The final chapter of the high school football season has typically been completed on the Friday and Saturday following Thanksgiving.
But that tradition is changing this season.
With the Michigan State football team having its regular-season finale against Penn State moved to Black Friday and shifting venues to Ford Field, the Michigan High School Athletic Association has pushed its finals back a day. That means football teams will play for state championships on Saturday and Sunday this season.
Outside of the season impacted by COVID-19 when the state finals took place in January, this marks the first time since 1990 that the finals haven’t been played on Black Friday. This year’s change impacts the two Greater Lansing football programs who have reached the state finals.
Both Division 3 top-ranked Mason and Division 5 No. 3 Corunna will play for state championships on Sunday at Ford Field. They will play in back-to-back games with Mason facing Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central at 12:30 p.m. Corunna will play in the following game against power Grand Rapids Catholic Central at 4 p.m.
More: MHSAA football: See when Mason and Corunna will play for state titles at Ford Field
Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on X @brian_calloway.
