Week 1 in the Books: Grand Ledge Sets the Tone, Then Michigan Goes Sideways in the Best Way
The pads came out, the Big House hosted high school football, and NXTGEN’s Game of the Week did exactly what a Game of the Week is supposed to do: it told you something before the rest of the state even finished stretching.
Then the rest of Michigan spent Thursday, Friday, and Saturday arguing with the preseason rankings.
Chelsea punched Harper Woods in the mouth. Byron Center ran Hudsonville out of the building. Romeo walked into Michigan Stadium and beat Rochester Adams. Cass City blanked a team that did not lose last year. And down in mid-Michigan, Eaton Rapids, Okemos, and Dansville all posted results that will look a lot bigger in October than they did on a Week 1 box score.
Let’s run it back.
Game of the Week: Grand Ledge 40, West Ottawa 21
This was the one we circled. Grand Ledge hosting West Ottawa. Two programs that know each other, two rosters full of names we already liked, and a Thursday night that was supposed to be a measuring stick for both sides.
Grand Ledge did the measuring.
Ashton Delaney was the story on the ground: 30 carries, 195 yards, three touchdowns. That is not a “nice opener.” That is a back telling a West Michigan defense it is going to be a long year if they cannot tackle him in space. Kingston Nixon was filthy with the football in his hands, throwing two touchdowns — and Coleman Van Fossen hauled in both of those touchdown grabs.
West Ottawa is not a throwaway. The Panthers have talent, they have size, and they have been in this series enough times to know Grand Ledge is not going to blink. The Comets just had more answers. They ran it, they finished drives, and they gave the home crowd a 40-21 statement that should follow them into CAAC play.
If you needed a Week 1 north star for mid-Michigan football, here it is: Grand Ledge looks like a problem.
Shockers
Chelsea 29, Harper Woods 20
The first statewide “wait, what?” of 2026. Harper Woods walked in with the kind of skill talent that makes recruiting Twitter light up — including Oregon commit Dakota Guerrant, No. 1 player in the state — and Chelsea still won at home. That is not a fluke you bury on page two. That is Chelsea telling the state it is not here to be a nice Week 1 opponent.
Byron Center 41, Hudsonville 20
Hudsonville was the NXTGEN #4 Division 1 program in the preseason polls. Byron Center treated that like a compliment and then scored 41. The Bulldogs were in control after the third quarter. If you had Hudsonville as a Division 1 factor and Byron Center as “solid OK Conference team,” Week 1 just redrew that map.
Romeo 17, Rochester Adams 10
Saturday night. Michigan Stadium. Adams coming in as a the NXTGEN #8 in Division 1 preseason polls. Romeo won a defensive, 17-10 slog that will follow both programs all fall. That is a Macomb County result with statewide noise.
Cass City 34, Harbor Beach 0
Harbor Beach did not lose in 2025. Cass City put up a shutout in Week 1. In the Thumb, that is not a score. That is a statement taped to the locker room door.
Montabella 62, Martin 12
Montabella didn't take the loss in the 2025 State Championship game well...and made Martin pay for it in 2026!
Grand Blanc 24, Belleville 23
Not a blindside upset so much as a one-point heavyweight fight that went the “wrong” way for a lot of preseason brackets. Grand Blanc was the #10 Division 1 program in NXTGEN pre-season polls, while Belleville was snubbed on the outside looking in. Grand Blanc won by one. Both are still good. Only one is 1-0. Although Belleville took the L, it may be time to consider moving them up the polls as hard as they competed with Grand Blanc.
Detroit Central 12, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep 7
Notre Dame Prep is a name people circle in Division 5. Central winning a 12-7 opener is the kind of result that does not trend statewide and then shows up again in November.
Swan Valley 19, Detroit Country Day 14
Country Day was the #4 Team in Division 4 according to the NXTGEN preseason polls. Swan Valley won a one-score game. Mid-Michigan will remember that longer than the metro headlines will.
Teams That Looked the Part
Some teams opened the year and immediately looked like the flyer you printed in July.
Detroit Catholic Central 55, Chippewa Valley 0
The preseason No. 6 team in Division 1 apparently did not enjoy their ranking on the NXTGEN boards and decided not to ease in to the season. Fifty-five to nothing is how a favorite introduces itself.
Detroit Cass Tech 62, Michigan City (Ind.) 0
Same energy, different stadium. Julian Taylor and the Technicians used the Amazon Prep Kickoff Classic at Wayne State like a runway. Cass Tech still looks like the other half of the Division 1 title conversation.
DeWitt 59, Kenowa Hills 21
Defending Division 3 champion versus a Division 4 preseason heavyweight at Wayne State. DeWitt scored on the opening snap, ran for 419 yards, and never let Kenowa Hills — and Michigan commit Lundon Hampton — turn it into a track meet they could win. The Panthers still look like the best team in their division.
