Rapid Reaction - 2 to Go

It’s becoming an every week occurrence with the two headed monster that Saint Mary’s Grant Niemeic and Spencer McInnis have just been dominant coming out of the OLSM backfield. On Saturday, McInnis only had 13 carries, but made an impact on just about every one, rushing for 164 yards and three touchdowns. Niemeic was his usual self as well, taking 19 carries and rushing for 122 yard for the Eaglets in their drubbing of Linden.

Just how good is the Catholic Central defense? With the state’s top rusher in Drake Johnson, who has rushed for 2,800 yards this season, and Ann Arbor Pioneer visiting Shamrock’s on Saturday, some looked at this a test for the Catholic Central defense. The result? The Shamrock’s passed with flying colors, holding the Michigan bound Johnson to 48 yards rushing and not allowing the Pioneer offense past the 50 yard line.

Devin Church has definitely saved his best for last. The senior running back has been unstoppable in the playoffs, and did much of the same on Saturday against a very stout Southfield defense. Church, on the second play of the game, Church bolted 55 yards for the first score of the game. The Northern Illinois bound Church picked up 154 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries, to lead Brother Rice to a 16-6 win over Southfield.

Southfield’s Leviticus Payne and Brandon Watkins just might be the most exciting duo in Oakland County this season. Payne picked up 123 yards on seven carries including 51 yards on one of the most electrifying touchdown runs you’ll see all year, braking and spinning out of tackles down the sideline. Watkins rushed for 83 yards of his own on 18 carries and was just inches away from breaking free for a big time run on several occasions.

On Friday night, Walled Lake Western defensive lineman Jason Gamble just could not be stopped by the Port Huron offensive line. Gamble picked up two sacks and a forced fumble, but the stat sheet didn’t tell the whole story as the senior was constantly in the face of the Port Huron quarterback and blowing up just about any runs that went his way. Gamble, heading to Central Michigan to play baseball, and the Western defense kept a very dangerous Port Huron offense to just seven points and less than 150 total yards in regulation in the Warriors exciting 2OT win.


When Walled Lake Central fell to Utica Eisenhower on Friday night, it marked the end of a spectacular playoff run, as the Vikings upset both Lake Orion and Clarkston en route to a district title. With senior quarterback Zac Leimbach and K.J. Schultz headlining the Central senior class that made it to back-to-back regional final appearances and a semifinal last year, the Vikings have proved their fair share of doubters wrong.

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