SBLive's Michigan high school football Week 9 Power 25 rankings

The final week of the regular season is here, and let's see where the top teams stands

1. Belleville (8-0)

Last week’s ranking: 1

Next game: Oct. 22 at Brighton

Ranking rationale: Belleville is the best team in the state. No question about it. Until it proves otherwise, it’ll be No. 1 in this power ranking.

Belleville football dominates Franklin 42-14 in undefeated clash.

2. Grand Rapids Catholic Central (7-1)

Last week’s ranking: 3

Next game: Oct. 21 vs. Middleville Thornapple Kellogg

Ranking rationale: Catholic Central moves up to No. 2 as it returns home to take on a struggling Thornapple Kellogg squad to end the season.

3. Warren De La Salle Collegiate (7-1)

Last week’s ranking: 2

Next game: Oct. 22 vs. University of Detroit Jesuit

Ranking rationale: De La Salle drops a spot after a scare against a River Rouge, which saw it trail for most of the game.

Watch: De La Salle football's Brady Drogosh on the comeback win over River Rouge.

Photo by Mariusz Nowak

4. West Bloomfield (7-1)

Last week’s ranking: 5

Next game: Oct. 21 vs. Utica Eisenhower

Ranking rationale: West Bloomfield starts off a swath of teams to each move up one spot. It’s back at No. 4 after a big win over Southfield A&T.

West Bloomfield football, Semaj Morgan handle Southfield A&T 42-28.

Photo by Mariusz Nowak

5. Rockford (8-0)

Last week’s ranking: 6

Next game: Oct. 21 at Caledonia

Ranking rationale: Rockford moves into the top 5 ahead of its showdown with Caledonia in the battle for the OK Red crown.

6. Rochester Adams (7-1)

Last week’s ranking: 7

Next game: Oct. 21 at Sterling Heights Stevenson

Ranking rationale: Adams hopes to transition into the playoffs with an 8-1 record against a Stevenson team that’s had a down year.

Vote: View the best photos from September by photographers in SBLive Sports Professional Network.

Photo by Mariusz Nowak

7. Caledonia (8-0)

Last week’s ranking: 8

Next game: Oct. 21 vs. No. 5 Rockford

Ranking rationale: Caledonia looks to win the OK Red by avenging last year’s loss to Rockford in what should be the game of the week.

8. Macomb Dakota (8-0)

Last week’s ranking: 9

Next game: Oct. 21 vs. Detroit Mumford

Ranking rationale: Dakota looks to finish the regular season undefeated for the first time since 2013 with a victory against Detroit Mumford.

Photo by Mariusz Nowak

9. Grand Rapids South Christian (8-0)

Last week’s ranking: 10

Next game: Oct. 21 at Ada Forest Hills Eastern

Ranking rationale: South Christian will look to cap off an undefeated regular season with a win over Forest Hills Eastern.

10. Hudson (8-0)

Last week’s ranking: 11

Next game: Oct. 21 vs. Clinton

Ranking rationale: Hudson enters the top 10 riding a 22-game winning streak. It’ll look to keep it going against a fellow undefeated team in Clinton.

11. Whitehall (8-0)

Last week’s ranking: 14

Next game: Oct. 21 at Muskegon Orchard View

Ranking rationale: Whitehall just misses out on the top 10 this week. As long it keeps blowing past its opponents, it’ll get there eventually.

12. Dexter (8-0)

Last week’s ranking: 16

Next game: Oct. 21 at Chelsea

Ranking rationale: Dexter takes the spot of Saline, the team it beat last week. It takes on a Chelsea team that’s looking to prove its still a force to be reckoned with to close the season.

Photo by Antonio Cooper

13. Warren Michigan Collegiate (7-1)

Last week’s ranking: 13

Next game: Oct. 20 vs. Warren Lincoln

Ranking rationale: Michigan Collegiate stays put again, as I had to move up a couple of undefeated teams ahead of it.

14. Marine City (7-1)

Last week’s ranking: 15

Next game: Oct. 21 at Durand

Ranking rationale: Marine City moves up a spot, and will continue to cap off an 8-1 campaign with a win at Durand.

15. Detroit Martin Luther King (5-2)

Last week’s ranking: 4

Next game: Oct. 21 vs. Cincinnati Moeller (OH)

Ranking rationale: King takes a massive tumble after losing to Cass Tech in the Detroit PSL city title game last week. It doesn’t get any easier as it takes on a team from Cincinnati this week that’s undefeated.

Photo by Mariusz Nowak

16. Tecumseh (8-0)

Last week’s ranking: 20

Next game: Oct. 21 vs. Bay City John Glenn

Ranking rationale: Tecumseh moves up four spots from last week after surviving a shootout with Livonia Clarenceville last week.

17. Frankenmuth (8-0)

Last week’s ranking: unranked

Next game: Oct. 21

Ranking rationale: Frankenmuth is the highest entrant to the Power 25 this season. At 8-0, and several teams behind it with a loss or two, it deserves it. Side note: Frankenmuth is a very nice city to visit.

18. Davison (7-1)

Last week’s ranking: 20

Next game: Oct. 21 at Lapeer

Ranking rationale: Davison moves up a couple spots ahead of its matchup with Lapeer, as it hopes to give it back-to-back losses to end the regular season.

Photo by Katy Kildee

19. Clarkston (6-2)

Last week’s ranking: 23

Next game: Oct. 21 at Oak Park

Ranking rationale: I wanted to reward Clarkston with a higher jump after handing Lapeer its first loss, but I can’t put it above Davison because it beat it earlier this season.

Photo by Katy Kildee

20. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central (8-0)

Last week’s ranking: unranked

Next game: Oct. 21 vs. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern

Ranking rationale: Forest Hills Northern enters the Power 25 this week after an 8-0 start to the season.

21. Muskegon Mona Shores (7-1)

Last week’s ranking: 22

Next game: Oct. 21 vs. Muskegon

Ranking rationale: Mona Shores can end an excellent regular season with a win over rival Muskegon.

22. Saline (6-2)

Last week’s ranking: 12

Next game: Oct. 21 at Lake Orion

Ranking rationale: Saline drops a whopping 10 spots after losing its last two games. It has a chance to right the ship heading into the playoffs against Lake Orion.

23. Brighton (8-0)

Last week’s ranking: unranked

Next game: Oct. 22 vs. No. 1 Belleville

Ranking rationale: Brighton enters the Power 25 this week, but it may not be here long as it takes on Belleville this Saturday.

24. Lapeer (7-1)

Last week’s ranking: 18

Next game: Oct. 21 vs. No. 18 Davison

Ranking rationale: It’s just one loss for Lapeer, but it was a blowout against a good team. If it wants to stay here, it’ll have to prove it can at least hang with good teams.

25. Muskegon (6-2)

Last week’s ranking: 25

Next game: Oct. 21 at No. 21 Muskegon Mona Shores

Ranking rationale: After getting a free victory and a virtual bye week last week, Muskegon travels to take on arch rival Mona Shores with some extra rest.