FIVE FOR FIGHTING – Top performances from Ford Field Saturday from the D1 football finals where Clarkston clocked Catholic Central 32-14 to win the program's first-ever state crown;

1 Ian Eriksen – Went all IAN ERIKSEN, proving why he's the best running back in the OC, rushing for 237 yards and three touchdowns

2 D.J. Zezula – A MAD SCIENTIST in the pocket, dropped crazy KNOWLEDGE Saturday, as in letting everyone know he's THE REAL DEAL HOLYFIELD, connecting on 10-15 passes for 155 yards and two scoring tosses

3 David Beedle & Nick Matich – Not a better tandem up front in the whole Mitten!!!....Dominated the battle in the trenches for a stingy C-Town 'D'

4 Caine Watlington & Shane Holler – Each of these sure-handed steadies in the Wolfpack passing game hauled in touchdown receptions against an imposing CC secondary

5 Merrick Canada – Flying around the ball all game long from the defensive backfield, this gutty playmaker of a junior corralled a team-high eight tackles

FIVE FOR FIGHTING – Best efforts at Ford Field Friday in Birmingham Brother Rice's 38-21 defeat of Muskegon in the D2 state championship game, clinching the Warriors a 3Peat

1 Alex Malzone – The Human Highlight Zone almost outdid himself, but not quite (more UPSIDE exits, as hard as its to believe), throwing for 265 yards on 20-of-24 passing attempts and 5 touchdowns (four through the air)

2 Corey Lacanaria – The Polynesian Playmaker is so 4 REAL its downright scary!! His second half touchdown was a dagger and capped a day where he made 10 grabs for 125 yards, exploiting the Big Red defense with his smart, pristine route-running and soft hands... Pound for pound, could be the best WR in BRice history....YEAH I SAID IT!!

3 Grant Perry – Slick WR-DB that had two big td grabs and showed why he's such a BLUECHIP BALLER!!

4 Jack Grisan – Gritty presence from the LB spot that forced a fumble that led to a game-sealing touchdown......Jack B nimble, Jack B quick, Jack put his foot on Muskegon's throat and stomped it into oblivion with his ferocious play in the 'W'

5 Joe Plaskey – Energizer bunny of a linebacker that pounced on the comp at every opp to tally six tackles and look mighty nice doing it!!His playmaking down the stretch of the campaign could be the most pleasant surprise of the Warriors third straight run to the gold

Here's a list of supporting players to expect impacts from in the state football finals at Ford Field this weekend;

Birmingham Brother Rice

Austin Brown (FB) – Could be the best blocking back in the state….YEAH I SAID IT!! The Brown Bomber is ready to EXPLODE in the Lions Den Friday afternoon opening holes for the Orange and Black rushing attack!!!

Ty Kiafoulis (TE) & Patrick Sparks (WR) – A pair of big, reliable targets down field for Warriors superstar signal caller Alex Malzone that know how to get open and will be ready when the ball comes their way

Joe Plaskey (LB) – Embodies the phrase "taking it to the limit" in the way he competes on the gridiron, the kind of kid that bleeds nails, Yeah, THAT KIND OF TOUGNESS!!

Clarkston

Shane Holler (WR) – Don't be surprised if this screaming good talent does serious damage on underneath routes for the Wolfpack in the passing game vs. a very battle-tested CC secondary

Quinn Montgomery & D.J. Rogers (LB) – This linebacker duo has been buzzing around the ball all postseason long and I expect more of the same Saturday

Reid Kaminski (S) – Quietly having a great year anchoring the safety spot for TEAM K-RICH, making plays, making waves, kicking butt and taking names!!!

Novi Detroit Catholic Central

Nick Coccocetta – Has been blossoming into a superb, technically-sound tight end before our very eyes all season, might have a GRONKNATION-like game in store for SHAMROCKNATION come the bright lights of Ford Field

Ryan McGillivary – Underrated "Glue Guy" for that BATTERING RAM known as the Big Blue 'D', marvelous range in his tackling ability, pure passion and tenacity with an endless motor sideline-to-sideline at the outside linebacker position, I love this kid's upside at the next level

Mitch Katkic & Mike Schmitz – Defensive back tandem busting loose in the shadows of higher-profile teammates….best ways to describe them; pesky, aggressive, smart, gutty, hard-working…'NUFF SAID!!

