DVS Metro Detroit Football Top 10: Week 2 Rankings
The first weekend of the 2026 Michigan high school football season is in the books, and several of Metro Detroit’s top programs wasted little time making a statement.
With Week 1 complete, Detroit Varsity Sports releases its first Metro Detroit Football Top 10 of the 2026 season.
Defending Division 1 state champion Detroit Catholic Central opens at No. 1 after a dominant performance, while Cass Tech answers with a shutout of its own. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s and Brother Rice picked up quality opening-week victories, while Grand Blanc and Fordson made some of the biggest noise with close wins.
Here is the inaugural DVS Metro Detroit Football Top 10, entering Week 2.
1. Detroit Catholic Central (1-0)
Week 1: W, 55-0 vs. Chippewa Valley
There wasn’t much debate about the top spot after Week 1.
The defending Division 1 state champions opened their season by shutting out Chippewa Valley, 55-0, at Wayne State. The Shamrocks scored in all three phases, including two touchdowns from Texas Tech commit Gideon Gash, and extended their winning streak to 15 games.
DVS Take: Catholic Central looked every bit like a defending champion in its opener. Until somebody knocks off the Shamrocks, the road to the top of the DVS rankings goes through Novi.
2. Cass Tech (1-0)
Week 1: W, 62-0 vs. Michigan City
If Catholic Central wanted to make a statement Thursday, Cass Tech had an answer Friday.
The Technicians overwhelmed Michigan City, Indiana, 62-0 at Wayne State. Junior quarterback and Texas A&M commit Donald Tabron II threw two early touchdowns, while junior running back Julian Taylor scored three times, including once on defense.
DVS Take: The Technicians haven’t forgotten how last season ended against Catholic Central at Ford Field. A 62-point opening performance makes one thing clear: Cass Tech intends to put itself in position for another championship run.
3. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (1-0)
Week 1: W, 35-27 vs. Mona Shores
The Eaglets faced one of the tougher opening-week tests among teams in our Top 10 and came away with a 35-27 victory over Mona Shores. After the game was tied at 21 at halftime, St. Mary’s outscored Mona Shores 14-6 in the fourth quarter to secure the win.
DVS Take: A quality opponent and a quality victory. The defending Division 2 champions begin the season exactly where you’d expect them — among Metro Detroit’s elite.
4. Brother Rice (1-0)
Week 1: W, 30-20 vs. Dakota
Brother Rice earns the No. 4 position following a 30-20 victory over Macomb Dakota at Lawrence Tech.
The Warriors received a breakout performance from 2028 wide receiver Brock Zehnder, who recorded seven receptions for 163 yards and two touchdowns.
Detroit Varsity Sports was on-site for the matchup and saw a Brother Rice team that looked prepared and confident coming out of the preseason.
DVS Take: The Warriors passed their first test against a respected Dakota program. Brother Rice has the early look of a team capable of making serious noise in 2026.
5. Detroit King (1-0)
Week 1: W, 29-7 vs. Toledo Whitmer
King opens at No. 5 after taking care of business against an out-of-state opponent.
The Crusaders are once again one of the programs to watch closely in Detroit. Week 1 provided the first step in what King hopes becomes another deep run into November.
DVS Take: King handled a strong out-of-state opponent and opened 2026 with a statement. The Crusaders belong among Metro Detroit’s elite.
6. Warren De La Salle (1-0)
Week 1: W, 71-6 vs. Hamtramck
Few teams put more points on the board during opening weekend than De La Salle.
The Pilots erupted for 71 points against Hamtramck and immediately put themselves on the radar heading into Week 2. The margin was decisive, but tougher tests will ultimately tell us more about where De La Salle belongs among the area’s elite.
DVS Take: Seventy-one points will get everyone’s attention. De La Salle’s offense came out firing, and the Pilots have an opportunity to climb quickly as the schedule develops.
7. Clarkston (1-0)
Week 1: W, 37-16 vs. South Lyon
Clarkston starts at No. 7 following a convincing 37-16 victory over South Lyon at the Big House, a result also reflected among the area’s strongest Week 1 performances.
The Wolves have built a reputation around physical football, and their opener gave DVS enough to put them comfortably inside the inaugural Top 10.
DVS Take: Clarkston took care of business against a good South Lyon team. Strong start for the Wolves.
8. Grand Blanc (1-0)
Week 1: W, 24-23 vs. Belleville
Grand Blanc delivered one of the biggest results of opening weekend.
The Bobcats edged Belleville, 24-23, immediately giving themselves a résumé-building victory and earning the No. 8 position in our rankings.
DVS Take: This is exactly the type of win that can change how a team is viewed. Grand Blanc enters the DVS Top 10 with a signature victory already on its résumé.
9. Romeo (1-0)
Week 1: W, 17-10 vs. Rochester Adams
Romeo didn’t need an offensive explosion to make its Week 1 statement.
The Bulldogs defeated Rochester Adams, 17-10, in a physical opener between two respected programs.
DVS Take: A physical, defensive win to open the season. Romeo showed it can win a tough football game, and that earns the Bulldogs a place in our first Top 10.
10. Fordson (1-0)
Week 1: W, 14-13 vs. West Bloomfield
Welcome to the Top 10, Fordson.
The Tractors pulled off one of Metro Detroit’s biggest Week 1 victories, edging West Bloomfield 14-13. The result earns Fordson the final position in our inaugural rankings and knocks West Bloomfield outside the Top 10.
DVS Take: Fordson earned this spot. Beating an established West Bloomfield program is exactly the kind of result that deserves recognition, and the Tractors now have our attention entering Week 2.
The rankings have only begun
One week isn’t enough to define a season.
Some teams currently outside the Top 10 will force their way into the conversation, while the teams already ranked will have to prove they belong. Every week, Detroit Varsity Sports will evaluate results, strength of opponent and overall performance before releasing an updated DVS Metro Detroit Football Top 10.
And beginning with Week 3, we’ll introduce movement indicators showing which programs are rising, falling, holding steady or entering the rankings for the first time.
Who’s ranked too high? Who’s too low? And who deserves a spot in the Top 10?
Follow Detroit Varsity Sports throughout the 2026 season for rankings, game coverage, interviews, recruiting coverage, player spotlights and more from across Metro Detroit.
