Home
i'm an actor, not a reactor

Primary links

  • About
    • $upport (lol)
    • Ethics
    • FAQ
    • Glossary
    • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • MGoStore
    • Hail to Old Blue
  • MGoBoard
    • MGoBoard FAQ
    • Michigan bar locator
    • Moderator Action Sticky
  • Useful Stuff
    • Depth Chart By Class
    • Hoops Depth Chart by Class
    • 2017 Recruiting Board
    • Unofficial Two Deep
    • MGoFlickr
    • Diaries, Windows Live Writer, And You
    • User-Curated HOF
    • Where To Eat In Ann Arbor
  • Schedule/Tix
    • Future Schedules (wiki)
    • Ticket spreadsheet
Home

Navigation

  • Forums
  • Recent posts

User login

  • Create new account
  • Request new password

MGoElsewhere

  • @MGoBlog (Brian)
  • @aceanbender
  • @Misopogon (Seth)
  • @Aeschnepp (Adam)
  • @BISB
  • @EUpchurchPhoto
  • @FullOfTwitt (Fuller)
  • Hail to the Victors 2016
  • MGoFacebook
  • MGoPodcast
  • WTKA
  • Instagram

Michigan Blogs

  • Big House Blog
  • Burgeoning Wolverine Star
  • Genuinely Sarcastic
  • Go Blue Michigan Wolverine
  • Holdin' The Rope
  • MVictors
  • Maize 'n' Blue Nation
  • Maize 'n' Brew
  • Maize And Go Blue
  • Michigan Hockey Net
  • MMMGoBlueBBQ
  • The Blog That Yost Built
  • The Hoover Street Rag
  • The M Zone
  • Touch The Banner
  • UMGoBlog
  • UMHoops
  • UMTailgate
  • Wolverine Liberation Army

M On The Net

  • mgovideo
  • MGoBlue.com
  • Mike DeSimone
  • Recruiting Planet
  • The Wolverine
  • Go Blue Wolverine
  • Winged Helmet
  • UMGoBlue.com
  • MaizeRage.org
  • Puckhead
  • The M Den
  • True Blue Fan Forum

Big Ten Blogs

  • Illinois
    • Illinois Loyalty
    • Illinois Baseball Report
  • Indiana
    • Inside The Hall
    • The Crimson Quarry
  • Iowa
    • Black Heart, Gold Pants
    • Fight For Iowa
  • Michigan State
    • The Only Colors
  • Minnesota
    • GopherHole.com
    • The Daily Gopher
  • Nebraska
    • Corn Nation
    • Husker Max
    • Husker Mike's Blasphemy
    • Husker Gameday
  • Northwestern
    • Sippin' On Purple
    • Lake The Posts
  • Notre Dame
    • The House Rock Built
    • One Foot Down
  • Ohio State
    • Eleven Warriors
    • Buckeye Commentary
    • Men of the Scarlet and Gray
    • Our Honor Defend
    • The Buckeye Nine
  • Penn State
    • Slow States
    • Black Shoe Diaries
    • Happy Valley Hardball
    • Penn State Clips
    • Linebacker U
    • Nittany White Out
  • Purdue
    • Boiled Sports
    • Hammer and Rails
  • Wisconsin
    • Bruce Ciskie

