Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 47

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1998DETROIT FREE PRESS 11C CLASS CC: Whittemore-Prescott vs. CLASS Traverse City St. Francis vs. Unionville-Sebewaing, 5 p.m., Friday Montrose, 5 p.m., Saturday Finals facts Whittemore-Prescott: Dome-esticated trolls Montrose: They start 'em young WHAT: 24th annual Michigan High School Athletic Association football finals. WHEN: Doubleheaders starting at 10 a.m.

and 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. WHERE: The Pontiac Silverdome. TICKETS: $8 per session, includes parking. Unionville-Sebewaing: A sign of the times Motorists can see it as they head into town on Owendale Road.

The large sign carved into a field that reads: "Go USA." Although the school nickname is visible from a passing car, coach Tim Travis says it would be clearer from the air. "Someone must have taken a chisel plow and carved it out," Travis said. "A lot of our kids are farm kids. They just work extra hard at everything they do and have stirred quite a bit of Interest in the community. Someone made the sign a few weeks ago.

It would look great from an airplane." The Patriots' potent offense and stingy defense has folks in the Thumb area excited about playing Traverse City St. Francis in Friday's 5 p.m. championship. In three playoff games, Sebewaing (12-0) has outscored teams, 110-12. "The biggest motivating thing for us was that we went 8-1 last year and didn't make the playoffs," said Travis, also the middle school principal.

"Though not one kid will ever be a college athlete, there was a lot of desire heading into this season. These guys have really taken this serious." The offensive line averaging 6- in 1983 and defeated Harper Woods Bishop Gallagher nine years later in one of the most exciting finishes in state finals history 28-21, in double overtime. The kicker, Greg Vaughn, who played defensive tackle at Hope College, gave the Gladiators a pep talk before last Saturday's semifinal win over Muskegon Catholic Central. "We like to have one of our ex-players come back and talk to the players before each game," Sellers said. "I don't know what he told them, but we might have him back for the finals." St.

Francis lost 17 players to graduation from a team that got to the semifinals a year ago. This year, Sellers found a gem in sophomore quarterback Steve Demny, who has completed 66 percent of his passes, despite little, if any, playing experience. "I like his poise," Sellers said. "We've tried to not put him in situations where he's had to win games. You just want him to not throw the ball all over the place and fumble it.

We don't want him to make mistakes. Last year he was a freshman behind a sophomore on the JV level. But it shows you what work and dedication will do. He did a lot things on his own to get ready. By Bill Roose feet, 195 pounds is small by most standards, but its heart and determination have been immeasurable.

Despite their small line, the Patriots, like most Thumb teams, run the Wing-T offense. It has proven effective for the Pats, who are averaging nearly 350 yards on the ground. "The offensive line does a great job," Travis said. "Defensively, we're a lot smaller on the line. They're about 170 pounds, but they're strong and quick." This is the third time Sebewaing has qualified for the playoffs, but its first time past the opening round.

It lost to Muskegon Catholic Central in 1991 and Brown City in '94. "Because we're not the biggest team, we have to hit every week," Travis said. "We have some very tough kids. It's more fundamental than it is speed up here." St Francis: This is the pinnacle' Gladiators coach Larry Sellers wouldn't dream of missing a chance to drive down to Pontiac to watch eight championship football games. "The only games I've ever missed was when I had a wedding commitment last year," Sellers said.

"I've been to every one since they played them at Western Michigan a couple of years before they moved them to the Silverdome. "This is the pinnacle; it's what it's all about. You can't miss these games. It tore my heart out not to be there, because we actually planned to be there last year on Friday, but collapsed in the fourth quarter against Ravenna." This year, Sellers, in his 25th season at St. Francis, is making a bus trip down 1-75, rather than driving the family car.

The Gladiators (11-1) take on Unionville-Sebewaing at 5 p.m. Friday. St. Francis lost to Detroit DePorres Any team that travels six hours to the Upper Peninsula and comes away a winner is Dome-ready. For the second time in four years, Whittemore-Prescott has made the unenviable trek to play a regional final in the raucous Superior Dome in Sault Ste.

