REBOUNDING FROM LACKLUSTER DECADE, ROCHESTER BOYS SPORTS TEAMS ON THE WAY UP

One of the most exciting things about the start of the 2010-2011 county prep campaign is that it appears that multiple boys varsity sports teams at Rochester High School are poised for banner seasons.  I'm quite certain that this is welcomed news for all the Falcons faithful because the 2000s have not been the most blessed of years for the Rochester fan base. With the exception of a boys hoops squad that achieved moderate success with Mr. Basketball and future NBA'er Paul Davis almost a decade ago, there has not been that much to cheer about on the corner of Walton and Livernois. In terms of success on the gridiron, the Falcons have only made appearances in the post-season four times in the past two decades.

Now, I'm going to make a cheezy Facebook reference, please excuse me:

2010-2011=STATUS CHANGED

First off, the Falcons football team is on FIRE with a capital "F"!!! Head coach Erik Vernon has returned 17 starters from last season's team and the squad is playing at the caliber its experience level would indicate.  Entering his third year starting for the varsity, senior QB Nick Bradley is a stalwart under center who is finally blossoming into his own as a top rate field general. He has developed to a point with his play where he will simply wear defenses down with his pinpoint accuracy and heady game-management ability. The leadership factor is there in spades and this is always important when you're talking about quarterbacks. Mike Cmiek and Billy Klotz are a dangerous pair as Bradley's top receiving options and junior tailback Cody Devoe is emerging as a big play threat in the backfield, going for over 200 yards and a touchdown in the team's huge victory over Pontiac in Week 4.  Offensive lineman Grant Chenowith and Nick Bruewer join Bradley as three-year starters and are making things extremely difficult for opposing pass rushers, while at the same time making things extremely cheerful for their team's own running game with picture-perfect blocking technique.

The defense ain't that shabby either with playmakers such as Lawrence Walls (DL), Marcel Johnson (DL), Nick Reed (LB) and Diego Camp (LB) holding things down roughhouse-style with aggressive tackling and quality "sideline-to-sideline" instinct. On special teams, Reed doubles as an ace placekicker and could be the difference between some wins and losses for the Falcons down the stretch. Burney's going to say it….er write it right now, so get ready; Come next month, Rochester will make the playoffs on the football field for the first time since 1999!!!! TAKE IT 2 THE BANK!

The Falcons are 3-1 for the first time since 2007 and unlike in '07 when they dropped four of their next five contests, Burney sees this group following through on its early-season promise.

Head coach Chris Purgatori and the Rochester boys soccer team seem ready to make a nice run this season too. Led by all-state senior keeper Chris Stewart, a virtual iron wall in between the pipes, and captains Leland Trombley and Michael Bowyer, the Falcons' kick squad is 6-3-2.

On the hardwood in the winter, the Rochester varsity hoop team returns one heck of a talented power forward in Taylor Perry, recently committed to Western Michigan's recruiting Class of 2012and that could mean good things for the Falcons chances in the win column come March. Burney notes Perry for his capability to always come up in the clutch, having converted four game-winning hoops over the last year when you combine his play on the Falcons varsity and his 16-u Dorian's Pride AAU team.

Oh, yeah and my main man, Nick Bradley, is a dominant No.1 hurler on the baseball diamond (headed to Western Michigan on scholarship) and Rochester returns many key components from last season's district championship-winning team, so success in the springtime for the Falcons is a strong possibility as well.

Trevor Elliott and Billy Klotz also return for the Rochester diamond brigade, whose district title in 2010 was its first since the school captured a state title in 1998.

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