DETROIT — “I was just playing my game, playing me. Not trying to, like my dad always say, 'Don't be Superman.'”
That was Jabin Gonzales, quarterback for Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, in the aftermath of his superb performance in the Eaglets’ 51-14 domination of Dexter for the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 2 football championship Saturday evening, Nov. 28, at Ford Field.
Every once in a while, Jabin would watch old CDs and DVDs of his father, Jermaine — now the head coach at St. Mary’s — when he played for the Eaglets in the late 1990s, capped off by the 1999 Division 4 title.
“He always played real free,” Jabin said. “He took a lot of shots. That’s the biggest thing I took. Just always play free, play loose and play your game.”
Jermaine spearheaded an offense under legendary coach George Porritt that was a more traditional power running game with the occasional freedom to make a play. Still, Jermaine’s prep career accomplishments are staggering: 4,780 total offense, 94 touchdowns (passing 3,336 yards and 60 touchdowns, running 1,444 yards and 34 touchdowns). He went on to be a four-year varsity letterman at Michigan.
That was then, this is now with wide-open spread offenses. Against Dexter, Jabin amassed 406 yards (running for 102, passing for 304 and four touchdowns) to lead St. Mary’s defense of its 2024 title and 10th in the school’s history. His season totals: 2,432 yards passing, 505 running, 28 touchdowns.
“I don't know how often it's been done on the high school level,” Jermaine said, “but these last few weeks, I really was thinking about how special it is to be able to do this with my son.”
The Eaglets took a 10-0 first quarter lead on sophomore Beckett Kiefer’s 33-yard field goal and junior safety Daniel Taylor’s 59-yard return of a Dexter quarterback’s fumble.
St. Mary’s maintained the 10-point margin, 24-14, at halftime. Gonzales passed five yards to junior wide receiver Lorenzo Barber, and Taylor plunged a yard to offset touchdowns by Dexter (11-2).
“In championship games,” coach Gonzales cautioned his squad in a pre-game talk, “dealing with adversity is a big thing, but don’t get rattled. We've been here last year.” His message at the intermission was a reminder: “Stay the course.”
The Eaglets (11-2) set the course and determined the eventual outcome 48 seconds into the third quarter when Jabin hit junior tight end Brandon Adams racing down the left sideline for a 65-yard touchdown.
The rout was on. Jabin threw a 40-yard touchdown to Barber and 27 yards to sophomore wide receiver Brandon Hardy. Sophomore Jamari Givhan rushed two yards for a touchdown.
St. Mary’s defense was just as noteworthy. Seniors Ryan Harrington, Gage Nessen and Kyrie Williams combined for four sacks for 37 yards and were part of a group of six defenders who had seven tackles for a loss of 49 yards.
St. Mary’s outscored five state playoff opponents, 205-49, an average of 41-10.
Contact Don Horkey at [email protected].
