Final Michigan high school football AP rankings, where Northern Michigan teams end 2023
With the high school football playoff field set around the state of Michigan, rankings don’t necessarily serve a huge purpose at this point.
But, there’s no doubt it’s nice to be recognized for a standout season on the gridiron.
With that, the Associated Press of statewide voters have released the final batch of Michigan AP High School Football Rankings for the 2023 season.
Around Northern Michigan, a total of nine programs across multiple divisions closed out the ’23 season within the polls, including a couple – like Ogemaw Heights, Gaylord and St. Ignace – wrapping up ranked for the first time in a long time. Something to truly hang their hat on.
Within Division 3, Gaylord finished out a 9-0 season and earned its highest final ranking since a 2002 9-0 campaign. The Blue Devils end the year ranked No. 3 in D3.
Charlevoix finished up a fourth consecutive eight-win season and the Division 7 voters awarded the 8-1 Rayders a No. 7 ranking to close the season.
Ogemaw then finished up its best regular season since an 11-win 2012 campaign, finishing up 8-1 and ranked No. 7 in Division 5.
In Division 1 of the 8-player rankings, major movement came near the top, as a tie between Bridgman and Pickford was snapped when St. Ignace upset the Panthers in Week 9.
Bridgman – ineligible for the postseason – moved into the lone No. 1 spot, while St. Ignace jumped up to No. 2, though gained a pair of first place votes. Pickford then dropped to No. 4 to finish the season.
Inland Lakes also jumped up to No. 5 to close out the season within Division 1 of 8-player.
Also within Northern Michigan, Kingsley finished No. 4 in Division and Gaylord St. Mary was also an honorable mention team in Division 1 of the 8-player ranks, despite not entering the playoffs with a 6-3 record.
More: MHSAA football playoffs: Check where Northern Michigan teams landed
More: Playoff pairings revealed: Gaylord to host Bay City Western, could see Petoskey in finals
The complete final AP Rankings included:
Division 1
School — Record — Points
1. Belleville (5) (9-0) 50
2. Rockford (9-0) 44
3. Lake Orion (9-0) 39
4. Davison (9-0) 37
5. Saline (8-1) 24
6. Southfield A&T (8-1) 23
7. Utica Eisenhower (8-1) 21
8. West Bloomfield (7-2) 17
9. Clinton Township Chippewa Valley (7-2) 8
10. Northville (8-1) 6
Others receiving votes: Grandville 4. Detroit Cass Tech 2
Division 2
School — Record — Points
1. Warren De La Salle (4) (7-2) 49
2. Caledonia (7-2) 43
3. Muskegon (7-2) 38
4. Byron Center (1) (8-1) 36
5 (tie). Portage Central (8-1) 24
5 (tie). Grosse Pointe South (8-1) 24
7 (tie). Saginaw Heritage (7-2) 14
7 (tie). Allen Park (8-1) 14
9. Birmingham Seaholm (8-1) 11
10. Birmingham Groves (6-3) 9
Others receiving votes: East Lansing 4. Port Huron Northern 3. Waterford Mott 2. Gibraltar Carlson 2. Detroit U-D Jesuit 2.
Division 3
School — Record — Points
1. Mason (5) (9-0) 50
2. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central (8-1) 45
3. Gaylord (9-0) 40
4. Mount Pleasant (8-1) 31
5. Walled Lake Western (8-1) 30
6. Parma Western (8-1) 24
7. East Grand Rapids (7-2) 22
8. Auburn Hills Avondale (8-1) 14
9. DeWitt (6-2) 10
10. Coopersville (7-2) 5
Others receiving votes: Port Huron 2. Southgate Anderson 1. Zeeland West 1.
Division 4
School — Record — Points
1. Whitehall (5) (9-0) 50
2. Portland (9-0) 42
3. Chelsea (8-1) 40
4. Goodrich (8-1) 35
5. Freeland (8-1) 25
6. Niles (8-1) 24
7. Paw Paw (8-1) 18
8. Carleton Airport (8-1) 10
9. Big Rapids (8-1) 9
10. Grand Rapids South Christian (6-3) 8
Others receiving votes: Lansing Sexton 7. Harper Woods 3. Spring Lake 2. Redford Union 1. Croswell-Lexington 1.
Division 5
School — Record — Points
1. Grand Rapids Catholic Central (3) (8-1) 48
2. Grand Rapids West Catholic (2) (9-0) 47
3. Corunna (9-0) 39
4. Frankenmuth (8-1) 33
5. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (8-0) 32
6. Belding (8-1) 21
7. Ogemaw Heights (8-1) 17
8. Flint Hamady (8-0) 15
9. Marine City (8-1) 10
10. Kingsford (8-1) 8
Others receiving votes: Gladwin 4. Williamston 1.
Division 6
School — Record — Points
1. Warren Michigan Collegiate (5) (9-0) 50
2. Constantine (8-1) 44
3. Chesaning (8-1) 34
4 (tie). Almont (8-1) 31
4 (tie). Kingsley (7-2) 31
6. Hart (8-1) 24
7. Gladstone (7-2) 19
8. Clare (7-2) 16
9. Negaunee (7-2) 13
10. Manistee (7-2) 7
Others receiving votes: Reed City 4. Michigan Center 1. Ecorse 1.
Division 7
School — Record — Points
1 (tie). Jackson Lumen Christi (2) (8-1) 38
1 (tie). North Muskegon (2) (9-0) 38
3. Millington (9-0) 31
4. Lawton (8-1) 27
5. Clinton (9-1) 24
6. Pewamo-Westphalia (8-1) 22
7. Charlevoix (8-1) 16
8. Napoleon (9-1) 9
9 (tie). Menominee (7-2) 6
9 (tie). Schoolcraft (7-2) 6
Others receiving votes: Cass City 2. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central 1.
Division 8
School — Record — Points
1. Ottawa Lake Whiteford (4) (9-0) 40
2. Ubly (9-0) 32
2. Ithaca (9-0) 32
4. Iron Mountain (9-0) 25
5. Addison (9-0) 24
6. White Pigeon (9-0) 19
7. New Lothrop (8-1) 18
8. Fowler (8-1) 11
9. Hudson (7-2) 6
10 (tie). Clarkston Everest Collegiate (7-2) 5
10 (tie). Beal City (8-1) 5
Others receiving votes: Harbor Beach 3.
8-Player Division 1
School — Record — Points
1. Bridgman (3) (9-0) 48
2. St. Ignace LaSalle (2) (8-1) 45
3. Brown City (9-0) 41
4. Pickford (8-1) 32
5. Inland Lakes (8-1) 27
6. Merrill (8-1) 19
7. Gobles (7-2) 15
8. Carson City-Crystal (8-1) 10
9. Mendon (7-2) 9
10. Kingston (7-2) 8
Others receiving votes: Lincoln-Alcona 7. Martin 6. Norway 5. Newberry 2. Gaylord St. Mary 1.
8-Player Division 2
School — Record — Points
1. Adrian Lenawee Christian (3) (9-0) 39
2. Marion (1) (8-0) 36
3. Climax-Scotts (9-0) 33
4. Posen (8-0) 28
5. Portland St Patrick (8-1) 22
6. Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (8-1) 19
7. Morrice (7-2) 12
8. Powers North Central (7-2) 10
9. Pittsford (7-2) 7
10 (tie). Crystal Falls Forest Park (7-2) 5
10 (tie). Deckerville (7-2) 5
Others receiving votes: Lake Linden-Hubbell 3. Au Gres-Sims 1.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Final Michigan high school football AP rankings