Marie. "I'm willing to bet that we're the only Lower Peninsula team to go up there and win," coach Kyle Tobin said. "We beat Ncgaunee in 1995 and Gwinn this year. They have about a 10-to-l advantage in fan ratio. They really turn out.

"They're so darn friendly up there, but they don't like losing to the trolls, that's for sure." Tobin used to shout out plays from the sidelines for his offense to run. But as a result of the '95 game at the Yooper Dome, he revised his method of relaying plays to his quarterbacks. "It's the worst place in the world to play until you get used to it," said Tobin, in his 14th season. "I used to call my plays off, but now we use a wristband-numbering system. I signal a number to Ryan Lomason, and he looks it up on his wristband." The Cardinals (11-1) will try to lift the hex of another dome the Silverdome in Saturday's championship.

Tobin, referring to dome conditions. "Hopefully, we have our system down so it doesn't bother us. When. we played there in '95 it didn't bother us. But I've seen some people struggle mightily in there." Last season, the Cardinals suffered through a 5-4 season, losing two games in overtime and another by one point.

They may not possess nearly as much individual talent as they did in '95 when they lost to Detroit DePorres in the finals, but Tobin likes his chances. "We have a bunch of small little runts and wrestlers on our team," Tobin said. "We have some kids who can run and get to where they're going before they can. "We'll give them a dose of that and hope it's enough on Saturday." By Bill L. Roose To understand the Montrose football program, you needed to be at last Saturday's Class CC semifinal game.

Quarterbackingthe Rams was Todd Klopf, and looking on as spectators were Todd's brothers, Jeff, who played at Saginaw Valley, and Bob, who played at Northwood. It wasn't that many years ago that Todd grew up watching his brothers play for Montrose. And it wasn't that long ago that Todd was one of the many youngsters attending a varsity game wearing a jersey from Montrose's youth football league. Most of the state's better teams have youth programs, and one of the best is at Montrose. "Kids can start playing here when they're 8 years old," said Montrose coach Dennis Reinhart.

"That's how they start working their way up to the varsity. A lot of those kids are dreaming about the day they can play for the varsity." Montrose's youth program fields six teams and allows youngsters to play until they reach junior high, which is when they begin playing for the school. Reinhart estimates that 120 i to 150 Montrose kids are participating i in the program this year, i "The main thing is they enjoy their experience, and they learn the I basics," he said. "All I do is show up on Saturday and watch them play. We have a thing where our varsity players run through a smoke tunnel under the scoreboard before our games.

I heard some little kids talking about how they can't wait until they get to run though that smoke tunnel." Montrose will bring 32 varsity players to the Silverdome, and I Reinhart believes 30 of them played in the youth league. "The othertwo are our kickers, and they were playing soccer," he said; The youth league is a positive experience for the kids in town, and it i makes football an important part of life in Montrose. "I've got a 5-year-old of my own, I Eli," Reinhart said. "The other day he I was asking when he gets a chance to play." i ByMickMcCabe CLASS DD: Fulton-Middleton vs. Harper Woods Bishop Gallagher, 10 a.m., Saturday "I thought our quarterback was a very intelligent kid and that we needed to give him more opportunity to get involved, and he's fallen in love with it," Lark said.

Through the first six weeks of the season, the Pirates struggled with the new concept, causing fumbles and putting unwanted stress on the defense. Lately, the Pirates have been more effective and have a plus-17 turnover ratio. Statistically, the Pirates aren't overly impressive. Wetmore has thrown for over 1,100 yards and 11 touchdowns. But it's the balance that the Pirates have that makes them a threat.

Running backs Jesse Van Etten and Justin Gaskill are capable of 100-yard games, as they had in Saturday's 42-13 win over Johannesburg Lewiston. But the Pirates' triple-option isn't just about pitching the ball and beating the defender to the corner. Wetmore can let it fly with four quality seniors Joe Yeager, Clint Canfield, Jay Childers and Joel Ryan on the receiving end. "We try to find something that the defense will give us," Lark said. "I think you have to be able to pass the ball to manipulate the defense and get them into a defense you want them in.

