The Almont Raiders football team will play the Cougars of Lansing Catholic High School Saturday at Ford Field. It’s the very first time the Raiders have earned a spot in the MHSAA Div. 5 high school football championship. The Raiders have reached 3 semifinal games. In 2014 Almont lost to Lansing Catholic 21-14 in the semifinal game, Lansing Catholic lost 24-20 in the finals to Grand Rapids West Catholic.
In recent years the Raiders have been a force not only in league play, but have won five regional titles, 1977, 1996, 2008, 2014 and 2019. Almont has three semifinal appearances, with an all-time win/loss record of 378 and 249.
Lansing Catholic High School ranks among the finest Catholic High Schools in the State of Michigan. The same is true of their athletic program, competitive in nearly every sport, boys and girls. Since 1970 the football program has 306 wins, 181 losses and one tie. The Cougars have been MHSAA semi-final competitors seven times, reaching the final game three times and have won one state title when they beat St. Ignace 33-6 in 1985.
Lansing Catholic opened its doors in 1970 as a result of a merger between Monsignor Gabriels and O’Rafferty high schools. LCHS occupies the building formerly known as Monsignor John A. Gabriels High School. A new name, Lansing Catholic High School; a change in school colors, Cougar blue and silver; and the adoption of a mascot, the “Cougars,” helped define that transition. As with any major change, there were some bumps and bruises along the way. Today, Lansing Catholic offers students a wide variety of programs, faith formation opportunities and teaching, extracurricular activities, sports, and experiences.
