Christian Burks and his Cass Tech teammates rallied from a 21-point halftime deficit to stun Dearborn Fordson, 24-23, in a first-round playoff game on Friday. (Todd McInturf/The Detroit News)
Halloween gets better with each passing year for Romeo co-coach Jason Couch. He and his wife have three children, all boys, 6-, 5- and 3-years-old. Halloween is a happy time in the Couch household. And when dad's team pulls off one of the biggest surprises of the playoffs the smiles last a little longer.
Grand Blanc entered its Division 1 district semifinal against Romeo on Friday at 9-0 and the favorite to win Region 3. Grand Blanc had the third highest playoff average of any team in the state and an offense that averaged 35 points per game.
Romeo finished third in the Macomb Area Conference Red Division behind Sterling Heights Stevenson and Macomb Dakota and few paid much attention to Romeo outside of Macomb County. They're paying attention now.
Romeo did just about what it pleased in a 35-21 victory. Grand Blanc scored its third touchdown with 30 seconds left to make the game seem close. It wasn't.
"The Red is as good a division as any in the state," Couch said. "We're as competitive as anyone and as physical."
Romeo running back Ben Brown carried 25 times for 180 yards and two touchdowns. From the wildcat formation, Brown also threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Luke Lovasco.
Quarterback Jake Alcini also played well. He completed six of eight attempts for 65 yards and two touchdowns, both to receiver Taylor Brynaert.
Romeo (8-2) plays at Clarkston (10-0) for the district title 7 p.m. Friday. Last year Romeo defeated Clarkston, 38-7, in the first round of the playoffs.
"Clarkston has had our name on their bulletin board for a year," Couch said.
PSL pride
Detroit Cass Tech's season appeared to be over. It trailed Dearborn Fordson, 23-2, at halftime on Friday. Cass Tech coach Thomas Wilcher decided to change his offense, change tempo, and challenge Fordson's secondary.
Cass Tech junior quarterback Keith Moore threw three touchdown passes, the last one to Dior Mathis for 82 yards with 4 minutes left to give Cass Tech a 24-23 lead, and it held on to upset Fordson (9-1) by that score at Fordson in a Division 1 district opener.
"It was amazing," Wilcher said. "We came out and our quarterback found a rhythm. The changing factor was the coaches coming together at halftime. We ran a hurry-up offense and took away the momentum."
Cass Tech (6-3) will play Detroit Southeastern (9-1) on Saturday at 1 p.m. The site is likely Detroit Renaissance. Southeastern is another PSL team that played well against a suburban school. Southeastern whipped Westland John Glenn, 41-0.
It's been awhile since Cass Tech won a playoff game as meaningful as this. In 2000 Cass Tech defeated Fordson, 14-0, in the second round of the playoffs before it lost to Detroit Catholic Central 30-6.
By the numbers
Here's how the high-profile leagues/divisions fared
5-6 Capital Area Conference
6-4 Catholic League Central Division
3-3 Detroit PSL
2-6 Kensington Lakes Association
10-5 Macomb Area Conference
5-5 Oakland Activities Association
11-8 Ottawa-Kent Conference
6-5 Southwestern
Michigan Conference
Top 5 first-round playoff games
Caledonia 40, Portage Northern 34 (OT): Caledonia trailed 20-12 at halftime and 27-20 after three quarters. Steve VanderVeen scored on a 1-yard run to win the game. Caledonia gained 344 yards, all on the ground.
Chelsea 24, Carleton Airport 21 (OT): Chelsea trailed 21-7 after three quarters. The score was 21-14 when Chelsea took over on its 12-yard line with 2:10 left. In two plays Nick Hill gained 88 yards, scoring on a 58-yard run, and Charlie Hess' conversion tied the score. Hess' 21-yard field goal won it.
Redford Thurston 29, Detroit King 18: Thurston won its first playoff game by defeating the PSL champion at King. Thurston never trailed. Desmond Martin led Thurston with 131 yards rushing, a 45-yard touchdown reception and two interceptions.
Waterford Lakes 30, Deckerville 28: Freshman Jake Doetsch kicked his first field goal on Saturday and he'll never forget it. Doetsch's 20-yard field as time expired gave Lakes the victory. Deckerville scored a touchdown and two-point conversion with 1:16 left to take a 28-27 lead. Lakes began its winning drive on its 20. The key play was a 38-yard pass from quarterback Mike Sullivan to Anthony Caizzio to Deckerville's 5-yard line.
White Pigeon 14, Decatur 8: Decatur faced a fourth-and-6 on White Pigeon's 11-yard line with 2:03 remaining when Alex Krejniak of White Pigeon tackled A.J. Jackson (28 carries, 141 yards) a yard short of the first down. Krejniak rushed for 180 yards on 33 carries.
Top 5 games this week
Birmingham Brother Rice (6-4) at Rochester Adams (8-2), 7 p.m., Fri.: These teams know each other so well. Adams defeated Brother Rice in the '03 Division 2 final, 28-7. Brother Rice eliminated Adams in the '05 semifinals, 14-7. Adams defeated Brother Rice, 24-21, in the second round on its way to the semifinals in '07. Last year Brother Rice defeated Adams, 28-21, in the first round.
Grand Haven (9-1) at Rockford (10-0), 7 p.m., Fri.: Grand Haven lost at Rockford, 14-0, on Sept. 25. Rockford's experience in this type of game is invaluable. Give Grand Haven credit. It has made the playoffs twice and both times won a first-round game.
Muskegon (7-3) at Lowell (9-1), 7 p.m., Fri: There's a good possibility that the winner will get to Ford Field. Lowell reached the semifinals two years ago. Muskegon's three losses have been by a total of seven points.
Orchard Lake St. Mary's (5-4) at Melvindale (10-0), TBA: None of Melvindale's opponents have come close to winning. St. Mary's will be its first real test. St. Mary's played a schedule that will serve to prepare it for a game like this, in a hostile environment. The defenses should dominate.
Romeo (8-2) at Clarkston (10-0), 7 p.m., Fri.: It's been a difficult two weeks for Clarkston, having to beat Lake Orion twice, once to win its league and the second to advance to this game. Romeo showed the strength of the MAC Red Division with its victory over Grand Blanc. Clarkston's defense is much better than the one that allowed 38 points to Romeo last year.
Top performance
Nick Hill, Chelsea: The senior running back who committed to Michigan State had one of his best games of the season in Chelsea's 24-21 overtime victory over Carleton Airport on Friday. Hill rushed for 254 yards and three touchdowns on 36 carries. With Chelsea trailing 21-14 Hill scored on a 58-yard run with 1:42 left in regulation.
Quotable
“By the middle of the third quarter the uniforms of both teams were so dirty you couldn’t tell one team from the other. Everyone was caked in mud.”
-- Muskegon coach Matt Koziak on his team’s game in the mud at Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills
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