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10/2/05-Football
Eaglets drop Shamrocks
By Keith Dunlap of The Oakland Press
NOVI--The result wasn't as glamorous as others this year for Orchard Lake St. Mary's, but a win over Novi Detroit Catholic Central was a win nonetheless.
Riding its penchant for big plays and a punishing defense, the Eaglets jumped out to a big lead early and held on late for a 17-7 victory over Catholic Central in a Catholic League Central Division showdown of traditional powerhouses.
The Eaglets are now 6-0 (3-0 in CHSL Central) and can clinch a spot in the Prep Bowl -- the Catholic League championship on Oct. 22 -- with a win next Saturday against Detroit U-D Jesuit at Ferndale.
It didn't take long for St. Mary's head coach George Porritt to name the biggest reason for his team's victory.
"I thought our defense was (the difference)," Porritt said. "They held them down."
St. Mary's opened the scoring on the first play of the second quarter when quarterback Justin Siller hit wide receiver Dionte Allen for a 71-yard touchdown pass to make it 7-0 Eaglets with 11:45 remaining in the second.
Siller added a 1-yard TD run and Steve Andrews kicked a 30-yard field goal to put St. Mary's up 17-0 at the half.
The Shamrocks cut the lead to 17-7 on a 54-yard touchdown pass from Rob Forte to Jon Conover with 10:48 remaining in the game.
Catholic Central (3-3, 1-2) has to win all three of its remaining games to avoid missing the playoffs for a second consecutive season.
"Our playoffs starts today," Catholic Central head coach Tom Mach said. "We can't afford another loss and we have a tough road ahead, but I think our kids are capable. They have a good attitude and I think we'll get better."
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