'Best of' Closes with Big-Time Broadcasts
August 12, 2014
A Football Playoff Semifinal game which went down to the wire highlights the eighth and final week of the "Best Of 2013-14” offerings on the MHSAA.tv Website.
For eight weeks over the summer, MHSAA.tv spotlighted some of the best tournament action from the 2013-14 school year, presenting four games each week.
Each contest is easily identified with a “Best Of 13-14” thumbnail on the home page of the MHSAA.tv Website. Here’s a look at games which will be featured from Aug.11-18:
Ithaca v. Montrose: 2013 Division 6 Football Playoff Semifinal. Ithaca rallied to claim a 21-20 victory, which wasn't secured until Travis Smith intercepted a Montrose pass with a minute to play and then picked up a first down on a quarterback keeper on the subsequent drive.
Gladstone v. Unionville-Sebewaing: 2014 Division 3 Softball Final. Amid chants of “U.P. Power” and “U-S-A,” the Braves made a third-inning run-scoring double by Lexi Hongisto stand up and took the Division 3 championship trophy across the Straits with a 2-1 win over the Patriots.
DeWitt v. Richmond: 2014 Division 2 Baseball Semifinal. Zach Leach pitched a complete-game four-hitter, and Dillon McInerney drove in what proved to be the game-winning run with a sixth-inning double as Richmond advanced to the Final game with a 2-1 win over DeWitt.
Detroit Country Day v. Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood: 2014 Division 2 Boys Lacrosse Final. Emilio Sosa scored three goals, and four other players had two goals apiece as Country Day cruised to a 12-8 victory over the Cranes.
During the course of the 2013-14 school year, more than 3,000 events were produced on MHSAA.tv by PlayOn! Sports and MHSAA member schools participating in the School Broadcasting Program, covering everything from athletics to announcements to commencements to the performing arts and school board meetings.
DVD’s of the “Best Of 13-14” game videos are available through the MHSAA.tv Website.
Division 3 Final: Eaglets Fly Again
November 29, 2011
Five times since its most recent MHSAA football championship, Orchard Lake St. Mary returned to the championship game – and lost.
Saturday night there was no stopping the Eaglets – or their running attack – at the Division 3 Final at Ford Field.
St. Mary rushed for 478 yards – and after near-misses the last two seasons won its first championship since 2000 with a 45-7 win over top-ranked Mount Pleasant.
"I knew what it felt like to lose, so it gave me the fire and other teammates the fire to win,” St. Mary senior running back Spencer McInnis said. “It’s unexplainable. It’s awesome. It’s something I’ve wanted since I was a kid. I always knew I was going to go to St. Mary’s. It’s just a great feeling.”
The Eaglets (12-2) had fallen by eight and three to East Grand Rapids in the last two Finals, and in a five-overtime classic in 2007. They entered the playoffs ranked No. 4 by The Associated Press – but as champions of the Detroit Catholic League Central, which sent three teams to Ford Field this fall.
“It was great to win again,” said St. Mary coach George Porritt, who finished his 23rd season leading the program. “It’s a collective effort from these kids, and it’s been all year long.”
McInnis ran for 213 of the team’s 478 rushing yards, and took three of his 23 carries into the end zone. Junior brother Parker McInnis ran for 96 yards and a score, as did junior fullback Grant Niemiec. Senior James Ross added another running touchdown.
“We were in position to make some tackles, and it wasn’t a scheme thing or guys getting blocked. It’s just that their athletes made our guys miss, or we couldn’t tackle them,” Mount Pleasant coach Jason McIntyre said. “I’ve never seen backs that we couldn’t tackle one on one or two on one. A lot of teams will have one great back, and you can focus and rally there. But they had three and four.”
The Oilers’ usually-strong running game finished with just 122 yards, led by senior quarterback Ryan Elliott’s 40. He also had Mount Pleasant’s lone score. It was the team’s first Finals appearance – and only loss this fall as it finished 13-1.
Junior defensive back Cory Williams led the Oilers with nine tackles. Senior lineman Dylan Zerki led the Eaglets with 11, and Ross had 10.