One lucky guy
That happens to be me. On Saturday afternoon I'll have a chance to watch Devin Gardner of Inkster, one of the best quarterbacks I've seen in the last 10 years, go against Warren DeLaSalle.
Then on Saturday night I geet a chance to watch Jason Fracassa of Sterling Heights Stevenson go against Tyler Scarlett of Clarkston. Fracassa and Scarlett likely won't play for a Division I school next year but they're the best in their respective counties. So you have the best quarterback in Wayne County in Gardner, the best quarterback in Oakland County, Scarlett, and the best in Macomb County in Fracassa. All in one day! I'm not that special. All high school football fans have that opportunity. Enjoy the weekend. The high school football season is almost over.Another PSL blunder
OK, we agree with Sharon Appling, assistant superintendant for the Detroit Public Schools, and her decision to play all Detroit Public School League football playoff games on Saturday for the first week of the playoffs. The night before was Devils' Night/Angels' Night and there was a curfew in effect.
For the record, there were four PSL games played that day (Detroit Cass Tech played at Dearborn Fordson on Oct. 30. PSL schools didn't have a hand in the decision to play that game at that time.) But it's a shame Detroit Crockett is forced to play on Saturday this week. Crockett will host, and we use that term loosely because Crockett doesn't have a home field, Orchard Lake St. Mary's at Detroit Osborn at 1 p.m. Detroit Southeastern is playing Friday night at Sterling Heights Stevenson. We realize Southeastern, again, doesn't have a choice becase it is the road team. But why not give Crockett and its staff the choice to play on Friday? When two PSL teams play, especially if they are rivals, there is the possibility of violence taking place and playing at night only increases the chances. This is not to say violence takes place at every PSL game. Most times games go on without any disturbances. St. Mary's and its fan base does not pose any threat to whatever field and the neighborhood surrounding it that is chosen as the host site. On Saturday, at Ford Field, there are four PAL (Detroit Police Athletic League) championship games. Fans in the city are forced to make a decision on whether to watch future high school stars or Crockett in a Division 3 region final. The coaching staff at Crockett is also hurt by this. They won't be able to watch the PAL title games. Wouldn't it be great for Detroit fans to watch Crockett and St. Mary's play on a Friday night at Detroit Renaissance, on a synthetic turf field, rather on Saturday at Osborn that has a natural grass field? The atmosphere for this important game would be greatly enhanced if it was played on a Friday night.Possible Upsets I Didn't Select
The second intrigues me for this reason. You have teams that have won a playoff game but sometimes teams get satisfied that they won one game. Other teams, like Rockford for example, are hungrier.
Let's look at some upsets, at least upsets in my eyes. Muskegon Catholic Central lost four games but could be battle tested to get past Climax-Scotts, my pick to win Division 8. C.C. needs to complete a couple of big passes to win this showdown. The good weather conditions could just be what Linden needs to pull off the upset of Mt. Pleasant. Linden is the top seed but Mt. Pleasant has played a much tougher schedule. Linden's passing attack needs to be on target. The game I will will be at, Orchard Lake St. Mary's at Melvindale, looks like an upset waiting to happen. St. Mary's has played at least five teams better than any team Melvindale has faced. But does that translate into a victory for the Eaglets? In Division 1, Rockford could be had tonight even though the Rams are at home. They haven't blown anybody out lately and Grand Haven has played Rockford and knows what to expect. Should be a good one. Ann Arbor Pioneer could be the team that knocks out Canton. Pioneer has the athletes and the depth to do it. The teams in the KLAA didn't fair well in the first week of the playoffs and maybe the league, even its best teams, aren't as good as we thought. This could be the one to look for as far as upsets. Let's see how I do with these possible upsets when the weekend is over.Teams that didn't catch a break
Teams like Madison Heights Madison, Marine City, Macomb Dakota and others caught a break in the district round. Here's a look at some teams that must be thinking, what did we do to deserve this?
Walled Lake Central had one of the best seasons in school history. Central won the North Division of the KLAA, lost just once to a top-10 team (Grand Blanc) and finished 8-1.
So its reward is to host Birmingham Brother Rice in the first round of a Division 2 Region 2 district. If, and I mean if, Central gets past Brother Rice it'll likely face Rochester Adams in the second round. Central is the top seed so it will have homefield in both games but one must wonder how much of a break it is. Brother Rice and Adams are two of the top teams in Oakland County and help make Division 2 a balanced division.
Also in Division 2, Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills had its best regular season (8-1) since reaching the Class BB final in 1992. Now it gets to play Muskegon, the defending champ, in the first round and if it gets past the Big Reds, Lowell will be waiting in the district final. Many believe Lowell will win the title this year. Too bad for Kenowa Hills. They deserved better.
In Division 3 Mason (8-1) must get past DeWitt (9-0), one of the favorites, and then play at either Lansing Sexton of Fowlerville. That just doesn't seem right. A team goes 8-1 and has no chance of hosting a first- or second-round game.