If your receivers can't run routes and make plays, you can't get that done." By Bill L. Roose Bishop Gallagher Football, anyone? In 26 years as head coach at Harper Woods Bishop Gallagher, George Sahadi had never faced the predicament he did this season. "We almost didn't have a football team," Sahadi said. "I'm not kidding. We only had 20 kids ready to play this year because we graduated 17 seniors, who played 22 of our starting positions." Sahadi persuaded five students who had never played before to join the team in August.

All five are starters now as the Lancers prepare for their championship battle against Fulton-Middleton. The entire line in the Lancers' 3-4 defense is new this year: senior nose guard Calvin House and junior defensive tackles Steve Kot and Aaron Grays. House (6-1, 190) has 12 sacks, has blocked a field goal and has returned an interception for a touchdown. Also new to the game and contributing to the Lancers' success are junior offensive linemen Joe Curry and Harry Brown. "We had to show them how to put on shoulder pads," said Sahadi, only half-joking.

"I had to tell them that a football is blown up and not stuffed." Gallagher (11-1) has been to the finals once before. In 1992, the Lancers dropped a heart-stopping double-overtime game to Traverse City St. Francis for the Class crown. Though the learning has been slow at times, Sahadi is glad to have committed players on the field. "We went down to Toledo Woodward and these guys got baptized awfully quick against gorillas playing tackle," Sahadi said.

"They're veterans now and it was a tremendous learning experience. "If you could have seen them at first; they had a tough time getting into the stance. They had to learn something every time they stepped onto the field. Now you couldn't take these kids away from this team if you tried." Fulton-Middleton: Learning to love the option When Ed Lark replaced his brother, Randy, as coach at Fulton-Middleton, he had plans to revamp the offense. Following the '97 season, Lark approached his players with an idea that he hoped would inject excitement.

"I coached the option for eight years before I came to Fulton," Ed Lark said. "My brother ran the wing-T here, which they were pretty comfortable with. I asked them if they were up for the work that it would take to switch to the option." The new offense has shone brightly with senior quarterback Matt Wetmore at the helm. High school football finals CLASS Iron Mountain North Dickinson vs. Fowler, 10 a.m., Friday Iron Mountain i -yS, fmxmlji.

North Dickinson: Elfin magic at work Fowler Overcoming injuries CLASS Rockford VS. Menominw RoHfnrH Pathnlip Pontral tf Traverse OHudsonvillevs. City niHndwuii WhittemoreB Menominee vs. Haslett if Belding vs. Chesaning .2.

BUnlonville MontroS8 Rockford Chesaning i ldin "Montrose llninnvillfl-Sfihfiwainn "rowier first four years I coached," Reddinger said. "The first day of practice I only had seven kids total. I got on the phone and started making calls. We ended up with 18 or 19." Dickinson County boasts Norway, Iron Mountain and Kingsford, all of which have won state football titles. Gradually, Reddinger has been forging a tradition at North Dickinson, but it hasn't been easy.

His fifth year finally brought a winning season and in '85 the Nordics won a league title. In '91, the Nordics made the first of seven straight playoff appearances, culminating with a trip to this weekend's finals. "This is a big basketball, baseball area," Reddinger said. "Football was something most of their fathers hadn't played. It's been a lot of hard work trying to make football the thing to do around here.

"It's every coach's dream to get to the finals. I've taken the family down there to watch the finals many times, and we have Thanksgiving down there." This will be a real thanksgivingfor the Railroaders, Foresters and Nordics. ByMickMcCabe counts most in the running game. They have rushed for 2,827 yards and 30 touchdowns. "Knock on wood, we've been fine so far," Hoffman said.

"We feel pretty good about being here. But we're still banged up. I think everybody has. the aches and pains this time of year." The Eagles (9-3) started the season with five straight wins but ran into trouble, losing their next three to Central Michigan Athletic Conference rivals Portland St. Patrick, Fulton-Middleton and Pewamo-Westphalia.

"We play in a very tough conference and finished fourth," Hoffman said. "We opened with Center Line and were fortunate enough to win and we got a ton of points and bonus points and finished first in our region. We had a very tough schedule. "It has just been one of those years for us, where we needed somebody to play we've had them step in and get it done for us." Hoffman led the Eagles to a 12-0 record and the '96 state title in his first year after taking over for Steve Spicer, who was diagnosed with cancer. By Bill Roose Hudsonville Haslett Harped Before there was an Iron Mountain North Dickinson there was a Channing and a Felch.

