Grosse Pointe Woods, Grosse Pointes

Pointe blanked

By Brad D. Bates
C & G Staff Writer

North football shuts out South; wins sixth straight in rivalry game

GROSSE POINTE WOODS — It is said football players rarely forget a play from their Grosse Pointe North/Grosse Pointe South rivalry games.

For North players like junior safety Ryan Gregory, picking one of those memories over others may be tough following the Norsemen’s 13-0 win against the Blue Devils Sept. 5 at North.

“The second one, because it ended the game,” Gregory said of the latter of his two interceptions, which occurred with 44 seconds on the clock, being his top memory.

The win marked the sixth consecutive time North has topped South and improved the Norsemen to 2-0 entering the Macomb Area Conference White season at 7 p.m. Sept. 12 at Utica High.

“That’s the MAC White champions right there,” said South coach Tim Brandon, whose team was in the White last year before moving to the Blue in 2008, referring to North. “When they’ve got close to (300 pounds) across the line, it’s very tough.”

North scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to break a 0-0 deadlock, but it was the defense that stole the show, forcing three turnovers to secure its second straight shutout.

“We knew we had a good D,” Gregory said. “Now we know we can handle anybody in the state. We’ve got two shutouts in two games. That gives us confidence that we can beat anyone.”

Along with Gregory’s two picks, North recovered a South fumble to run their season turnover total to seven.

“We knew we could hang our hat on the defense this year,” North coach Frank Sumbera said after seeing his team follow a 3-0 week one win with a 13-0 victory. “Our offensive line did a real good job in the second half, and we started grinding out yardage.”

North junior running back Tommie Watkins broke open the scoring with a 14-yard touchdown run at 11:55 in the fourth quarter, and senior running back Darin Willis added a 3-yard score with 2:29 to play.

“They make me real comfortable,” Watkins said of his veteran offensive line, which averages close to 275 pounds. “They’re big and fast. (Their speed) allows me to get behind them and do the things I need to do.”

Despite giving up plenty of size and experience to the Norsemen, South hung in the game with a defense that forced two turnovers of its own — interceptions by junior defensive back Bobby Peltz and junior defensive back Charles Getz — and blocked a field goal attempt.

“We obviously showed our inexperience on offense,” Brandon said. “We have one senior starting on offense, and he’s out of position with Reid Fragel at tackle instead of tight end.

“We just don’t have the experience under our belts yet. That’s what made playing this game so early in the season so tough. This is my 16th North/South game, and you really can’t simulate this rivalry in practice. It has to be experienced.”

South, which saw its JV team top North Sept. 4, opens its MAC Blue slate at 7 p.m. Sept. 12 at home against Sterling Heights High.

“You hate to say the word, ‘rebuild,’ but it’s our second year with the program, and we’re starting to make some strides,” said Brandon, who spent 14 years as an assistant at North before taking over at South.

“It definitely looks good for the future, but I really wanted to win this one for these seniors. These seniors worked hard, and they deserved better than this.”

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