2020 was a mixed year for area football programs, but plenty of players earned deserved recognition after a year affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Matt Patricia opened his final postgame news conference with the Detroit Lions by thanking his wife and children for their support.

Grand Haven’s 2020 football season may have been one to forget from a results standpoint, but there was still plenty of reason to recognize a handful of Buccaneer individuals for their play throughout the year.

Muskegon Catholic Central’s season may be over a little early, but they have plenty to be happy with after an undefeated regular season that secured another Lakes Eight title.

GRAND HAVEN TWP. — It wasn’t the senior year anyone envisioned, but Grand Haven senior Landon VanBeek is more than grateful for the time he could spend on the field this fall.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Sunday that all sports in Michigan, other than professional and college, must stop competition for three weeks in an effort to bat down an exponential spike in COVID-19 cases in Michigan.

SPRING LAKE — Momentum shifts made Friday night's game between Spring Lake and Forest Hills Eastern, and both teams put on a show in their district semifinal at Grabinski Field.

MUSKEGON — Muskegon Catholic Central will continue on to the district finals undefeated.

Muskegon Catholic Central’s football team will be defending their undefeated status at home against Harrison this Friday.

SPRING LAKE TWP. — Football teams around the state have spent all of 2020 with an uneasy feeling in the back of their minds.

COOPERSVILLE — Spring Lake's last postseason football victory came in 2001, still a couple years before any of the Lakers' current players were born.

GRANDVILLE — Down by just four points at halftime, Grand Haven coach Mike Farley waved his arms and yelled to get the visiting crowd on their feet cheering before the second half.

COOPERSVILLE — Under normal circumstances, Spring Lake would have had to scrap and claw for a first playoff win since 2001.

Kirk Cousins never lost to Michigan in three games as Michigan State football’s starting quarterback from 2009-11.

Two years ago, in the lead up to the Michigan-Michigan State football game, two of the Wolverines’ best players spoke about their hatred for the Spartans. They even explained why they detested MSU players more than Ohio State players.

GRAND HAVEN TWP. — There was a simple message to close practice ahead of Grand Haven’s playoff opener at Grandville on Friday night: anything can happen.

The first weekend of Big Ten football was full of surprises.

As a handful of fall sports continue their state tournaments, it meant a lighter Tuesday for the sports still in their regular seasons.

NORTON SHORES – Lulo Mafahla likes the United States a lot.

Scores and more from a successful weekend of prep sports:

SPRING LAKE — Everyone wanted a piece of Steve Ready on Friday night.

On Sunday afternoon, the MHSAA announced the state's football playoff pairings for a unique state tournament. 

Grand Haven’s senior class walked arm-in-arm the 100 yards of Buccaneer Stadium turf to celebrate their final home game.

SPRING LAKE TWP. — Five total touchdowns from Zach Mitchell and a couple of big second-half turnovers were all Spring Lake needed in their 54-22 blowout of Fruitport on Friday night.

Matt Allen can’t wait to see his parents Saturday.

Playing college football during a pandemic is no easy task.

The Buccaneers will play football this weekend after all. 

Grand Haven's final home game of 2020 is in jeopardy.

Even math majors have to take a second look when figuring calculating the MHSAA’s playoff points formula for football.

HOLLAND — Spring Lake surrendered a safety early in Friday’s game at Holland Christian, but the defense shut out the Maroons the rest of the way for a 34-2 victory in the wind and rain.

MUSKEGON — Highlight-reel runs from Max Price and Elliot Riegler helped preserve Muskegon Catholic Central's unbeaten record on Friday night as they beat Orchard View 41-0. 

Muskegon Catholic Central moved to second in Division 6 in Monday's Associated Press state football poll. There are just five voters to make up the rankings, but MCC received four votes at No. 2 and one at No. 3 in Division 6. 

ALLENDALE — A series of special-teams dramatics could not undo Spring Lake’s rushing attack Friday as the visiting Lakers topped Allendale, 38-36.

GRAND HAVEN TWP. — Their record may not show it, but Grand Haven is miles better than they were just four weeks ago.

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Aaron Rodgers and his Green Bay Packers teammates won’t get a chance to celebrate their fast start by leaving town during their week off.

The first kickoff of the Big Ten season is a little more than two weeks away, and while that might be hard to believe, reality is starting to set in for Mel Tucker and Michigan State.

Grand Haven's Week 4 game against Rockford has been canceled due to a positive COVID-19 test. 

DETROIT — Nothing ever gets fixed, or stays fixed. The only thing Matt Patricia's defense can fix these days is the other team's struggling quarterback.

GRAND HAVEN TWP. – Coach Mike Farley’s message to his Buccaneer football team following Friday’s 42-12 Homecoming loss to East Kentwood was continued and noticeable improvement.

SPRING LAKE — On a Homecoming night with fewer fans than usual, there were fewer points than usual for both Spring Lake and Grand Rapids West Catholic.

DETROIT — The New Orleans Saints and Detroit Lions are in unfamiliar territory.

Thursday saw plenty of action across the board ahead of a pair of Homecoming football games.