Harper Woods came into this game looking for their first State Title, while South Christian was looking to defend their title from a year ago. While it was a close game, it was Harper Woods coming out on top by a final of 33-27 after they stopped South Christian on a fourth and one in the shadow of their own end zone.
South Christian
Sluggish Start
The Sailors of South Christian came out of the gates a little sluggish as they found themselves down 14-0 at the end of the first quarter. Part of that slow start was on the shoulder of Junior Quarterback Carson Vis, who didn’t complete a pass in the first quarter. While they were down, they weren’t out, as that sluggish start turned into a great game. Vis would finish 30 of 47 for 441 yards and two touchdowns. He would also add 72 yards and a touchdown in the rushing game to help get his team back into the game.
Ford Vermaas
Senior Jake Vermaas has played two games at Ford Field, and while he is 1-1, he has shown off his dynamic playmaking skills. Last year, in the State Title game, Vermaas had 191 yards, and this year, he had 196. He also came away with a touchdown in the loss to Harper Woods. That gives him 387 yards and a touchdown in two games at Ford Field.
Vision for Vis
Carson Vis was a member of the State Title winning team a year ago at Wide Receiver and was the Quarterback in the loss, but he guided them back from down 14-0 to a chance to win the game with three seconds left. Vis finished the game last year one for 12 yards and pulled in one pass for 23 yards and a touchdown. This year, as the main Quarterback, he finished 30 for 47 for 441 yards and two touchdowns, and he rushed it 17 times for 72 yards and a touchdown. Vis has shown he has that championship vision.
Harper Woods
Two Quarterbacks Better Than One?
The old saying is if you have two quarterbacks, you have none; however, Harper Woods put that notion to bed in the win over South Christian. Sophomore Nate Rocheleau acted as the primary passer, finishing the game 10 for 17 with 210 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Stephone Buford worked as more of the running option as he finished 0 for 1 passing, but he had 46 yards and two touchdowns running the ball. The best way to describe the way they were running the offense was somewhat like the New Orleans Saints.
Looks Like They’ve Been Here Before
Harper Woods looked like the team that was in the State Final a year ago, with how they came out to open the game. They jumped on top of South Christian and didn’t look back. They didn’t let the bright lights of Ford Field or the fact that they were playing the defending State Champs get to them. They kept it calm, cool and collected en route to their first State Title.
Speed and Space
Harper Woods was the faster team on the field today, and it showed with the separation they got. From Freshman Dakota Guerrant to Seniors Ramonty Houze and Jacob Oden, Harper Woods Showed they had engines like Ford Mustangs.