Playoff Preview

Grosse Ile (8-2) vs Detroit Frederick Douglass (9-1) Friday 7:00 pm @ Detroit Northwestern: This is the first ever meeting between the Red Devils and the Hurricanes. Grosse Ile’s two losses came to the Huron League champion Airport and to cross river rival Riverview. Both of those teams were playoff qualifiers. The Hurricane’s lone loss was to playoff qualifier detroit Henry Ford in week 4. The Canes avenged that loss with a 28-0 shutout of the Tojans in the PSL Division II Championship game.

Historically Frederick Douglass is hardly a football power. The school boast a paltry .277 winning pct and has only 1 playoff win in school history which came over PSL rival Detroit Southwestern last week 26-18. Meanwhile Grosse Ile is making their first playoff apprearance since 2004 when the Islanders advanced all the way to the Division 4 semi-finals. Grosse Ile has an overall playoff record of 5-7 but boast a winning percentage of .532 all time in the regular season.

The Grosse Ile Red Devils have a prolific offense that averages over 36 ppg. They are led be arguably the best QB in Huron League history in senior Rob White. White has thrown for 1,479 yards and 16 TD’s this season with a QB rating of 122. White has also rushed for nearly 600 yards and 8 TD’s. The devils are hardly a one man show on offense. Running backs Alex Kish and Jordan Nellenbach have combined for over 1800 yards and 26 TD’s. Plowing the way for the high powered offense has been solid line play led by senior OT Vince Berardi.

While offense seems to be Grosse Ile’s strong suit, the Devils biggest improvement has come on defense where they boast speed and athleticism. This season the Islanders have given up 18 ppg compared to the 2010 season of 34 ppg. The defense is led by senior LB Corey Groff and senior DB Tyler Judd. The defensive line has improved this season and is led by senior Joe Alongi and Berardi.

Detroit Douglass is led offensively by 6-1 190 lb junior QB Kory Peterson. The Canes are averaging nearly 30 ppg with much of the firepower coming from 200 lb junior RB Demetrius Stinson. Stinson learned the game playing for the famed Westside Steelers of the Police Athletic league. Stinson has carried for over 1300 yards and 16 TD’s this season. The other back for the Canes is senior speedster Javonte Simpson. This tandem gives the Canes a solid tandem that has kept defenses off balance all season.

Defense is the strong side of the ball for Frederick Douglas this season and is the reason the Canes qualified for the playoffs. The defense gives up a meager 10 ppg and has recorded three shutouts this season. The defense is led by 240 lb MLB Marquise Steward while the defensive line is anchored by 320 lb DT Donovan Howard. Patrolling the secondary for the Canes will be sophomore DB Omari Taylor.

This will be an entertaining matchup that could include some offensive fieworks. Don’t be surprised if this ends up a low scoring defensive struggle. Contrary to popular opinion the Canes are well coached and are a disciplined football team. Field conditions should be perfect on the beautiful Northwestern football field Friday Night. One thing to look at is both of Grosse Ile’s losses have come on the road this season while the Hurricanes have not left the city of Detroit all season. Pick: Grosse Ile 21 Frederick Douglass 14

40 thoughts on “Playoff Preview”

  1. Losing your car like in being stolen definitely can happen in that neighborhood-even the "locals" have "clubs" to attach to their steering wheels

  2. "are the grosse ile fans taking buses? I want to go the game but I dont want to lose my car."

    I bought a bright red one just for that reason.

    -bn

  3. Chris,
    Give me your top 15 qb's of the 2000s in the Huron League. If they started in the 90's and played in teh 2000's it counts..if they played in the 2000's to 2010's then they count as well..
    Here are my top 5

    Not in any order

    1. Ted Tackett
    2. Jesse Hoskins
    3. Rob White
    4. Josh Bicy
    T5. Andrew Mayrand
    T5. Kris Fanslaw

  4. those that think Douglass wont match up with the HL style of play are wrong. They look to be a pretty hard nosed team with size and speed. I think GI can win the game but but it wont be a mismatch at all.

    -bn

  5. Congrats to GI for their playoff run. I'm not a big fan of you island people, but im glad one of the smaller schools in the league had success and is the LEAGUE team left in the playoffs..GL at DOUGLASS TONIGHT

    –RAMS

  6. Finally People see that Redmond wasn't god over at airport. Have the highest enrollment every year and play school smaller than you equals success. Don't get me wrong, redmond was good, but if he coached at GI,& FR he wouldn't have had that success. If you're consistent, run your program the right way you will win when you have more kids. Barber got outcoached when he played a school their size, with the same talent friday. Not to rip the guy, but I know of about 8 or 9 head/asst coaches in the league better than barber

  7. Pretty impressive stats for Mr. White….BTW his best record is this year, 8-2 and counting.

    Also remember he's had a taste of the 0-9 years, so for sticking it out and being a major part of the turn-around…he gets an intangible vote from me in this discussion.

    Canes better be strapped up tight, the RED DEVILS are gonna bring it TONIGHT!!!

    SITOFN

  8. I was the one who said arguably the best QB in league history so I will back up my argument.

    Here are the stats 17-13 overall as a starter 1-0 in the playoffs. He is 281-459 with 46 TD's and 22 INT's and a 61% completion ratio.He has thrown for 4,296 yards. He has rushed the ball 220 times for 1,505 yards and 28 TD's. His ypc average is 6.9 yards.

    He holds league records for completions (281), touchdown passes (46), career yardage (4,296) and total touchdowns (74). So to say he is not even close to being considered one of the best QB's in league history is ignorant.

  9. rob white is not even close to being considered the best qb in history. hes a good qb. not even great (right now) has he ever won a league? whats his best record in his 3 years on varsity?

  10. GI will bring the fans too. A bus for students, and even a bus for the band. They will come armed with cowbells, flags and banners. Then, they will have a great showing on Saturday for the DJFL playoffs. Fire-up Devils.

  11. Even though Douglass has a great record and several good athelets I still believe they will not match up to the Huron League style of play. Though GI runs the spread option they still are a hard nosed type team with a style of play that you do not see in the PSL. If GI can show up with a bit of D to start and keep the GI O on the field this will be a for sure victory. I will also be attending the GI game to support the Huron League.

  12. Both are good games 12:56 poster, i'm gonna check out the Douglass-GI game. My friend at work is an assistant for Douglass, he keeps running his mouth about the Huron League sucking. While I tell him the league was down this year, it is stronger than PSL 2, just ask Kettering. EM

  13. The field is a stones throw from
    I96 & W. Grand BLVD. (SE corner)
    That is west of Grand River by about a block. Easy in and out.

    Come and cheer on the HL in the playoffs for sure. Friday night under the lights on turf in "the city"…it WILL be GREAT!

    Lets GO DEVILS!!!!

    SITOFN

  14. Field is located at the corner of Grand River and W Grand Blvd. Really not much of a drive from the downriver area. Pretty much the same area where Olympia Stadium was. Just down the street from the once glorious neighborhood of LaSalle Gardens.

  15. Do you know the location of this game? How to get there?
    You think Grosse Ile is that good?

    Do you think this will be a better game than Southgate at Wyandotte?

    Trying to decide who to go and watch this Firday, not much choices left in these parts.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Pin It on Pinterest

Scroll to Top