section c
December 2-8, 2009
Inkster falls to Lowell
Amazing season falls one game short
A state title was supposed to be an excla- ering the obstacles they faced during the 2009
mation point to a noteworthy career for Inkster season.
quarterback Devin Gardner. He had taken his
team to the Division 3 final as a junior and had
After the Mega Conference folded following
committed to coach Rich Rodriguez and the
the 2008 season, Inkster became an indepen-
University of Michigan, so this was the final
dent team. Meaning Carter had to search for op-
who rah for him and the other Viking seniors.
ponents, but he found it difficult to find teams
that would lace up the cleats against Inkster.
However, at Ford Field in a Division 2 title
game Lowell High School (13-1) was not in a
Inkster (9-4) played all 13 games on the road
giving mood, it was in a taking posture and the
this season. Yes, the Vikings did not have one
Red Arrows took and ran over Inkster’s state
single home game. They were forced — if they
title hopes.
wanted a 2009 football season — to make three
trips to Ohio, one to Muskegon, one to Grand
Led by sophomore quarterback Gabe Dean, Rapids and another to Bay City.
Lowell ran its veer option to perfection produc-
ing a methodical and overwhelming 27-6 vic-
One could surmise that the long grind took
tory.
its toll on Inkster’s coaches, the players and its
fans.
“There are certain bubbles in the defense
and I have to recognize that,” Dean said. “Then
“It’s been an exhausting season,” Carter ac-
they’re some in the middle and off the end and
knowledged after the game. “To start out 0-2,
I have to make certain reads to get into those
then having to win the last game on the road in
bubbles and try to hit them.”
Ohio, made this a tough road we traveled to get
here.”
Said Lowell coach Noel Dean about his
nephew: “I’m not surprised at his ability to
That Ohio win Carter referred to was an in-
check to all the right plays and make the right
credible victory that gave the Vikings the nec-
option reads. Also our offensive line was in-
essary five regular season wins that is required
credible, probably the best we’ve had.”
to get in the playoffs. Inkster went down to
Steubenville and ended its 60-game home win-
Lowell did not complete one single pass, ning streak with a 36-29 victory. Without the
but it did amass 290 yards on the ground on win the Vikings would have been left sitting at
54 attempts. Dean rushed for 177 yards on 23
inkster’s Donovan LinDsay (# 24) and Lavelle Hall corral Gabe Dean. – Andre Smith
home during the state tournament.
carries and scored on runs of 2 and 7 yards. photos
Fullback Austin Graham gained 102 yards on
“I’m so proud of this team,” Carter said.
29 carries and scored twice on 1-yard runs.
“It’s been a memorable experience for me and
the players. They will be fine in the future. I
“Offensively, it kind of went the way we don’t feel as bad as I did in other championship
hoped it would and envisioned it,” coach Dean games we’ve lost, because we lost to a good
said. “Our goal was to not throw a pass today team.”
. . . what we needed to do was get into a three-
point stance and move the pile forward and
Gardner was 9-of-17 passing for 134 yards
maintain ball possession, and, we did that.”
and he was sacked three times. Lowell kept
the defensive pressure on him the entire game,
Added Inkster coach Greg Carter: “They run and, sealed the corners so he could not scoot
that veer and they know what they are doing. around the ends.
It was about assignment football. You have to
stay in your lanes and that is something we did
“They got us out our game,” Gardner said.
not do consistently enough. The bottom line is
“We got out of position and did not make
you have to give them credit. I don’t think we
enough plays to win this game.”
played as well as we can, but they had a lot to
It’s been a mine field of obstacles for Ink-
do with that.”
ster, but they traversed then falling just one
Since St Martin DePorres closed, Carter has
game short of a title. So, the Vikings should not
transformed Inkster’s football program. He has
labor too much on the loss, but hang mightily
led the Vikings to consecutive state finals; they
inkster HigH finished 2nd in Division 2. onto the football journey they endured.
lost last year to East Grand Rapids in a Division
2006 in Division 6, falling to Saginaw Nouvel. lose, but when Carter and the players reflect,
Leland Stein can be reached at lelstein3@
3 game. The Vikings also reached the finals in
It always hurts to get as far as a final and
they should hold their heads very high consid-
aol.com.
