Prepare to Compare: Clarkston Wins D1
November 29, 2014
By Bill Khan
Special for Second Half
DETROIT — Nolan Eriksen dislikes two things: Losing and comparisons to his older brother, Ian.
He's never had to experience a loss since being promoted to Clarkston's varsity football team before last year's MHSAA playoffs, so that's never been an issue.
But comparisons between the Eriksen brothers are plentiful — and valid.
Nolan, a junior running back, ran 28 times for 172 yards and three touchdowns as the Wolves repeated as MHSAA Division 1 champions with a 33-25 victory over first-time finalist Saline on Saturday at Ford Field.
A year ago, Ian Eriksen ran 32 times for 237 yards and three touchdowns against Detroit Catholic Central, leading Clarkston to its first title.
So, you'd think that Nolan would've leaned upon his brother's advice now that he was the starting running back in the championship game.
Nope.
"I was just trying to do what I do," Nolan said. "People always try to compare us and stuff, but I just try to play my game and do the best I can for my team. No advice. ... Every now and then we'll talk about it a little bit, but mainly we try to keep it pretty separate. We just do our own thing."
Senior quarterback D.J. Zezula has no problem comparing the brothers. He's got a unique perspective, having handed the ball to each during his three-year career as Clarkston's starter.
"Noah doesn't want to be compared, but they're twins in my eyes," said Zezula, who ran 17 times for 120 yards and a 70-yard touchdown. "They're both hard-hitting football players. Mr. (Mark) Eriksen coached me when I was younger; he's the same way. They're awesome kids. They want what's best for the team. I love both of them. I love Mr. Eriksen. They're great guys. He coached me my first two years of football that I ever played."
While Ian Eriksen was the workhorse for Clarkston's first championship team, Nolan watched from the sidelines, as is typical for junior varsity players who are promoted after the regular season. He said he "got a couple plays" during the 2013 playoff run, but never saw action at Ford Field.
Just being part of the atmosphere last year was beneficial once he stepped onto the field Saturday, Eriksen said.
"We've been here before," he said. "We weren't too shocked looking around. We knew what the deal was. We knew what it felt like to be here. We knew what was riding on it. It was just the experience. It was incredible being able to look up there and see your whole town there and getting it done."
Eriksen had a solid first half, running 12 times for 61 yards and a touchdown, but he was a key reason why Clarkston took over in the second half after trailing 10-7 at halftime. Eriksen ran 16 times for 111 yards and two scores in the second half, as Clarkston scored touchdowns on four of its first five possessions after halftime.
"These guys have taught me something," Clarkston coach Kurt Richardson said. "The old Kurt Richardson would've blown up at half with two turnovers and stuff. We just said, 'Hey, we're fine. We're down three. We didn't play very well. We're getting the ball, so everything's fine.' I learned it from these guys."
Poise comes more naturally when a team has won 27 straight games — now the longest active streak in Michigan following Finals losses this weekend by Ithaca (69) and Ishpeming (33).
The Wolves needed only four plays after the second-half kickoff to take the lead for good on a 52-yard pass from Zezula to Merrick Canada with 10:09 left in the third quarter. A bobbled snap prevented an extra-point kick, leaving Clarkston up by a 13-10 score.
Clarkston's only three-and-out of the second half came on the next series, but the Wolves followed with three straight touchdown drives. A 2-yard run by Eriksen made it 20-10 with 47 seconds left in the third quarter before Zezula kept it and ran 70 yards for a touchdown with 8:17 remaining in the game, expanding the lead to 27-10.
Just before that touchdown, Saline missed a chance to make it a one-possession game. The Hornets had first-and-goal at the 8-yard line, but settled for a 24-yard field goal attempt that was wide left.
Saline also missed a field goal on the first series of the game, as linebacker Cole Chewins blocked the kick. Chewins, who has committed to Miami (Ohio) as a tight end, also batted down three passes.
"With the deflections and stuff, that was just playing the game," Chewins said. "I was able to make plays and just play football."
