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11/26/07-Football
The greatest game you nearly never heard about
By KEITH DUNLAP of The Oakland Press
DETROIT--Overtime had arrived in the state's most historic prep football game ever played, and as you would imagine, the scene was pure chaos.
In fact, I don't think the atmosphere had worked its way down to chaos. Whatever level is above chaos, that's what the Division 3 state football final between Orchard Lake St. Mary's and East Grand Rapids was like.
I wonder how the players and coaches of both teams on the field and fans of both teams felt.
What, you thought I was talking about frantic things were for the teams and fans?
Heck no.
I'm talking about what the press box was like during the five-overtime thriller that was eventually won by East Grand Rapids, 46-39.
Media members like myself were already up against deadline with a 7:30 start time on a Saturday night, so needless to say the timing of having the first ever five-overtime high school state football playoff game in the state take place right in front of our eyes wasn't the best.
When overtime started, Michigan High School Athletic Association communications director John Johnson rattled off stats about how it was the ninth overtime game in the history of the state football finals and so forth.
I'm not sure what he said at the end, but it grew a facetious moan and groan from several media members.
It had something to do with how many multiple overtime games have taken place, which is a kiss of death for the media and their deadlines, sort of like a baseball team sitting next to a pitcher and talking to him when he's got a no-hitter or perfect game going.
You simply don't jinx things.
So before each media member could throw their laptops at Johnson (just kidding J.J., if you're reading this), the overtime started.
East Grand Rapids kicked a field goal on its first possession of overtime, and forced St. Mary's into a third-and-8 when the Eaglets got the ball.
However, the game was about to end, which wouldn't have been a bad time deadline-wise, because St. Mary's senior wideout Jason Semmes was open in the corner of the end zone.
But as everyone was ready to head down to the field, the pass was overthrown.
No big deal, because St. Mary's kicker Sean Graham hadn't attempted many pressure field goals all year, and he certainly would fold under the weight of having to keep his team's season alive, right?
Nope. To his credit, Graham coolly, calmly and easily boomed in a tying field goal to force a second overtime.
So the teams traded touchdowns in the second and third overtime, and the press box was like a barber shop because so many media members were pulling their hair out.
At that point, Johnson asked press row "Hey guys, how are your deadlines?" ha.
Actually, it was a serious and helpful question from Johnson, asked to determine what the best way for was to get postgame quotes was, whether it be the traditional press conference or by just talking to players and coaches on the field.
Still, just asking how deadlines were pinched a nerve, although not nearly as much as Johnson saying before the fourth overtime how no state playoff game had ever gone to five overtimes.
Again, the moaning and groaning and desire to throw our computers at Johnson (just kidding J.J.).
In the fourth overtime, St. Mary's scored a touchdown and executed a fake extra-point pass perfectly to take a 39-31 lead.
This had to be the end. Or so we thought.
East Grand Rapids not only answered with a touchdown of its own, but converted a twopoint conversion pass to tie the game at 39-39 and force a fifth overtime.
At that point, Johnson could only sum it up by telling the media "Welcome to the longest ever playoff game."
Gee, thanks. So sorry I forgot to bring a dish.
Finally, East Grand Rapids won the game by scoring a touchdown and keeping St. Mary's out of the end zone in the fifth overtime.
As soon as the game ended at just past 11 p.m., I sent two stories to the copy desk at this paper, which at that point understandably had to be thinking about jumping out of the building.
The postgame press conference eventually was scrapped, and we went down to talk to players on the field.
A lachrymose group of St. Mary's players could only sit in silence in the tunnel outside of the locker room, thinking about how close they were to winning.
Most were still in pads and helmet, as if they were hoping to be called back onto the field for a sixth overtime.
Still, they classily talked to reporters after the game even through their sadness, as did St. Mary's head coach George Porritt.
"Even in defeat, we can hold our heads high," St. Mary's senior lineman Matt Sargent said.
Sargent couldn't have said it any better.
You can't argue with players from both teams if they say they played in the greatest ever high school playoff football game in the state.
Not only because of the stakes and the five overtimes, but because how hard and well both teams played.
There wasn't a single turnover and few penalties in the game.
It was a game that won't ever be forgotten by whoever witnessed it, including the media members like myself who had the pleasure of covering it.
Even if it meant a chaotic hour of pulling our hair out and wanting to toss our laptops around.
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