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Sunday, November 1, 2026

A judge put Catholic Central back in the football playoffs

Plus, Grandville stunned top-seeded Howell and East Kentwood stays unbeaten.

The Good Day Grand Rapids team6 stories25 sources8 min read

High School SportsTop story

A judge ordered the MHSAA to put Grand Rapids Catholic Central back in the football playoffs

Catholic Central was removed Thursday and reinstated Friday

  1. Oct. 15 tells Catholic Central it has new information about the family's former residence.
  2. Oct. 29MHSAA removes Catholic Central from the Division 5 playoffs.
  3. Oct. 30A judge orders the MHSAA to reinstate the Cougars.
  4. Nov. 3Round 1 game against Comstock Park must be played by 7 p.m.
  5. Nov. 6A show-cause hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m.

Sources: Sportsbook Wire, USA TODAY, mlive

Grand Rapids Catholic Central went from out of the playoffs to back in within a day. The pulled the Cougars from the Division 5 bracket Thursday over an ineligible player, and a judge ordered them reinstated Friday. The MHSAA said it "was not provided an opportunity to participate in those legal proceedings."

mlive reports the Round 1 game against Comstock Park (4-5) has to be played no later than Tue., Nov. 3 at 7 p.m., and the winner would meet Berrien Springs (8-1). USA TODAY says the reinstatement stands "for now." The MHSAA says it would have presented new evidence it received in the past week.

  • Hearing: Fri., Nov. 6 at 9 a.m., the same day as the next round
  • Forfeits won't change opponents' playoff points, WTVB reports
  • Player enrolled at Catholic Central in January 2026

Catholic Central's season, by the numbers

7-2
Catholic Central's regular-season record
5
regular-season wins forfeited
6
games the MHSAA says an ineligible player played
No. 3
Catholic Central's Division 5 ranking before the ruling

Sources: Sportsbook Wire, USA TODAY

High School Sports

Grandville stunned top-seeded Howell as 13 Grand Rapids-area teams won playoff openers

If you missed Friday night, 13 area teams won playoff openers. In Division 1, Grandville stunned top-seeded Howell, 38-30.

13Grand Rapids-area teams that won Round 1 playoff games

Grandville, Kenowa Hills, and Hopkins were among them.

Source: mlive

The Free Press kept the statewide list. Of the 128 district semifinals in 11-player football, 118 were scheduled for Friday and 10 more for Saturday.

  • Kenowa Hills: first playoff win since 1992, 49-35 over GR Christian
  • Hopkins: 22-21 over Kalamazoo United
  • Coopersville: 24-14 over East Grand Rapids
  • Byron Center: 42-28 over Muskegon

Area winners now play Round 2 games

DivisionRound 2 game
Division 1Grandville (5-5) at Portage Central (9-1)
Division 2Portage Northern (6-4) at Byron Center (8-2)
Division 3Coopersville (9-1) at DeWitt (8-2)
Division 4Ludington (8-2) at Kenowa Hills (9-1)
Division 5Hopkins (9-1) at West Catholic (8-2)
Division 6Olivet (7-3) at Belding (8-2)

Source: mlive

High School Sports

East Kentwood beat Brighton 49-⁠21 and moves on to face undefeated Grand Ledge

Unbeaten East Kentwood keeps rolling. The Falcons, now 10-0 and ranked No. 2 in Michigan, beat Brighton 49-21 in Saturday's Division 1 district semifinal. mlive had billed it as the unbeaten Falcons against the Bulldogs. Quarterback Colin O'Connor completed 20 of 24 passes for 257 yards and five touchdowns.

East Kentwood beat Brighton in the district semifinal

  • Brighton21
    East Kentwood49
    FinalEast Kentwood plays undefeated Grand Ledge in the district final next weekend.

Source: Detroit Free Press

  • Steph Jones: eight catches, 137 yards, four touchdowns
  • Dominic Nauss: two touchdowns for Brighton
  • Jones is a Grand Valley State commit

On the cross country side at Allendale, Jenison won the boys Division 1 regional with 42 points, and East Kentwood was second at 62. In the girls' race, Hudsonville won with 59 points to Grand Haven's 61.

Jenison won the boys Division 1 regional with 42 points

Source: Local Sports Journal

View as table
Value
Jenison42 pts
East Kentwood62 pts
Rockford85 pts
Grandville107 pts
Grand Haven125 pts

Asked

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Asked

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Sports

Hope and Grand Valley State won Saturday, and the Lions host the Vikings today

If you follow Hope or Grand Valley State, Saturday was a good one. Brody Schuiteman ran for three touchdowns in Hope's win over Kalamazoo, and Zak Olyjniczak rushed for 128 yards and two touchdowns in GVSU's win at Roosevelt, 92.7 The Van reports.

