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Tuesday, November 10, 2026

Judge ends Catholic Central's football playoff run

Plus, the judge said equal enforcement of MHSAA rules outweighed the harm to Catholic Central's players.

The Good Day Grand Rapids team2 stories19 sources5 min read

Prep FootballTop story

Judge ends Grand Rapids Catholic Central's football playoff run a day before the district final

The Catholic Central fight went from disqualification to ruling in 11 days

  1. Oct. 29 disqualifies Catholic Central for using an ineligible player in six games
  2. Oct. 30Zainea gets a
  3. Nov. 3Cougars beat Comstock Park 56-13 in a district semifinal
  4. Nov. 6Show-cause hearing brings both sides back to court
  5. Nov. 9Judge upholds the MHSAA's decision, ending the Cougars' season

Sources: The Detroit News, WKZO

If you had Tuesday night football plans, they changed. Kent County Circuit Court Judge Paul Denenfeld ruled Monday for the , ending Grand Rapids Catholic Central's Division 5 playoff run. The Cougars were expected to host Berrien Springs in the district final.

Senior kicker Noah Zainea, who wasn't the ineligible player, went to court on Oct. 30 and got a that let the Cougars play. They beat Comstock Park 56-13 in a district semifinal. Monday's ruling upholds the MHSAA's Oct. 29 decision to disqualify the team.

56-13Catholic Central's score over Comstock Park in the Nov. 3 district semifinal

The Cougars played that game under the .

Sources: The Detroit News, WKZO

The MHSAA said in a statement that there won't be a district game today. School President Greg Deja said Catholic Central won't file an appeal.

  • Next up: Berrien Springs vs. Grand Rapids West Catholic, 1 p.m. Sat., Nov. 14
  • Tuesday's district final: not played
  • Berrien Springs: advances to the regional final

Prep Football

The judge said equal enforcement of MHSAA rules outweighed the harm to Catholic Central's players

Why did the judge side with the when he was sympathetic to the Cougars? Denenfeld dissolved the restraining order that let Catholic Central play, and wrote that harm to Zainea and his teammates is outweighed by harm to the MHSAA if the court interfered.

“That all schools must compete under the exact same parameters ensures a level playing field and competitive fairness.”

Judge Paul Denenfeld, in his ruling

The MHSAA found the Cougars used an ineligible player in six regular-season games, and the forfeits dropped the Cougars from 7-2 to 2-7.

Forfeits dropped Catholic Central from 7-⁠2 to 2-⁠7

7Wins2
2Losses7

Source: Panthers Wire

The ruling ends a 12-day legal battle.

Six games with an ineligible player led to five forfeits

6
regular-season games with the ineligible player
5
wins Catholic Central forfeited
12 days
for the legal battle over the Cougars' playoff spot

Sources: Detroit Sports Nation, Panthers Wire

  • Sports participation: "a privilege, not a right," the judge wrote
  • Due process claim: judge found it unlikely to succeed

Asked

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News Notes

Kentwood

Portillo's is on the agenda for today's Kentwood Planning Commission meeting, with planning documents showing a proposed restaurant at 3119 28th St. near . The plans filed Oct. 13 show 80 parking spots and a drive-thru. Crain's Grand Rapids Business says it would be the chain's first West Michigan location, and no construction timeline or opening date has been announced. WOODTV.comCrain's Grand Rapids Business

Wyoming

Michigan's only Bojangles, at 1730 28th St. SW in Wyoming, has permanently closed less than a year after opening in February. A sign on the door read, "Sorry, we are permanently closed." A Bojangles statement blamed financial challenges facing Meritage Hospitality Group, the parent company of its franchisee, Chicken Ventures. mliveGrand Rapids PatchSports Radio 98.7

Ford Foundation

Gleaves Whitney will step down as executive director of the Gerald R. Ford Foundation at the end of 2026 after six years. Deputy Director Rachel Siglow will serve as interim executive director starting Jan. 1, and the board has launched a national search for a successor. mlive says Whitney has led the foundation since 2020. WWMTmlive

Griffins

Griffins forward Dominik Shine was named AHL Player of the Week after scoring five goals in three games. He became the first player in team history to score four goals in a regular-season game, in a 6-2 win over the Texas Stars. Grand Rapids Griffins

Shop

Etsy’s Top 100 Holiday Gifts are here with festive finds for everyone on your list. Think: custom playing cards, one-of-a-kind advent calendars, and hand-painted ceramics. One of our favorite finds is this customizable vinyl mixtape, complete with your choice of 10-12 of songs, a photo for the cover, and a personalized message. (Sponsored by Etsy)

Wardrobe

Cute enough for a coffee run, comfy enough for a full day on the couch, these soft-brushed barrel-leg sweatpants and this best-selling mock neck sweater make a pretty convincing case for staying cozy. Shop the pair, plus find more great cozy wardrobe options.