Links of Note

  • Baseball
    • College Baseball Today
    • The College Baseball Blog
  • Basketball
    • Ken Pomeroy
    • Hoop Math
    • John Gasaway
    • Luke Winn/Sports Illustrated
  • College Hockey
    • Chris Heisenberg (Class of 2016)
    • College Hockey Stats
    • Michigan College Hockey
    • Hockey's Future
    • Sioux Sports
    • USCHO
  • Football
    • Smart Football
    • Every Day Should Be Saturday
    • Matt Hinton/Grantland
    • Football Study Hall
    • Football Outsiders
    • Harold Stassen
    • NCAA D-I Stats Page
    • The Wizard Of Odds
    • CFB Stats
  • General
    • Sports Central
  • Local Interest
    • The Ann Arbor Chronicle
    • Arborwiki
    • Arbor Update
    • Ann Arbor Observer
    • Teeter Talk
    • Vacuum
  • Teams Of The D
    • Lions
      • Pride of Detroit
    • Pistons
      • Detroit Bad Boys
      • Need4Sheed
    • Tigers
      • Roar Of The Tigers
      • Bless You Boys
      • The Daily Fungo
      • The Detroit Tigers Weblog
    • Red Wings
      • Winging It In Motown
      • On The Wings
    • Michigan Sports Forum

Beveled Guilt

Site Search

Diaries

  • New
  • Popular
  • Hot
  • This Month in MGoBlog History - April 2008: No Spring Game at the Big House! Hockey loses to ND in the Frozen Four!
    Maize.Blue Wagner - 6 hours ago
  • Thirteen unlucky minutes (TL;DNR-This is a bit of rant about the refs)
    docwhoblocked - 2 weeks ago
  • Fan Satisfaction Index End of Season Bball Survey
    OneFootIn - 2 weeks ago
  • How likely are we to revert to the mean?
    Bo Glue - 2 weeks ago
  • It's time to avenge Villanova's 1985 NCAA tourney upset over Michigan
    Communist Football - 2 weeks ago
  •  
  • 1 of 2
  • ››
more
  • This Month in MGoBlog History - April 2008: No Spring Game at the Big House! Hockey loses to ND in the Frozen Four!
    Maize.Blue Wagner - 249 views
  • This Month in MGoBlog History - March 2008: Pryor isn't coming, Boren has left, and some academic fraud allegations sprinkled in
    Maize.Blue Wagner - 215 comments
  • 14 Months Ago: The Fire Beilein Threads.
    stephenrjking - 91 comments
  • PreSpring Football updates from Sam Webb
    AZBlue - 90 comments
  • Thirteen unlucky minutes (TL;DNR-This is a bit of rant about the refs)
    docwhoblocked - 61 comments
  • It's time to avenge Villanova's 1985 NCAA tourney upset over Michigan
    Communist Football - 11 comments
  •  
  • 1 of 2
  • ››
more

