Detroit Crockett defeated Detroit Henry Ford in a Division 2 Public School League (PSL) match-up 49-0. Crockett is 4-0 on the season.
With junior quarterback Brian Blackburn out with an injury, sophomore quarterback Breon Briggs stepped in and the Rockets did not miss a beat. He completed 10-12 passes, rushed for 70 yards and threw two touchdowns passes.
Senior receiver Ashton Gaines and sophomore Khalid Hil both corralled two touchdown receptions. Sophomore tailback Desmond King added 185 yards and three touchdowns. He had scoring runs of 65, 35 and 25 yards. He also had an interception return of 80 yards for a touchdown.
Senior linebacker Terrence Shorter led the way defensively with 10 tackles, and blocked a punt that led to another score. Crockett’s defense and special teams played outstanding controlling field position throughout the entire game.
The closing of high schools like Mackenzie, Murray-Wright and Redford, to name a few, left an opening in the football power structure in the PSL.
Sure, Martin Luther King, Renaissance, Cass and Crockett have remained very competitive, but into the football power void has also stepped Cody. The Comets played in the PSL Division 1 title game last year against King, and showed all they belonged there with a creditable showing, losing to the Crusaders 19-14.
The question became, was 2009 a one-time occurrence, or was Cody ready to become a consistent force in the PSL football wars? That’s why last week’s contest between Crockett and Cody was noteworthy.
Last week under the lights at Osborn High, Cody and Crockett locked horns and with a lot at stake for a third game of the season. Cody came in 2-0 just like Crockett and both teams were looking to validate that they are forces to be acknowledged in the PSL.
When the dusk cleared and the bright, night-lights had dimmed, the Rockets had earned an exciting 24-20 victory over the Comets.
“This was a hard fought battle,” Crockett head coach Rod Oden said, “and, I could see early that it was going to come down to who had the ball last. I’ll tell you, Cody is a very good football team. It appeared the game was getting away from us, but our kids gathered themselves and came right back.”
With Cody leading 20-18 with 20 seconds left in the contest, Blackburn tossed a two-yard touchdown pass to Ashton Gaines to give Crockett a 24-20 lead. Cody did not quit, as they got the ball back with time running out and ran a hook and ladder pass and pitch that found its way into the end zone as time expired, but officials ruled James Gulley stepped out of bounds.
“This was a good game,” Cody coach Calvin Norman said. “We consider Crockett one of the better programs in the PSL, and this game showed that my kids have character and pride. They played till the end and that shows what we are doing in practice is making a difference.”
Crockett is proving once again that they have players and the coaches to make yet another run at a PSL title and maybe a state title.
Leland Stein III can be reached at lelstein3@aol.com.
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