If you spent the last weekend of November anywhere near downtown Detroit, you felt it. That specific, frantic energy that only exists when the 2025 Michigan high school football playoffs collide with the turf at Ford Field. Honestly, it was a blur of silver helmets, questionable officiating calls that set Twitter—or X, whatever—on fire, and some of the most lopsided "championship" scores we’ve seen in a decade.
High school sports are weird. One minute you're a teenager worrying about a math quiz, and the next, you're standing in a professional stadium while thousands of people scream because you dropped a lateral. 2025 felt different, though. It wasn't just about the powerhouse schools doing powerhouse things. It was about the "Gash brothers" over at Detroit Catholic Central and a kid from DeWitt who basically decided he didn't feel like being tackled for four straight quarters.
The Shamrocks Back on Top: Division 1 Drama
Everyone expected a dogfight between Detroit Catholic Central and Detroit Cass Tech. I mean, they were both undefeated. People were calling it the "true" state final before the coin toss even happened. But man, DCC had other plans. They ended up winning 42-19, which sounds like a blowout, but it was really a masterclass in sibling chemistry.
Samson Gash usually gets all the headlines. He’s the senior, the star, the guy everyone's recruiting. But his junior brother, Gideon Gash, decided this was his game. He caught three touchdowns. All of them were over 37 yards. It felt like every time Cass Tech tried to adjust their secondary, Gideon was already five yards behind them waving for the ball. This win was huge for the Shamrocks—it was their first title since 2009. They’d been knocking on the door for years, and they finally kicked it down by avenging their 2024 semifinal loss to these same Technicians.
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2025 Michigan High School Football Playoffs: The Record Breakers
If you like defense, Division 3 was... not for you. DeWitt didn't just win; they dismantled Mount Pleasant 54-20. It was almost uncomfortable to watch at points. They set a team Finals record with 575 rushing yards. Think about that for a second. That’s more than five football fields' worth of just running the ball.
Traverse Moore was the engine. He put up 397 rushing yards himself. He didn't just break the individual Finals record; he shattered it by 83 yards. Every time Mount Pleasant thought they had a gap filled, Moore found a crease that didn't exist two seconds prior. It's rare to see a team that balanced, but when you have a line that pushes like DeWitt's did, you don't really need a "Plan B."
A Quick Look at the 2025 Champions
Instead of a boring list, let's look at how these games actually shook out across the divisions:
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- Division 2: Orchard Lake St. Mary's absolutely rolled over Dexter, 51-14. Jabin Gonzales was a human highlight reel, throwing for 304 yards and four scores while adding 102 on the ground. Dexter had a record-setting offense all year, but the Eaglets held them to just 69 yards in the second half.
- Division 4: This was the game of the tournament. Dearborn Divine Child beat Hudsonville Unity Christian 23-22. It came down to a two-point conversion stop in the fourth quarter. If Divine Child doesn't stuff that run, the history books look very different today. It’s their first title since 1985.
- Division 5: Grand Rapids West Catholic jumped out to a 28-0 lead on Notre Dame Prep. The final was 42-14. The "1-2 punch" of Collin Abram and Grady Augustyn was just too much for the Irish to handle, especially after their quarterback went down with an injury.
- Division 6: Jackson Lumen Christi is becoming a problem for the rest of the state. They won their fourth straight title, beating Kingsley 28-15. Sean Walicki was doing everything—142 yards rushing and 17 tackles. Who does that?
- Division 7: Menominee finished a perfect 14-0 by handled Schoolcraft 34-6. Clayton Miller ran for three scores. This was a long time coming for the Maroons after being runners-up recently.
- Division 8: Harbor Beach kicked off the festivities with a 31-20 win over Hudson. Caden Bucholtz basically willed that team to a win, giving the Pirates their first title since 2012.
Why This Season Felt Different
Social media has changed how we view the 2025 Michigan high school football playoffs. You don't have to wait for the Sunday morning paper to see highlights. You've got "Recruit Juices" and local "Mitten Football" accounts posting every pancake block and deep ball ten seconds after they happen.
But it’s not all sunshine. There’s a lot of talk about the "transfer portal" culture hitting high schools. You see kids moving from public schools to the big private powerhouses as soon as they show an ounce of D1 potential. Some people think it’s ruining the "neighborhood" feel of Michigan football. Honestly, they might be right. When you see Orchard Lake St. Mary’s or DCC putting up 40+ points in a state final, you have to wonder if the competitive balance is tipping a little too far.
Then again, you look at a team like Menominee. They’re a local staple. They represent a community, not just a recruitment zone. Seeing them go 14-0 and bring a trophy back to the U.P. reminds you that the old way of doing things still works if you’ve got the heart for it.
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Lessons from the Turf
If you’re a coach or a player looking at these results, there are a few things that stand out. First, depth wins in November. Teams like West Catholic and Lumen Christi didn't win because they had one star; they won because their second and third-string guys could play mistake-free football when it mattered.
Second, the "Big Stage" jitters are real. We saw multiple teams drop snaps or commit silly personal fouls in the first quarter at Ford Field. The teams that settled in—like Divine Child—were the ones holding the trophy.
The 2025 Michigan high school football playoffs are over, but the recruiting cycle for 2026 is already heating up. If you're a fan, keep an eye on those underclassmen who stepped up. Gideon Gash is still a junior. Jabin Gonzales is making a case for the best QB in the state. The cycle never really stops; it just takes a breather for a few months of snow.
Next Steps for Fans and Players:
- Review the film: If you're a player, the MHSAA archives these games. Watch how DCC’s offensive line handled Cass Tech’s blitzes.
- Check the rankings: On3 and MaxPreps have already released their final composite rankings for the 2025 season. See where your school landed.
- Gear up for 2026: Practice officially starts August 10, 2026. If you want to be at Ford Field next year, the work starts in the weight room this February.