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10/17/04-Football

Brother Rice Prevails

By Larry Cathey/Special to The Detroit News

LATHRUP VILLAGE — The ability to control the line on both sides of the ball led Birmingham Brother Rice to a 28-7 victory Saturday against Orchard Lake St. Mary's.
    Brother Rice advances to the Catholic League championship game Saturday at Ford Field against Detroit DePorres.
    Brother Rice (8-0, 4-0 Central Division) rushed 53 times for 281 yards on a blustery day.  The strong wind was a big factor in the lack of passing for both teams.  John Goebel led the Warriors with 100 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.
    "Physically -- in the trenches, their defense did a great job of stopping us," said St. Mary's Coach George Porritt, whose team gained 100 total yards.  "Our defense gave up too much.  That game was decided right up front today."
    Brother Rice, which has won 13 of its last 14, kept the running game of the Eaglets (6-1, 3-1) in check and allowed two first downs until the final drive.  St. Mary's did not have a drive span more than six plays until that series.
    "We know we're not good enough, so we know we've got to work hard," Porritt said.  "That's the bottom line -- we have to work harder if we want to win."
    Early in the first quarter, it looked like the Eaglets would be able to control the ball.  On the first play from scrimmage, Lavonte Travis burst through the middle for a 44-yard run and would have scored if Darnell Johnson had not chased him down at the 22.
    Two plays later, St. Mary's quarterback Anthony Alexander threw an interception in the end zone on a play-action pass.
    "That was big because they didn't score," Brother Rice Coach Al Fracassa said.  "That was really big.  Things turned around a bit after that."
    The game didn't turn around immediately as neither team scored until Joey Henry went in on a 6-yard run with 6:26 left in the second quarter to give Brother Rice a 7-0 lead.  An interception by Johnson at the Eaglets' 11 set up the score.
    "Defense wins championships," Fracassa said.  "Offense scores points, and that's the way it is.  I hope we can keep this up."
    The Warriors, ranked fifth overall in the state by The Detroit News, came out strong after the half and rushed 11 times on their opening drive of the quarter.  Charley Henneghen ended the drive with a 25-yard run to make it 14-0.
    St. Mary's came right back with a 93-yard return on the ensuing kickoff, but Dionte Allen was tackled by Johnson at the 5.  Travis scored two plays later from the 5 for the Eaglets' touchdown.
    Both schools head to Ford Field on Saturday to play in the Prep Bowl against opponents to be determined.  St. Mary's, ranked 11th overall by The News, will play at 1 p.m. in the consolation game against Harper Woods Notre Dame (3-5), which is followed by Brother Rice-DePorres in the 7 p.m. championship.

 

 

 

 

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