Detroit MLK opened up their post-Dante Moore era with a game against St. Xavier from Cincinnati. It was MLK’s worst loss since 2018, as they fell 44-8.
MLK
King Not Kingly
Yes, it’s the first game of the season, and King did lose a bunch of players, but this did not look like your typical Detroit King team. King was overmatched and outworked, and frankly, they looked gassed mid-way through the second quarter on both sides of the ball. The offensive line looked porous, and the defensive pass rush that is normally expected was nonexistent. King will need to get it turned around fast as they have one of the toughest non league schedules and will have a tough road to make it back to Ford Field for the State Finals if their non league doesn’t knock them out of it first.
Quarterback Found?
King rolled out Senior Transfer Nathan Edwards under center versus St. Xavier, and it was a lackluster debut for him. Edwards only threw the ball ten times, completing five passes for 79 yards, with a majority of the yards coming on a 54-yard touchdown pass. While Edwards does have an arm on him, it made it easy for him to overthrow a few of his guys. Freshman Darryl Flemister could see sometime later in the season if this year starts to slip away from the team.
Involve Stennis More
Junior Receiver Damon Stennis looked like the best guy on the field for King in this one. Stennis didn’t get many opportunities, but he made the most of them when he got them. Stennis had 20 rushing yards on two attempts and pulled in one catch for 10 yards. If you can find creative ways to get Stennis involved more, either in a wildcat formation or jet sweeps, it can open your offense up more and take you to the next level.
St. Xavier
High Energy, High Tempo
St. Xavier came in and brought the energy from go. They flew around on the field with a fast-paced tempo, catching King off guard. From the first defensive snap, you could see the speed that they possessed. They forced a King punt on the first drive, and St. Xavier got around the edge to block the punt and start their first drive from the King two-yard line. Quarterback Chase Herbstreit attributed the ability to keep the high tempo going because of how they condition.
A True Team’s Team
St. Xavier is a true team’s team. They do the small things the right way, and the players pick each other up. They care more about the guy next to them than themselves. They have some big-time players like Chase Herbstreit, the son of Kirk Herbstreit, Ted Hammond, who’s committed to Michigan, and Tucker Kattus, who has 10 Division 1 offers. But you look deeper, and they have guys who aren’t in the spotlight but play significant roles, like Jack O’Malley, Steven Napier, Brady Bennett, Brayden Reilly, and Jacob Britt, who all had big plays in the game. Bennett, for example, caught five passes for 112 yards and three touchdowns. Every man on the team knew their role and played their part.
Give him his Star.
Chase Herbstreit is a no-star Junior Quarterback who is the son of College Game Day host Kirk Herbstreit, but you better learn the name Chase quickly. This was his coming out party. While he started slow, he got better as time went on, dicing up the King defense for 173 yards and three passing touchdowns while adding a two-yard rushing touchdown. His line gave him time to sit in the pocket and make the right read, while he also showed a great IQ and feel for the game. His composure and demeanor are that of a pro. Watch for this kid to do something special.