Sterling Heights

Friday night nail-biters 

By Brad D. Bates
C & G Staff Writer

Lake Orion High football tops Utica Stevenson in regional thriller

STERLING HEIGHTS — The Division 1 regional championship Nov. 14 at Utica Stevenson had it all.

The Titans erased a 35-7 deficit to take a 36-35 fourth-quarter lead.

But not to be outdone were the Dragons, who won the game on a 49-yard field goal from senior Jeffery Heath as time expired.

“I didn’t even think about it,” Heath said. “I just tried to kick it as hard as I can. I’ve never even tried one that long.”

Heath was in a position to be the hero after the Dragons started their final drive from the Stevenson 23-yard line with nine seconds on the clock.

Lake Orion freshman quarterback Sean Charette connected with senior receiver Charles Fleck for a 45-yard gain to the Titans’ 32-yard line, where he went out of bounds with two seconds to play.

“I just knew I had to catch the ball to set up the field goal,” Fleck said. “They were playing safe, so I knew I’d be open, especially running the hitch. I was thinking, ‘just catch the ball and get out of bounds.’”

After Lake Orion’s Mikael Lott recovered a punt that was blocked by junior Benjamin Kanda and returned it for touchdown and a 35-7 lead at 5:57 in the third quarter, a last-second field goal was probably the last thing on the Dragons’ mind.

But that’s when Stevenson junior quarterback Jason Fracassa went to work.

Fracassa, who opened the game with a 37-yard touchdown pass to junior receiver D. J. Mershman at 6:56 in the first quarter, connected with senior running back Thomas Beaurem for a 20-yard score at 4:32 in the third and added a two-point conversion pass to junior running back Justice Wright, making it a 35-15 Dragons lead.

The Stevenson defense then forced a Lake Orion punt, and on the Titans’ ensuing possession, Fracassa connected with Mershman for a 52-yard score at 2:02 in the third, making it a 35-22 ballgame.

After the Titans’ defense again stopped the Dragons, Mershman returned the punt to the Lake Orion 14 and set up a 5-yard touchdown run by Beaurem, cutting Lake Orion’s lead to 35-29 at 11:06 in the fourth quarter.

Stevenson senior linebacker Benjamin Kollsmith intercepted a pass on the next possession at 9:32, but Heath then intercepted a Stevenson pass at 8:56.

The Titans’ defense got the ball back, though, as senior defensive back Robert Strong intercepted a pass and returned it to the Lake Orion 48 at 7:11.

The Titans drove down the field to set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Fracassa. After the extra point, Stevenson had a 36-35 lead.

“You don’t win or even go ahead in a game like that unless you have character, and we have great character on this team,” Stevenson coach Rick Bye said. “We have great kids, and the team chemistry all year was tremendous. I’m happy with this group of kids, and I’m happy that they believed in themselves enough to come back.”

After the Titans’ defense forced a turnover on downs at the Lake Orion 44 with 1:44 to play, the Dragons held Stevenson’s offense and set up the late-game theatrics.

“Our defense came up and stung them and did some good things,” Bye said. “Everybody made plays. Even at the end of the game, a 50-yard field goal is quite an accomplishment in high school.”

Lake Orion takes on Dearborn Fordson at 7 p.m. Nov. 22 at Troy Athens in their state semifinal.

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