THE END OF THE CHOP…FOR NOW

Posted by bigD | November 1, 2009 .

Perhaps the best coaching year of Ryan Mullins young career came in 2009 and yet it ended very frustratingly Friday Night in Grosse Pointe North. Every article that I write about on this site usually follows a game that I did play-by-play for with CPHS – Channel 6 at Memorial Stadium however, with this being a very important playoff game, I want to thank the Port Huron Times Herald for the tremendous information about this game. I have to say based on what I saw this season that I’m not real shocked that the Big Reds went down to GPN – 43-22 because let’s face it…the competition in these playoff games is absolutely outstanding. What I was mostly shocked about was… …reading about Big Red miscues in a game that’s supposed to be void of them. Apparently, the Big Reds missed an extra point, a two-point conversation, threw an interception and had a grand total of 8 penalties for 65 yards. That and the fact that the Big Red D forced only one punt all game was the tell tale factor. The Norseman ended up with 304 rushing yards on 51 attempts.

As expected, THE TRUTH – DAVID FOSTER was the BIG factor for the Big Reds in this game and he had to be but as he has so often demonstrated, even in the loss, THE TRUTH left GPN looking for answers. Foster took the opening kick-off of the game 51 yards to the GPN 31 setting up a Justin Black 15 yard scamper to open the scoring. Foster also had 6 receptions for 144 yards including a 70 yard TD reception later on in the first quarter. As impressive as the TD might have been, it apparently became the turning point in the game (at least the 1st half) as Foster was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct due to excessive celebration on his way to the end zone by simply raising his hand in celebration. This angered the Big Red sideline and as a result, they were also flagged on the play. Thus, the 30 yard penalty on the reception made the Foster TD a costly one and definitely a difference in momentum.

The story of the game was North’s RB – Tommie Watkins. His 151 rushing yards keyed the Grosse Pointe attack and under Watkins the Norseman never looked back. As you’d expect with numbers like that out of Watkins, GPN won the rushing battle – 304 – 83. In my opinion, the Big Red rushing attack (with the exception of back-up QB – Jarrett Chapman) was never consistent all season long and at times was frustrating to watch. Earlier in the year Marc Titus looked very strong but suddenly somewhere around the mid-point of the year, Big Red RB’s all of a sudden could no longer run the ball and they paid for it when it mattered the most. Port Huron fell to a final record of 6-4. That’s still not bad when you think about the fact that Black went down for more then half the season and Coach Mullins still had this Big Red team winning and believing in themselves. That says it all.

Considering the fact that the aforementioned Black was only playing in his second game back since his devastating knee injury in Week 3, he sure looked good and his passing numbers proved it. Black went 20 for 32 for 339 yards and 1 interception. The truth is, this kid is going to be a massive star (if he already isn’t) in the future. Being just a junior next year, this Big Red team will go as far as the Black attack will take them. In my opinion, that could be VERY FAR. This was a tough loss as all losses are, particularly for the Big Red seniors. Players like Marc Titus, Jarrett Chapman, Steve Sawher, Mike LaForge, Ashawn Butler and especially, THE TRUTH – David Foster won’t soon forget this one but I hope they don’t let it get them down for too long. The simple fact of it all is this is clearly one of the most talented senior classes in Port Huron history, certainly of Coach Mullins tenure (including the days of assisting ex-Head Coach – Ed Kindle). I don’t know where all of your futures are going but whatever you guys choose to do, all the best to you all and good luck. Calling play-by-play for you all has been a privilege.

This was a Big Red team of great excitement offensively. Although the defense was a bit inconsistent for most of the season this unit performed when it had to and it continued to give the offense the lift it needed. With Black going down, it’s important to also note what it meant to have such a talented back-up QB in Jarrett Chapman. In Chapman the Big Reds changed their offensive approach and relied mostly on the rush but this was no normal rushing QB and Chapman’s overall ability, speed and quickness was the big reason the Big Reds even made the playoffs in the first place. You really can’t say enough about what it meant to have a player like THE TRUTH to throw to. From that respect it really was a shame that Black went down because he was the main QB who could get the ball to Foster whenever it was needed but it just wasn’t meant to be. For Foster, it’s more likely then not that this is just the beginning. Will he end up playing in D1 football next season? Who knows? One thing is for sure, this season, Big Red opponents WANTED THE TRUTH but THEY COULDN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH. Foster was simply one of the best Port Huron WR’s I’ve ever seen play at Memorial Stadium. His combination of speed, hands, size and dominance separated him from everyone else and 2009 will forever be remembered as the year of THE TRUTH.

Next season, the Big Reds will have to replace great talents like Foster, Titus, Butler and LaForge but they always lose such great talents to graduation, yet always find adequate replacements. For that reason, I wouldn’t worry about them next year. The only question is will they be moving ahead to the MAC WHITE or staying put? There is no question that the future of this team is in Justin Black’s hands. That can only be a compliment for the rising star. Great season, Big Reds and great job, Coach Mullins! With great talents like Black coming back, SKIES THE LIMIT FOR YOU AND YOUR PORT HURON HIGH SCHOOL BIG REDS…ALWAYS!

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THE END OF THE CHOP…FOR NOW

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