Top Ten and Rankings Explanation-Week Four

Top Ten and Rankings Explanation-Week Four

by | Sep 23, 2025 | Feature Writers, High School Sports

Top Ten and Rankings Explanation-Week Four.

Written Saturday September 20th at 9:10 AM

This week the rankings came out early with Avondale and Pontiac playing on Saturday, the game didn’t have an impact on the rankings so here they are this week.

1. Harper Woods: Dakota Guerrant basically saved the Pioneers league title hopes with three touchdowns in a classic 28-27 win over Stoney Creek Friday night.

2. Clarkston: Great week for the Wolves, getting some of their backups some key playing time.

3. West Bloomfield: Lakers senior experience really helping them here.

4. Adams: Welcome back Ryland Watters.

5. Stoney Creek: Cougars will be fine after this tough 28-27 loss to Harper Woods.

6. Seaholm: Patrick Hughes enough said.

7. Farmington: The 20-18 loss to Holly is officially forgotten for the Falcons.

8. Ferndale: Coach Donovan Jackson has the Eagles clicking right now.

9. North Farmington: Raiders exploded for 49 points against Bloomfield Hills on Friday night.

10. Groves: Falcons came out strong and had an impressive 35-7 win over Rochester. This win should help Groves moving forward.

 

Rankings Explanation:

Well we’re at week four in the season and I’ll explain the rankings this week.

I thought about moving Harper Woods down in the rankings after their surviving 28-27 win over Stoney Creek but the Pioneers beat Clarkston at Clarkston which is why the Pioneers are staying at one and the Wolves stay at two.

West Bloomfield stays at three after their impressive 33-16 win at Lake Orion. The Lakers have Clarkston in the Swamp looming. It should be a very interesting game. Adams moves up to four after an impressive second half against Oxford with a lot of it being Ryland Watters coming back.

I thought of keeping Stoney Creek at four but with Adams win over Oxford, I moved them down one spot but the Cougars have a chance to play the Highlanders so this could change in the future.

Seaholm stays at six after a big 24-21 win over Oak Park.

Farmington enters the rankings at seven after a 38-14 win over Troy Athens on Friday night.

Ferndale enters the rankings at eight after a strong fourth quarter at Hurley Field with a 26-14 win on Friday night.

North Farmington returns to the rankings at nine after putting up 49 points against Bloomfield Hills on Friday night.

Groves enters the rankings at 10 after an impressive 35-7 win over Rochester on Friday night.

I dropped Rochester, Oxford, and Oak Park from the rankings after two of the three teams took blowout losses while the other had a rough loss to Seaholm.

It will be very interesting to see what happens next week.

Top Ten and Rankings Explanation-Week Four

Week Four Thoughts

by | Sep 23, 2025 | Feature Writers, High School Sports

Week Four Thoughts.

Written Saturday September 20th at 8:50 AM

Updated Saturday September 20th at 8:25 PM

Here are my week four thoughts.

Waterford Kettering: The Captains had a rough one with South Lyon East falling 51-14 on Friday night. Waterford Kettering’s defense has been a big problem and needs to be corrected quickly if they want to turn things around. The Captains have the talent to turn things around quickly and need to do so but they will have a new coach as Brian Barnes was forced out of Waterford Kettering after accepting the Athletic Director’s role at Madison Heights Bishop Foley.

Waterford Mott: What in the world happened to the Corsairs??? after an emotional 42-34 win at Walled Lake Western last week, Waterford Mott allowed 53 points in a stunning 53-19 blowout loss to Pontiac Notre Dame Prep on Friday night. The defense has been the problem in the last two weeks for Coach Tra’Jan Seay allowing 43.5 points per game in that stretch. The Corsairs control their destiny in the Lakes Valley Conference but the defensive points allowed is very troubling for Waterford Mott.

Pontiac: The Phoenix had a rough one with Avondale falling 34-14 on Saturday afternoon. Pontiac is struggling but they are moving along as Coach Wendall Jefferson said it’s about building a program with the Phoenix.

