A Game for Every Fan: Week 9
October 21, 2015
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
This week more than any other requires a different perspective when considering what football games could turn out as the most significant when the final scores come in Saturday night.
There are still a few league titles to be contested, and we highlighted most of those below. There are 45 teams hoping to finish the regular season undefeated, and we’ve noted a number of those too – including the only game pitting 8-0 teams, Freeland at Frankenmuth.
But we’re also watching closely 90 teams that can guarantee a playoff spot with a Week 9 win – with 12 games pitting 11-player teams with 5-3 records and Parma Western and Detroit Edison Public School Academy needing a victory to join Detroit Cesar Chavez Academy among those this season earning postseason bids for the first time.
Be sure to tune in all weekend to the MHSAA Score Center for results as they come in, updated standings and playoff point averages, and watch Fox Sports Detroit at 7 p.m. Sunday to see the playoff field and brackets for the first time. (There are 13 games on Thursday this week. All games below are Friday unless noted.)
Bay & Thumb
Linden (7-1) at Fenton (7-1)
Four of these teams' last five meetings have been decided by a touchdown or less – and this one will decide an outright league champion. Fenton’s last loss in Flint Metro League play was on opening night 2012 to Linden, and the Tigers have shared or won outright the last four league titles – with Linden tying for first in 2012 and winning outright the year before Fenton’s streak started, in 2010.
Others that caught my eye: Freeland (8-0) at Frankenmuth (8-0), Midland (7-1) at Midland Dow (7-1), Lapeer (8-0) at Davison (5-3), New Lothrop (8-0) at Montrose (5-3).
Greater Detroit
Detroit Martin Luther King (8-0) vs. Detroit Cass Tech (7-1) at Ford Field
We detailed this rivalry before Week 5, when the two met in what eventually decided the Detroit Public School League East I championship for King. The Crusaders won 31-28 in overtime that day, and have given up a total of eight points over three games since – although two of those games were against the same team because of a rematch in the PSL Semifinals. Cass Tech no doubt has been waiting for this rematch – the Technicians haven’t lost two straight to King since the 2005-2006 regular seasons.
Others that caught my eye: Detroit Central Collegiate (6-2) vs. Detroit Collegiate Prep (8-0) at Ford Field; Warren DeLaSalle (6-2) vs. Orchard Lake St. Mary's (6-1) at Ford Field, Saturday; Detroit Loyola (6-2) vs. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (7-1) at Ford Field, Saturday; Farmington Hills Harrison (7-1) at West Bloomfield (8-0).
Mid-Michigan
Grand Ledge (8-0) at Holt (5-3)
It’s fair to say few saw Holt competing for a league title after dropping its first two games to Hudsonville and Rockford by a combined score of 75-14. But the Rams, under first-year coach Chad Fulk, ran off five straight wins before coming up short last week against Jackson. Grand Ledge has won four of the last five against its biggest rival and has a share of the Capital Area Activities Conference Blue title regardless of what happens this weekend – but Holt can gain a share as well.
Others that caught my eye: St. Ignace (7-1) at Fowler (6-2), Marshall (7-1) at Portland (8-0), Clare (5-3) at Harrison (6-2), Novi (4-4) at Howell (5-3).
Northern Lower Peninsula
Charlevoix (5-3) at Harbor Springs (5-3)
There are a number of good matchups in the northern Lower Peninsula this week, but this is the only one that will guarantee the winner a playoff berth. Charlevoix is second and Harbor Springs tied for third in the Northern Michigan Football League Legends division, and neither can catch champion Frankfort. But the Red Rayders are looking for a second straight playoff appearance coming off back-to-back 1-8 finishes in 2012 and 2013, and Harbor Springs hasn’t had a .500 record or made the playoffs since 2000.
Others that caught my eye: Kingsley (5-3) at Traverse City St. Francis (8-0), Saturday; Onekama (7-1) at Frankfort (7-1), Walled Lake Northern (5-3) at Traverse City West (4-4), Indian River Inland Lakes (5-3) at Johannesburg-Lewiston (7-1).