MGoBoard

  • New
  • Recent
  • Hot
  • Notre Dame Spring Game: analysis from M n B, video
    0 replies
  • Michigan Mercies Maryland, Softball Wins 12-1 (5 inn.)
    4 replies
  • Michigan Football Hype Video 2018-19 Season
    11 replies
  • Nebraska football
    78 replies
  • Lacrosse Hosts #7 Hopkins, Noon, airing on BTN+
    19 replies
  • This Week/Weekend's Football Visitors
    33 replies
  • OT: NFL draft prospects with (state of) Michigan (but not UM/MSU) ties
    6 replies
  • Michigan basketball pursuing Pitt guard transfer Marcus Carr
    20 replies
  • Schembechler Hall practice field ripped out (photos)
    40 replies
  • The Evolution of Commerce - What Industries are Dying, What's Thriving?
    135 replies
  • Softball Wins Series Opener Over Maryland, 6-0
    10 replies
  • OT: How do some student-athletes finish a bachelors so quickly (to transfer)?
    57 replies
  • OT: Avicii dead at 28
    72 replies
  • Chase Young becomes highest drafted Michigan lacrosse player
    20 replies
  • Podcast discussion on the conference
    31 replies
  •  
  • 1 of 6
  • ››
  • Nebraska football
    78 replies
  • Notre Dame Spring Game: analysis from M n B, video
    0 replies
  • Michigan Mercies Maryland, Softball Wins 12-1 (5 inn.)
    4 replies
  • Schembechler Hall practice field ripped out (photos)
    40 replies
  • Michigan Football Hype Video 2018-19 Season
    11 replies
  • The Evolution of Commerce - What Industries are Dying, What's Thriving?
    135 replies
  • OT: NFL draft prospects with (state of) Michigan (but not UM/MSU) ties
    6 replies
  • Lacrosse Hosts #7 Hopkins, Noon, airing on BTN+
    19 replies
  • Michigan basketball pursuing Pitt guard transfer Marcus Carr
    20 replies
  • This Week/Weekend's Football Visitors
    33 replies
  • OT: Avicii dead at 28
    72 replies
  • OT: How do some student-athletes finish a bachelors so quickly (to transfer)?
    57 replies
  • Matthews Declares WITHOUT agent
    46 replies
  • OT - Jalen Hurts possibly looking to transfer
    119 replies
  • RIP Earle Bruce
    53 replies
  •  
  • 1 of 6
  • ››
  • Why should we be optimistic about 2018 M football?
    273 replies
  • Belleville coach Jermain Crowell mad at UM again
    244 replies
  • Police investigating Elysee Mbem-Bosse for death threat against Harbaugh
    224 replies
  • "Being Not-Rich at UM" Guide
    168 replies
  • Buckle Up
    159 replies
  • Scouting the Enemy: Ohio State QBs are Good
    158 replies
  • Semi-OT: What sports would you fix?
    158 replies
  • Elysee Mbem-Bosse disturbing tweets
    157 replies
  • Whats the Best Way to Make Flight Arrangements?
    149 replies
  • The Evolution of Commerce - What Industries are Dying, What's Thriving?
    135 replies
  • FB new Nutrition plan under Herbert is well received by players
    132 replies
  • What past season would you have liked to see an Amazon-style documentary on?
    121 replies
  • OT: best-selling musical artists by state of birth
    120 replies
  • OT - Jalen Hurts possibly looking to transfer
    119 replies
  • No additional protest of Shea Patterson appeal by Ole Miss
    113 replies
  •  
  • 1 of 6
  • ››

Support MGoBlog: buy stuff at Amazon

Future Blue Originals: Cass Tech vs. Warren De La Salle

  • View
  • Revisions
By Ace — November 14th, 2011 at 2:45 PM — 15 comments
Filed under:
  • 2012 recruiting
  • 2013 recruiting
  • future blue originals
  • jourdan lewis
  • royce jenkins-stone
  • shane morris
  • terry richardson

IMG_0016

Last Friday saw one of the most exciting and dramatic games of the season at Lake Shore High School, where Cass Tech knocked off host Warren De La Salle in a 6-0 thriller, with Michigan commit Royce Jenkins-Stone running in the game-winning touchdown with just 1:38 remaining. The defensive slugfest featured three Michigan commits—Jenkins-Stone, his teammate Terry Richardson, and Warren De La Salle's Shane Morris—and several D-I prospects, including class of 2013 Cass Tech corner Jourdan Lewis, who turned in an outstanding performance. Here are some highlights, courtesy of StateChampsTV:

Scouting

Royce Jenkins-Stone (Cass Tech LB/FB #10, 2012 commit): RJS recorded six tackles at linebacker, where he was consistently active and a major factor in the Technician defense holding De La Salle's rushing attack to just 108 yards on 26 carries. Despite Cass Tech's outstanding all-around defensive effort, which kept the Pilot offense off the field for much of the game, Jenkins-Stone managed to get in on more plays than I'd seen from him in either of the previous two times I watched him play this season. When he gets to the ballcarrier, he arrives with ill intentions, and delivered a couple of very nice hits.

On this day, however, Jenkins-Stone would be most lauded for his offensive performance, as he carried the ball 22 times for 67 hard-fought yards, and Cass Tech repeatedly fed him the ball on a final drive that took 10:53 off the clock and ended with a three-yard TD run for RJS. While the rushing numbers aren't particularly impressive, they were earned in a fashion befitting of a linebacker—pretty much all of Jenkins-Stone's runs came on fullback dives into the line, and he showed a lot of toughness and durability in repeatedly slamming into the line, taking a couple big hits but shaking them off and continuing to go full-bore on both sides of the ball. RJS is still a bit raw as a prospect—James Ross has more of a play-to-play impact from what I've seen, though Ross also plays less on offense—but his heart and motor should not come into question.

