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11/19/07-Football
Eaglets battle defending champs for D-3 football crown
By Mike Rosenbaum of The West Bloomfield Eccentric
East Grand Rapids exemplifies the cliche that certain athletic programs don't rebuild, they reload.
The defending state Division 3 champion Pioneers, who'll face Orchard Lake St. Mary's in Saturday's D-3 final, graduated almost all of their key players, returning just two starters to the same position this season. Nevertheless, East rolled to an 8-1 regular season record, dropping a 21-20 decision to Caledonia in week eight. The Pioneers then eliminated their playoff opponents easily, defeating Grand Rapids Forest Hills Eastern (49-7), Cedar Springs (30-14), Mt. Pleasant (52-31) and St. Joseph (28-7).
Offensively, East Grand Rapids is led by junior running back Joe Glendening, who's rushed for 1,876 yards and 34 touchdowns this season. Senior quarterback Calvin Blair moved over from defensive end last season. Among his receiving targets is his younger brother, junior tight end Chris Blair. Senior guard Matt Ellis, one of East's two returning starters, anchors the line.
East Grand Rapids' leading tackler is senior linebacker Trevor Mason. Other defensive leaders include junior end Robert Bell and senior defensive back Evan Ankney, the second returning starter from last year's championship squad.
East is coached by Peter Stuursma, who's won three state titles in his seven seasons at the helm. Overall, the school has won seven state championships dating back to 1976.
His opposite number, St. Mary's coach George Porritt, has been to five state championship games in 18 previous seasons, winning in 1994, 1999 and 2000. The Eaglets were state runners-up in 2001 and 2004. The school also won a state crown in 1977.
St. Mary's has employed its wing-based rushing attack with devastating success in the playoffs, winning each game by no fewer than three touchdowns. The Eaglets, 6-2 in the regular season, opened the playoffs with a 28-7 pre-district victory over Detroit Renaissance, then crushed St. Clair (35-7), Melvindale (35-12) and East Lansing (49-21).
The running attack has “been our trademark this year,” Porritt said. “We can't change too much right now. That's what we do, we run the ball well.”
The Eaglets ground attack starts with junior fullback Justin Semmes running the straight-ahead dive play. When St. Mary's can count on at least three or four yards per carry from the dive, the outside lanes open up for their stable of speedy runners, led by senior Dominique White and junior Sam Fioroni. White has seven touchdowns in the Eaglets' four playoff contests.
Sophomore quarterback Robert Bolden won't throw often if the running game succeeds, but he has a strong arm and is a threat to hit junior wide receiver Dion Sims for a big gain at any time.
Defensively, the Eaglets are strong up front with good speed at linebacker and the defensive backfield.
Each team features a solid kicker, Sean Graham for St. Mary's and East's Michael Wilson, who holds the state record with 170 extra points.
After defeating East Lansing Saturday, Porritt discussed his plans for Thanksgiving-week preparations.
“It's time to be thankful and we're thankful we're going to the last game,” Porritt said. “We've got to take it one day at a time, have great practice all week long, and the biggest thing I just told them is to be thankful, and we get to practice on Thanksgiving Day.”
Going to the state finals, added Fioroni, has “been one of our goals all year. We've been working toward this all year. And we're here now, but we still have one more game to win.”
The Division 3 final is scheduled to kick off Saturday at 7:30 p.m., at Detroit's Ford Field.
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