bulldogs got it back, Terry Johnson brought down Douglas to back up East English into fourth-and-long, and Treston Battle put the first nail in the visitors’ coffin with a leaping interception near midfield. On the ensuing drive, Parker added another when he reached the end zone for a final time one play after he came a yard short on a 23-yard gain.

Douglas added a consolation TD for the Bulldogs on a 7-yard run with 1:08 left, but a Vikings’ defense somewhat overshadowed by their offense and Parker — who now has 1,776 rushing yards and 23 TDs on the year — did its job.

Hazel Park senior linebacker Gregory Crouch said it’s more privilege than pressure to match the opposite unit. “We’ve got a good defense, and a lot of our offensive guys play on defense,” he said. “We know if we get them the ball back, we can score a touchdown on one play. That’s it, simple as that.”

Photos of Hazel Park vs. Detroit East English Village Prep in football action

If not for that fumble that allowed the Bulldogs to control an entire quarter, Parker may have found himself high up in MHSAA's record books for single-game rushing yards, though it was still his second monster game in a row after carrying for 370 yards and four TDs in last week's 38-26 loss to St. Clair.

"We had good practices, the kids were fired up, and I think the first half showed that," Callahan said. "The second half, they did a good job, obviously controlling the ball, and that was their game plan. We've got to get better in phases, but we got out of it healthy.

"The kid's special," Callahan added of Parker. "I mean, you think you have him and you don't. He's a little dinged up, and I think in the past he would have broken a couple of those tonight where he got caught. And that's a credit to them. Hopefully we can get him healthy and maybe he can outrun guys on a couple of those next week."

Following a pair of 4-5 campaigns in his first years with the Vikings, Callahan guided them to a 7-4 record in his third season last fall, and now has them back in the postseason once again.

"Just practice how you play," Parker responded when asked what's made Hazel Park successful under Callahan. "We always go 100 in practice, and there's great coaches on our side."

Callahan pulled from his experience to elaborate on the process, saying, "I know when I was at Loyola, it wasn't until, I believe our fifth year when the kids caught up with it and understood it. But once we got it, I think we went like, 56-4, with four state finals appearances. I think these guys here are getting it."

Hazel Park rushed for over 400 yards and gave a big boost to its playoff hopes with a 41-20 home victory over Detroit East English Village Prep on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.

Athens busted a four-game losing streak to city rival Troy High with a 27-0 shutout victory at home Friday night.

Senior receiver Jeremiah Thomas caught a 58-yard touchdown, while classmate Grayson Conrad had the other receiving TD from Red Hawks quarterback Andrew Dunlap (174 passing yards). Cainan Hanbury had 85 rushing yards, and he and Dunlap each had a rushing TD in the win.

Nathan Piggott also had four catches for 45 receiving yards for the Red Hawks (3-5, 2-4 OAA Blue). The Colts fell to 3-5 and 1-4 in the league with the loss.

More football

BLOOMFIELD HILLS BROTHER RICE 43, ORCHARD LAKE ST. MARY’S 28 >> Trailing 31-30 with 4:25 left, the Warriors took the lead with just over a minute left on a 55-yard touchdown pass from Sammy Eyde to Christian Marshall. Defensive lineman Dario Morelli put an exclamation mark on the win by scooping a fumble and returning it for a TD with just over 30 seconds left. Eyde’s other TD passes included also threw a 60-yard TD to Brock Zehnder, and he also hit Zehnder in the corner of the end zone for a score that tied the game with four seconds left in the opening half.

NOVI 19, NORTHVILLE 16 >> Aidan Cook was the star for the Wildcats as he kicked a 36-yard field goal as time expired to win it. Cook also tied the game with a 46-yarder with under six minutes remaining and earlier in the game hit one from 45 yards. Novi (2-5) got its other points off a safety and an 8-yard TD run by Anthony Madafferi (101 rushing yards) followed by Reece Pippin’s 2-point conversion rush. Northville (6-2) had some big kicks as well from Alex Baird, including a 42-yarder, while Adam Sakowski had the lone Mustangs’ score on a 6-yard run.

ALLEN PARK CABRINI 21, WATERFORD OUR LADY OF THE LAKES 6 >> The Monarchs wrapped up an unbeaten run through the CHSL Intersectional 2 Division with Friday’s home win. Matthew Nguyen led the rushing attack for the Lakers (4-4, 2-3) with 74 yards and had the lone TD that capped off a 19-play drive. Ryan Locey finished with 34 receiving yards and recorded an interception as well in Lakes’ defeat.

