Selection Sunday Football playoff pairings announced this Sunday on the Selection Sunday Show on Fox Sports.
SPORTS
INSIDE THE
20
Section
B
Sunday, Oct. 23, 2011
FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL RESULTS Week 9 playoff standings Clinched berth These teams are on their way to the playoffs.
Almont 8-1
Capac* 6-2
Lapeer East 7-2
Marlette 7-2
Brown City 6-3
Lapeer West 6-3
No chance These teams won’t be seeing playoff action this season.
Dryden 4-5
North Branch
Metro co-champs Eagles claim share of Metro League title with Holly and Fenton
METRO BY ERIK HOHENTHANER 810-452-2641 • ehohenthaner@mihomepaper.com
LINDEN — The Lapeer East football team clinched its ninth playoff appearance last week with its win over Swartz Creek. This week there was a bigger task at hand, as the Eagles were trying to win a piece of the Metro League championship. Mission accomplished. East went into Linden and handed the Eagles a 24-20 loss and knocked Linden from an automatic playoff berth. East beat Linden for the first time in the regular season since 2003. Linden jumped out to an early lead and looked poised to hand East another loss when Shaye Brown scored at 8:33 of the first quarter on a one-yard run and Ed Walterhouse converted the PAT. East responded with 36 seconds left when Gary Bulzan scored from one-yard out, but the PAT failed. Linden re-took the lead at 9:51 of the second quarter when Travis Marsh scored on a five-yard run, but the PAT was no good. East cut the deficit when Alex Henson made a 25-yard field goal with 2:59 left in the half. East trailed 13-9 heading into the break.
Photo by DON NELSON
East coach Jake Weingartz got the Gatorade shower after clinching a share of the Metro title.
East came out after the break and marched down the field and scored at 8:43 of the third on a 19yard pass from Bulzan to Kyle Rachwal and Bulzan ran in the two-
point conversion. The Eagles hit a squib kick on the ensuing kickoff and Eli Bovee recovered for East, which took the ball and scored on a 15-yard run by Brad LaBrie.
BY DAN NILSEN 810-452-2655 • dnilsen@mihomepaper.com
Imlay City 1-8 1-8
Mayville 1-8
Peck 1-8 * Capac played Saturday, after the County Press deadline.
Playmakers of the Week Rushing Almont: Pat Finn 13 car, 144 yds, 2 TD Brown City: Nathan Primeau 10 car, 164 yds, 2 TD Dryden: Sean Murphy 20 car, 198 yds, 3 TD Imlay City: AJ Caldwell 18 car, 317 yds, 7 TD Lapeer East: Monta Stangler 21 car, 150 yds Marlette: Kolby Lange 6 car, 138 yds, 3 TD Marlette: Ryan Miller 3 car, 118 yds, 1 TD Mayville: Ryan Weckle 151 yds, 1 TD
Passing Lapeer West: Hunter Sharrard 16-of-25, 207 yds, 3 TD
Receiving Lapeer West: Zeshawn Jones-Parker 6 rec, 93 yds, 3 TD
SEE CHAMPS, PAGE 2B
Panthers roar back into playoffs
4-5
LakeVille
Henson hit the extra-point and gave East the 24-13 lead. Linden scored the final touchdown at :36 of the third on a 37-yard pass from
FLINT — You can’t keep a good team down for long. Lapeer West jumped back into the football playoffs after a one-year absence Friday night, whipping Kearsley, 31-7, in the regular season finale at Kearsley. Zeshawn JonesParker scored three touchdowns and Hunter Sharrard passed for three, as the Panthers finished at 6-3 to clinch
Photo by DAN NILSEN
West’s Hunter Sharrard got the pass off under heavy pressure.
their sixth playoff berth in seven years and 10th in the last 13 seasons. West ended 5-3 in the Metro League, one game out of a title share. “It feels really good,” said West coach Mike Smith. “I feel like we’re gaining and improving again. We had a point there in the season where we struggled a bit, but we fought through that and now we’re into another exciting part of the season. I’m really proud of our SEE PANTHERS, PAGE 4B
Broncos fall to Yale, drop to 4-5 LISA PAINE 810-452-2626 • lpaine@mihomepaper.com
YALE — North Branch’s hopes of sharing space on the slippery playoff bubble as a 5-4 team with a winning season went by the wayside Friday, when Yale slammed the window shut on that hope, 38-0. Instead, the Broncos have to be content with the 4-5 mark that on paper, doesn’t represent what the team did this season. “Absolutely nothing went right for us tonight,” said North Branch coach Pat Forster. Yale put North Branch in an early 16-0 hole using a stout double wing offense. The Bulldogs scored on a 42-yard pass play and made good on the conversion, then repeated the effort, this time on a 35-yard pass play with another good conversion. Yale’s third score of the
night was a five-yard run with yet another good conversion to leave the Broncos facing a 24-0 halftime deficit. Determined to chip away with an entire second half of football ahead of it, North Branch found itself denied at every opportunity. Yale scored in the third on a 27-yard run with the conversion good, then put the final nail in the coffin in the fourth on a fumble recovery in the endzone. As far as the highlight reel, it was short and sweet, with Jakob Bonner tallying 83 yards on 13 carries. “Yale did such a good job with ball control,” Forster said. “They run a double wing offense, ate the clock up, and they get a lot of credit on their coaching staff preparing for us.” Forster also pointed out that although he isn’t thrilled with the 4-5 record, “It just isn’t a good indica-
TVCEast
Photo by LISA PAINE
North Branch’s Jacob Pasek approaches the tee for a kickoff during the Bridgeport game at home last week.
tor of what the season was like for us and doesn’t speak to our players and how proud we are of them.” Several key North Branch players have showed their leadership, humility, and ability to ride the roller coaster that can be high school sports this
season. “Bonner, again, losing the (quarterback) position to Jacob Young this season, then stepping back in after Young suffered the high ankle sprain, that just shows his character,” Forster said. “Trevor Marceau, just how well he has played all season and
SPORTS EDITOR • Lisa Paine • lpaine@mihomepaper.com • 810.452.2626
Cody Bader just epitomizes what this team is all about and they will be greatly missed. As much as we are going to miss these guys, we have a lot of returning players and starters who were sophomores and freshmen, so we are very excited about next year and the 2012 season.”
Selection Sunday Football playoff pairings announced this Sunday on the Selection Sunday Show on Fox Sports.
