We’re seven weeks into Michigan’s 2021 high school football season, and by now, the state’s best teams have established themselves as Ford Field contenders.
Several elite teams bolstered their playoff résumés in Week 7, including Rockford, which came back to beat Caledonia in a 17-14 thriller, Muskegon, which rolled past rival Mona Shores, Detroit Catholic Central, which shut out Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, and Romeo which blanked Sterling Heights Stevenson.
There were also some teams that pulled off surprising upsets, including Grand Rapids Christian’s victory over Byron Center and Holt’s narrow win over East Lansing.
Follow along to see where the state’s top teams stand after seven weeks.
HONORABLE MENTION
Addison, Cadillac, Davison, Detroit Country Day, Freeland, Grand Ledge, Grand Rapids South Christian, Grand Rapids West Catholic, Holt, Howell, Hudson, Jackson Lumen Christi, Kingsley, Lawton, Marine City, Michigan Center, Millington, Montague, Muskegon Oakridge, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, Portage Central, Riverview, Stevensville Lakeshore, Temperance Bedford, Traverse City St. Francis, Traverse City West, Whitehall
50. HOLT (5-2)
Division: 1
Previous ranking: Unranked
Week 7 score: Beat East Lansing, 26-21
Week 8 game: At Portage Northern, 7 p.m. Friday
49. BLOOMFIELD HILLS (7-0)
Division: 1
Previous ranking: No. 49
Week 7 score: Beat Ferndale, 37-6
Week 8 game: At Royal Oak, 7 p.m. Friday
48. GRAND RAPIDS CHRISTIAN (4-3)
Division: 4
Previous ranking: Honorable mention
Week 7 score: Beat Byron Center, 24-10
Week 8 game: at Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern, 7 p.m. Friday
47. ZEELAND WEST (4-2)
Division: 3
Previous ranking: No. 46
Week 7 score: Beat Grand Rapids Union, 52-6
Week 8 game: At Zeeland East, 7 p.m. Friday
46. SPRING LAKE (6-1)
Division: 4
Previous ranking: No. 48
Week 7 score: Beat Coopersville, 27-20
Week 8 game: At Grand Rapids West Catholic, 7 p.m. Friday
45. WOODHAVEN (7-0)
Division: 1
Previous ranking: No. 45
Week 7 score: Beat Wyandotte Roosevelt, 50-0
Week 8 game: Home vs. Southgate Anderson, 7 p.m. Friday
44. HARTLAND (6-1)
Division: 1
Previous ranking: No. 44
Week 7 score: Beat Northville, 38-19
Week 8 game: Home vs. Canton, 7 p.m. Friday
43. GROSSE POINTE SOUTH (3-4)
Division: 2
Previous ranking: No. 39
Week 7 score: Lost to Clinton Township Chippewa Valley, 49-37
Week 8 game: At Warren Mott, 7 p.m. Friday
42. CEDAR SPRINGS (6-1)
Division: 3
Previous ranking: No. 43
Week 7 score: Beat Wayland, 62-22
Week 8 game: Home vs. Grand Rapids Catholic Central, 7 p.m. Friday
41. DEXTER (5-2)
Division: 2
Previous ranking: No. 41
Week 7 score: Beat Monroe, 56-27
Week 8 game: At Saline, 7 p.m. Friday
40. PEWAMO-WESTPHALIA (7-0)
Division: 7
Previous ranking: No. 40
Week 7 score: Beat Saranac, 27-0
Week 8 game: At Bath, 7 p.m. Friday
39. ANN ARBOR HURON (6-1)
Division: 1
Previous ranking: No. 38
Week 7 score: Beat Ann Arbor Skyline (forfeit)
Week 8 game: At Ypsilanti Lincoln, 7 p.m. Friday
38. BYRON CENTER (6-1)
Division: 2
Previous ranking: No. 31
Week 7 score: Lost to Grand Rapids Christian, 24-10
Week 8 game: At Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, 7 p.m. Friday
37. HARPER WOODS (6-1)
Division: 3