Terry Richardson (Cass Tech CB/WR #9, 2012 commit): Richardson's coverage was a big reason why Shane Morris could never find a rhythm, as he was consistently right in the pocket of the receiver he was tasked with covering. Cass Tech trusted Richardson and fellow corner Jourdan Lewis to play man-up for much of the game, and both were up for the challenge. Though Richardson had been battling a leg injury since the regular season finale, and spent much of warmups on his own testing out the leg, he looked just fine once the game started, exhibiting the speed and hip swivel that make him a four-star corner prospect despite his small stature. He was also strong in run support, tallying four tackles, including a textbook wrap-up in space on a play that got to the outside quickly—he was alone on an island, but managed to drive through the ballcarrier and keep him from gaining any extra yards.

Richardson also added two catches for 46 yards, including a huge 23-yard reception on Cass Tech's game-winning drive. There are going to be questions about his size until he steps onto the field as a Wolverine and proves his height (I'd say 5'8" after standing right next to him for a post-game interview) won't be an issue, but his athleticism and coverage skills are elite for a high school player.

Jourdan Lewis (Cass Tech CB/WR #1, 2013 recruit): Lewis was the best player on the field on Friday, recording three pass breakups and a critical interception (included in the video highlights above), where he read where Morris was going beautifully and made a great play on the ball. Lewis has a couple inches on Richardson, and while he's still quite skinny, he's able to play a more physical game while still exhibiting good speed and agility.

With Richardson doing such a great job blanketing receivers on the opposite side of the field, Morris often tried to throw at Lewis, but the junior was ready—he did a great job of staying right with the receiver, waiting until the ball was there, then reaching around and knocking it away without committing a penalty—his pass breakups all felt like a carbon copy of the previous one. Lewis is the next in line in the Cass cornerback pipeline, and he looked worthy to take up the mantle previously held by Richardson, Dior Mathis, and Boubacar Cissoko, though he has a little bit of height on each of his predecessors.

Shane Morris (De La Salle QB #12, 2013 commit): This was not Morris's finest performance, and he completed just 4-of-17 passes for 28 yards and a pair of interceptions while also losing a fumble on a QB keeper. I know I'm going to sound like a homer when I say this, but I don't think the stats are truly representative of his effort, at least when it comes to completion percentage—De La Salle's receivers could not get an inch of separation all night, and Morris was constantly trying to fit the ball into a tiny window. I also counted three drops by DLS receivers, which didn't help matters. Late in the game, Morris started forcing the issue, and that's when the picks came in—the interception to Lewis was Morris trying to get a big play downfield that just wasn't there—but with Cass Tech shutting down the De La Salle run game, Morris was left in a very tough position.

That's not to say he played well. De La Salle had Morris throw on a few designed rollouts early, but even on normal drop-back throws he didn't seem comfortable in the pocket, and on one play he shuffled smack into pressure while throwing and had his pass fall harmlessly incomplete. He still had a couple passes that reminded you why he's a five-star talent, and I think a lot of his issues came from facing two D-I corners with a pedestrian group of receivers, but it seemed like he let his frustrations get the best of him as the game wore on and it was clear things weren't going well. This is the time to remind yourself that Shane is still just a junior, and one who can throw the ball 80 yards in the air. This was a tough game against a very good Cass Tech defense, and in this case the bevy of D-I talent bested the up-and-coming quarterback.

After the jump, check out a photo gallery from the game plus interviews with both Jenkins-Stone and Richardson.