The same fate likely awaits Dowagiac Union (8-1) and Battle Creek Pennfield (8-1) in Division 4. Dowagiac plays at Hamilton (8-1) in the first round and if it wins that game will likely play at Three Rivers (9-0) in the district final. Pennfield plays at Williamston (8-1) in the first round and if it wins will likely play at Marshall (8-1) in the district final.
There were a record 22 additional qualifiers, teams with 5-4 or 4-4 records, this year. There were six Class A teams added and six in Class B, and five in each of the other two classes. In Class B Dearborn Divine Child (5-4) was the fifth team in with 58 playoff points. Grand Rapids Catholic Central (5-4) was the last team added with 56 playoff points. Catholic Central opens at Grand Rapids West Catholic (9-0), two former Grand Rapids City League rivals.
Championship Saturday
The Catholic League and Detroit Public School League football championships will be played on Saturday. The Catholic League will hold its two title games inside Ford Field and The PSL will hold its two outdoors at Detroit Renaissance.
What's unfortunate is that the starting times are identical. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep will play Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard for the Intersectional title at 1 p.m. and Detroit Catholic Central will face Orchard Lake St. Mary's in the A-B Division title game at 4. The PSL B Division championship game features Detroit Central (6-1) against Detroit Douglass (6-1) at 1 p.m. and the A Division matches Detroit King (6-2) againt Detroit Cody (4-4) at 4. Tickets for the Catholic League games are $6 in advance and can be purchased at participating schools. Admission price is $8 at the door. Admission for the PSL title games is $8. Gabriel Richard (7-1) is looking for its first league championship since 1972 and Notre Dame Prep (6-2) is seeking its third title in the last four years. Catholic Central (8-0) defeated St. Mary's 27-0 earlier in the season and is seeking its 21st title, St. Mary's its ninth. The 37th annual Prep Bowl will honor the Soup Bowl and Goodfellow Game champions from 50 years ago, Detroit St. Ambrose. Members of that team along with coach Tom Boisture and Rick Gosselin (author of the book Goodfellows which depicted that '59 team) will be honored before the A-B championship game. Notre Dame Prep defeated Gabriel Richard 52-14 earlier in the season so my pick is Notre Dame Prep by 13. Catholic Central has been dominant on defense all season so I'll take C.C. by 10. In the PSL I like Central to defeat Douglass by six points. Douglass has played well defensively (6-0 victorry over Detroit Osborn in the semifinals) most of the season but Central has played a more diffciult schedule. And King is an overwhelming favorite to win its third title in the last four years. Detroit Southeastern was expected to play King for the title but had to forfeit last week's PSL semifinal game against Cody because it used an ineligible player. I'll go with King by 13 over Cody.Detroit Southeastern forfeits PSL semifinal win
Detroit Southeastern has been forced to forfeit its Detroit Public School League semifinal victory over Detroit Cody last Friday because it used an ineligible player. Cody (4-4) will now play Detroit King (6-2) for the PSL title on Saturday at Detroit Renaissance at 4 p.m.
Southeastern coach Donshell English took blame for his team's forfeit.
"I didn't file the proper paperwork," English said. "I never filed paperwork for a player who hadn't played before. But paperwork is paperwork, and it is what it is. He never played before. He wasn't even a starter. He came from another school. It's a technicality."
The technicality cost Southeastern (7-1) a chance to defend its title. Southeastern had defeated King 14-7 earlier this season and defeated Cody 28-7 in the semifinal.
Playoff dilemma
So many football fans are wondering which teams will get in with 5-4 records and where teams like Melvindale will end up. In Melvindale's case it's either Division 3 or 4. I think it will be in the Division 3.
One reason I think Melvindale will be bumped up is the lack of Class A teams that will qualify. There are 35 4-4 teams in Class A. There are 29 Class A teams one win away from qualifying. The way I have it figured, and I can't account for upsets this weekend, Port Huron (5-3), after it defeats Warren Woods Tower on Friday, will be the last team in Division 1 and Warren DeLaSalle (4-4), after it defeats Detroit Western (5-3), will be the first team in Division 2. Let's stay with the biggesr schools because it becomes harder to predict the lower we go in enrollment. The 5-4 teams in Class I tihnk will get in as additonal qualifiers are East Kentwood (5-3) when it losses to Grand Haven (7-1). East Kentwood would have about 590 playoff points if that happens. If East Kentwood wins it would automatically qualify. If DeLaSalle wins it would have about 580 points, good for the second 5-4 Class A team to get in. The third team (there could be as many as five as there were last year) in for Class A is a bit more tricky to predict. If Holland West Ottawa (4-4) upsets Muksegon I think West Ottawa gets in. I think Muskegon (5-3) wins this game. Grandville (4-4) certainly gets in if it defeats Rockford (8-0). This isn't going to happen. Then there's Livonia Franklin (4-4). Franklin plays Hartland (4-4) and should receive enough playoff points to get in if it wins, assuming both Grandville and West Ottawa don't win. If one wins, Franklin could still get in. Clinton Township Chippewa Valley (4-4) is in the picture but it plays Warren Cousino, a team with just two wins, and if Chippewa Valley wins it'll need help to slip in. In Class B, Orchard Lake St. Mary's (4-3) is in even if it loses to Detroit Catholic Central (8-0) on Saturday. St. Mary's' playoff average is 63.964. A loss would still keep it with Grand Rapids Forest Hills Eastern (5-3) if Eastern, with a 69.000 playoff average, loses to Grand Rapids Catholic Central (4-4), which I think will happen. If it does, I see both F.H. Eastern and Grand Rapids CC getting in, with St. Mary's. Another 4-4 team in Class B with a good chance of getting in at 5-4 is Bay City John Glenn. The problem for John Glenn is to upset Essexville-Garber (7-1). The field of 256 will be officially announced on Sunday. There's a good chance that 19 additional qualifiers will make it in. That was the number that made it in last year.Players making a name for themselves
The pre-season top player list was filled with names like William Gholston of Detroit Southeastern, Devin Gardner of Inkster, Robert Bolden of Orchard Lake St. Mary's and others who committed to top-rated universities.
