Well I traveled down to Ecorse to see my adopted Red Raiders play Blissfield today. I have to say I came in pretty skeptical of the 8-1 independent Downriver team. I expected a playoff battle tested Royal program to thump the pretenders.
What I got was a funfilled entertaining playoff game from a perrenial doormat against an over confident yet intimidated Royal team. Blissfield won this game 28-20 but it wasn’t decided until an Ecorse fumble at the Royal 35 yard line with 1:31 left to play in the game.
There was no doubt that Blissfiled was the better team. They had 45 players dressed for Blissfield, Ecorse had 25. Blissfield had coaches everywhere including three in the pressbox and all were wearing headsets. Ecorse didn’t have headsets. The Ecorse field wasn’t pretty but it had lines, goalposts, and a working scoreboard most of the time.
The Red Raider band was as entertaining as I have ever seen. It consisted of eight various instruments, six percussion pieces, six dancers and a personality filled band director. The crowd was fairly big and full of proud alumni from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s all eager for Ecorse’s first playoff victory in school history.
They didn’t get to see a victory for Ecorse but what they got to see was a future college quarterback in freshmen sensation Kyle Dinkins. He was easily the best quarterback I saw all year and that includes Detroit Crockett’s Michigan State bound Tony Lippett. The savvy Dinkins was regularly flushed from the pocket by the Royal defense but never once tucked the ball and ran, he simply waited for an opening with some nifty footwork and delivered a strike. On a day when the wind was howling at 30 plus mph Dinkins flung the ball around with amazing arm strength. There were a handful of deep balls that might have found the endzone on a normal day but the wind carried the ball away from receivers.
Ecorse was hardly a one man team. Full back Johnathan Butler may have been the hardest runner I saw all year. No sizes were listed in the program but this kid was put together. I would guess he was 5’9″ and 200lbs. He ran swiftly and always delivered a hit when tackled. Donatello (don’t call me ninja turtle) Sanders was another good player. At times, it seemed like he made every tackle out there for Ecorse.
In the end, a playoff victory for Ecorse was not in the cards. My buddies and I cheered hard for Ecorse like the good Downriverites that we are. It was something fun to watch. The kids, coaches and fans from Ecorse found some fun in a football team that plays in the shadows of National Steel. The Red Raider players played for something more than themselves. They played for the pride of a city and athletic program that was once great and still may be again someday. They play for Ecorse.
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im sure jack wont min u sytandign with montri on the sideline.
and spotts may be like pannone in football but baseballs diffrent.
spoots has the edge there
To the 3rd anonymous poster from the top (I think for next year Chris you shouldnt allow Anonymity) these two programs know eachother very well. The game will come down to whoever blocks, tackles and secures the football better than the other team. The basic principles of football will be on display Friday.. whoever does them the best most likely will win.
Hmmm I dont know….. sounds like you may be pulling our chains Chris but I will bite…. I think the creator of the HL blog needs to attend the only game with a HL representative playing. Call me crazy!
If you really want to go to the smcc game just get there at a decent. I'm not saying you have to go to the smcc game, but if you get there early enough you should find a seat. I agreed that Southgate/Woodhaven is going to be a good game.
I'm afraid I don't know the game that well to be insightful about scheme or anything.
I think Blissfield has some good players. Cody Spotts reminded me a lot of Pannone from SMCC. He really likes to lay the lumber on people.
I will say that I thought Blissfield was slow. It may have been the field conditions but I think SMCC has an advantage there.
Blissfield ran the inside trap quite often in the 2nd half. I think maybe they kept it on the shelf prior to halftime so Ecorse couldn't make adjustments.
I was planning on coming to the game Friday but if I can't get a seat I won't be coming. Maybe I can get a press pass and be on the field. Who knows! I kinda think SMCC will win this one in a romp. I may attend the Southgate/Woodhaven game instead. Great matchup and plenty of seating.
well since you went to the game and you were an ex coach chris. could you post somthing that would help smcc.
through the eyes of a coach. you saw the game.
any tendncies.key players.
jey things smcc needs to lok out for bcecause you see how smcc plays. anything that would scare you in the match-up. could you help
I guess I was just looking at poise, footwork and arm strength. The kid has obviously been schooled extremely well. He just looked like a pure quarterback.
Lippett, while extremely talented, looked like an athlete who will never play a down as a college quarterback.
As a fan at that game, and seeing smcc play crockett, there is no way that the ecorse qb was anywhere near as good as crocketts tony lippet
The band was great and those dancers. WOW… I recognize those moves from my single days…. You would get expelled from SMCC for less.. but all kidding aside you are right it was very fun and entertaining.
Yea, I was the 43 year old with the maroon St. John Waltz basketball pullover on. I really enjoyed the game except that it was freezing. Good thing I was able to dance along with the band. It was a pleasure talking to you.
And that QB you speak of Chris is Awesome with a capital A!! They made an announcement during the game according to maxpreps he lead the nation in passing for a freshman… I am very glad I got to watch him play.. he is special.
and chris I didnt see your reply to me untill I got back from the game… I may have talked to you throughout the game and didnt even know it.. I was the tall dark handsome fella dressed in green 🙂
I was there as well…. Blissfield looked slow and slugish. I may have had a bit to do with the field conditions. It looked like it may have been hard to cut out there. I fully expected a Blissfield blowout but it didnt happen by a long shot. In all my HS football wisdom I thought Bliss would come out and dominate the LOS but that just wasnt the case. All that being said, it matters not when it comes to SMCC/Blissfield. Both teams will be ready both team will play hard and both teams will fully expect to win. The talent and coaching is close enough so that the team that simply plays the best should win.
I unfortunatly will not be there but instead will be on the other side of the state and will get a chance to see Montague/Sanford Meridain play… there is a pretty good chance I will have my video camera along with pad and paper just incase SMCC is fortunate enough to play against the other side of the bracket. Good luck to both teams and may the best team win! wolvereen
after seeing blissfield play, what do you think about the smcc/blissfield matchup? i think it will be a close game. you are not going to want to turn the ball over in this game!