Channing? That must be actress Carol Channing. Felch? That must be a bad Chevy Chase movie. Actually, the Channing Railroaders and the Felch Foresters were two schools in Dickinson County that consolidated to become the Iron Mountain North Dickinson Nordics. The school didn't have football until 1972, and it took a Keebler Elf to build a genuine football program. Well, not exactly.

When Joe Reddinger graduated from college in 1974 there was a teachersurplusandhetookajobas a salesman for Keebler Cookies. "I sold quite a few of them," he said. "The pecan sandies were the most popular." Although he was a successful salesman, wanted to teach and coach, so he took the job at North Dickinson. After four seasons he might have wanted to go back to selling cookies. "We only won four games in the i Injuries nearly destroyed any chance of success for Fowler this season.

A bevy of setbacks, including neck injuries to senior tight end Steve Schafer and junior offensive tackle Nick Fedewa, caused concern for coach Neal Hoffman. "We've had injuries on top of injuries," Hoffman said. "At the Class 0 level it's more unique because you tfon't have that many kids who can step in like you would at Class The Eagles were ravaged by other injuries, including knee injuries to senior guard Derik Feldpausch, senior two-way tackle Dan O'Rourke, and a broken wrist for junior defensive end Roger Koenigsknecht. Because of the numbers, no fewer than three Eagles are playing out of position every week. But that hasn't prevented the Eagles from clawing theirwayto Friday's championship game.

This is Fowler's sixth trip to the finals, and its fourth in six years. Despite the rash of injuries, the Eagles have not been hurt where It Fulton-Middleton vs. Wood Harper Woods Bishop Gallagher ilin8ton TroYMountaln' Redfonj North Dickinson vs. Fowler Fulton: Township Detroit Free Press Bryant answered the call for four years at Harrison CROSS-COUNTRY ALL-STATE GIRLS TENNIS ALL-STATE Boys Brittany Maxey, Farmington Hills Harrison; Lindsey Johnson, East Lansing; Megan Skalsky, East Lansing; Lisa So, Midland; Stacy Kokx, Birmingham Marian; Katherine Lulgjurak, Warren Cousino; Tiffany van Beek, Kingsford. Honorable mention: Kerry Wool-fall, Northville; Heidi Beckemeyer, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern; Jessie Barber, Dearborn; Bethany Nestor, North Farmington; Carrie Budnik, Saline; Kristen Fettig, Holly; Liz Fertuck, Birmingham Sea-holm; Karti Schneider, Okemos.

Doubles First team: Abbie Ellsworth-Jill Neumaier, Okemos; Laura Monta-gue-Julianne Jones, Forest Hills Central; Renee Stoller-Linda Andrews, Birmingham Marian; Julie Glock-Kara Anderson, Northville. Honorable mention: Jenny Mc-Closkey-Kim Hopkins, Birmingham Marian; Christi Bassos-Kelly Cos-tantino, East Lansing; Stephanie Springer-Julie Rankin, Birmingham Seaholm. Bryant, from Page 9C freshman in college. He is considering Wisconsin, Purdue, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Michigan State, Kentucky and Michigan. "We've always told them they would make their careers with education," said Bryant's father, a purchasing agent for GM.

"We told them their education would dictate how far they would go." Bryant is the state's top wide receiver because he combines speed, hands and the ability to run precise routes with some acrobatic ability. Nobody has made more diving catches that BryanL "I've been diving since my freshman year," he said. "Kevin and I used to dive on the bed. We'd throw the ball up and dive on the bed and make catch." Bryant is also an elusive runner once he catches the ball and that, too, goes back to time spent with his brothers. Kevin recalled how they would shop at the mall with their mother: "We used to play tag running in and out of the clothes racks.

