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9/3/05-Football
OLSM topples Country Day to start 2-0
By DAVE CAMERION Special to The Oakland Press
BEVERLY HILLS --Listening to Orchard Lake St. Mary's coach George Porritt, one might think that the Eaglets "survived" their game against Birmingham Detroit Country Day on Friday night.
The Eaglets improved to 2-0 with a 34-21 victory at a packed Detroit Country Day. With students, parents, and onlookers standing around the field and the parking lot packed along 13 Mile Road, the Eaglets didn't just survive, but they thrived at times and looked like they were in midseason form.
Porritt was cautious in his post-game comments.
"We just hung on," Porritt said. "I was very impressed with the running game, and we threw the ball at the right time. "It's a great win for our team," Porritt said.
OLSM carried a 21-7 lead into halftime after junior quarterback Justin Siller ran it in from the 1-yard line. Before that, Siller rocketed a 69-yard pass to junior wide receiver Taurian Washington after the Yellowjackets had tied the game 7-7. Washington's score came with 3:43 left in the second quarter, he also hauled in a 55-yard pass from Siller to give OLSM the two-touchdown lead.
Country Day tied the game at 7 when sophomore running back Jonas Gray broke free on a 15-yard touchdown run with 4:43 left in the first quarter.
OLSM took a commanding 28-7 lead once junior receiver Dionte Allen caught a 13-yard pass from Siller with 4:24 left in the third quarter.
The Yellowjackets showed some life after it took just one play for senior quarterback Nick Potter to find fellow senior Tom Rooke near the goal line with a 33-yard bomb with 1:31 left in the third quarter to bring Country Day within 28-13 (the Yellowjackets missed the PAT attempt).
Country Day coach Dan MacLean said that the Eaglets' speed was a major factor in the loss.
"I think they won the game because of speed," MacLean said. "They have a big (offensive) line they made some very big plays."
MacLean found some irony in the loss.
"In 1999, we lost to them (OLSM) by the same score, and we came back and won a state championship," he said.
OLSM put the game away with a touchdown with 2:33 left. Sophomore running back Dominque White scored on a 4-yard rush to push the Eaglets' lead to 34-13. That score came about six minutes after OLSM's White intercepted Country Day's third down pass.
Country Day had a last-gasp score with 1:26 left when senior David Middleton grabbed a 33-yard pass from Potter and the Yellowjackets made the 2-point conversion.
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