In a game that will go down as an instant classic, the Belleville Tigers beat the River Rouge Panthers 35-28. It was a night when the star players on both teams shined bright in the heart of Detroit.
River Rouge
Nick Marsh Swiss-Army Knife
For River Rouge, we already know that Nick Marsh is one of the best Receivers in the Country and one of the best players in the state of Michigan, and he didn’t disappoint against one of the best teams in the state. Marsh lined up at his typical receiver spot, but he also lined up as Quarterback, kicker, punter, and returner, and he had an impact all over the field. At receiver, Marsh pulled in four catches for 48 yards; he also ran the ball seven times for 60 yards, two touchdowns, and a 2-point conversion, including a 29-yard fake punt. Most of the rushing yards came when he was under center in the wildcat formation, where two of his touchdowns came. He also had a 95-yard punt return touchdown. All around, Marsh almost single-handedly won Rouge the game.
Put the State on Notice
River Rouge came into this game after a down year, and they felt like they had a chip on their shoulder. The players said as much at their media day with multiple players having said that they were going to shock people when they played Belleville, and boy did they. Rouge played with a fire and hunger that was unlike anything you saw from them last year. With their performance, Rouge showed they are still a team you can’t take lightly.
Belleville
New Coaches, Same Result
The Belleville Tigers came into the season with new coaches, but that didn’t slow the offense. Jeremiah Beasley and Colbey Reed combined to be a two-headed rushing monster, totaling a combined three touchdowns and 168 yards in the win. Bryce Underwood looked calm under pressure like he has the last two years. It seems like it’s going to be more of the same.
Bryce Underwood Shows why he’s Still the guy.
While Underwood had a game that wasn’t up to par with what he’s done in the past, he still showed why he’s the top guy in the state. While he went 15 for 29, he still passed for 219 yards and two touchdowns, including a 45-yard walk-off touchdown with seven seconds left in the game. He will carry them on another deep run if he can adjust to the new offense like he showed versus Rouge.