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12/2/07-Football
DSt. Mary's: Eaglets lose Div. 3 title, but it takes 5 OTs
By CHRIS LAU/The Detroit Free Press
What else could George Porritt say?
His Orchard Lake St. Mary's players had just come up on the losing end of a historic football state final game at Ford Field on Nov. 24.
They were heartbroken. They were crushed. They were in tears.
Porritt decided to give his players the highest compliment a coach can give.
I'm proud of you, he said -- over and over.
The four words didn't stop the tears. They didn't stop the heartache. But they were all Porritt had to give, and he could only hope his team would remember them.
No one will forget the Division 3 contest, a 46-39 five-overtime loss to East Grand Rapids. It was the longest playoff game in state history. Both teams scored two touchdowns in regulation. Each connected on a field goal in the first overtime, and each scored touchdowns in the next two frames. Both scored a touchdown and a two-point conversion in the fourth overtime. Finally, after East Grand Rapids' touchdown and extra point in the fifth overtime, a St. Mary's fourth-down pass fell incomplete, ending the game.
"It was a great football game," Porritt said. "I thought it was a well-played football game. I can't remember any turnovers. They're a great football team, and I thought we were, too. It's a tough game to lose, but that's the way it goes."
The Eaglets finished the season 10-3. Along the way, they earned a share of the Catholic League Central division title with Birmingham Brother Rice.
In the playoffs, they beat Detroit Renaissance, then St. Clair to win their first district title since 2005. Next came a regional championship win over a tough Melvindale team. Then, with a win over East Lansing in the state semifinal, the Eaglets earned their first trip to the finals since the 2004 season.
Each of the accomplishments was great, but Porritt was more proud of his team in defeat than during the season.
"Highlight of the season? I think right here," Porritt said immediately after a post-game team huddle at Ford Field. "I tell you what, I can't make a better football game. I like to win, don't get me wrong. But today was the highlight."
There were others.
The Eaglets, who averaged 32.7 points in 13 games, were led offensively by senior tailback Dominique White, who ran for 1,276 yards and 21 touchdowns on 191 carries, including 158 yards and three touchdowns in the state final.
His backup, junior Sam Fioroni, rushed 72 times for 474 yards and nine touchdowns this season. Junior fullback Justin Semmes had 161 carries for 694 yards and seven scores. And sophomore quarterback Robert Bolden added seven rushing touchdowns.
The Eaglets started the season 4-0, highlighted by a 40-21 rout of rival Brother Rice. But they lost to Catholic Central, 21-10, the next week. Then they won two more after that before losing a rematch to Brother Rice, 45-14, in the Catholic League championship game at Ford Field the week before the playoffs.
Porritt wasn't happy with how his team ended the regular season, but he was thrilled with how the Eaglets responded.
"We took a couple of hits in the middle of the season and in the end, but we regrouped and did some really nice things," Porritt said. "We play in a tough football conference. We got beat, but came back and played some great football. The kids responded and I'm very pleased. That shows you what kind of senior leadership we have."
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