Warren

Proving their point

By Brad D. Bates
C & G Staff Writer

De La Salle football takes home program’s first AB title

WARREN — The Warren De La Salle football team believed it all along, and now everybody else has to agree.

Under coach Paul Verska, the Pilots have built their program to a level that rivals Catholic League Central Division foes like Birmingham Brother Rice and Novi Detroit Catholic Central, but there was always one thing missing — proof.

That was until Oct. 25 at Ford Field, when the Pilots topped C.C. 28-14 to take home the school’s first Prep Bowl title since 1956 and their first AB Division title.

“We’ve been looking forward to this since freshmen year,” senior quarterback Josh Sinagoga of Madison Heights said. “Now we’re seniors, and we finally got it done. I think we were the team to beat in the Catholic League this year, and we proved that.”

The Pilots proved it in the Prep Bowl and the regular season, finishing 9-0 and with wins against Catholic Central, Birmingham Brother Rice (9-7) and Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (34-28).

“It gives us some legitimacy through our program,” Verska said of the league title. “It gives us something to hang our hat on and to keep building from. It proves the point to the kids in our community that we’re a good football program.”

A year ago, the Pilots were close to achieving that status but fell to Brother Rice 45-14 in the Prep Bowl AB championship. Verska believes experiences like that is what put the 2008 squad over the top.

“Seniors that have been here before are experienced kids making plays,” Verska said. “Good athletes make plays, and we’ve got good athletes making plays in big situations. That’s our heart and soul; they find ways to win, and they refuse to lose.”

While Verska knew it would be a talented veteran team heading into 2008 — with seniors like Jim and John Martinez, and Dan Sorgi, all of whom earned 2008 All-Catholic honors — it was their road trip to face Bishop Watterson in Columbus, Ohio, a 17-13 win, that really showed the coach what his team was made of.

“We came from behind, and I think that was the turning point for this season,” Verska said. “We overcame a lot of things being away from home — a large crowd, home cooking from the officials, everything.

“Our kids didn’t let it bother them. Right then and there, I knew this group had the ability to compete, and hopefully, get that (league) championship.”

Reaching new heights is nothing new for the Pilots under Verska.

Along with guiding the team to its first AB title, Verska led the Pilots to their first berth in a state championship game in 2006, where they eventually fell to Muskegon High 32-30.

“We always strive to be Catholic League champs, so it was a completely different feeling,” Verska said of how the 2008 league title compares to his 2006 trip to the state finals.

“It was a new group of kids that worked hard and a different season. It was a great feeling, one of the best feelings I had in my life.”

While the Pilots’ ultimate goal in 2008 started with their 51-6 Division 2 pre-district win against Port Huron High, Verska points to achievements like the league title as something that will stick with the Pilots no matter what happens.

“It’s a memory that no one can take away from them,” Verska said recalling what he told his players after the championship: “In 50 years, you’re going to have that memory — that you’re the first Catholic League champion at De La Salle.

“(The players) got to see the captains from 1956 come in, and it proved the point that guys do remember. They don’t forget.”

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Brad D. Bates at bbates@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1029.