Photo Gallery

I tried my best to get some action shots in here, and I got some non-blurry in-play shots in there, but I spent most of the second half with my camera packed away so I could do a better job of scouting the players. The Cass Tech celebration at the end was awesome to see—pure jubilation from the visitors and their fans, and RJS and T-Rich took several photos together with family and friends after the trophy presentation. You'll get a sense for the pure joy in the aftermath of the game in the...

Interviews

ROYCE JENKINS-STONE

ACE: First of all, what felt better: pitching the shutout or scoring the game-winning touchdown?

ROYCE: It was a little bit of both, because that boy Shane, he's a legit quarterback. We had to maintain him and we had to make plays on him. We got two picks, I think, two interceptions on him. I kinda missed one—I didn't get turned around, I just wanted him [I think he means Jourdan Lewis] to get the four-and-out—make the play, but stop him from getting a first down, because that's all we needed to win the game.

ACE: How did you feel about your performance today, and the team's performance as a whole?

ROYCE: The team's performance and my performance, we all stepped up and made big plays. The defense stepped it up real good, you know—we held the shutout and just made plays, and I'm glad we did.

ACE: You were talking about what kind of a quarterback Shane Morris is. I know it was a bit of a rough outing for him tonight against you guys, but what do you think of him as a player?

ROYCE: Shane, as a player, he's pretty humble, and he's a great all-around quarterback. He'll be good at the next level, hopefully, because we need him at Michigan.

ACE: What was it like to be able to share this with Terry, your good friend?

ROYCE: Terry, man, we always go through this. We've been playing together for the longest [time], and we win together and we lose together. We're bros, and we're just going to keep it that way, and hopefully we come to Michigan and win. We don't want to take any more losses.

ACE: What do you have to do to win a state title?

ROYCE: Play harder. Defense step it up, offense step it up, and make plays. We can't have another repeat from last year.

TERRY RICHARDSON

ACE: First of all, congratulations. What's it like being in a tough game like that, senior year, for the regional title, coming down to the end? Describe what that game was like for you.

TERRY: It pretty much took a lot. It took a lot of heart. We had to come out, we had to believe, and we had to just work at it. We were just keeping in our minds that the dream was possible. Once again, we came through with it, so it's a big honor.

ACE: How did it feel to see your buddy Royce run in there for the game-winning TD?

TERRY: I love it, man. I love Royce. We grew up playing ball together. He knows my abilities, and I know his, so we trust each other, and I think that's something we all use to this day. Even when we were growing up back in the day we still used the same motto: We just love each other, man.

ACE: You guys faced off against a future teammate and a heck of a quarterback in Shane Morris and you shut him down. What kind of an effort did that take from you guys, and what did you think of Shane?

TERRY: It took a lot, it took a lot. Shane is my guy. I love Shane with a passion, you know. Shane's come up in the ranks, and it's amazing—I think Shane held his own and he made sure certain balls had to be in certain areas, so overall I think he has a lot of room to grow, but he will grow.

ACE: Just quickly talk about the corner playing across from you. Jourdan had a heck of a game, too. Are you trying to get him to come to Michigan with you?

TERRY: Yeah, well you know, this is his own little process. I want him to get all the visits he can, take all the visits he can, and if Michigan is in his heart, then you know, we're all a fan.

  • Login or register to post comments

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.
November 14th, 2011 at 3:06 PM
#2
snoopblue
snoopblue's picture
Joined: 11/11/2009
MGoPoints: 2126
I like both of their

I like both of their attitudes. They seem humble, well spoken and very intelligent. Not to mention they are fantastic football players. 

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
November 14th, 2011 at 3:17 PM
#3
Humen
Humen's picture
Joined: 10/04/2010
MGoPoints: 7029
RJS and T Rich

Both players seem very intelligent. I am excited to see them play for Michigan, and I am excited to see what Mattison can do with that kind of talent. 

Seems like it was a rough game for Shane, but I am sure he will bounce back and continue to improve. He's got another year to work for a state championship before playing for the good guys. 