Saline 39, Rockford 12
Year 2 of this opener, and it was not 37-28 this time. Saline piled it on. If you thought Rockford was still a top-shelf Division 1 roster, Friday night asked you to prove it again next week.
Clarkston 37, South Lyon 16
Big House, preseason heavyweight billing, and Clarkston’s second half decided it. Alex Waszczenko and Kiernan Riddle each ran for two scores. The Wolves looked like Clarkston. South Lyon has work to do.
East Kentwood 55, Southfield A&T 0
West Michigan’s Division 1 standard opened with a shutout. No drama. No rust. Just a 55-0 reminder.
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 35, Mona Shores 27
Not a blowout, and that is fine. St. Mary’s is supposed to win these. They did. Mona Shores hung around long enough to tell you the Sailors are not a Week 1 layup.
Mason 48, Holt 12
Jeffrey Reisner ripped off 125 yards. Frankie Trigo scored three times. The Cedar Street Bowl was not close. Mason looked like the mid-Michigan brand it has been building.
Statement Wins
These were not just wins. These were “write us down” wins.
Dearborn Divine Child 42, Hudsonville Unity Christian 28
Rematch of last year’s Division 4 final, which Divine Child escaped 23-22. The rematch was louder. Divine Child is still the team to beat in that division. Unity Christian is still dangerous. The gap just looks bigger than one point this time.
Goodrich 10, Frankenmuth 7
The Big House, two perennial double-digit-win programs, and another Goodrich win in a series that never breathes. Ten-seven in Week 1 is how good teams introduce themselves when they do not need style points.
Belding 60, Kelloggsville 20
West Michigan did not need a microscope for this one. Reigning OK Silver champ Belding went on the road and dropped 60 on Kelloggsville. That is not “we got the rust off.” That is a league favorite reminding the conference why it has been the problem in this league.The Black Knights entered the year as a Division 6 name after winning the Silver, and Friday night looked like the same program, just in August. Kelloggsville got to 20, so this was not a complete wipeout, but the gap was real. If you are making an OK Silver board after one week, Belding is still sitting at the top of it. Ethan King is a real name to watch after his 19 carry, 250 yard, 6 Touchdown performance to open the season.
Warren De La Salle 71, Hamtramck 6
The Pilots did not play around.
New Lothrop 54, Muskegon Catholic Central 0
If you needed a mid-Michigan small-school reminder, here it is.
Jackson Lumen Christi 39, Detroit Edison 21
Lumen Christi still looks like Lumen Christi.
Traverse City Central 55, Novi 22
TC Central dropped 55 on a KLAA name. Northern Michigan would like a word with the statewide rankings.
Brother Rice 30, Dakota 20
A CHSL-MAC crossover that Brother Rice won. Dakota is not a free win. Rice taking it in Week 1 matters for both leagues.
Grandville 29, Muskegon 28
One point. Two West Michigan brands. Grandville leaves 1-0 and Muskegon leaves knowing the margin is still a blade.
Mount Pleasant 23, Saginaw Heritage 13
Saturday at the Big House. Last year’s Division 3 runner-up opened with a win on the biggest high school stage in the state. That is a résumé line already.
What To Make Of It
This is the section that will age the best. Not every Week 1 result is an upset or a blowout. Some of them are just… informative.
Eaton Rapids 23, Lansing Eastern 0
Do not sleep on this one. A shutout in a Greater Lansing opener is a tone-setter. Eaton Rapids did not sneak out of the Building. They parked there. Eastern has to answer next week with something besides “it’s Week 1.” Eaton Rapids looks organized, physical, and ready to make CAAC life uncomfortable. Is Eaton Rapids turning things around FINALLY? Time will tell, they'll host cross-town rival Charlotte next week. The last time these two teams faced off as undefeated foes was 1990 when both teams entered the game at 2-0 and Charlotte won that one 33-7.
Okemos 19, Ypsilanti Lincoln 7
Blake Burke went 21-of-28 for a career-best 254 yards and two touchdowns. Brett Burak caught 10 balls for 104 and a score. The Chiefs threw it around, the defense grabbed two interceptions, and Lincoln never found a second gear. What to make of it: Okemos can win games that are not track meets, and Burke looks like a quarterback you can build a season around. Lincoln has athletes. Okemos had the plan. Okemos starts the season with a win for the first time since 2018.
Dansville 48, Fulton 6
The Aggies’ first game as an 8-player program, and they scored 48 unanswered. Mayson Burgett threw three touchdowns, ran for two, and took an interception back for another. That is not a “nice transition.” That is a program that just found a home. Fulton got caught in a hurri-KANE ROMANO! What to make of it: Dansville is going to be a problem in 8-player immediately. This was the largest margin of victory for the Aggies since 2019 when they beat Potterville 47-0. It's also the first time they've won back to back games (Week 9 - 2025, Week 1 - 2026) since week 1-2 of the 2022 season, since those two wins the Aggies are (3-31).
