Big Plays Come Your Way on MHSAA.TV
October 1, 2013
Check out a game-changing interception return from one of Michigan's biggest football rivalry matchups in this week's MHSAA.TV highlights package, plus broadcasts of 18 volleyball teams and two ranked boys soccer powers facing off in a league title-deciding tilt.
Below is the list of events brought to us last week by the School Broadcast Program. And below that list are the week's highlights, including that interception return by Portage Central's Jacob Allan that might've been the key play in his team's win over Portage Northern.
- Oscoda vs. Lincoln Alcona boys soccer
- East Lansing vs. Okemos boys soccer
- Whittemore-Prescott vs. Oscoda boys soccer
- Ellsworth vs. Wolverine volleyball
- West Branch Ogemaw Heights vs. Petoskey volleyball
- Charlevoix vs. Boyne City volleyball
- East Lansing vs. Lansing Everett volleyball
- Calumet vs. Lake Linden-Hubbell volleyball
- AuGres-Sims vs. Mio volleyball
- Johannesburg-Lewiston vs. Indian River Inland Lakes volleyball
- Hillman vs. Oscoda volleyball
- Lakeview vs. Remus Chippewa Hills volleyball
- Portage Central vs. Portage Northern football
- Whittemore-Prescott vs. Lincoln Alcona football
- Johannesburg-Lewiston vs. Central Lake football
- Petoskey vs. Cheboygan football
- Mio vs. Hillman football
- Rudyard vs. Indian River Indian Lakes football
- Stephenson vs. Newberry football
- Mancelona vs. Onaway football
- Hale vs. Rogers City football
- East Lansing vs. Holt football
- Belding vs. Comstock Park football
- Hartford vs. Watervliet football
- Posen vs. Bellaire football
MHSAA Perspective: This week, our John Johnson explains the history behind some of Michigan's many high school football trophy game prizes - Trophy Games
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.