DETROIT – The more things change, the more they stay the same for the Detroit Catholic Central football team.
There’s a new coach and a more uptempo offense, but the Shamrocks keep on winning. They’ll try to extend a two-game winning streak when they host Catholic League rival Orchard Lake St. Mary’s on Friday.
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“The traditions stay the same,” said Detroit Catholic Central’s Dan Anderson, who is in his first year in place of legendary Shamrocks coach Tom Mach.
“You can’t change tradition -- I think Rich Rod found that out,” Anderson said. “You don’t change tradition. You try to enhance the tradition but put your own stamp on things.”
Anderson worked 18 years as an assistant under Mach, who won 10 state championships with the Shamrocks and is the third winningest coach in state history.
So far, Anderson has kept things rolling at Detroit Catholic Central. The Shamrocks are 4-2 and are one-half game behind Warren De La Salle in the Catholic League Central Division.
The offense, which features more passing than traditional DCC teams, has picked up the pace. The Shamrocks are averaging 41.5 points in their last two games, including a 56-32 victory over Dayton Dunbar (Ohio) last week.
“I tried to put together an offense that I wouldn’t want to face,” said Anderson, who had been the team’s defensive coordinator the previous 10 years.
Junior quarterback Marco Genrich directs the Shamrocks.
“Marco’s doing a great job for us,” Anderson said. “He’s starting to come into his own. He’s a true leader out there.”
Although Genrich has opened up the offense, Detroit Catholic Central still leans on its ground game. This season, that means lots of work for senior tailback Cam Ryan.
“He’s the workhorse,” Anderson said. “Last year, he was the fullback. He can run like a tailback, but he still has that fullback attitude.”
Anderson also praised the contributions of fullback Matt Young, wide receiver Kevin Korte, and wide receiver Liam Cunningham.
Defensively, senior middle linebacker Isaac Darkangelo leads the Shamrocks.
Darkangelo missed the first four games of the season, but he’s made an impact since coming back. He returned an interception for a touchdown in last week’s victory.
Up front, defensive tackles Joe Natoci and Lucas Hendershot anchor the line. They’re flanked by defensive ends Mike Harding and Labar Morgan.
“They’re strength on defense is always something I look at,” Orchard Lake St. Mary’s coach George Porritt said. “They’re strong up front and they have good linebackers.”
The Shamrocks will be tested by a unique challenge from St. Mary’s. The Eaglets run a wishbone offense led by senior running back RaShawn Allen.
Allen scored two touchdowns against Brother Rice last week, and he rushed for 136 yards in last year’s Division 3 state championship game.
“He’s just one of the top backs in the state,” Porritt said. “He just battles all the time. He’s a great leader and a great student.”
Porritt also praised senior quarterback Caden Prieskorn and sophomore tight end Grant Henson.
On defense, outside linebacker Nick Goerss, strong safety Josh Kashat, and middle linebacker Clarence Glasker lead the Eaglets.
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s is the three-time defending Division 3 state champion, but the Eaglets are 1-5 this year and won’t make the playoffs.
“The record does not matter one bit,” Anderson said. “They’re St. Mary’s. They’re going to come ready to play.”
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