Redford Thurston at TC Central
WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday
WHERE: Thirlby Field, TC
RECORDS: Both 1-0
LAST WEEK: Central toured Novi 55-22; Thurston beat Port Huron Northern 14-10
SERIES: First meeting
RADIO: FM-104.5
STREAM: nfhsnetwork.com/events/mhsaa-mi/gamedc8144c86
BACKGROUND: TC Central ran for the most yards in the entire Saginaw Valley League last week — by a lot. The Trojans ran wild for 451 yards. The next best SVL total was Mt. Pleasant’s 200.
Kingsley at Standish-Sterling
WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday
WHERE: Standish-Sterling football field
RECORDS: Kingsley 1-0; Standish 0-1
LAST WEEK: Kingsley beat Reed City 22-0; Standish lost 57-20 to Chesaning
LAST MEETING: The Stags won 38-13 in the 2020 playoff opening round
SERIES: Tied 1-1
RADIO: FM-96.7
STREAM: nfhsnetwork.com/events/mhsaa-mi/gama2da57c43d
BACKGROUND: This marks the first regular-season meeting between these schools. They’ve only met in the 2013 and 2020 postseasons. Sterling won seven games in 2024 before a 1-8 campaign in 2025.
Elk Rapids at Grayling
WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday
WHERE: Vikings Field, Grayling
RECORDS: Elk Rapids 0-1; Grayling 1-0
LAST WEEK: Elks lost 20-6 to TC St. Francis; Grayling beat Houghton Lake 20-19
LAST MEETING: Grayling won 35-14 in 2023
SERIES: Grayling leads 10-7
RADIO: FM-100.3
BACKGROUND: These two teams meet for the first time since 2023 under the new NMFC alignment. Grayling has won 3 of the last 4 (their 2020 game was wiped out by the pandemic). The Elks gave TCSF a tough test last week, while Grayling won on a walk-off TD pass from Jaden Peters and Camryn Stade.
Grand Rapids Christian at TC West
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Thirlby Field, TC
RECORDS: Both 0-1
LAST WEEK: West lost 49-35 to Howell; GR Christian lost 35-14 to GR South Christian
SERIES: First meeting
RADIO: FM-101.1
STREAM: nfhsnetwork.com/events/mhsaa-mi/gam44fa8df12b
BACKGROUND: Brayden Tillman’s 4 passing TDs last week were as many as all the SVL-Red QBs combined. His 232 pass yards were one short of Wynn Diegel’s league high for the week. Aidan Jacobs’ 140 yards marked the only SVL receiver to eclipse 100 last week. His three receiving TDs also were the only multi-TD day for any SVL receiver.
Ogemaw Heights at TC St. Francis
WHEN: 4 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Thirlby Field, TC
RECORDS: Both 1-0
LAST WEEK: TCSF beat Elk Rapids 20-6; Ogemaw beat Freeland 27-14
LAST YEAR: TCSF won 42-32
SERIES: TCSF leads 4-1
STREAM: nextlevelbroadcasting.net
BACKGROUND: Ogemaw Heights was a D5 state semifinalist a year ago. St. Francis came out throwing last week against Elk Rapids, putting the ball in the air at least 15 times.
Boyne City at Charlevoix
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Kipke Field, Charlevoix
RECORDS: Charlevoix 1-0; Boyne 0-1
LAST WEEK: Charlevoix beat East Jordan 36-30; Boyne lost 27-8 to Alpena
LAST YEAR: Charlevoix won 13-12
SERIES: Boyne leads 42-31-2
STREAM: nfhsnetwork.com/events/mhsaa-mi/gam0bd4d11046
BACKGROUND: The Rayders won 13-12 last year on Peter Yanchulis’ fourth-quarter 21-yard field goal, his second of the game. Yanchulis’ foot put Charlevoix at 8-0. The Ramblers and Rayders have split the last 10 meetings evenly.