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Football Teams Mourn, Regroup, Remember
By
Tom Markowski
Special for Second Half
September 2, 2015
CLINTON TOWNSHIP – A rash of deaths of high school football players in Macomb County and elsewhere in the Detroit area has shaken those communities and the football programs within them.
Three football players at Clinton Township Chippewa Valley have died in the past 16 months. This past May, two players from Sterling Heights Stevenson and one from Utica Ford died in a horrific automobile crash at Stoney Creek Metro Park. Another football player at Southfield High drowned in a swimming pool shortly before the start of practice last month.
One player at Chippewa Valley died of cancer, another died from injuries suffered as the result of an accident that took place in a home and the third died Aug. 5, five days before the first official day of practice, in an all-terrain vehicle crash that took place in the northeast region of the Lower Peninsula.
Chippewa Valley coach Scott Merchant played for coach Al Fracassa at Birmingham Brother Rice and then went on to play at Albion College before becoming a coach. Merchant remains shaken by the tragic events that have befallen his program.
In addition to the deaths of his players, two parents of former players, one only 46 years old, died during this time frame.
“They don’t give out manuals for this,” Merchant said. “It’s taken a lot out of me, personally. I don’t know. I’ve spent so much time away from my family, going to hospitals, going to funeral homes. You’re talking about young people’s lives here.
”I don’t know. I go to church. I believe in God. He has a plan. It’s hard to look a 16- or 17-year-old in their eyes and make sense of it all.”
Coaches coach, but there is so much more they are asked to do. They are expected to be mentors. They are often expected to be father figures. Sometimes they act as counselors, even if it isn’t in their job description. Perhaps most importantly they are leaders. They instruct their coaches and give them responsibilities. Players follow their directives and look to them for guidance.
On top of this, coaches are expected to be successful on the field. And a vast majority accept these responsibilities and a modest financial reward with a smile.
But when one of their players dies while still in high school, coaches must also remain emotionally strong for those who are too young to comprehend the finality.
Words of encouragement and a strong embrace can go a long way in times of trouble.
“We tell them, we’re here for you,” Merchant said. “We love you. We’re all hurting. We tell them there are two options. You can quit and be miserable. Or you can get off the ground and keep their memory alive.”
Nick Ureel was a senior at Chippewa Valley when he died of cancer in April 2014. Ureel played football his first two years but the cancer, which began in his testicles, prevented him from playing his junior and senior years.
Alex Mackmin was 16 years old when he died this May. He played on the junior varsity as a sophomore last season.
Merchant held workouts on Aug. 3 and 4 before letting his players go and enjoy the final few days before the start of practice Aug. 10. Duncan Blair, a senior who would compete for a starting position at linebacker, travelled north on vacation. He died while riding a four-wheel off-road vehicle that struck a tree.
Coincidentally the Mackmin and Blair families attended the same church in Utica. Both funerals were held at that church.
Blair’s parents rode the fan bus to Wayne State University for Chippewa Valley’s opener against Lake Orion. Rhys Blair runs the concession stand at Chippewa Valley.
The circumstances were much different for the players who died in the crash in early May in northern Macomb County – but it was no less tragic.
Jonathan Manolios and Emanuel Malaj from Stevenson and Michael Wells from Utica Ford were killed in a car crash. All three played varsity football as juniors in 2014. Two other high school students were injured in the crash and both survived. All five were 17 years old at the time of the crash.
Last season was Kevin Frederick’s first as head coach at Stevenson. He was the former head coach at Whittemore-Prescott.
Frederick had never dealt with anything like this before.
“It was devastating,” he said. “We had a meeting with the kids at school and discussed why it happened. There were grief counselors available. I did meet with some of the parents. Some reached out and said their son wasn’t handling it well.
“We warned our kids not to go on social media after. People forget (the students) were very young. There were some very unkind things said on social media. Alcohol was involved. Their mistake cost them their lives. We tell them to think before you get into a car. Think before you take a drink.
“Scott’s circumstances were different. Kids act in a way … it costs them dearly. Some walk away and grow. This time they didn’t walk away.”
Chippewa Valley and Stevenson are members of the Macomb Area Conference Red, and the teams will play Sept. 11 at Stevenson. Both coaches say they will do something to remember those who died.
Chippewa Valley opens its home season a week later against Warren Cousino. Merchant said his players will wear black jerseys instead of their traditional red to remember those who died.
“Football isn’t an escape,” Merchant said. “It’s a distraction. It takes your mind off of it, but it really doesn’t. We have pictures of all three (students) in our locker room. They are there to remind us.”
Tom Markowski is a columnist and directs website coverage for the State Champs! Sports Network. He previously covered primarily high school sports for the The Detroit News from 1984-2014, focusing on the Detroit area but also contributing to statewide coverage of football and basketball. Contact him at [email protected] with story ideas for Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties.
PHOTOS: (Top) Chippewa Valley players are wearing the numbers of three deceased teammates on the backs of their helmets this season. (Middle) Coach Scott Merchant addresses his players after last week's win against Lake Orion at Wayne State University.
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1st & Goal: 2021 11-Player Semifinals Review
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
November 22, 2021
The 11-Player Football Finals field is set. Ford Field, here we come.
After crisscrossing the Lower Peninsula on Saturday for Semifinals, all vehicles will be pointed toward downtown Detroit this weekend – including parades from a few communities we’ll be seeing for the first time.
Belleville, Warren Michigan Collegiate and Lawton, welcome to a Thanksgiving week like no other. The other 13 teams that will be making the trip Friday and Saturday have been to this point before – including three just 10 months ago – and surely they’d agree this trip to Detroit will be unforgettable.
Below is a glance at how all 16 took the final step to earn the opportunity.
(We’ll review Saturday’s 8-Player Finals – won by Adrian Lenawee Christian and Powers North Central – during a look back at all 10 football championship games next week.)
Division 1
Belleville 40, Sterling Heights Stevenson 26
In their fourth-straight Semifinal, the Tigers (12-1) earned their first Finals trip. Freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood threw three touchdown passes and ran for one more as Belleville scored the most points Stevenson (10-3) had allowed in a game since a Week 1 loss to Rockford. Click for more from the Detroit Free Press.
Belleville freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood (@BryceUnderwoo16) with three touchdown passes in the win over Sterling Hts. Stevenson in the Division 1 Football Semifinal.
TD Receptions:@deshaun3lee
Jalen Johnson@trev_joness@JermainCrowell
#StateChamps X @hungryhowies pic.twitter.com/qgjKwAp8Ao— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 21, 2021
Rochester Adams 40, Grand Blanc 20
Adams (13-0) won a matchup of undefeated teams to reach the Finals for the first time since 2003, showing its defensive might again in shutting down a Bobcats offense that averaged 42 points per game entering the day. Grand Blanc finished its longest tournament run and winningest season at 12-1. Click for more from the Oakland Press.
Rochester Adams (@R_AdamsFootball) Junior LB Tait Picot (@PicotTait) with the pick six in the 40-20 semifinal win over Grand Blanc.#StateChamps X @LTUAthletics pic.twitter.com/uM809Q72RC
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 21, 2021
Division 2
Traverse City Central 56, South Lyon 20
The Trojans (12-1) earned their first Finals trip since 1988. Central took a 42-7 lead into halftime as Josh Burnham scored three touchdowns, and blocked a field goal attempt too. South Lyon (12-1) was making its first Semifinal appearance since 2004. Click for more from the Traverse City Record-Eagle.
Here's the first half highlights of the Traverse City Central vs. South Lyon | Division 2 Football Semifinal. @JoshuaBurnham20 @carson_bourdo
🎥WBPN-TV#StateChamps X @MHSAA pic.twitter.com/mZv7GwuY2y
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 21, 2021
Warren De La Salle Collegiate 49, Livonia Franklin 14
The Pilots (12-0) will play in their fourth Division 2 Final in five seasons, with an opportunity to finish undefeated for the first time during the playoff era. Junior quarterback Brady Drogosh threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more, including a 73-yarder. Franklin finished 7-6 after entering the playoffs 4-5. Click for more from the Macomb Daily.
De La Salle QB Brady Drogosh ran for 2 touchdowns of 55 and 73 yards in the 49-14 win over Livonia Franklin this afternoon. @DLSPilots @DLSFootball_MI @BDrogosh #StateChamps x @DMC_Rehab pic.twitter.com/We2HYxCR8V
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 20, 2021
Division 3
Detroit Martin Luther King 46, Mason 7
The Crusaders (12-1) advanced to their fourth Final in six seasons and first since 2019. While topping 40 points for the seventh time in 11 games played on the field, King also lowered its playoff points-allowed average to 9.5 with a second-straight game giving up a single score. Mason completed its winningest season, and longest playoff run, at 10-3. Click for more from the Detroit Free Press.
Our Mr. Football candidate Dante Moore (@dantemoore05) with another touchdown pass in the 1st quarter, this one to Joseph Williams (@elite_joe1) as Detroit King (@DetKingFootball) went onto beat Mason in the Division 3 Semifinal. #StateChamps X @hungryhowies pic.twitter.com/tQ7heMFVty
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 20, 2021
DeWitt 43, St. Joseph 7
The Panthers (12-1) will return to Ford Field with an opportunity to repeat as Division 3 champions. DeWitt built a 29-0 halftime lead, as quarterback Ty Holtz threw three first-half touchdown passes, including 69 and 40-yarders to Tommy McIntosh. St. Joseph (8-5) was playing in its first Semifinal since 2007 after entering the postseason 5-4. Click for more from the Lansing State Journal.
Our Mr. Football candidate Ty Holtz (@tyholtz_) from DeWitt (@dewittathletics) connected with the @BadgerFootball commit Tommy McIntosh for two touchdowns in the win over St. Joseph on Saturday.
🎥https://t.co/duQnD6Kq0j#StateChamps X @MHSAA pic.twitter.com/mJfhLTbGoV
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 21, 2021
Division 4
Chelsea 30, Freeland 27
For the second straight week, Chelsea came up with a big play at the end to advance. This time it was a near-goal line stand to stop a Freeland offense that had gotten two rushing and two passing touchdowns from quarterback Bryson Huckaby. The Falcons finished a second-straight Semifinal run 11-2. Click for more from the Ann Arbor News.
Freeland 4th and 3 on the four yard line with 48 seconds left and the Chelsea defense comes through with the stop. They measure for the first down and it’s just short. @ChelseaFB_SEC @ChelseaBulldogs #StateChamps X @MHSAA pic.twitter.com/n9FaLNOUwc
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 20, 2021
Hudsonville Unity Christian 58, Edwardsburg 8
The Crusaders (13-0) moved into second all-time for scoring in one season at 751 points with their 11th game putting up more than 50, and with a defensive showing to match – Edwardsburg (12-1) entered the game averaging 53 points per. Unity’s Abraham Rappuhn scored three first-half touchdowns, including an 81-yarder. Click for more from FOX 17.
Jason Hutton (@jhutt5) brings you the highlights of the Unity Christian (@UCSaders) vs. Edwardsburg | Division 4 Football Semifinal from this afternoon.
🎥WXMI-TV#StateChamps X @hungryhowies pic.twitter.com/Gn6lwANE1M
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 21, 2021
Division 5
Grand Rapids Catholic Central 35, Frankenmuth 0
The rematch of last season’s Division 5 championship game saw Grand Rapids Catholic Central (13-0) go up 21-0 midway through the first quarter. Cougars quarterback John Passinault ran for three touchdowns and threw for the other two. Frankenmuth finished 12-1, its only losses the last two seasons to GRCC. Click for more from the Grand Rapids Press.
Jason Hutton (@jhutt5) brings you the highlights of the Grand Rapids Catholic Central (@GRCC_CougarsFB) vs. Frankenmuth | Division 5 Football Semifinal from this afternoon.
🎥WXMI-TV#StateChamps X @LTUAthletics pic.twitter.com/bbgNJTr4jY
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 21, 2021
Marine City 27, Portland 7
The Mariners (13-0) are headed back to Ford Field for the first time since 2013 after another dominating defensive performance – they haven’t given up more than 14 points in a game, and lowered their per game defensive average to 9.1 allowed per contest. The Raiders finished 10-3. Click for more from the Port Huron Times-Herald.
Marine City Junior QB Jeff Heaslip connects with Sophomore Parker Atkinson on the 38-yard score to put the Mariners up 7-0 over Portland!@marine_high @MCGoBlack @mariner_mc @jeffery_heaslip #StateChamps X @MIArmyGuard pic.twitter.com/La2ivg7nzF
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 20, 2021
Division 6
Lansing Catholic 18, Standish-Sterling 7
The Cougars will be returning to Ford Field seeking a second championship in three seasons to go with a 2019 title in Division 5. The Cougars (12-1) matched defense with defense, scoring their second-fewest points this fall but holding Standish-Sterling to a tie for the latter’s lowest output. The Panthers finished 10-3, making an incredible jump from last season’s 1-6 record. Click for more from the Lansing State Journal.