The 2013-2014 Holly Bronchos Boys Basketball team

Players to watch:

Kyle Woodruff – This sizzling sophomore could be the most deadly outside shooter in the whole OC and is one of the top tenth-graders in the entire state …YEAH, I SAID IT!!!...Does the term 'SKY'S THE LIMIT' mean anything to you people!!

Jake Daniels – An athletic playmaker that can play either in the backcourt or on the wing and is about to BLOW UP BIG TIME!!!...Does a little bit of everything really, really well!!!

Parker Rowse – Pace-setting point guard that is heady and tough-as-nails with a warriors' attitude and on-court mentality

Isaac Casillas – Just a master manufacturer of points, very high hoops IQ, tons of heart

Morgan Baylis – Consistent and cool-as-cucumber on both ends of the floor…kind of what you'd expect from a coach's kid, don't ya think?

Josh Simms – High-energy, mad hops, terror in transition, aggressive attacking the tin and on 'D'….'NUFF SAID!!  

Logan Spiker – Much-improved paint prowler that will be a force to be reckoned with on the block this winter….loves to bang in the post, can do more damage with his back to the basket than ever before

Adam Tooley – Stud sophomore that will flank Spiker in the frontcourt and do a lot of the down and dirty, nitty-gritty X-factor things that need to get done

Trevor Bland – Fab Frosh expected to chip in at a forward spot aka the FUTURE of the Holly Hoop Crew

Scott Maki – Another elite marksman on the perimeters for TEAM BAYLIS!!....Can you say bombs away?

Steve Redmond – Skilled and steady sophomore that comes over to the HORSESHOE from Flint Southwestern and will just add to the already extreme depth the Bronchos have this season when he becomes eligible in January

 

The 2013-2014 Bloomfield Hills Blackhawks boys basketball team

Player Watch List:

Yante Maten – "The Big Impact" aka the best post player in Oakland County, maybe the most overall underrated dangerous playmaker in the whole state…..YEAH, I SAID IT!!

Armand Cartwright – "The Dark Knight" rises again soon, coming to a basketball court near you…….magnificent combo guard with an ironclad will to win

Khalil Gracey – "Mr. Smooth"…..has a game on the wing that is silky sweet

Dylan Deitch – Gutty and smart presence in the backcourt, will be one of the hardest-working guards in the OAA Red this winter….TAKE IT 2 THA BANK!!

Josh Bender – Fast-rising forward that will surprise people this season

Josh Hecker – Super Soph on the block that will be back from injury in January

Xavier Reynolds & Eric Weiss – A pair of gritty guards that are both expected to be difference makers

Logan McDonald & Cameron Dalton – These two snipers can really shoot the lights out from downtown for TEAM GRAVES!!

Ronde Bynum – Sleeper special in the frontcourt…raw, athletic and hungry

In case you didn't know, NOW YOU DO.

A pair of the OC's top girls prep athletes signed DI this month in their respective sports;

Courtney Sullivan (Walled Lake Northern) – This premiere spiker is headed to play her collegiate volleyball down south at UNC-Greensboro. She's a force to be reckoned with at the net, a hitter with few equals in the area. Not many local volleyballers had as many kills as she's racked up these past two years.

Gabby DeLeon (Novi) – Another in a long line of elite kickers out of TEAM O'LEARY, DeLeon will be playing college soccer at Army. A savvy and skilled midfield prospect, she's been on varsity at Novi since she was a fab frosh on the 'Cats 2011 state title club. Last spring, she helped spark Novi to the final four

Southfield-Lathrups' Antoinette Miller and Taiye Bello will give Farmington Hills Harrison's Amber Stephens and Kristen Nelson a run for their money this year for best inside-outside tandem of underclassmen on the local girls basketball scene .  

Miller (5-foot-6) is an electrifying, lightning quick combo guard. Bello is a beast on the blocks, exhibiting a soft touch and outstanding foot work for a 6-foot-1 banger.

