Chiefs and Wildcats Gear Up for League Showdown, Potential Title Claim

Just more than midway through the MHSAA season, the and varsity football programs are making strong bids for state titles. Both schools are off to sterling 5-0 starts – with four games left to play – and are poised to make strong runs in the post-season.

Side-by-side at the top of the Kensington Lakes South league, the two schools are separated by the thinnest of margins in both offensive and defensive production. The Associated Press recently ranked Plymouth and Canton sixth and second, respectively, in its state Division 1 football poll. And in two weeks they will meet head-on in a game that in all likelihood will determine both the league champion and each team’s position heading into the playoffs.

In the meantime, however, neither squad seems to be letting the turf grow beneath its cleats.

Canton (5-0; 3-0 league)

To this point in the season, Canton head coach Tim Baechler said that his team’s performance was “about what I expected,” though he also said that the defense needs to shore up some of its deficiencies. Among these, he said last week, are the number of plays and the yardage the Chiefs are giving up to their opponents, despite keeping points off the scoreboard.

“I said in the preseason, we are going to be a good defense eventually,” he said. “Slowly, we are getting closer.”

The defense has given up just 78 points in five games, while racking up 222 on offense. The challenge for the Chiefs in the weeks ahead, according to Baechler, will be the strength of the team’s young defense. Inconsistent play forced him last week to perform some roster jostling that, he said after the Chief’s 63-13 homecoming win over Westland John Glenn, “made a big difference.”

Offensively, Canton’s junior running back Kendall Scott – who had four touchdowns against John Glenn – leads the way with 68 yards receiving and one touchdown, while senior tail back Ryan Jones has racked up a team-best 203 yards on the ground, with four touchdowns, according to MLive,com.

Next two up:

• Sept. 30: At Livonia Churchill (3-2; 1-2 league), 7 p.m.
• Oct. 7: At Plymouth (5-0; 3-0 league), 7 p.m.

Plymouth (5-0; 3-0 league)

Small mistakes have been the major distraction for his players, Wildcats head coach Mike Sawchuk said after Friday night’s 47-7 thrashing of Livonia Franklin. But, he said, they are working on focus with the players and, despite their occasional letdowns, remain solid in the effort department.

Despite Sawchuk’s perceived weaknesses, the Wildcats remain unbeaten. The Plymouth varsity squad has allowed the fewest points against in the Kensington Lakes South league (34), and has put up more points than any other team in the conference (226).

Powering the Wildcats' offense is senior running back Donte Fox, who has amassed 664 yards rushing, on 77 carries, with 14 touchdowns, according to CBS Sports MaxPreps. Junior wide receiver Jamarl Eiland also has had an offensive impact, racking up 96 yards on six carries, 276 yards on 15 receptions, with a combined six touchdowns.

Defensively, Plymouth has a wealth of weapons. According to MaxPreps, Senior linebacker Tyler Goble has a 59 total tackles (41 tackles and 18 assists), junior linebacker Mike Kennedy has 32 total tackles (21 and 11), junior linebacker Stefan Turrentine has 24 total tackles (17 and 7), and senior linebacker Faris Abraham has 23 total tackles (17 and 6).

Combined, Gobel and Turrentine have 12.5 sacks and two interceptions.

Next two up:

• Sept. 30: 2 Westland John Glenn (2-3; 1-2 league), 7 p.m.
• Oct. 7: vs. Canton (5-0; 3-0 league), 7 p.m.

Salem (1-4; 0-3 league)

The Salem Rocks are battling inexperience on both sides of the football this season. The team has scored just 69 points (last in the league) in five games, while allowing 174 to its opponents (only South Lyon East has more points against at 181), according to Max Preps.

After Salem’s 42-14 loss to Northville on Friday night, head coach Kurt Britnell lamented his defensive struggles, saying that the team was going through significant “growing pains,” a symptom of its young talent. Specifically, he cited the defense. “Until we start blocking and tackling,” he said, “we aren’t going to get better.”

Making matters tougher, the Rocks have had to start junior varsity quarterback Justin Sebowski the past two weeks, after junior quarterback Jacob Deprez was sidelined with a shoulder injury he sustained in the Week 3 loss to South Lyon. But Britenell has praised his young backup quarterback, saying that he has “played with a lot of poise,” despite the situation he has been thrust into.

Next two up:

• Sept. 30: vs. South Lyon East (1-4; 0-3 league), 7 p.m.
• Oct. 7: vs. Livonia Stevenson (2-3; 1-2 league), 6:30 p.m.