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11/9/06-Football
Walled Lake Central is all business in district victory over St. Mary's
BY MIKE ROSENBAUM OF THE OBSERVER AND ECCENTRIC
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As often happens in sports, the seeds of Walled Lake Central's victory at Orchard Lake St. Mary's Saturday were planted in the past.
One year and one week in the past, in this case.
Central lost a 35-26 decision to the heavily-favored Eaglets in last year's state playoff opener, leaving the Vikings with what they termed, "Unfinished business," this season.
Central's season is not over, but its leftover business was finished Saturday in a 35-27 Division 2 district final victory at St. Mary's.
"We've been waiting for this game since last year when we walked off that field with our heads down," said Vikings senior Kevin Long, who ran for two second half touchdowns Saturday. "We just wanted to do it for the seniors of last year's class. It's a great feeling."
Central, which improved to 9-2, visits 11-0 Davison in a regional final Friday at 7 p.m.
"The kids have dedicated their season to getting to this point," said Central coach Bob Meyer, "and now we're going into uncharted waters for this program, but we are more than happy to be there."
Central controlled the ball with its ground game Saturday, running 42 times for 300 yards. Quarterback Torrey Stimson threw just six times, but completed four, including two touchdowns.
"The O-line did the job...and we just got seams," Meyer explained. "We've got three quality running backs and they just kept their legs moving and moving the chains. And that's what our whole game plan was today, just move the chains."
St. Mary's coach George Porritt agreed that Central's rushing success was the key to victory.
"They did a great job running the ball," Porritt said. "Even when we scored in the second half they were able to come back and match the touchdowns. And I think that was the difference in the game, their execution on their running game."
After an unsuccessful initial series with a no-back, spread offensive set, Central returned to the Wing-T on its second possession and was rewarded with Steve Robinson's 71-yard touchdown run. With the Eaglets' safeties playing close to the line of scrimmage, Robinson turned the right corner and had clear sailing to the end zone. Brad Lyons added the first of his five extra points to give the Vikings a 7-0 lead.
Defense then ruled until Central's final possession of the half. The Vikings drove from their 28 into St. Mary's territory, then Stimson found tight end Jesse Caddell behind the defense for a 21-yard touchdown pass and a 14-0 halftime lead.
The teams then traded touchdowns for the first seven possessions of the second half.
St. Mary's got its passing game going after halftime, as Siller went 12-for-13 for 174 yards and two scores in the final 24 minutes. Siller's 32-yard completion to Taurian Washington keyed the Eaglets' initial third-quarter drive, which was capped by Dominique White's three-yard touchdown run.
St. Mary's then forced a Central punt, but Laurence Treadway was flagged for roughing punter James MacLellan, as Treadway narrowly missed blocking the kick. Robinson ran 50 yards on the next play, then Long carried the final two yards to restore Central's two-score lead.
Meyer called the roughing the kicker penalty "huge...They had momentum. They were starting to let the emotion come out and really play with some emotion, and that just kind of deflated them for just long enough for us to get one more score."
Porritt, however, didn't fault Treadway's effort.
"Our kid was trying his heart out," Porritt said. "That was an aggressive play, and it happened. And that's all I can say. That wasn't the difference in the game. That was just one play."
St. Mary's responded quickly. After Ben Caplinger returned a short kickoff to the Vikings' 44, the Eaglets needed just six plays to score, with White carrying the ball the final 15 yards. The second of three Sean Graham extra points made it 21-14.
Long's seven-yard run on fourth-and-one from St. Mary's 43 helped Central reach the Eaglets' 27 early in the fourth quarter.
On second down Siller, playing safety, had his hands on a Stimson pass in the end zone. But Siller couldn't control the ball, and a leaping Caddell pulled it away for his second touchdown catch.
"I thought I had no chance to get it," Caddell said, "but I jumped over and caught it out of his hands."
The Eaglets then scored on Siller's 43-yard pass to Suave Lavallis, but Central responded with a six-play drive, including a 17-yard run by Long and Lusk's 27-yard sweep, which set up a four-yard Long touchdown and a 35-21 lead with 4:48 remaining.
Siller and Dionte Allen then led the Eaglets back, connecting on a 29-yard completion to set up their eight-yard touchdown pass. White's two-point conversion run was stopped, leaving the Eaglets eight points down with 2:51 left.
St. Mary's then forced a three-and-out and regained possession on its 27 with 1:35 left. But the Vikings stopped Siller two yards short of a first down on fourth-and-five.
Robinson led Central's runners with 146 yards on 14 carries. Lusk ran 10 times for 69 yards while Long added 57 yards on 11 tries. Stimson was four-for-six through the air, for 62 yards.
For St. Mary's, Siller finished 14-for-21 for 194 yards. Washington caught five for 67 yards while Allen grabbed five passes for 63. Siller also ran 15 times for 62 yards for the Eaglets, who were playing without senior tailback Chris Mitchell.
St. Mary's began the season with high hopes, and a high ranking from many observers. Despite the playoff defeat, and two regular-season losses to Catholic League rivals Brother Rice and DeLaSalle, Porritt was pleased with the Eaglets' season.
"I'll take these seniors any day...These kids worked hard. The chips didn't go our way a little bit, but we'll bounce back."
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