Proof is in playoff results
Those pesky Catholic Leaguers can never be overlooked on the gridiron, no matter if they look like world beaters on paper or not.
Because of a change in the MHSAA postseason format allowing teams with under .500 records into the playoffs by earning enough “points” from quality wins and strength of schedule, Birmingham Brother Rice and Orchard Lake St. Mary’s are alive and well — freshly-collected district championships in the school’s respective trophy cases and preparing for regional title battles later this week. Both teams entered districts with 3-5 marks and now sit at 5-5.
The Catholic League Central, one of the most storied and rigorous divisions of prep football in the nation, is probably the only league in the state where middle-of-the-road or bottom-tier clubs in the league race can be genuine state-title contenders. All four Central Division teams enter the weekend still alive.
“I think the district crown is proof that we’re better than our record would indicate,” Brother Rice head coach Adam Korzeniewski said. “I mean look at our schedule, it’s just brutal. But this is a good, tough group of players. They really believe in themselves and it shows in the way they are competing.”
Korzeniewski’s squad has been hampered by injuries this fall. Most notably, the Warriors are missing Maryland-commit Nolan Ray (running back). Last season, Ray led Brother Rice to a district championship for a Warriors team that finished 8-4.
This year, the spirited play
of junior quarterback Blake Marrogy is sparking the Brother Rice pigskin attack on offense. Defensive tackle Eryx Daugherty (Boston College) and linebacker Andrew LaBarre pace the defense.
The 5-foot-11 jitterbug of a field general rushed for 195 yards and two touchdowns and threw for a 31yard touchdown to Sam Klein right before halftime in the Warriors 30-22 upset of Walled Lake Western in last Friday’s Division 3 district finals.
“Having a tough schedule helps us to be be prepared for for these kinds of games. You know, it gives us the work and the competition to know that, even with the guys injured, you know, it’s next guy up and you got to play with what you got,”
Marrogy said. “So you got to keep going.”
St. Mary’s has a steelyeyed signal caller at the helm of its offense, too. Senior Brayden Ledin has thrown for 1,755 yards and 17 touchdowns for the Eaglets in his second year starting under center.
“Brayden is a vet, he’s been through the wars of the Catholic League and we have faith in him,” St. Mary’s head coach Jermaine Gonzales said.
Sophomore slot receiver Antwon Thomas and senior split end Ryan Mooney (8 touchdown grabs) are Ledin’s top targets in the pass game. Junior running back Armon Rollins is picking up steam in the backfield. Thomas and Mooney are each being recruited by Division I colleges.
Gonzales is in his first season holding the reins of the vaunted Eaglets program, succeeding his former coach, Hall of Famer, George
Porritt, who retired after the 2021 campaign. In 1999, Gonzales quarterbacked St. Mary’s to a state crown.
Gonzales has learned from Porritt in the past decade and a half coaching at the lower levels of the program and for area youth teams, so he’s no stranger to the CHSL Central’s nature of nastiness.
“Playing in the Catholic League means you’re going to be battled tested come November,” he said. “Every game is a war, every snap you’re slugging it out.”
The Eaglets’ defense has shifted into another gear for the playoff push. Skyler Bonner spurs the unit from his middle linebacker spot with a team-high 82 tackles. Josh Janda’s six sacks fuels the pass rush. Out of the secondary, freshman A.J. Marks might be the best cornerback prospect in the Class of ’26 and sophomore safety D.J. White is rising fast.
“The best thing about this team is they have a short memory, they didn’t dwell on losses, they were resilient. … The mindset was on to the next one and let’s build towards the playoffs,” Gonzales said. “We’re sneaking up on people and that’s not usually what St. Mary’s does. But nothing fazes this group. They are hungry and feed off being overlooked.”
The Eaglets travel to Goodrich (10-1) this Friday for a regional championship game, while Rice is on the road again, as well, taking on defending D3 champion Detroit King (7-3).
Tweet of the Week
“Had a great win with my team in the district finals. Now, it’s on to regionals,” Brother Rice middle linebacker Andrew LaBarre
Quote of the Week
“I could get used to this underdog thing” — St. Mary’s head coach Jermaine Gonzales