Both have an undying love of the game that shines through when you watch them go at it on the hardwood and both played varsity last winter as freshmen; Bello at Metro Detroit lady hoops power Lathrup and Miller at Ferndale, where she started in the backcourt and picked up All-OAA honors on an Eagles team that captured a Class B district title.

They have each already garnered multiple Division I college scholarship offers apiece.

Much like Stephens and Nelson at Harrison, Miller and Bello have a style and grasp of the game way beyond their years. They're playmakers, Point Blank!

Man, is it going to be exciting in the OAA Red this season….so many PRIMETIME PERFORMERS it's ridiculous!!

But keep a special eye out for this Chargers duo of Baby Baller dynamos, cuz Miller and Bello are going to be like a new school version of Lebron and Melo from back in '03!!....GUARNTEED......MARK THAT DOWN!

Expect to see improvement and an injection of both passion and pride in the Hazel Park boys basketball program this winter thanks to Vikings' first-year head coach Brandon Barrett.

Prepping at Southfield-Lathrup and starting at point guard for some pretty nasty Chargers cage squads in the 1990s, Barrett arrives at Hazel Park after an assistant coaching stint with Troy Athens. Last year, he helped Athens' sideline general Dave Scott spark the Red Hawks to a district championship.

Barrett has also been a fixture on the AAU circuit (one of the true "good guys"), developing local young hardwood talent for years. He is respected and loved by his players, tough, but fair in his methods and philosophy on the bench.

Don't be surprised to see Barrett's buddy and former high school teammate Greg Grays, who was an all-state selection and played in college at Penn State and then the University of Detroit-Mercy, coaching at his side this season in VIKINGLAND.

Break out the Elvis music, because the Hazel Park Hoop Factory is about to be ROCK'N & ROLL'N very, very soon!!

The OC's newest and freshest B&B is now officially open for business.

Southfield Christian 2013-2014 Boys Basketball Club (back-to-back Class D state champs): Destination: 3peat

Eagles Watch List

Bakari Evelyn – BOY WONDER has a MAN-SIZED GAME….simply electric in the backcourt….best player in the state in Class D….YEAH, I SAID IT!!

Lindsey Hunter IV – "Lil Lin" is getting better and more lethal every second, he could be the second best player in the state in Class D…YEAH, I SAID IT AGAIN!!!

Marlow Brown – One of the top sophomores in the entire state regardless of school-size, Marlow has a game that doesn't lie, inside the paint, out on the perimeter and playing defense….aka he's THE TRUTH!!!

Damarco White – The SHAQ of the MIAC, plain and simple!!! Freakish athlete that will be on the receiving end of endless alley-oops from Boy Wonder and LH4 this winter, Can you say OC LOB CITY?

Kameron Garner – Kam I Am just went HAM on the football field and he's about to do the same on the basketball floor...TAKE IT 2 THA BANK!!

Ben Cookingham – When the GRILL MASTER heats up from downtown its lights out!!!

Harding Fears – Gridiron stud that is a banger on the block and busybody defensive presence

Brock Washington – Fab Frosh forward that might end up earning a starting spot in the frontcourt

Blake Washington – Gritty guard that is always ready when called upon

Jalen Bowles – Transfer from Romulus that will contribute in the backcourt

Rod Parks, Kasan. Belgrave, – Energy guys ready to do the dirty work off the pine, giving all the team's marquee talent ample support

 

North Farmington Raiders 2013-14 boys basketball team

Player Watch List:

Jeron (Buddha) Rogers – Elite talent that can play both forward spots, guaranteed double-double, fierce competitor with a heart of a champion

Jacob Joubert – Poised for an earthquake of a sophomore season…natural scorer, great feel and understanding for the game

Alex Darden – Superior athlete and pro baseball prospect as only a sophomore…started at the power forward last year as a freshman on the hardwood and has made big strides in his basketball skill-set, an array of post moves and mid-range pull-ups that he is ready to show off this winter

Anthony Quassawa – Hard-working junior wing with a nice shooting stroke and the right attitude that might finagle himself a starting spot

