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Blue Devils best Norsemen

By Jon Malavolti
C & G Sports Writer

» Click on image to view full size « Photo by Patricia O’Blenes Grosse Pointe South senior running back Eddy Mollison (43) runs away from a group of Grosse Pointe North defenders during the Blue Devils' 18-13 win Sept. 23 at home. Photo by Patricia O’Blenes Grosse Pointe South senior running back Eddy Mollison (43) runs away from a group of Grosse Pointe North defenders during the Blue Devils' 18-13 win Sept. 23 at home.

GROSSE POINTE FARMS — Grosse Pointe South defeated Grosse Pointe North 18-13 Sept. 23 at home in another classic edition in the rivalry series.

“The kids buckled down and I’m very proud of them,” South coach Tim Brandon said.

A pair of field goals by Grosse Pointe South senior Jon Parker gave the Blue Devils the early lead, and a 6-yard touchdown pass late in the second quarter from senior quarterback Robby Kish to senior receiver Kevin Reck gave the hosts a 12-0 advantage heading into halftime. South failed on a 2-point conversion attempt following the touchdown.

North answered back with 3:32 left in the third quarter on a 32-yard touchdown run by senior running back Anthony Sarkis.

The Norsemen then took the lead when junior Sean McHale hooked up with Sarkis on about a 40-yard pass. McHale initially took a handoff on the play while running a reverse, then stepped up and launched the pass to Sarkis, who scrambled into the end zone to make it 13-12 with 10:56 remaining in the game. North failed on a 2-point conversion attempt following the touchdown.

South responded with a 10-yard touchdown run by Kish as the Blue Devils went back ahead 18-13 with 7:46 to play. The Blue Devils failed to convert a 2-point attempt following the score.

The teams traded possessions before North got the ball back with 1:17 to play. But South clinched the win when Parker snagged an interception on the Norsemen’s first play of the series, and the Blue Devils proceeded to run out the clock.

“Our kids gutted up, they evened the adversity of giving up yardage and finally we got some stops,” Brandon said.

South controlled the ball and much of the play in the first half before North found its stride in the second.

“In the first half we just couldn’t stop them,” North coach Frank Sumbera said. “Then I thought in the second half, once we got the lead we really didn’t take over. We had the opportunity, we didn’t get it done. They’re a good team, they made plays.

“Give South credit, they made plays when they had to, kept the ball away from us.”

Blue Devils senior running back Eddy Mollison did the dirty work for South, grinding out tough yards on the ground throughout the contest.

South improves to 4-1 overall on the season, while North drops to 2-3.

The Blue Devils travel to Anchor Bay next at 7 p.m. Sept. 30, while the Norsemen visit Macomb Dakota the same night.

The win was the second consecutive for the South against North. North’s students won the annual halftime tug-of-war contest.
 

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Jon Malavolti at jmalavolti@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1040.