By Vito Chirco, Special to Detroitsports.org
Senior Chippewa Valley running back Steven Charles Jr. ignited the Big Reds offense early in the first quarter en route to a Big Reds victory, 27-7. On the first play of the second CV drive, he found his way to the end zone from 50 yards out and he was hard to contain the rest of the game as he finished with 13 carries, 121 yards and a score.
Sophomore Big Reds quarterback Tommy Schuster put the finishing touches on the CV first-half scoring, with an 11-yard TD run at the tail end of the half. The touchdown made it 20-0 in favor of the Big Reds, and the score remained the same until Lake Orion junior Jonathan Haggitt ran 30 yards to the end zone with 6:10 remaining in the third quarter.
The Big Reds struck right back with a score of their own. It came on a pretty ball thrown by Schuster to senior Darian Greeley, who made an equally impressive 18-yard catch.
After having the ball run down their throats for the majority of three quarters and succumbing to three turnovers, the Dragons simply had nothing left in the tank when the fourth quarter rolled around. As a result, they failed to muster much of anything offensively in the fourth, and the Big Reds never had to truly fear the possibility of a comeback from the Dragons.
Chippewa Valley coach Scott Merchant was elated with the effort exerted by his Big Reds.
"I couldn't be more proud of these young kids," Merchant said. "They believe, and they've worked hard. Everyone's told them they're no good. They've told our senior class they're no good. We were picked last in the MAC Red. And I think we played a pretty good football team, considering all that stuff."
For his efforts, Schuster was awarded the Most Outstanding Player.
Haggitt, who finished with nine carries for 87 yards and a score, received the Most Outstanding Player for Lake Orion.
Game Notes
- Chippewa Valley beat Lake Orion in the Prep Kickoff Classic last year, 35-28.
- Big Reds running back Steven Charles Jr. had 11 carries and 129 yards through one half.
- Big Reds sophomore passer Tommy Schuster went 7-of-8 for 83 yards in the first half.
- Schuster finished 12-of-16 for 168 yards with two touchdown passes, one rushing TD and an interception.
- Chippewa Valley senior RB Rodney Washington compiled 61 yards on 13 carries.
- Lake Orion senior RB Chris Wilson accumulated 48 yards on 11 carries.
