Weekday Warriors 2011: 10-11 Comment Count

Ace

Mario Ojemudia blocked a punt and recorded a sack to help keep Harrison undefeated this season.

This week on Weekday Warriors, Pharaoh Brown dominates at wide receiver, Matt Godin comes up with a game-sealing sack, Kyle Kalis's squad falls in a matchup of national powerhouses, and Tom Strobel has a huge week.

2012 Commits

TN OL Blake Bars

Montgomery Bell dropped to 3-5 with a 52-10 loss to Ensworth.

This week: The Big Red have a bye.

OH LB Joe Bolden

Bolden helped Colerain's defense hold off Lakota West late and seal a 24-19 win after a late fumble recovery with under a minute left to play.

This week: The Cardinals (6-1) host Lakota East on Friday at 7:30.

MI OL Ben Braden

Rockford once again dominated on the ground en route to a 49-0 defeat of Grandville. My former fellow TWB writer Alex Cook was at the game, and relayed this report from an opposing player:

Braden is obviously huge and fast, but he wasn't very good at finishing the play, and apparently his technique was terrible and he held a lot. Don't know if this is "heat of the battle stuff" but he's not ready to play at a BCS level. Fortunately he has potential enough to do it, but he needs a ton of work.

Alex did have this to say about the technique bit: "I didn't think his technique was that bad; he just bullied weaker players without the need for good technique." This falls mostly in line with what I observed from Braden—big, quick, and talented, but still needs to put it all together, and it's tough to get a gauge on his technical skills when he's pushing around guys 150 pounds smaller than him.

This week: Rockford (6-1) hosts Hudsonville on Friday at 7.

OH DE Pharaoh Brown

Brown caught seven passes for 173 yards and a touchdown to lead Brush to a shutout win over Normandy, 34-0. You can find highlights and a post-game interview on Rivals here.

This week: The Arcs play at Lakewood on Friday at 7.

MI TE Devin Funchess

Funchess had a productive game on both sides of the ball, hauling in two catches while tallying two sacks, a forced fumble, and "several" tipped passes as Harrison rolled to a 48-21 win over Rochester Adams.

This week: The Hawks have a bye this week.

OH S Allen Gant

No stats are available for Gant from Southview's 49-17 win over Bowling Green (NTBG), which improved their record to 6-1 this season.

This week: The Cougars host Anthony Wayne on Friday at 7.

MI DT Matt Godin

Godin texted me that he finished with six tackles and two sacks as Catholic Central held off Brother Rice, 21-19, to remain undefeated at 7-0 and earn a berth in the Prep Bowl. Godin's second sack came on Brother Rice's final drive, and helped seal the game for DCC:

Brother Rice would take over from the Catholic Central 44-yard line. With the clock ticking away, Brother Rice quarterback Nick Rao dropped back to pass on a third and long and Catholic Central senior defensive tackle Matthew Godin came in for the sack for a 7-yard loss.

“They doubled me and I made a quick move to the inside and slammed the center and I just flew through,” Godin said.

On a fourth down and eight yards to go situation, Rao’s pass was broken up by the Catholic Central secondary that sealed the victory to keep the Shamrocks undefeated on the season.

This week: The Shamrocks hope to wrap up the Catholic League title at home against James Ross and Orchard Lake St. Mary's on Saturday at 7.

UT FB Sione Houma

No stats are available for Houma from Highland's 55-10 victory over Cyprus.

This week: The Rams (6-2) take on Salt Lake City East at home on Friday at 7.

MI LB Royce Jenkins-Stone

No stats are available for Jenkins-Stone as Cass Tech defeated Mumford, 49-13, to finish the regular season 5-2 (5-1 PSL).

This week: The Technicians now await their playoff draw.

OH OL Kyle Kalis

St. Edward played the nation's top team, Don Bosco Prep (home of Yuri Wright), but managed just 186 yards of total offense in a 38-7 loss. I wish a picture of this moment existed so we could have the Kalis version of the Carvin Johnson hatred-of-losing photo:

His team battered, bruised and overwhelmed with emotion, St. Edward offensive lineman Kyle Kalis stood at midfield, his hands attached to his hips.

...

"We didn't come out fast and physical the way we wanted to at the gate," Kalis said. "It just didn't happen for us, and it just adds fuel to the fire for the season going forward. We can't let this define our season, or next week, or the week after that."

