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10/26/2008-Football
Prep Bowl: Brother Rice clinches spot in state football playoffs
Tom Markowski / The Detroit News
DETROIT -- The Prep Bowl wild-card game lived up to its name Saturday.
Michael Brown's 38-yard interception return with 2:05 remaining gave Birmingham Brother Rice a 14-point lead and it held on to defeat Orchard Lake St. Mary's, 28-21, at Ford Field to clinch a state playoff spot.
"I knew we needed a big play to wrap up the game," said Brown, a junior cornerback. "I was watching the quarterback's eyes all the way.
"It's a real good feeling to make the playoffs. Brother Rice has a great tradition. We did it for the seniors."
It's the 10th consecutive season Brother Rice has qualified for the playoffs and 21st overall.
Brother Rice (6-3) will compete in the Division 2 playoffs. Its opponent will be announced on FSN Detroit at 6:30 p.m. Sunday.
Brown's interception was one of four big plays that keyed the victory.
The first came on the game's first possession, when quarterback Frankie Popp's pass tipped off the hands of receiver Kevonte Martin-Manley into the hands of receiver Nate Saldivar-Garcia. Saldivar-Garcia caught the ball at the 15 and ran untouched into the end zone to complete the 40-yard scoring pass.
Two long drives by St. Mary's (4-5) stalled and the team had to settle for field goals of 30 and 32 yards by Keegan Dupack.
With 48 seconds left before halftime, Popp completed a 58-yard touchdown pass to Martin-Manley for a 14-6 lead. Popp faked a screen pass to receiver Mark Makoski in the left flat and the deception allowed Martin-Manley to race past the safety.
St. Mary's, which had little trouble moving the ball all game, went on a 13-play, 56-yard drive to tie the score with 10:51 left in the game. Twice, St. Mary's converted on fourth down. On fourth-and-8 from the Brother Rice 26, quarterback Robert Bolden completed a 22-yard pass in the middle of the field to Dion Sims. Two plays later, Bolden scored on a 1-yard sneak and his conversion pass to Rodney Woodland tied the score at 14.
Brother Rice, which had run just four plays from scrimmage in the half, went 75 yards in 10 plays to retake the lead. Jimmy Pickens scored from a yard out with 6:40 remaining to give Brother Rice a 21-14 lead.
Popp completed 10 of 12 attempts for 168 yards and Bolden was 17-of-30 for 222 yards.
Sam Fioroni led St. Mary's with 130 yards rushing on 24 carries.
"I'm glad we made it," said Brother Rice coach Al Fracassa, who earned his 380th career victory. "I'm glad we have the opportunity. It was a heckuva game."
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