Chauncey Bridges – Football superstar that could wind up being the best backcourt defender in the OAA Red by the end of the season…just so tough……a senior leader and invaluable glue guy that loves to get down and dirty when he goes to war, no matter what sport

David Lett – Team NOGO's X-Factor….a rangy and smart wing that can hit the outside jumper, run the floor and play agitating defense….baseball star that along with Darden took the Raiders diamond crew to a district title last spring

Allante Mayweather & Kyle Penny – Another pair of football players that bring a gridiron mentality to the basketball court and will be gutty contributors off the bench

A pair of the OC's most prolific prep quarterbacks are on the move, recently announcing their intentions to switch teams.

On Sunday night, Birmingham Detroit Country Day all-state senior field general Tyler Wiegers de-committed from Rutgers. Wiegers, who threw for more than 4,000 yards the past two seasons, leading the Yellowjackets to back-to-back district championships. Reports out of the Big 10 have Wiegers visiting the University of Iowa this upcoming weekend. Last year as a junior, he took DCD to Ford Field and the D4 state finals.

Last week, Holly junior all-conference signal-caller Jake Zorn informed Bronchos coaches that he was transferring to Linden, the school he landed at Holly from last year, to play as a senior next fall. Zorn broke numerous Bronchos' program records through the air this past season and was expected to contribute on the school's basketball team this winter. In a win over Flint Kearsley back in September, he lit up the stat sheet for 402 yards and 4 Tds, doing a pretty good Drew Brees impression

Five For Fighting – Top Primetime Performers In Regional F'ball Finals this Weekend

1 Sean Birney (Novi Detroit CC) – The Shamrocks senior signal-caller led BIG BLUE's game-winning drive in a comeback victory over Temperance Bedford, capping it off with a touchdown pass to Nick Coccocetta...Who does this kid think he is Matt Stafford?.....the way he's been laying it all on the line in crunch time lately, its hard to tell Birney is only moonlighting on the gridiron (he'll be attending U-D Mercy for LAX) and is only in his first yr starting under center for TEAM MACH is pretty darn amazing!!

2 D.J. Zezula (Clarkston) – Shredding the comp like an industrial-strength lawnmower, Zezula threw for 250 yards and 3 touchdowns in the Wolfpack's 56-21 thrashing of Rochester Hills Adams

3 Brian Walker (Birmingham Brother Rice) – Rushed for a game-high 115 yds and the first td of the evening (as well as another 56-yard capper in the fourth) in the Warriors 41-14 trouncing of CHSL rival Detroit U-D Jesuit…..Welcome back, buddy!! THE WIZARD OF WARRIORLAND LIVES!!!

4 Alex Malzone (Birmingham Brother Rice) – Has been in MANNING MODE all season long and did more of the same type of aerial damage in the Orange&Black's 41-14 decimation of U-D Jesuit, connecting on 13-of-18 for 180 yards and three scoring-tosses

5 Timmy Cason (Clarkston) – This Big 10-bound lockdown cornerback keeps getting better on 'O' every week, hauling in 6 balls for 117 yards and 2 TDs vs Adams Saturday afternoon

Don't be surprised if Birmingham Brother Rice's Jason Alessi goes on to flash even more versatility than the boat loads he has already displayed these last three seasons when Saturday's regional final clash on the gridiron comes around versus Detroit U-D Jesuit.

Alessi should get spot duty, if not more, at tailback on offense, spelling starter Shon Powell.  The elevation of Alessi to the No. 2/3 slot in the backfield for the two-time defending state champ and currently undefeated Warriors is the result of the team losing Brian Walker, Brother Rice's leading rusher the past two years, for the duration of the playoffs (internal issues).

The Warriors coaching staff is working him slowly, yet steadily into the gameplan for the rushing attack. In the district finals, The Amazing Alessi busted loose for 28 yards on his first-ever touch as a tailback. Wow, I mean is there anything this kid can't do? I think not!

I expect to Alessi to go all ALESSI aka DANGER ZONE STATUS the rest of the season – per usual – every time he even comes close to the football, whether offense, defense or special teams.