Previous ranking: No. 42
Week 7 score: Beat Allen Park, 32-21
Week 8 game: At Warren De La Salle, 7 p.m. Friday at Wayne State
36. PORTLAND (6-1)
Division: 5
Previous ranking: No. 37
Week 7 score: Beat Eaton Rapids, 37-0
Week 8 game: Home vs. Cadillac, 7 p.m. Friday
35. ORCHARD LAKE ST. MARY’S (4-3)
Division: 3
Previous ranking: No. 32
Week 7 score: Lost to Detroit Catholic Central, 21-0
Week 8 game: At Mentor Lake Catholic (OH), 7 p.m. Friday
34. LANSING CATHOLIC (7-0)
Division: 6
Previous ranking: No. 36
Week 7 score: Beat Charlotte, 56-21
Week 8 game: Home vs. Fowlerville, 7 p.m. Friday
33. MACOMB DAKOTA (4-3)
Division: 1
Previous ranking: No. 35
Week 7 score: Beat Utica Eisenhower, 35-3
Week 8 game: At Macomb L’Anse Creuse North, 7 p.m. Friday
32. FRANKENMUTH (7-0)
Division: 5
Previous ranking: No. 34
Week 7 score: Beat Alma, 22-7
Week 8 game: Home vs. Essexville Garber, 7 p.m. Friday
31. EAST LANSING (4-3)
Division: 2
Previous ranking: No. 22
Week 7 score: Lost to Holt, 26-21
Week 8 game: At Grand Ledge, 7 p.m. Friday
30. HUDSONVILLE (4-3)
Division: 1
Previous ranking: No. 33
Week 7 score: Beat Grand Haven, 49-14
Week 8 game: At Grandville, 7 p.m. Friday
29. CHELSEA (7-0)
Division: 4
Previous ranking: No. 30
Week 7 score: Beat Tecumseh, 58-21
Week 8 game: Home vs. St. Joseph, 7 p.m. Friday
28. LIVONIA CHURCHILL (6-1)
Division: 2
Previous ranking: No. 21
Week 7 score: Lost to Dearborn Fordson, 38-33
Week 8 game: At Livonia Stevenson, 7 p.m. Friday
27. BLOOMFIELD HILLS BROTHER RICE (5-2)
Division: 3
Previous ranking: No. 29
Week 7 score: Beat Chicago Christ the King Jesuit, 56-14
Week 8 game: At Traverse City Central, 7 p.m. Friday
26. SOUTH LYON (7-0)
Division: 2
Previous ranking: No. 25
Week 7 score: Beat Walled Lake Northern, 42-0
Week 8 game: At Waterford Mott, 7 p.m. Friday
25. EDWARDSBURG (7-0)
Division: 4
Previous ranking: No. 24
Week 7 score: Beat Otsego, 64-8
Week 8 game: Home vs. Dowagiac, 7 p.m. Friday
24. HUDSONVILLE UNITY CHRISTIAN (7-0)
Division: 4
Previous ranking: No. 27
Week 7 score: Beat Grand Rapids West Catholic, 40-14
Week 8 game: Home vs. Coopersville, 7 p.m. Friday
23. GRAND RAPIDS FOREST HILLS CENTRAL (6-1)
Division: 2
Previous ranking: No. 20
Week 7 score: Beat Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern, 35-7
Week 8 game: Home vs. Byron Center, 7 p.m. Friday
22. SALINE (7-0)
Division: 1
Previous ranking: No. 23
Week 7 score: Beat Temperance Bedford, 35-21
Week 8 game: Home vs. Dexter, 7 p.m. Friday
21. RIVER ROUGE (5-2)
Division: 3
Previous ranking: No. 19
Week 7 score: Beat Detroit University Prep, 71-0
Week 8 game: OPEN
20. CALEDONIA (6-1)
Division: 2
Previous ranking: No. 18
Week 7 score: Lost to Rockford, 17-14
Week 8 game: Home vs. Jenison, 7 p.m. Friday
19. MONA SHORES (5-2)
Division: 2
Previous ranking: No. 13
Week 7 score: Lost to Muskegon, 49-28
Week 8 game: At Holland, 7 p.m. Friday
18. DEARBORN FORDSON (6-1)
Division: 1
Previous ranking: No. 26
Week 7 score: Beat Livonia Churchill, 38-33
Week 8 game: At Dearborn, 7 p.m. Friday
17. ROMEO (6-1)
Division: 1
Previous ranking: No. 28
Week 7 score: Beat Sterling Heights Stevenson, 7-0
Week 8 game: Home vs. Port Huron Northern, 7 p.m. Friday
16. STERLING HEIGHTS STEVENSON (5-2)
Division: 1
Previous ranking: No. 9