Saline coach Joe Palka tried to run plays away from Chewins, who had his blocked kick and two of his knockdowns early in the game.
"We had to adjust and go to the other side, just because he can cover so much ground and he's got such good range," Palka said.
Saline cut the deficit to 27-17 when quarterback Josh Jackson scored on a 1-yard run with 5:15 remaining.
Clarkston (14-0) recovered the onside kick, then marched 50 yards in eight plays, the final 22 yards coming on a touchdown run by Eriksen with 1:57 on the clock. The extra point failed, keeping it a two-possession game at 33-17.
That loomed as a potential issue when it took Saline only four plays to reach the end zone on a 2-yard run by Kevin Gross with 1:09 to go. Cameron Cole caught a 2-point pass from Jackson to make it an eight-point game.
Clarkston's Shane Holler recovered the onside kick, allowing the Wolves to clinch the title with two kneel-downs.
Jackson, a junior, was 20-for-31 for 237 yards while running 17 times for 82 yards and a touchdown to lead Saline, which won a school-record 12 games (to finish 12-2) and advanced beyond the Regional Final for the first time.
"It's an amazing thing for Saline football," Jackson said. "It's the best team ever in Saline. That we got to play on this stage was an amazing opportunity. Going into next year, that will just give us fire to come back here and try to win it."
Even though his career ended Saturday after starting at quarterback for teams that went 37-2 over three seasons, Zezula is mindful of what these back-to-back championships will mean for the future of the Clarkston program. The Wolves lost in Semifinals three times in 16 playoff appearances under Richardson before breaking through last year.
"Last year was kind of like breaking the mold, breaking this dark cloud over Clarkston that we could never win, could never get there," Zezula said. "This year was about building a legacy, a tradition here at Clarkston. ...
"It hits home when the little kids, the seventh-graders at our youth camps, wear my jersey and wear No. 5. That's where it really hits home, just to pave the way for the younger kids and start a legacy, start a tradition here that winning is what's got to happen at Clarkston."
PHOTOS: (Top) Clarkston's Nolan Eriksen takes a handoff as his lineman work to open a gap near the goalline Saturday. (Middle) Quarterback D.J. Zezula looks for a receiver while those on the Saline sideline look on. (Click for action photos and team photos from Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS:
GROSS GETS SALINE STARTED - Saline started the scoring in the second quarter against Clarkston with Kevin Gross running it in from 27 yards out.
OH CANADA! CLARKSTON GOES ON TOP - Clarkston took the lead to stay in the Division 1 championship game when D.J. Zezula hit a wide open Merrick Canada on a 52-yard pass.
Watch the entire game and order DVDs by Clicking Here.
Drive for Detroit: Week 9 in Review
October 23, 2012
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Just like that, another MHSAA football regular season is done. But not without hoopla that lasted into the final moments of Week 9.
The best seasons, at least for fans, are those filled with drama from the opening kickoff of Week 1 until the moment playoff brackets are announced on the Sunday Selection Show. This fall, eight teams that had never made the playoffs earned first-time trips to the postseason. A number of league title races came right down to the end.
And many of those closing moments are covered below in this week's Drive for Detroit.
West Michigan
Zeeland East 40, Muskegon 39
The Big Reds (8-1) appeared relatively invincible this fall and may yet prove to be the rest of the season. But with the O-K Black championship on the line, Zeeland East was one point better and stopped Muskegon's two-point conversion attempt during the closing minutes. Click to read more from the Holland Sentinel.
Also noted:
Grand Rapids Christian 21, Lowell 7 – Last season, Christian (8-1) beat Lowell (7-2) in the O-K White opener and made it stand up the rest of the way. This time, the Eagles had to wait until the end to claim a second-straight league title.
Grand Rapids West Catholic 17, Grand Rapids Northview 14 – Although Northview (7-2) did earn its first playoff berth this fall, West Catholic (6-3) held on to the O-K Bronze title – its sixth-straight league championship.
Hudsonville Unity Christian 28, Hamilton 27 – Hamilton needed a win to get into the playoffs automatically, and Unity Christian needed a win to have a remote shot; after a weekend of close calls, both got in at 5-4.
