The 2020-21 school year has been a unique one for football players, whose shortened season started, then stopped and then started again. To make up for the odd year, the Michigan High School Athletic Association allowed every team to make the playoffs. The Oak Park Knights weren’t expected to make it to playoffs, but the team is two wins away from a state title. “It’s a great feeling, for real, to come back and be able to help the team,” Rayshawn said. The De La Salle Pilots, had a 2-4 regular season team peaking at the right time.

BELLEVILLE, Mich. – High school football playoffs started back up again Saturday after players were sidelined for weeks because of coronavirus. High school football in January hasn’t happened in Michigan before, but the 2020-21 school year has been a unique year. Jan. 9, 2021: Michigan coronavirus cases up to 519,082; Death toll now at 13,354Belleville faced Detroit Cass Tech nearly two months after the game was supposed to originally happen. “Today’s a great day for football,” said Cass Tech head coach Thomas Wilcher. The hope is every coach, player, referee and school staff member gets through these playoffs safely and the MHSAA crowns a champion.

The Michigan high school football, girls volleyball and girls swimming and diving tournaments will resume early next month, state officials announced. The Michigan High School Athletic Association announced teams can return to practice Monday (Dec. 21) as part of the state’s pilot rapid testing program. FootballMichigan’s high school football playoffs will resume Jan. 2, with regional finals for 11-player teams and semifinals for 8-player teams. READ: Michigan high school football tournament to resume next month -- here is the scheduleThe 8-player championship games in both divisions and all 11-player semifinal games will be played the following Saturday (Jan. 9). Girls swimming and divingThe girls swimming and diving finals will return with its three Lower Peninsula Finals completed during the weekend of Jan. 15-16, with one division at each of three locations.

(Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)The Michigan high school football tournament will resume next month after being shut down due to COVID-19 restrictions. READ: Michigan high school football, volleyball, swimming and diving tournaments to resumeThe Michigan High School Athletic Association announced teams can return to practice Monday (Dec. 21) as part of the state’s pilot rapid testing program. Michigan’s high school football playoffs will resume Jan. 2, with regional finals for 11-player teams and semifinals for 8-player teams. The 8-player championship games in both divisions and all 11-player semifinal games will be played the following Saturday (Jan. 9). Semifinal games in all 11- and 8-player divisions will be played at home sites.