Warren

Yeoman's effort

By Brad D. Bates
C & G Staff Writer

Grosse Pointe North football rounds out season in district final

WARREN — As soon as the 2008 schedules were released, Grosse Pointe North football coach Frank Sumbera knew it wasn’t going to be an easy year.

Highlighted by a game against two-time defending Division 1 state champion Macomb Dakota, the Norsemen faced three teams from the Macomb Area Conference Red Division along with their normal slate of MAC White foes.

North’s lone game against a MAC Blue squad was rival Grosse Pointe South.

But seniors like two-way tackle Josh Franklin never let any of that get them down.

“One thing Coach Sumbera always says is, ‘Block, tackle, be physical and have fun,’” Franklin said after North fell 31-6 to Warren De La Salle (11-0) in a Division 2 district final Nov. 7 at Warren Fitzgerald. “That’s what we go by, and that’s our rule and motto.”

Despite falling behind 31-0, the Norsemen (7-4) held true to their coach’s message until the final play of their season, when senior quarterback John-Michael Guest rushed for a 20-yard score as time expired to close the game at 31-6.

“Fun is a huge part,” Franklin said of what drove North through 2008. “If you don’t have fun, you shouldn’t be doing it.

“That’s why people have professions, they love what they do. We play football because we love it. It’s not about a spotlight, it’s about the team, and we love each other.”

Franklin was a four-year varsity player for Sumbera, and being part of the North tradition is something he will take with him as he continues his career at the college level.

“I remember freshman year not knowing what to expect from (Sumbera),” said Franklin, who is still deciding where he’ll play college ball.

“He’s a guy who knows what he’s talking about. Every single team since freshman year, we were physical, and that’s what I love. That’s what I look forward to at the next level.”

It was that physical brand of football that propelled the Norsemen to a 5-0 start to 2008 and garnered two wins in those three games against MAC Red opponents.

“This is a good football team, and they played hard from the beginning with some shutouts,” Sumbera said. “They had a few points scored on them today, but that’s a good football team.”

The Norsemen say goodbye to 34 seniors, but with 25 juniors due back, Franklin expects to see his teammates take Sumbera’s message and run with it in 2009.

“We have full potential to go to states next year,” Franklin said. “Coach Sumbera is one of the greatest coaches I’ve ever had, and with all those kids we have coming back next year, they’re going to be a threat.”

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