1974 The MHSAA Playoffs did not begin on the field until 1975, but a “paper playoff” took place in 1974 to simulate how the Playoffs would proceed the next fall. Based on four regions in each of four classes, “qualifiers” were determined using the current football playoff point system.
In Class A, Plymouth Salem topped the list with 121.778 points, just ahead of Livonia Franklin’s 118.223. The Class B winner on paper was Muskegon Catholic Central (116.0), which out-pointed East Grand Rapids (100.889). The Class C computer champ was Battle Creek St. Philip (87.112), while Flint Holy Rosary (77.25) amassed the most points in Class D.

1979 Mike Renkie-wicz gained 149 yards on 24 carries and scored three times as Detroit Catholic Central wrapped up a 12-0 season with a convincing 32-7 victory over Escanaba in the Class A championship contest. The Shamrock defense held the explosive Eskymos to 172 total yards.
Jackson Lumen Christi grabbed its second Class B crown in three years with a 21-0 win over Grand Rapids West Catholic. Lumen Christi scored on the first play of the second quarter as Titan QB Brian O'Dowd's 1-yard plunge on fourth down capped a 65-yard, 14-play drive.
In Class C, Ishpeming recorded its seventh shutout of the year, downing Watervliet, 13-0. The Hematites opened the scoring in the second quarter when Jeff Besola rambled 27 yards to the Watervliet 2-yard line, and plowed in two plays later for the only score they needed.
In Class D, the Norway defense forced a series of second-half turnovers that led to three touchdowns and a 21-6 win over Schoolcraft. Gregg Noordhoff led the Knight attack with a pair of touchdowns, including a 13-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Chuck Soderlund to open the scoring. It was the first Playoff appearance for Norway, which failed to qualify in 1975 and 1976, despite undefeated seasons.

1984 Ann Arbor Pioneer scored 24 unanswered points in the final six minutes of the first half, including a Class A Final-record 62-yard punt return by Cedric Gordon, as the Pioneers posted a 38-12 victory over Dearborn Fordson in Class A.
Leading 21-0 midway through the second quarter, the Wyoming Park Vikings watched as Monroe Catholic Central pulled within six points, 27-21, with five minutes remaining in the Class B title contest. Quarterback Dan Host's 27-yard scoring run with less than 1:30 remaining sealed the victory for the Vikings, 33-21.
Detroit St. Martin de Porres freshman Rodney Culver carried 10 times for 91 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Eagles won their fourth consecutive title, 38-26 over Grand Rapids South Christian.
In Class D, the Tigers of Gobles raced to a 28-0 lead then held on for a 31-22 win over Crystal Falls Forest Park. Tony Koshar's pass to Jim Steinman ended in a 96-yard touchdown for the Tigers, an MHSAA Finals record. The TD pass was the first of three on the day to Steinman.

1989 Muskegon's Marcus Longmire dashed 89 yards for a touchdown on the opening kickoff of the second half as the Big Reds downed Detroit Martin Luther King, 16-13, in the Class A Final. Longmire's TD gave Muskegon a 16-0 lead, but the Crusaders did not fold. On second down of the following series, King quarterback Zolton Hall hit David Bowden on a 76-yard touchdown pass. Hall scored with 3:36 remaining in the third to cut the lead to three, but the Crusaders were unable to score again.
In Class B, Farmington Hills Harrison scored a 28-27 victory over DeWitt in what many consider the greatest game of Michigan's 25-year playoff history. The defending Class B champions and top-ranked Hawks had their hands full with the Panthers from DeWitt. Tied 7-7 after one quarter, the Panthers grabbed the a two touchdown lead in the second on 32-yard run by John Tellford, and a 35-yard pass play from Tellford to John Cowan. Harrison responded with a Matt Conley 1-yard run to cut the margin to 21-14 at the half.
Hawk quarterback Mill Coleman knotted the score at 21 with a dazzling 16-yard run early in the fourth quarter, but DeWitt stormed back again, driving 75-yards on 13 plays. The series was highlighted by tight end Dave Riker's 24-yard, one-handed catch to the Hawks’ 3-yard line. Two plays later, quarterback Chris Berkimer slipped over from the 1, and DeWitt again took the lead 27-21.
With 2:12 remaining on the clock and the ball at the Harrison 33, Coleman went to work. Three quick completions moved the ball to the DeWitt 16, then Coleman let his legs do the rest of the work. Following a Hawk timeout, Coleman dashed right for seven more yards to the Panther 9. Facing a second-and-three, Coleman dropped back to pass, escaped the rush at the DeWitt 17, then scampered up the middle and dove into the end zone, for the tying points. Steve Hill added his fourth PAT of the game with 1:34 remaining for the final margin, then secured the victory with an interception on the next series.
In Class C, Kerby Steil gained 141 yards on 28 carries, while teammate Doug Schrader added 98 yards and a pair of TDs to lead Schoolcraft to a 14-7 win over the Gladiators of Ontonagon. Jerry Cleary's 68-yard interception for a touchdown was a highlight for Ontonagon.
After leading 3-0 at the half, Mendon steamrolled its way to the Class D crown, with a 31-0 victory over Lake Linden-Hubbell. The Hornets became only the third team in MHSAA history to hold their opponents scoreless throughout the Playoffs.

