Michigan High School Athletic Association
2020 Football Championships
CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, January 23, 2021, at Ford Field, Detroit
2020 MHSAA Division 3 champions: DeWitt
ROSTER
Head coach: Rob Zimmerman l Assistant coaches: Ryan Anderson, Justin Braska, Kyle Haskell, Josh Hoffman, Mike Holes, Alan Smith, John Vertalka, Tim Williams, Phil Wilson
Players: Nicholas Flegler (junior), Trent Brandell (junior), Grant Uyl (senior), Tyler Holtz (junior), Kylor Mills (senior), Cooper Brumfield (senior), Lukas Bresser (senior), Blake Beachnau (senior), Thomas McIntosh (junior), Connor McKean (senior), Ethan Fogel (senior), Bryce Kurncz (sophomore), Blake Haller (sophomore), Bryce Baker (senior), Cameron Reynolds (senior), Joshua Hoffman (junior), Bryce Debri (junior), Nathaniel Deppen (senior), Dylan Adkins (sophomore), Cole Pagliei (senior), Jonathan Warner (sophomore), Adam Benda-Salinaz (senior), Ryan McKinney (junior), Brody Barner (junior), Chase Boling (senior), Dillon Babb (junior), Samuel Wang (senior), Robert Donaldson (junior), Andrew Debri (senior), Anson Weiss (junior), Brock Miller (senior), Conner Pochert (senior), Evan Reigler (junior), Landon Taber (sophomore), Grant Froehlich (senior), Jaden Hall (junior), KyRen Geller (senior), Linkin Stine (freshman), Dominic Biretto (senior), Garrett Schutte (senior), Lane Boshaw (junior), Jesus Arriaga (sophomore), Mario Del Rio (junior), Matthew Nehf (sophomore), Nicholas Lawver (senior), Max Wozniewski (senior), Trevor Dennis (junior), Zachary Wamsley (senior), Tyler Nordmann (junior), Kaiden Enos (junior), Jonathan Hess (senior), Brandon Soltis (sophomore), Broden Schafer (sophomore)
GAME SUMMARY
No. 1 DeWitt (11-0) 40, No. 4 River Rouge (9-1) 30
No. 1-ranked DeWitt finished a perfect season, holding off No. 4 River Rouge to earn the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 3 championship. Junior Tyler Holtz was 12-for-16 passing for 177 yards and four touchdowns and ran for 118 yards and a two-yard touchdown run. Holtz connected with senior Blake Beachnau (15 yards), senior Andrew Debri (eight yards), junior Nicholas Flegler (35 yards), and junior Thomas McIntosh (25 yards) for touchdowns. Senior linebacker Grant Uyl had 10 tackles.
> Detroit Free Press prediction: DeWitt 33, River Rouge 30 (OT)
> Detroit News prediction: River Rouge 21, DeWitt 16
> MLive prediction: River Rouge 35, DeWitt 24
MEDIA COVERAGE
> Finally champs: DeWitt football gets past River Rouge for first state title
> DeWitt's first football state championship was many, many years in the making
> DeWitt football gets past River Rouge for first state title
> DeWitt Caps Finals With 1st Title Celebration
> River Rouge football falls to DeWitt in state championship game
> Dual-threat QB Holtz springs DeWitt to championship
> DeWitt finally wins state title over River Rouge in Division 3
> You can’t cancel River Rouge football’s winning culture after its championship loss
> River Rouge eager to prove title runs are no fluke
> Meet Conner Pochert, the force driving DeWitt football in the trenches
Semifinals
Semifinal 1
Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021
At Lansing Catholic
No. 1 DeWitt (11-0) 14, No. 2 Muskegon (9-2) 0
> Detroit Free Press prediction: DeWitt 38, Muskegon 35
> MLive prediction: DeWitt 28, Muskegon 20
> DeWitt football blanks Muskegon to earn state finals trip
> DeWitt football's 'unreal' defense gives it chance at title. River Rouge stands in the way
> DeWitt takes 'huge step forward' with shutout of playoff nemesis Muskegon
> Andrew Debri, DeWitt dig deep to down Muskegon and punch Ford Field ticket
> Michigan State football recruit fighting bone cancer: 'Don't worry coach, I'm not gonna die'
> Three-star prospect Tommy McIntosh making all-around impact for top-ranked DeWitt football
> No. 1 DeWitt, No. 2 Muskegon both have plenty of motivation in their semifinal rematch
Semifinal 2
Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021
At Chlesea
No. 4 River Rouge (9-1) 30, No. 3 Chelsea (10-1) 22
> Detroit Free Press prediction: River Rouge 26, Chelsea 23
> MLive prediction: River Rouge 35, Chelsea 14
> River Rouge football ousts Chelsea for return trip to state finals
> How Western Michigan football commit went superhero to give River Rouge another title shot
> River Rouge grinds its way back to Division 3 state title game after running past Chelsea
> Breaking down Division 3 state semifinal rematch between Chelsea and River Rouge
> Revenge isn’t motivator for Chelsea ahead of state semifinal showdown with River Rouge
> River Rouge's Armorion Smith had every reason to not play football. He's now their best player
> River Rouge football aims to remind everyone they are the team to beat in Division 3
Regionals
Region 9
Final
Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021
At Muskegon
No. 2 Muskegon (9-1) 24,
East Grand Rapids (6-4) 0
> Muskegon’s ‘D’ dominant in stopping East Grand Rapids, winning fifth-straight regional
> Grand Rapids football highlights: Two teams advance to state semifnals
Region 10
Final
Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021
At DeWitt
No. 1 DeWitt (10-0) 1,
Stevensville Lakeshore (7-3) 0 (Forfeit)
> Stevensville Lakeshore holds firm in decision to opt out of Michigan high school football playoffs
Region 11
Final
Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021
At Chelsea
No. 3 Chelsea (10-0) 38,
Flint Kearsley (6-4) 22
> Chelsea gets second crack at River Rouge after rolling Flint Kearsley in D3 regional final
> Early look at Ann Arbor-area high school football regional final games
> Facts and figures for five Flint-area teams still alive in Michigan high school football playoffs
Region 12
Final
Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021
At Detroit Martin Luther King, Jr.
