Weekday Warriors 2011: 11-15

This week on Weekday Warriors, the ranks of the surviving Wolverine commits thin out considerably during playoff action. Just a note—I will be attempting to compile season stats in one big post after all the players have finished their seasons. If you have any info that would help in putting together such a post, please shoot me an email.

2012 Commits

TN OL Blake Bars

Montgomery Bell fell to Baylor, 20-10, in a state quarterfinal matchup.

This week: The Big Red finish the season with a 6-6 record.

OH LB Joe Bolden

No stats were available for Bolden as Colerain lost to St. Xavier for the second time this season, 28-15, in the regional semifinals.

This week: The Cardinals finish the season at 10-2, with both losses coming to St. X.

MI OL Ben Braden

Rockford amassed 338 yards on the ground en route to a 30-28 victory over Grand Blanc for the regional title.

This week: Rockford plays against Matt Godin and Detroit Catholic Central in the state semifinals on Saturday at 1.

OH DE Pharaoh Brown

Brush finished the season with a 4-6 record.

KY S Jeremy Clark

No stats to report for Clark as North Hopkins lost to Franklin-Simpson, 20-17, in the second round of the state playoffs.

This week: The Maroons finish the season with a 9-3 record.

MI TE Devin Funchess

Harrison finished the season with a 10-1 record.

OH S Allen Gant

Southview finished the season with a 9-2 record.

MI DT Matt Godin

Godin recorded 10 tackles as Detroit Cathlic Central knocked off Drake Johnson and Pioneer, 21-0, to advance to the state semifinals. The Shamrock defense—which was missing Wyatt Shallman due to injury—bottled up Johnson and never allowed the Pioneers to advance past the 50-yard line.

“We took their heart when we bottled up Drake,” Shamrocks’ all-state defensive lineman Matt Godin said. “You could see it in their eyes. They didn’t know what to do when their No. 1 option was taken away. By the second quarter, they were reeling big time.”

This week: The Shamrocks face Ben Braden and Rockford in Saturday's 1 p.m. state semifinal at Battle Creek Central HS.

UT FB Sione Houma

Highland finished the season with a 7-4 record.

Royce Jenkins-Stone (#10 in white) stares down Shane Morris before the snap.

MI LB Royce Jenkins-Stone

Jenkins-Stone recorded six tackles and ran the ball 22 times for 67 yards and the game-winning touchdown as Cass Tech shut down Shane Morris and Warren De La Salle, 6-0, to move on to the state semis. You can find much more on the game in this week's Future Blue Originals.

This week: The Technicians face off against Utica Eisenhower at Troy Athens HS on Saturday at 1.

MI RB Drake Johnson

Johnson was limited to just 48 yards on 16 carries in Pioneer's 21-0 loss to Catholic Central, leaving him just 86 yards short of eclipsing the single-season state rushing record.

This week: The Pioneers finish the season with a 9-3 record.

OH OL Kyle Kalis

St. Edward fell to St. Ignatius, 20-17, on a last-second field goal in the second round of the playoffs.

This week: The Eagles end the season with an 8-4 record.

CA OL Erik Magnuson

La Costa Canyon knocked off bitter rival Torrey Pines, 28-7, in their regular-season finale to earn a bye in the first round of the state playoffs.

This week: The Mavericks have a bye while they await their second-round playoff matchup.

MI DE Mario Ojemudia

Harrison finished the season at 10-1.

MO DT Ondre Pipkins

Park Hill finished the season with a 5-5 record.

Terry Richardson locks down his man against De La Salle.

MI CB Terry Richardson

Richardson had two receptions for 46 yards and played extremely well at corner as Cass Tech squeaked by De La Salle, 6-0, in a classic defensive battle.

This week: The Technicians face off against Utica Eisenhower at Troy Athens HS on Saturday at 1.

OH LB Kaleb Ringer

Ringer sat out the end of the season due to a strained MCL suffered early on in the year.

MI LB James Ross

Ross recorded an 11-yard touchdown reception, his only catch of the day, as Orchard Lake St. Mary's defeated Linden, 49-7, to reach the Division 3 state semifinals.

This week: The Eaglets face Battle Creek Harper Creek at Withington Stadium in Jackson on Saturday at 1.

OH OL Caleb Stacey

Oak Hills finished the season at 4-6.

IL CB Anthony Standifer

Crete-Monee finished the season with a 10-1 record.

OH DE Tom Strobel

Strobel contributed at least one big tackle for loss as Mentor won a wild one against rival Solon, 42-40, to win the regional title:

Solon appeared poised to push that lead out even further after Justin Kresevic intercepted a pass and returned it to the Mentor 22. However, a big defensive stop — keyed by a tackle for loss by senior defensive end Tom Strobel — kept the Comets from adding to the lead, and it was game on for Trubisky and company from there on for the rest of the first half.

This week: The Cardinals face St. Ignatius on Saturday at 7.

OH TE A.J. Williams

The Aviators finished the season with an 8-3 record.

OH S Jarrod Wilson

Buchtel finished their season with a 6-4 record.

OH DE Chris Wormley:

Whitmer remained undefeated as they held Canton McKinley to just 159 yards of offense in a 37-6 playoff rout. Here's Wormley on the victory:

"We prepared all week with the defensive schemes, and I guess we're pretty good," Wormley. "The main thing was getting pressure, sending people off the edge and blitzing. I think that really helped.

"We just stayed focused and mentally tough. It's great feeling to be in the regional final again. We'll be back at it on Monday and hopefully it'll be the same outcome."

[UPDATE: Here's Whitmer play-by-play man Mason Lowry with his weekly first-hand report:

This was the best I've ever seen Chris play. Simply outstanding. Always in the backfield, always causing havoc. Got to the quarterback a ton and brought him down several times at or just behind the line of scrimmage. Not sure just how many sacks/QB pressures he may have had, but I know that I called his name more than I have in any other game this year. This was a really impressive performance from Chris and the entire defense. He looked every bit like a major Division 1 recruit, and certainly played like someone who could make a big impact in Maize and Blue.

Now, the Whitmer D will go from facing an athletic spread offense to a more methodical, running-oriented team. Wadsworth's running back, the wonderfully-named Jack Snowball, has over 2500 yards (!) for the season to this point and can easily carry the ball 40+ times per game. This is a completely different test from what McKinley presented, but one that I ultimately think Whitmer will overcome, but at this point in the season, who knows?

Thanks, as always, to Mason for the update.]

This week: Whitmer faces Wadsworth on Saturday at 7 in their regional final.

2013 Commits

MI QB Shane Morris

Morris completed just 4-of-17 passes for 28 yards and two interceptions against a strong Cass Tech defense as De La Salle fell 6-0 in the final minutes.

This week: The Pilots finish the season with a 9-3 record.

OH RB/S Dymonte Thomas

Marlington finished the season at 8-2.