Hope and GVSU won, and the Blues beat the Red Wings

  • Kalamazoo13
    Hope48
    Final
  • Grand Valley State45
    Roosevelt22
    Final
  • Michigan28
    Rutgers21
    Final
  • St. Louis Blues5
    Detroit Red Wings4
    FinalSt. Louis rallied from a 4-2 deficit.

Source: 92.7 The Van WYVN

Hope plays Calvin in Grand Rapids next Saturday afternoon, and the Lakers host Northern Michigan at . Today the Lions host the Vikings, and Sports Radio 98.7 is asking how Detroit will solve Brian Flores' defense. Prefer company? Despecho Sports Bar is hosting a free watch party from 1 to 5 p.m.

  • MacKenzie Bisballe: 28 points, 10 rebounds in GVSU women's 68-40 win
  • GVSU men: lost to Lincoln Memorial 77-75 in overtime
  • Lions coverage: WHTC Holland's Cool FM, shortly after noon

Today and tomorrow bring more games

  1. Nov. 1Lions host the Vikings at Ford Field; WHTC coverage joins shortly after noon.
  2. Nov. 1Griffins play the Chicago Wolves in Rosemont in the afternoon.
  3. Nov. 1GVSU women meet Truman State in a matinee; men face West Texas A&M that evening.
  4. Nov. 2Red Wings skate at the Florida Panthers; WHTC broadcast starts at 6:45 p.m.

Source: 92.7 The Van WYVN

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Schools

Students with autism run The Coffee Nest, a new coffee shop at Forest Hills Eastern High School

If you like a good-news story, here's one from Ada Township. The Coffee Nest is crewed by six students in the Autism Spectrum Disorder program and their peer-to-peer helpers, who rotate between barista, cashier, and greeter.

500 poundsof coffee Rowster Coffee donated to the school

WOOD reports that's more than enough for the shop's three days a week of service.

Source: WOODTV.com

  • Open: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
  • Students range from ninth through 12th grade, per FOX 17
  • Peers and three adults also support the shop
  • Next: hopes to begin serving high school students too

FOX 17 reports teacher Stephanie Braun began brainstorming the shop last winter, and a grant in the spring got it started. Sophomore Jocelyn Tierney, 15, designed the logo: a hawk holding a coffee mug.

The Coffee Nest serves customers three days a week

3 of 7

  • days a week the shop is open
  • 4 days it's not open

Source: FOX 17

View as table
CountShare
days a week the shop is open343%
days it's not open457%

Public Safety

Two children were hospitalized after a driver ran a stop sign in Jamestown Township

A driver who failed to stop at an intersection sent two children to a hospital Saturday afternoon in Jamestown Township, according to the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office. Ottawa News Network reports crews were dispatched to 40th Avenue and Greenly Street.

Two of the four children in the minivan were hospitalized

2 of 4

  • were hospitalized with minor injuries
  • 2 weren't hospitalized

Sources: Ottawa News Network, WHTC, WOODTV.com

View as table
CountShare
were hospitalized with minor injuries250%
weren't hospitalized250%
  • Westbound: 2021 Nissan Rogue, driven by a 69-year-old Hudsonville woman
  • Southbound: 2019 Honda Odyssey, driven by a 36-year-old Zeeland woman
  • Both drivers were uninjured
  • Status: under investigation

WHTC says the minivan veered into a ditch after the crash at the stop sign. WOOD reports three of the four children in the minivan were hurt, according to the police report, and two were hospitalized.

4:04 p.m.approximate dispatch time for crews at 40th Avenue and Greenly Street

The Ottawa County Sheriff's Office, Jamestown Township Fire Department, and LIFE EMS responded.

Source: Ottawa News Network

Quoted

A word after a word after a word is power.

— Margaret Atwood

The Buy

News Notes

Heritage Hill

Grand Rapids' department is considering changing Lyon and Fountain streets from one-way to two-way traffic. Not every resident is on board, though Lyon Street resident Kyle Kimble said "anything that can kind of ease that would be great." WOODTV.com

Hospitals

Newsweek named four Trinity Health Michigan hospitals to its America's Best-in-State Hospitals 2027 list. Trinity Health Grand Rapids ranked No. 10 in Michigan. WHMI

Farmland

Ottawa County closed Tuesday on its 10th tract in the Farmland Preservation Program: 155 acres in Wright Township owned by Wayne Molyneux since 1986. The "Farms are the Tapas" event near Hudsonville helped fund the program with nearly $30,000 last month. WHTC

Griffins

The Red Wings assigned defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka to the Griffins on Fri., Oct. 30 and recalled defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker. Sandin-Pellikka has played seven games with Detroit this season. Grand Rapids Griffins

Cross country

Kent City won the Division 3 girls regional at Allendale with 32 points. Elliana Max won the race in 18:37.7, and teammate Shelby Zimmer was second. Local Sports Journal

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Kent City won the Division 3 girls regional with 32 points

Source: Local Sports Journal

View as table
Value
Kent City32 pts
GR Covenant Christian38 pts
Calvin Christian102 pts
Western Michigan Christian115 pts
Newaygo144 pts

Asked

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Asked

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Be the first to answer.