If the Orange&Black need him to carry the load chugging the rock, that's what he'll do and he'll do it flawlessly, like a true pro….GUARANTEED!!!

He's that much of a playmaker.

This young man should consider a future career in the diamond business, that's what an absolute JEWEL he is!!

 

Farmington Hills Harrison has overcome a lot this season on the football field, defying the odds and the talking heads to have a simply marvelous campaign. Some of those odds going against the Hawks derived from the fact that several players left the program, leaving behind noticeable voids – chasms in the lineup that have been filled admirably

A handful of those who departed went on to have good seasons on the gridiron elsewhere.

Let's take a look:

Ryan Brand (U-D Jesuit Jr QB) – Rock solid under center for the Cubbies, doing the job with his arms and his legs, leading the program to its first playoff berth and district title in a dozen years. Last season, Brand was TEAM HERRINGTON's starting signal caller

Robert Powell (West Bloomfield Sr QB) – Brand's back-up last year at Harrison, took off for THE WB and lit up the Lakeshow scoreboard like a pin ball machine, tearing up the pocket while throwing for over 2000 yards.

Todd Moore (Clintondale Sr SB) – Dangerous in open space, who was also the Hawks best hoopster and is now plying his trade quite successfully in Macomb County

Desmond Fitzpatrick (Farmington Soph WR) – One of the most heavily-recruited split ends in the state's Class of 2016, the most precise route-runner and softest hands of a 15-yr old maybe ive ever seen first-hand.

Jakkar Jackson (Farmington Soph ATH) – Multi-skilled grid stud already getting recruited at the D1 level as only a sophomore, fast, pesky and instinctive on 'D,' slithery with the rock in his hands on 'O'

Cooler heads have prevailed over in the football program at the University of Dayton.

Last week, the Dayton coaching staff decided to name Milford's own "Cool Hand Luke" Johnson the Flyers' starting quarterback.

It was for the best.

Cool Hand Luke is a first-class field general.

In his first start under center against Drake, Johnson threw for 215 yards (18-of-36) and a touchdown in a loss. His scoring hook-up – a 64-yarder in the opening minutes of action – was with another Metro Detroiter, Gary Hunter from Orchard Lake St. Mary's.

Dayton is 6-4.

Back as a prepster in the OC with the Mavs, Johnson was a stat-monger in the pocket, racking up 2,200 yards and 22 touchdowns during his senior season in the fall of 2010.

He was also an all-league baseball player behind the plate as an ace catcher. A natural born leader, Cool Hand Luke was the captain of both squads.

The Flyers have made significant recruiting inroads locally in recent years. Besides Johnson and Hunter, other former OC prep studs like Lake Orion's Danny Ney , Farmington's Mitch Sanders and Birmingham Seaholm's Rob Washington dot the Dayton roster.

Johnson's future is bright in the Buckeye State: He's only a redshirt sophomore.

To quote a famous Rock&Roll tune from the 1960s, former Southfield-Lathrup boys basketball star Jeremiah Ingram is California dreaming - ready to B-Bop his way out to the West Coast to go NEXT LEVEL

Currently at Colby Community College in Kansas, Ingram accepted a DI scholarship this week, committing to San Jose State.

Ingram is a dogged and diverse talent on the hardwood, a 6-foot-7 slasher of a wing that can play either small forward or shooting guard. Last winter at Colby CC, he averaged a notable 15 points, seven rebounds and 3.5 assists per night. The consummate hard worker, Ingram can defend and is a strong finisher around the rim. His 3-point proficiency is getting better every second.

He started two seasons at Lathrup, being overshadowed in the headline department by his high-octane teammate, Jon-Jon Williams, now hooping at the University of Toledo.

After a dynamite season last winter in JUCO ball followed up by a productive summer, Ingram picked up a number of mid-major DI offers, including one from last year's Final Four participant, Wichita State.

Competing in the Western Athletic Conference, San Jose State went 9-20 in 2013. Once on campus next fall, Ingram will have two years of eligibility.

Someone you need to know about on the OC prep gridiron:

Novi Detroit Catholic Central unheralded football star Mike Schmitz.

