Drive for Detroit: Regionals in Review
November 12, 2012
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Four of last season's MHSAA football champions still have opportunities to repeat when the games return to Ford Field in two weeks.
But Friday and Saturday's Regional Finals laid waste to some of the seemingly safest title predictions from only a few weeks ago.
Few weekends in recent playoff history have done as much damage to the top of The Associated Press' polls. Four top-ranked teams fell in Regional Finals – leaving Rockford, Muskegon, Portland and Muskegon Catholic among those instead celebrating trips to this Saturday's MHSAA Semis. Ithaca in Division 6 is the only No. 1 team from the final polls still alive.
And then there were the 8-player Semifinals – two classics that set up what looks like another this Friday at Greenville High School.
Read on for a few lines on all 34 games played in Michigan over the weekend. And click to see this weekend's schedule of 11-player Semifinals.
Division 1
Rockford 25, Clarkston 14
The Rams (10-2) advanced to their third Division 1 Semifinal in four seasons by handing Clarkston its first and only loss of the fall. Rockford has won at least 10 games in eight of the last nine seasons, and got this milestone victory after jumping out to a 13-0 lead. Clarkston finished its 10th-straight playoff season at 11-1. Click to read more from the Grand Rapids Press.
Also noted:
Detroit Catholic Central 28, Plymouth 7 – The Shamrocks (8-4) advanced to their fourth Semifinal in the last six seasons and have given up only 39 points during the playoffs. Plymouth finished 9-3.
Detroit Cass Tech 21, Saline 14 – The reigning champion Technicians (10-2) advanced to their third straight Semifinals, while ending Saline’s best season at 10-2.
Lake Orion 51, Macomb Dakota 35 – The Dragons (11-1) had three of their last night seasons end with playoff losses to Dakota (10-2), most recently in 2007.
Division 2
Muskegon 49, Midland 21
It’s fair to argue that no team has faced a tougher playoff road than the Big Reds (11-1), whose postseason opponents were a combined 24-6. Midland (11-1) was undefeated and considered a slight favorite to win Division 2. Click to read more from the Muskegon Chronicle.
Also noted:
Caledonia 42, Mattawan 28 – The Fighting Scots (9-3) have bounced back in a big way after two straight 4-5 finishes. Mattawan (10-2) finished with its single-season record for wins.
Birmingham Brother Rice 42, Walled Lake Western 12 – The reigning champion Warriors (10-2) are one win from another trip to Ford Field and have won all three playoff games by at least 21 points. Walled Lake Western finished 9-3.
Wyandotte Roosevelt 10, Oak Park 6 – Roosevelt (11-1) finally got back home, and enjoyed celebrating its first Semifinal berth since 2001. But Oak Park (9-3) also can celebrate its best finish.
Division 3
Grand Rapids Christian 31, Stevensville Lakeshore 7
The Eagles (11-1) moved into their first MHSAA Semifinal by handing Lakeshore (11-1) its first and only loss this season. Grand Rapids Christian gained 410 yards, with quarterback Alex VandeVusse throwing for only 254 and two touchdowns this week (he threw for four and ran for four the week before). Click to read more from the Grand Rapids Press.
Also noted:
DeWitt 29, St. Johns 27 – This was another memorable chapter to an intense Capital Area Activities Conference Red rivalry, with DeWitt (10-2) getting the sweep this fall but only after the Redwings (8-4) hung close until the very end.
Battle Creek Harper Creek 26, Tecumseh 24 – After starting this season 0-2, Harper Creek (10-2) has surged into its second straight Semifinal – although not without a good scare from Tecumseh (9-3).
Orchard Lake St. Mary 42, Detroit East English 24 – Reigning champion St. Mary (10-2) is one win from its fourth straight trip to Ford Field. East English, in its first season, finished 9-3.
