Football - News Football - News
News | Roster | Schedules--Results | Archives
11/3/05-Football
St. Mary's wins grid shootout over Central
BY MIKE ROSENBAUM OF THE OBSERVER AND ECCENTRIC
WEST BLOOMFIELD-- Somebody obviously forgot to tell Walled Lake Central's players that a 5-4 team that squeaks into the playoffs can't beat a top-ranked, undefeated squad.
The Vikings didn't beat Orchard Lake St. Mary's in Saturday's Division 2 pre-district game, but they made the Eaglets work for every inch of their 35-26 victory.
"Our kids were in that game to win it," said Central coach Bob Meyer. "We weren't there to impress anybody. We weren't there to try to win over any fans. We knew we could beat that football team, and our kids showed up and played like it."
Likewise, St. Mary's coach George Porritt said he wasn't surprised by Central's performance.
"When you're in the playoffs, you've got to expect everybody's best and Walled Lake Central did an outstanding job," Porritt said. "Their quarterback (Torrey Stimson) did an outstanding job and (Tim Cross) is a terrific player.
"And I was proud of our kids. We hung in there and we made some big plays."
The first big plays, however, belonged to Central. Cross ran 43 yards on the initial play from scrimmage then Stimson, who ran the wing-T offense skillfully all afternoon, ran an option keeper 26 yards for the opening score. Craig Dropiewski's extra point kick went wide.
The Eaglets promptly took to the air, as quarterback Justin Siller completed 13- and 12-yard passes to Taurian Washington -- the latter on a third-and-seven situation -- then threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to running back Anthony Bowman, who benefited from Washington's downfield block. Steve Andrews added the first of five extra points for a 7-6 St. Mary's lead.
Later in the quarter, St. Mary's drove 81 yards on five plays to make it 14-6. Bowman attacked the outside, with runs of 16 and 17 yards, which set up Aaron Gant, who burst straight up the middle for a 37-yard touchdown run.
Central bounced back quickly, as Kevin Long's 31-yard kickoff return gave the Vikings possession at their 46. The drive, which ended early in the second quarter, featured an excellent catch by Cross on a 22-yard pass from Stimson. Stimson capped the drive with a one-yard sneak. His two-point conversion pass to Cross was broken up by Nick Koenigsknecht.
On their third possession, the Eaglets converted a fourth-and-one play from their 49, as Siller gained two yards on a sneak. Siller then hit Dionte Allen in stride down the right sideline for a 48-yard gain that set up Siller's one-yard touchdown carry.
Central then drove from its 21 into St. Mary's territory, keyed by a 23-yard Bryan Stolla run and a 16-yard Stimson-to-Aziz Atiyeh completion. But on third-and-eight from the Eaglets 14, St. Mary's defense end Blair Hollis knocked the ball away from Stimson and Jon Misch recovered for St. Mary's. The Eaglets then drove to the Central 27 with one second left in the half, but Andrews' 45-yard field goal try fell short.
St. Mary's finally gained some breathing room on the second play from scrimmage in the second half. Bowman ran left, then bounced the play outside. He turned the corner, burst down the left sideline, then cut into the middle of the field and out-raced the Vikings to the right pylon for a 73-yard touchdown run.
Bowman, who gained 115 yards on 10 carries, "made some big-time runs, with his speed," Porritt said. "The (touchdown) play was outstanding."
But Central still had life, as Stimson ran an option keeper 56 yards on Central's next play from scrimmage, to set up Mike Denison's 10-yard touchdown run that cut the lead to 28-18 with 8:34 remaining in the third quarter.
St. Mary's then capped its scoring with its fifth touchdown in six possessions. Gant gained 14 yards early in the drive, Siller ran for 15 to give the Eaglets a first down at the Vikings seven, then Siller snuck the ball in from one yard out on fourth down.
Central answered with a 65-yard drive that took 7:48 off the clock. The drive was capped by Stolla's one-yard touchdown run and Stimson's two-point conversion pass to Cross, to cut the lead to 35-26 midway through the final quarter. But that was Central's last gasp, as the Eaglets burned most of the remainder of the clock with their ground game.
St. Mary's finished with 418 yards of offense. Gant was the Eaglets' second-leading rusher with 101 yards on 14 carries. Siller completed eight of 10 passes for 137 yards before leaving the game with an injured hand in the fourth quarter.
Central gained 329 yards. Stimson had 107 on the ground, on 10 carries, and completed six of eight passes for 80 more. Cross ran five times for 62 yards while Stolla gained 59 yards on 12 tries.
"We know the wing-T and the eight-man (defensive) front are not something that the Catholic League is prepared for," Meyer said, adding, "Our best defense, we thought, was going to be our offense. We thought we could move the football on them and eat up the clock. We put a lot of points on. But unfortunately, with their speed, they don't need a whole lot of time to put points on the board, too."
Copyright 2005, St. Mary's Preparatory, Orchard Lake, Michigan. All rights reserved.
No logos, photographs, or graphics on the site may be reproduced without written permission.