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Clarenceville flips the script

By TOM LANG • October 31, 2008

Clarenceville turned around a one-win season last year to just one loss this season. And Friday night the host Trojans extended their season by beating Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard, 27-13, in a Division 5 playoff game.

Quarterback Darryl Whitaker passed for one touchdown - a 14-yarder to Leonard Hogan - and ran for two more (10 and 23 yards) to lead Clarenceville's offensive attack. Levonte' Brooks added a rushing TD from 11 yards.

"Everybody knew how big this game was going to be," Whitaker said. "Our mindset was 'this is the playoffs, we haven't been here in a long time.'

"The coaches stressed that all week; 'We can do this, no losing.' We really stressed diversity. We knew this would be hard, but if we just stay together and pound the ball, and do our assignments, they can't stop us."

Whitaker finished with 132 yards rushing on 18 carries out of the no-huddle spread formation. He passed for 40 yards, but was spelled by backup quarterback Jeremy Gainer (49 yards passing, 26 rushing) for two possessions in the first quarter after suffering a mild injury. Overall, Clarenceville's offense outgained Gabriel Richard, 340-213.

Gabriel Richard (6-4) scored on its opening drive on a one-yard run by Houston Staub, but was held out of the end zone again until midway through the fourth quarter when quarterback Josh Herbeck (10-for-17, 167 yards passing) tossed the ball 15 yards to Jeff Lemanski with 8:36 left in the game. An on-side kick attempt failed, giving the Trojans the ball on their own 37 yard line. Clarenceville followed with a 10-play drive designed to kill the clock.

A fumble recovery by Clarenceville's Moses Hobson in the third quarter and interceptions by teammates Leonard Hogan and Benjamin Watts stopped three other Richard drives.

"We've got a bunch of hungry kids," said Clarenceville coach Ryan Irish. "They knew the feeling from last year of going 1-8. Now they know the feeling we call 'the juice' - feeling that juice of a win and you don't want to lose it."

LUTHERAN NORTHWEST 48, SOUTHFIELD CHRISTIAN 7

Crusaders power past Eagles

By V. COREY FREENLEAF • October 31, 2008

With the Crusaders offensive line opening gaping holes and allowing plenty of time for quarterback Matt Rolf to sit in the pocket, Lutheran Northwest powered its way to a 48-7 win over Southfield Christian in a Division 7 first-round playoff opener.

"He's been consistent all year," Northwest coach Don Justice said of Rolf. "He comes from a very athletic family. His leadership has changed the team the most, giving us a calming factor."

The Crusaders (10-0) began things early on defense, forcing a three-and-out, with the third-down play resulting on a pass deflection by Rolf, who also plays linebacker. Three plays into their first offensive series, Rolf, who was 7-for-8 passing for 227 yards and five touchdowns and ran for 71 yards and a touchdown, led the offense to the game's first score, connecting with junior wideout Jornell Jones on a 34-yard reception.

The pair hooked up again six minutes later, this time on 33-yard screen pass during which Jones broke several tackles downfield before reaching paydirt, making the score 14-0. Jones finished with four catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns.

After Christian (7-2) was forced to kick again, Rolf returned a punt 24 yards, putting the Crusaders at the Eagles' 38. On the first play of the second quarter, Rolf found another one of his talented receivers, Steve Miscovich, on a 62-yard scoring reception

Rolf would find Miscovich again at the 8:21 mark of the second quarter with a 35-yard scoring strike, pushing the lead, 27-0

The Eagles got on the scoreboard at the 3:18 mark of the second quarter, as running back Devon Bailey (18 carries, 63 yards, 1 TD) capped an 11-play drive with a six-yard touchdown run.

However, the Rolf-Miscovich connection answered right back, as Miscovich (three receptions, 106 yards, 3 TDs) made an acrobatic catch in the corner of the end zone, sending the score to 35-7, closing the scoring for the first half.

Though the Eagles recovered an onside kick at the start of the second half, Northwest picked up where it left off, as linebacker Steven Beauregard collected the first of his two sacks, forcing a fumble. Aaron Sircy, Dennis Studer and Stephen Sadler each had a fumble recovery in the second half and linebacker Matthew Berkseth finished with 20 tackles.

Lutheran Northwest will face the winner of today's Detroit Loyola vs. Royal Oak Shrine Catholic game in the second round.