Beverly Hills, Birmingham, Hazel Park

Hazel Park High football escapes with victory at Birmingham Groves

By Christian Davis
C & G Sports Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo by Patricia O'Blenes Hazel Park High's Deonte Bynum carries the ball through the Birmingham Groves defensive line. Photo by Patricia O'Blenes Hazel Park High's Deonte Bynum carries the ball through the Birmingham Groves defensive line.

BEVERLY HILLS — In a game filled with big plays, drama and its share of penalties, Hazel Park High football walked away from Birmingham Groves with a victory.

The Vikings won 38-33 Sept. 14 in the Oakland Activities Association Blue Division contest.

“There were a lot of penalties, a lot of weird things that happened. But both teams battled to the end,” Hazel Park coach Scott Guthrie said.

Groves led 33-32 after running back Ross Williams scored his third touchdown of the night for the Falcons, but the Vikings responded, going 81 yards in five plays on the next possession.

Running back Deonte Bynum capped off the drive with a 5-yard run; it was set up by fellow running back Raeshaun Campbell’s 73-yard scamper the play before.

“I just ran hard the whole game. I did it for my team and just kept on pushing,” Campbell said.

Bynum finished the contest with three rushing touchdowns for the Vikings. Quarterback Andrew McClellan, who found Michael Stinson and Brandon McIntosh, threw for two scores. His toss to McIntosh came on fourth down from the Falcons' 12-yard line.

Both teams made mistakes, but were able to bounce back. Groves lost two fumbles inside the Vikings’ 10-yard line, and on the flipside recovered two onside kicks.

“They just made more plays than we did,” Groves coach Brendan Flaherty said. “We knew it would be one of those games.”

Falcons quarterback Nick Kizy threw two touchdown passes to Ryan Roberts for Groves' other scores.

Hazel Park goes to 3-1 overall and in the Blue and next travels to Royal Oak High at 7 p.m. Sept. 21.

Groves falls to 0-4 overall and in the Blue. It looks to bounce back on the road against Ferndale High at 7 p.m. Sept. 21.
 

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Christian Davis at cdavis@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1062. Follow Christian on Twitter.