ODE TO THE BIG RED SENIORS!
Normally when a MAC GOLD team comes marching into Memorial Stadium, you automatically think, our MAC BLUE (a higher rated division then the GOLD) PORT HURON HIGH BIG REDS should beat them bad. Then again, the Madison Heights Madison Eagles are not your everyday MAC GOLD football team. For starters, they came into Friday Night’s contest having been victorious in their last 18 of 20 contests (they entered this game with a 7-1 record), going back to last season. I don’t care if they only face MAC GOLD competition. At any level that’s impressive. The Eagles also had a weapon that we don’t see that often – A future NCAA Division I football player. The Eagles featured RB – Valdez Showers. He was obviously highly touted coming into this one, having been recruited by the likes of Northwestern, Auburn, Florida, Michigan State and even Michigan. In the end, he chose Florida and for one night, I could actually say that we were watching a future Florida Gator. Did it really matter though? It was Senior Night at Memorial Stadium and the Big Red seniors WOULD NOT be outdone for anything or anyone. Port Huron took the game – 41-13 very impressively. It was basically the story of two different halves. The first half was for the most part, an evenly played game. It was a 20-13 halftime score in favor of the Big Reds but at that point they didn’t look… like the more dominant team. If so, they certainly didn’t by much. The Big Reds completely dominated the second half, outscoring the Eagles 21-0 and securing what, in the end became a dominate victory for the dominate team. I really think that overall team depth was the biggest difference. PH just had more overall talent and why wouldn’t they? Port Huron is a school of almost triple the amount of students as Madison High.
The Big Reds did a great job of stopping Madison RB and Florida recruit, Valdez Showers for most of the night. Although he only was 15 for 48 on the ground and 5 for 82 receiving, he had a huge 74 yard TD reception out of the flat that brought the house down. Showers is a good combination of both speed, size and ball-hawking ability (also a defensive back which apparently Florida is most interested in). He just couldn’t do much against the Big Reds and their strong defense. Not many runners do. This is clearly a playoff D. They just didn’t have many breaks this year. I thought that Big Red DB – Winslow Chapman (7 carries for 40 yards rushing and a 26 yard TD scamper) had his best game of the season from an overall standpoint. Defensively he attacked Madison QB – Tim Lowry with many corner blitzes and he also did a good job of shadowing Showers. As I claimed on the broadcast, Winslow Chapman will more then likely be the big overall talent and playmaker on this Big Red team next season. He can kick return, play WR, RB or line up in the slot. He’s an excellent utility player who plays well wherever you stick him. As much as the Big Red personnel will be sad to see a lot of their senior talent leave to graduation, it’s nice to know that great players like Winslow will be returning next year.
In the past, The Big Reds have had great talents at the RB position. Chris Tatti and Mark Titus (Tatti especially) were excellent players but more importantly they were showcase RB’s. This Big Red team uses more of a running back by committee approach. I thought that this game showed what many of these RB’s can really do. The game began with RB – Montez Jackson (10 for 55 rushing with a 4 yard TD run) racking up some big yards. Where was this all year? Terez Watkins, Jarrett Chapman and Dominic Schultz also contributed to the cause. Schultz also had a huge 45 yard interception TD return defensively that sealed the deal! There was no looking back after that! Port Huron DB – Jarrett Chapman had his usual big night with with his typical strong pass defense and kick return game. He had a late interception that simply added fuel to the fire. Let’s not forget about Port Huron’s WR – Tyler Rowbatham who caught 3 passes for 79 yards and set up the first TD. Rowbatham is another big time talent who the Big Reds will expect a lot from next season!
The big story in this huge Big Red victory was QB – Justin Black and mainly, the inability of the Madison D to continually defend against Black’s play-action running. Every single time that Black faked to one of his tailbacks, it always seemed like there was a hole the size of Michigan for him to run through. Many of those gains were not only for first down yardage but for BIG yardage! All told, the Big Reds went 40 for a whopping 316 rushing yards. Black had 12 of 149 of that on his own. Although Black was only 4 for 10 for 82 passing yards with 2 interceptions, the completions he did have, he made count. His 19 yard gun to Jarrett Chapman in the first quarter was nothing short of fabulous. He had Chapman on the run, in stride perfectly and the Madison DB had no chance. Black had TD runs of 10 and 19 yards. Indeed, the Big Red Jr. QB was the difference in more ways then one.
