Coach Comes Home to Lead Central's Rise
By
Tom Markowski
Special for Second Half
September 27, 2017
DETROIT – Thirty-three years ago, Lynn Sanders graduated from Detroit Central. And before he left, he made a promise.
Last year, Sanders showed he is a man of his word.
Sanders, 51, is in his second season as the head football coach at Central. Once a proud program under legendary coach Woody Thomas (who died in 2002), the program had wavered a bit. Coaches like Michael Thornhill, who took over for Thomas in 2002, Eric Smith, Robert Hunt and others have had some success. But stability within the program, especially in recent years, had been missing.
Many of the high school-age students in the neighborhood were attending schools elsewhere in the city. Now-closed Detroit Allen Academy, a charter school near Central, was one alternative. Open enrollment throughout the school district also allowed students to attend any school in Detroit, and many were taking advantage of the opportunity.
Since Sanders’ arrival, and because of his standing in the community, many of those in the neighborhood have decided to remain. Sanders and his staff have been able to make the Trailblazers relevant again, and there’s a renewed respect for the program. Central is 4-1 and 2-1 in the Detroit Public School League Black division and faces Detroit Pershing (1-4, 0-3) this week before taking on Detroit Martin Luther King (4-1, 3-0), one of the state’s elite programs, on Oct. 6.
“When I was 18, I told Coach Thomas I would replace him,” Sanders said. “It took a while.”
The rewards have come quickly.
Last fall in Sanders’ debut, and for the second time in school history, the Trailblazers won two playoff games in a season and finished 7-5. And they led Millington 20-0 in a Division 6 Regional Final before falling 22-20.
There had been success in the recent past. Central tied a school record for victories in a season with a 9-3 finish in 2010. In 2012, the Trailblazers began a run of making the playoffs in three of the next five years, each time finishing 6-4 – although the playoff appearances in 2014 and 2015 ended quickly as Central lost first-round games by a combined score of 107-14.
The Trailblazers took a sizable next step led by someone taking his first at the high school level. Sanders had never been a head coach, but he brought a long list of credentials while working with youth football. A 27-year veteran with the Michigan State Police, Sanders spent 10 years as the president of the Southfield Ravens, a Pop Warner program for players aged 8-11. He spent three years as a league commissioner within Pop Warner in southeastern Michigan. For two years he was a regional commissioner for American Youth Football (AYF).
Before getting the Central job, Sanders worked under coach Keith Stephens at Oak Park and then with Stephens at Southfield-Lathrup as his offensive coordinator.
Then there was a knock on the door of opportunity.
“I got a call from David Oclander, who was the (Central) principal then,” Sanders said. “We met and he told me what he was looking for. He knew of me, knew I was a Central grad, and he told me he wanted to turn things around.
“When I got here the team GPA was 1.9. The first day I called a meeting. I had all of the guys who wanted to play be there. When I gave that speech, I could tell they weren’t really happy. I was their third coach in three years, and I think they felt betrayed. They weren’t really interested. A number of them were looking at their phones, not paying attention. I told them here are my rules, my expectations and if you don’t like it you can leave. About half of them did. Fifteen stayed.”
It didn’t take long for Sanders to build upon those numbers. His association with Pop Warner and coaches in the area helped spread the word that expectations would rise.
In the meantime, Allen Academy closed following the 2015-16 school year and many of those students went to Central – including some athletes who had played on a Wildcats team that finished 5-4 in 2015.
Central didn’t have a freshmen or junior varsity team, but Sanders was able to gather 36 for the varsity. He has 32 this season.
“When I took the job I got phone calls from all over the place,” he said. “Coaches, former players, they all wanted to help. They’d do anything for me. I was well-respected, and the kids started to come. Instead of taking buses out of the neighborhood and going elsewhere, they stayed home. And they were good kids. I set some high expectations. Those that didn’t want to follow got shipped out.”
Sanders and Oclander saw eye-to-eye on many issues. The main objective was to instill discipline, and both came from a background where discipline was paramount: Sanders with the state police, Oclander as a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army.
Sanders looked to improve the quality of coaching his players were to receive in two ways. The first came during the offseason. He knew his players didn’t have the finances to go to camps, even if they were close by at places like Wayne State University. Instead, Sanders brought the college coaches to Central. Staffs from Northwood University, Eastern Michigan and Wayne State all came to Central to conduct a camp.
