Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Football Impressive in Scrimmage

ORCHARD LAKE VILLAGE — The Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Preparatory School varsity football team wasn’t in midseason form just yet, but it still gave fans watching its team scrimmage on Saturday plenty of highlights.

The Eaglets were split into two squads for a full-contact scrimmage on the team’s practice field. "Red" played "White" in front of a nice-sized crowd of family and friends.

Senior running back Spencer McInnis didn’t wait long to give the crowd something to cheer about. The team’s co-captain broke into a huge 70-yard touchdown run on the first drive for the red team.

“Running the ball, we’re doing great,” McInnis said.

He was a starter on varsity last year along with Grant Niemiec and Keith Stonestreet. All three runners are back this season. Head coach George Porritt expects big things from his group of power backs even though they won’t have a very experienced offensive line in front of them.

Porritt said it will take some time for the line to gel. McInnis, a three-year starter on varsity, isn’t as worried as his coach.

“Usually the line is our problem every year, or at least that’s what everyone thinks,” McInnis said. “Usually coach gets the line together, and it’s great. (Junior offensive lineman) Austin Johnson is returning, and we have a few new seniors on the line.” 

The biggest pass of the day was a 40-yard touchdown throw by junior Matt Linehan for the white team. Linehan is competing for the Eaglets' starting quarterback job with senior Dan Clements.

“It’s been a good quarterback battle so far,” Porritt said.

Clements was on the varsity team last season and did get some experience. The competition will continue through the second week of practice. 

There is less open competition on the defensive side of the ball. St. Mary’s has seven returning starters from a group that was absolutely dominant last year.

The Eaglets' defense held opposing teams to less than 10 points in all seven of their regular-season wins. Most of the defense is back, including middle linebacker James Ross (a University of Michigan signee) and cornerback David Talley.

“We always base on our team on defense,” Porritt said. “We feel that’s the strength of our football team right now.”

Ross did not play in the scrimmage due to a leg injury. The rest of the returning starters were split up between the two teams, so the defense’s play was a little uneven.

At one point, Talley made a nice play on a blitz for the white team, blocking a pass.

The defense knows it has to have a big year for St. Mary’s to make another long playoff run. The Eaglets have made the finals in three of the past four seasons in Division 3 and lost to East Grand Rapids High School all three times.

Players are motivated to get back to Ford Field in Detroit and even the score. 

“A lot of these guys have lost to them twice,” McInnis said. “I don’t want any other team."