Avondale: The Yellow Jackets won their first game under new Coach Jim Carlisle with a 34-14 win over Pontiac on Saturday afternoon. Avondale needed this one after a rough three weeks defensively, we’ll see if this starts something or the same story continues after three weeks..

Royal Oak: The Ravens got a measure of revenge against Livonia Clarenceville winning 38-6 over the Trojans on Friday night. Royal Oak was in total control leading 32-0 at one point in the game. As mentioned on previous podcasts, the Ravens are a Scooby Doo team and they still are with their play as of late. It will be very interesting to see what Royal Oak does going forward.

Berkley: Turnovers were the story for the Bears in their 26-14 loss to Ferndale at Hurley Field on Friday night. Berkley moved the ball well and overcame a 12-0 third quarter deficit to take the lead but they had a lot of critical errors in drives that stopped them. The Bears don’t control their destiny right now.

Ferndale: The Eagles are in the drivers seat in the Gold winning 26-14 over Berkley at Hurley Field. Turnovers were the story for Coach Donovan Jackson’s team as they are starting to turn things around after a rough start. Ferndale trailed at the end of the third quarter and found a way. As mentioned they control their own destiny right now.

Troy: The Colts got a dose of reality on Friday night falling to Clarkston 41-0. The Wolves defense was too much for Troy who is still a very young team. They still control their destiny in the Blue but the mental state of the Colts will be tested moving ahead into the season.

Troy Athens: It was a rough homecoming for the Red Hawks falling 38-14 to Farmington on Friday night. Troy Athens defense has been a problem spot this season. I’m not sure if there are any big injuries that is affecting Coach Tom Cook’s team or something. The Red Hawks are in a rough patch right now.

Farmington: The Falcons have seem to have bounced back after their 20-18 loss to Holly a few weeks ago by getting the Farmington Cup back and then winning 38-14 over Troy Athens on Friday night. The offense has been playing really well for Coach Jason Albrecht’s team thus far. Farmington is in a good spot in the Blue right now.

North Farmington: The Raiders had a strong bounce back after their tough 35-22 loss to arch rival Farmington they went and blew out Bloomfield Hills 49-7 at Ron Holland Field on Friday night. North Farmington was in total control the whole night dominating from start to finish, they still have Seaholm looming and could get back in the league race.

Bloomfield Hills: It was a rough night for Coach Scott Merchant and the Black Hawks falling 49-7 to North Farmington at Ron Holland Field. This is a long transition period for Merchant and also for Bloomfield Hills which they need to change the culture but it’s going to take time to do that. It will be very interesting to see what happens going forward.

Seaholm: The Maples had to overcome a 13-3 first quarter deficit to beat Oak Park 21-8 on Friday night. The play of the veer and resilience from quarterback Patrick Hughes was the difference. Coach Jim DeWald has this program in a good spot right now.

Oak Park: The Knights had a rough second, third, and fourth quarters getting outscored 21-8 and falling 24-21 on Friday night. Oak Park had a strong first quarter which led to a 13-3 lead but Seaholm took over behind their veer offense. The Knights are going through it right now.

Southfield Arts and Tech: The Warriors had a very rough time with Lowell on Friday night falling 40-8 to the Red Arrows. The misdirection that Lowell ran gave Southfield Arts and Tech problems all night. The Warriors are going through some tough times right now and playing two proven west side of the state teams should get them better in the long hall.

Groves: The Falcons proved that they can bounce back from tough losses like they did last week against Harper Woods in a stunning 35-7 win over Rochester. Groves used their athleticism and exposed a Rochester team that was coming off an emotional win the previous week. The Falcons are young still but seem to be growing up at the right time.

Rochester: The Falcons had a let down on Friday night after an emotional 23-21 win over Lake Orion the previous week, Rochester laid an egg falling 35-7 to Groves in Beverly Hills. The Falcons defense got exposed big time against a Falcons squad that is still pretty young. Rochester needs to bounce back if they want to keep their strong season intact.