Today’s puzzles

A new puzzle in each one every morning, played right here.

All 13 games

Things to Do

Things to Do

Grand Rapids, MI

Sunday, Nov. 1

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Around the Block

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Neighbors

I’m having a really tough time today and trying hard to stay positive, but things feel overwhelming right now.

“Last week, a bike my son just gave me was stolen. On top of that, my lease is ending this month. Landmark Properties recently took over management here, and when I went to the office to renew, they told me I couldn't resign because of a $150 balance I was never even notified about—despite years of paying my rent on…”

— A neighbor, Heritage Hill

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The Wrap

Blandford Nature Center covers 264 acres inside the Grand Rapids city limits, and it started with just 17. Educator Mary Jane Dockeray spent more than 50 years growing it, and it opened in 1968 on the northwest side. That's a lot of woods to have in town. Not bad for a former farm.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Cascade Engineering breaks ground on a 300,000-square-foot Kentwood warehouse

Read yesterday’s edition

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Every source in this edition25 links · 17 outlets
  1. The Weather Channelweather.com
  2. Sportsbook Wiresportsbookwire.usatoday.com
  3. Detroit Free Pressfreep.com
  4. USA TODAYusatoday.com
  5. WTVBwtvbam.com
  6. mlivemlive.com
  7. Detroit Free Pressfreep.com
  8. Detroit Free Pressfreep.com
  9. mlivemlive.com
  10. Local Sports Journallocalsportsjournal.com
  11. Local Sports Journallocalsportsjournal.com
  12. 92.7 The Van WYVN927thevan.com
  13. Sports Radio 98.7sportsradio987.com
  14. Eventbriteeventbrite.com
  15. WOODTV.comwoodtv.com
  16. FOX 17fox17online.com
  17. Ottawa News Networkottawanewsnetwork.org
  18. WHTCwhtc.com
  19. WOODTV.comwoodtv.com
  20. WOODTV.comwoodtv.com
  21. WHMIwhmi.com
  22. WHTCwhtc.com
  23. Grand Rapids Griffinsgriffinshockey.com
  24. Local Sports Journallocalsportsjournal.com
  25. Grand Rapids events calendargooddaygrandrapids.com

Past issues

  1. Wed., Nov. 11Jenison, EGR win state titles; Hudsonville names new CEO
  2. Tues., Nov. 10Judge ends Catholic Central's football playoff run
  3. Mon., Nov. 9Nate Danielson, Postava and Leonard are back with the Griffins
  4. Sun., Nov. 8Kenowa Hills wins its first district title, and Shine climbs the Griffins' list
  5. Sat., Nov. 7Judge rules Monday on Catholic Central; I-96 reopens
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Good Day Grand Rapidsto me · Sun., Nov. 16:00 a.m.

A judge put Catholic Central back in the football playoffs

Plus, Grandville stunned top-seeded Howell and East Kentwood stays unbeaten.

The TLDR

  1. A judge ordered Catholic Central back into the football playoffs
  2. Grandville stunned top-seeded Howell in Friday's playoff openers
  3. East Kentwood is 10-0 and faces Grand Ledge next
Read this edition

More stories this week

From Good Day Grand Rapids’ other editions

All the news
High School SportsJenison and East Grand Rapids boys teams win state cross country titlesTwo Grand Rapids-area boys teams won state titles Saturday at Michigan International Speedway. Jenison, ranked fourth going in, took its first Division 1 championship with 101 points to Ann Arbor Skyline's 168, putting four runners in the top 30. East Grand Rapids won its second Division 2 crown with 152 points, seven points ahead of Holland Christian.Today’s editionRead BusinessCJ Ellens will become Hudsonville Ice Cream's CEO on Jan. 1, 2027If Hudsonville is in your freezer, here's who's running the company next. The Holland-based ice cream maker's board elected CJ Ellens as its next CEO, effective Jan. 1, 2027. He's the executive vice president now and has worked in a variety of roles over two decades.Today’s editionRead Prep FootballJudge ends Grand Rapids Catholic Central's football playoff run a day before the district finalIf you had Tuesday night football plans, they changed. Kent County Circuit Court Judge Paul Denenfeld ruled Monday for the MHSAA, ending Grand Rapids Catholic Central's Division 5 playoff run. The Cougars were expected to host Berrien Springs in the district final.Tuesday’s editionRead

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From mlive, Grand Rapids Magazine and 3 more newsrooms, gathered by 6AM News, 6AM City’s local news service.

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