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11/25/07-Football
DIVISION 3 -- EAST GRAND RAPIDS 46, ST. MARY'S 39 (5 OT)
BY WRIGHT WILSON/DETROIT FREE PRESS SPECIAL WRITER Game Photos
DETROIT--East Grand Rapids coach Peter Stuursma will take a state championship win any way he can get one. After winning their past three titles decisively, the Pioneers had to go to five overtimes to defeat Orchard Lake St. Mary's, 46-39, in the Division 3 final game Saturday night at Ford Field.
It was the longest game in the history of the state playoffs, which were first contested in 1975.
Pioneers fullback Joe Glendening rushed for four touchdowns on the night, including the three-yard winner in the fifth overtime. The seesaw contest ended when East Grand Rapids' defense thwarted the Eaglets' desperation pass on fourth down.
"This is amazing. This is the best feeling I've ever had," said Glendening, who finished with 175 yards rushing on 32 carries. "We fought hard until the finish. We were tired, but the adrenaline was pumping."
St. Mary's (10-3) appeared to clinch victory in the fourth overtime. The Eaglets scored a touchdown on Robert Bolden's one-yard quarterback sneak. They converted a fake extra-point kick into a two-point conversion, when holder Kris Morris completed a pass to Dion Sims, putting St. Mary's up, 39-31.
But East Grand Rapids (13-1) responded after Glendening scored on a fourth-down dive from the one-foot line. Forced to go for the two-pointer, Calvin Blair found receiver Chris Blair on an out pattern in the end zone to tie the score at 39.
Both teams traded field goals in the first overtime.
Then, in the second and third overtimes, each team scored a touchdown. Dominique White (158 yards rushing, three TDs) scored both for St. Mary's on runs of two and three yards.
East Grand Rapids responded with touchdown receptions by Chris Blair and Zach Flood.
Understandably, both coaches were exhausted after the emotional conclusion and were searching for words to describe the situation.
"Oh my gosh, you can't practice for that," said Stuursma, whose team also won a title last season. "It's a shame someone had to lose the game."
Said St. Mary's coach George Porritt: "That was one of the greatest efforts by a St. Mary's football team -- I couldn't say anything less. (East Grand Rapids) was a great football team, and it was a great victory for them."
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