“That had never been done before at Central,” Sanders said.
The second was to convince coaches in the area that Central was the place to be. Eighteen said yes. Do the math: That’s more than one coach for every two players. It’s safe to say that’s a unique situation – and has led to an almost unheard of type of mentoring process.
And the players are reaping the results. Eight players from last year’s team are playing college football. Five players from this year’s team have made verbal commitments to a college or university, including El Julian Jordan. Jordan, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound quarterback who played his first two years of high school football at King, has accepted a scholarship to Western Michigan.
It was a big change for Jordan to go from a program like King, with 1,400 students, to Central where the enrollment is 370.
“It was a tough transition,” he said. “The kids in school were different. This school is so small, but I like it that way. I can focus more on my grades and such.
“I look up to (Sanders). He’s molded me into a leader. I lead by example. My first impression of Coach was a positive one, and that’s good.”
Jordan has had a fine season to this point, completing 56 of 95 attempts for 1,239 yards, 13 touchdowns and with no interceptions. He’s scored three rushing touchdowns.
“He’s a special kid,” Sanders said. “I don’t think anyone has put him in the position of being a leader before. After time, he knew he could trust me. He’s a phenomenal athlete. He’s a quiet kid until you get to know him. As we made our run in the (playoffs), the different (officiating) crews would watch him warm up. He can throw the ball 70 yards. And they couldn’t wait to see him in action.”
Other top players include a bevy of receivers including Jerodd Vines, TaQuan Snead and Brandon Cooper.
Central returned all five offensive linemen from a season ago including Jamauri’a Carter (5-10, 305). Carter, Snead and Jordan all played on the Eastside Raiders in the Police Athletic League (PAL) before high school.
Sanders’ stay at Central could be a brief one. He and wife, Kathy, who were high school sweethearts, have four children including three sons. One, Londale Sanders, is a junior linebacker at University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff. They recently returned on Sunday after watching their son play in last Saturday’s 34-27 overtime victory at Jackson State.
Another son, Lance Sanders, is one of the offensive line coaches at Central.
“I don’t know how long I’ll do it,” Lynn Sanders said. “I wanted to turn things around. I don’t know how long I’ll be here. I told my wife three years, tops, and see what happens. At least Central is back where parents, the people in the neighborhood are coming back. The kids are getting better. The test will be against King.”
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 and contributing to statewide coverage of football and basketball. Contact him at [email protected] with story ideas for Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties.
PHOTOS: (Top) Detroit Central quarterback El Julian Jordan warms up before a game. (Middle top) Lynn Sanders, left, and offensive coordinator Kevin Rogers. (Middle below) Jordan surveys the field looking for a receiver. (Below) Sanders and wife Kathy. (Photos courtesy of Lynn Sanders and Detroit Central football.)
Drive for Detroit: Week 7 in Review
October 10, 2016
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Upsets rang out during Week 7 of the high school football season, as league races and playoff hopes were turned sideways by unexpected finishes that played out all over our state.
See below for notes on this week's batch of results and the twists and turns they provided with only two weeks left in the regular season.
Bay & Thumb
Lake Fenton 22, Corunna 20
Lake Fenton clinched its first league title since 2007 by winning this matchup of former co-leaders in the Genesee Area Conference Red. The Blue Devils (7-0) were outgained in yardage 293-286 but intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble, and got rushing and receiving touchdowns from Trent Hillger including the game-winner with 3:24 to play. Reigning league champ Corunna (6-1) led 20-14 heading into the fourth quarter but gave up a safety with 4:51 left in regulation; Lake Fenton went ahead on the ensuing possession. Click for more from the Flint Journal.
Also noted:
Davison 28, Lapeer 7 – It took an extra day to get done because of Friday’s storms, but Davison (7-0) held on to clinch a share of the Saginaw Valley League Red title while knocking the Lightning (5-2) into a second-place tie, one win back with a league game to play.
Brown City 24, Harbor Beach 16 – The Green Devils (3-4) are holding out hope for an at-large playoff bid, but did move into second place with Harbor Beach (4-3) in the Greater Thumb Conference East after knocking the Pirates out of first; Harbor Beach plays leader Ubly this week with a chance to create a three-way tie for the title.