SPORTS
INSIDE THE
20
Section
B
Sunday, Oct. 23, 2011
FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL RESULTS Week 9 playoff standings Clinched berth These teams are on their way to the playoffs.
Almont 8-1
Capac* 6-2
Lapeer East 7-2
Marlette 7-2
Brown City 6-3
Lapeer West 6-3
No chance These teams won’t be seeing playoff action this season.
Dryden 4-5
North Branch
Metro co-champs Eagles claim share of Metro League title with Holly and Fenton
METRO BY ERIK HOHENTHANER 810-452-2641 • ehohenthaner@mihomepaper.com
LINDEN — The Lapeer East football team clinched its ninth playoff appearance last week with its win over Swartz Creek. This week there was a bigger task at hand, as the Eagles were trying to win a piece of the Metro League championship. Mission accomplished. East went into Linden and handed the Eagles a 24-20 loss and knocked Linden from an automatic playoff berth. East beat Linden for the first time in the regular season since 2003. Linden jumped out to an early lead and looked poised to hand East another loss when Shaye Brown scored at 8:33 of the first quarter on a one-yard run and Ed Walterhouse converted the PAT. East responded with 36 seconds left when Gary Bulzan scored from one-yard out, but the PAT failed. Linden re-took the lead at 9:51 of the second quarter when Travis Marsh scored on a five-yard run, but the PAT was no good. East cut the deficit when Alex Henson made a 25-yard field goal with 2:59 left in the half. East trailed 13-9 heading into the break.
Photo by DON NELSON
East coach Jake Weingartz got the Gatorade shower after clinching a share of the Metro title.
East came out after the break and marched down the field and scored at 8:43 of the third on a 19yard pass from Bulzan to Kyle Rachwal and Bulzan ran in the two-
point conversion. The Eagles hit a squib kick on the ensuing kickoff and Eli Bovee recovered for East, which took the ball and scored on a 15-yard run by Brad LaBrie.
BY DAN NILSEN 810-452-2655 • dnilsen@mihomepaper.com
Imlay City 1-8 1-8
Mayville 1-8
Peck 1-8 * Capac played Saturday, after the County Press deadline.
Playmakers of the Week Rushing Almont: Pat Finn 13 car, 144 yds, 2 TD Brown City: Nathan Primeau 10 car, 164 yds, 2 TD Dryden: Sean Murphy 20 car, 198 yds, 3 TD Imlay City: AJ Caldwell 18 car, 317 yds, 7 TD Lapeer East: Monta Stangler 21 car, 150 yds Marlette: Kolby Lange 6 car, 138 yds, 3 TD Marlette: Ryan Miller 3 car, 118 yds, 1 TD Mayville: Ryan Weckle 151 yds, 1 TD
Passing Lapeer West: Hunter Sharrard 16-of-25, 207 yds, 3 TD
Receiving Lapeer West: Zeshawn Jones-Parker 6 rec, 93 yds, 3 TD
SEE CHAMPS, PAGE 2B
Panthers roar back into playoffs
4-5
LakeVille
Henson hit the extra-point and gave East the 24-13 lead. Linden scored the final touchdown at :36 of the third on a 37-yard pass from
FLINT — You can’t keep a good team down for long. Lapeer West jumped back into the football playoffs after a one-year absence Friday night, whipping Kearsley, 31-7, in the regular season finale at Kearsley. Zeshawn JonesParker scored three touchdowns and Hunter Sharrard passed for three, as the Panthers finished at 6-3 to clinch
Photo by DAN NILSEN
West’s Hunter Sharrard got the pass off under heavy pressure.
their sixth playoff berth in seven years and 10th in the last 13 seasons. West ended 5-3 in the Metro League, one game out of a title share. “It feels really good,” said West coach Mike Smith. “I feel like we’re gaining and improving again. We had a point there in the season where we struggled a bit, but we fought through that and now we’re into another exciting part of the season. I’m really proud of our SEE PANTHERS, PAGE 4B
Broncos fall to Yale, drop to 4-5 LISA PAINE 810-452-2626 • lpaine@mihomepaper.com
YALE — North Branch’s hopes of sharing space on the slippery playoff bubble as a 5-4 team with a winning season went by the wayside Friday, when Yale slammed the window shut on that hope, 38-0. Instead, the Broncos have to be content with the 4-5 mark that on paper, doesn’t represent what the team did this season. “Absolutely nothing went right for us tonight,” said North Branch coach Pat Forster. Yale put North Branch in an early 16-0 hole using a stout double wing offense. The Bulldogs scored on a 42-yard pass play and made good on the conversion, then repeated the effort, this time on a 35-yard pass play with another good conversion. Yale’s third score of the
night was a five-yard run with yet another good conversion to leave the Broncos facing a 24-0 halftime deficit. Determined to chip away with an entire second half of football ahead of it, North Branch found itself denied at every opportunity. Yale scored in the third on a 27-yard run with the conversion good, then put the final nail in the coffin in the fourth on a fumble recovery in the endzone. As far as the highlight reel, it was short and sweet, with Jakob Bonner tallying 83 yards on 13 carries. “Yale did such a good job with ball control,” Forster said. “They run a double wing offense, ate the clock up, and they get a lot of credit on their coaching staff preparing for us.” Forster also pointed out that although he isn’t thrilled with the 4-5 record, “It just isn’t a good indica-
TVCEast
Photo by LISA PAINE
North Branch’s Jacob Pasek approaches the tee for a kickoff during the Bridgeport game at home last week.
tor of what the season was like for us and doesn’t speak to our players and how proud we are of them.” Several key North Branch players have showed their leadership, humility, and ability to ride the roller coaster that can be high school sports this
season. “Bonner, again, losing the (quarterback) position to Jacob Young this season, then stepping back in after Young suffered the high ankle sprain, that just shows his character,” Forster said. “Trevor Marceau, just how well he has played all season and
SPORTS EDITOR • Lisa Paine • lpaine@mihomepaper.com • 810.452.2626
Cody Bader just epitomizes what this team is all about and they will be greatly missed. As much as we are going to miss these guys, we have a lot of returning players and starters who were sophomores and freshmen, so we are very excited about next year and the 2012 season.”