Division 4
Saginaw Swan Valley 35, Croswell-Lexington 13
The Vikings (10-2) will be making their third Semifinals appearance in seven seasons. But this has been the most impressive run of the three. The Vikings opened by beating first-time playoffs qualifier Saginaw Valley Lutheran, followed by beating a solid Goodrich team by 30, and then this week handed Croswell-Lexington its first and only loss. The Pioneers (11-1) did finish this fall with their most wins for one season. Click to read more from the Saginaw News.
Also noted:
Comstock Park 62, West Branch Ogemaw Heights 27 – The Panthers (11-1) didn't see a letdown after beating Grand Rapids Catholic Central in the District Final; their 62 points against Ogemaw Heights (8-4) was a season high by more than two touchdowns.
Grand Rapids South Christian 38, Three Rivers 14 – South Christian (9-3) is back in the Semifinals for the first time since 2004 after winning five or fewer games each of the last three seasons. Three Rivers can celebrate an 8-4 finish after going just 1-8 in 2011.
Detroit Country Day 47, Grosse Ile 14 – Country Day (10-2) advanced to its ninth Semifinal by containing a Grosse Ile offense that had scored 70 points the week before. The Red Devils finished 10-2 to move to 20-5 over the last two seasons.
Division 5
Portland 45, Flint Powers Catholic 28
This might have been the upset of the 2012 playoffs so far – not because Portland hasn't had success, but because reigning champion Powers has dominated so thoroughly this fall. No team had gotten within 25 points of the Chargers (11-1) since September, but Portland (11-1) took an early lead and ran. The Raiders last made the Semifinals in 1975 – the first season of MHSAA playoffs – and had never won more than nine games in a season before this fall. Click for more from the Flint Journal.
Also noted:
Menominee 28, Clare 21 – New Menominee coach Joe Noha played for and served as an assistant to recently-retired Ken Hofer, and has taken their program back to the Semifinals for the ninth time. The Maroons moved to 11-1, while Clare finished a seventh-straight playoff season 9-3.
Grand Rapids West Catholic 21, Newaygo 7 – West Catholic (9-3) has returned to the Semifinals for the third straight season despite starting 1-3. Newaygo also can celebrate a comeback story, finishing 9-3 after going 4-23 over the last three seasons.
Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard 16, River Rouge 6 – In its fourth Regional appearance, Gabriel Richard (11-1) set a school record for wins while ending the best season ever for River Rouge (11-1).
Division 6
Constantine 49, Hillsdale 35
The Falcons (10-2) have to love the preparation they get playing in the Kalamazoo Valley Association. They've made the Semifinals four straight seasons after joining the league five years ago, and now are playing for their second-straight Finals berth. Hillsdale was off to its best run since 2006 and finished 11-1. Click for more from the Jackson Citizen Patriot.
Also noted:
Shelby 26, Negaunee 22 – Shelby has watched a number of its league mates make long playoff runs in the past, but the Tigers (10-2) are in their first Semifinal after ending the best run by the Miners (10-2) since 2004.
Ithaca 31, Montrose 0 – Make that 40 straight wins and counting for the Yellowjackets (12-0), who are known for offense but tallied their seventh shutout in stopping the Rams (10-2).
Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central 28, Grass Lake 21 – A great turnaround by the Falcons (10-2) continued as the 2010 and 2009 MHSAA runners-up continued to rebound from last season’s 4-5 finish. Grass Lake finished 10-2 to up its two-year record to 21-3.
Division 7
Flint Beecher 19, Saginaw Nouvel 15
This followed right behind Portland over Powers in games that made the state take special notice this weekend, but this time the Flint team came out on top. The Buccaneers, under former Michigan State and NFL receiver Courtney Hawkins, advanced to their first MHSAA Semifinal by upending reigning champion Nouvel (9-3). Beecher (8-4) has made the playoffs six straight seasons, but had played in a Regional Final only once – in 1980. Click for more from the Saginaw News.
Also noted:
Ishpeming 28, Lake City 12 – The Hematites (11-1) made their fifth Semifinal and second in three seasons, and have allowed only 24 points in three playoff games. Lake City finished its best season at 10-2.
