Catholic High School League Cardinal division championship game took over Ford Field, Oct. 24
DETROIT – ‘Twas the week before Halloween, and Coach Mike Pruchnicki was getting a head start on the tricks and treats.
Pruchinicki stood on the sidelines as his squad, the Clarkston Everest Mountaineers, squared off against the Royal Oak Shrine Knights for the Cardinal Division championship in the Catholic High School League’s Prep Bowl LIV at Ford Field, Oct. 24.
On paper, the teams were a match. Everest, after a season-opening loss, won seven in a row and went 3-0 in the CHSL Intersectional Division 1 standings. Shrine went a perfect 8-0 overall and 3-0 in the Intersectional Division 2 league.
The game opened with Shrine in the standard deep kickoff formation, not expecting an onside kick, a late-game desperation strategy most commonly used when a team is trailing and is running out of time.
Pruchnicki started the game with the onside kick – a gamble that paid off. Everest pounced on the tumbling football beyond the mandatory 10 yards. Senior Charles Schmitt nailed a 21-yard field goal for a quick 3-0 lead.
Moments later, the Mountaineers regained possession via senior linebacker David Dale’s recovery of a fumble and a 38-yard pass from the coach’s son, sophomore Vince Pruchnicki, to senior running back Jim McGrath.
In less than five minutes, Everest took a 10-0 lead and doubled it to 20-0 by halftime.
Father called the play, and son executed it for some Halloween trickery early in the second quarter. Vince took the snap from center, lateraled the ball to McGrath, then scooted around right end to catch a pass from McGrath for a touchdown.
To round out Everest’s eventual 34-7 victory, Schmitt kicked a 15-yard field goal at the end of the second quarter, senior Michael Gaglio raced five yards in the third quarter and sophomore Christian Knowlson hit the end zone from two yards out in the fourth quarter. It was Everest’s fifth Prep Bowl victory in six appearances.
Shrine put together an eight-play 68-yard drive late in the fourth quarter for its touchdown, an 11-yard pass from quarterback Nathan Maffucci to senior wide receiver Owen Wisniewski.
It is noteworthy that Shrine had only four seniors on its 25-player roster listed in the program. “There were some good flashes out there,” Coach Chris Kelly said. “We just have to pay attention to details.”
“We’re just executing well,” Pruchnicki said. “We got really good kids that want to play hard. We encourage that effort, toughness and … great discipline. So, when they do those three things, you know, you can win some stuff. And obviously, keep God first. These kids, really, they got a spiritual life … we got some senior leaders that are really great spiritual leaders.”
And about coaching his son?
“I don't think there’s a time where we don’t talk football," Pruchnicki said. "I think he loves it and enjoys it. So if he likes it, you know, I’m right there.”
State playoffs: Everest and Shrine could face each other in the next two weeks. Both are in the same state Division 8 playoff semifinals. Shrine will host Marine City Cardinal Mooney (6-3) at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, at Shrine. Shrine trumped Cardinal Mooney 39-7 on Oct. 3. Everest will host Allen Park Cabrini (5-4) at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31. The winners play each other the following weekend.
Contact Don Horkey at [email protected]