2-B • Sunday, October 23, 2011
www.mihomepaper.com
Falcons end season on sour note BY ERIK HOHENTHANER 810-452-2641 • ehohenthaner@mihomepaper.com
MILLINGTON — The LakeVille football team traveled to state-ranked Millington on Friday and discovered why the Cardinals are one of the top teams in Div. 5, as it lost, 63-6. The Falcons took the opening kickoff and scored to grab the early 6-0 lead, but the Cardinals pushed all the right buttons after that, as they scored 63 unanswered points to defeat the Falcons. David Rutherford scored the LakeVille touchdown on a five-yard pass from Eric Woolley. Rutherford led the defense with nine tackles and Mike Baier had one interception to lead the defense. Woolley led the offense with 70 yards rushing, while Garrett Taylor added 65 yards on the ground. LakeVille entered the game under-manned with just 19 players and had four leave with injuries during the game. “We were down to third-sting receiver and third-string lineman,” LakeVille coach Joe Beckwith said. “Their offensive line is big and they move people.” LakeVille finished the season with a 1-8 record and will look to use the summer to be more competitive next season. “It (the season) wasn’t as planned,” said Beckwith. It’s frustrating for me, it’s frustrating for the kids. We were out-powered and out-manned much of the season. We need to get bigger and LakeVille’s Garrett Taylor used his legs to chew up extra real estate earlier this season. stronger. The kids need to put in the time in the summer to get better.”
GAC
Champs from page 1B Brown to Mitch Juhl. Walterhouse added the PAT. The loss made Linden 5-4 on the year and on the bubble for the state playoffs. The last time Linden did not make the playoffs was 2001. Bulzan led the Eagles with 87 yards and one score on 27 carries and was 7-of-7 through the air for 64 yards. Monta Stangler ran 21 times for 150 yards and LaBrie converted eight touches into 80 yards and one score. Rachwal led the defense with six tackles, Nick Burgess made five stops, and Joe Perry recovered a fumble in the victory. “I am very proud of everyone,” said Lapeer East coach Jake
Weingartz. “They deserved it. It was a team win. The boys won it the right way with class. I’m happy for them and their families. It’s huge (Metro title). The kids worked hard for it all year.” Weingartz was doused with several buckets of Gatorade and he jumped around midfield celebrating with the East fans who stormed the field after the win. The Eagles finished the season 7-2 overall and will wait to see who their playoff opponent will be. East has a chance of hosting a playoff game next week. A likely scenario could be against West, depending on where the dividing line falls between divisions based on school enrollment numbers. Holly defeated Brandon, 24-14, on Friday and Fenton beat Swartz Creek, 31-7, to claim a share of the Metro title with East.
Photo by DAN NILSEN
Mayville concludes season on the road BY MICHAEL SELECKY 810-452-2632 • mselecky@mihomepaper.com
KINGSTON — Even though it may not show in their record, the Wildcats’ varsity football team is showing improvement from a year ago. This includes scoring 107 points in eight games this season after putting up a mere 69 in 2010 coming into last Friday’s game at North Central Thumb League rival Kingston, and while Mayville went out fighting, it still ended up on the wrong side of a 44-28 decision. Despite the otherwise gloomy background, the Wildcats still had several athletes that were able to shine, including Ryan Weckle with a team-leading 151 rushing yards and a score along with an 8-for-13 passing performance that netted 65 yards and one touchdown. Brandon Gott was also on his game for
Mayville with 104 yards on the ground with one touchdown, and making seven catches for 54 yards and a score was Michael Shaver, who led the defense with 10 tackles. These two teams have created a bit of a tradition by ending the season against one another every year since 1991 and recently have been fairly even with Kingston winning 18-6 in 2010 and Mayville coming out ahead, 20-7, in 2009, 49-29 in 2008, and, 42-28 in 2007. With the victory Kingston upped its record to 7-2 overall, 2-2 NCTL. The Wildcats’ lone win of 2011 came on Sept. 30 at home with a 48-0 defeat of Dearborn Heights Star International Academy. For 2011, the Wildcats scored 135 points and allowed 407 to end up with a record of 18 overall, 0-5 Greater Thumb Conference-East.
GTC
Caldwell’s record night ends Spartans’ three-year losing streak
Photo by KELLY STANLEY
Imlay City’s Hugo Leonardi (14) looks to hand off against Cros-Lex last week. BY BRANDON POPE 810-452-2651 • bpope@mihomepaper.com
IMLAY CITY— It took a few years, and a lot of carries from AJ Caldwell, but the Spartans finally ended their losing streak, winning their first game of the year in the season finale with a 68-30 win over Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port. It didn’t take Caldwell long to get warmed up, scoring the first points of the game on a 54-yard touchdown scamper, with the failed point-after giving the Spartans a 6-0 lead. The Lakers would take the lead after a touchdown and successful two-point conversion, but Caldwell put them back under, as he ripped off a 62-yard touchdown to take the lead back, 128. The Lakers reclaimed the lead, and once again Caldwell snatched it away, this time on a five-yard run, followed by a successful conversion. Caldwell continued to pound away at the Laker defense, as he extended the Spartans’ lead with touchdown runs of 48 and seven yards. Kent Wargo finally broke the mold, as the first Spartan aside from Caldwell to score, taking it to paydirt from 10 yards out. Chase Forsyth would put a
touchdown on the board from the defensive side of the ball, as he took an interception 45-yards to the endzone. Wargo would score yet again, this time from 10 yards out. After that, the Spartans went back to Caldwell, who scored on a 42-yard run. ElktonPigeon-Bay Port responded with a touchdown, but Caldwell punched it down their throats yet again, scoring on a five-yard scamper. The Lakers would score again, but it was too little, too late, as the Spartans cruised to a 68-30 win, their first victory since defeating Breckenridge on October 24, 2008. AJ Caldwell rushed for 317 yards on 18 carries, and broke a school record with seven touchdowns. Hugo Leonardi completed 3-of-6 passes for 22 yards. Defensively, Zach Rosillo racked up 13 tackles, while AJ Kanaziz totaled seven. “Well, its’ been a long time coming,” said assistant coach John Topie. “I don’t think they scouted us, which was to our advantage. When we get Caldwell on the trap, its hard to stop him.” The Spartans end their season with an overall record of 1-8.
BWAC
Sunday, October 23, 2011 • 3-B
www.mihomepaper.com
Cardinals finish 4-5 for the season
Photo by LISA PAINE
The Brown City football team got the call from Ryan Spokaeski in a huddle at home last week.
