MHSAA Playoffs: Greater Lansing Teams Hunt District Titles

MHSAA Playoffs: Greater Lansing Teams Hunt District Titles

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A Dozen District Titles on the Line as Lansing Area Football Enters Championship Weekend

For a dozen Greater Lansing high school football teams, this weekend is about more than just advancing—it’s about cementing a legacy.

The stakes are immense. A district title isn’t just a line in a record book; it’s a banner that hangs in a gymnasium, a moment replayed on local sports shows, and a source of pride for a town.

The Unbeaten Collision: Grand Ledge vs. East Kentwood

Perhaps the most anticipated clash pits two unbeatens against each other. Grand Ledge (10-0), the CAAC Blue champion, travels to face East Kentwood (10-0), the OK Red titlist. This is a heavyweight showdown featuring two of the area’s most dominant offenses. Grand Ledge has surpassed 400 points in a season for just the third time in program history, showing their strong offense. East Kentwood, meanwhile, has won every game by at least 20 points, a display of relentless efficiency. The Comets will be looking for a measure of revenge, as the Falcons defeated them in last year’s playoff opener on their way to the state semifinals. For a Grand Ledge team that hasn’t won a district title since 2022, this is the opportunity they’ve been building toward all season.

Grand Ledge vs East Kentwood | LIVE 2026 HS Football Playoff

Defending Their Turf: Repeat Champions on the March

Several programs are not just playing for a title, but to defend one. Portland, DeWitt, Pewamo-Westphalia, and Ithaca are all aiming to repeat as district champions. Portland has the longest active streak in the area with five in a row and will face Edwardsburg (10-0), another undefeated team. Portland’s offense, led by Brady Crowley, has reached at least 10 wins for a sixth straight season, a remarkable run of sustained excellence.

DeWitt, the defending state champion, is hunting a third consecutive district title. After finishing second in the CAAC Blue, the Panthers have scored at least 50 points five times this fall, showcasing an explosive offense that can overwhelm any opponent. They host Coopersville (9-1), a team that also finished as a league runner-up, setting up a classic rematch scenario.

East Kentwood vs. Grand Ledge Playoff Football – AUDIO ONLY

New Champions in the Making?

While some are defending crowns, others are hoping to break through. Mason, a CAAC Red champion, will attempt to win a fifth Division 3 district championship in six seasons after seeing their streak stopped in 2025. They face Fenton, a familiar foe from the Flint Metro League. The two teams are facing each other for the third time in four years.

St. Johns is in a similar position. The Red Devils, CAAC Red runner-up, are trying to capture the program’s first district championship since 2015.

The Final Frontier: Small-School Supremacy

In the smaller divisions, the stories are just as compelling. Pewamo-Westphalia (9-0) will try to push its district title streak to four when it hosts Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker (8-2). The P-W Pirates, CMAC champions, are riding a wave of momentum. For Olivet (7-3), a trip to Belding represents a chance to capture a district crown for the first time since 2013, a long drought for a program with a proud history.

Ithaca (9-1), a TVC Blue champion, will attempt to win a second straight Division 7 district championship. They face Millington (10-0), a Big Thumb champion that won a state title in 2024 and has reached at least the regional round of the playoffs every year since 2022.

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