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Content marked with an * is advertising.

Around Michigan

Gas prices

Michigan's average gallon of unleaded cost $4.14 on Monday, Nov. 9, down 38 cents from last week, according to AAA data. Eighty-two counties saw relief this week, and only Chippewa County bucked the trend. mlive

$4.14Michigan's average gallon of unleaded on Monday, Nov. 9

That's down 38 cents from a week ago and down 68 cents over two weeks.

Source: mlive

Ozone

EGLE says Michigan is making "clear progress" on ground-level ozone, with all but one Michigan city measuring below federal safety standards this year. The agency monitors from March through October. WOODTV.com

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Asked

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When Portillo's opens in Kentwood, what are you ordering first?

Today’s puzzles

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Tuesday, Nov. 10

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“: We found her! She’s safe and sound!* Hi Everyone, We think my sisters black cat, Wednesday, got out. She is a very small cat, has some bareness on her legs from licking from allergies, doesn’t have a collar, and is an indoor cat. She’s very skiddish, will hiss at you, and doesn’t come to her name except for my…”

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The Wrap

Nick Fink's in Comstock Park, billed as the oldest bar in the Grand Rapids area, is getting new owners. The ownership group behind Garage Bar is in the process of acquiring the spot, which has been around since 1888. They plan to refresh and rebrand it while honoring its history. Here's to 138 years and counting.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Nate Danielson, Postava and Leonard are back with the Griffins

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Every source in this edition19 links · 15 outlets
  1. The Weather Channelweather.com
  2. FOX 17fox17online.com
  3. The Detroit Newsdetroitnews.com
  4. WKZOwkzo.com
  5. mlivemlive.com
  6. Detroit Sports Nationdetroitsportsnation.com
  7. FOX 17 West Michigan News (WXMI)fox17online.com
  8. Panthers Wirepantherswire.usatoday.com
  9. WOODTV.comwoodtv.com
  10. Crain's Grand Rapids Businesscrainsgrandrapids.com
  11. mlivemlive.com
  12. Grand Rapids Patchpatch.com
  13. Sports Radio 98.7sportsradio987.com
  14. WWMTwwmt.com
  15. mlivemlive.com
  16. Grand Rapids Griffinsgriffinshockey.com
  17. mlivemlive.com
  18. WOODTV.comwoodtv.com
  19. Grand Rapids events calendargooddaygrandrapids.com

Past issues

  1. Wed., Nov. 11Jenison, EGR win state titles; Hudsonville names new CEO
  2. Mon., Nov. 9Nate Danielson, Postava and Leonard are back with the Griffins
  3. Sun., Nov. 8Kenowa Hills wins its first district title, and Shine climbs the Griffins' list
  4. Sat., Nov. 7Judge rules Monday on Catholic Central; I-96 reopens
  5. Fri., Nov. 6Kent County sirens sound at noon today in a year-round test
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Good Day Grand Rapidsto me · Tues., Nov. 106:00 a.m.

Judge ends Catholic Central's football playoff run

Plus, the judge said equal enforcement of MHSAA rules outweighed the harm to Catholic Central's players.

The TLDR

  1. Judge ends Catholic Central's football playoff run
  2. Berrien Springs plays West Catholic at 1 p.m. Saturday
  3. Why the judge sided with the MHSAA
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 GriffinsNate Danielson, Michal Postava and John Leonard are back with the GriffinsIf you follow the Griffins, three familiar names are back. The Detroit Red Wings announced three roster moves Sunday: center Nate Danielson, goaltender Michal Postava and left wing John Leonard all go to Grand Rapids. Danielson, the ninth overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, has two assists and a minus-five rating in 13 games with Detroit this season.Monday’s editionRead

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