Green Devils qualify for postseason BY MICHAEL SELECKY 810-452-2632 • mselecky@mihomepaper.com
Photo by MICHAEL SELECKY
Dryden’s Evan Paupert (5) took the snap during a recent home game. LISA PAINE 810-452-2626 • lpaine@mihomepaper.com
MORRICE — The Dryden football team had a long bus ride home to think about the season after defeating league rival Morrice, 43-28, last Friday. The Cards end the 2011 season at 4-5 overall. Dryden cruised to a 30-6 half-time lead after putting up nine points in the first quarter and 21 in the second. Sean Murphy scored on a 53-yard run with failed PAT, but Joe Sturza split the uprights with a 31-yard field goal to keep the pendulum swinging in the Cards’ favor. Morrice scored on a Mortimore sixyard run with failed kick to trail, 9-6, after the first quarter. Dryden owned the second quarter with Jake Jonik scoring on a 28-yard run and Sturza
was good on the point-after. Evan Paupert called his own number and reached the paint on a 21-yard run with Sturza again good on the pointafter. Murphy then scored on a fouryard jaunt and Sturza was golden once again. Morrice had the only score of the third quarter on a 8-yard pass from Josh Stambaugh to Kaleb Butler and Mortimer ran in the conversion. A 29yard reception from Butler to Stambaugh kept Morrice chipping away at the deficit, but Murphy plunged in from one-yard out with a failed kick attempt, then Jonik ran in a four-yard scamper and Sturza booted the PAT. Morrice had one last jab at Dryden on a blocked punt return, but the deficit was too big and time ran out. Murphy had 20 carries for 198 yards and Paupert had 15 for 88.
GACBlue
Area Briefs West Side Panthers to hold bowling fundraiser
Beckwith. Details: 810591-4039 or jbeckwith@lakevillescho ols.org. — E.H.
ALMONT — The Lapeer West Side Panthers 12U baseball team is having a bowling fundraiser at Almont’s Hideaway Lanes on Oct. 29 with check-in beginning at 8:15 p.m. The cost is $15 for three games of bowling and shoes. A euchre tournament will also take place. The proceeds will go toward supporting the team’s trip to Cal Ripken’s baseball tournament in Myrtle Beach next summer. Details: Mary at 810338-3199 or mary@kopris .com. — E.H.
Mark the date for Selection Sunday playoffs show
Former Falcon excels in college ASHLAND, OHIO — LakeVille graduate Laura Clark has made the adjustment to the collegiate level of soccer and then some. The freshman goalkeeper at Ohio Dominican University posted her fifth straight shutout of the season in a 1-0 overtime victory over Ashland. The shutout was the sixth on the season for Clark. — E.H.
Chiefs, Falcons looking for new soccer coaches CAPAC — The Chiefs are looking for a girls’ soccer coach with previous coaching experience. Anyone interested should end a resume to Capac athletic director Arnie Vandemark. Details: avandemark@capac.k12 .mi.us. — E.H. LAKEVILLE — The Falcons are seeking a girls’ soccer coach. Anyone interested can contact LakeVille athletic director Joe
LAPEER — High school football fans will want to circle Sunday, Oct. 23 on the calendar when FOX Sports Detroit hosts its annual Selection Sunday show to reveal the postseason playoff teams. The show airs at 7 p.m. with district play beginning either Oct. 28 or 29, or Nov. 4 or 5. Regional play follows on Nov. 11 or 12 with semifinals on Nov. 19 and the finals at Ford Field Nov. 25-26. Details: www.mhsaa.com, football link. — L.P.
Adult Trivia Night slated for Nov. 11 LAPEER — Lapeer East and RollandWarner athletics are sponsoring a Lapeer Community Schools Fall Adult Trivia Night on Nov. 11 at 6:30 p.m. at the Lapeer Center Building. All participants must be 21 or older. Each team consists of eight people and costs $100 per table. The night will consist of 10 rounds of trivia with 10 questions per round. Also included will be raffles, door prizes, silent auction, concessions and music. Space is limited to 50 teams so pre-registration is recommended by Oct. 15. Walk-ins are welcome at $120 per team if space allows. Details: Jen Taylor at 538-2334 or jtaylor@lapeerschools.or g or Sharon Miller at 667-2418 or shmiller@lapeerschools.org. — E.H.
BROWN CITY — With two home games left in the regular season, the Green Devils’ varsity football team had a record of 4-3 overall and needed to win-out in order to qualify for the Michigan High School Athletic Association season-ending championship tournament. Last week, Brown City took the first step on that journey by upsetting Marlette on homecoming night, 43-12, and last Friday capped things off with a 66-6 drubbing of North Central Thumb League rival Memphis. Having jumped out to leads of 22-0 and 37-6 at the end of the first and second quarters, it was Nathan Primeau who opened the scoring for the Green Devils with five and forty-yard touchdowns runs that were sandwiched around an 18-yard endzone jaunt by Jacob Primeau. That led to a second stanza that started with a 75yard scoring connection from Ryan Spokaeski to Tyler Banks that Spokaeski then followed up for Brown City with a 10yard sprint to paydirt. While Memphis did end the first half with its only score of the game, Jacob Primeau answered back with a 15-yard touchdown run to open the third quarter scoring that set the scene for Cody Laroque’s 17-yard rumble that put the Green Devils up 41-6. Chris Fischer continued the trend for Brown City in the fourth on a 10-yard touchdown blast that Aaron
McIntosh put the final touches on with a 75-yard interception return to close out the evening’s offense. Heading up this fireworks display of gridiron supremacy for the Green Devils was Jacob Primeau with 164 yards rushing yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries, Jacob Primeau ran the ball seven times for 74 yards and a pair of endzone trips and connecting on 1-of-3 passes for 75 yards and a score was Spokaeski. As a team, Brown City put up 348 rushing yards on 30 carries for 11 first downs. Nathan Primeau was also among the defensive standouts for the Green Devils with seven tackles, putting him just behind Dan Lindsay with a team-high nine defensive stops and even with Brandon Angerbrandt’s seven-tackle showing. “Our kids came out and set the tone early with a score on the opening drive. Our offensive line played great again this week, creating some nice holes for our backs to run through,” said coach Scott Banks. “Nate Primeau had another great game and now has 1,308 rushing yards for the season. Dan Lindsay was our defensive leader. Hopefully, we can keep our momentum going into next week for the first round of the playoffs.” Overall, Memphis had 127 rushing yards on 35 attempts and completed 4-of-8 passes for 37 yards and two interceptions. Brown City ends the regular season with a record of 6-3 overall, 2-3 Greater Thumb Conference-East.
