Orchard Lake, MI. – Friday Night Lights are back in the state of Michigan and the opening weekend did not disappoint as several classic matchups unfolded but not too many as outstanding as the matchup of two of the top teams in, not just the Detroit area, but in the state as Orchard Lake St. Mary’s played host to the Knights of Oak Park. In spite of the 100-degree heat, the Eaglets kicked off Head Coach George Pottitt’s last season at the helm in front of a sold-out and raucous home crowd.
The Knights received the ball first but after a quick 3 and out punted and as Eaglet senior Jake Ruckhaber called for the fair catch he dropped the ball on the ground and the Knights Tayveon Chadwick scooped it up and took off for the score but the ball was called down by the referees and given back to the Eaglets. And that would set the tone for Oak Park on the evening as the breaks just didn’t go their way.
Halfway through the first quarter on the ensuing drive, the Eaglets would run the ball in for an early 7-0 lead. Oak Park was able to move the ball but penalties would hurt them repeatedly. The Knights graduated several great players last year and it was taking some time for some of the younger players to find their clicks amongst each other.
The Knights’ defense came up strong throughout the game forcing many punt situations for the Eaglets. The score would remain 7-0 until late in the third quarter when the Eaglets would score again.
The resilient Knights stayed strong throughout the game in spite of losing a few key players to injury early on in the game. With time running out and less than 5 minutes in the game, the Knights’ defense forced a punt and after a good return by the senior speedster Bwana Miller, Oak Park had great field position and was ready to roll. Alreno O’Neal made a great catch in coverage and took the ball down close to the goal line with some hard running and senior running back Skyunie Watson would sweep left on the next play to cut the Eaglet’s lead. Junior quarterback Deratua Harris picked up the three yards necessary on a quarterback keeper on the two-point conversion, making the game 14-8 with 3 minutes and 40 seconds to go. But on the second play from scrimmage of the Knights’ potential game-tying drive, Harris was swarmed in the pocket and coughed up the football, which was scooped up by the Eaglets senior defensive tackle Tommy Bauss, who took it the 45 yards for the score, widening the margin back to two scores, 21-8.
Oak Park would record the game’s final points with 42 seconds remaining when Miller hauled in an 11-yard touchdown pass and with O’Neal then catching the two-point conversion, making the score 21-16.
In the last gasp effort, the Knights attempted another onside kick, but this time the Eaglets would recover and run the clock out for the 21-16 victory.
For The Eaglets head coach Porritt, who has been head coach since 1990 and the school’s Director of Athletics since 1989, this game held some additional significance as it served as his final season-opener, with him announcing earlier in August he would step down from both roles at the end of the academic year and transition to being an ambassador for the school.
During his first 31 seasons, Porritt’s teams have captured seven MHSAA State Championships, including three consecutive at the Division 3 level from 2014-16, 14 Catholic High School League titles, and 6 times have been the state runner ups, and Friday’s victory was number 271 in his illustrious career.
Oak Park Head Coach Greg Carter, also a state of Michigan high school football coach legend with 12 total championships, 4 as head coach, 8 as an assistant, gave much credit to his opponents and his team.
“They’re a very good team, Coach Porritt always does a good job,” said Carter who is in his 11th year with the program and is also the school’s athletic director. “We need to clean a few things up, be a little more aggressive. We didn’t necessarily play well at the start of the game but got better as it went on. We never give up, we got some great kids.”
Next week the Michigan High School tradition of tough football continues as St. Mary’s will hit the road for the first time this season to battle the Hudsonville Eagles on Sept. 3 at 7 p.m., while Oak Park will return home to clash with the defending Division 1 State Champion West Bloomfield Lakers on the same date at the same time.
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