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Posted on Sat, Nov 5, 2011 : 12:28 a.m.

Pioneer wins football district title; Chelsea, Gabriel Richard eliminated from playoffs

By AnnArbor.com Staff

Pioneer_VictoryBell.jpg

Pioneer players ring their victory bell after a 35-10 win over Temperance Bedford Friday night at Hollway Field.

Chris Asadian I for AnnArbor.com

The Pioneer High School football team is the last Washtenaw County representative standing after Friday night's MHSAA district championship games.

The Pioneers beat Southeastern Conference Red Division rival Temperance Bedford 35-10 at Hollway Field, earning a trip to a Division 1 regional game against either Canton or Detroit Catholic Central.

Two other area teams weren't as fortunate. Chelsea lost a Division 3 game to Adrian, 34-14, and Father Gabriel Richard lost 42-14 in a Division 5 game at Almont.

Here's a roundup of our coverage:

PIONEER 35, TEMPERANCE BEDFORD 10

Big numbers have become an expectation for Drake Johnson.

The Pioneer High School running back had more eye-popping statistics in the Pioneers' Division 1 district final win over Temperance Bedford on Friday night at Hollway Field: 36 carries for 348 yards and four touchdowns.

However, Johnson's 42 passing yards impacted the outcome almost as much. (Complete story | Photo gallery)


ADRIAN 34, CHELSEA 14

Adrian, which slipped into the MHSAA Division 3 playoffs as an at-large team with a 5-4 record, suffered its most lopsided loss of the season, 37-13, in Chelsea just six weeks ago. Now they’re headed to a regional title game against Battle Creek Harper Creek.

How did they Maples essentially reverse that regular season score?

Well, the Bulldogs handed them a few points with five turnovers. (Complete story | Photo gallery)


ALMONT 42, FATHER GABRIEL RICHARD 14

A shaky start never got much better for the Father Gabriel Richard football team on Friday night.

The Fighting Irish bobbled the opening kickoff and nearly snapped the ball through the end zone on their first play from scrimmage. Before the loss to Almont was over, the Raiders took a 35-0 lead and played with a running clock.

Gabriel Richard coach Brian Lemons noted his players kept fighting during the Division 5 district title game, something he was extremely happy with.

“I was proud of them, they never quit," Lemons said. "Once that running clock hits a lot of team would have stopped playing. Our guys didn’t do that." (Complete story)


STATEWIDE SCORES

Division 1 bracket
Division 2 bracket
Division 3 bracket
Division 4 bracket
Division 5 bracket
Division 6 bracket
Division 7 bracket
Division 8 bracket


LIVE UPDATES

AnnArbor.com reporters Jason Idalski, Rich Rezler and Matt Durr provided live updates from the three Washtenaw County games. You can read that transcript below: