A Game for Every Fan: Week 9
October 23, 2014
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
For 90 MHSAA football teams, this weekend could be the end – or a new beginning.
While 167 teams have qualified for this fall’s 11-player playoffs – and one more is assured of doing so thanks to a forfeit victory – 90 more still control their postseason destinies.
It’s win and in, with only eight games featuring matchups of 5-3 teams – meaning 82 at most can earn automatic berths this weekend. The average since the 256-team playoff format was introduced in 1999 is 234 automatic qualifiers. My guess for 2014: 230. Tune in Sunday.
Playoff pairings will be broadcast during the Sunday Selection Show at 7 p.m. on Fox Sports Detroit and posted to MHSAA.com at its conclusion. I’ll also post on Second Half my now-annual breakdown of some of the tougher decisions we faced as we grouped teams for the nine divisions.
Total, 272 will reach the playoffs – the top 16 8-player teams qualify for that bracket based on playoff-point average. Until then, the following will be among games we focus on most this weekend. All are Friday unless noted (there are 15 games statewide tonight and 10 on Saturday.).
Greater Detroit
Detroit Martin Luther King (8-0) vs. Detroit Cass Tech (8-0) at Ford Field
With all Detroit Public School League teams playing in one division this fall, but these two not meeting during the regular season, this has been even more highly anticipated than usual. Cass Tech has running back Mike Weber, committed to the University of Michigan, and is the team almost always talked about most from this league thanks to its four straight seasons of 11 or more wins and recent pair of MHSAA titles. But consider King’s quiet body of work – the Crusaders haven’t given up a point since September, have five shutouts total, and are led by Michigan State University-bound linebacker Tyriq Thompson.
Others that caught my eye: Orchard Lake St. Mary's (7-1) vs. Birmingham Brother Rice (8-0), Saturday at Ford Field; Clarkston (8-0) at Farmington Hills Harrison (7-1), Madison Heights Madison (7-1) at Walled Lake Western (7-1), Monroe (6-2) at Dearborn Fordson (8-0).
West Michigan
Muskegon Mona Shores (7-1) at Muskegon (8-0)
The top three games on this side of Michigan all feature Muskegon-area teams, and this has to be the biggest with Mona Shores capable of making it interesting again after arriving in 2013 with its first playoff berth after pushing the Big Reds to 26-20 in the Ottawa-Kent Conference Black opener. This time, this matchup concludes the league season with both tied for first; Mona Shores’ only loss was 10-7 to Rockford in Week 3, the last week this season as well that the Big Reds were challenged.
Others that caught my eye: Muskegon Orchard View (5-3) at Muskegon Oakridge (7-1), Muskegon Catholic Central (8-0) at Ravenna (7-1), Holland West Ottawa (5-3) at Rockford (6-2), Ada Forest Hills Eastern (4-4) at Cedar Springs (7-1).
Lower Up North
Traverse City Central (6-2) at Cadillac (8-0)
This Big North Conference decider has been foreseeable for about a month. Central suffered a 16-13 Week 6 loss to Petoskey, keeping this from being a true championship game. But the Trojans are driving to take a share of the title from Cadillac after falling to the Vikings 14-7 in their Week 9 matchup a year ago – and then missing the playoffs by a win. Cadillac has won 17 straight regular-season games and impressively scratched out two league wins by five or fewer points.
Others that caught my eye: Johannesburg-Lewiston (7-1) at Indian River Inland Lakes (7-1), Traverse City St. Francis (6-2) at Kingsley (5-3), Frankfort (5-2) at Onekama (5-3), Grayling (4-4) at Boyne City (8-0).
Upper Peninsula
Marquette (7-1) at Menominee (8-0)
The Great Northern Upper Peninsula Conference championship comes down to this; both are undefeated in the league, although with different stories along the way. Menominee is coming off two Wisconsin wins and didn’t let another league opponent within 14 points. Marquette is riding strong wins over Constantine and Negaunee the last two weeks, but won its other league games by two, eight and five points, respectively – and lost to the Maroons the last two seasons by a combined 93-14. That said, Marquette also is headed to the playoffs for the first time since 2011 and lost only on opening night.
Others that caught my eye: Lake Linden-Hubbell (7-1) at Crystal Falls Forest Park (6-1), Sault Ste. Marie (4-4) at Newberry (5-3), Ishpeming Westwood (6-2) at Negaunee (4-4), Iron River West Iron County (8-0) at Bark River-Harris (6-2).
Mid-Michigan
Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central (8-0) at Lansing Catholic (8-0)
It’s hard to imagine a better postseason primer for these MHSAA title contenders. St. Mary crushed the Huron League with four shutouts and gave up only 21 points total in seven games (and 34 for this season overall), and looks well on the way to another playoff run to go with its five District titles over the last six seasons. Lansing Catholic had only a bit tougher time with a bit stronger Capital Area Activities Conference White, but is averaging 41 points per game and approaching the offensive numbers put up when the team made the Division 5 Final in 2011.
Others that caught my eye: Goodrich (7-1) at St. Johns (7-1), Holt (3-5) at Grand Ledge (5-3), Lakeview (7-1) at Stanton Central Montcalm (5-3), Eaton Rapids (5-3) at Charlotte (4-4).
Bay and Thumb
Montrose (6-2) at New Lothrop (8-0)
Little has been said about New Lothrop since opening night, as it again didn’t face much challenge in the Genesee Area Conference Blue. But the Hornets – seeking their fourth straight perfect regular season – can boast a couple solid nonleague wins over playoff qualifier Traverse City St. Francis and Schoolcraft, playing tonight for an automatic bid. The GAC Red is much more competitive, and Montrose finished third this season – but is expected to be dangerous in the playoffs with their losses to Goodrich and Flint Beecher by a combined seven points.
Others that caught my eye: Flint Carman-Ainsworth (6-2) at Flint Powers Catholic (6-2), Northville (5-3) at Grand Blanc (5-3), Midland Dow (8-0) at Midland (4-4), Flushing (6-2) at Swartz Creek (5-3).
Southwest and Border
Hudson (7-1) at Hillsdale (7-1)
These two have done the work to reach this championship decider in the Lenawee County Athletic Association, both edging contender Ida in consecutive weeks and turning back potential playoff qualifier Onsted as well. Save for last week’s 38-18 win over Onsted, Hudson gave up only 14 points in its other five league games and owns four wins in its last five over Hillsdale including 16-7 in 2013. But the Hornets have enjoyed incredible success since joining the LCAA in 2012, with a 19-1 record in league games – that lone loss, of course, to Hudson last year. Hillsdale thrives on offense, averaging 45 points per game not counting the mere three it put up in its lone loss to Ohio’s Defiance Tinora in Week 2.
Others that caught my eye: Gobles (6-2) at Saugatuck (5-3), Manchester (7-1) at Union City (8-0), Reed City (7-1) at Schoolcraft (5-3), Portage Central (6-1) at St. Joseph (4-4).
8-player
Lawrence (8-0) at Battle Creek St. Philip (8-0) on Saturday
These two started a nice rivalry last season, when St. Philip won 54-50 in the final game of the regular season and then Lawrence won the rematch two weeks later, 58-28 in their Regional Final. But more might be riding tonight than taking the upper hand; despite being one of four undefeated teams in 8-player, Lawrence ranks only seventh in playoff-point average and could use a nice boost to guarantee some home-field advantage over the next couple of weeks. St. Philip has the second-highest playoff average and could take over the top spot.
Others that caught my eye: Bellaire (7-1) at Rapid River (8-0), Portland St. Patrick (7-1) at Morrice (5-3).
PHOTO: Oxford defeated Bloomfield Hills 35-14 last week to earn an automatic playoff berth and faces Oak Park this week. (Photo courtesy of Matt Johnson/Oxford High School.)
Deckerville Completes Title-Clinching Comeback with Unforgettable 'Drive'
By
Jason Juno
Special for MHSAA.com
November 23, 2024
MARQUETTE — Deckerville was used to being in a tough spot.
The Eagles were behind for the duration of the 8-player Division 1 championship game against Pickford on Saturday until finally taking a 30-28 lead eight seconds into the fourth quarter.
When they got the ball back after a brief Panthers possession, they still had that lead. They were just pinned at their own 1-yard line.
Coach Bill Brown had three thoughts.
The first was, “Oh, no.”
The second centered on getting out of there without surrendering a safety or turning the ball over near the end zone.
The third was “The Drive” from back in 1987 when quarterback John Elway took the Denver Broncos 98 yards in the late stages of the fourth quarter to tie the AFC Championship game, which they eventually won.
“I was like, ‘Hmm, I wonder if we can have the drive and we can call that The Drive,’” Brown said.
Saturday’s drive will certainly be remembered in Deckerville for a long time. The Eagles didn’t score, but they did run out the clock – all nine minutes, 14 seconds of it.
That cemented their 30-28 championship victory at the Superior Dome. After falling behind by two touchdowns early, the Eagles rallied back by holding onto the football and keeping Pickford’s electric quarterback, Tommy Storey, on the sideline.
“It’s a dream come true,” Deckerville senior linebacker Corbin Sharbowski said. “I’ve been dreaming since I was a little kid. I think in seventh grade, we were all on the same team, we had a pretty good season and we were like, ‘Yeah, we might be able to do this.’”
Saturday’s game started out as a nightmare, in part thanks to an epic performance by Storey.
The 5-foot-9, 175-pound senior ran for touchdowns of 44, 70, 57 and 34 yards in the first half to give the Panthers 16-0 and 28-16 leads. He ended the half with 282 rushing yards, just 70 off the record for a full 8-player championship game.
He only recorded 22 yards during the second half. To be fair, he was rarely on the field after halftime.
Deckerville got the ball first in the second half. The Eagles used 15 plays to go 71 yards while taking more than 7½ minutes off of the clock.
They converted two fourth downs, including a 4th-and-9 when standout quarterback, Hunter Garza, ran 17 yards for a first down at the 1. Parker Merriman ran the last yard to pull Deckerville within five of Pickford’s lead, 28-23.
The Panthers followed with a four-and-out, as the Eagles stopped their 4th-and-3 play for no gain.
Deckerville took its first lead on the ensuing possession, with Brandon Salowitz grabbing a 36-yard touchdown pass from Garza. Mark Donker’s extra point kick made it 30-28 Eagles with 11:52 left in the game.
Brown said that was the first time they ran that play all season, and it was likely the only one Pickford hadn’t seen from them during pregame prep.
“I (had) seen Brandon, I knew he was 1-on-1, so I just threw it up and he did the rest,” Garza said.
Storey ran for 12 yards on the first play of Pickford’s next possession. A false start doomed that drive, though, and Pickford took two timeouts before deciding to punt from its own 49 with 9:25 left.
The Panthers executed the punt well, downing the ball at the 1-yard line.
They just never saw the ball again. Seventeen rushing plays by Garza and Merriman – only one of which went for more than 10 yards, an 11-yard gain by Garza – ate up all of that clock. Deckerville converted on three third downs. Garza rushed five yards on 4th-and-5 at the Pickford 30 to seal it.
“There wasn’t, ‘Hey, let’s keep the ball,’” Brown said. “No, it’s let’s go score because we’re going to have to outscore them sooner or later.”
Pickford ran just nine offensive plays during the final two quarters. Deckerville went 5-for-5 on fourth downs and had the ball for 19 minutes, 3 seconds of the 24-minute second half.
“That’s the game we like to play,” Pickford coach Josh Rader said. “We like to keep their offense off the field. They did that to us. They ground and pounded it. They got first downs when they needed to.”
Eagles also defended the physical runner Storey well the few times he touched the ball in the second half. “I thought we could run at him a little more, maybe wear him down a little bit more running at him,” Brown said.
Storey finished with the second-most rushing yards 8-Player Finals history, 304 on 21 carries with the four first-half touchdowns. Pickford ended the season at 12-1.
“Proud of our guys,” Rader said. “Like I mentioned after the game, it hurts right now. As we get time to get away, they’re going to realize how fun it actually was to be in this game.”
Deckerville, meanwhile, finished a perfect 13-0.
“It’s so surreal I can’t even grasp what’s happening right now,” Brown said.
The title was Deckerville’s second in 8-player and first since 2012.
“It’s a crazy experience to even go to the state finals,” said Garza, who finished with 225 yards on 37 carries with two touchdowns, “but to win it is just awesome.”
PHOTOS (Top) Deckerville's Brandon Salowitz celebrates his second-half touchdown reception Saturday at the Superior Dome. (Middle) Pickford quarterback Tommy Storey (8) breaks away for his second touchdown run of the first half. (Below) Deckerville quarterback Hunter Garza (7) begins to cut back during his first-half touchdown sprint. (Photos by Cara Kamps. Click for more.)