Pewamo-Westphalia 26, Decatur 21 – This group of Pirates (9-3) is much different than the one that made it to last season’s Final at Ford Field, but the results are coming up the same. Decatur finished 9-3, its best since 2008.
Detroit Loyola 32, Britton Deerfield 0 – The last two seasons have been the best two in the short history of Loyola (12-0), which will make its first Semifinal appearance after finishing 11-1 but falling in the Regional last season. Britton Deerfield finished 8-4.
Division 8
Muskegon Catholic Central 28, Mendon 6
Although the Crusaders (9-3) are considered a statewide power, this was their first Regional title since 2009. But they’re certainly the favorites now for their first MHSAA title since 2008. Mendon (11-1) had won 25 straight games including last season’s Final and had scored fewer than 27 points only one other time this fall – in a 15-12 win over reigning Division 7 runner-up P-W. Click for more from the Muskegon Chronicle.
Also noted:
St. Ignace 26, Felch North Dickinson 20 – The Saints (12-0) are in the Semifinals for the sixth time and second straight, but had to outlast another previously-unbeaten team; North Dickinson finished 10-1.
Beal City 49, Johannesburg-Lewiston 16 – Beal City (12-0) is back in the Semifinals for the first time since its last championship season in 2009. Johannesburg-Lewiston’s last two seasons have been ended by the Aggies; this time the Cardinals finished 9-3.
Harbor Beach 17, Waterford Our Lady 10 – The Pirates are 11-1 for the second straight season, but this time are back in the Semifinals for the first time since 2007. Our Lady rebounded from last season’s 4-5 to finish 9-3.
8-Player (Semifinals)
Bellaire 20, Rapid River 16
Bellaire (9-3) finished only fourth in the Bridge Alliance Conference this fall, but took out league and 2011 MHSAA runner-up Rapid River to reach the second 8-player Final in MHSAA history. Bellaire opened this season 0-2 but also beat the Rockets (9-3) on Oct. 19. Click to read more from the Traverse City Record-Eagle.
Deckerville 36, Portland St. Patrick 30 (2 OT)
The Eagles (11-1) withstood a 22-point comeback by St. Patrick that pushed this game to overtime, but got the game-winning stop in the second extra period. Both of these programs played 8-player this fall for the first time, and Deckerville earned its first MHSAA Final berth after also playing in a Semifinal in 2000. Portland St. Patrick, which did win an 11-player championship in 1992, finished this fall 11-1. Click to read more from the Port Huron Times Herald.
PHOTO: Rockford senior running back Sam Reinke (46) stretches for the goalline during the Rams' Division 1 Semifinal victory Saturday at Clarkston. (Click to see more, plus photos from Birmingham Brother Rice/Walled Lake Western at Terry McNamara Photography.)
QBs Shine as West Catholic Earns 3-Peat
November 28, 2015
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
DETROIT – Grand Rapids West Catholic might have won its third straight Division 5 championship Saturday night with either sophomore Gaetano Vallone or junior David Fox playing every snap at quarterback.
But it was impossible to argue the duo’s effectiveness as they worked together to keep the Falcons ahead of a River Rouge comeback attempt led by another quarterback putting up near-record numbers.
Fox, the starter when the season began, and Vallone – who took over when Fox was lost with a shoulder injury in Week 3 – combined for 288 yards rushing and 106 passing as West Catholic held on for a third straight Finals win, 40-34, despite the heroics of Panthers senior signal-caller Antoine Burgess.
“We’re both athletic, we’re both physical and I guess Coach (Dan) Rohn says we’re playmakers, so we’re playmakers,” Vallone said. “It definitely helped because we’re both gamers, and that’s what it takes. With two of us back there … it really can spread things out and get them confused.”
The Finals appearance was West Catholic's fifth straight, but Vallone was among players who had significant impacts for the first time this fall.