Unionville-Sebewaing 28, Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker 21 – The Patriots (6-1) have rebounded off an opening night loss to Ubly to win six straight and claim a share of the GTC West title, with former co-leader Laker (6-1) now in second and hoping Vassar can beat USA this week.
Freeland 29, Saginaw Swan Valley 14 – The Falcons clinched a share of the Tri-Valley Conference Central title and with only winless Bullock Creek left on the league schedule; Swan Valley (4-3) sat a win back of Freeland (7-0) heading into the night but fell into third place with the loss.
Greater Detroit
Birmingham Groves 18, Rochester Adams 8
The Oakland Activities Association White has been one of the state’s most competitive conference this fall, which makes Groves’ success that much more impressive. The Falcons (7-0) clinched a share of the league title with this victory and can clinch outright this week against sixth-place Farmington; they were champions of the OAA Blue in 2015. Adams (5-2) fell into third place after having a chance to clinch a share instead; Oak Park still can take a share with a win this week against Seaholm combined with a Farmington upset Friday. Click for more from the Oakland Press.
Also noted:
Redford Union 22, Redford Thurston 15 – The Panthers clinched their best finish since at least 2007 with their first win over rival Thurston since 2008; Union is 5-2 and can clinch its first playoff berth since 2006 this week against Dearborn Heights Annapolis (1-6).
Madison Heights Madison 17, Warren Fitzgerald 15 – The Eagles (4-3) bounced back from two straight nonleague losses to hand Fitzgerald (6-1) its first defeat and create a three-way tie for first place in the Macomb Area Conference Silver between these two and South Lake and with one more league game to play.
Romeo 31, Warren Mott 8 – The reigning MHSAA Division 1 champion Bulldogs (5-2) may have two losses, but they are by a combined three points; handing Warren Mott (6-1) its first loss sets Romeo up with a chance to claim a share of the MAC Red title with a win over Dakota and and a Mott win this week over leader Utica Eisenhower.
Detroit Catholic Central 28, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 7 – The Shamrocks (7-0) broke a two-game losing streak to now second-place St. Mary’s (4-3) to hold on to first in the Detroit Catholic League Central with Warren DeLaSalle up next in the final game before Prep Bowl weekend.
Mid-Michigan
Breckenridge 12, Merrill 0
Sure, Breckenridge (0-9 in 2015) impressed everyone with a 5-0 start this fall. But with the expected favorites in the Mid-State Activities Conference lined up for Weeks 6, 7 and 8, there was no way the Huskies could claim a share of their first league title since 1947, right? Breckenridge (7-0) has answered with two straight shutouts of Carson City-Crystal and now Merrill (5-2) to win the MSAC title outright, regardless of what happens this week against Vestaburg (5-2). Click for more from the Midland Daily News.
Also noted:
Clare 35, Roscommon 24 – The excitement in the Jack Pine Conference had been the surge of Roscommon (6-1), but old stand-by Clare (6-1) set itself up to reclaim the league title after missing last year by winning this matchup of what were the co-leaders heading into the night.
DeWitt 27, St. Johns 7 – The Panthers (6-1) added a 43rd-straight league win and claimed the Capital Area Activities Conference Red title outright against the Redwings (3-4), who fell into third with the loss.
East Lansing 21, Lansing Sexton 6 – By winning this matchup of what were the second-place teams in the CAAC Blue, the Trojans (5-2) gave themselves a chance to earn a share of the title with leader Grand Ledge up next; Sexton (4-3) will turn its focus to securing a playoff berth against two opponents who are a combined 2-12.
Fowler 16, Dansville 14 – The Eagles (5-2) can’t claim a share of the Central Michigan Athletic Conference title even with a win against rival Pewamo-Westphalia this week, but look a lot better for making the playoffs with undefeated P-W and two-loss Merrill left on the schedule; Dansville (4-3) still has a nice shot too needing wins against two opponents who are a combined 5-9.
