The Mona Shores Sailors and Detroit King Crusaders played a thrilling 35-26 Division 2 State Championship game last year. They were scheduled for a rematch in Week 2 of this season, but that was ultimately cancelled for COVID. This week, as teams were unable to play across the state, these two powerhouse programs announced they would be squaring off in Norton Shores. The rematch everyone wanted was back on.
Once the game started on Saturday, it appeared clear that the best player on the field was Mona Shores’ Brady Rose. His impact on both sides of the football allowed the Sailors to build an enormous lead, before some late touchdowns brought the game to its 35-21 finale.
On their first offensive possession, Mona Shores found the end zone. Elijah Johnson got the scoring started with a six-yard touchdown run. After a stop, the Sailors’ passing attack produced their next touchdown. Brady Rose found Demetri Roberson for a thirty-one yard touchdown strike, and he added the two-point conversion with his feet. Rose would push the lead to 20-0 after the first quarter when he ran in a twelve yard touchdown.
The scoring slowed down in the second quarter, as there was only one touchdown. Brady Rose kept the football for a touchdown run of a yard out. Elijah Johnson ran in a two point conversion to give Mona Shores a commanding 28-0 lead.
Neither team would score in the third quarter, but Mona Shores would start the fourth quarter with their fifth touchdown. This put the running clock in effect at 35-0.
Detroit King would ultimately score to stop the clock on a Dante Moore quarterback keeper. With two minutes to play, they would score again to cut the lead to twenty-one points. Jaylon Reed got into the end zone from sixteen yards out. The Crusaders would not quit, and they got the football back. With less than a minute to play, Moore and Lynn Wyche-El connected for a forty-one yard touchdown strike.
Trailing 35-21 with fifty-one seconds left, King opted to onside kick. Their attempt was fielded by the Sailors, and Mona Shores ran out the clock.
Brady Rose was the star of the show for Mona Shores. He turned 18 carries into 120 yards and two touchdowns. He also completed 4/5 passes for 111 yards and two more scores. Defensively, Rose had eleven tackles and a fumble recovery. Rose earns Redi Rental Sailor of the Game honors with this phenomenal performance.
Both teams will being their playoff journeys next week. Their opponents will be announced on Sunday by the MHSAA. You can also find the information on Michigan Sports Radio.
