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11/17/05-Football
Rice gridders turn the tables on St. Mary's in regional final
BY MIKE ROSENBAUM OF THE OBSERVER AND ECCENTRIC
WEST-BLOOMFIELD--Orchard Lake St. Mary's defied the football axiom that it's difficult to beat a team twice in one season by defeating the Birmingham Brother Rice in the final two weeks of the regular season, which included the Catholic League championship game.
There is no football axiom regarding what happens when a team tries to defeat an opponent for the third time in one season. But if two victories are difficult, three are almost impossible -- at least judging by Rice's performance in last Saturday's Division 2 region final, where the Warriors defeated St. Mary's, 17-8.
"It would've been awful to get beat three times in a row," said Rice coach Al Fracassa. "So we kind of saved face a little bit."
Senior linebacker Matt Pickens felt that the two previous losses took the pressure off the Warriors.
"We came out today and we had nothing to lose," Pickens explained. "It's kind of easier being an underdog."
Additionally, Rice's playoff victories the previous two weeks renewed the team's energy.
"We beat Redford and then we beat (Livonia) Franklin," Fracassa said. "And that gave us some more confidence. (The players felt) 'Hey, maybe we're a pretty good team after all, and we should do pretty well if we play St. Mary's again.' And they did just that."
The game's other key storyline was the absence of Eaglets junior quarterback Justin Siller, who was out with a broken finger. His replacement, senior Nick Koenigsknecht, hadn't played quarterback since his freshman year. He did a respectable job Saturday, completing eight of 17 passes for 112 yards and one touchdown. Koenigsknecht also threw two interceptions, but both picks came in the final minutes, when St. Mary's was desperate to score quickly.
Neither coach felt that Siller's absence was decisive.
"Nick did a great job," said Eaglets coach George Porritt. "Nick Koenigsknecht was a warrior out there. He's as good a kid as I've ever coached."
Considering the excellent athletes Porritt has coached, that was high praise. But as admirable as Koenigsknecht's performance was, he is not a Division I quarterback prospect. Siller is. In two previous games against Rice, Siller threw for a total of 323 yards and four touchdowns, and also ran for a 63-yard TD. Without Siller, and his big-play ability, Rice frequently played eight men in the box and focused on stopping St. Mary's rushing attack. The strategy paid off, as the Eaglets gained just 55 yards on the ground Saturday.
"The bottom line is, we didn't run the ball very well," Porritt said. "(Rice) ran the ball, they controlled the ball, they had some great drives. And I thought that was their key."
The Warriors ran 53 times for 213 yards, led by senior John Goebel, who gained 157 yards on 32 carries.
Goebel tried to deflect the credit, saying that Rice "had the heart today. And the offensive line got it done."
Goebel and his Warriors' teammates began getting it done on their opening possession, following a short St. Mary's punt into a stiff wind. Taking possession at the Eaglets' 41, the Warriors ground out three first downs and reached the St. Mary's five. But a third down sack by Blair Hollis and Matt Brimer forced Dusty Greenbury to boot a 28-yard field goal.
Defenses ruled the remainder of the half until the final minute, when Koenigsknecht hit Dionte Allen for 31 yards to the Rice 29. But on third down from the 24, Pickens tackled Koenigsknecht for a nine-yard sack, leaving Steven Andrews with a 50-yard field goal try. The strong-legged Andrews, with an assist from the wind, kicked it far enough, but he was wide left.
Rice enjoyed another good start in the second half. Goebel had runs of 12 and 10 yards and quarterback Mike Cappetto completed an 11-yard pass to Charlie Gantt, which left Rice with fourth down and less than a yard to go at St. Mary's 32. Chris Colasanti then ran for four yards to keep the drive going. Goebel eventually capped the drive with an 11-yard touchdown run. Greenbury's extra point made it 10-0.
Early in the fourth quarter St. Mary's got its biggest break of the game when a snap flew over Rice punter Scott Beals' head, and into the end zone. Beals retrieved the ball -- preventing St. Mary's from scoring a touchdown -- but he was tackled for a safety by Christopher Mitchell.
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