Orchard Lake St. Mary's gets another shot at East Grand Rapids

Tom Markowski / The Detroit News

DETROIT--The brief and recent series between East Grand Rapids and Orchard Lake St. Mary's has gone from last to first and from first to last.

The teams will play for the Division 3 title at Ford Field on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. It will be the last game of the season, just as it was two years ago when they met for the first time in the memorable five-overtime marathon won by East Grand Rapids, 46-39. It remains the longest game in Michigan state playoff history.

The teams played the season opener last season and East Grand Rapids won that game easily, 49-14. They also played the season opener this year and St. Mary's made a game of it before falling, 21-7.

"When you play East Grand Rapids you're playing one of the best teams in the state," St. Mary's coach George Porritt said. "They just play great team ball. Their defense is fast. To win we have to be consistent and stay away from mistakes."

East Grand Rapids coach Peter Stuursma likewise has great respect for St. Mary's. He's especially impressed with the play of Eaglets linebackers Earnest Thomas and James Ross.

"Thomas was at outside linebacker against us and now they've moved him to the inside," he said. "That number six (Ross), he's one of the best I've seen on film. He hits people. They're big up front and their secondary comes up and plays the run well."

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