Fall football round-up

By Josh Curmi
Oct. 29, 2008    ·    11:44 p.m.

Willow Run Flyers (4-5, 2-5 Mega Conference Gold Division)
The Flyers “competed each game,” Head Coach Rufus Pipkins said. "We got better as the season went on with our young talent.”

Sixteen underclassmen, who were not on the roster last season, made the jump to varsity.

“We had senior leadership, but we were young as a unit,” Pipkins said. “It was a joy to coach this group, they always came to play.”

Pipkins said he felt this was a great team to be around. Keith Marks, senior starting quarterback led the team with his “leadership and work ethic.”
"He kept the team together,” Pipkins said.

The head coach also leaned on other seniors to help his young team mature. Senior Keith Marks Jr. RB/LB contributed on both sides of the ball, rushing for over 500 yards and accumulating over 100 tackles. Michael Lloyd, senior offensive lineman created the holes for Marks. Jr. and anchored the running game.

The young talent will be more experienced next season for Willow Run. Pipkins said he is excited for his players to dedicate themselves this offseason and be an experienced team in the Mega Conference.

“Having these young guys get experience will pay off next year; we just have to work hard.”

Wins: Warren Connor Creek, Ecorse, River Rouge, Detroit Allen Academy

Losses: Dearborn Heights Crestwood, Redford Thurston, Dearborn Heights Robichaud, Dearborn Heights Annapolis, Dearborn Edsel Ford

Ypsilanti Phoenix (5-4, 4-3 Mega Conference Blue Division)
The Ypsilanti Phoenix improved as the season went on under fourth-year head coach Dave Poole. After a slow start, the Phoenix won five of their last seven games.

“We got better and better,” Poole said. “If we played Milan today we would give them a better run.”

Poole also felt not being able to be in the weight room due to reconstruction set his team back.

“We were not strong enough against the other teams because we were not in the weight room.”

Junior quarterback Terrance Moore led the Phoenix offensively, recording school records in passing, with 1,275 yards and completions, with 95. Moore accounted for 16 total touchdowns, 9 passing and 7 rushing.

Fellow juniors Josh Whitfield and Cortaz Calhoun were a force on defense. Whitfield, a defensive end, led the team with 6.5 sacks and Calhoun, a linebacker, had a team high of 66 tackels.

Senior leadership will carry the Phoenix into next season. Twenty-nine seniors will return in 2009 including the three players mentioned above.

Also, Ypsilanti will be moving into the Southeastern Conference joining nearby Lincoln Railsplitters. Poole knows his team needs to improve in the offseason to be successful.

“If we work hard and get stronger in the weight room, we can be a force in the S.E.C.”

Wins: Garden City, Dearborn Heights Crestwood, Melvindale, Romulus, Dexter

Losses: Milan, Dearborn Edsel Ford, Inkster, Highland Park

Lincoln Railsplitters (1-8, 1-7 Southeastern Conference White Division)

Lincoln football focused on discipline this year, even with a smaller number of players compared to other programs. The attention to detail paid off in the first game; they beat Tecumseh 38-22. That was the Railsplitters first win since October 1, 2004.

“This team had an attitude of don’t ever give up,” Lincoln Athletic Director Sid Wright said. “They played all the way to the end, and gave all they could give us.”

Wright also felt that the team having a smaller amount of players made them a close knit group.

“You could tell they were there for each other every game, no matter what,” Wright said.

Seniors Joey Sibert, Cody Watkins and Alex Neitling showed great leadership.

“They never let the team get down,” Wright said of the senior leadership.

The seniors gave big contributions on the field asa well. Sibert, a defensive back, was second on the team in total tackles with 39. Cody Watkins, linebacker, was right behind him with 35. Neitling, quarterback, threw 4 touchdown passes after taking over for injured starter Andrew Dillon.

Prior to injury, junior quarterback Andrew Dillon was putting up impressive stats. Dillon passed for 954 yards and 10 touchdowns. Dillon was also a threat on the ground rushing for 256 yards and 6 touchdowns, all in six games.

“Losing him hurt, but the team rallied together,” Wright said of the player he believes will be a great leader next year as a senior.

The Railsplitters will build in the offseason, and have players returning that can make 2009 successful. Wright feels next year could be great for the Splitters.

“If they give the effort they gave this year, it will show in the record,” he said.

Wins: Tecumseh

Losses: Dexter, Ann Arbor Pioneer, Chelsea, Ann Arbor Huron, Saline, Bedford, Grand Blanc, Adrian