Madison Heights

'Time to push the envelope'

By Mike Moore
C & G Staff Writer

Lamphere hasn’t won a playoff game since '99, could that change in ’08?


By Mike Moore

C & G Sports Writer

MADISON HEIGHTS — In a slight play on words, Madison Heights Lamphere football coach Jason Charron said his squad is in the midst of re-establishing a new tradition.

While that statement might seem a bit odd on the surface, it’s pretty straightforward to the Rams, as they believe they are ready to return the years when making the playoff was a regular occurrence.

Following an 0-9 season in 2003, the Rams reeled off back-to-back playoff appearances in 2004 and 2005, the only time in program history the team reached the postseason in consecutive years. The streak didn’t extend to a third year, however, as a 5-4 team missed out on the action in 2006. In 2007, Charron experienced his first losing season as a coach when the team wrapped up the year 4-5.

“Ever since this year began, we’ve had the goal of getting back to the postseason,” Charron explained.

That mission was accomplished following a 28-14 victory against Clawson High Oct. 17, the team’s sixth victory of the season. At press time, prior to an Oct. 24 game at St. Clair Shores Lake Shore to close out the regular season, the Rams were 6-2 overall and in second place in the Macomb Area Conference Bronze Division with a 4-1 record.

“This season has had a lot of special moments,” Charron said. “We’ve played some bigger schools and won. We got the best of Madison (a 21-14 victory against Madison Heights Madison High Oct. 3), and I think surprised a lot of people along the way. We’re pretty excited to keep this thing rolling in the playoffs.”

Lamphere will be quite the test to whichever team it faces when the postseason kicks off this weekend; the draw to determine first-round matchups was not available at press time.

While the 223 points the Rams have scored through eight weeks was very middle-of-the-pack in the MAC, the 88 total points the defense had allowed was fourth best. Only Grosse Pointe North (69), Warren Fitzgerald and Macomb Dakota (84) had allowed less.

The Rams only two losses — a 16-3 setback to Warren Fitzgerald Aug. 28 and 25-20 defeat at the hands of Warren Lincoln Sept. 26 — came against eventual MAC division champions, both of which entered the final week at 7-1.

“This season has been huge in the sense that we’ve erased the memory of last year,” Charron said. “We have 10 seniors who have really set the bar for what is to be expected. This is the type of year we’re going to expect each and every season.”

But as his team prepared for what could be the first playoff win the school has seen since 1999, Charron did his best to keep things in perspective while explaining his goals.

“Anytime you make the playoffs, you have to be excited,” he said. “We’re going to be one of just 32 teams in a division. That’s pretty cool.

“At the same time, we’re not content just making it. It’s time to push the envelope. It’s time this program had a nice little run. I know this — this is a group of young men who are looking forward to playing a competitive team and seeing where we stack up. … It’s an exciting time, and we’ll be ready.”

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Mike Moore at mmoore@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1038.