Lutheran North opens with a ‘crazy’ victory
Drogosh leads DLS in Kickoff Classic
Quarterback Zack Selewski delivered when Lutheran North needed him most.
Forced to miss some series because of cramps on a humid Friday night, Selewski returned to the lineup in overtime and threw for two touchdowns and a conversion to help the visiting Mustangs defeat South Lake 14-8 in a nonleague football game.
“It was amazing,” Selewski said. “I had never experienced anything like that. It was a crazy game.
“I was cramping up earlier in the game and I came back in and threw those two touchdown passes. That felt so good.”
Garrett Wenzelburger, the Lutheran North coach, said Selewski wanted the opportunity to lift his team.
“He said, ‘Coach, I can go,’” Wenzelburger recalled after huddling with the victorious Mustangs. “We’ve got so many seniors, and Zack is part of
that group that is so resilient. He made plays. They all did. It was incredible.”
Omari Carter broke a scoreless tie when he ran three yards for a South Lake touchdown on the first possession of the first overtime. Carter also ran for a conversion to give the MAC Bronze Cavaliers an 8-0 lead.
Lutheran North tied the score when Nicholas Petersdorf caught a five-yard touchdown pass from Selewski, who then passed to Ian Ruatto to tie the score.
The Mustangs went on offense first in the second OT, and Selewski hit Carter Penn on a nine-yard touchdown pass on second down.
Lutheran North lined up in kick formation following Penn’s touchdown, but went for two after the Cavaliers were penalized for being offside. The conversion failed.
On South Lake’s attempt to tie the game, Nick Alter and Ben Griskie combined to tackle the runner on first down, and after an incomplete pass, Ruatto and Alter made the stop on third down. Pressure from Alex Kitto on fourth down sent the Cavaliers’ runner on a scramble to his right, and he was tackled to end the game.
“We’ve got a bunch of sophomores, and we made a lot of mental mistakes,” South Lake coach Vincent Phillips said. “It hurts right now, but they’re going to grow from it. They’re going to stay together.
“They’re a little down, so it’s a matter of picking them up. They’ve got fight. They’re not scared. The best teacher is experience.”
Prior to the multiple scoring plays after regulation time, Lutheran North’s first game against a MAC opponent since 2010 featured turnovers, penalties and stalled drives.
“It’s Week 1, so there’s a lot of mistakes early on,” Wenzelburger said. “It seemed like both teams kept shooting themselves in the foot, couldn’t convert a drive because of turnovers, etc.
“We were waiting for one of the teams to break through, but it didn’t happen in regulation time, obviously.”
Wenzelburger wasn’t surprised that miscues impacted the game despite the practice sessions that preceded the contest.
“It’s impossible to simulate the 48 minutes (of game time) with the adrenaline that’s pumping,” the coach said. “You hope the guys can find a way to gut it out. You know it’s going to be sloppy Game 1, so you hope you’re the team that makes more plays than the other team, or makes fewer mistakes.”
South Lake plays Marine City (Silver Division) in a MAC crossover in Week 2. Lutheran North plays Carrollton in a non-league contest.
Lutheran North played Madison in a Division 5 district final in 2010, the Mustangs’ last match-up with a MAC team.
MOUNT CLEMENS 60, PONTIAC ARTS & TECHNOLOGY 6
Dazari Chestang scored three touchdowns and Amarious Gaines forced three fumbles to lead Mount Clemens to the season-opening victory. Chestang, who caught four passes for 119 yards, had two touchdown receptions, and he rushed for a touchdown. Gaines passed for two scores, and on defense he contributed an interception and a sack plus three tackles for losses.
Jordan Durham tossed two touchdown passes, Don Redding blocked a punt for a touchdown, Darren Taylor had a touchdown reception and ran for a score, and Xavier Braxton rushed for a TD.
The Bathers play Melvindale AB&T at home on Friday.
DE LA SALLE COLLEGIATE 38, CHICAGO ST. PATRICK 13
Junior quarterback Brady Drogosh passed for 111 yards and two touchdowns and rushed 16 times for 131 yards and another score as De La Salle won the Xenith Prep Kickoff Classic game at Wayne State. Rhett Roeser had three rushes for 75 yards and a touchdown and DeNiro Johnson ran five times for 66 yards as the Pilots piled up 319 yards on 31 attempts.
“I was really happy with how our O line and D line played all night,” coach Dan Rohn said.
The Pilots feature three-year starters Noah Dobbs, Kadin Featherstone and Tevon Mixon on the offensive line. OL Jeff Roskopp and DLs James Milkey, Noah Pawloski and Mason Muragin are starting for the second year and OL Brendan Shaeffer and DL Terrance Turner are first-year starters.
Drogosh completed nine of 14 passes. Jack Yanichik had four receptions for 74 yards and a touchdown, and Triston Nichols caught three for 31 yards as the Pilots won their opener for the first time since 2014.
Brady Lowe made all five of his extra-point tries and a 35-yard field goal.
Muragin had eight tackles with four stops for negative yardage and a sack as DLS held St. Patrick to 41 rushing yards and 82 passing. Will Beesley added seven tackles. Milkey, Chauncey Shaw and Paul Hoang had a sack apiece.
The Pilots play Detroit Denby on Friday.
KINGSTON 52, MERRITT 8
Kingston won the 8-player game at Merritt.
TEMPERANCE BEDFORD 52, FORD 0
Ford’s Luke Kameg had 84 passing yards. Ben Babjack had 60 return yards. Niko Nunnery caught three passes for 23 yards. Nate Pluger had three tackles and a sack.
SOCCER
EISENHOWER 6, L’ANSE CREUSE NORTH 0
Gjon Malakuqi scored three goals and Enzo Amicucci had three assists as Eisenhower won the MAC crossover. Julian Lee, Christian Sweis (assist) and JC Maida scored a goal apiece. Niko Demopolis and Jozef Palushaj had an assist apiece. Keeper Ryan Boardman had eight saves for the shutout.