Southeast & Border
Ottawa Lake Whiteford (7-1) at Clinton (8-0)
Clinton has won 27 straight Tri-County Conference games (and 35 straight total during the regular-season), and once again no league opponent has come within two touchdowns of the Redskins. But Whiteford has come as close as anyone the last few years, falling by only two points to Clinton in 2012 and scoring 30 in a 24-point loss last fall. The Bobcats have tied last season’s win total and guaranteed a fourth straight playoff berth, and have nothing to hold back in this league finale.
Others that caught my eye: Jackson (6-2) at Jackson Lumen Christi (6-2), Homer (7-1) at Manchester (7-1), Lansing Catholic (7-1) at Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central (8-0), Dexter (0-8) at Parma Western (5-3).
Southwest Corridor
St. Joseph (7-1) at Portage Central (8-0)
For the second time in three seasons, the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference West title will come down to this matchup. Portage Central already owns a share, but St. Joseph can snag one as well if it can end a three-game losing streak to the Mustangs. They almost ended it last season, falling to Portage Central 21-14 in the regular-season finale. The Mustangs know how to finish those games though; they’ve won two by seven or fewer points this fall.
Others that caught my eye: Portage Northern (4-4) at Benton Harbor (4-4), Delton Kellogg (5-3) at Schoolcraft (8-0), Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (5-3) at Mendon (5-3), Buchanan (8-0) at Niles Brandywine (5-3).
Upper Peninsula
Crystal Falls Forest Park (5-2) at Lake Linden-Hubbell (8-0)
This has turned into a season of good-byes at least a little for Forest Park since the announcement a few weeks ago that it would move to 8-player in 2015. The Trojans have rallied to split the Mid-Eastern Conference title and make the playoffs for the 19th straight season, and can deal a massive blow to rival Lake Linden-Hubbell by extending a five-game winning streak over the Lakes, who haven’t had a game closer than 12 points this season.
Others that caught my eye: Negaunee (6-2) at Ishpeming Westwood (5-3), Escanaba (4-4) at Kingsford (6-2), L'Anse (5-3) at Munising (6-2), Menominee (8-0) at Marquette (3-4).
West Michigan
Hudsonville (6-2) at Rockford (5-3)
Not only is the Ottawa-Kent Conference Red title on the line – four teams are tied for first, guaranteeing there will be multiple champions – but Rockford needs a victory to continue a 20-season playoff streak, the third-longest in MHSAA history and active leader. These rivals have split their last four meetings – Rockford winning during the regular season and Hudsonville in playoff rematches the last two years.
Others that caught my eye: Grandville (5-3) at East Kentwood (6-2), Lowell (7-1) at Grand Rapids Christian (5-3), McBain (6-2) at Reed City (8-0), Ada Forest Hills Eastern (8-0) at Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern (6-2).
8-Player
Battle Creek St. Philip (8-0) at Lawrence (7-1)
St. Philip is a combined 34-7 over the last four seasons, but Lawrence has been an obstacle since the latter went to 8-player football in 2013. St. Philip won their first meeting, 54-50, but Lawrence has won the last three and ended St. Phil’s last two seasons in Regional Finals. Lawrence has continued to roll despite graduating a strong nucleus from last season’s MHSAA championship-winning team. It hasn’t lost in-state in two years, with this season’s defeat to reigning Wisconsin champion Prairie Farm two weeks ago.
Others that caught my eye: Pickford (5-3) at Onaway (5-3), Morrice (7-1) at Portland St. Patrick (6-2).
PHOTO: Detroit Collegiate Prep, in red, and enjoying its best season since 2007 (as Detroit Northwestern), will face Detroit Central Collegiate in the Public School League Division II championship game at Ford Field. (Photo courtesy of the Detroit Public School League.)
Sophomore QB Leads GRCC Title Surge
By
Paul Costanzo
Special for MHSAA.com
November 29, 2019
DETROIT – Joey Silveri and his Grand Rapids Catholic Central teammates wanted to prove Friday they had the talent to match up with Detroit Country Day.
