OT: Steubenville (Big Red) pounds Inkster Vikings 36-0.
As you all will recall, Devin Gardner’s senior season was highlighted by his 63-yard, last-minute touchdown pass to defeat Steubenville and end Big Red's 60-game home win streak.
Well, Big Red got their revenge on Thursday, defeating Inkster 36-0.
http://www.theintelligencer.net/page/content.detail/id/541206.html?nav=523
I think the outcome of this game is relevant for our purposes because it demonstrates what an integral part of Inkster’s success Devin Gardner was. I’ve been waiting to see just how Inkster would fare with Gardner gone since, all too often, QBs are unjustly given credit for the team’s success.
In the back of my mind there was a part of me that was worried Gardner could turn out to be the collegiate version of Jamarcus Russell, where the year after he’s heralded as the top QB in the nation, his former team goes on to win a championship without him, exposing him as just another cog in the machine. After all, you usually don’t get to the state championship game twice in a row on the shoulders of just one player.
Well, I think it's safe to chalk up Steubenville's domination of Inkster as further evidence that DG is the real deal. Not only is Inkster struggling now without him, but it's worth noting that this is a team that went 1-8 the year before Gardner took over and led them to two consecutive state title games.
If RR and his staff are able to get the defense to gel soon, 2011 and beyond should be an exciting time to be a Wolverine.
August 27th, 2010 at 5:33 PM ^
While I totally agree that Devin was an integral part of Inkster's offense the last few years, Steubenville would probably have played rather tough in the rematch even if Gardner was on the team. When you basically have a 5-year undefeated streak snapped, revenge is going to be on everyone's mind. But yeah, to say that Gardner is a game-changer is an understatement.
August 27th, 2010 at 5:36 PM ^
Um, not that I want to rain on your parade but Inkster was very good before Devin got there..Aaron Shavers was the quarterback before he got there and did a great job..He took Inkster to a state title appearance as well....
Devin had some major weapons as receivers that the team this year does not have...Last years team was much better than the one this year..
With that said, Devin was the main cog last year..Without him, no, they would not have gone to the playoffs because they had a BRUTAL schedule..This year they will not make the playoffs because they are not as talented and still play a brutal schedule...But to basically say Devin was everything on the team is not true..
August 27th, 2010 at 5:47 PM ^
Um, not that I want to rain on your parade but Inkster was very good before Devin got there..Aaron Shavers was the quarterback before he got there and did a great job..He took Inkster to a state title appearance as well.
I admit I have limited knowledge of Inkster's recent history, but I do know they went 1-8 in 2007, the year before Gardner arrived.
Maybe you can fill the rest of us in on what was going on with their team that caused such an abysmal record that year.
August 27th, 2010 at 8:32 PM ^
Inkster won all 9 games it played that year... but according to a rival school they used players who they felt were ineligible. The MHSAA agreed to some extent. Basically the rival school named about 12 players they felt should have been ineligible. Inkster quickly proved that 10 were in fact eligible but couldn't get the documents to prove the remaining two were also eligible. One kid never played. He came from a charter school in Detroit that if I remember closed. Records were never found. The other, a player who was born in Africa was deemed to be 20 years old. He was their kicker and played in the first 8 games. The kids parents BEFORE the season started signed a letter stating he was 18. I'm going off of memory but I'm fairly sure this was the story.
August 27th, 2010 at 6:23 PM ^
as i am guessing you are somehow associated with Inkster, from the games i saw Devin was the only player on the team.
August 27th, 2010 at 10:14 PM ^
im not associated with the team at all..I watch high school football all across the tri county area..I saw Inkster play 7 times live last year..And NO, Devin was not the only player on the team..That may be because he made high lite plays that you say that..But there are 3 other kids playing college football off that team, 2 at Central, and there are 3 more that are on this years team that were on that team...
August 27th, 2010 at 5:44 PM ^
I grew up close to Steubenville. Jimmy the Greek, Dean Martin and I were all born there!!
They have been a powerhouse for years, not many D1 prospects but they were always good. I knew Gardner was something special when they went down there and won last year, plus you pretty much have the officials to worry about too.
Cincy's QB came out of Steubenville Zack Colaras or however you spell it.
They usually send alot of kids to Mount Union and Youngstown St.
August 27th, 2010 at 6:52 PM ^
I'm from Steubenville and that Inkster win destroyed the whole town it was quite funny, and everyone that was at the game told me Devin is the real deal and I think he has a great future.
August 27th, 2010 at 10:45 PM ^