PLAY-BY-PLAY HAS NEVER LOOKED SO GLOOMY!

Posted by bigD | October 11, 2009 .

It was a wet, muddy, rainy and downright miserable evening, Friday Night at Port Huron’s Memorial Stadium but as expected, nothing could keep the key Mac Blue game between our Port Huron Big Reds and the visiting Sterling Heights Stallions from being played, CPHS – Channel 6 from broadcasting it and BIG D from announcing it. The only thing this horrible weather prevented was the scoring which, both these offenses were used to doing coming into this one. In walking away with a 7-3 victory, Port Huron proved one thing – Not even Mother Nature can stop the HOT BIG RED D! Perhaps “ON FIRE” is a better way to describe the way this unit has played lately. Coming into this game, the Big Reds had allowed under 14 a game in the last 2 and with just 3 allowed on this night, that average is about to drop significantly. These 2 teams came into this contest both with2-1 Mac Blue records so with this key Big Red victory they now walk away with not only a 1 game lead over Sterling Heights but because of the tiebreaker they now earned over the Stallions, it might as well be 2 games with 2 remaining.

Obviously with horrible weather like this, offenses can get downright sloppy at times and that’s exactly how to describe the Big Reds, especially in the early going where they turned the ball over by fumbling 3 times in the first half. As mentioned it was the patented Big Red BIG DEFENSE getting the job done play after play. Were they using the bad weather to their advantage or are they really that good? I think it’s a mixture of both but in any weather condition, the fact is, stopping Sterling Heights on 3-4th down conversions in the 2nd half can’t be ignored. The Stallions came in with a tremendous passing attack with an excellent QB in Kyle Veith (9-26 for 68 yards and 2 ints), WR – Jeff Kozumplik (5 catches for 19 yards) and some great RB’s in Jason Vissotski and Corey Robertson (17 for 105). That being said, who can doubt the offense that the Big Reds can also bring out on the field week in and week out with QB – Jarrett Chapman (18 rushes for 166 and was named the player of the game by BIG D) and RB – Marc Titus (12 for only 38 yards on the ground)? Due to the poor field conditions and the non-stop rain falling from play 1 to the end, the Big Reds made a commitment to the run. How big a commitment? How about no passing attemps all game long? That certainly took away Port Huron’s gamebreaking WR – “THE TRUTH” David Foster from this game…OR DID IT?

At halftime, I challenged the Big Red offense stating the obvious – THEY HAD TO GET DAVID FOSTER INVOLVED. If they weren’t going to pass the ball at all, how about end arounds, reverses or counters? Well they did neither. Instead, the play of the game was about to happen as the first play of the 2nd half was magical and ended up winning the game for the Big Reds. Marc Titus received the opening half kickoff and reversed it to Foster who did the rest. In the mud, Foster scampered as fast as he could, taking the ball 85 yards, all the way back with his explosive speed and for one instance on Friday Night, it was like the rain, mud and horrible weather didn’t exist. THE TRUTH had struck again. Mother Nature wants the truth but like Sterling Heights it was clear – SHE CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH. Who can? To have a player this talented and not even throw to him once all evening is a shame but everyone knew he had to be the difference and he still was. The big question I have after watching Foster take 2 back all the way this season is, Why isn’t he back there to return kicks more often? Not to take anything away from talented Marc Titus but he’s no Foster. No one is. I know that they want him as simply a deep threat WR and with the future he has playing on Saturdays next season, you don’t want to take away his possibilities with the threat of injury but MAN, WHAT A FORCE as a kick returner and this just goes to show you how 1 play can make all the difference in a football game. In game like this where he had no touches up to that point, I think it’s obvious you have got to get him some in one way or another. If it means kick returning SO BE IT. Despite the no passing attempts by the Big Reds, they won the only stat that mattered on a night of poor weather conditions – THE RUSHING YARDS. PH had 204 rushing yards to 121 for Sterling Heights which again, should give credit to the Big Red defense. Ron Monzo (a very improved player from Week 1 to now) and Jarrett Chapman (player of the game due to his strong play both ways) each had interceptions. Chapman’s sealed the deal late in the game.

A victory over Grosse Pointe South at South next week (not an easy task at all) guarantees the Big Reds at least a share of the Mac Blue Division Title (one of their major goals at the beginning of the season). Considering they lost their starting QB – Justin Black, indeed that is a great accomplishment. It’s been a solid year for the Mac Blue and its teams. This division looks to be growing in both talent and players and this season might just be the finest coaching job of Ryan Mullins yet. Let’s not count our chickens before they’re hatched though, Port Huron. Next week will be a tough task. But with Black’s return on the horizon it’s obvious the Big Reds have one goal. They must get Justin Black to the playoffs and upon his return – LET THE TRUTH SET YOU FREE. IF YOU CAN HANDLE IT THAT IS!!!

NOTE: All photos in this article are property of the Port Huron Times Herald. From left to right, top to bottom and front to back… Sterling Heights RB - Corey Robertson is tackled by Port Huron LB - Mike LaForge (who is extremely improved and played terrific all night long), PH WR - “THE TRUTH” David Foster and Robertson also tackling Port Huron QB - Jarrett Chapman.

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PLAY-BY-PLAY HAS NEVER LOOKED SO GLOOMY!

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