DETROIT – “Things that matter in life are going to be hard, and the things that don't matter as much are easy. And this was hard.”
Those were the opening remarks by Dearborn Divine Child coach Chris Laney in the postgame press conference after Divine Child outlasted Hudsonville Unity Christian, 23-22, for the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 4 championship Nov. 28 at Ford Field.
In the “easy” part of Laney’s equation, in the first 10 games of the season, the Falcons combined a high-powered offense (averaging 38 points) and a fiercely proud defense (five shutouts, allowing eight points per game).
In the “hard” part, Divine Child shocked No. 1-ranked and undefeated Harper Woods, 10-6, in the regional. It got “harder” to win the semifinal, 10-7, over undefeated No. 2-ranked Goodrich.
The “hardest” was the best of all, the Falcons’ hard-fought third state championship, an addition in its trophy case alongside the 1985 and 1975 trophies.
“I am just so proud of this group,” Laney said. “They really answered the bell all season. And they said before the year they wanted to leave their mark, their legacy. They certainly did
that today. So real proud of these guys.”
Late in the second quarter, sophomore quarterback Drew Sheridan completed 15- and 8-yard touchdown passes to senior wide receiver Antonio Solares-Vitti to give Divine Child a 15-8 lead at halftime.
Unity Christian regained the lead, 16-15, at the start of the fourth quarter.
At the 42-yard line, Sheridan lofted a 37-yard pass to sophomore Rayshawn Thomas, who made an acrobatic catch while keeping one foot in bounds. The official’s call was challenged but denied.
Senior Marcello Vitti struggled with two or three defenders hanging on, but he made five yards into the endzone, then caught the 2-point conversion to put the Falcons back in front, 23-16.
Unity Christian scored four minutes later to come make it 23-22. The pass attempt for the two-point conversion failed.
“Well, I knew that I was going to have to make plays to win this game,” said Marcello Vitti, who gained 121 yards on 19 carries. “I knew that my team's got my back. This team isn't good because of me. It's part of me, but we have a lot of guys that do their jobs and do a little bit extra.”
Sheridan completed 19 of 25 passes for 241 yards. Antonio Solares-Vitti caught seven passes for 88 yards and two TDs.
Rings tied 1-1
“Now we’re tied. He has a championship ring,” smiled Mary Laney, Chris Laney’s wife. She has coached the girls basketball team for 21 years at Divine Child and won the state Class B title in 2011. Last February, she won her 300th game.
Contact Don Horkey at [email protected]