Week 7 score: Lost to Romeo, 7-0
Week 8 game: At Utica Ford, 7 p.m. Friday
15. TRAVERSE CITY CENTRAL (6-1)
Division: 2
Previous ranking: No. 15
Week 7 score: Beat Alpena, 56-7
Week 8 game: Home vs. Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, 7 p.m. Friday
14. CLINTON TOWNSHIP CHIPPEWA VALLEY (5-2)
Division: 1
Previous ranking: No. 16
Week 7 score: Beat Grosse Pointe South, 49-37
Week 8 game: Home vs. Utica, 7 p.m. Friday
13. DETROIT CATHOLIC CENTRAL (5-2)
Division: 1
Previous ranking: No. 17
Week 7 score: Beat Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, 21-0
Week 8 game: Home vs. Newmarket Huron Heights (CN), 7 p.m. Friday
12. BELLEVILLE (6-1)
Division: 1
Previous ranking: No. 12
Week 7 score: Beat Westland John Glenn, 47-14
Week 8 game: At Livonia Franklin, 7 p.m. Friday
11. CLARKSTON (6-1)
Division: 1
Previous ranking: No. 11
Week 7 score: Beat Lake Orion, 50-22
Week 8 game: Home vs. Birmingham Groves, 7 p.m. Friday
10. ROCHESTER ADAMS (7-0)
Division: 1
Previous ranking: No. 10
Week 7 score: Beat Birmingham Groves, 24-7
Week 8 game: At Rochester Hills Stoney Creek, 7 p.m. Friday
Adams’ defense continued its stellar run by allowing just seven points to a talented Groves team that features Michigan State commit Jaden Mangham. The Highlanders are off to their best start since 2008 and have allowed 10 points or fewer in five of seven games this year against a tough schedule. The gauntlet continues in Week 8, when Adams visits Rochester Hills Stoney Creek.
9. MUSKEGON (6-1)
Division: 3
Previous ranking: No. 14
Week 7 score: Beat Muskegon Mona Shores, 49-28
Week 8 game: At Muskegon Reeths-Puffer, 7 p.m. Friday
The Big Reds came away with a big win in Week 7, as Muskegon used an 80-yard fumble return touchdown to spark a 21-point victory over rival Mona Shores. Sophomore Jakob Price got his first start and left quite the impression by tallying 217 yards on just six carries, including a state-record-tying 99-yard touchdown run. Muskegon now has wins in five of its last six games against Mona Shores, and they should be able to carry some momentum into the final two regular season games against Muskegon Reeths-Puffer and Zeeland East.
8. WEST BLOOMFIELD (6-1)
Division: 1
Previous ranking: No. 8
Week 7 score: Beat Southfield A&T, 56-27
Week 8 game: Home vs. North Farmington, 7 p.m. Friday
There was no let down for West Bloomfield coming off its overtime win over Clarkston, as the Lakers rolled a talented Southfield A&T team in Week 7. West Bloomfield will be heavy favorites in its last two games, but shouldn’t take North Farmington for granted in Week 8 because the Raiders will be playing for their playoff lives after dropping four in a row to some very good teams.
7. DETROIT CASS TECH (5-2)
Division: 1
Previous ranking: No. 6
Week 7 score: Beat Detroit Western (forfeit)
Week 8 game: Vs. Detroit King, 7 p.m. at Detroit Collegiate Prep
Cass Tech claimed its second forfeit win in three weeks, giving the Technicians ample to time to heal up and get ready for this week’s showdown against rival Detroit King, which won the teams’ first matchup, 41-34 in Week 3. A Detroit Public School League championship will be on the line this time, and anything other than another thriller would be a shock.