It turns out, the Cougars had the talent to overwhelm the top-ranked football team in Division 4 as they cruised to a 44-0 victory in the Division 4 Final at Ford Field.
“Every week we get people telling us, ‘You guys are a good team, but we don’t really know how,’” the Catholic Central sophomore quarterback said. “’You guys don’t really have that good of players.’ To come out here against a great team like Country Day and prove everybody wrong is amazing.”
The win gave Catholic Central its fifth title and third in four years. In 2016 the Cougars also defeated Country Day. That one ended 10-7 – but this time, the result wasn’t in doubt by early in the second half.
“I can’t say that I saw 44-0 coming,” said Catholic Central coach Todd Kolster, who now has four titles to his credit. “I felt really good about our team. I felt really good about what we were doing. I felt really good about the character of the guys on our team. So, I felt like we could go out and get this.”
Silveri was the driving force, as he ran or threw for six total touchdowns, raising his season combined total to 54. He was 15-of-22 passing for 236 yards and rushed 18 times for 143 yards. The Cougars didn’t run a play that didn’t feature a Silveri run or throw until three plays into the third quarter. He either ran or threw on 39 of the Cougars’ first 40 plays.
“He’s a special kid – he's a special young man,” Kolster said. “I’m just really happy for him. I’m happy for our seniors. Joey has come in, and he’s adapted so well to our upperclassmen. They have so much respect for him because he’s such a hard worker. He’s a great character guy. He showed tonight why he is such a good player.”
Silveri was involved in three touchdowns in the first quarter, throwing a pair to Jace Williams (15 and 14 yards) and running for a 53-yard score. The 18 points were six more than Country Day had allowed in a game all season, as the Yellowjackets had cruised into the Finals at 13-0 and allowing 5.2 points per game.
“We saw a lot of one-on-one matchups and a lot of pressure coming,” Silveri said. “So, we knew if we got the ball out quick and gave our receivers a chance one-on-one, they would make plays.”
Williams certainly proved that point, as he tied a Finals record with three touchdown catches. He finished the night with four catches for 62 yards, adding a 23-yard touchdown reception to his two in the first quarter.
Each of his first two scores came on fade routes in which he won a fight for the ball with the defensive back.
“I feel like it set a tone for our offense and defense,” Williams said. “And our special teams were doing a good job today, too.”
Silveri also had a 23-yard touchdown pass to Drew Gommesen to give his team a 24-0 halftime lead, and his second touchdown run came from one yard out midway through the third quarter.
Not long after that run, the Cougars’ defense got in on the scoring, as Jake Passinault intercepted an attempted double pass and returned it 18 yards for a touchdown. That put the game in running clock, as the lead extended to 38-0.
The runback capped off an impressive day for the Catholic Central defense, which held the Yellowjackets to 18 yards rushing and 60 yards of total offense on 37 plays (1.6 per play). Country Day entered the game averaging 34.7 points per game and more than six yards per play.
“I just think you always have to be able to move the ball effectively, which we have been throughout the year,” Country Day coach Dan MacLean said. “We just didn’t. We just didn’t tonight. Credit to them, and it’s a disappointing finish for us. We’ll go back to the drawing board.”
Nolan Zeigler led the Catholic Central defense with 10 total tackles, while Brady Redmer had seven, including three for loss. Dan Southerington added an interception that set up the second Catholic Central score.
Country Day’s defense was led by Danny MacLean who had eight tackles, including one for loss. The Yellowjackets did have one bright spot on special teams, as they blocked all five of the Cougars’ extra point attempts.
“I’m proud of my guys as always,” MacLean said. “But it’s obvious we have work to do. We have work to do to get better. I think we will. We have a good group of kids. It was a good year. Disappointing finish, obviously. They had some good matchups tonight and they exploited them, so credit to them. But we’ll come back. We’ll come back. Country Day will come back.”
PHOTOS: (Top) Grand Rapids Catholic Central’s Joey Silveri breaks away against Detroit Country Day on Saturday. (Middle) Jace Williams pulls in one of his three touchdown catches during the Division 4 Final while Country Day’s Luke Ammori attempts to dislodge the ball.