OLSM Football News 2004

Eaglets proved they can play with the big schools

After moving up two divisions, St. Mary's showed the state of Michigan that it can play
By KEITH DUNLAP

Special to The Daily Oakland Press

PONTIAC - No state title might not constitute such a statement, but in a way, 2004 turned out to be the year Orchard Lake St. Mary's officially proved it is big time on the state football scene.
    The school itself has always believed it was so after earning state titles in 1977, 1994, 1999 and 2000 and winning numerous games over the likes of Redford Detroit Catholic Central and Birmingham Brother Rice through the years, but the harshest of cynics could fire back by saying all those titles came in Class C, Class CC and Division 4.
    Not anymore.
    In just their second year competing in Division 2, the Eaglets still found themselves in the state title game, and only a run-in with one of the nation's best teams in Muskegon prevented St. Mary's from adding another trophy to the Dombrowski Fieldhouse showcase.
    In addition, the Eaglets essentially were only a 6-point loss to Pontiac Northern in a district final last March from advancing to the state basketball semifinals in their first year competing in Class A. The Eaglets won the Class B basketball title in 2000.
    "St. Mary's can play," Eaglets head coach George Porritt said after his team's 31-7 loss to Muskegon on Friday. "I don't think anyone can take us lightly whether it's football or basketball or whatever. I've got great kids. That (Muskegon) team out there that we played was real special. We didn't play too bad, they just played better. We're there."
    It was hard to believe even the Eaglets could reach such heights in Division 2 after last year, when they moved up from Division 4 and endured a 42-0 thumping at the hands of Davison in the first round of the playoffs.
    Needless to say, the beating served as the main source of fuel in proving St. Mary's could cut it competing at a higher level.
    "Everybody was saying we can't play in Division 2 because we lost to Davison last year," St. Mary's senior co-captain Malcolm Arrington said. "I think we proved a lot of people wrong this year. We shocked Michigan and proved everybody wrong."
    Now that the Eaglets have reached the highest stage in Division 2, nobody should be surprised if they take the next step and capture another title in the next couple of years.
    The Eaglets have one of the most electrifying players in the state in wideout/defensive back Dionte Allen coming back for the next two years and now have a precedent set by a group of St. Mary's seniors who helped prove that at whatever level the Eaglets compete, they'll be successful.
    "Our seniors stepped up and we worked so hard," said senior co-captain Chris McLaurin. "I'm so proud of them, and (the rest) know what it takes now."

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