BIRMINGHAM — The first true Friday night football rainfall hit Birmingham Seaholm as the Maples took on Auburn Hills Avondale Oct. 6 at Seaholm High School, and both teams took the brunt of it.

UTICA — No matter where they finish or how well they do in the regular season, the Utica Unicorns always find a way to get the job done when it matters most.

WEST BLOOMFIELD — He’s been a difference-maker on the field for Michigan State University’s football team throughout his career, and now he’s coming home to make an impact in his community.

ROSEVILLE/YPSILANTI — “Fast” Eddie Mizinski has always been a good sport.

NOVI — The way both the Novi and Plymouth offenses have played this season, fans were expecting a scoring barrage between the two Kensington Lakes Activities Association West teams, and it was as advertised when the teams faced off Sept. 29 at Novi High School.

LAKE ORION — Lake Orion is here to stay, and they demonstrated it once more in one of the more complete showings on both sides of the ball you’ll see in a football game.

GROSSE POINTE WOODS — Just a year removed from breaking the school record for least number of goals given up in a season (12), Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett is on the fast track to yet another historic season.

BEVERLY HILLS — A state semifinals loss is always a tough pill to swallow, especially after Detroit Country Day put together an incredible season in 2022.

BLOOMFIELD HILLS — The state tournament brings a different level of competition, but Bloomfield Hills has pulled the short end of the stick the past two seasons with Farmington Hills Mercy and Bloomfield Hills Marian in its respective districts.

WARREN — The long-standing powderpuff tradition between Warren Regina and Bloomfield Hills Marian continued as both teams squared off on Sept. 16 at Hazel Park High School.

EASTPOINTE — This fall, a total of 169 Eastpointe High School and Eastpointe Middle School students are involved in after-school athletics.

METRO DETROIT — A dream scenario for a high school athlete is to play on the collegiate level and to continue playing the sport they fell in love with when they were a child.

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — A beautiful yet fierce rivalry between two Macomb Area Conference Red rivals was put on hold momentarily when Clinton Township Chippewa Valley hosted Macomb Dakota on Sept. 22.

ST. CLAIR SHORES — St. Clair Shores Lakeview continued their impressive season with a dominating win over St. Clair Shores Lake Shore in their annual “War in the Shores” matchup on Sept. 19 at Lake Shore High School.

WEST BLOOMFIELD — Former West Bloomfield coach and now University of Michigan wide receivers coach Ron Bellamy brought some much-needed confidence to the West Bloomfield squad Sept. 22 as they faced Rochester Adams.

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — As Utica Eisenhower traveled to Romeo for a Macomb Area Conference Red football showdown, a crowd of thousands also was in attendance for a moving annual tribute.

ROYAL OAK — A coaching change can normally go one of two ways when heading into a season.

FRASER — When head coach Michael Agostini took over the job in 2020, not only was Fraser soccer at its lowest of lows coming off a 3-13-3 season, but the roster was heavy with freshmen and sophomores.

BLOOMFIELD HILLS — When growing up and wishing upon a star to be a professional athlete, cycling athletes don’t usually crack the top-10 when it comes to big names.

ROCHESTER HILLS —  Congratulations are in order for the 12U Rochester Rays travel baseball team for the second year in a row.