You know how close together the racks are? We'd juke each other and go in and out." Their father's job often requires him to travel, but he insists on being home by Friday so he can watch his sons' games. He is a football fan, and he can tell you which of the boys is the best. "Ricky's better. than Kevin," he said. "I don't mean to malign Kevin, but Ricky has that innate sense Kevin doesn't have.

Kevin knows it." Yes, Kevin knows it, even if he is reluctant to admit it when asked who is better. "I think I think that's a tough one," Kevin said. "I think he has Some of his athleticism is I guess he is better. But he can't beat me. My pride won't let him beat me." Over the four years, Herrington cannot count the times he has been amazed by a Bryant catch or run.

But the thing that pleases Herrington most is the way Bryant acts in school and on the field. "He's just a super kid," Herrington said. "He's happy-go-lucky. In one playoff game we only threw to him three times, but he didn't care at all. He doesn't worry about his statistics.

He just cares about the team." And what a team it is. Harrison is unbeaten again and gunning for a second straight Class A title. Bryant knows that Harrison's success is no accident. "It's a great tradition, and the coaches are amazing, he said. "I think they work harder than we do.

They watch so much tape, sometimes I think Coach Herrington stays up all night watching film. I can tell because the next day his hair is all wild. "They really study the other teams and that gives us an advantage. Coach Herrington is probably the wisest guy I know. I don't ever argue with him, even though he forgets some things.

Sometimes in the first quarter I tell him a play will work and he says well use it, but he forgets." You can count on one thing. Herrington will never forget the best receiver he has ever coached: Ricky Bryant. Division I Singles First team: Emily Marker, Ann Arbor Pioneer; Leila Armin, Troy; Kristin Atkinson, Grand Blanc; Meryl Pankhurst.i Grosse Pointe South; Valeria Stoilova, Port Huron; Allison Degrow, Port Huron Northern; Lisa Sayed, Ann Arbor Huron; Bomy Hong, Jenison; Ashley Abramson, West Bloomfield; Kris-ten Swanson, Ann Arbor Pioneer; Kellen Lynch, Port Huron; Stacy Schock, Port Huron Northern; Sara Oakes, Ann Arbor Huron. Honorable mention: Lauren De-Meyer, Rochester; Sara Derefalk, Livonia Stevenson; Kristen Pa-lombo, Farmington Hills Mercy; Jori Werschky, Flint Carman-Ainsworth; Lisa Pellafone, Rochester Adams; Maelynn Bernosky, Port Huron Northern. Doubles First team: Elena Blackman4.au-ra Matzka, Port Huron Northern; Nicole Tietz-Allison Okuyama, Pioneer; Carly Kleiman-Heejean Yang, Ann Arbor Huron; Eileen Pulis-Lauren Pankhurst, Grosse Pointe South; Sydney Wysong-Kate Mcintosh, Traverse City Central.

Honorable mention; Lindsey Pak-kala-Anne Walton, Flint Carman-Ainsworth. Division II Singles Frst team: Dora vastag, Oke-mos; Kerry Pastein, Midland; Me-lanie Remynse, Portage Northern; Lindsay Williams, Birmingham Groves; Jennifer Hodgman, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix; Mollie Hood, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central; larea, Sturgis; Jamie Riemersma, Alma; Meg Plangger, Stevensville Lakeshore. Doubles First team: Kaitlin Cutler-Kelly Lausch, East Grand Rapids; Elizabeth Schulz-Melissa Adams, St. Joseph; Rita Brust-Seema Varghese, Pint Powers; Amy Woodhams-Jen Goldschmeding, Allegan; Sa-mantha Kopacz-Katlyn Kroneman, Cranbrook Kingswood. Honorable mention: Alison Ko-marek-Lenka Nemeckova, Holland Christian; Sarah RingenbergBerk-ley Kellogg, Sturgis; Stacy Chap-marvStacey Geftos, Grosse He.