GTC
4-B • Sunday, October 23, 2011
www.mihomepaper.com
Red Raiders awaken to pound Pirates BY DAN NILSEN 810-452-2655 • dnilsen@mihomepaper.com
BWAC Raiders roll into state BY BRANDON POPE 810-452-2651 • bpope@mihomepaper.com
OVID-ELSIE— The Almont Raiders improved their overall record to 8-1 to finish the season, as they took victory in their season finale, a 28-21 win at OvidElsie. Coming into this week, the Raiders were ranked fifth in the Div. 5 state ratings. Ovid-Elsie opened up the scoring, but it didn’t take long for Almont to respond. Pat Finn would score on a 15-yard run to knot things up. After the Marauders reclaimed the lead, Almont evened the score once again. Brent Gibbs hit Kevin Creger for an eight-yard score, deadlocking the contest at 14-14 heading into the half. Almont would score first in the second half when Finn scampered seven yards for the score. Aaron Born increased the lead when he scored on a 29yard run, making it 28-14. Ovid-Elsie would cut the lead in half, but ran out of time, as Almont took its eighth win of the season, 2821. Finn carried the ball 13 times for 144 yards and two touchdowns. Born carried the ball four times for 37 yards and a score. The Raiders, now 8-1, will await the Sunday Selection Show at 7 p.m. on Fox Sports Net to find out who they will be playing in the first round of the playoffs next week.
PECK — Marlette got an early poke from Peck, but pulled together to put away the Pirates, 52-14, Friday in the regular-season football finale for both schools. The Red Raiders trailed, 14-7, late in the first quarter, but exploded for four touchdowns of 75 yards or more to finish 7-2 overall. Peck ended at 1-8. Kolby Lange rushed for 138 yards and two touchdowns on six carries and Ryan Miller had 118 yards and a score on just three carries, as Marlette rolled up 394 yards on the ground. Lange hit 4of-8 passes for 118 yards and the Red Raiders totaled 529 yards of offense on just 25 plays. “We started slow tonight,” said Marlette coach Denny Lester. “Peck came out and really played well. We didn’t really change anything at the half. We just came out and played our game.” Lange gave Marlette a 7-0 lead on an 18-yard run, but Peck dominated time of possession and slowly built its 14-7 edge. J.T Cahoon’s 7-yard run and Jake Overstreet’s two-point conversion on a Tim Logghe pass put the Pirates up, 8-7. Nolan Kreiner then intercepted a pass to set up his own 10-yard scoring run for a 14-7 lead.
Photo by LISA PAINE
Marlette quarterback Kolby Lange had another big rushing night, with help from linemen like Evan Howard (62).
But Justin Carello threw the first lightning bolt at the Pirates seconds later with a 75-yard kickoff return to pull the Red Raiders within 14-13 after one quarter. Donnie Thomas then put Marlette ahead for good with a 40-
yard score with 2:39 left in the half for a 19-14 lead at intermission. The Red Raiders struck quickly again at 9:28 of the third on Lange’s 94-yard touchdown bomb to Carello, and Lange followed six minutes later with a 77-yard burst
for a 33-14 lead. Joey Volz added a 1-yard touchdown run just before the end of the period, and Anthony Kappen scored from the two-yard line early in the fourth for a 45-14 command. Marlette finished the night with a final lightning bolt on Ryan Miller’s 91-yard touchdown sprint with 3:13 left. “We poked a sleepy lion and they woke up and bit us,” said Peck coach Rob McDaniel. “We just don’t have the team speed to keep up with anyone this year.” The Pirates ran 71 plays to Marlette’s 25 and totaled 235 yards, including 153 rushing yards on 57 tries. Cahoon led the ground game with 73 yards on 20 carries. Marlette now looks forward to the postseason. “We can’t start slow next week in the playoffs or our season with be over with,” said Lester. Photo by DALE BALL
Peck’s Brett Dankenbring backed up James Logghe as he made a reception.
Panthers from page 1B kids for the way they persevered.” West jumped out to a 17-0 lead in the first 12:09. Sharrard threw a 10yard touchdown pass to David Price with 6:55 left in the first quarter and Kyle Swailes tacked on the first of his four extra points. Jones-Parker bolted 35 yards for another score at the 1:07 mark for a 14-0 lead. Kearsley fumbled the ensuing kickoff right into the arms of Vann Spinney and Swailes converted it into a 40-yard field goal nine seconds into the second quarter for a 17-0 command. The Hornets got their only score at 8:01 of the second on a 66-yard touchdown bomb, but they never came close to the endzone again.
Jones-Parker caught a 21-yard touchdown pass from Sharrard, wrestling the ball away from a Kearsley defender in the endzone, for a 24-7 lead with 59 seconds left in the half. West reached the Kearsley six-yard line early in the second half before running out of downs. But the Panthers came back later in the period to score on Sharrard’s 28-yard pass to Darrell Bougie, who made a sensational catch in the endzone, while falling to the ground with a defender all over him. West’s defense took care of the rest, holding Kearsley to 140 total yards, 67 on the ground. The Panthers rolled up 350 yards, with Sharrard hitting 16-of-25 passes for 207. Jones-Parker had six catches for 93 yards, and Chad Ferguson led the ground game with 66 yards on 17 carries.
Sale ends November 5th, 2011
Band of the Week Photo by SHEILA MILLER
Lapeer West senior Autumn Burgett is a varsity cheerleader and a member of the drumline. — L.P.
