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12/2/07-Football
Big-play specialists spark all-area offense and all-area defenders keep the heavy hits coming
By Jim Toth of The West Bloomfield Eccentric
With offensive units on a whole utilizing more and more wide open attacks, the high school scene continues to produce a host of highlight-reel performers making an impact on the success of area teams.
Nine Eccentric area teams earned playoff berths this past football season behind stellar play from quick-strike offenses that kept opposing defenses guessing.
Named to the Eccentric First Team Offense are linemen Alex Doman (Brother Rice), Justin Johnson (Birmingham Seaholm), Tom Laymon (Country Day), Deontae Pannell (Birmingham Groves) and Jordan Sanders (Rochester Adams), tight end Mitch Kessel (Seaholm), wide receivers Dion Sims (St. Mary's) and Cody Wilson (Adams), running backs Jonas Gray (Country Day), Caulton Ray (Brother Rice) and Josh Renel (Adams), quarterbacks Branko Hamilton (Troy) and Craig Sacha (Farmington Harrison) and place-kicker Kevin Muma (Troy).
DION SIMS, Orchard Lake St. Mary's: Only a junior, Sims proved to be a big-play target - in many ways - in the Eaglets air attack. Using his imposing 6-5, 230-pound frame, Sims would overpower defenders with strong hands and great leaping ability. "He's big, strong and is deceptive in his quickness," St. Mary's head coach George Porritt said of Sims, who transferred over from U-D High. "He has strong hands and can really go get the football."
Trying to keep up with wide open offensive attacks was no easy task for defensive squads in 2007, but with the caliber of players found on the field swarming to the football, many teams were able to avoid significant deficits and hang around long enough to squeak out important wins.
Strong play on the defensive side proved instrumental in the post-season, especially for teams like Troy , Rochester Adams, Detroit Country Day and Orchard Lake St. Mary's, who advanced deep into the playoffs.
Those players selected to the 2007 Eccentric All-Area First Team Defense included linemen Derrell Haygood (Southfield Lathrup), Jake Heinrich (Adams), John Lamb (Southfield), Kyle Ramfos (Brother Rice) and Jason Semmes (St. Mary's), linebackers Kenny Demens (Country Day), Buddy Griggs (Farmington Harrison), Paul Gyarmati (Brother Rice) and Dan Muncey (Adams), defensive backs Bruce Horner (Harrison), Mazen Jaddou (Brother Rice), Adam Smith (Adams) and Lawrence White (West Bloomfield) and punter Josh Patten (Adams).
JASON SEMMES, Orchard Lake St. Mary's: A three-year starter for the Eaglets on the front line, the 6-3, 215-pound Semmes used a lightning-quick first step to disrupt the timing in opposing backfields. "His overall quickness really improved this year and it made him into a tough guy to block," St. Mary's head coach George Porritt said. "He has a tremendous first step for a lineman and really good closing speed as well."
Copyright 2007, St. Mary's Preparatory, Orchard Lake, Michigan. All rights reserved.
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