Division IV Singles First team: Jill Wieman, North Muskegon; Melissa Denardo, Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central; Keri Thompson, Jackson Lumen Christi; Erin Saylor, Essexville Garber; Kate Groh, Muskegon Catholic Central; Julie Megler, Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett; Alaina Griffin, Portland; Simona lacoben, Dear-' born Heights Annapolis; Josie Schmude, Traverse City St. Francis; Kim Wattrick, Liggett; Andrea Buter, North Muskegon; Lauren Elaba, Liggett; Mary Knofke, West Iron County. Honorable mention: Amy VanWirv egern, Grandville Grand Christian; Jessica Spencer, Almont; Jessie Miller, Harbor Springs. Doubles First team: Allison Ricci-Nayla Kazzi, Liggett; Hilary FosseAmanda Wegner, North Muskegon.

Honorable mention: Sangeeta Jain-Anu Singla, Birmingham Detroit Country Day. Girls Dream team Emily Blakeslee, Rockford; Katie Boyles, Rochester Adams; Nicole Breger, Madison Heights Bishop Foley; Harmony Dykhuis, Fremont; Jamie Krzyminski, Corunna; Kalin Toe-debusch, Rockford; Naomi Wendland, Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary. Class A Lindsey Blaisdell, Rockford; Emily Blakeslee, Rockford; Katie Boyles, Rochester Adams; Nora Colligan, Rockford; Jennifer Rtzgerald, Sterling Heights Stevenson; Michelle Ruggero, Utica Ford; Kalin Toede-busch, Rockford. Class Nicole Breger, Bishop Foley; Sara Dillman, Marshall; Harmony Dykhuis, Fremont; Jamie Krzyminski, Corunna; Colleen Lange, Corunna; Sarah Pepera, Ortonville Brandon; Mary Reynolds, Grand Rapids Catholic Central. Class Kim Hoover, Berrien Springs; Ga-brielle Maggi, Rogers City; Sarah Peterson, St.

Louis; Marisa Ryan, Carson City-Crystal; Caryn Water-son, Benzie Central; Naomi Wendland, Michigan Lutheran Seminary; Heidi Wright, Southfield Christian. Class Stephanie Carpenter, Mio; Trudy Chase, Walkerville; Andrea Holt, Wyoming Tri-Unity Christian; Carol Licht, Atlanta; Candi Mason, Potter-ville; Tina Petiprin, Akron-Fairgrove; Tiffany Seitz, New Buffalo. Dream team Jared Aldrich, Corunna; Adam Cross, Rochester Adams; Jordan Desilets, Lake Orion; Ben Evans, Birmingham Brother Rice; Jake Flynn, Benzie Central; Jason Hart-mann, Rockford; Dathan Ritzenhein, Rockford. Class A Kevin Avenius, Novi; Adam Cross, Rochester Adams; Jordan Desilets, Lake Orion; Ben Evans, Brother Rice; Jason Hartmann, Rockford; Todd Mobley, Novi; Dathan Ritzenhein, Rockford. Class Jared Aldrich, Corunna; Jeremy Canze, Corunna; Aaron Lindell, Corunna; Kurtis Marlowe, Richland Gull Lake; Mike Richardson, Wyoming Godwin Heights; Andy Vyncke, Marysville; Brian Wilson, North Branch.

Class Robert Ryan Cole, Sanford-Merid-ian; Jake Rynn, Benzie, Central; Shane Higgins, Sandusky; Justin Kibbey, Maple City Glen Lake; Jeremiah Saier, Benzie Central; Kevin Sule, Hemlock; Brent Wrisley, St. Louis. Class Jimmy Hein, Galien; Ron Hein, Galien; Aaron Romero, Detroit Holy Redeemer; Nathan Shay, Central Lake; Nathan Usher, Grass Lake; Mike VanPatten, Litchfield; Gabriel Wordell, Warren Bethesda Division III Singles Frst team: Katie Karhohs, East Grand Rapids; Kara Hoorn, Richland Gull Lake; Akane Kokubo, Battle Creek Lakeview; Bree Ca-valli, Bloomfield Hills Andover; Lindsey Moore, St. Clair; Katie Ma-loney, Petoskey; Shelly Bradley, Pint Powers; Marie Cameron, Battle Creek Harper Creek; Audrey Shade, Grosse He; Rachel Aviv, Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kings-wood; Megan Thigpen, Three Rivers; Amy Rink, East Grand Rapids; Lindsay Tiemeyer, Cranbrook Kingswood' Honorable mention: Holly Vil-.