What are the Pistons doing?
AUBURN HILLS — I’m not Now he did not set the world
quite sure what direction the on fire and was transparent
Detroit pistons are headed. I in many of those games. Sure
thought President Joe Dumars he is playing somewhat better
acknowledged that this would be lately, but that proves my
a rebuilding year. point. If a coach plays players
Yet here we are 18 games into
and show confidence in them,
the season and the Pistons are
more times than not they
in last place in the Central Divi-
will produce for him and the
sion with a 6-11 record. Now I’m
team.
not so surprised that my favor- I find it hard to believe that
ite team finds itself in the base- Summers, who played ex-
ment, but I am surprised that
In the Game
cellently in the summer pro
its new coach, John Kuester, is leagues, could not do what
not treating the season as a real Jerebko is doing if given that
opportunity to see if the young
By Leland Stein III
same type of chance to play
players Dumars has invested in every day.
are NBA type players.
The injuries to Tayshaun Prince and Rich-
JuLian Peterson (#59) at 2009 Pro Bowl.
I know everyone seems to be infatuated with ard Hamilton and now Ben Gordon are unfortu-
Ben Wallace and his early season effort on the nate, but it is an opportunity to play all those
court, but the team is still five games under young guys and prove to all that hey are worthy
Peterson: ‘Lions haven’t given up’
.500. I thought when Dumars brought in young of being on an NBA squad.
centers Kwame Brown and Chris Wilcox that
Former MSU star a bright spot in a long season
we would use this season to see if they could
I find it hard to believe Dumars approves of
produce effectively enough as NBA players.
this. How can a man he brought in, Wilcox, who
By Leland Stein III
ing of middle linebacker Larry
has started in this league come to Detroit and Foote and drafting DeAndre
not play at all?
It is hard to find many bright
Levy, to augment four-year
spots in a season where one’s
Kuester is enamored with Wallace. I think
veteran Ernie Sims, the Lions
team is 2-9. But if true football
Wallace should play some, but not like he has
linebackers’ corps appeared
watchers have had their eyes
been. If this is a rebuilding year, then lets grind
to have the ability to be one of
on No. 59 (Julian Peterson),
it out and give the young guys the minutes like
the team’s strengths.
they would see a man that is
he has given to Jerebko.
giving all he has each game.
So far this year the line-
The Pistons have to find out if Brown is
backers have indeed anchored
The Lions loss its ninth
indeed their future big man. The fact of the
the Lions defense and have
game in the 70th Annual
matter is Wallace in not the future for this fran-
been a group that first year
Thanksgiving Day game to
chise.
coach Jim Schwartz can point
Green Bay, but after the con-
to as a real improvement over
If the Pistons are shooting for the NBA Play- test Peterson, a 10-year veter- last season.
offs, and I’m sure they are, then I’d find a way to an, remained upbeat and wish-
integrate the entire roster into the mix. There ful.
The question that comes to
John Kuester
is simply no better guide and judge of talent
my mind is why would Seattle
The fact of the matter is Brown started for
“I’ve been fortunate to have
than putting one into the fire and letting them
let an All-Pro like Peterson
the Lakers and Wilcox averaged 14 points and
played in this league a long
fail or succeed.
go?
eight rebounds as a starter last season. But
time,” he said, “and I’ve expe-
when they come to Detroit both all of a sudden
I like the efforts of Rodney Stuckey, Charlie rienced the highs and lows.
“I did not know I was going
do not even merit every day minutes on the
Villanueva and Will Bynum. The Pistons have One year in San Francisco
to get traded,” Peterson noted.
floor.
some tools to work with. They committed to we finished 2-14 and another
“I had gone to three straight
youth, letting Chauncey Billups and Rasheed year 12-4 where we made the
Pro Bowls and I thought I was
I realize coaches want to win at all cost, but
Wallace go. So if there is a true commitment to playoffs. So, I know what it is
Julian Peterson – Andre Smith
a consistent team player. I
Kuester is in a great position of coaching an
a youth movement then let’s jump in there with like to struggle and also what photo
guess it is all about business.
acknowledge rebuilding team. Wallace is not in
both feet. it is like for a team to turn it
We were only 4-11 last year
the Pistons future; he is on the last legs of a
consistently,” said Mayhew.
around.
and I was the oldest linebacker
solid career. Chucky Atkins is far beyond his
This retort has nothing to do with not liking
“I was very concerned about
on the team. I did not get mad
prime, too.