 

Go blue!

 
Top
  • Login or register to post comments
November 14th, 2011 at 3:45 PM
#4
unWavering
unWavering's picture
Joined: 01/13/2011
MGoPoints: 9242
Why the change from Creeper

Why the change from Creeper Van Originals?  Did I miss something?

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
November 14th, 2011 at 3:59 PM
(Reply to #5) #5
Vivz
Vivz's picture
Joined: 12/14/2010
MGoPoints: 1204
an administrator somewhere

an administrator somewhere didn't find it funny/appropriate. He mentioned it in one of them.

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
November 14th, 2011 at 4:13 PM
(Reply to #7) #6
unWavering
unWavering's picture
Joined: 01/13/2011
MGoPoints: 9242
Ah, thank you.  I thought it

Ah, thank you.  I thought it might be something similar to that.

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
November 14th, 2011 at 3:58 PM
#7
imafreak1
imafreak1's picture
Joined: 07/02/2008
MGoPoints: 1743
Cass Tech's FG kicker must be

Cass Tech's FG kicker must be terrible. They went for 4th and 2 inside the 10 with under 2 minutes left in a tie game rather than kick that chip shot.

WOAH.

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
November 14th, 2011 at 4:58 PM
(Reply to #6) #8
MI Expat NY
Joined: 07/24/2008
MGoPoints: 7495
Though I think this has

Though I think this has generally improved, some teams just don't have reliable kicking units, to the point where a two point conversion attempt is the norm.  

It's not always the kick either, snap, hold and protection can all be problematic at the high school level.  Schools with smaller rosters in particular (don't know how many players Cass Tech fields) tend to not kick as often. Bigger rosters allow you to specialize that unit to a degree which helps in practice and also warm-ups during games.

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
November 14th, 2011 at 4:13 PM
#9
bronxblue
Joined: 11/22/2008
MGoPoints: 59110

Sounds like Cass Tech just shut down DLS, whoch doesn't surprise me given the talent out there. Morris should be fine though - trying to make tough throws into coverage with meh WRs seems to be the MO for most HS QBs.

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
November 14th, 2011 at 4:59 PM
(Reply to #8) #10
Ace
Ace's picture
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 65728
Yeah, the talent disparity

Yeah, the talent disparity between Cass Tech's defense and De La Salle's offense was clear. CT was getting a big pass rush most of the night, too, which helped contribute to Morris's happy feet. Still doesn't excuse his downfield inaccuracy, but he was under fire on a consistent basis.

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
November 14th, 2011 at 4:21 PM
#11
jg2112
jg2112's picture
Joined: 11/25/2008
MGoPoints: 7764
When mentioning former Cass

When mentioning former Cass Tech D-backs, past and present, don't forget Delonte Hollowell, who made a fantastic bone-crushing hit on the Illinois punt returner Saturday, removing any possibility that he'd recover his fumble.

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
November 14th, 2011 at 4:52 PM
(Reply to #10) #12
ken725
ken725's picture
Joined: 10/26/2008
MGoPoints: 27659
That was an awesome play.  I

That was an awesome play.  I had to check the official roster at first to see who that was. 

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
November 14th, 2011 at 5:01 PM
(Reply to #10) #13
Ace
Ace's picture
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 65728
That's an oversight on my

That's an oversight on my part—of course the player I forget is the current Wolverine. Mondays, man, Mondays...

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
November 15th, 2011 at 12:58 AM
#14
myblueheaven
myblueheaven's picture
Joined: 04/11/2010
MGoPoints: 728
I would like

to know more about the freshman Qb for Cass. He seems he throws a great ball and has good poise for a young freshman with great size. To be that young and starting for a potential state champion is pretty big imo. Does anyone know if Michigan is interested?

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
Powered by Drupal, an open source content management system
Theme provided by Roopletheme; sidebars adapted from Chris Murphy.