DAVIS/PEREZ LIGHT THE SKIES!

Posted by bigD | October 18, 2009 .

It was a sloppy game, Friday Night at Port Huron’s Memorial Stadium but with the way the weather has been lately, would we expect anything different? Our Port Huron Northern Huskies came into this game with just a 1-6 overall record and they were also 0-4 in their MAC BLUE Division. What’s the perfect recipe for turning your season around? Face a divisional opponent doing worse then you are. In the visiting Fraser Ramblers (0-7 coming into this game), that’s exactly what they Huskies had and that’s exactly what the Huskies capitalized on as they walked away with a rare 27-10 victory and were clearly the better team all night long. It certainly didn’t start that way though. The first drive of the game saw the Huskies turn the ball over and it left me thinking up in the CPHS – Channel 6 Play-By-Play Booth, “Is it going to be yet another one of THOSE games?” Due to two factors – The PHN Defense and Fraser’s pure sloppiness all game long (turned the ball over 4 times…3 of them were PHN fumble recoveries), it wouldn’t be another hard night. Instead, it turned out to be very rewarding for the Huskies on their Homecoming/ Seniors Night. But would the PHN offense get going in this one? Finally, the answer is…

…“YES!” In capitalizing on the Fraser turnovers, the Huskies scored 1 TD in every quarter. Led by the all of a sudden strong passing attack of QB – Matt Davis in this run first option system and also by talented, athletic WR-Mark Perez, the Huskies finally put 27 points on the scoreboard and it led to what was by far their most impressive overall victory in years. I gave Perez (4 for 145 receiving, 9 for 34 rushing and an interception at CB) the overall player of the game and was it ever deserved!!!

Oddly enough, the battle of total yards was EXACTLY EVEN at 347 yards each. Perhaps the most talented player on the field was Fraser QB – Patrick Kelly (19 for 33 for 214 and a pick) who at times showed just how much skill he has. I remember wondering how a team with a QB this talented could be 1-8 in 2008 and 0-8 thus far in 2009? It just doesn’t make sense. In the case of Kelly, he strolled into 2009 with the all-time single season completion record at Fraser (111 completions in 9 games in 2008). I asked a Fraser fan on Friday night how this team is so unsuccessful with a player like that leading the way? The answer I got was that he throws the ball too hard. WELL THEN CATCH THE DAM THING! Again, credit has to go to the Husky Defense. Despite the fact that Fraser moved the ball very well at times (minus their turnovers), the Husky D performed when it had to, making plays when the Huskies needed them the most.

Matt Davis went 7 for 8 for 178 passing yards and also had 51 yards on the rush. Again, this is the best I’ve seen him look outside of the option system which clearly is starting to hold these kids back. Darien Haeck was 13 for 56 and a 10 yard TD scamper. Kenny Sanders had 2 receptions for 23 yards and a 1 yard TD dive. The other PHN TD came on a Ricky Norris 1 yard trot. Norris doesn’t get much playing time which I question simply because he looks like he has good enough skill to start for this Husky team. In Haeck and Sanders there are clearly good players ahead of him but the way Norris runs, to me, even as a Junior he looks like a talented enough player to, in the very least, get more looks as opposed to riding the bench for most games when he clearly shouldn’t be. His breakout game came a week ago in Roseville where he rushed for 113. Well, my prediction for next season is that Ricky Norris (who will be a senior in 2010) will step up in a big way for this Husky team and will show why he should be playing more often RIGHT NOW instead of later.

As much as I was impressed with the Husky defensive play on the whole, in this game, what impressed me most BY FAR was WR – Mark Perez. In Perez the Huskies finally showed an ability to have a passing attack in their offense (an offense that is often VOID of it) and again, Matt Davis has never looked better passing the football. This is exactly the kind of game the Port Huron Northern Huskies needed and although they are guaranteed yet another losing season under Head Coach, Kasey Kuscera, a win next week at Lanse Cruese will at least send the Huskies home for another season with some hope for next season. With Norris, Perez and mainly, Matt Davis all coming back for next season in their senior years, the future looks bright. It’s now time to change their offensive system around these players to bring success to a school that just hasn’t had it.

Congratulations to the Husky seniors who have now played their final game at Memorial Stadium. Win or lose, gentlemen, you’re aggressive play and tremendous spirit over your careers at PHN haven’t gone unnoticed. All the best to you all in the future.

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DAVIS/PEREZ LIGHT THE SKIES!

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