Pickford and Rudyard will host playoff openers, while St. Ignace will travel to unbeaten Gaylord St. Mary after the MHSAA announced its football postseason pairings Sunday, Oct. 25.
Pickford (7-2) will face Mio (6-3), and Rudyard (7-2) will play Ishpeming (7-2) in eight-player Division 1 regional semifinals, according to the MHSAA’s official announcement.
Both games are scheduled for 7 p.m. Eastern time Friday, Oct. 30, WLUC-TV6 reported. The winners will meet in the regional final.
St. Ignace (8-1) will visit Gaylord St. Mary (9-0) in an eight-player Division 2 regional semifinal. The MHSAA lists the opening round for Oct. 30-31.
Saints finish 8-1
St. Ignace closed its regular season with a 62-40 victory at Central Lake on Thursday, Oct. 22, according to the 2026 results posted by WWMK-FM, which broadcasts Saints games.
The station’s results list Pickford as the only team to beat St. Ignace during the regular season.
Jed Brady led the Saints against Central Lake with 201 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 23 carries, according to the Soo Leader’s recap. Quarterback Caden Lester added 120 passing yards and a touchdown.
Pickford wins finale
Pickford defeated Onaway 62-6 on Friday, Oct. 23, the Soo Leader reported. The Panthers led 55-6 at halftime, and quarterback Carter Rye completed all four of his passes for 94 yards and four touchdowns.
The win gave Pickford a 7-2 regular-season record heading into its home playoff game.
Sault ends season
Sault Area finished 0-9 after losing 56-0 at Boyne City on Friday, Oct. 23, according to MaxPreps.