Stoney Creek: The Cougars had a tough 28-27 loss to Harper Woods on Friday night but Stoney Creek went for two to try and win the game but didn’t get it. The Cougars have to feel good with the way their offense played against the Pioneers but the defense had some trouble particularly against Dakota Guerrant but most teams do have trouble against that type of play maker which Guerrant is. There will be some folks that question Coach Rick Powell on why they went for the win instead of going to the extra point to force overtime. It’s clear Powell has this program heading in the right direction despite the loss. Stoney Creek will be fine going forward.

Harper Woods: Dakota Guerrant and the defense saved the Pioneers White title hopes after Harper Woods escaped Stoney Creek with a 28-27 road win over the Cougars when things got really dicey late after Stoney Creek went for two to try and win the game but the defense got the stop and recovered an onside kick. Guerrant had three touchdowns and was a force all night against a program that has given them trouble. This should be a wake up call for Harper Woods after getting by Clarkston a few weeks ago and with Saline looming this needs to be one for Coach Rob Oden and the Pioneers.

West Bloomfield: The Lakers had a strong second half behind their athletes which proved huge in a 33-16 win at Lake Orion. West Bloomfield has been very good all season on defense but the Dragons were able to move the ball against them. The Lakers special teams were the difference as they took a punt return for a touchdown and had a long return which set them up to score which they did. West Bloomfield is in a good spot right now, just have to shore up some things.

Clarkston: The Wolves really had no issues with Troy winning 41-0 on Friday night. Clarkston got to play a lot of backups which is always a good sign if your Coach Justin Pintar. The Wolves are rolling along right now.

Oxford: The Wildcats have been up and down lately. They were in the game with Adams (tied 6-6 at the half) until the second half where the Highlanders outscored them 27-0 which resulted in a 33-6 loss on Friday night. Oxford has been in a bit of a rough patch right now but they should be fine going forward.

Adams: The Highlanders struggled offensively in the first half against Oxford but exploded for 27 second half points and beat the Wildcats 33-6 on Friday night. Ryland Watters came back from a knee injury that kept him out and it showed. If Watters stays healthy, Adams is dangerous going forward.

Lake Orion: The Dragons are going through a derecho after falling 33-16 to West Bloomfield falling to 0-4 for the first time since 1980. There are people that are questioning Coach Chris Bell on why he had Anderson Adams in at quarterback and not Brody Thompson at the two yard line late in the first half. Thompson led a really good drive and was playing very well to that point but Adams fumbled the ball off a bad snap and West Bloomfield recovered which led to a Lakers explosion in the second half. Lake Orion did have a ton of missed opportunities and ran the football well especially in the first half. Bell despite the injuries is facing a lot of questions and criticism right now.

House Passage of Surrogate Consent Statute Legislation

House Passage of Surrogate Consent Statute Legislation

by | Sep 23, 2025 | Regional News
Michigan Department of Attorney General Press Release banner

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 18, 2025

Media Contact:
Danny Wimmer

Attorney General Nessel Applauds House Passage of Surrogate Consent Statute Legislation

LANSING – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is praising the passage of House Bills 4418, 4419, and 4734 that create a surrogate consent statute. The legislation, which comes out of a subcommittee of the Elder Abuse Task Force, would help families make healthcare decisions while reducing the need for hospitals to go to court and the need for court-appointed attorneys.

“Far too often, Michigan families are forced into a courtroom during their most difficult moments,” Nessel said. “These bills establish a clear process for surrogate medical consent that protects vulnerable adults, improves patient care, and reduces unnecessary legal battles. I applaud the work of the Elder Abuse Task Force in championing these reforms and the House for taking action. I hope this package will now move swiftly in the Senate so this critical legislation can become law.”

The legislation will now advance to the Michigan Senate for consideration.