This week: The Eagles return to Ohio to host St. Xavier on Saturday at 2.

CA OL Erik Magnuson

La Costa Canyon had a bye this week.

This week: The Mavericks play at Carlsbad on Friday at 7.

MI DE Mario Ojemudia

Ojemudia had a sack and blocked a punt to help Harrison stay undefeated in a 48-21 win over Rochester Adams. Steve Wiltfong on Ojemudia:

The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Ojemudia blocked a punt and had a second-half sack to help Harrison seal the ball game late. The future Wolverine is quick off the snap with a variety of pass-rushing moves. One of the most dominant players in the state, the only question mark is where exactly does the tweener fit in on the next level?

Rush end? Rush end.

This week: The Hawks have a bye this week.

MO DT Ondre Pipkins

No stats for Pipkins (perhaps thankfully) from Park Hill's 49-0 loss at the hands of Lee's Summit West.

This week: The Trojans (4-3) go to Staley on Friday at 7.

MI CB Terry Richardson

No stats were available for Richardson from Cass Tech's 49-13 victory over Mumford.

This week: The Technicians's regular season is over.

OH LB Kaleb Ringer

Ringer sat out most of the second half with a knee problem—one that isn't expected to hold him out of future games—as Northmont fell to Centerville, 34-7.

This week: The Thunderbolts (2-5) host Fairmont on Friday at 7:30.

MI LB James Ross

Ross finished with seven tackles and three TFLs as St. Mary's dropped Shane Morris and Warren De La Salle, 35-10, in this week's CVO game. Highlights:

This week: OLSM (6-1) has a Saturday night showdown at Detroit Catholic Central.

OH OL Caleb Stacey

Stacey and Oak Hills fell in a shootout for the second straight week, this time dropping a 46-41 contest to Sycamore and fellow Michigan commit A.J. Williams.

This week: The Highlanders host Mason on Friday at 7:30.

IL CB Anthony Standifer

Via Son of MGoBlog Tim Sullivan, Standifer had six solo tackles, seven assists, and a 75-yard interception return for a touchdown as Crete-Monee defeated Rich Central 34-20. Standifer's teammate, 2013 prospect Laquon Treadwell, caught nine passes for 81 yards and a touchdown.

This week: The Warriors hosts Rich South on Friday at 6.

OH DE Tom Strobel

Strobel was dominant in Mentor's 44-20 victory over Solon, recording three sacks, a fumble recovery, and a blocked extra point, though he deflected the attention from himself after the game:

"No, not at all," said the 6-6, 265-pound Strobel, when asked if his defensive mates are underappreciated. "We love being under the radar. We know [Mentor quarterback] Mitch [Trubisky] is going to score.

"We told ourselves that if [Solon] scores, just come back. There are no heroes. We just played as one."

The Cardinals were stung for two touchdowns in the first half, one on a 38-yard pass play in the first quarter and on a short pass late in the first half.

"Things like that are going to happen," said Strobel. "They have a great team. It's all about coming back at them and finishing it. We wanted to make a statement tonight."

This week: The Cardinals host Medina on Friday at 7. I should be in attendance and filming the game.

OH TE A.J. Williams

Williams and his Sycamore squad came up with just enough offense to outpace Caleb Stacey and Oak Hills, 46-41, to improve to 7-0 on the season.

This week: The Aviators play at Middletown on Friday night at 7:30.

OH S Jarrod Wilson

No stats are available for Wilson from Buchtel's 26-14 win over Akron North.

This week: The Griffins (4-3) host Kenmore on Friday at 7..

OH DE Chris Wormley:

Thanks to in-game Twitter updates from reader @RBones40, we know that Wormley had a tackle, a QB hurry, and a pass breakup and also forced an interception with a big hit in the first half as Whitmer took down Findlay, 49-23.

[UPDATE: Now with the weekly report from Mason Lowry:

The most interesting development to me was that Chris saw significant minutes as the secondary tight end. He isn't a guy that's going to be catching passes over the middle, but a holding penalty aside, he blocked pretty well. We haven't seen many two tight end looks this season, but I think Chris proved that he can handle going both ways if necessary.



