Well, here we are. Let the second season begin.
If all goes to plan for Michigan high school football teams that have played their way into this phase of the season, five more week await before the ultimate goal.
A total of 288 teams are set for district matchups that will kick off on Halloween ahead, Friday, Oct. 31, with teams looking to overcome the fear of an early exit and build momentum for district finals, regionals and beyond.
Below you’ll find a complete list of each district – regionals for 8-player – involving northern Michigan teams and teams out of the Upper Peninsula.
Teams will play either Friday, Oct. 31 or Saturday, Nov. 1, with the days finalized as schools communicate.
The top seed or team with the most playoff points in each district or region will host games through district and regional rounds.
DIVISION 3 Region 1 – District 1
(4) Bay City Western (4-5, 46.556) at (1) Mount Pleasant (9-0, 76.444)
(3) Marquette (5-4, 51.889) at (2) Gaylord (9-0, 66.000)
Quick Look: We’ll start with the obvious first. Petoskey (5-4) ended up just short and won’t be in the 2025 postseason a year after an 11-0 start and trip into regionals last season. The Northmen finished No. 33 in playoff points in Division 3 and needed to get to that No. 32 line.
Three teams the Northmen saw during the 2025 season take on this district, with their rival Blue Devils facing off with a Marquette team they got all they could handle from in a 28-27 Week 3 win.
Gaylord and Mount Pleasant both enter unbeaten and with a chance to get out of here with an 11-0 season and into regionals.
For Mount Pleasant, it’s also a rematch with Western, with the Oilers winning 28-17 the first time around.
DIVISION 6 Region 1 – District 1
(4) Calumet (7-2, 40.500) at (1) Kingsley (7-2, 48.167)
(3) Boyne City (6-3, 41.944) at (2) Traverse City St. Francis (6-2, 44.472)
Quick Look: It’s hard to know if this is a district Boyne City looks at happy to see, or, like most, one to be scared of.
The Ramblers only fell in a 20-13 game the first time around against TC St. Francis, then you have to think they’re salivating at a chance to write a better script than the 38-6 loss against Kingsley if they can survive round one.
That is, if the Stags can get by a tough Calumet team that only fell in close games against Menominee and Kingsford.
DIVISION 7Region 1 – District 1
(4) Manton (6-3, 28.000) at (1) Menominee (9-0. 52.486)
(3) McBain (7-2, 36.667) at (2) Charlevoix (8-1, 41.556)
Quick Look: They’re not quite the Ramblers that Charlevoix circles every year on the schedule, but the McBain Ramblers will be treated like a rival come next weekend.
Charlevoix better get ready to score. In all but three games, McBain has topped 45 points this season, which incldues a 71-point game against Evart. They’ve scored 50 or more in five games.
Could we get the matchup that’s been expected all season in Charlevoix vs. Menominee? If so, it’s another chance for the Rayders to try overcome a U.P. powerhouse. They’ve ran into plenty of late.
DIVISION 8Region 1 – District 2
(4) Mancelona (5-4, 29.361) at (1) Maple City Glen Lake (7-1, 40.528)
(3) Frankfort (6-3, 29.917) at (2) East Jordan (6-3, 32.625)
Quick Look: The game that turned East Jordan back into a playoff contender a few weeks back is what’s on deck for the Red Devils.
The 25-14 win over Frankfort was one of their best of the season and part of a three-game win streak to close the regular season.
The real challenge comes in doing it again just three weeks later, then overcoming either Mancelona or Glen Lake, two teams the Red Devils fell to during the season.
One plus for EJ is the chance to host here, with it coming as the fifth home game in the last six weeks.
8-PLAYER D1 Region 1
(4) Bessemer (8-1, 32.264) at (1) Norway (9-0, 37.625)
(3) Pickford (7-1, 32.542) at (2) Inland Lakes (9-0. 37.000)
Region 2
(4) Breckenridge (6-3, 30.250) at (1) Blanchard Montabella (8-1, 35.222)
(3) Central Lake (6-3, 30.667) at (2) Merrill (7-2, 31.778)
Quick Look: It was going to be hard to tell how this collection of playoff teams might be laid out, but, despite being the No. 1 ranked team much of the season in the Michigan Sports Writers poll, Inland Lakes will get a two seed in its regional because of unbeaten Norway.
Playing a Division 2 team like St. Mary the final week of the season didn’t net the playoff point boost the Bulldogs needed to overtake Norway.
If Inland Lakes can get to the second week, a regional final matchup against Norway would feel more like a state championship game than a regional final.
First, they’ve got to get past a talented Pickford team with a high-powered offense, the best they’ve seen this season.
8-PLAYER D2 Region 1
(4) St. Ignace (6-3, 29.250) at (1) Felch North Dickinson (9-0, 34.708)
(3) Powers North Central (7-2, 31.444) at (2) Lake Linden-Hubbell (7-2, 31.444)
Region 2
(4) Hillman (6-3, 29.208) at Onekama (9-0, 36.667)
(3) Gaylord St. Mary (7-2, 29.778) at Mio (8-1, 32.472)
Quick Look: St. Mary might be one of the best three seeds around and a dangerous one within this Division 2 regional. They’ve fallen only to Division 1 Inland Lakes and a talented Breckenridge team.
They’re in one heck of a tough region, however, with an Onekama team that might be the best in Division 2 and a strong Mio team.
AROUND NORTHERN MICHIGAN DIVISION 2 Region 1 – District 1
(4) Muskegon Mona Shores (5-4, 52.111) at (1) Muskegon (6-3, 64.556)
(3) TC Central (5-4, 53.889) at (2) TC West (5-4, 59.222)
DIVISION 4Region 1 – District 1
(4) Freeland (7-2, 49.667) at (1) Escanaba (8-1, 58.222)
(3) Big Rapids (8-1, 52.667) at (2) Ludington (9-0, 56.778)
DIVISION 5Region 1 – District 1
(4) Negaunee (6-3 40.875) at (1) Ogemaw Heights (8-1, 54.389)
(3) Gladwin (5-4, 43.111) at (2) Kingsford (7-2, 43.222)
DIVISION 6Region 1 – District 2
(4) Sanford Meridian (6-3, 36.111) at (1) Reed City (7-2, 47.667)
(3) Montague (5-4, 36.444) at (2) Central Montcalm (7-2, 37.444)
DIVISION 8Region 1 – District 1
(4) West Iron County (4-4, 25.361) at (1) Bark River-Harris (7-1, 37.375)
(3) L’Anse (5-4, 25.417) at (2) Iron Mountain (5-3, 27.528)
Contact or send game stats/info to Sports Editor Drew Kochanny at dkochanny@petoskeynews.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DrewKochanny, and Instagram, @drewkochanny