BAY CITY, MI – We spotlight some of the top performers from the area’s 22 teams from Week 4 of the 2025 high school football season and ask for your help in voting for the MLive Bay City Player of the Week.
Cast your vote as often as you’d like before the poll closes at 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25. There is no voting by email.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK 4
GRANT BUCHHOLZ, LAKER
Buchholz got the call at quarterback and kept the Laker offense clicking. He engineered the way to a 26-14 victory over Caro. Buchholz not only completed 9 of 14 passes for 115 yards, he also rushed 11 times for 70 yards and a touchdown.
COLLIN DENNIS, HARRISON
The Hornets found a chain-mover both on the ground and through the air in Dennis. The running back came up big in a 36-20 victory over Beaverton, rushing 11 times for 112 yards and two touchdowns while catching five passes for 117 yards and a score.
COLE DEWALD, AU GRES
The only thing stopping Dewald was the end zone. The senior was explosive while sparking Au Gres to a 66-8 victory over Akron-Fairgrove. The dynamic running back broke loose for 176 yards on 12 carries, reaching the end zone four times. He tacked on an 86-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in a 30-point performance.
GAVIN FRANZEL, CASS CITY
Cass City delivered the shocker with a 17-14 win over No. 1-ranked Millington and Franzel was the unsung hero. He loomed large defensively while corralling nine tackles but made an even bigger mark on special teams. He averaged 40.7 yards on six punts, continually flipping the field, and was the holder for the game-winning field goal.
EION JONES, OGEMAW HEIGHTS
Ogemaw Heights has a playmaker at the point on both sides of the ball in Jones. The senior quarterback and linebacker led the way in a 49-14 victory over Shepherd that has the Falcons alone in first place. He ran for a touchdown on offense and racked up 11 tackles on defense.
JACKSON MILLER, BAY CITY CENTRAL
The Wolves saw a bright spot in the play of Miller during its 35-16 loss to Midland. The senior defensive lineman wreaked havoc against the run, breaking through the line for two tackles for loss. He registered nine tackles in the contest.
MADDOX NITZ, UNIONVILLE-SEBEWAING
Nitz was crunch-time tough for the Patriots, coming up with timely plays to spark the way to a 24-22 win over Reese in the Sugar Bowl. He hauled in a fourth-down pass for a touchdown and caught the ensuing two-point conversion in the two-point win. He also tallied seven tackles at linebacker.
COLTON PFENNINGER, GLADWIN
The Flying G’s are accustomed to Pfenninger being a pivotal playmaker on offense at quarterback. But the senior delivered shining moments on defense in Gladwin’s 28-26 win over Clare, intercepting two passes. He rushed for 83 yards and a touchdown and passed for 23 yards in the victory.
GAUGE SPITZER, MIO
After being everywhere on defense throughout the game, he was the right player in the right place on offense for the Thunderbolts. Spitzer got the call on the play of the game, converting a two-point conversion to give Mio a 22-20 win over St. Helen Charlton Heston. He came up big with nine tackles on defense.
BO WILLIAMS, ALL SAINTS
The senior put on a show of athleticism while propelling the Cougars to a 49-12 victory over Peck. He turned four carries into 131 yards and a touchdown while going for 87 yards and a score on four receptions. For good measure, he picked off two passes on defense and returned a punt for a touchdown on special teams.
MORE TOP PERFORMERS
Bradley Boyk, John Glenn: Scored on a 6-yard touchdown run in Glenn’s 28-7 loss to Swan Valley.
Danny Dubay, Pinconning: Rushed for 151 yards on 30 carries and scored a touchdown in a 37-6 loss to Meridian.
Jacob Halicek, Clare: Hauled in five passes for 68 yards and a touchdown in a 28-26 loss to Gladwin.
Collin Hincka, Standish-Sterling: Notched nine tackles and an interception in a 20-13 loss to Bullock Creek.
Brayden Hitts, Bay City Western: Returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown in a 42-12 loss to Midland Dow.
Dominick Knezek, Essexville Garber: Rushed for 50 yards and added 29 receiving in a 61-0 loss to Frankenmuth.
Karter Offenbecker, Beaverton: Caught four passes for 56 yards and two touchdowns in a 36-20 loss to Harrison.
Steele Stricker, Reese: Ran for one touchdown and passed for another in 24-22 loss to USA.
MLive player polls are non-scientific ventures, designed to promote fun, fandom and discussion. The winners receive no prize and the results have no bearing on postseason awards. Not all top performers appear on the poll.
Use of any form of automated voting is contrary to the intent and is not allowed.
Votes are not always tabulated immediately. If you receive a “Thank you for voting” message, your vote will be counted.
There is no voting by email!
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