Special teams tackle saves championship for Detroit Catholic Central

Matthew A. Goricki / Special to The Detroit News

DETROIT-- In a game with limited offensive production and rare excitement, a Detroit Catholic Central kickoff specialist provided the game's biggest play Saturday at Ford Field.

But it wasn't punter Corey Smith's leg that did the most damage in its 7-0 Catholic League A-B title victory over Orchard Lake St. Mary's. It was a tackle that helped his team keep its undefeated season alive.

After Anthony Capatina scored on a 2-yard run midway through the fourth quarter for Catholic Central (9-0), Gary Hunter ran Smith's ensuing kickoff through the seams to the left sideline. With no other defenders behind him, Smith pushed Hunter out of bounds at the C.C. 13-yard line, allowing its dominant defense to take the field.

"I thought he was gonna outrun me," Smith said. "I thought he was gonna beat me, but luckily I got there in time to knock him out of bounds. They had a blocker on me, but luckily I got rid of him and pushed (Hunter) out."

The C.C. defense pushed St. Mary's back to the 15, where linebacker Butch Herzog picked off a Robert Bolden pass on fourth down. None of that would have possible without Smith's tackle, as Herzog pointed out.

"That tackle, it really helped us out," he said. "Honestly, I knew it (the defensive stand) was going to happen. I knew we'd come through. I trust every guy out there. We all have mad trust for each other."

St. Mary's (4-4) had one more chance in the final minutes, getting the ball on its own 20. Catholic Central allowed a yard before forcing an incompletion on fourth down.

St. Mary's managed only 99 yards of offense and had to punt seven times. Bolden, a Penn State recruit, was held to 23 yards passing, completing just 6 of 18 throws.

Catholic Central produced 126 yards of offense, with only 37 coming in the first half.

The Catholic League championship was C.C.'s 20th, and first since 2003.

"This is just as much fun as any of them," said coach Tom Mach, who has directed 15 of the titles. "It was a great fight to the end. I love the Catholic League. They battle right to the end of the game. We're lucky today that we came out on top."

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