Every year there are players who attracted little fanfare before the season but who play like big-time players as the season progresses. Here are some that fit this category. Jermarian Caldwell, a 5-10, 175-pound running back from Plymouth was ineligible last season. Caldwell has burst on the scene and is a big reason why Plymouth is 5-2 and likely headed to the playoffs. Caldwell is a senior who has been timed in the 40-yard dash at 4.44 seconds. Keontae Hollis is a 6-2, 235-pound linebacker from Pontiac. Hollis didn't play as a junior due to off the field issues. He's back now. College recruiters took notice when Hollis was a sophomore and they are taking notice now that he's helped his team qualify for the playoffs. Jeremy Langford is 6-1, 190pound running back from Westland John Glenn: He's averaging 200 yards per game and even Big Ten recruits are taking notice. Bowling Green recently offered a scholarship and Colorado is said to be close to offering a scholarship as well. DeMarcus Murray is a 6-1, 245-pound defensive end from Highland Park. Murray is quick to the ball and is a big reason why Highland Park has been one of the surprise teams in the area. A junior, Murray is already being recruited by Big Ten schools. He could be an inside linebacker in college. Dennis Norfleet is a 5-9, 175-pound running back/defensive back/kick returner from Detroit King. Forget that Norfleet is a sophomore for a moment. He's one of the top two or three backs in the city.Finally, a Hall of Fame for Brother Rice
A number of high schools have their own Hall of Fame honoring players and coaches, and finally Birmingham Brother Rice will have its own.
On Saturday members of the first class include four longtime coaches -- Al Fracassa for football, Bill Norton for basketball, Mike Popson for track and football, and Bob Stark for track and cross country -- as well as two former student-athletes, B.J. Armstrong for basketball and Mike Lodish for football, both of whom were in the class of 1985. Ceremonies will take place in the school's gymnasium. The evening begins with a VIP reception in the school's Media Center at 5:30 p.m and the gym doors open at 6:30 and the event begins at 7:30. Fracassa is in his 50th season as a head coach, 40th at Brother Rice. He's the state's all-time leader in career coaching victories and has received numerous honors including a 2009 Michiganian of the Year from The Detroit News. Norton's 1973-74 team won Brother Rice's first state championship and he's the school's winningest basketball coach. Popson succeeded Norton as the school's athletic director and held the position until his retirement in 2003. Stark is in is 41st season coaching cross country and track. Armstrong starred for Iowa's basketball team in the late 1980s and then spent 11 years in the NBA, including three with Chicago Bulls teams that won NBA championships (1991-93). He still holds Brother Rice's single-game scoring record (51 points). Lodish was All-State in both football and lacrosse at Brother Rice before moving on to UCLA. After college, he spent an 11-year career in the NFL, including two with the Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos. Lodish has appeared in more Super Bowls (six, including four with the Buffalo Bills) than any player in NFL history. It's a great group, but what took you so long?Prep Bowl here to stay
The difficult economic times have hit the Detroit Catohlic League offices and there were many who questioned whether the league would continue as it has for over 75 years.
Amid the bad news - between 70 and 80 people will take an early retirement package - the good news is the league will remain as it has over the years with events like the Prep Bowl at Ford Field still taking place. John Verdura, assistant athletic director for the league, is one of the employees who will take the early retirement. Vic Michaels, league director, is expected to remain at his post but he did say his staff will be trimmed. Michaels said there will be some additions to the league as well. Next season Macomb Lutheran North and Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood will join the league as associate members. This will bring an end to the Metro Conference, the conference North and Cranbrook are now members. This will leave Harper Woods, Hamtramck and Livonia Clarenceville as the only surviving members. Look for Harper Woods to possibly be admitted to the Macomb Area Conference and Clarenceville to join the Western Wayne Activities Conference. Hamtramck will likely become an independent.