Muskegon Catholic Central 21, Traverse City St. Francis 13 – Few small schools have had as much football success as these two; the Crusaders (6-3) won this time to earn a playoff berth, and in the process ended any hopes of extending the MHSAA-best 22-season postseason streak held by the Gladiators (4-5).
Greater Detroit
Detroit Martin Luther King 51, Detroit East English 48
A loss to Detroit Crockett (now part of East English) in last season's Detroit Public School League championship game started a string of four straight in the regular season including three to start this fall (one was a forfeit). But King (6-3) closed the regular season strong by avenging a Week 2 loss to East English (7-2), in the process gaining a playoff berth as well. Click to read more from the Detroit Free Press.
Also noted:
Orchard Lake St. Mary 27, Detroit Catholic Central 10 – A week after falling to the Shamrocks (5-4), which resulted in a three-way shared Detroit Catholic League Central title, the Eaglets (7-2) avenged the defeat by winning this Prep Bowl game.
Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard 17, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep 12 – Notre Dame (8-1) earned a 12-point win over Gabriel Richard in the first Catholic League AA game this season, but ended with a split after this Prep Bowl stunner.
Farmington Hills Harrison 48, West Bloomfield 20 – It’s true, the Hawks have missed the playoffs twice in the last decade. But it does feel like they get in every year, and Harrison (6-3) got in again by downing the Lakers (2-7).
Carleton Airport 11, Tecumseh 10 – After losing three of its last five, Airport (6-3) got into the playoffs by edging the Indians (7-2)
Lower Up North
Grayling 21, Boyne City 0
Only one of these teams could finish unbeaten. And thanks mostly to a stout defense, it was Grayling. The Vikings finished 9-0 for the first time and also won the Lake Michigan Conference championship for the first time. Boyne City dropped to 8-1 and finished second in the league. Click to read more from the Traverse City Record-Eagle.
Also noted:
Bellaire 28, Rapid River 16 – The Eagles (6-3) opened this season with two losses and suffered another in Week 8, but regained some momentum by downing the reigning MHSAA 8-player runner-up Rockets (7-2).
Mancelona 40, Indian River Indian Lakes 8 – The Ironmen iced their second-straight 9-0 regular season finish, while dropping Inland Lakes to 4-5.
Traverse City Central 42, Cadillac 21 – After opening this fall with a loss, the Trojans (8-1) have won eight straight and put the finishing touch on the Big North Conference title by beating the Vikings (6-3).
West Branch Ogemaw Heights 42, Alpena 13 – The Falcons (6-3) finished the bounce-back from its 4-5 finish in 2011 by making the playoffs thanks to this win over Alpena (1-8).
Southwest and Border
Lawton 33, Watervliet 26
The Southwestern Athletic Conference South has been one of the state's most competitive leagues all season, with four of six teams contending for the title and a fifth just missing joining them in the playoffs. Watervliet (8-0) looked good to finish off the championship run for the second straight season. But Lawton (8-1) forced a share by avenging its 33-0 loss to the Panthers that cost it a share of the title last season. Click to read more from the St. Joseph Herald-Palladium.
Also noted:
Paw Paw 46, Edwardsburg 36 – The Redskins finished 9-0 for the first time since 2005, but gave up a season-high number of points to the Eddies (6-3).
Mattawan 20, Portage Northern 14 – This only meant second place in the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference West, but Mattawan (8-1) and Portage Northern (7-2) both will continue this week.
Mendon 15, Pewamo-Westphalia 12 (OT) – The Hornets won their 23rd straight game, but P-W (6-3) gave them the closest of the streak (not counting a 1-0 forfeit win earlier this fall).
Bridgman 34, Wyoming Tri-unity Christian 18 – Not only did the Bees (6-3) complete their best regular season since 1997, but they made the playoffs for the first time since 1977.
