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Stakes Are High For Local Gridders

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Parent Issue
Day
26
Month
October
Year
1976
Copyright
Copyright Protected
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Donated by the Ann Arbor News. © The Ann Arbor News.
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Stakes Are High For Local Gridders

BY DAVE RIGAN

News Sports Writer

The next three Fridays will feature local Class A high school football teams in head-to-head competition and there is plenty at stake.

Pioneer High (1-5) travels to Ypsilanti High (5-1), this Friday and both teams still are in contention for the South Central Conference championship. Huron High also is in the running and plays a league breather with Jackson Parkside at home.

Meanwhile. St. Thomas (6-0) continues to roll over its opponents and plays at Whiteford on Friday.

Last weekend was another good day for three of the teams. The Braves, River Rats and Irish all came out easy winners. Ypsilanti trimmed Parkside, 38-6, Huron whipped a good Jackson team, 26-7, and the Irish annihilated Whitmore Lake, 46-0. Pioneer lost another toughie. to Adrian, 7-6.

The Huron win was significant because it virtually assured the team of a winning season. Its record is 4-2 and the River Rats should defeat Parkside before they go against Ypsilanti and Pioneer to close out the season.

Friday’s win against the Vikings had some interesting statistics. Fullback Gary Reeves rushed for 143 yards, including 108 in the 20-point second half. The other figure, one that again demonstrates the strength of the defensive line, is that it held speedster Mike Cawthon to 22 yards. He gained 144 the week before against Ypsilanti.

Paul Weber, normally a fullback, played on the line for the first time this season and did a good job.

The victory shows that Huron could give the Braves a good battle. Ypsilanti only defeated Jackson, 6-0 the week before.

Ypsilanti Coach Ralph Perriello wasn't exactly ecstatic over the lopsided score. "When you win 36-0 and don't look good before you play Pioneer, it has to be a blessing in disguise," he said. “Maybe we can show these kids the film and point out their mistakes which might get them working harder and generate more enthusiasm."

Ypsilanti has to be considered the favorite for the big game coming up for a number of reasons.

The defense has recorded two straight shutouts, but Adrian scored 26 points and gained 363 yards in the first conference game. Pioneer held the Maples to a total offense of 25 in the second half last week.

The main reason for the Braves successes a diversified offense. Rod Holman caught four passes for 136 yards against Parkside. Quarterback Scott Davis has been able to hit the key passes. The running attack proved strong in a tight game against Jackson.

Pioneer has won only one game, but has looked good most of the time against excellent competition. The defense has been consistently strong as demonstrated against Adrian in the second half.

The team has played up and down, and mostly down in the first half  in many of its games. Three times fullback Adrian Rogers has done virtually nothing in the first half and then returned in the second half to become a one-man wrecking crew.

He carried 17 times in a row last Friday to start the second half. The first 13 resulted in 68 yards and a touchdown.

Pioneer has lived and died over the years on its running attack and if Ypsilanti can manage to stop it Friday, Pioneer could be in more trouble. Pioneer also must stop the passes of Davis if it is to win.

St. Thomas is battling a computer that has proven to be quite fickle. A complicated point system will determine the teams that make the postseason playoffs. Last season Jackson Lumen Christi, the best class B team in the state according to many observers, went undefeated, yet didn’t make the playoffs.

The third-ranked Irish have been led all season by their offensive line. Coach Dave McCarney said after last Friday’s win that,"Those five guys, we’d never win without ’em." He was talking about Phil Dascola, Brian Kelly, Joe Simon, Joe Treml and Paul Sherzer.

They helped Blaise DiDonato and George Creswell combine for 193 yards. DiDonato has now gained 423 yards and Creswell 374 on the season.

Quarterback John Wright also got into the act Friday, connecting on six of 11 passes for 99 yards.