Week three matchup of undefeateds
The well-oiled Posen football machine certainly looked impressive last Friday in upending De Tour, 56-0, and the Vikings have quite a challenge awaiting them when they get off the bus in Pickford for tomorrow?s gridiron matchup. The competition is going to be a whole lot better than what they faced against De Tour. Let?s face it, the De Tour program has hit the skids in recent years. They are having trouble getting kids to come out for the program, which is actually a problem in Rogers City and Posen as well, but they also can?t get guys to show up for games.
I WAS TOLD one player said he had to work Friday and another was heading downstate. I realize this is a complicated world these days, but don?t go out for the football team if you need to work. My initial thoughts were that they probably didn?t want to go up against Posen. De Tour also had one of their better players on crutches on the sideline, so that didn?t help. So much for De Tour; now the Vikes take on Pickford, which like Posen, has won its first two games.
Pickford brings in 11 seniors, who probably haven?t forgotten the beatings inflicted on them the past two seasons from the P-Town boys. Adding to the excitement in the eastern U.P., the Pickford athletic director was able to coax coach Barry O?Connor out of retirement, after being away from the Panther sideline for seven years. He took the program to the state semifinals in the early 1990s.
TO SAY THE folks in Pickford are excited about football may be an understatement, because they are looking forward to their game against Posen. It?ll be a gauge for them, to see where they are as well. We know where the Vikings are. The rushing yardage went up by more than 100 yards, while the yards against went down by more than 200, but I think the stats need be thrown out from last week. It?s the same situation for Michigan as the Wolverines host Notre Dame at the ?Big House? Saturday.
The Wolverines need to forget about what they did against Houston and Central Michigan, because the caliber of competition is so much better as they take on the Fighting Irish, and Posen needs to do the same. They have a much better team across the ball from them this week so they need to tear up the stat sheet. ?Don?t leave it on the bus? may be a common statement Friday among players and coaches as they travel two-plus hours for this four-star matchup.
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HURON QUARTERBACK Tim Cercone says Rogers City has been focusing on 1-1 Alcona this week, as they regroup after a tough loss to Boyne City. Cercone set a couple of passing records against the visiting Ramblers, breaking Tyler Hilla?s Huron record for most passes (47) and yardage (362) and tied the completion mark (20).
It?s an impressive start for the young man they sometimes call ?Timmy C,? but what?s Cercone like when he?s not competing in high school sports? Well, here?s a look, with a Sportsbeat first — a series of player profiles of area athletes: Cercone?s favorite movie: ?Dumb and Dumber.? Favorite book: ?Killer Angels,? a story about Gettysburg. Favorite TV show: Sportscenter (I guessed that one).
Favorite superhero: Superman. Favorite comedian: Jerry Seinfeld. Favorite band: Led Zepplin. Favorite actor: Jim Carey. Favorite ice cream: Cookie dough. Favorite holiday: Christmas. Most memorable athletic accomplishment: Setting a couple of records in last week?s game. Person you would like to have dinner with: Barry Sanders (if he showed up). Biggest influence on your life: ?My dad.? Dream car: Corvette. Favorite food: Pizza. Biggest fear: Life after high school. Superstition: Following a routine on game days. Best gift ever received: A foosball table. Favorite store: Jay?s Sporting Goods. Favorite color: Blue (what, not orange or black?). Favorite breakfast cereal: Honey Bunches of Oats.
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THE TOP DEFENSIVE performance for Rogers City in week two action against Boyne City came from Justin Kelley who had a four-star game. He had 13 tackles and two assists for the orange and black. Kelley earns this year?s first Stemcook award as the best defensive player of the week. I still like the way Stemcook sounds, so I decided, after thinking about a possible change for 10 months, to keep it the way it is for now.
Scott Heinzel had nine tackles and one assist, while Randy Brege had eight tackles and two assists for three defensiv
Junior James Sobek was creating havoc in the backfield for the De Tour quarterback and blocked a punt. He wins the first ever ?Kromel? award — named after top defensive performers Tom Romel (2003 PHS graduate) and senior Ron Kroll. I believe Paul Romel, who graduated in June, should be included in that award as well. He was outstanding last season.
Matt Ponik and Kroll deserve four stars, while Curtis Beach earns three stars. Jesse Romel had an interception, while Richie Kroll and Kalin Diffin recovered fumbles, for two stars each.