DETROIT — Football fans who hung around at Ford Field on Saturday afternoon for the Catholic League Prep Bowl XLIX doubleheader experienced a range of emotions.
In the opener, they were on the edge of their seats for the showdown between Clarkston Everest Collegiate and Madison Heights Bishop Foley that wasn’t decided until the final 120 seconds.
In the second game, fans relaxed watching the outcome of the contest between Warren De La Salle and University of Detroit Jesuit turn out to be a no-contest as they had anticipated.
Bishop Foley 43, Everest 37
Four big plays were major factors in Bishop Foley’s winning the Cardinal/Intersectional Division trophy, which Everest had claimed for the last three years. Foley had played in two Prep Bowl contests, in 2005 and 1997, both losses.
Foley gets off to a fast start.
Foley quarterback Dylan Gough plunged one yard into the end zone and Joey Hildreth kicked a 24-yard field goal for a 10-0 Ventures lead early in the second quarter. The Mountaineers responded with a six-play, 65-yard drive, the final 24 yards a quarterback Joey Thibodeau aerial to Johnny Nedwick, to narrow the score to 10-7.
Big play No. 1: Junior halfback Jackson Zeiter raced 89 yards down the left sideline with the ensuing kickoff to restore the Ventures’ lead to 17-7. They made it 24-7 at halftime on another 1-yard touchdown by Gough.
In the third quarter, Everest took 11 plays in a little more than five minutes to close the gap to 24-14 on Jimmy Nedwick’s 8-yard end run.
Big play No. 2: On the first play after the ensuing kickoff, Gough teamed up with Zeiter for a 62-yard touchdown pass to make it a 31-14 Foley lead heading into the final 12 minutes.
At 10:17, Everest concluded a laborious 17-play, 66-yard drive with senior running back Nathan Beggs covering the last yard to shave Foley’s edge to 31-21.
At 8:41, Foley covered 66 yards in five plays with Gough scoring another touchdown. The extra point was muffed, and their advantage was back up to 37-21.
At 6:10, Everest went 64 yards — Johnny Nedwick had runs of 33 and 22 yards — with Beggs taking care of the last seven for a touchdown. Thibodeau ran for a 2-point conversion to make it a 37-29 score.
At 2:54, Everest tied the score at 37-37 on Beggs’ 11-yard burst and a 2-point conversion.
At 1:59, Big play No. 3: Everest’s onside kick attempt to regain possession failed. Zeiter ran 16 yards to Everest’s 38-yard line and then caught Gough’s pass for a touchdown for a 43-37 lead. The extra point attempt was blocked, leaving Everest with an opportunity to tie and possibly win the game.
Big play No. 4: Ventures coach Brian Barnes gambled. He ordered an onside kick. Lineman Angelo Costanzo recovered the ball for Foley, ending the Mountaineers’ comeback rally.
For Foley (8-1), Gough and Zeiter combined for more than 300 yards in passing and running. “They’ve been doing this all year,” Barnes said, adding: “This was a big win for our school, our alumni and the community.”
For Everest (7-2), Beggs ran for 133 yards, Johnny Nedwick for 95, and Thibodeau combined passing and running for 144 yards.
“They are a never-say-die group,” Everest coach Mike Prudnicki said. “I’m proud of their resiliency.”
De La Salle 49, U-D Jesuit 14
De La Salle had the big player, 6-foot 5, 200-pound junior quarterback, Brady Drogosh, making the big plays. He ran for four touchdowns and passed for two.
The Pilots (9-0), who stomped the Cubs (4-5) three weeks ago, 44-7, did what most folks anticipated: They won big again.
Winning the Bishop/Central-AA Division trophy is De La Salle’s eighth Prep Bowl victory in school history.
Quarterback Nathan Brown and Caleb Knuth accounted for U-D’s points on a 13-yard scoring pass in the first quarter and a similar 17-yard play in the fourth.
MHSAA Football playoff pairings
De La Salle vs. U of D Jesuit a third time?
The Michigan High School Athletic Association has paired the two teams in the opening round of the 2021 playoffs. They are scheduled for either this Friday or Saturday, Oct. 29 or 30. Kickoff times and locations will be announced later this week.
Here is where CHSL schools will play the opening round:
DIVISION 1: Novi Detroit Catholic Central (7-2) at Bloomfield Hills (9-0).
DIVISION 2: Detroit U-D Jesuit (4-5) at Warren De La Salle Collegiate (8-0).
DIVISION 3: Auburn Hills Avondale (4-5) at Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (6-3); Orchard Lake St. Mary's (5-4) at Flint Kearsley (6-3).
DIVISION 5: Dundee (5-4) at Macomb Lutheran North (6-3).
DIVISION 7: Detroit Loyola (4-4) at Madison Heights Bishop Foley (8-1).
DIVISION 8: Mount Clemens (5-4) at Clarkston Everest Collegiate (7-2); Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest (5-4) at Marine City Cardinal Mooney (7-2).
Contact Don Horkey at [email protected].
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