Thumb and Bay
Montrose 22, Lake Fenton 21
The Genesee Area Red Conference title came down to the final play of double overtime in the final game of the regular season. Montrose (8-1) stopped Lake Fenton's attempt and claimed the championship for the second straight season, while the Blue Devils (7-2) finished runners-up for the second straight. Click to read more from the Flint Journal.
Also noted:
Midland 21, Midland Dow 6 – The Chemics (9-0) made it 10 wins in 11 games against the rival Chargers (5-4), and also won the Saginaw Valley Association North title outright.
Linden 43, Swartz Creek 0 – The Eagles (8-1) claimed half of the Flint Metro League championship while denying the Dragons (7-2) of the same.
Fenton 30, Lapeer West 21 – Same for Fenton (8-1), which won the other half of the Metro League title while knocking Lapeer West (6-3) out of the running.
Deckerville 24, Peck 18 (3 OT) – The Eagles (8-1) needed a third overtime to win the North Central Thumb 8-Man League title against runner-up Peck (7-2).
Upper Peninsula
Manistique 12, Harbor Springs 6 (2 OT)
The Emeralds, winners of one game each the last two seasons, won six of their last seven this fall to finish 6-3 and earn a first playoff berth since 2008; Harbor Springs finished 3-6. Click to read more from the Marquette Mining Journal.
Also noted:
Iron Mountain 34, Norway 13 – The Mountaineers needed this one to squeak into the playoffs at 5-4; Norway finished 3-6.
St. Ignace 14, Cheboygan 10 – The Saints capped their second straight 9-0 regular season against a Cheboygan team that also made the playoffs at 6-3.
Stephenson 35, Powers North Central 6 – The Eagles (7-2) were already in the playoffs, and Powers North Central (5-4) still got in despite the loss.
Calumet 36, Gladstone 12 – The Copper Kings (6-3) got the necessary win to keep an eight-season playoff streak alive, while dropping Gladstone to 2-7.
Crystal Falls Forest Park 33, Lake Linden-Hubbell 14 – Forest Park (7-2) won its third straight over the rival Lakes (4-5), which may have lost out on an opportunity to reach the playoffs at 5-4.
Mid-Michigan
Howell 24, Jackson Lumen Christi 21
The Highlanders (6-3) drilled a late field goal to earn a playoff berth and keep the Titans (8-1) from a perfect regular season. Lumen Christi still made the playoffs for the 15th straight season. Howell didn't make it in 2011, but this will be its sixth appearance in seven years. Click for more from the Livingston Daily Press & Argus.
Also noted:
DeWitt 21, Fruitport 20 – The Panthers (7-2) bounced back from a Week 8 loss to Portland by handing Lakes 8 Conference champion Fruitport (8-1) its only loss of the regular season.
Lansing Waverly 41, Fowlerville 14 – The Warriors (6-3) earned their first playoff berth since 2002, but more impressively finished their finest regular season since 1982; Fowlerville ended 1-8.
Grass Lake 28, Leslie 14 – The Warriors (8-1) made it three straight over two seasons against the Blackhawks (8-1) while handing them their only regular-season loss.
Portland St. Patrick 34, Waldron 26 – The Shamrocks (9-0) won the Southern Michigan 8-Man Football League title by beating the second-place Spartans (6-3).
Trophy Games
Every week, the MHSAA highlights trophy games played around the state. Here are three from Week 9:
Little Brown Jug – This trophy, contested by Sault Ste. Marie and Newberry, was established in 1923 and is the oldest jug game we know of in Michigan. It might possibly be the oldest trophy game in high school football in our state. Final: Sault Ste. Marie 38, Newberry 6.
Copper Bowl – Hancock and Houghton have waged this game since 1953. Houghton ended a two-game losing streak. Final: Houghton 29, Hancock 14.
The Curb – This was the first-year of this trophy game between Royal Oak and Berkley, with the prize a 30-pound piece of Woodward Avenue curb. Final: Berkley 42, Royal Oak 29.
PHOTO: Livonia Churchill's Romello Brown (13) sprints down the sideline away from the grasp of a Livonia Stevenson defender as Churchill won Friday 49-10. (Click to see more at Terry McNamara Photography.)