Defensively, the front seven got great penetration all game long. Findlay's offense is mostly predicated on bubble screens to their crew of speedy, Wes Welker-esque receivers. With Chris being 6'7, Findlay's QB's had to throw over the top of him and into the flat, which gave the secondary time to adjust. I would say that if Chris were on most teams, opposing offensive lines could key on him, and force the rest of the team to beat them. But this defensive front in particular is good enough that you can't really do that.

Thanks, as always, to Mason, who you can hear calling every Whitmer home game on WRSCSports.com.]

This week: The Panthers (7-0) have a home contest against Fremont Ross, alma mater of one Charles Woodson, on Friday at 7.

2013 Commits

KY S Jeremy Clark

No stats available for Clark from a 61-0 North Hopkins victory over Hopkins County Central, which improved the Maroons to 6-1 in 2011.

This week: The Maroons host Calloway County on Friday at 7.

MI QB Shane Morris

Morris, the other subject of this week's CVO (highlights above), completed 5-of-11 passes for around 100 yards and had a 20-yard rushing touchdown, but De La Salle fell to OLSM 35-10 as Morris faced a heavy pass rush all night.

This week: The Pilots (5-2) play U-D Jesuit at Lake Short High School on Saturday at 7 in their regular-season finale.

OH RB/S Dymonte Thomas

Thomas had a nine-yard touchdown run, but Marlington (5-2) fell to Minerva by a score of 21-13.

This week: The Dukes host Canton South on Friday at 7.

Comments

Ace

October 11th, 2011 at 11:08 AM ^

I doubt they'd move Funchess, not with his talent at tight end and the lack of depth there, but I've been beginning to wonder if Brown could be of more use at tight end as well. There's a lot of bodies at DE right now, and it seems like that move could make sense, but I haven't seen enough of him to say whether his potential at TE is better than his (very solid) potential on the defensive side of the ball.

davking1980

October 11th, 2011 at 9:14 PM ^

Farmington Hills Harrison does not have a bye this week.  Their conference (Oakland Activities Association) has a crossover week this week between 2 of the divisions.  Harrison is playing at Lake Orion H.S. this week.

I live just south of LOHS and was thinking of going.

Evil Empire

October 11th, 2011 at 12:13 PM ^

Ace, I live in Mentor.  I have half a mind to pull a Drew Peterson and film you at the game.

I graduated from Solon so I was conflicted about the Mentor @ Solon game, but it was nice to see Mentor's defense be part of the story.  Both teams have been blowing people out.  Mentor's O did their usual thing but the D shutting down Solon's scoring was more impressive, especially on the road.

Wolvermarine

October 11th, 2011 at 12:50 PM ^

In an interview with Mike Farrell on Rivals.com, Kalis was asked what it was that made him choose Michigan. His reply "Just the great family atmosphere.  All the kids in my class. Like I am close with Tom, and Brionte, I mean all these guys I am close with. (pause)  I mean Brionte's not in the class....."

 

May not seem like much, but from watching the interview he certainly seemed to indicate that he felt Brionte would be there at Michigan with him.  

StephenRKass

October 11th, 2011 at 1:42 PM ^

Ace: do you have any info on remaining targets? I am enjoying these reports on current commits. I'd also like to hear what is up with those who have not yet committed who will be in the 2012 class. Possible candidates for such a list:

  • Garnett
  • Banner
  • Wright
  • Diamond
  • Dunn
  • Payton
  • Darboh
  • Madaris

Obviously, you may add some to the list, and delete some of the above. I purposely didn't include some who I don't see as being likely to come to Michigan, for instance, Diggs or Peat. But it would be nice to occasionally hear updates on some of the key remaining prospects.

Here are some questions:

  1. Do they any a proposed announcement date?
  2. Is Michigan still interested in all of them?
  3. Where does Michigan stand with them?
  4. What are the reports on their play this Fall?

I'm happy to have the focus on the current team, but would love to hear more on the remaining slots in the class. Here's a suggestion:  maybe sometime after this Saturday, we could have a report on recruiting. With the bye week, and with only facing Purdue, that would be a good filler article.

the_white_tiger

October 11th, 2011 at 7:39 PM ^

I guess it's not totally clear because I didn't include it in my text to Ace, but I got most of my impressions on Braden from my brother. He was on the defense against Rockford, and I asked him what he thought right after the game, so what he said about Braden was said in the heat of battle. I agreed with what he said about Braden, but didn't see (or couldn't tell) that he held a lot.