1994 Substitute Tarron Adams scored on runs of 23 and 30 yards in the final frame to lead Troy to a 17-0 win over Bay City Central in the Class AA title game. Adams, replacing an injured Jared Toffer, netted 64 yards on eight carries, while Toffer also finished with 64 yards on 11 attempts.
“Big players make big plays,” noted Farmington Hills Harrison coach John Herrington following his team's second consecutive Class A title, a 17-13 win over Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central. The Rangers dominated the time of possession, total number of plays and ended with more total offense, but a 90-yard touchdown run by Nick Williams, an 80-yard scoring dash by Jason Granger, and a 77-yard kick return by Granger that set up a 28-yard field goal by Kyle Vessell gave the Hawks a 17-7 lead with 6:27 left to play. The Rangers pulled within four late, 17-13, and recovered and onside kick, but Harrison's Kevin Bryant intercepted a pass at the Hawks seven with 1:44 remaining to preserve the victory.
Monroe Jefferson captured the Class BB crown in dramatic fashion, 19-18 over East Grand Rapids. Trailing 19-12 with 1:46 to play, Dylan Karczewski scored from 6 yards out to cap a nine-play, 81-yard drive by East Grand Rapids. But Monroe Jefferson's Dennis Bowdler broke up a pass attempt for the two-point conversion, allowing the Bears to escape with the title. The loss was the first in 26 games for the defending MHSAA champs.
In Class B, Belding and its deceptive wing-T offense overcame a 19-point halftime deficit to defeat Detroit Country Day, 50-41, in one of the MHSAA Finals’ all-time classics. Coach Irv Sigler's Redskins racked up 333 yards rushing, including 129 yards and four TDs by Thomas Smith. Country Day quarterback Matt Kives turned in a stellar performance, as the Yellowjackets jumped out to an early 17-0 lead, and a 33-14 halftime margin. Kives finished 16-of-25 for 182 yards and two touchdowns. Belding bounced back, scoring on each of its second-half possessions. A 70-yard run by Joe Gavitt set up the second of Smith’s scores to start the rally. Two more Smith touchdowns completed the comeback, putting Belding on top for good, 38-33. So potent was the Redskin running game, they did not attempt a pass until the fourth quarter. The combined total of 91 points scored in the game remains a Final game record.
The Class CC Final saw Orchard Lake St. Mary’s dominate Constantine, 35-7. Eaglet QB DiAllo Johnson completed nine passes for 203 yards, including a 50-yard scoring strike to David Bowens two minutes into the game to get St. Mary’s started.
Sophomore Benny Clark rambled for 187 yards on 32 carries and scored four touchdowns as Ravenna trounced Schoolcraft, 43-7, for the Class C crown. Bulldog quarterback Kent Nichols, who completed all five of his first quarter passes for 154 yards, finished the day with two TD completions and 183 yards through the air. Schoolcraft QB Aaron Ledlow ended with 113 yards, including a 50-yard screen pass to Josh Tremblay for a touchdown.
In Class DD, Jamie Mazurek's one-handed grab from 5 yards out highlighted Maple City Glen Lake’s 20-10 victory over Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes. Mazurek's catch with 3:44 remaining was his second touchdown reception on the day from quarterback Greg Aylsworth. Glen Lake running back Ryan Norkoli racked up 173 yards rushing on 29 attempts. Tim Hass scored on a 45-yard pass from Scott Thomas for Waterford.
Beal City built a 28-0 lead at the half, then coasted to 35-14 win over Litchfield in Class D. Junior Wes Wilson racked up 110 yards rushing and scored three times, including two on passes from quarterback Brad Gross to lead the Aggies.

—Ron Pesch