Sports

Finals Countdown: Extra Point Miss Gives Porritt Win No. 200

In honor of Orchard Lake St. Mary's reaching the state finals for the third consecutive season, we're counting down three plays that defined this season.

Tuesday:
Wednesday:

Before the Orchard Lake St. Mary's varsity football team plays in the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 3 state finals game against Mount Pleasant at 7 p.m. Saturday at Ford Field, let's go back to Oct. 15 — and this key play in the final quarter, which gave the Eaglets the Catholic League Central Division championship and win No. 200 for head coach George Porritt.

St. Mary's holds on as Catholic Central extra point misses

St. Mary's came into the championship game Oct. 15 clicking on all cylinders. After an upset loss in the home opening game to , the Eaglets literally ran over and through the Catholic League Central Division, all the way to the home field of unbeaten rival .

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Indeed, the Eaglets continued to dominate through the first half against the Shamrocks. Senior tailback Spencer McInnis pushed St. Mary's to a 14-0 lead in the third quarter with two touchdowns and eventually finished the game with more than 100 yards rushing.

But the Shamrocks came back. Led by head coach Tom Mach, Catholic Central scored early in the fourth quarter off of a quarterback sneak from senior Kyle Cooper to bring the score to 14-7, and it scored another touchdown with 20 seconds to go in the game.

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However, the Shamrocks missed the extra point that likely would have taken the game to overtime — and St. Mary's head coach George Porritt clinched win No. 200 in his career.

"I was getting ready for overtime before (Catholic Central) kicked the extra point, but afterward, I felt pretty good," Porritt said to mLive.com reporter Montezz Allen.

What a memorable season it has been for the Orchard Lake St. Mary's varsity football team. Check out our feature in which we're profiling sports parents: Email tim.rath@patch.com with information.


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