Wallace or Atkins or even Jerebko. I just feel “For us to get better we have
the linebacker position. We
or question the trade. I’m a
this is a golden opportunity to see if Dumars to continue to mature as team.
wanted to get bigger at the
I really believe that Brown can be an inside
professional and I have to stay
and the front office judge of talent is on point. I I really feel we have the talent
linebacker position, so adding
scoring presence. He is strong and has shown
mentally right, continue to
would like to see Summers, Wilcox, Brown and to be better than our record
Julian, a player who can rush
very good footwork around the basket. If he
play with passion and pride.”
Daye play every game. At least 8 to 15 minutes shows, but we have to gut out
the passer and defend the run
played every day at least 25 minutes we can see
every game. these last five games, starting
was a positive, because he’s
Peterson said he expects
if the Lakers were right in starting him.
Sign me up Joe, I’m ready to coach your
this weekend against Cincin-
done it at a high level every
the Lions to win a few more
I want to see Austin Daye, DaJuan Summers
players!
nati. The key is to stay in the
since he’s been in the league.
games, even though they have
and Jason Maxiell play every game. Kuester has
mental fight and not give up as
a tough schedule to close out
“People talk about Julian’s
thrown Jonas Jerebko out on the court and
Leland Stein III can be reached at lelstein3@ a team.”
the season. He feels Schwartz
age, but he’s been in the last
is playing him close to 30 minutes per game.
aol.com.
is a good coach and that is re-
The Lions acquired Peter-
three Pro Bowls and he hasn’t
flected by how the team has
son, an outside linebacker,
missed a game in three years
competed each game.
Biggs wins
from the Seattle Seahawks in
and that was important to us
exchange for defensive tackle
in terms of where he is physi-
“Schwartz is a student of
Cory Redding and a 2009 fifth-
cally.”
the game,” Peterson said,
round draft choice.
“and he has been around great
state regional
Peterson, 6-foot-3, 240
coaches, bad teams and good
Lions General Manager
pounds, played his first six
teams. I feel he knows how to
Martin Mayhew felt he ac-
years in San Francisco, which
By Harry M. Anderson Jr.
in Lake Orion, Mich. A week and cold conditions, she won
turn a ship around and get it
quired both a pass-rusher and
drafted him in the first round
later at the MHSAA Division 2
moving in a positive direction.
the title in tie-breaking play-
a sizeable linebacker in Peter-
(16th overall) of the 2000 NFL
He has learned that he has
Although only a sopho-
State Finals at Michigan State
off. Biggs and her opponent, son. In his three seasons with
Draft after an All-American
some holes to fill and I think
more at Birmingham Seaholm,
in East Lansing (Forest Acre
Seattle, Peterson accumulated
collegiate career at Michigan
they will work till they make it
15-year old Essence Biggs
East Course), Biggs was the
her teammate, were tied with
24.5 total sacks and went to
State University. He said he is
happen.”
of Beverly Hills, Mich., is in
Division 2 runnerup as she
a score of 78. Both tied for par
three Pro Bowls; he’s been to
a Spartan through and through
finished one shot behind the
in the first playoff, but on the
five overall.
and keeps up with a keen eye
One hole that has been
step with the state’s veteran
eventual state champion Kim second hole, Biggs hit a 160- each year at how the team is
filled in 2009 is linebacker!
prep golfer. Biggs won The
“I was very concerned about
MHSAA Division 2 Regional at
Dihn of Midland Dow.
yard six iron to five feet to win
doing.
our ability to rush the passer
Leland Stein can be reached
the Paint Creek CountryClub At the regionals under windy with a two-putt par.
With the free agent sign-
at lelstein3@aol.com.
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