Sunday, October 23, 2011 • 5-B
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District Champs Eagles, Spartans, Red Raiders win district titles BY SPORTS STAFF
GOODRICH — Lapeer East won its third straight district soccer title and sixth in seven years with a 3-0 victory over Marysville in Friday’s Div. 2 final at Goodrich. Evan Schlaud and Troy Willmer scored first-half goals, and Spencer Worden connected early in the second half, as the Eagles advanced to Tuesday’s 5 p.m. regional semifinal at Fenton against either Kearsley or Clio. Colin Owen had four saves in his 42nd career shutout, extending the area career record he broke in Wednesday’s 1-0 semifinal win over Goodrich. East also extended its record to 17-0-5, as the first undefeated team in school history, but the fourth-ranked Eagles have to at least match last year’s trip to the state semifinals to be considered the best team in East history. “It’s a situation where we’re only as good as the next game,” said eighth-year coach Chad Kenny. “Ask me at the end of the season and I’ll have a better answer then.” Schlaud gave East a 1-0 lead six minutes into the game on an assist from Alex Podolski. Willmer made it 2-0 in the 18th minute on a pass from Brian Johnson. The Eagles iced it 4:40 into the second half when Alex Henson’s shot caromed off the left post and Worden buried the rebound from the right side. East might have actually won the district Wednesday with its 1-0 victory over host Goodrich. Podolski scored just 7:49 into the game on an assist from Worden, and the Eagles made it stand up against a solid Martians team. Owen had seven saves to post his area record-breaking 41st career shutout. “I thought we played well,” said Kenny. “We limited Goodrich’s chances to score by playing good defense. Colin had to make a couple really good saves, one free kick that was just under the bat by their forward, (Kenny) Rappuhn, that was going in. But our defenders in front of Owen played great.” Podolski’s goal was a hard drive from 27 yards out that barely got over Goodrich goalie Thomas Flotemersch. “Alex’s shot was amazing,” said Kenny. “He is capable of scoring in all sorts of ways. I think that’s his favorite. We captured it on tape and watched it in practice the next day. I think it was more amazing on film.” Goodrich, the Genesee Area Conference champion, finished at 12-8-1 with its second 1-0 loss to East this season. “East has a lot to offer,” said Martians’ coach Evan Huizenga. “They are talented and organized. We (Kenny) are good friends and respect each other. I sent Chad a message telling him that I hate to lose, but it’s just a bit easier to take when you lose to a team you respect. I am happy for them and hope they can make a great run into the postseason.” After knocking out St. Clair in the first round of districts with a 1-0 win in double overtime, the Lapeer West Panthers’ soccer season came to a disappointing end on Wednesday. The Panthers faced off with one of the better teams in the area in Marysville, falling to the Vikings, 3-0. The loss puts Lapeer West’s final record at 5-13-3 overall. — D.N./B.P.
Imlay City No. 38-3 After battling head-to-head with Blue Water Area Conference rival Richmond twice during the regular season, the Spartans found themselves facing them one more time last Friday, only now the two teams were competing for the district title. While this may seem like the recipe for high drama, Imlay City put that to rest rather
quickly by jumping out to a 4-0 lead at halftime on its way to an 8-0 victory. Grabbing the first goal for Imlay City at 24:45 on the pass from Stephen Sanders was Jose Barragan, making it a 2-0 game once Salvador Barragan connected on a penalty kick at 19:37 after getting taken down in the box. Salvador Barragan then headed in a Photo by MICHAEL SELECKY rebound off of a Jose The Imlay City varsity soccer team posed with its Div. 3 district trophy won Friday at Imlay City. Barragan free kick at 9:14 that RJ See followed with a diving header of his own on a crossing pass No. 15-4. The regional final is from Salvador Barragan. After set for Oct. 29 at 11 a.m. The Red Raiders were one the break it was See who put win away from their first socImlay City up, 5-0, at 30:47 with help from Jose Barragan, cer district championship, as they defeated Dryden on only to see Salvador Thursday, 5-0. Marlette Barragan score his third goal advanced to the semifinals of the night at 28:48 on a soft shot that slipped through the with a 5-0 win over New Life. Mike Boyne led the way hands of the Richmond for Marlette with three goals, goalie. From there Jose Barragan and Jovan Cardenas while Matt King and Alex Byars each scored. Assists finished things off for the went to Alex Hayden with Spartans by scoring at 12:28 two, and Cody Ray and Andy and 12:07, respectively. “Everything went well. The Bowman. Jacob Kipp made three saves to earn the guys hustled a lot because they new it was the finals and shutout. “Dryden started slow and really stood up for themnever recovered, as Marlette selves,” said coach Luis scored twice, taking a 2-0 Hernandez. “Everything we halftime lead,” said Dryden did today we’ve been doing all year. We haven’t changed.” coach Ken Kunz. “In the second half Dryden started movIn goal, Matt Van Dyk and ing the ball and getting shots Jordan Darnell combined to Photo by MICHAEL SELECKY make 10 saves. Imlay City, 19- off, but hardly threatened. Mathew Kunz made 10 saves, 1-1 overall, 13-1 BWAC, plays Imlay CIty’s Jose Barragan controls the ball assisted by RJ See. some of these were very diffithe winner of Monroe/Grosse cult. (I am) very proud how Ile at Detroit Country Day much he worked himself regional No. 10-3 on Tuesday. In order to make it this far, back into the line up after his surgery.” Imlay City first had to get It was a good season for past Almont in the semifinals Dryden as our roster numlast Wednesday amidst absolutely horrendous weath- bers grew in October, roster grew to 16. I'm excited as we er conditions that included a look to the future as our steady downpour exacerbatfreshmen/sophomore numed by an undying wind. bers are very good and there Despite this, the Spartans is talent coming back, but were still able to down the Raiders, 3-0, as Jose Barragan also sad to see a great group of seniors leaving. Special got the offense going at 21:30 thanks to John Burke for all and 22:53, the second of his help, this team got better which came on a free kick. because of your hard dedicatAlejandro Zepeda then coned work, very well done.” nected on an insurance goal Dryden ended the year at with 70 seconds left in the 6-10 overall, 2-7 Genesee Area game by way of a penalty Conference-Blue. shot to keep goalie Van Dyk’s Brown City defeated eight-save shutout firmly in Landmark Academy to tact. advance to the finals, 6-1. The Almont began the season score was tied at one at the as a front runner in the Blue half before Brown City Water Area Conference, and exploded for five second half seemed as if it may clear the goals. Goals went to Morgan table in the conference. Unfortunately for the Raiders, Grutsch with four, Matt Takacs and Dylan Bandmer. Imlay City put a road block Assists went to Antonio on both their regular season Sanson, Matt Perry with two, and post season aspirations. Takacs, Bandemer and Kyle “We played well today and Loren. Alex Carpenter made this was a key game for us. three saves to earn the victoNow we have to focus on ry. — E.H./M.S. Friday,” said Hernandez. — Photo by DALE BALL M.S./B.P. The Marlette varsity soccer team with its district hardware.