6. GRAND RAPIDS CATHOLIC CENTRAL (7-0)
Division: 5
Previous ranking: No. 5
Week 7 score: Beat Middleville Thornapple Kellogg, 51-0
Week 8 game: At Cedar Springs, 7 p.m. Friday
It appears Catholic Central will be without starting quarterback Joey Silveri for a while due to a knee injury sustained in Week 4, but once again, senior backup John Passinault came through with another stellar performance against Thornapple Kellogg, completing 11 of 20 passes for 128 yards and three touchdowns. The Cougars’ first real test without Silveri under center is this week’s matchup with Cedar Spring, and if they’re able to roll past the Red Hawks, Catholic Central has to be considered the heavy favorite to win its fourth state title in five years.
5. GRAND BLANC (7-0)
Division: 1
Previous ranking: No. 4
Week 7 score: Beat Saginaw Heritage, 41-7
Week 8 game: Home vs. Lapeer, 7 p.m. Friday
Grand Blanc continued its impressive season with a big win over Heritage, marking the program’s first 7-0 start since 2009. Quarterback Hunter Ames completed 7 of 13 passes for 175 yards and four touchdowns, and the Bobcats will need another big game from the senior signal caller when they host 6-1 Lapeer for a share of the Saginaw Valley League Red Division title.
4. DEWITT (6-1)
Division: 3
Previous ranking: No. 3
Week 7 score: Beat Lansing Everett, 49-21
Week 8 game: Home vs. Lansing Waverly, 7 p.m. Friday
The Panthers completed their first goal of the season by wrapping up the CAAC Blue title with a win over Everett, as star quarterback Tyler Holtz completed 15 of 26 passes for 220 yards and four touchdowns. DeWitt wraps up conference play this week, then visits Stevensville Lakeshore in what should be a good playoff tune-up for Holtz and company, as they aim to repeat as state champions.
3. ROCKFORD (7-0)
Division: 1
Previous ranking: No. 7
Week 7 score: Beat Caledonia, 17-14
Week 8 game: Home vs. Holland West Ottawa, 7 p.m. Friday
Rockford picked up one of the biggest wins of Week 7, as senior quarterback Zak Ahern tossed the game-winning 24-yard touchdown pass to Mac VandenHout to convert third-and-17 in the fourth quarter of the Rams’ 17-14 victory over Caledonia. The Rams appear to be a team on a mission this year, boasting wins over Sterling Heights Stevenson, Cedar Springs, Hudsonville and now Caledonia, and now the team should be able to give some valuable minutes to its reserves in the next two weeks against sub-.500 squads Holland West Ottawa and Grand Haven.
2. WARREN DE LA SALLE (6-0)
Division: 2
Previous ranking: No. 2
Week 7 score: Beat Detroit U-D Jesuit, 44-7
Week 8 game: Home vs. Harper Woods, 7 p.m. Friday at Wayne State
De La Salle has wins over four top-50 teams, and although U-D Jesuit isn’t one of them, the Pilots have another matchup with one of the state’s top teams when they play Harper Woods this week. With standout junior quarterback Brady Drogosh leading the way, De La Salle is on track for its fourth trip to Ford Field in five seasons, and at this point, the Pilots have to be the favorites to win the whole thing.
1. DETROIT KING (6-1)
Division: 3
Previous ranking: No. 1
Week 7 score: Beat Detroit Renaissance, 57-7
Week 8 game: Vs. Detroit Cass Tech, 7 p.m. Friday at Detroit Collegiate Prep
After picking up forfeit wins in weeks 5 and 6, King looked like a well-rested group, as it cruised to a 50-point win over Detroit Renaissance. The Crusaders play rival Cass Tech this week in the Detroit Public School League championship game, so that extra time to get healthy and prepare for the Technicians should come on handy in the rematch of King’s 41-34 Week 3 win.
Associated Press high school football state rankings through Week 7 in Michigan
Week 7 Top 50 rankings
Week 6 Top 50 rankings
Week 5 Top 50 rankings
Week 4 Top 50 rankings
Week 3 Top 50 rankings
Week 2 Top 50 rankings
Preseason Top 50 rankings
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