We are less than three weeks away from the start of the Michigan high school football season. Plenty of games are being circled by coaches, players and fans. The top question by many spectators is which ones should they look forward to catching this fall. Well, we have you covered on that part so you […]
We are less than three weeks away from the start of the Michigan high school football season. Plenty of games are being circled by coaches, players and fans. The top question by many spectators is which ones should they look forward to catching this fall. Well, we have you covered on that part so you don’t have to do too much researching.
Rivals provides to you the 10 best games on the Michigan high school football season calendar.
1. Central Catholic (Ohio) vs. Cass Technical, Aug. 29
Not many games can top this one within the state of Michigan as the Technicians start off the 2025 season against an Ohio state power in Central Catholic. The game will be played over at Wayne State University, which brings a little bit more intrigue to the meeting between the two neighboring powerhouses. Cass Tech started off last season against fellow state power Rockford, starting off with a 30-23 loss. That didn’t stop the Technicians from going 12-1 the rest of the way en route to a Division 1 state championship.
2. Detroit Catholic Central at Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Prep, Sept. 20
Last year’s contest between these two schools came down to the wire and this 2025 edition could play out to being even better. The Shamrocks came away with a 27-22 victory over Eaglets and the last two meetings have been decided by five points or less. With both teams returning plenty of talent from a year ago, it’s an easy pick here as a couple of Michigan high school football powerhouses go head-to-head. The last time Orchard Lake St. Mary’s won a game in this series was back in 2018 as the Eaglets pulled off a 31-29 win.
3. Detroit Catholic Central at De La Salle Collegiate, Sept. 26
When it comes to top games between in-state schools in Michigan, this one is right up there as the Shamrocks and Pilots clash in late September. In last year’s meeting, Detroit Central Catholic upended De La Salle Collegiate, 31-14, at the midway point and that’s when this meeting will take place. The Shamrocks feature some of the state’s top recruits, including Power 4 talents, brothers Gideon and Samson Gash. With the amount of talent that will take the field, it would be difficult to not list this one.
4. Rockford at Muskegon, Sept. 5
The No. 2 and No. 7 ranked teams in Michigan square off early on in the season and based on recent history, it should be another good one. The Rams won last year’s meeting, 28-21, and the year before that in 2023 came away with a 27-7 decision. It had been a full decade since the two programs had last met, with Muskegon winning the 2013 matchup in a rout, 45-0. Now with both teams bringing back talented rosters, it could be another down to the fourth quarter battle.
5. Unity Christian at Zeeland West, Oct. 3
A rematch of last year’s only loss Zeeland West had suffered all season long, 20-8 to Unity Christian. It was right after that, that the Dux racked up nine straight victories en route to winning the MHSAA’s Division III state championship. The only loss that Unity Christian ended up having came in the Division IV playoffs. You have to think that Zeeland West has been itching to get back on the field for this highly anticipated rematch.
6. Byron Center at Hudsonville, Aug. 28
Getting into the second half of our list is a matchup of top-10 Michigan high school football teams, though these two clubs did not face off in 2024. Regardless, you have to like the potential of what this game could bring based from a talent standpoint. With Hudsonville heading into the season at No. 6 and Byron Center at No. 9, it would look like on paper that this will be a treat for Michigan high school football fans come Week 1.
7. Clarkston at Belleville, Aug. 28
We weren’t going to completely forget about the Belleville Tigers, even though it’s post-Bryce Underwood at this point. The Tigers, ranked as the No. 8 team in the state, will start off against the No. 20-ranked Clarkston and show folks that they can hold their own against the best teams Michigan high school football has to offer. Whomever ends up stepping in under center for Belleville obviously has some big shoes to fill with Underwood now playing for the Michigan Wolverines.
8. Muskegon at Grandville, Aug. 28
Another solid season-opening game right out of the gates when the Big Reds take the road to face the Bulldogs. It marks another game we didn’t see take place in 2024 and certainly holds the ingredients to being a darkhorse winner to being the best contest to start the Michigan high school football season. Don’t let Grandville’s 6-5 record from last year fool you whatsoever as they lost three games by less than a touchdown. This could be the tone setter for either program this fall.
9. Mona Shores at Byron Center, Sept. 26
Do you like low scoring, defensive battles? This one might be more of your vibe towards the midway point of the season as the Sailors and Bulldogs clash in Week 5. Last year’s meeting ended with Mona Shores coming away with a narrow 14-12 victory. Mona Shores features Miami (Ohio) commitment Tomarion Stewart, who enters the season as one of the top returning running backs in all of Michigan high school football.
10. Adams at West Bloomfield, Sept. 12
Last and certainly not least is the Highlanders and Lakers facing out in Week 3, as last year’s meeting went to Adams in a 21-14 decision. The Highlanders have owned the series as of late, winning three of the last four games between the programs. West Bloomfield features a pair of 2026 3-star recruits in defensive lineman Jeremiah Benson and offensive tackle Travis Robertson.
Category: General Sports