New Life Christian No. 60-4 Marlette ended up with its firstever district title in boys’ soccer as it defeated Greater Thumb Conference-East rival Brown City, 4-0, Friday. The two teams met twice in the regular season with Marlette winning both games by scores of 4-1 and 4-0. The Red Raiders will play on Tuesday at 4 p.m. against either Auburn Hills Oakland Christian Photo by DAN NILSEN or Sterling Heights Parkway Christian in The Lapeer East soccer team displayed its Div. 2 district title, the third consecutive, sixth of seven. the regional at Oakland Christian
6-B • Sunday, October 23, 2011
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Around the Horn BROWN CITY Cross country Greater Thumb ConferenceEast cross country runners put their legs to the test in the league meet at Lakers with the boys’ fielding an incomplete team and the girls’ squad placed fourth. Eli Poth led the boys in third place in 17:09.36, Chad Jackson was 12th in 18:45.08, Lewis Porter was 23rd in 21:27.47 and William Hermann was 27th in 23:27.24. In the girls’ race, Sandusky won, Mayville was second, Marlette third, and Brown City fourth. Lauren Kalbfleisch was 10th in 22:27.84 and Lily Brewster, Mariah Martus and Sarah White broke the top 20 with Brewster 17th in 24:30.93, Martus was 19th in 24:45.87 and White was 20th in 25:29.44. Susan Tebo was 27th in 28:57.07. — L.P. Volleyball Brown City downed the Lady Wildcats last Tuesday in GTC-East action, 25-12, 25-13, 25-12. Chelsey Ford recorded 16 digs and 11 service points, while Samantha Gierman had 26 attacks and 10 kills. Brianne VanBuskirk posted 38 good sets, along with 24 assists. “We played extremely well and we are trying to use every game and practice to prepare ourselves for districts,” said Brown City coach Nicole Jones. “We had fun and showed a lot of teamwork.” For Mayville, Alex Diller came through with 20 digs, Crystal Savage had 10 digs and four kills, and going 8-for8 on the serve with five points and two aces was Kelsey Blasdell. The Lady Wildcats were at Bendle on Saturday. — B.P./M.S.
IMLAY CITY Volleyball The Spartans traveled to Richmond on Thursday and returned home with a 22-25, 25-19, 25-22, 25-21 win. Carissa McDougall led the way with 10 kills and six digs, Jennifer Jerzewski added 10 kills and two blocks, and Autumn Fruciano had 27 digs and two aces. Imlay City, 11-21-3 overall, 6-7 BWAC, traveled to the Davison tournament yesterday and host Cros-Lex on Tuesday. — E.H.
LAKEVILLE Volleyball The Falcons hosted a nonleague meet Thursday and swept both visiting teams, downing Genesee Christian, 25-20, 25-19, and Mayville, 2512, 27-25. The Falcons will play their final Genesee Area Conference-Red match Tuesday at Goodrich, then compete in the league tournament next Saturday. — D.N.
LAPEER Swim and Dive The co-op Lapeer swim and dive team defeated KearsleyClio, 88-87, Tuesday at Kearsley. Emily Shallman set yet
another school record, this time in the 100 backstroke in 1:06.55. Lapeer was first to the wall in the 200 medley relay in 2:06.21 with Sarah Crittenden, Emily Corriveau, Shallman and Jen Mausolf taking charge. Mandy Menosky, Lindsay Kile, Reagan Patercsak and Chantelle Barbera were third in 2:21.04. Mausolf won the 200 freestyle in 2:20.45, Megan Verbeke was second in 2:27.02 and Emily Boomer was third in 2:27.54. Corriveau won the 200 IM in 2:31.06, Shallman was first in the 50 freestyle in 26.35 and Molly Brown was second in 28.95. Alycia Mausolf was third in the onemeter diving with 82.75 points, while Crittenden won the 100 butterfly in 1:13.82, with Maranda Rutkowski second in 1:41.61. Mausolf touched first in the 100 freestyle in 1:01.88, Brown was second in 1:02.54 and Menosky was third in 1:03.63. Verbeke went on to place second in the 500 freestyle in 6:39.34 and Boomer was third in 6:41.39. In the 200 free relay, Mausolf, Brown, Corriveau and Shallman were first in 1:51.57 and Rutkowski, Barbera, Patercsak and Verbeke were third in 2:06.10. Lapeer exhibitioned the final couple races with Shallman setting the new record in the backstroke, while Crittenden posted a 1:15.07 and Menosky posted a 1:19.40. In the breaststroke Corriveau touched in 1:17.00, Hannah Hastings posted a 1:28.58 and Kile a 1:29.01. The 400 free relay teams also exhibitioned their race with Crittenden, Menosky, Brown and Rutkowski stopping the clock in 4:26.94, Barbera, Boomer, Kaylyn Buzzell and Verbeke posted a 4:38.33 and Mackenzie Martin, Kassy Aalbertsberg, Jerrica CLemens and Elaine Smith touched the wall in 4:57.81. Lapeer improved to 7-3 with a win over Flint Southwestern in a dual-double that included Davison on Oct. 17. Because Lapeer had already defeated Davison earlier this season, the two teams scrimmaged. Against Flint, Lapeer defeated the Knights, 88-8. Jenny Bruce, Buzzell, Martin and Anna Webber were first in the 200 IM in 2:38.52 and Mary Proulx, Aubrey Bayer, Hana Fantin and Sara Burns were second in 2:54.25. Barbera won the 200 freestyle in 2:35.22, Aalbertberg was second in 2:42.85 and Alyssa Barnhart was third in 2:56.40. Kile won the 200 IM in 2:59.39, Elsa Baeckeroot was second in 3:07.46 and Buzzell was third in 3:15.42. Boomer won the 50 freestyle in 31.59 and Webber was second in 32.02. Melissa Hitch won the 100 butterfly in 1:32.54, Martin was second in 1:33.13 and Webber was third in 1:40.58. Barbera won the 100 freestyle in 1:09.70, Kile was second in 1:13.67 and Bruce third in 1:17.39. Aalbertsberg won the 500 freestyle in 7:18.69 and Smith was second in 7:31.06. Lapeer was first and second in the 200 free relay with Clemens, Proulx, Burns and Barbera first in 2:15.92 and Barnhart, Elizabeth Brown, Maddie
Photo by ERIK HOHENTHANER
Imlay City setter Page Queener prepares to let loose on a serve.
