SOUTHFIELD — Malcolm Arrington of Orchard Lake St. Mary’s was certain his team would play better the second time around against Birmingham Brother Rice. The Warriors stuffed the Eaglets three weeks ago, winning easily 28-7 and taking the Catholic League Central Division title.
   The state playoffs would prove to be a different matter all together.
    Two defensive gems by Arrington stood out among the many big plays made by St. Mary’s Saturday as the Eaglets upset the Warriors, 18-16, in a Division 2 district final at Southfield High.
    Arrington’s forced fumble late in the first half helped set up an 8-yard touchdown pass from Anthony Alexander (5-of-9, 99 yards) to Zach Stogdill with 20 seconds left to give St. Mary’s an 18-10 lead.
    Despite five turnovers Brother Rice (10-1) still had a chance to win when John Goebel made a remarkable 45-yard touchdown run with 3:50 left in the game to bring the Warriors within two. But Arrington, a 217-pound linebacker, stopped the two-point conversion as he blitzed and sacked Mike Cappetto.
    Brother Rice had yet another chance to win after forcing a punt and taking over on its 25 with 1:43 left. Safety Shawn Windey intercepted Joey Henry’s halfback pass on first down for the Eaglets’ fifth takeaway.
    “In life you don’t get second chances,” Arrington said. “Today we got one. That (28-7 loss) wasn’t us that afternoon. We didn’t come to play that day.
    “All week the coaches told me to stay at home. We knew Rice likes to run reverses so I just played my position. I just tried to make the tackle (on Henry) and was lucky the ball came loose.”
    In what was a bizarre game in many ways, Arrington’s forced fumble came a minute after Dionte Allen’s 83-yard kickoff return for a touchdown gave St. Mary’s a 12-10 lead.
    On Brother Rice’s previous two series, the Warriors reached the St. Mary’s 10 twice but only came away with three points. The first time in the red zone Chris McLaurin intercepted to stop the drive. After a 25-yard punt Brother Rice gained 25 yards but settled for Jon Rea’s 27-yard field goal.
    “Rice’s power game is so strong,” St. Mary’s Coach George Porritt said. “Our defense played so well. I was most proud of when we made those two stops at the 10. We felt real fortunate giving up just three.”

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