Seven Catholic League teams were winners and five were losers in the opening weekend of the Michigan High School Athletics Association pre-district playoffs.
THE WINNERS:
Division 1, Region 3: Novi Detroit Catholic Central (7-3) 49, Canton 28
Senior Marco Genrich threw a pair of touchdown passes and Cole Price ran for four TDs.
It was defensive back Jonathan Brewer’s 70-yard return of a fumble in the second quarter that gave the Shamrocks all the momentum they needed. Genrich connected with tight end Mike Harding for a 5-yard score and with Nate Anderson for a 35-yard TD. Price’s TDs came from 2, 4, 3 and 16 yards out.
Up Next: 10th-ranked CC at West Bloomfield (8-2) on Friday 7 p.m.
Division 2, Region 3: Warren De La Salle (8-2) 26, Warren Mott 10
Quarterback Evan Vaillancourt ran for one-yard and four-yard touchdowns, Jordan Rogers rushed five yards to score, and Daniel Heppler kicked 21- and 32-yard field goals.
Up Next: No.1-ranked and defending Division 2 champion De La Salle at No. 4-ranked Oak Park (9-1) on Friday 6 p.m.
Division 2, Region 4: Birmingham Brother Rice (7-3) 27, Livonia Churchill 14
Quarterback Greg Piscopink passed for two touchdowns (to Brendan Holt and DaRon Gilbert) and James Donaldson had 23 carries for 177 yards and a 43-yard rushing touchdown.
Up Next: Brother Rice at Birmingham Grove (8-2) on Friday at 7 p.m.
Division 7, Region 4: Allen Park Cabrini (6-4) 7, Detroit Community 6
The Monarchs’ touchdown came through the air, a Nick Ballas touchdown pass to Jackson Stanley in the first quarter.
Up Next: Cabrini at Riverview Gabriel Richard on Friday at 7 p.m. Both teams belong to the CHSL Intersectional Division 1. Richard beat Cabrini three weeks ago, 51-7.
Division 7, Region 4: Riverview Gabriel Richard (6-4) 38, Detroit Central 24
Quarterback Joe Wisniewski threw a pair of touchdown passes, one each to Nick Conrad and Deshun Elam. Nevin Hughes and Nathan Palumbo each scored on the ground. Ivan Hernandez kicked a field goal from 25 yards out.
Up Next: Host Allen Park Cabrini (6-4) on Friday 7 p.m.
WINNERS AND LOSERS (Two games featured CHSL teams playing reach other)
Division 7, Region 4: Detroit Loyola 62, Madison Heights Bishop Foley 15
Simply put, it was no contest. The Bulldogs had too much firepower on offense and too much strength on defense. Loyola led 30-7 after the first quarter, 42-7 at the half. Senior D'Vaun Bentley played three quarters and carried the ball 15 times for 233 yards and four touchdowns (3, 54, 12 and 78 yards). Sophomore Kiem Moore had 145 yards rushing and two TDs (79 and 10 yards). Also hitting the end zone were quarterback Marcus Lee, Marion Adams and Rashrad Kemp.
All of this occurred after Foley took the opening kickoff 90 yards in three plays: senior Kendal Taylor’s runs of 39 and 15 yards (for the TD) sandwiched a 42-yard pass from Braden Missat to Klayton Cornell. The same combo put together a 29-yard TD in the fourth quarter. Bishop Foley finishes 8-2, the best record in its history.
Up Next: No. 6-ranked Loyola at No. 4-ranked Madison Heights Madison (10-0) on Friday 7 p.m.
Division 8, Region 2: Clarkston Everest Collegiate 24, Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes 7
The Mountaineers used their “Leggs” in the second half to untie a 7-7 knot. Senior Josh Legg accounted for 70 of an 80-yard march – bursting over left tackle for a 60-yard sprint to the end zone – and a 17-yard TD dash. Rodrigo DeNigris used his right leg to kick a 25-yard field goal. The brotherly combination of sophomore quarterback Giovanni Mastromatteo and senior running back Nino Mastromatteo produced a 10-yard TD for Everest’s first score of the game. The Lakers responded with a 7-minute, 15-play march of their own concluded by quarterback Vince Oliver passing 8 yards to Noah Robak to tie the score at the half. Lakes ends the season with a 6-4 record.
Up Next: Everest at home vs. Flint Beecher (7-3) on Friday at 7 p.m.
THE LOSERS
Division 4, Region 4: Farmington Hills Harrison 24, Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood 10
Harrison scored their points in the first half, the Cranes in the second half. Junior Jack Fairman passed 22 yards to senior Torrell Williams, and sophomore Chase Paulus kicked a 41-yard field goal. Cranbrook finishes 6-4.
Division 5, Region 4: Harper Woods 52, Macomb Lutheran North 13
Visiting Harper Woods built a 34-0 halftime lead. Jake Mlynarek ran 60 yards and Connor Finkel returned an interception 34 yards for Lutheran North’s touchdowns. The Mustangs had a 7-3 season.
Division 7: Madison Heights Madison 45, Royal Oak Shrine Catholic 0
Shrine winds up 5-5. Madison will face Detroit Loyola next.
