Our Lady of the Lakes senior Christian Heiss runs downfield during the Division C-D title game against Cabrini Oct. 25 at Ford Field. The Lakers scored their 2nd straight C-D championship with a 45-14 win.Detroit — And now it’s on to the Big Prize.
John Callahan and George Porritt talked from the same script to their squads in post-game huddles at last Saturday’s Catholic League Prep Bowl at Ford Field.
“Our goal is the state finals. We’ll see you all in five weeks,” Callahan told his Detroit Loyola charges after winning its second straight Prep Bowl wild card championship.
The Bulldogs have directed their attention to the Division 7 finals on Saturday, Nov. 29, almost from the instant a year ago when Loyola lost to Ishpeming for the second year in a row for the state championship.
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s was 24 seconds away from upsetting Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice for the Division A-B crown. The Warriors gambled successfully on a two-point conversion and added a recovered fumble in the end zone as time ran out for a 35-28 victory.
Loyola senior Mideyin Wilson runs downfield to score during Loyola’s win over Divine Child.“We’ve got 24 hours to get over tonight,” Porritt consoled his team. “We’ve got bigger business to do. We’ll be back here to win it all.”
“Back here” would be Nov. 29 for the Division 3 title game, which the Eaglets have played five times in the last seven years, copping the 2011 championship.
Brother Rice’s Dave Sofran, succeeding legendary Al Fracassa, didn’t need any kind of pep talk to remind his squad of what has been a season-long given, namely, that the Warriors expect to be on the field Friday, Nov. 28, for the Division 2 game, aiming to win a fourth state crown in a row.
Loyola (No. 2 in Division 7), St. Mary’s (No. 3 in Division 3), and Brother Rice (No. 1 in Division 2) are the only CHSL teams in the Associated Press’ final season rankings.
Their journey back to Ford Field begins this weekend (Oct. 31-Nov. 1). Brother Rice (9-0) will host Warren Cousino (5-4); St. Mary’s (8-1) will be at home against Detroit Renaissance (6-3); and Riverview Gabriel Richard (5-4) will travel to Loyola (9-0). Eight other CHSL schools also qualified for state playoffs. Games will be played either Friday or Saturday. Log on to mhsaa.com or check the daily papers for kickoff times.
The first half between the Warriors and Eaglets was a football fan’s delight. They went up and down the field for five touchdowns with the Eaglets holding a 21-14 edge at the intermission.
Brother Rice senior Bo Pickens finishes off a tackle on St. Mary’s Prep junior Justin Myrick. Brother Rice won the game in thrilling fashion, 35-28.Rice’s record-shattering duo of quarterback Alex Malzone and wide receiver Grant Perry accounted for the Warriors points via a pair of pinpoint passes of 21 and 23 yards.
The Eaglets tied the score at 7 on a 1-yard plunge by Justin Myrick, took a 14-7 lead when QB Brandon Tabone found wide receiver Tyson Smith with a 12-yard pass, and got the lead back on a 3-yard diving catch by tight end Nathan Fragani.
Fracassa, sitting among the paying customers a dozen rows behind the Rice bench, said he was “relaxed” when asked for his thoughts about the game so far. You wonder how much squirming the old coach did in the game’s final five minutes.
Malzone and Perry struck again from 22 yards out to tie the score at 21 all. St. Mary’s promptly replied with a 75-yard march to get in front again, 28-21, with 2:28 to play. Brandon Adams went three yards up the middle for the score.
Brother Rice’s 30-game win streak that includes three state championships was on the line. No fear. Malzone and Perry came to the rescue, collaborating on four passes for 42 yards of a frantic 78-yard come-from-behind drive, the TD toss for nine yards, to make it 28-27 and then another pass for the winning two-point conversion.
Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes 45, Allen Park Cabrini 14 — The Lakers won their second straight Division C-D title behind three touchdown passes from junior QB Clay Senerius, who also scored once himself on a 1-yard sneak. Devin Senerius caught two TD tosses and Chris Cartier one. Christian Heiss scored twice, on a 67- yard run, the other 31 yards with a fumble. Brandon MacGregor (3-yard run) and Steven Sowa (35-yard pass from Ed O’Neill) scored for Cabrini.
Detroit Loyola 70, Dearborn Divine Child 6 — Seven different players made it to the end zone for the Bulldogs, who amassed nearly 600 yards on offense: two TDs each for Marvin Campbell and Mideylin Wilson, and single scores by Blaine Woodland, Joshua Stewart, Nick Lee, Patrick Harbin and Anthony Frierson. Loyola converted eight of nine two-point conversions. Cornerback Danny Blade ran back an interception 61 yards for the Falcons’ points.
The Junior Scholastic All-Catholics – those who have achieved the highest grade-points in their junior year – stand with their medals at Ford Field. In addition to championship football, the Prep Bowl traditionally includes numerous academic awards.Don Horkey is a free-lance writer. He may be reached at [email protected]
