MHSAA Football - Championship Games Recap

It’s a wrap! High school football season is over and nine teams have been crowned champions for 2014 in their respective divisions. One of the things that stuck out most to me is that seven of the nine teams that won a state championship were private schools. The other two didn’t have a private school playing (Division 1 and 8 Player.) This sparked a lot of debate in multiple places about recruiting at these schools and whether they should have a separate playoff for these private schools. If you want to know my thoughts, it all boils down to that old cliché, “If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best.” Let’s move on to the results from last weekend’s state finals.

Division 1

Clarkston 33 Saline 25

This game was fairly close for the most part. There were times that Saline led and times that Clarkston led. Clarkston made the plays when they needed to and despite a few problems, they won the game. Their rushing game as led by Nolan Eriksen who ran 28 times for 173 yards and three scores. Quarterback DJ Zezula rushed 17 times for 129 yards and a score while also completing six of his nine passes for 100 yards and a score. Merrick Canada caught two passes for 66 yards and a touchdown. For Saline, quarterback Josh Jackson completed 20 of his 31 passes for 237 yards and an interception. He also ran 17 times for 101 yards and a score. Jeb Palka was his favorite target with eight catches for 74 yards. Kevin Gross ran eight times for 60 yards and a pair of scores.

Division 2

Warren DeLaSalle 44 Muskegon Mona Shores 8

Who would have thought that the Pilots would have won a state title? At one point this season, they had a 3-3 record. Now they have their first football state title. They played tough defense and were able to get points on the board throughout the game. Warren DeLaSalle quarterback Joey Garbarino completed all seven of his passes for 89 yards and a touchdown. He rushed 18 times for 90 yards and two more scores. Leading receiver was Myles Charley with four receptions for 62 yards. Allen Stritzinger led the rushing attack with 18 carries for 178 yards and a touchdown. Kicker Jake Townsley nailed all three of his field goals. On the Mona Shores side, quarterback Tyree Jackson completed 17 of his 27 passes for 102 yards and a touchdown. Tyler Trovinger caught that touchdown on his only receptions (12 yards.) DeOntay Moffett carried the ball 18 times for 85 yards. Darece Roberson caught 10 passes for 26 yards while Matt Schuiteman caught four for 48.

Division 3

Orchard Lake St Mary’s 7 Muskegon 0

This one was a defensive battle. The only score of the game was made by Brandon Adams, who had lost his mother to cancer two days before. They promised him that they would win it for his mother, and they were able to accomplish that goal. Quarterback Brandan Tabone completed three of his 10 passes for 31 yards. Ross Moore caught two of them for 18 yards. Brandon Adams rushed 18 times for 41 yards and the aforementioned touchdown. Justin Myrick ran 13 times for 52 yards. Pierce Bauer had nine carries for 36 yards. On the Muskegon side, quarterback Shawn Pfenning completed four of his 10 passes for 34 yards and three interceptions. Joeviair Kennedy caught one pass for 25 yards to lead the receiving corps. Caleb Washington rushed 20 times for 91 yards. Pfenning rushed eight times for 32 yards.

Division 4

Grand Rapids South Christian 28 Lansing Sexton 27

It was GRSC’s ability to run time off the clock and keep the ball from Sexton that helped a lot in this game. A missed extra point by Sexton proved to be the difference. For GRSC, quarterback Jon Wassink completed 14 of his 21 passes for 179 yards and three touchdowns while also running for 136 yards and a score on 18 attempts. Geff Plasman also rushed 18 times and gained 80 yards. Eric VanVoorst caught five passes for 48 yards and a score. Ryan Veenstra and Sam Heyboer also caught touchdown passes. On the Lansing Sexton side, quarterback Malik Mack completed 17 of his 22 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns while also running for 41 yards and a score on nine runs. Avonte’ Bell gained 54 yards on three runs. Ryashawn Wilborn was a favorite target with eight catches for 84 yards. Kahari Foy-Walton caught three passes for 60 yards but two went the distance.

Division 5

Grand Rapids West Catholic 24 Lansing Catholic 20

The end of the game was a familiar situation for GRWC. Quarterback Travis Russell had been in that situation before; state championship on the line, fourth quarter winding down, needing a score to win that title. It happened in 2012 in championship game and the drive stalled at the 12 yard line. Not this year. This time, Russell punched it in himself and won the game. An interception a few minutes later officially ended the game. Russell finished 17 of 28 for 203 yards and a score while also being the leading rusher with 29 carries for 135 yards and two scores. David Fox chipped in two runs for 17 yards. Charlie O’Connor was a favorite target with four catches for 111 yards and a score. Connor Nemmers caught six passes for 46 yards. For Lansing Catholic, quarterback Tony Poljan completed 24 of his 34 passes for 269 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He also ran 15 times for 70 yards and a score. Tony Palmer ran seven times for 10 yards and caught eight passes for 56 yards and a score. Jack Peters reeled in six passes for 86 yards. Zak Baker caught four for 65 yards and a score.

Division 6

Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central 22 Ithaca 12

This might have been the biggest upset of the finals. Ithaca came in riding a 69 game winning streak and had four consecutive state titles. Despite a strong defensive effort from Ithaca SMCC was able to score in the fourth quarter to push their lead up and win the game. Quarterback Bryce Windham completed seven of his 12 passes for 71 yards and an interception. Justin Carrabino rushed 16 times for 47 yards and caught three passes for 29 yards. John Lako ran 13 times for 39 yards and two scores. For Ithaca, Jake Smith competed 14 of his 29 passes for 147 yards and a score. He rushed 18 times for 104 yards and a score. Dallas Resser rushed seven times for 27 yards. Spence DeMull caught nine passes for 108 yards and a score. On defense, he made seven tackles and had an interception.

Division 7

Detroit Loyola 29 Ishpeming 8

In round three of this championship game matchup between these two, Loyola finally came through with the win and the title. Ishpeming scored first, but then Loyola rattled off 29 unanswered points. The defense stopped a strong running game. Loyola quarterback Nicholas Lee completed four of his nine passes for 66 yards and a pick while also rushing for nine yards on two carries. Hunter Harris caught two of those passes for 21 yards. Marvin Campbell was the bell cow, scoring four times and gaining 215 yards on 21 runs. Midelyin Wilson ran 16 times for 79 yards. For Ishpeming, quarterback Ozzy Corp completed nine of his 16 passes for 111 yards and ran 17 times for 22 yards and that lone score. Dominic Suardini ran nine times for 27 yards and made three catches for 27 more. Marcus Antilla also made three catches for 17 yards and Nick Comment caught one for 36 yards.

Division 8

Muskegon Catholic Central 31 Munising 6

Munising scored first on a 74 yard strike, but MCC answered immediately with a 99 yard kickoff return for a score. Just like that, MCC had a lead it wouldn’t relinquish. Quarterback Nick Holt completed two of his six passes for 41 yards and an interception. When he ran the ball, which he did 13 times, he gained 68 yards. Tommy Scott was the main running back with 21 carries for 96 yards and three touchdowns. Zach Winzer caught one pass for 26 yards. On the Munising side, Quarterback Austin Kelto completed four of his seven passes for 105 yards and that lone score. Andy Cooper hauled in a pass for the aforementioned 74 yard touchdown reception. Garrett Blank rushed 21 times for 68 yards.