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10/26/06-Football
St. Mary's looks for offensive magic in playoffs
BY MIKE ROSENBAUM OF THE OBSERVER AND ECCENTRIC
Orchard Lake St. Mary's opened this football season with very high expectations, due in large part to the Eaglets' flock of future Division I college players on both sides of the ball. In their seven victories, St. Mary's lived up to those expectations, scoring at least 27 points in each contest. But St. Mary's scored just seven points in each of its two losses, both by 14-7 scores, to Catholic League Central foes Brother Rice and DeLaSalle.
Overall, the Eaglets out-scored their opponents 231-74.
St. Mary's passing game has been inconsistent this season, despite the presence of Purdue-bound quarterback Justin Siller, plus fleet wide receivers Dionte Allen (committed to Florida State ) and Taurian Washington ( Ohio State ).
But Eaglets' coach George Porritt didn't single out his offense, or his passing attack, when asked about necessary improvements entering Saturday's district playoff opener, against White Lake Lakeland.
Porritt said the Eaglets must improve in "all aspects of the game. You're still working on them. Even though it's the tenth game of the year, you're still working on all aspects of the game."
Porritt added that the key to St. Mary's offense begins on the ground.
"We've got to be able to get off the ball and establish our run game," Porritt said.
"It's very important that we establish our run game, like any other game, and (commit) no turnovers."
Lakeland coach John Maltese, meanwhile, expects his 4-3 defense to be tested in Saturday's contest.
"We're going to have to play good team defense and take a bend-but-don't-break mentality," Maltese said, adding that his defenders must "pursue and do all the little things. They do have some tremendous athletes. That, and just pray for a snow storm."
Lakeland was 6-3 this season, winning its last four games and out-scoring opponents 198-116. But the Eagles beat only one team with a winning record, edging 5-4 Howell, 31-30.
The Eagles, making their first playoff appearance since 1982, use multiple backs in a Wing T offense.
"They've got a great backfield," Porritt said. "They've got four very good backs in the backfield."
Lakeland 's offense is led by running backs Danny Taylor and Cody Leavenworth, plus quarterback Blake Heiman.
Defensively, Porritt said, "We've got to make sure we're gap assignment-oriented and make sure we stop their misdirections. We've got to play assignment football."
Overall, Porritt added, the key to post-season success is to play consistently.
"You can't have mistakes," Porritt said. "You can't have penalties, you can't have turnovers. You've just got to focus on the game in hand. You can't get ahead of yourselves. Anybody can beat anybody. It's the playoffs. You can throw away those records. They don't mean anything."
Saturday's game kicks off at 1:30, at St. Mary's. The winner plays either Walled Lake Central or Walled Lake Western in the district final.
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