Williamston 20, Lansing Catholic 12
Luke Criscuolo ran for 224 and two scores. Parker Friess punched in a fourth-quarter touchdown. Lansing Catholic got 160 rushing yards from Kai Mishler and still left short. What to make of it: Williamston’s identity is the run game, and it already travels. Catholic is not out of the CAAC picture, but it cannot live in one-score games if the Hornets keep handing the ball to Criscuolo.
Waverly 20, Fowlerville 19
Zyeier Rembert threw three touchdowns. Amir Brown ran for 137. Tre Burton caught two scores. Fowlerville had the chance to steal it and didn’t. What to make of it: Waverly has playmakers. Fowlerville is going to win games this year. This one just happened to tilt Lansing.
Port Huron 28, Anchor Bay 21 (2OT)
Two overtimes in Week 1. MAC football did not ease anyone in. What to make of it: both teams can play. Port Huron just has the extra possession in the memory bank.
North Farmington 14, Groves 13
OAA one-score chaos. What to make of it: North Farmington will take ugly. Groves will replay the last possession until September.
Almont 14, Marysville 13
A Blue Water one-pointer. What to make of it: Almont found a way. Marysville is a playoff team if it stops losing these.
Midland 14, East Lansing 7
A defensive opener between two programs people will keep tracking. What to make of it: Midland’s front looked ready. East Lansing has to generate points before CAAC weeks get heavier.
Paw Paw 13, Big Rapids 7
A low-scoring West Michigan result that will not make Instagram and might make a district later. What to make of it: Big Rapids’ preseason shine took a nick. Paw Paw earned the right to talk.
Other Notable Games
The state is too big for one narrative. These still deserved a paragraph. We've given them a sentence....they deserve more...this article is long enough...there was a lot to discuss in Week 1!
Howell 49, Traverse City West 35
A shootout. Howell had more. TC West did not go quietly.
East Grand Rapids 27, Lowell 21
The old rivalry still bites. EGR took Round 1.
Battle Creek Central 54, Forest Hills Central 49
Ninety-nine points. Somebody’s defensive coordinator is STILL watching film with the lights off.
Swartz Creek 48, Yale 45
Same energy. Week 1 did not believe in 10-7 games… except when it did.
Portland 29, Cadillac 22
Portland keeps looking like a Division 4/5 name that travels. Cadillac competed in this game, some don't think they were supposed to.
Hamilton 42, St. Johns 33
Points, points, points. Hamilton had one more answer.
Negaunee 30, Marquette 28
U.P. football, one score, no mercy.
Calumet 14, Houghton 7
Keweenaw football the way Keweenaw football is supposed to look: tight, ugly, earned.
Menominee 60, Marinette (Wis.) 6
The Maroons opened like a program that has been here before.
Hudson 56, Hanover-Horton 6
Hudson still looks like a small-school hammer.
Beal City 33, Ravenna 7
The Aggies opened at Ferris State and looked comfortable doing it.
Pewamo-Westphalia 17, North Muskegon 9
P-W winning a 17-9 game is the most P-W thing on the board.
Lakeshore over Wayland
West Michigan grind. Lakeshore 1-0.
Davison 28, Roseville 8
Davison looked like a Saginaw Valley League problem.
Perry 42, Addison 12
Tyger Whitbeck became Perry’s all-time leading passer in the opener. 264 yards, three scores, 3,230 for his career. That is a local headline that statewide readers should steal.
Sexton 33, Everett 0
Lansing inner-city football with a shutout attached.
Shepherd 20, Alma 6
The annual opener went Shepherd’s way again.
Spring Lake 34, Grand Haven 35
This game was an early contender for Game of the Year!
Vicksburg 55, Mattawan 27
Vicksburg can score. Mattawan found that out early. Easton Moughton looked fantastic!
Zeeland West 46, Cedar Springs 20
The Dux look like the Dux.
South Christian 35, Grand Rapids Christian 14
A west-side private-school opener that South Christian controlled.
The Week 1 vibe, in one paragraph
The favorites mostly looked like favorites — Catholic Central, Cass Tech, DeWitt, East Kentwood, Divine Child, Clarkston, Saline. The board still got weird in the places that make this state fun: Chelsea over Harper Woods, Byron Center over Hudsonville, Romeo over Adams, Cass City over Harbor Beach, Grand Blanc by one over Belleville, and Grand Ledge doing exactly what we hoped our Game of the Week would do.
Week 2 will tell us who was real and who just had a clean opening weekend. For one weekend, Michigan high school football was loud, spread out, and better than the preseason flyers.
Complete Week 1 Scoreboard
For a full list of results across the state you view final results of all the games here: https://nxtgen-recruits.com/scoreboard
Week 2 is already loading. Grand Ledge set the tone Thursday. Everybody else spent the weekend choosing a side of the “looked the part” line.
