Amazon Prep Kickoff Classic | August 26, 2017 | 14:46

Playoff spectators a year ago, East English Village and coach Rod Oden hoped this year is different and opened with an impressive 38-29 victory over River Rouge Saturday at Wayne State in the Xenith Prep Kickoff Classic.

It was Oden's first Prep Classic victory in four attempts.

"The monkey's off our backs,'' he said. "We were 0-3 down here.''

River Rouge (0-1), under Coach Corey Parker, has become a force in Division 4, losing in the semifinal round to Detroit Country Day. Saturday it was the Bulldogs proving to have more bite on both sides of the ball after falling behind 14-6.

The offense appears in capable hands with junior quarterback Charles Lake, who threw four touchdowns passes, and senior running back/defensive back Zhamaine March, who was all over the field.

"He (Lake) played JV for me last year,'' said Oden. "He's poised. He was a little off today. He missed some open shots, but he managed the game well for us.''

The Bulldogs started the game with a 54-yard kickoff return by March to set EEV up at the Rouge 31.

March finished the drive two plays later with a 31-yard burst down the left sideline to give East English a 6-0 lead with 11:40 left in the first quarter.

"March is playing a new position,'' said Oden. "He's playing that Jabrill Peppers viper position now. He's the nickel in there and he's doing a good job and he'll be the home run guy.''

The lead didn't last long as Daraun McKinney took the kickoff 88 yards for a score with the extra point giving the Panthers a 7-6 lead.

Rouge struck again on a nine-yard TD run by Caleef Jenkins to give the Panthers a 14-6 lead.

March's one-yard TD run with 10:27 left in the second quarter pulled the Bulldogs to within 14-12.

The Bulldogs forced a break when Jordan Anderson intercepted an Emanuel Ferguson pass and returned it to the Rouge 46.

An illegal substitution penalty on River Rouge helped the Bulldogs get a first down on fourth-down and one.

East English used the penalty to eventually score on a six-yard TD pass from Lake to Anderson in the right corner of the end zone. The failed extra point gave EEV an 18-14 lead.

Saddled with a third down and 22 at the EEV 39, Ferguson and Alex Carter suckered the Bulldogs defense on a screen pass and the elusive running back raced to the end zone with the score with 38.7 left to give the Panthers a 21-18 halftime lead.

Two plays into the third quarter River Rouge's Jenkins fumbled with Lasana Easley recovering at the River Rouge 37-yard line.

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