Northern Lower Peninsula
Charlevoix 16, Onekama 9
The Northern Michigan Football Conference Leaders division has four teams (of five total) with records of at least 5-2; Charlevoix not only earned a playoff berth with this win after missing at 5-4 last fall, but also set itself up to play first-place Frankfort this week to earn a share of the league championship. The Red Rayders (6-1) scored all of their points during the first half and held Onekama (5-2) scoreless over the final 18 minutes. The Portagers might be out of the league race, but can still earn a third-straight playoff berth over the next two weeks and potentially play spoiler with Frankfort coming up in Week 9. Click for more from the Petoskey News-Review.
Also noted:
Hillman 56, Oscoda 42 – After opening 0-3, the Tigers have won four straight and have a shot to extend a 10-season playoff streak; Oscoda (3-4) has fallen in three straight and must win out and hope for an at-large bid.
Whittemore Prescott 22, Rogers City 12 – The Cardinals (4-3) kept themselves alive to add to a nine-season playoff streak, while putting Rogers City (3-4) also in a position of needing to win out and hope to get in at-large.
Traverse City West 16, Cadillac 14 – After losses to rival Central and Benton Harbor by five points or fewer, West (5-2) showed it could win close too and against another strong opponent; Cadillac also is 5-2 and looking for one more win to make the postseason.
Gaylord St. Mary 42, Johannesburg-Lewiston 14 – The Snowbirds (6-1) are one of the best turnaround stories of this season, going from 3-6 a year ago to earning their first playoff berth since 2009; the Cardinals (3-4) must win out for a chance to keep a five-year playoffs streak going.
Southwest Corridor
Coldwater 19, Battle Creek Harper Creek 7
This looked at first glance like the upset of the weekend, but on closer inspection maybe shouldn’t be because Coldwater (5-2) has remained pretty impressive despite a couple of losses. Those defeats were by a point in overtime to Jackson Lumen Christi and 10 points in Week 2 to Marshall, both teams among the top four in the Interstate 8 Athletic Conference. The reigning champ Cardinals need a few things to happen to claim a share of the league title this time – it would take a win over Hastings this week plus losses by Harper Creek (6-1) and Lumen Christi – but if nothing else, won’t be a desirable opponent come playoff time. Click for more from the Battle Creek Enquirer.
Also noted:
St. Joseph Lake Michigan Catholic 24, Bridgman 19 – After going 2-7 a year ago, the Lakers (6-1) have bounced back and earned a playoff berth and a share of the Berrien-Cass-St. Joseph Conference Blue title by avenging last season’s 28-0 loss to Bridgman (4-3).
Schoolcraft 42, Gobles 0 – The Eagles (7-0) repeated as Southwestern Athletic Conference Central champions by beating second-place Lawton and this weekend third-place Gobles (5-2) by a combined score of 98-7.
Berrien Springs 47, Parchment 13 – The Shamrocks (4-2) set up a championship game this week in the BCS Red by becoming the first team since opening night to hold Parchment (4-3) to fewer than 31 points.
Watervliet 64, Delton Kellogg 34 – No opponent has been able to completely shut down Watervliet (5-2), which has scored at least 30 in all seven games and earned a shared SAC Lakeshore title (with Constantine) by knocking Delton Kellogg (4-3) into third place in the final game of the league schedule.
Southeast & Border
Hudson 35, Ida 34
Ida’s 12-game winning streak in the Lenawee County Athletic Association is over thanks to Hudson, which bounced back from a Week 6 loss to Hillsdale to edge the Bluestreaks and move into a tie with them atop the league standings. But this conference title hardly is determined. Ida (6-1) now must play Hillsdale, and Hudson (6-1) has a Week 9 game left with Blissfield – which beat Hillsdale this week. Click for more from the Adrian Daily Telegram.
Also noted:
Blissfield 27, Hillsdale 7 – This first win over Hillsdale (4-3) by the Royals (3-4) in eight tries over the last two decades also helped throw the LCAA standings into a spin, with both of these teams now among five either in first place or a win out with two league games to play.
Concord 41, Quincy 24 – The Yellow Jackets’ title hopes remain alive as they stayed among three first-place teams in the Big 8 Conference (and moved to 6-1 overall) while sending Quincy (5-2) a win back.
Ottawa Lake Whiteford 30, Morenci 26 – The Bobcats (7-0) set up an unofficial Tri-County Conference championship game this week with Sand Creek by surviving Morenci (4-3), which has lost its three games by a combined eight points.
Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central 30, Milan 20 – Nemesis SMCC (4-3) struck again with Milan needing a win to clinch a share of the Huron League title; the Big Reds (6-1) are back in a first-place tie with Grosse Ile with the Falcons and New Boston Huron only a win back with one more league game to play.
Upper Peninsula
Negaunee 28, Ishpeming 16
Two losses to Ishpeming in games that decided Mid-Peninsula Athletic Conference titles over the last four seasons no doubt made this victory sweeter for Negaunee (7-0), even if the Hematites aren’t in the hunt this time around. The Miners did clinch a share of the conference championship with the win and put the Hematites (3-3) in a position of needing to win out to guarantee a 15th straight playoff appearance. Click for more from the Marquette Mining Journal.
Also noted:
Escanaba 19, Gladstone 12 – The Eskymos (6-1) clinched a playoff berth and guaranteed their best finish since 2011, but another win also will give Gladstone (3-4) its best record since 2010.
Gwinn 60, Hancock 32 – The Modeltowners (5-2) now have their best season since 2000 after going 3-6 a year ago, but a strong finish by Hancock (4-3) can net the Bulldogs their first playoff berth since 2006.
Lake Linden-Hubbell 28, Houghton 0 – The Lakes (7-0) took advantage of their break in the Mid-Eastern Conference schedule to put up their first shutout of the fall against a Houghton team that at 3-4 now must win out to have hopes of earning an at-large playoff bid.
Kingsford 35, Iron Mountain 0 – The Flivvers (5-2) put up their third shutout this season and fifth win in a row over Iron Mountain (5-2), which hadn’t been held scoreless since 2014.
West Michigan
Zeeland East 12, Hudsonville Unity Christian 7
Unity Christian (6-1) had looked close to unstoppable coming into Friday, having won key games close and others by big margins. But Zeeland East (6-1) – which had fallen this season only to Hamilton in Week 3 – won a defensive battle that saw both teams score their fewest points this fall. The Chix – who moved into the Ottawa-Kent Conference Green this season from the O-K Black – next get league leader Byron Center with a chance to further mash up a race that has seen a handful of teams emerge as the favorite at some point or another over the last few weeks. Click for more from the Holland Sentinel.
Also noted:
Zeeland West 42, Hamilton 24 – The Dux (5-2) aren’t too familiar with life in fifth place, but have started to climb as well in the O-K Green, handing former leader Hamilton (5-2) its second straight loss.
Ravenna 29, Whitehall 28 – Ravenna (5-2) handed Whitehall (4-3) a one-point loss for the second week in a row and by doing so got a win closer to locking up a playoff berth after going 3-6 in 2015.
Lowell 41, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central 37 – Many eyes were tuned in to updates from this game Friday as Forest Hills Central (5-2) led by 17 with 11:30 to play – but Lowell went ahead less than 10 minutes later to remain atop the O-K White standings and undefeated at 7-0.
Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern 36, Cedar Springs 29 – The Huskies (4-3) broke a three-game losing streak to Cedar Springs (3-4) to set up a title chance this week against the Red Arrows.
8-Player
Engadine 52, Cedarville 42
Engadine trailed into the second half, but one of the best wins in Eagles history only got better because of the dramatic finish. They moved to 7-0 for the first time since 1998 and earned a share of the Bridge-Alliance Football League title against a Cedarville program that has lost only five league games total in five seasons of 8-player football. The Trojans (6-1) hadn’t let an opponent get closer than 20 points this fall. Click for more from 9&10 News.
Also noted:
Wyoming Tri-unity Christian 53, Lawrence 14 – Make the Defenders (7-0) another contender for the MHSAA title next month, as this 39-point win over previously-undefeated Lawrence (6-1) was their closest game yet.
Portland St. Patrick 16, Webberville 12 – The Shamrocks (7-0) earned the first win of the Central Michigan 8-Man Conference schedule with Webberville (5-2) producing the toughest competition St. Patrick has seen so far.
Stephenson 52, Rapid River 8 – The Eagles (6-1) could be lurking in the Western Eight Conference, with this win over Rapid River (5-2) their most impressive and leader Powers North Central coming up in Week 9.
PHOTO: A Northville receiver hauls in a pass during his team's 30-24 win over Livonia Stevenson on Friday. (Click to see more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)