Finals Countdown: Niemiec's Dash Secures Late Lead in State Semifinals

Tuesday:

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 Saturday at 7 p.m. from Ford Field, let's go back to last week, and this key play in the final quarter which gave the Eaglets the lead late in the state semifinals against Battle Creek Harper Creek.

With the ball at their own 20-yard-line and about three minutes left to go in the game, St. Mary's knew that they needed to drive the length of the field to beat Harper Creek and go to Ford Field. Trailing 10-7 at that point, touchdowns had been difficult to come by, despite blowing their previous three opponents out of the water.

Enter Grant Niemiec. The junior fullback helped put the team on his back, converting a 4th-and-1 at one point during the drive and finally scoring the game-winning touchdown from 11 yards out on an outside run which ended with Niemiec diving into the end zone.

"Gotta keep your poise. We need a game-winning drive. That’s what it comes down to. In games like this — this is a big-time team we played out there today — your defense has got to step up and that’s what we did," Eaglets head coach George Porritt said.

"We were able to squeak out a good touchdown. We thought we could get that the whole game, and it just came to us at the last second," Niemiec said. "We know it's playoff football and any team can beat you at any time and we know this team is good."

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