Fox ran for 152 yards and three touchdowns from his “scat” quarterback position, while Vallone ran for 115 yards and threw for 84 and a score despite being limited by an ankle injury sustained during last weekend’s Semifinal win over Lansing Catholic.
Fox’s third touchdown run just 16 seconds into the second half gave West Catholic (12-2) a seemingly comfortable 21-6 lead.
But that would’ve counted River Rouge out far too early.
Burgess brought the Panthers back within seven with a 63-yard touchdown pass to senior Aaron Vinson with 3:56 left in the third quarter, then responded to Vallone’s 9-yard scoring pass with a 1-yard touchdown run 1:06 into the fourth.
The teams traded scores four more times, the last a 2-yard run by Burgess with four seconds to play. An onside kick was covered by the Falcons, denying Burgess one last chance at another deep toss to tie the score.
“I just told (my teammates) not to give up yet and play hard. It wasn’t over,” Burgess said. “Like I saw yesterday, King came back and won the (Division 2) game. I told them we could do that too. I continue to fight no matter what.”
A few more key plays figured into the final score, notably a tackle for a safety by West Catholic senior Conner Nemmers with 7:15 to play, followed by a 31-yard field goal by sophomore Liam Putz that made the Falcons’ lead 12 with 4:13 left in regulation. And while it didn’t lead to a score directly, Fox’s 22-yard pass to senior Billy Kral on a fake punt helped the Falcons drain a few more seconds off the clock – and ended up setting up the safety when Fox drilled a 53-yard punt to the River Rouge 3-yard line five plays later.
For the game, Burgess threw for 354 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 70 yards and two scores – missing the MHSAA Finals record for total yardage by only two and approaching the record of 383 passing yards set by Detroit Martin Luther King’s Armani Posey in the Division 2 Final on Friday.
But Burgess and his teammates made it a memorable night for a community that had six straight sub-.500 seasons before coach Corey Parker took over in 2009. The Panthers set a record for wins this fall in making the Finals for the first time and finishing 12-2.
“I think we’ve arrived, to a certain extent, in reference to the way my kids handled things,” said Parker, who has led his teams to a combined 40-7 record over the last four seasons. “To watch them manage this process, it tells me a lot about my guys and what we’ve developed as far as a foundation.
“Most press writers thought they were going to bail us out 50-something to zip. But my guys looked at that opportunity and said hey, let’s see how good they really are.”
Burgess completed 13 of 19 passes, with Vinson grabbing four for 162 yards, sophomore Giovanni Turner catching four for 95 and a score and senior Ashawnti Howard pulling in three for 84 yards and a touchdown. Junior Aaron Hall caught West Catholic’s lone touchdown pass, and junior Sam Neville had the team’s final points on a 3-yard run with 1:27 to play.
Fox, also a safety, led the Falcons with eight tackles, and senior lineman Carl Myers had seven. Sophomore safety Reggie Pearson had 10 for River Rouge, and senior defensive end Jamal Bonner also had seven.
West Catholic defeated three top-10 teams and a fourth that earned an honorable mention in the final statewide media poll to get back to Detroit, before downing River Rouge, another honorable mention. Not bad for a team that started 1-2, lost a starting quarterback and had another on a sore ankle the last two weeks.
“We had a small senior class, and I think a lot of people doubted this group since they came in as one of our smallest classes in history. But for them to be here four years is pretty remarkable,” Rohn said. “All along we knew we had a tough early schedule. … We just said, let’s just stick to our guns. We’ve been 1-3 and 1-4 in recent years and we’ve still been able to make it back down here. So the kids buy into the scheme, continue to work hard and believe in the coaches. Because a lot of people would quit at 1-2. Not this group, not this community.”
The MHSAA Football Finals are sponsored by the Michigan National Guard.
PHOTOS: (Top) West Catholic’s David Fox (4) and Gaetano Vallone (6) celebrate a touchdown during Saturday’s Final. (Middle) River Rouge quarterback Antoine Burgess breaks away from a tackle.