Michigan’s Elder Abuse Task Force launched in 2019 and consists of more than 55 different organizations in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors – all working together to combat elder abuse. The more than 100 individuals on the Task Force are divided into seven committees working diligently to accomplish nine initiatives (PDF), including requiring certification and training for professional guardians. Achievements include the following:

  • The adoption of a Vulnerable Adult Incident Report form for investigation by law enforcement across the state, including the implementation of related trainings;
  • The Financial Exploitation Prevention Act (FEPA): FEPA was signed into law in 2021 to ensure mandated reporting for financial institutions on suspected fraud or exploitation;
  • A complete re-write of the Power of Attorney statute; and
  • A statute to make securities brokers/dealers and financial advisors mandatory reporters of suspected financial exploitation of vulnerable adults.

More than 100,000 older adults in Michigan are victims of elder abuse. They experience abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Michigan residents seeking elder abuse resources are encouraged to call 800-24-ABUSE (22873), or 855-444-3911 to report suspected elder abuse.
Invasive stiltgrass cropping up around southern Michigan

Invasive stiltgrass cropping up around southern Michigan

by | Sep 23, 2025 | Environmental

 
Michigan Invasive Species Program banner

News Release
Sept. 22, 2025
Contact: Drew Rayner, 517-231-8763 or Joanne Foreman 517-284-5814

Invasive stiltgrass cropping up around southern Michigan

Look for and report this fast-spreading invasive grass

Stiltgrass, a highly invasive annual grass that spreads quickly in disturbed areas, recently was detected in Augusta Creek, Barry and Petersburg state game areas.

The detections were the result of surveys conducted by the Michigan Invasive Species Program’s new public lands response team. Two foresters and two biologists were hired by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources through a 2024 State General Fund increase for the program to focus on early detection and rapid response for watch list species on the state’s 4.6 million acres of public land.

Biologists Petar Simic and Natalie Bekins have spent the summer seeking out and treating infestations of watch list invasive species on state lands in the southern Lower Peninsula.

Invasive species on Michigan’s watch list pose an immediate or potential threat to Michigan’s economy, environment or human health. These species either have never been confirmed in the wild in Michigan or have a limited known distribution.

A patch of invasive stiltgrass grows in the right-of-way near the edge of a paved road.In early August, Simic located the stiltgrass infestation at Petersburg State Game Area in Monroe County by following up on an online report submitted by a park user, who had begun removing the grass. The response team manually removed and disposed of all visible stiltgrass and will continue to monitor the site and remove new growth.

Bekins detected stiltgrass at the Barry State Game Area in Barry County while conducting an oak wilt survey in late August. Just a few weeks later, she encountered the invasive grass at Augusta Creek State Game Area in Kalamazoo County. Chemical treatment and manual removal were used at both sites. The response team will work with game area staff to continue monitoring and expand survey efforts along roads and rights-of-way in both areas.

Other Michigan infestations

Invasive stiltgrass is widespread in the southeastern U.S., including expanding areas in Indiana and Ohio. It was first detected in Michigan in 2017, when an infestation was confirmed on private lands in Washtenaw County.

Additional surveying has shown that this original infestation covers a large area of both public and private land along the Huron River northwest of Ann Arbor. A coalition including Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County parks and recreation departments and Wild Ones, a native plant collaborative, is managing infestations on public lands and training landowners in techniques for private land management. The Jackson, Lenawee and Washtenaw Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area continues to scout for new infestations in the area.

Smaller infestations in Berrien, Cass and Kent counties are being managed by local CISMAs.

Why be concerned?

Invasive stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) – also known as Nepalese browntop or Japanese stiltgrass – is highly adaptable, thriving in various soil, moisture and light conditions. It takes hold in areas of disturbed soil along forest edges, roadways, recreational trails, floodplains and stream corridors.

Each plant can produce up to 1,000 seeds, which can be spread by vehicles, foot traffic, water and wildlife. Because deer don’t feed on stiltgrass, it often takes over in areas where deer browse on native plants and leave open patches of soil.

You can help

Landowners, land managers and anyone spending time outdoors should look out for stiltgrass and report the location and photos of any suspected plants to the Midwest Invasive Species Information Network at MISIN.MSU.edu.

