This Week on MHSAA.TV
October 1, 2014
Six schools taking part in the MHSAA’s School Broadcast Program are among nine student broadcast programs across the state receiving grants from the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association Grant Fund and Scholarship Program.
The grants will be used by the schools to purchase equipment for their ongoing video production work. SBP schools receiving the grants are: Escanaba High School, Haslett High School, Hillman High School, Mason High School, Montrose High School and Whittemore-Prescott High School.
“The Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association has a rich tradition of supporting young men and women pursuing sports and news broadcasting careers,” said George Eichorn, Executive Director of the DSBA. “We are very proud to recognize students and programs from Detroit to Escanaba.”
Added Vicki Foley, DSBA President: “We are extremely happy to give back to our communities as part of our mission to support education in this unique and powerful way. We are also very grateful for the continued support of our members, sponsors, and donors who recognize the importance of providing guidance and funding to our future sportscasters, writers, and reporters through their dedication and generous contributions.”
The School Broadcast Program gives members an opportunity to showcase excellence in their schools by creating video programming of athletic and non-athletic events; with students gaining skills in announcing, camera operation, directing/producing and graphics. The program also gives schools the opportunity to raise money through advertising and viewing subscriptions.
A year-high 73 events were streamed by schools last week, with activities ranging from daily announcements to school board meetings, live sporting events and National Honor Society inductions. As many as 60 MHSAA member schools annually participate in the program, which is in its sixth year.
Here’s the schedule of School Broadcast Program members planning to cover varsity competition this week for broadcast at MHSAA.tv (As of Sept. 30). The following events will be shown live on a subscription basis:
Menominee at Escanaba – Girls Volleyball – Tuesday, 7 p.m.
Dowagiac at Plainwell – Boys Soccer – Thursday, 7 p.m.
Atlanta at Hillman – Football – Friday, 7 p.m.
Oscoda at Lincoln Alcona – Football – Friday, 7 p.m.
Allegan at Plainwell – Football – Friday, 7 p.m.
Oscoda at Lincoln Alcona – Boys Soccer – Monday, 5 p.m.
Events listed below are currently available on-demand from last week:
Football
- Oscoda vs. Tawas
- Comstock Park vs. Coopersville
- Onaway vs. Gaylord St. Mary
- Montrose vs. Goodrich
- AuGres-Sims vs. Atlanta
- Whittemore-Prescott vs. Lincoln Alcona
- Negaunee vs. Gwinn
- Stanton Central Montcalm vs. Newaygo
- Cedar Springs vs. Grand Rapids Northview
- Calumet vs. Hancock
- Hemlock vs. Alma
Volleyball
- Haslett vs. DeWitt
- Newberry vs. Pickford
- Comstock Park vs. Grand Rapids West Catholic
- Onaway vs. Fife Lake Forest Area
- Cedar Springs vs. Wyoming
- Hillman vs. Oscoda
- Rogers City vs. Fairview
- East Lansing vs. Lansing Sexton
- Grayling vs. Charlevoix
- Escanaba vs. Marquette
- Posen vs. Hale
Soccer
- Haslett vs. Mason
- Chesaning vs. Essexville Garber
- Grayling vs. Elk Rapids
- East Lansing vs. St. Johns
- Lincoln Alcona vs. Oscoda
Cross Country
- Tawas, Hale, Standish-Sterling at Oscoda
MHSAA Perspective: In this week's edition, our John Johnson highlights former Michigan high school athletes with multiple records in the NFHS High School Record Book - Record Holders
MHSAA.tv Highlights: This week's package includes clips from the Newaygo/Stanton Central Montcalm and Alma/Hemlock football games and Grayling/Charlevoix volleyball match.
Division 2 Final: 'Anything is Possible'
November 29, 2011
DETROIT – That was the motto of Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice’s football team this season.
And the Warriors had to believe it in order for Friday’s dream finish to become possible.
Brother Rice qualified for the Division 2 playoffs at 5-4 last month and after finishing just fourth in the Detroit Catholic League Central. But riding the legs of senior running back Devin Church, the Warriors finished this season with a 24-14 win over Lowell at Ford Field to earn their seventh MHSAA championship and first since 2005.
Church, who ran for more than 900 yards during the playoffs, piled up 244 and three touchdowns rushing in the Final.
“We did it to make Coach proud,” Church said. “We kept the tradition going.
“That’s everybody’s dream, to win a state title. To walk away with a ring, that’s a blessing.”
“Coach” is Al Fracassa, who finished his 43rd season by winning his 405th high school game. But this run provided a new experience for the longtime leader.
Playing in a conference that also includes Division 1 finalist Detroit Catholic Central, Division 3 finalist Orchard Lake St. Mary and playoff qualifier Warren DeLaSalle, the Warriors lost three league games by a combined four points. Brother Rice (10-4) picked up its fourth loss in Week 8 against Cincinnati LaSalle.
But wins over strong teams – Detroit Martin Luther King and Ann Arbor Pioneer among them – likely gave Brother Rice the playoff points boost it needed to get into the postseason.
“We were worried about making the playoffs again. You get down, but the kids, they taught me a lesson. They came out and they worked their tails off,” Fracassa said. “We had a motto before our season started. … Anything is possible. This motto really personifies this football team. Anything is possible, and they’re going to remember it the rest of their lives.”
Church – who will sign with Northern Illinois in February – ran the ball 33 times. His yards were the sixth-most in an MHSAA Final ever. And they were followed by some flattering comparisons from Lowell coach Noel Dean.
“I don’t want to belittle their team by making it about one player; they have a great team,” Dean said. “(Church) is a fantastic football player. One of the better ones I’ve seen. And I’ve coached against some pretty good running backs in my day. The Grady brothers and the Ducketts, I’ve seen some pretty good ones. He’s fantastic.”
Fracassa added: “He’s done that all year, for the last three years. This is not only his good game he played. He’s played good in every game he’s played.”
And while Church ran wild, the Warriors were able to contain Lowell all-state quarterback Gabe Dean, who was making his third straight appearance in the Division 2 Final. A senior now, he led the Red Arrows to a championship game win in 2009
Dean did throw for 190 yards and two touchdowns, but was able to get free for just 34 yards on the ground as Lowell (12-2) attempted to catch up, and catch Church, most of the afternoon.
“The veer offense, we learned how to shut it down this week in practice. And we did a great job in the game,” Brother Rice junior linebacker Jon Reschke said. “We got them out of the veer and into a shotgun formation, the spread offense, which they didn't want to be in, which helped us.”
Senior linebacker Mark Doman had a team-high 13 tackles for Brother Rice, and Reschke had 10. Junior linebacker Reed Stormzand had 20 to lead Lowell, followed by sophomore linebackers Garrett Stehley and Jake Stehley with 14 and 12, respectively.