No. 4 River Rouge (8-1) 33,
No. 9 Detroit Martin Luther King Jr. (6-4) 30
> River Rouge gets a few unexpected contributions in win over Detroit King in regional final
> River Rouge ousts Detroit King with late field goal
> River Rouge keeps it simple, gets late field goal to top Detroit King in regional final
> Unexpected field goal lifts River Rouge to 33-30 win over Detroit King in D3 region finals
> River Rouge football gets by Detroit King for 2nd straight regional title
> 'A big, gentle giant': King legend, PSL's winningest football coach James Reynolds dies at 75
Districts
District 17
Final
At Muskegon
Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020
Muskegon (8-1) 58.333 47,
Marquette (7-2) 45.167 21
> Long day worth it for Muskegon in beating Marquette, earning 9th-straight district title
> Muskegon defeats Marquette
Semifinals
Saturday, November 7, 2020
At Muskegon
Muskegon (7-1) 58.333 34,
Cedar Springs (5-3) 44.167 12
> Muskegon cruises past familiar playoff foe Cedar Springs, eyes ninth-straight district title
Saturday, November 7, 2020
At Mt. Pleasant
Marquette (7-1) 45.167 21,
Mt. Pleasant (6-2) 57.333 14
First round
Saturday, October 31
Muskegon (6-1) 58.333 56,
Greenville (0-6) 10.667 7
> Muskegon rolls in first playoff game on new turf, earns another home date at Hackley
Friday, October 30
Cedar Springs (5-2) 44.167 52,
Petoskey (2-5) 32.833 8
Friday, October 30
Mt. Pleasant (6-1) 57.333 1,
Gaylord (1-6) 23.000 0 (Forfeit)
Saturday, October 31
Marquette (6-1) 45.167 38,
Muskegon Reeths-Puffer (2-5) 31.367 0
District 18
Final
At East Grand Rapids
East Grand Rapids (6-3) 39.333 41,
Middleville Thornapple Kellogg (5-4) 35.833 17
Semifinals
Friday, November 6, 2020
At Zeeland West
Middleville Thornapple Kellogg (5-3) 35.833 1,
Zeeland West (6-2) 52.167 0 (Forfeit)
Friday, November 6, 2020
At East Grand Rapids
East Grand Rapids (5-3) 39.333 63,
Holland (1-7) 14.667 26
First round
Friday, October 30
Zeeland West (6-1) 52.167 66,
Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills (0-7) 10.000 12
Middleville Thornapple Kellogg (4-3) 35.833 56,
Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills (2-5) 27.500 14
Holland (1-6) 14.667 1,
Zeeland East (4-3) 46.333 0 (Forfeit)
East Grand Rapids (4-3) 39.333 36,
Grand Rapids Northview (1-6) 20.667 7
District 19
Final
At St. Joseph
Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020
Stevensville Lakeshore (7-2) 56.200 14,
St. Joseph (7-2) 56.333 9
Semifinals
Friday, November 6, 2020
At St. Joseph
St. Joseph (7-1) 56.333 37,
Battle Creek Harper Creek (5-3) 41.833 10
> Harper Creek stumbles at St. Joseph
Friday, November 6, 2020
At Stevensville Lakeshore
Stevensville Lakeshore (6-2) 56.200 1,
Coldwater (5-3) 43.333 0 (Forfeit)
First round
Friday, October 30
St. Joseph (6-1) 56.333 41,
Richland Gull Lake (0-7) 10.000 14
Battle Creek Harper Creek (5-2) 41.833 30,
Parma Western (4-3) 37.833 13
> Harper Creek football seniors go from winless to winners after playoff victory
Stevensville Lakeshore (5-2) 56.200 44,
Niles (1-6) 18.667 6
Coldwater (5-2) 43.333 40,
Sturgis (3-4) 31.833 14
District 20
Final
At DeWitt
DeWitt (9-0) 66.833 43,
Mason (8-1) 60.167 0
> DeWitt football shows its in an elite class with rout of Mason in top-five clash
Semifinals
Friday, November 6, 2020
At DeWitt
DeWitt (8-0) 66.833 52,
Lansing Waverly (4-4) 37.867 0
Friday, November 6, 2020
At Mason
Mason (8-0) 60.167 38,
Fowlerville (4-4) 42.400 13
> Fowlerville football drops another game to Mason, this time to end the Gladiators' season
First round