Identify stiltgrass

Invasive stiltgrass is identifiable by its long, narrow, pointed green leaves and silver stripe along the mid-rib.Stiltgrass looks like some native grasses, so it may not appear out of the ordinary to the general observer. Here is what to look for:

  • A thin, bamboo-like grass with jointed stems and well-spaced leaves.
  • Smooth green leaves 2 to 3 inches long and one-half inch wide, tapering to points at both ends, often with an off-center silver stripe or mid-rib.
  • 1- to 3-foot-high beds of grass, with some stems running across the ground and others shooting upright.
  • Roots, both at the base and stem joints, that are weakly attached to the soil and easy to pull up.
  • One to three slender, green flower spikes at the stem tips, appearing in August or September.

Be aware of look-alikes

A few common plants in Michigan easily may be mistaken for stiltgrass.

  • Smartweeds (Polygonum spp.), with tiny, white to pink flowers on a short spike and a tell-tale dark blotch near the center of each leaf.
  • Whitegrass (Leersia virginica), which is well-rooted in the soil and has longer, thinner leaves than stiltgrass, with no mid-rib stripe.
  • Northern shorthusk (Brachyelytrum aristosum), with fine hairs on the top, bottom and edges of its leaves and stems, and leaf veins in a pattern resembling an irregular brick wall.

Prevent the spread

When enjoying the outdoors, stay on trails and, whenever possible, park in paved or cleared areas. If you have been hiking, biking or four-wheeling, always take time to clean your shoes, gear and vehicles before going to a new location.

More information on invasive species identification and prevention is available at Michigan.gov/Invasives.

Images of smartweed, whitegrass and northern shorthusk illustrating their differences from invasive stiltgrass.Stiltgrass look-alikes include smartweed, whitegrass and Northern shorthusk.

Michigan’s Invasive Species Program is cooperatively implemented by the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy; the Department of Natural Resources; and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Note to editors: Accompanying photos are available below for download. Caption information follows.

  • Stiltgrass BSGA: A patch of invasive stiltgrass detected in Barry State Game Area in a road right-of-way. DNR photo.
  • Stiltgrass_close-up: Stiltgrass leaves come to a point at both ends and often have a silvery stripe or mid-rib near the middle. Photo courtesy Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org.
  • Northern_shorthusk: A close-up of a northern shorthusk leaf reveals its unusual, brick-like leaf vein pattern. Photo courtesy Fontenelle Nature Association.
  • White_grass: Whitegrass looks similar to stiltgrass but has longer, thinner leaves and no mid-rib stripe. Photo courtesy Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org.
  • Pennsylvania_smartweed: Smartweeds have jointed stems and pointed leaves like stiltgrass, but they have white or pink flowers and leaves usually have a dark blotch across the center. Photo courtesy Michigan State University.
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Increased enforcement targets trucks in work zones

Increased enforcement targets trucks in work zones

by | Sep 19, 2025 | Transportation

 
MDOT header (SOM branding)Talking Michigan Transportation (TMT) banner with the Mackinac Bridge.

I

On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conv

Increased enforcement targets trucks in work zones

ersation about the Michigan State Police (MSP) deploying added enforcement in freeway work zones.

Active work zoneMC Lt. Jason Zylstra of MSP’s Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division (CVED) explains why they launched special enforcement in segments with major work like the heavily traveled I-96 in Ionia County.

MC Lt. Jason ZylstraMSP observes that 97 percent of at-fault crashes involving large trucks and buses are caused by driver behavior.

Zylstra also discusses:

  • The need for trucks to maintain a proper distance to other vehicles.
  • The dangers of trucks blocking lanes in zipper-merge zones and why law enforcement issues citations for that behavior.
  • Special inspections for tires, equipment and other components of commercial vehicles.

Listen now at https://www.buzzsprout.com/1374205.

Stay connected by subscribing to Talking Michigan Transportation e-mail updates.