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10/21/07-Football
Brother Rice dominates Catholic League football Championships
Warriors take 2nd straight division title
By CHRIS SILVA/The Detroit Free Press
DETROIT--Brother Rice football coach Al Fracassa didn't have a clue.
His team had just destroyed Orchard Lake St. Mary's Prep, 45-14, to capture its second straight Catholic League A-B Division championship in Prep Bowl XXXV at Ford Field on Saturday.
The score indicated a blowout.
But only four weeks ago, the Warriors were crushed by St. Mary's, 40-21.
That's why Fracassa didn't have a concise explanation for the Warriors' sudden turnaround.
"I wish I could tell you," Fracassa said. "It's just that they felt like playing football. And they didn't play like feel like playing football the first time we played them. I don't know if it's their stadium. I don't know what the heck it is. It's football."
Brother Rice (7-2) ran the Eaglets (6-2) ragged. The Warriors finished with 179 yards rushing on Saturday, with Michigan State-bound Caulton Ray accounting for 156 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, including 114 in the first half.
Four weeks ago against the same Eaglets' squad, the Warriors only amassed 34 yards rushing.
Again, neither Fracassa nor Ray could explain that, although Ray tried his best.
"Coach, he's a genius in my eyes," Ray said with a big smile. "He knows that running first opens up the offense. If you can run well, you can pass well."
That held true.
Warriors senior quarterback Andy Lentz completed 11 of 16 passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns and had plenty of time in the pocket.
Ray credited the Warriors' offensive line for a sound all-around performance. Fracassa spoke like he's a lucky coach to have such a speedy, shifty running back like Ray.
"He's a great runner," Fracassa said. "I think he's tough, too. I'm so happy for him, he's been playing really good football for us. He's a really (big) part of our offense. He's our bread and butter guy. We go to him a lot. He had a good game today. I think he's done a good job."
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