Oakland County

Bishop Foley and Notre Dame Prep return to action after one-year hiatus

By Mike Moore
C & G Sports Writer

» Click on image to view full size « Photo by Donna Agusti Bishop Foley’s Gabe O’Neil runs through a tackle during a Sept. 1 win at home. The Ventures face Notre Dame Prep Sept. 23 in Pontiac. Photo by Donna Agusti Bishop Foley’s Gabe O’Neil runs through a tackle during a Sept. 1 win at home. The Ventures face Notre Dame Prep Sept. 23 in Pontiac.

PONTIAC — It was a rite of fall for two schools that share a rivalry in nearly every sport.

It served as a measuring stick, a division battle, a chance to gain bragging rights for 12 months.

And then, last year, it went away.

Now, it’s back.

“We’re glad to have them back on the schedule,” Pontiac Notre Dame Prep football coach Kyle Zimmerman said of his team’s date with Madison Heights Bishop Foley. “It’s always been a great rivalry in every sport, not just football, one that should be played every single year. We’re excited about facing them again.”

From 1998-2009, the teams played each other every season. Last year’s schedule had the odd absence, but at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 23, they’re back at it in Pontiac.

“It should be great,” Zimmerman added. “It’s our homecoming. We expect a big crowd and a good game from two good teams.”

Most strong rivalries are strengthened by a competitive balance, and these two couldn’t be more equal.

Since 1998, 12 total games, each squad has won six and lost six, with Prep taking the most recent game, a 26-7 win Sept. 18, 2009.

Of course, not playing in 2010 has left each coach slightly in the dark as to what to expect from their opponent.

“We don’t know a ton about them, but just looking at their roster, I know they’ve got some veteran guys, especially in the skilled positions,” Foley coach Tim Sagert said. “It’s going to be tough, a tough match up against what I expect to be a solid team.”

“We’re going to have to focus more on what we do,” Zimmerman said. “I don’t know very much about them at all.”

Through three weeks, Foley was 2-1.

After a 14-10 loss to Clawson High to open the season, the Ventures rebounded in style with a 31-12 drubbing of Melvindale Academy for Business and Technology Sept. 2 and then played their best game to date in a 35-24 win against Allen Park Cabrini.

Freshman Nate Grys is still getting acclimated as the team’s starting quarterback, and while he has thrown for more than 100 yards in all three games, Sagert knows defense will be key against Prep.

“We’re going to have to lean on the defense, and the guys know that,” Sagert said. “Nate is doing a great job, but you have to remember, he’s a 14-year-old kid starting for a varsity football team. So, we need to depend on the D to keep us in it, and if they can do that into the fourth quarter, we’ll have a shot.”

Zimmerman said Prep will take an identical approach.

The Fighting Irish were 3-0 at press time, and while their offense has been strong, averaging 30 points per game, the defense has allowed just 22 — total.

“They’ve been huge,” said Zimmerman, whose team was riding a seven-game winning streak after closing 2010 with four straight victories. “Any success you have has to start with the defense, and we’re going to try and put as much pressure on Foley as we can.”
 

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