St. Mary's Coach Not Taking Mount Pleasant Lightly Prior to State Title Game

If Orchard Lake St. Mary’s head coach George Porritt is disappointed that the Eaglets won’t be playing East Grand Rapids for the Division 3 championship this season for the fourth time in five years, he doesn’t let on.

Although the St. Mary’s team has pined for a chance to beat the Pioneers for the first time at Ford Field all season long, Porritt knows enough not to take Saturday’s opponent, Mount Pleasant, lightly, after the Oilers beat East Grand Rapids last week.

“Each year is different and the emotions can’t carry over. This senior team is different. I’m just concerned about ourselves, that’s what I tell our teams,” said Porritt, a three-time state champion. “You gotta do your job against a team like Mount Pleasant, they’re good all over the field.”

Porritt is well aware of what Mount Pleasant brings to the field in sophomore running back Michael Tweh, senior wideouts Dustin Lee and Colton Odykirk, and senior quarterback Ryan Elliott. Last week, the Oilers torched the defending state champions, who beat St. Mary’s 35-27 in the finals last year. That same East Grand Rapids team beat Mount Pleasant in the state semifinals last year.

St. Mary's has never played Mount Pleasant, who are making their first appearance in the state championship game.

“They’re a tough team,” Porritt said, adding that he’s watched film of the Oilers since last week. “(Elliott) is a wrestler as well, and I know that wrestlers are tough, especially in the crunch. …The players have full respect for Mount Pleasant. They’ve been (to Ford Field) too many times and lost, not to respect their opponent.”

Indeed, Porritt said, he’s excited to unleash this current crop of Eaglets at Ford Field for the second time this season. Star senior linebacker James Ross is healthy after an injury forced his removal for part of , while junior fullback Grant Niemiec is coming off of a two-touchdown performance. Porritt said that he figures the play of the offensive line, led by junior Austin Johnson, as well as the play of senior quarterback Dan Clements, to be crucial in the outcome.

“You understand you have to take what the defense gives you sometimes, and Dan’s a good thrower, very intelligent, and he avoids mistakes,” Porritt said. “We gotta be a ball control team — no mistakes, no penalties. We have to control the line of scrimmage and if we don’t, it will be difficult to win.”

St. Mary’s has done just that, this season, after a . The Eaglets have destroyed some teams and squeaked by others, but generally have imposed their will on the opposition, save for a loss in the Prep Bowl to Novi Detroit Catholic Central Oct. 22, after which Ross admitted that the team’s heads collectively

“Those tough games help you down the stretch and into the playoffs. It’s helped us and gained confidence and momentum into the playoffs. It’s hard to get those victories,” Porritt said.

Of course, Porritt will ask his team to take a few moments in the days leading up to and immediately after the game at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday to appreciate the atmosphere — especially for those seniors including Clements and Ross who will be playing their last game as Eaglets.

“It’s exciting. At Ford Field, there’s a lot more noise. The kids are fired up, because everyone expects you to win,” Porritt said.