I was worried after a tough loss like the Big Reds had against the Port Huron Northern Huskies last week, that there might be a setback. Judging by the aggressive play of the Big Reds defense, that obviously wasn’t the case. In my opinion, it was the defensive depth of the Big Reds that solidified the victory. Madison was clearly out of sync in the second half due to the Big Reds and their aggressive play. Let’s face it, Madison isn’t exactly a team that is used to losing. As mentioned, rarely do they lose a game PERIOD and no matter what happened on this night, they were still in the playoffs. The Big Reds were simply BETTER! All told, the Eagles ended up with just 25 for 93 yards on the ground and just 164 passing yards.
The Big Reds can still make the playoffs. Although it’s unlikely with just 5 victories, they did have one of the tougher 2010 schedules in the MAC and without a doubt, stranger things have happened. There’s even talk of the possibility that the Big Reds might get a rematch against the Huskies in Week 10. I think that’s a far reach though. Although I think they may deserve it, I don’t think the Big Reds will be selected on the MHSAA playoff selection show on Oct. 23rd, 2010. Knowing that, in many ways, THIS game WAS their playoffs, especially for the seniors. On this big victory, Jarrett Chapman claimed, “It was a great win to end our senior year…I’ll always remember this night.” As will we, Jarrett! If this was indeed the last game for the Port Huron Big Red seniors then they certainly went out the right way. What way? The only way they know how – AS WINNERS!
Pictures in this article are property of the Port Huron Times Herald. Big Reds in this article are given from top to bottom and left to right… / Big Red fans show how they feel for their team / Winslow Chapman who had an excellent all around football game / Julien Brown watches as Jarrett Chapman gets a carry / Justin Black on the run which was the overall difference in the game and Mike LaForge who led the Big Red defense all night long!
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Big D! Just finished watchin’ the Madison game tonight. I start at right tackle for PH and I gotta say, I love watchin’ your coverage of the games. It’s always nice to see someone pullin’ for us through this whole season. It didn’t exactly go as planned, but that’s just something we have to live with. And hey, we still made the playoffs and if all goes right, we’ll have a PHN vs. PHHS rematch in 2 weeks. Again, thanks for the coverage and support, God bless.
Hey Rich. Thanks for the compliments. I enjoy doing the games a lot. I try and put the extra “UMPH” into it whenever I can. Knowing you guys feed off of it is a great reason to be extra excited. I dont think things went the Big Reds way this season but I do think that it was a very tough schedule. As much as that made things tough for you guys it might have been a blessing in disguise since it got you in at 5-4 on obviously the strength of it. I think it would be a dream come true for port huron to have both the Big Reds and Huskies with the re-match but first things first. Warren De La Salle will be tough but remember…Port Huron is behind you. I think thats something that both you guys and the Huskies need to remember. Win or lose…you have the whole city behind you so go out and make sure you leave it all on the field this week. Win or lose don’t let Warren have a cakewalk. Get em…pop em…AND WHO KNOWS. Best of luck Rich and thanks. Truly.
-BIG D
Rich, As a parent of a “Husky” D Lineman this may come across as odd, but I wish you and the Big Reds all the luck in the world, we will be pulling for you to beat De LaSalle, as it would be absolutly awesome to see a rematch betweem the two PH teams. Good luck on Firday, and hope to see you on the next Friday!!!!
Mike
Hey Big D! #65 of the Big Reds, I just like to say that both PH and PHN had a great season. The feeling was bad when both teams were knock out of the opener game for playoffs. Both teams would like to see another rematch the week after that. The seniors of both teams were amazing and they are going to miss playing in Memoral Stadium again.
I agree Travis. Both teams had a great season. I think the Big Reds were victims of an unlucky/difficult schedule all season long that was capped off by a very tough final opponent in Warren De La Salle. The Huskies on the other hand didn’t play their best game but still could have won. It would have been nice to see a rematch but that’s the way football goes sometimes. I agree…this is one of the best senior classes that I ever had the pleasure of calling play by play for because they were tremendous and deep on both sides of the football. I know the seniors will miss playing in Memorial Stadium which is why I was really happy for the Huskies this season as they finally had a winning record. As for your Big Reds…I’m glad to say you guys fought hard right to the end. GOOD WORK TRAVIS!
-THE BIG D