The 2026 Michigan High School Football Coaches Association All-Star Game delivered a thriller, as the East squad erased a one‑point deficit to win 22‑21 over the West in a back‑and‑forth contest that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
A Comeback Fueled by Momentum
Coach Jim Herrington’s East side leaned on a balanced attack, with standout contributions from Detroit Cass Tech’s Will Sykes Jr., Northville’s Kamden Brown and Salem’s Luke Creighton, each of whom played pivotal roles in the comeback.
Sykes Jr. showcased his versatility, hauling in seven passes for 45 yards while adding two rushes for 23 yards, while Brown’s speed on special teams produced three kickoff returns for 79 yards and four receptions for 96 yards, underscoring his all‑purpose impact.
Creighton capped the evening with MVP honors, completing 11 of 13 attempts for 120 yards and punching in two rushing touchdowns, a performance that highlighted his dual‑threat capability.
A critical turning point came when Lionel Thompson Jr. of Harper Woods Chandler Park intercepted a pass and returned it 34 yards, setting up the decisive drive that ultimately put the East ahead.
Kicker Jaxon Bolster from Ida proved indispensable, booting all five kickoffs into the end zone, nailing a 44‑yard field goal, and sealing the victory with the game‑winning extra point. On the defensive side, Riley Olson of Mount Pleasant recorded an interception returned 38 yards for the West, while Jack Deitsch of Reed City disrupted a bubble screen, forcing a four‑yard loss that stalled a potential rally.
Cameron Gunsell of Ludington added a big play, catching an 80‑yard touchdown pass and later contributing a 4‑yard rushing score, while Daylin Taylor of Grand Blanc caught four passes for 69 yards and a touchdown, and Corde Anderson of Whitehall contributed a forced fumble and a quarterback hurry for the West.
The game also served as a showcase for the talent pipeline feeding into colleges such as Ferris State, Eastern Michigan, Northwood, Grand Valley State and Ashland, programs that were represented among the coaching staff and scouting presence.