Schmidt and Bayer were second in 2:36.56. Bruce touched the wall first in the 100 backstroke in 1:29.87 and Clemens was second in 1:31.00. Patercsak won the 100 breaststroke in 1:31.47, Buzzell was second in 1:36.90 and Bayer third in 1:39.47. The final event went in favor of Lapeer with Smith, Bruce, Barnhart and Clemens winning the 400 free relay in 5:18.94. Fantin, Brown, Schmitt and Kala Cousineau were second in 6:18.14. Kudos also to Shallman, as the Lapeer East sophomore and member of the Liquid Lightening club team, was recently named to the USA Swimming Scholastic AllAmerican Team. Each year, USA Swimming recognizes its members who excel in the classroom and in the pool. The Scholastic All-America Team is made up of high school student-athletes who have a grade point average of 3.5 or higher and who have achieved the required time standard in a single event. This year, more than 1,700 student-athletes made the cut. — L.P.
LAPEER EAST Cross Country The Lapeer East girls’ cross country team took fifth place in the Metro League tournament on Wednesday. Allyssa Mazur-Batistoni led the Eagles with a 21:21 and Amy Gaylor finished 21:50, earning the duo Second-Team All-Metro honors. Shleby Dulin finished at 22:24 and earned honorable mention honors. The boys’ team finished in ninth place led by Lucas Bonesteel at 18:53, Josh Kimsey at 19:40 and Jared Putz at 19:46. — E.H.
Photo by KEVIN GREGORY
North Branch’s Jamie Barrows set the ball.
LAPEER WEST Volleyball The Panthers, 25-14-5 overall, 6-2 Metro, participated in a quad on Wednesday and went 2-1 on the night. West defeated Goodrich, 25-19, 2225, 25-23, and Oxford, 25-19, 25-22, and fell to Flushing, 1925, 22-25. Leading the way for West was Katie Eckel with 27 kills and seven blocks, Marnie Fettig had 70 assists, Shelby Wagner added 17 kills, and Maddison Smith came through with 17 kills and four blocks. — E.H.
MARLETTE Cross country Last Tuesday, the Marlette boys’ team won the Greater Thumb Conference-East meet, Mayville placed second, Ubly was third and Sandusky was fourth. The Bowman brothers took the top two finishes with Jacob breaking the tape in 16:00.97, while Andy posted a second-place time of 16:47.19. Matthew Titus was fourth in 17:22.11, with Dale Marcus ninth in 18:14.34, and Nick Shaver ninth in 18:18.06. Matt Chappel was 13th in 18:54.34 and just missing the top 20 in 21st was Alex Herman in 20:41.56. In the girls’ race, Sandusky won, Mayville was second, Marlette third, and Brown City fourth. Mackenzie Kelly was third in 20:52.20, Larissa Duff was 14th in 23:34.64. Sami Sission was 22nd in 26:07.44, Randy Hughes was 23rd in 26:16.70, and Tori Mock wasn’t far behind in 25th in 27:38.09. — L.P. Volleyball With only two home games left in the regular season, the Lady Raiders hosted GTC-East rival Ubly last Tuesday, winning, 25-23, 24-26, 25-23, 27-25. Serving 16-for-16 with 10 assists, 13 kills and three aces to lead the offense for Marlette was Karley Sauder, Keara Wilson was 23-of-24 on the serve with four assists, three kills and three aces, and putting up 11 assists, 11 kills, five blocks and four aces was Rachel McEwen. T The Lady Red Raiders, 1818-2 overall, 7-2 GTC-East, were at the North Branch Invitational yesterday. — M.S.
Photo by DAN NILSEN
Lapeer East sophomore Emily Shallman was named to the USA Swimming Scholastic All-American Team. She also broke another school record this week, in the 100 backstroke.
MAYVILLE Cross Country The Wildcats finished second in the boys’ and girls’ races of the Greater Thumb Conference meet on Tuesday, with the girls totaling 52 points, while the boys had 62. Ruth Squires earned First Team All-Conference, finishing seventh in 21:44. Second-team honors were awarded to Nicole Redfield, finishing eighth in 21:45, and Ashley McMullen, who finished in 11th in 23:05. Jordan Dunham and Emily Middleton made honorable mention, finishing 15th and 16th, respectively. In the boys’ race, Nick Fox was named First Team AllConference, finishing in sixth in 17:49. Second-Team honors went to Kyle Baxter, finishing eighth in 18:06, and Francis Buggia, who finished 14th in 19:04. Justin Harris got honorable mention, finishing 19th in 20:04. Mayville will travel to Caro on Saturday for the Caro Meet. — B.P. Volleyball In a tri-meet last Thursday, Mayville lost to LakeVille, 1225, 25-27, and Genesee Christian, 15-25, 20-25. Crystal Savage had 12 digs and 10 kills, Maja Majchrzak had 11 points and five aces, and Alex Diller and Madison Frenzel came through with 13 and 11 digs, respectively. Kelsey Blasdell added 12 assists and eight digs, and Hayley Phelps chipped in with five points. The Lady Wildcats were at
Bendle yesterday. — M.S.
NORTH BRANCH Cross Country The boys’ and girls’ teams finished in 19th at the TriValley Conference meet on Tuesday. Morgan Sawgle led the girls, finishing 46th in 21:52. Maggie Verellen came in 75th in 23:06, while Stephanie Schlaud finished 105th in 25:05. “The girls ran well,” said coach Jason Castle. “There were some career best times set. Great meet with great competition.” Ryan Garza came in 59th for the boys with a careerbest time of 18:16. Kristopher Bennett came in 105th in 20:02, while Fox Parton finished 112th in 20:25. “The guys ran well,” continued Castle. “There were some career best times set. Great course with great competition.” — B.P. Volleyball North Branch traveled to Garber on Wednesday and spoiled the Dukes’ Senior Night, 25-7, 25-15, 25-21. Sam Garza led the offense with 13 kills and two blocks, while Micaela Deshetsky had nine kills, Rachel Fish came through with 22 digs and four aces, Whitney Strich addded four digs and two aces, and Jamie Barrows and Ally Ruhlman combined for 24 assists. The Broncos, 40-15-1 overall, 4-1 TVC-East, hosted the North Branch Invitational on Saturday. — E.H.