It’s been a wild season for the South Christian Sailors. South Christian went 6-3 in the regular season with those three losses coming in close battles to teams that had successful seasons (one playing at Ford Field in Catholic Central). The Sailors got caught in a tough battle in the second round of the playoffs, but have been rather dominant throughout. They would be in for their toughest to date on the big stage Saturday against Harper Woods, a program vying for their first state title.
Harper Woods set the tone very early in this one. On the Pioneers first possession of the game they would have their offense rolling on a long drive when Stephone Buford took one in from 6-yards out to give his team an early 7-0 advantage after a successful PAT from Freshman Dakota Guerrant. That would lead to a quick first possession from the South Christian offense that gave the ball back to Harper Woods. They would keep their offense rolling on a drive that spanned seventy yards. Dwight Houston would reach the endzone on a 4-yard burst and after another Guerrant PAT, it made it 14-0 Pioneers. The Harper Woods defense paid the offense off and the Pioneers had South Christian just one quarter in.
Early second quarter, the Sailors offense would get some things going. They would put together a seven play driving coursing over ninety yards when Carson Vis would connect with Jake Vermaas from 39-yards away to make it a 7-14 game after a good PAT attempt from Drew Bruinsma. The South Christian defense would keep the momentum rolling after forcing a quick drive from the Pioneers offense and we had ourselves a brand new ball game. The Sailors would threaten again before turning the ball over on downs. Harper Creek would put together another big time drive late in the half when Guerrant got into the action on a 27-yard pass from Sophomore Nate Rocheleau. The Pioneers would pick off a Vis pass late and they would head into the locker room feeling good with a 20-7 lead.
South Christian had a chance to get points first in the second half but early in the drive, they would give the ball right back. The Pioneers would come up with the biggest play of the game and they would answer in a hurry. This time Rocheleau would find Ramonty Houze and he would do the rest find daylight and heading in for the score from 90-yards away. Harper Creek would take a 27-7 lead and put the Sailors in real danger early in the half. Championship programs find a way, and that it exactly what South Christian did on their next drive. They would put together a seven play sixty-seven yard drive that would end on a Charlie Schreur 1-yard dive. The Sailors had life making it a 14-27 game with nearly half the third quarter remaining. Both defenses would limit each others offense and that’s where things would stand heading into the final quarter.
The Sailors would have a drive going early in the fourth and they would make it an even closer ball game. Vis would get loose from 22-yards away and take it all the way in. On a lengthy eighty yard drive, South Christian would cut the Pioneers lead to 20-27. Harper Woods had been responding all game and they wouldn’t change that narrative on their next drive. Eating up just over 4:00 of game clock, Buford would find the endzone again on the tenth play of the drive from 1-yard away. This would give the Pioneers a 33-20 lead midway through the quarter. The Sailors, needing a response to stay in the game, did just that. Vis would find Noah Funk on a 12-yard connection to make it a 27-33 game with plenty of time left. South Christian did much of the damage through the air as they ran the ball just one time on the drive. Harper Woods would force a couple Sailors timeouts, but with still 2:45 left to play, South Christian was going to have a chance to put one last drive together. The Sailors offense would get bailed out on a big 3rd down play when the Pioneers were called for pass interference. A few short plays later, Vis would find Austin Tiesma on a big connection to put the ball deep into Harper Woods territory. Facing a 4th and 7 later in the drive, Vis would get loose to put the ball all the way down to the Pioneers twelve-yard line. A Vis connection with Funk a play later would set the Sailors offense up at the three-yard line with one last play coming. On the final play Vis would roll out trying to find Funk right near the goal line, but it would be for not. The play would be broken up securing the Pioneers first state championship and holding off a resilient Sailors team. Harper Woods takes the Division 4 Title in a thriller, 33-27.
Harper Woods had their offense in tune for much of the day. Young quarterback, Nate Rocheleau had himself a day going 10 of 17 through the air for 210 yards and 2 touchdowns. He was helped by a Pioneers ground game that was led by Donald Adams who finished with 197 total yards on the day. Dwight Houston helped with 63 yards rushing and 1 touchdown. Stephone Buford added 66 total yards and 2 rushing touchdowns. Dakota Guerrant finished with 4 catches for 84 yards and 1 touchdown on the day. Ramonty Houze added 90 yards receiving yards on 1 catch with a touchdown.
The Pioneers defense played with fire at times in the second half of this one but were really able to limit the South Christian offense in the first half. Michigan commit, Jacob Oden, led the defense with 7 tackles. Keyontae Wilson played big on the day with 1 interception before the half and came away with the pass break-up that ended the game. Johnny Nelson had the lone sack for Harper Creek.
South Christian was able to battle back several times in this one led by their offense. Carson Vis had a record setting day going 30-44 through the air for 441 yards and 2 touchdowns. He would add another 80 yards on the ground and 1 rushing touchdown. Charlie Schreur added 56 total yards and 1 rushing touchdown for the Sailors. Jake Vermaas couldn’t be stopped for much of the day finishing with 10 catches for 196 yards and 1 touchdown. Austin Tiesma finished with 8 catches for 120 yards and helped keep South Christian in it late on a big reception. Noah Funk added 5 receptions for 61 yards and 1 touchdown.
The Sailors defense came away with some big plays late that helped their offense with a chance at the win late. Tanner Raak led the South Christian defense with 11 tackles in the game. Luke DeJager and Colin Vugteveen each finished with a sack on the day.
Harper Woods will lose a few key pieces after this season but they’ll have a chance to make yet another run next season with Colby Bailey (injured), Guerrant, Adams and Rocheleau all returning. South Christian loses a lot from a fairly senior led team but will re-load again behind Vis at the helm.