ST. CLAIR 38, HAZEL PARK 26 >> Montrell Parker piled up an impressive 370 rushing yards and four TDs on 29 carries, but the Vikings (5-3) couldn’t slow the opposing Saints offense on the road.

DETROIT CATHOLIC CENTRAL 36, GRAND LEDGE 14 >> The Shamrocks leaned on senior Cedric Williams, who eclipsed 100 yards on the ground, while Joshua Peters and Connor Ryan found the end zone on runs for CC. Duke Banta threw TDs to Samson Gash and Peyton Sofran, and Jalen Montlouis picked up a fumble and ran it back for a score as well in the Shamrocks’ win.

BIRMINGHAM GROVES 42, AUBURN HILLS AVONDALE 14 >> Quarterback LeVelle Shannon combined for almost 300 yards and five total touchdowns, including a pair of passing TDs to Carter Anderson, as Groves improved to 5-3 on the year. The Yellow Jackets dropped to 1-7 with the defeat.

LAKE ORION 14, OAK PARK 13 >> After the Dragons scored a pair of TDs in the opening quarter, they had to fend off a second-half comeback to pick up their first victory of the season. The Knights, who fell to 3-5, were led on the ground by Devin Young (64 yards) and junior Tre Hawkins had a rushing TD for Oak Park.

CLARKSTON EVEREST COLLEGIATE 28, ROYAL OAK SHRINE CATHOLIC 7 >> Following a 1-3 start, the Mountaineers collected their fourth straight win and fifth of the fall at home on Friday. Andrew Gaglio ran for 100 yards and a score, Dominic Walker rushed for 93 yards and a pair of TDs, and Cameron Tong also found the end zone in the Everest triumph. For Shrine (5-3), senior quarterback Jack Tisko passed for 170 yards and also ran for 33 yards and a TD, and Owen Wisniewski caught a handful of balls for 100 yards.

WALLED LAKE NORTHERN 46, WATERFORD KETTERING 0 >> After just one win in the past three seasons combined, the Knights got their third win of the year on Friday as Reid Widmer ran for over 100 yards and a pair of TDs.

CLARKSTON 49, FARMINGTON 7 >> The second half went by fast with all the points between the Wolves and Falcons scored by halftime. Griffin and Lukas Boman each ran for a pair of TDs, Hank Hornung rushed for a 37-yard score and Aidan O’Neill kicked a pair of field goals (46 and 22 yards) for the Wolves (7-1). Farmington is now 6-2 on the year.

WEST BLOOMFIELD 37, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 0 >> The Lakers piled up over 250 yards rushing as Obi Duru led with 86 yards and a score, Kam Hall had 73 yards and two TDs and Jamal Shakespear also kept it four times for 51 yards. Shannon Rochon caught a 52-yard TD from Shakespear and Will Espy also ran for a score in West Bloomfield’s sixth win of the year.

Two goals in the final 20 minutes proved to be just a consolation for Royal Oak Shrine, who fell 4-2 to Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett in the CHSL Cardinal Division Championship on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025 at Oakland University.

Detroit Catholic Central scored two in the opening 10 minutes, then added another pair of goals on the other side of the break to defeat Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood 4-0 in the CHSL Bishop Division Championship on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025 at Oakland University.

Waterford Mott football dropped from 2-0 back to .500 with a change in its initial result from opening weekend.

The Michigan High School Athletic Association required the Waterford School District to forfeit the Corsairs game on Aug. 28 according to a release by the district on Tuesday.

It stated that the WSD discovered that it was provided false residency information to both its athletic and enrollment offices regarding one of its players.

“Unfortunately, the district was made aware of this falsification after the student had played in the Waterford Mott vs. Walled Lake Northern football game,” the release stated.

Committed to CMU as a WR, Mott QB Geno Seets filling his predecessor’s shoes admirably

That game was originally a 45-0 home victory in favor of the Corsairs, who had looked off to back-to-back wins to start the year after pulling out a 28-27 win over Milford in Week 2.

Tuesday's release from Mott assistant athletic director Shane Hynes via district stated that WSD notified MHSAA immediately, is fully cooperating with the investigation and is appealing the decision. It concluded, "We believe our students and athletic programs should not be penalized for the falsified actions of a third party. WSD is committed to upholding the integrity of our academic and athletic programs and will work with the MHSAA to resolve this matter."

The Corsairs will hope that regardless of the appeal's result, it won't impact postseason eligibility. When asked about the importance of starting with wins knowing its next pair of games would be against formidable opponents in Walled Lake Western and Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, Mott first-year head coach Tra'Jan Seay said, "We wanted to start out hot. We know who we have the next few weeks. We're just taking it one week at a time and doing what we can do."