Yuku free message boards

By John Raffel
MaxPreps.com

Just like old times.

Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart is back to being a state football power among the small schools in Michigan and head coach Rick Roberts has his Irish eyeing a state championship.

Sacred Heart enters this weekend with a 5-0 record.

"Obviously we had a big win in our opening game against our perennial rivals Beal City," Roberts said. "They are a perennial powerhouse in Division 8. We worked hard in playing that team and played very well. That springboarded us and gave the kids a lot of confidence."

Sacred Heart has 17 returning players lettermen.

"That's the most we've ever had here at Sacred Heart in terms of returning lettermen," Roberts said. "That's big in a Class D school when you return 17 kids. We have eight returning kids on offense and eight returning kids on defense. We knew going in that we were going to be pretty good."

The leading ball carriers for Sacred Heart are Billy Myler, and Garrett Chapin. Mike Lilly, the quarterback, is 52-of-66 for a 79 percent completion rate for 720 yards and 11 touchdowns and only one interception in five games.

"He's a big key for us," Roberts said. "We have four outstanding receivers who have double digits in catches. Billy Myler has the most with 16. I think that goes back to why we're a good team. If someone wants to take away this or take away that, we have some outstanding players we can go to and we can count on them to make the plays."

Paul DeSalvo has 13 catches.

Leading the defense are inside linebackers Alex Szostek, a senior, with 48 tackles and Chapin, with 39 tackles. Strong safety Jim Cardon has had 38 tackles.

"We've intercepted nine passes, have recovered four fumbles and we've only turned the ball over three times," Roberts said. "That's another story. When you win the turnover battle, you're going to win a lot of games."