Hours after a Michigan Court of Appeals decision kept its postseason hopes alive, Grand Rapids Catholic Central delivered a statement victory in the Division 5 playoffs.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — November 3, 2026 — After days of uncertainty surrounding its postseason eligibility, Grand Rapids Catholic Central finally got its opportunity to compete Tuesday night.
And the Cougars made the most of it.
Grand Rapids Catholic Central defeated Comstock Park 56–13 in a rescheduled MHSAA Division 5 district semifinal, improving to 8–2 and advancing to face Berrien Springs in the district championship round.
The victory came just hours after the Michigan Court of Appeals denied the MHSAA’s request to stay a temporary restraining order involving a GRCC student-athlete.
Cougars Waste No Time
Grand Rapids Catholic Central wasted little time taking control of the game.
Sophomore running back John Superson opened the scoring with a touchdown run, putting the Cougars ahead 7–0.
Comstock Park briefly answered with a defensive highlight when freshman defensive back Jameson East intercepted a pass, but the Panthers were unable to turn the takeaway into points.
GRCC quarterback Brady Berkemeier then connected with wide receiver Carter Burgin for a touchdown, extending the lead to 14–0 in the first quarter.
Berkemeier added a quarterback sneak for another score in the second quarter, pushing the advantage to 20–0.
The Cougars continued to attack.
Running back Laydin Smith broke around the edge for a touchdown before Superson added his second score of the night on an untouched eight-yard run.
By halftime, Grand Rapids Catholic Central had built a commanding 35–7 advantage.
Comstock Park’s first touchdown came on a pass from quarterback Alex Hernandez to Henry VandenBerg.
GRCC Pulls Away in Second Half
Any hopes of a Comstock Park comeback quickly disappeared after halftime.
Berkemeier found Burgin again for their second touchdown connection of the evening, extending the Cougars’ lead to 42–7 in the third quarter.
The GRCC quarterback followed with another deep touchdown pass, this time connecting with Owen Koepke to make it 49–7.
Eshan Burrel later added a touchdown following an impressive catch-and-run sequence, pushing the Cougars’ advantage to 56–7 in the fourth quarter.
Comstock Park managed one final touchdown when Hernandez connected with VandenBerg for their second scoring connection of the game.
But the outcome was already decided.
Grand Rapids Catholic Central closed out the night with a 56–13 victory.
Berkemeier Leads Explosive Offensive Performance
Berkemeier was at the center of GRCC’s offensive success, accounting for four touchdowns.
He connected twice with Burgin, found Koepke for another score, and added a rushing touchdown on a quarterback sneak.
Superson contributed two rushing touchdowns, while Smith and Burrel also found the end zone.
The Cougars scored eight touchdowns overall, demonstrating an offense that was difficult for Comstock Park to contain.
From the Courtroom to the Football Field
Tuesday’s matchup carried unusual circumstances.
On October 29, the MHSAA ruled that Grand Rapids Catholic Central had used an ineligible player during its first seven games, resulting in the program’s removal from the postseason.
A temporary restraining order issued in a lawsuit involving the student-athlete subsequently allowed the Cougars to continue pursuing their playoff opportunity.
The MHSAA challenged that order, but the Michigan Court of Appeals denied the association’s request for a stay and its application for immediate appellate review on November 3.
The decision allowed the scheduled matchup against Comstock Park to proceed under the existing temporary order.
The underlying eligibility dispute remains unresolved, with additional court proceedings scheduled.
DVS Analysis: GRCC Makes Its Statement on the Field
Grand Rapids Catholic Central entered Tuesday facing questions that had little to do with football.
The Cougars’ postseason future had been debated in legal filings, courtrooms, and across Michigan’s high school football community.
Once the game began, however, GRCC took control.
Eight touchdowns and a 43-point margin of victory made this one of the most notable performances of the Division 5 opening round.
Berkemeier’s passing production, Superson’s two touchdowns, and the Cougars’ ability to create explosive plays helped turn a highly anticipated matchup into a decisive victory.
The legal questions surrounding GRCC have not disappeared.
But on Tuesday night, the Cougars answered the football questions emphatically.
What’s Next?
Grand Rapids Catholic Central advances to face Berrien Springs in the Division 5 district championship.
Berrien Springs previously defeated Lake Odessa Lakewood 34–28 in overtime to advance.
The district championship schedule remains subject to confirmation following Tuesday’s rescheduled semifinal.
Detroit Varsity Sports will continue following GRCC’s postseason run and the ongoing legal proceedings surrounding the program’s eligibility.