He might be in the shadows, but he's really, really good and really, really important to the success CC has found this fall…i.e. 9-2 record, Prep Bowl qualifier, 5PEAT district champs

A first-team All-Catholic League selection at strong safety, Schmitz is a silent anchor of the stout Shamrocks' defense, just BOMBING the comp at every opportunity.

His skill-set is diverse, however, when you play with such incredibly versatile superstars like Zach Bock, Sean Birney and Dylan Roney, it can be easy to get lost.

Make no mistake though, without what Schmitz is doing in the secondary – both coverage and big-hit wise – BIG BLUE wouldn't be playing for a regional title Friday night and still in the hunt for a third straight state-finals berth at Ford Field come TURKEY TIME in a few weeks.

On Saturday in the Shamrocks' 37-27 defeat of KLAA champ Walled Lake Western and the Warriors' extremely high-voltage passing attack, Schmitz was doling out destruction, helping limit star quarterback Kyle Bambard's effectiveness.

This young man is a SIR GRIN-A-LOT for sure and needs his due PROPS!!

Don't work Mike, Burney's got your back!!

Her absence leaves quite the void.

The prep girls hoops season gets underway this week across the state and locally Walled Lake Western took a crushing blow when the Warriors lost all-league guard Jayla Nichols, their best player and one of the top backcourt performers in the area, who transferred to Romulus.

Nichols is a  still-budding bulldog junior floor general with a killer handles, natural diming-ability and a sniper-like pull-up 'J' off the dribble that she consistently sticks in the half court set and in transition. She simply radiates on the hardwood every time she has the ball in her hands, breaking down the opposition with nifty moves and her hard-nosed mentality.

At Western, Nichols was a two-year starter, twice tapped all-league – both her freshman and sophomore campaigns.

To say she was instrumental to the Warriors success is an understatement.

As a fab frosh, she scored 13 points and dished out 3.5 assists a night. Then last season, she elevated her game and was pumping in 16 points and five assists per outing.

Here's hoping that Western can rebound from the departure (due to Nichols' dad getting a job down by the airport and the family moving).....Burney thinks they can!!!

Shout-Outs to the best nicknames on the Birmingham prep gridiron landscape, going into Friday's no holds barred throwdown between Brother Rice-Seaholm.

The Champs: BR Warriors

Alex Malzone  (QB)– The Human Highlight Zone….Perfection under center

Brian Walker (RB) – The Wizard of Warriorland….Great combination of Power & Speed

Corey Lacanaria (WR) – The Polynesian Playmaker……as consistent and polished as they come

Dominic Perkovic (DE/TE) – The Don is ON!!!....the consummate pro on the field and off

Alberto Sandoval (DL) – The Sandman….NIGHT NIGHT ball-carriers, when you go toe-to-toe with the Sandman you're going to dreamland…and fast!!

Jason Alessi (S-K-RET) – The Amazing Alessi….the nickname says it all!!

Chris Carter (CB) – Carter Island……there is no better cover-corner in Metro Detroit right now, the ultimate football player-leader  

Charles Gleeson (S) – The Hit Machine…..Laying the wood, taking names, dropping bombs, setting flames

The Challenger: Seaholm Maples

The Wonderwall Defense – Simply scintillating!!!!

Dominic Sierpien (FB-FB) – The Serpent……slithery and lethal….PURE POWER on both sides of the ball!!!

Aaron Ware (SB-DB-RET) – Slick Willy…..cooler than the other side of my pillow every time he touches the pigskin

Jack Mentag (SB-CB) – The Jammer……Jamming to a field near you soon!!!

Nick Vestivich (RB) – The V Factor…….Vicious, Volatile and VERY, VERY good in the backfield!!

Jack Payne (OL)– The Pain Train…..definition of a WORKHORSE in every way!!!

Karl Marback (DL-OL) – The Manchild……GAME-CHANGER….Nuff Said!!!

Nick Lanfear (DL) – The Human Landslide……....making quarterbacks bite the dust all around the OC!!

Andrew Barton & Dylan Kanaan (S) – The Knockout Nastys……..SMASH&MASH

Austin Paritee-Justin Bryant (WR) – The X-Factors....difference-makers in the shadows