Announcements
Updated on 11/17/2025
Athletic Weekly 11-17 – 11-22
What happened on Saturday has been building for nearly a decade.
Back in 2016, our current varsity players were in 2nd and 3rd grade, just beginning their youth tackle football journeys. That same fall, Kent City hosted Montague in the program’s first-ever home playoff game—a dramatic win that marked the start of something special. Since then, those young players have grown up watching the Eagles win, watching their older siblings lift in the weight room, and watching a new standard of excellence take root.
Saturday’s Regional Championship was game number 100 since that turnaround began. During that span, Kent City is 75–25. The ten years before it? 26–63.
Changing a culture doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, commitment, and a willingness to let go of old habits and expectations. This year’s team has taken that foundation a step further. Their toughness, their unselfishness, and their ability to focus on the next play—regardless of what happened on the last one—set them apart.
All of that was on full display against Montrose, a program with a storied football tradition and a matching undefeated record. The Rams tried to rattle the Eagles all afternoon, but it was Montrose that turned the ball over six times. It was Montrose that committed penalty after penalty. Despite their massive size advantage—and despite playing many athletes one-way—it was Montrose that looked beaten, exhausted, and distracted.
Those behaviors are familiar—they’re traits of teams that never quite find success.
But not this team.
This team takes the field carrying the echoes of the past decade—ten years of hard work, belief, and steady growth. The players who came before built the foundation; this group is now elevating it to new heights. They’ve seized their moment and accomplished something that would have seemed impossible only a decade ago.
But it isn’t a dream anymore. It’s real. And now we, as a community, must do our part to help see it through. The culture that took years to build must continue to be reinforced so that in 2035 we can look back on an even more successful era—one defined by deep playoff runs and the hardware that comes with them.
We all have a role to play this week as we prepare for Kingsley.
Let’s stay locked in on what’s important—and let’s finish the week 1–0.
Week in Review
Varsity Football: The varsity football team jumped all over Montrose in the Regional Finals, defeating the Rams 50-20. Kent City improves to 12-0 on the season and earned a berth in the Final Four.
Key Contests
Varsity Football vs. Kingsley (@ Cadillac) (MHSAA Playoffs)
Saturday, November 22, 2025 at 12:00 p.m.
In nearly every MHSAA sport except football, the semifinal round is played at the State Championship venue. In basketball, both the semifinals and finals are held at the Breslin Center; in volleyball, Kellogg Arena; and in baseball and softball, McLane Stadium and Secchia Stadium.
The Eagles have now reached that same stage in football—a neutral-site Final Four matchup against Kingsley—putting them just one win away from the ultimate destination: Ford Field in Detroit.
Their opponent, the Kingsley Stags, are no strangers to this stage. Kingsley won a State Championship just two seasons ago (2023), defeating Almont 38–20. This season marks the Stags’ 20th postseason appearance since 1999 and their fourth trip to the semifinals.
Kingsley enters the game at 10–2, with both regular-season losses coming against playoff qualifiers: Traverse City St. Francis (20–21) and Gaylord (14–21). The Stags avenged the St. Francis loss in dominant fashion in the District Finals, winning 57–6. In the Regional Finals, Kingsley defeated CSAA rival Reed City for the second time this season, 18–14.
Much like Kent City, Kingsley utilizes a three-back backfield, relying on a physical, downhill style complemented by quick, athletic running backs. Defensively, the Stags attack the football with speed and aggression. Among Kent City’s opponents this season, Kingsley most closely resembles Belding, who the Eagles defeated in the District Finals.
For the Eagles to win, they must limit turnovers and stay ahead of the chains on offensive, and limit big plays defensively.
The game is scheduled to be played at Cadillac High School. Because this is an MHSAA postseason event, all tickets must be purchased through GoFan.
Upcoming Week
Home Contests are in BLACK
Away Contests are in RED
Monday, November 17, 2025
First Day of Practice – Varsity Wrestling
7th Grade Boys Basketball vs. Morley Stanwood (High School Gym) 4:00 p.m.
8th Grade Boys Basketball vs. Morley Stanwood (High School Gym) 5:00 p.m.
Hybrid Boys Basketball vs. Chippewa Hills (High School Gym) 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
No Athletic Events Scheduled
Wednesday, November 19, 2025
First Day of Practice – J.V. and Varsity Girls Basketball
7th Grade Boys Basketball @ Tri-County (Middle School) 4:00 p.m. (Bus Staying – 3:15 p.m.)
8th Grade Boys Basketball @ Tri-County (Middle School) 5:00 p.m. (Bus Staying - 3:15 p.m.)
Hybrid Boys Basketball @ Tri-County (Middle School) 6:00 p.m. (Bus Staying – 3:15 p.m.)
Thursday, November 20, 2025
No Athletic Events Scheduled
Friday, November 21, 2025
No Athletic Events Scheduled
Saturday, November 22, 2025
Varsity Football @ MHSAA Semi-Finals vs. Kingsley (@ Cadillac) 12:00 p.m. (Bus Staying – 9:00 a.m.)
Fall Schedules
Use the links below for each of our Fall Sports Teams to access the most up-to-date schedules for the Eagles!