Friday, October 30
DeWitt (7-0) 66.833 55,
Jackson Northwest (0-6) 10.333 0
Lansing Waverly (4-3) 37.867 39,
St. Johns (2-5) 31.333 7
> 'We just came out here to prove something.' Waverly football gets first playoff victory
Mason (7-0) 60.167 41,
Ionia (1-6) 17.500 0
Fowlerville (4-3) 42.400 10,
Haslett (2-5) 28.333 0
> Rugged Fowlerville defense stymies Haslett as Gladiators move on in district play
District 21
Final
At Linden
Flint Kearsley (6-3) 44.333 36,
Linden (5-3) 47.833 28
Semifinals
Friday, November 6, 2020
At Linden
Linden (5-2) 47.833 24,
Bay City Western (3-5) 28.833 13
Friday, November 6, 2020
At Flint Kearsley
Flint Kearsley (5-3) 44.333 37,
Bay City Central (4-4) 38.167 16
First round
Friday, October 30
Linden (4-2) 47.833 (Bye)
Bay City Western (3-4) 28.833 35,
Holly (1-6) 21.500 7
Thursday, October 29, 2020
Flint Kearsley (4-3) 44.333 61,
Clio (0-7) 8.833 0
Friday, October 30
Bay City Central (4-3) 38.167 64,
Pontiac (0-7) 15.000 0
District 22
Final
At Chelsea
Chelsea (9-0) 67.000 23,
Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (7-2) 62.250 0
> Brother Rice unable to counter Chelsea's pressure in 23-0 loss
Semifinals
Friday, November 6, 2020
At Chelsea
Chelsea (8-0) 67.000 49,
South Lyon East (5-3) 50.500 44
Friday, November 6, 2020
At Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice
Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (7-1) 62.250 31,
Orchard Lake St Mary's Preparatory (2-4) 27.083 13
First round
Friday, October 30
Chelsea (7-0) 67.000 40,
Redford Thurston (1-5) 22.000 0
South Lyon East (5-2) 50.500 41,
Garden City (3-4) 35.833 0
Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (6-1) 62.250 29,
Dearborn Divine Child (2-5) 25.500 7
Orchard Lake St Mary's Preparatory (2-3) 27.083 38,
Pinckney (4-3) 50.833 14
> Pinckney can't stop Orchard Lake St. Mary's ground game in playoff loss
District 23
Final
At New Boston Huron
River Rouge (7-1) 48.667 40,
New Boston Huron (7-2) 49.833 15
> Surging River Rouge rolls past New Boston Huron
> River Rouge football takes down New Boston Huron in district final
Semifinals
Friday, November 6, 2020
At Riverview
River Rouge (6-1) 48.667 38,
Riverview (7-1) 54.000 20
Friday, November 6, 2020
At New Boston Huron
New Boston Huron (7-1) 49.833 30,
Allen Park (5-3) 49.667 14
First round
Friday, October 30
Riverview (7-0) 54.000 59,
Melvindale (2-5) 28.500 6
River Rouge (5-1) 48.667 21,
Gibraltar Carlson (4-3) 47.433 0
New Boston Huron (6-1) 49.833 42,
Southgate Anderson (2-5) 33.967 24
Allen Park (5-2) 49.667 18,
Trenton (3-4) 40.167 7
District 24
Final
At Eastpointe
Detroit Martin Luther King Jr. (6-3) 48.667 50,
Eastpointe (8-1) 63.000 6
> Detroit King flattens Eastpointe, 50-6
> Eastpointe comes up short in a 'measuring stick' game
Semifinals
Friday, November 6, 2020
At Eastpointe
Eastpointe (8-0) 63.000 57,
Warren Fitzgerald (5-3) 34.000 0
> Eastpointe defeats Fitzgerald to set up district football final against King
Friday, November 6, 2020
At Detroit Martin Luther King Jr.
Detroit Martin Luther King Jr. (5-3) 48.667 42,
Marysville (6-2) 42.000 17
> Marysville football forced to play catch-up in loss to Detroit King
First round
Friday, October 30
Eastpointe (7-0) 63.000 64,
Detroit East English Village (2-5) 22.667 0
> Eastpointe gets first football playoff victory, 64-0 over East English Village
Warren Fitzgerald (5-2) 34.000 1,
Detroit Mumford (3-4) 39.167 0 (Forfeit)
Detroit Martin Luther King Jr. (4-3) 48.667 59.
Warren Woods-Tower (2-5) 28.667 14
Marysville (6-1) 42.000 27,
Harper Woods (2-5) 33.167 12