Lansing Catholic (@lansingcatholic) junior Nic Gruber with two touchdown runs as the Cougars went onto beat Standish-Sterling in the Division 6 Football Semifinal on Saturday afternoon. @lchscougarsport
🎥WILX-TV#StateChamps X @MHSAA pic.twitter.com/T7wd5QKzNK
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 21, 2021
Warren Michigan Collegiate 36, Michigan Center 29
Michigan Collegiate (11-2) earned its first trip to the Finals, thanks in part to a series of big plays by Deion Black on both sides of the ball. The teams were tied after three quarters, and traded scores in the fourth with the Cougars reaching the end zone last. Michigan Center finished 11-2, setting a program record for wins. Click for more from MLive-Detroit.
Deion Black (@de1on_) was getting it down on both sides of the ball for @MCisFamily.#StateChamps x @DMC_Rehab pic.twitter.com/igt03bLpJE
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 21, 2021
Division 7
Lawton 21, Jackson Lumen Christi 20
The Blue Devils are headed to the Finals for the first time after following up a memorable Regional Final win with perhaps an even more unforgettable Semifinal finish. Landon Motter’s two-point conversion with 46 seconds to play put Lawton (13-0) up for good. The Blue Devils had jumped out to a 13-0 first-half lead but found themselves trailing Lumen Christi (11-2) by a point heading into the fourth quarter. Click for more from the Kalamazoo Gazette.
Jason Hutton (@jhutt5) brings you the highlights of the Lawton vs. Lumen Christi | Division 7 Football Semifinal from this afternoon.
🎥WXMI-TV#StateChamps X @MIArmyGuard pic.twitter.com/iOGNcOoa6b
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 21, 2021
Pewamo-Westphalia 28, Traverse City St. Francis 21
The Pirates (13-0) will have a chance to win a second Division 7 title in three years after holding off last season’s runner-up St. Francis (12-1). The teams were tied 14-14 heading into the final quarter, and P-W’s defense was able to slow St. Francis’ offense for most of it, for the game holding the Gladiators to their fewest points this season and well below their average of 50 per game. Click for more from the Lansing State Journal.
Jason Hutton (@jhutt5) brings you the highlights of the Pewamo-Westphalia (@PWGRIDIRON) vs. Traverse City St. Francis | Division 7 Football Semifinal from this afternoon.
🎥WXMI-TV#StateChamps X @hungryhowies pic.twitter.com/lzElUyi71e
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 21, 2021
Division 8
Beal City 12, Ubly 7
The Aggies (12-1) will return to the Finals for the second time in three seasons thanks to the latest of a string of strong defensive showings. Beal City lowered its points-allowed average to 8.3 per game by stopping an Ubly offense that had averaged 45 per game entering Saturday. The Bearcats (12-1) were last season’s Division 8 runners-up up. Click for more from the Mount Pleasant Morning Sun.
Beal City got on the board 1st. Senior Cade Block refuses to go down, plowing through defenders and diving into the end zone to give the Aggies a 6-0 lead over Ubly. @BealCityAggieFB @bcaggieathletic @BlockheadCade#StateChamps x @LTUAthletics pic.twitter.com/AaXuabW00N
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 20, 2021
Hudson 28, Ottawa Lake Whiteford 22
The Tigers (13-0) advanced to their first championship game since 2010 relying again on an excellent defense to slow down a Whiteford offense averaging 51 points per game, but also on the legs of Bronson Marry – who ran for four second-half touchdowns as Hudson came all the way back from a 22-0 halftime deficit. It was the only loss to an in-state opponent this fall for the Bobcats (11-2). Click for more from the Adrian Daily Telegram.
Bronson Marry had four rushing touchdowns in the 2nd half as Hudson (@hudson_schools) went onto beat Ottawa Lake Whiteford in the Division 8 Football Semifinal. #StateChamps X @MHSAA pic.twitter.com/FqM5w3CKVv
— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) November 21, 2021
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PHOTO Traverse City Central's Carson Bourdo (11) tries to break away from a South Lyon defender during Saturday's Division 2 Semifinal win. (Photo by Jamie McNinch.)