HARPER WOODS — Day by day, Harper Woods dedicates a particular interval in apply to tackling, blocking or staying mentally centered in high-pressure conditions.
The gamers can thank their 29-20 loss to Chelsea for that. Harper Woods (7-1) struggled with all three, particularly within the second half of its season opener.
That loss has saved Harper Woods below the radar regardless of a loaded roster that includes 4 gamers rated as at the least three-star recruits by 247Sports.
Neither did the group’s demolition of all 5 Oakland Actions Affiliation Blue Division opponents assist its trigger.
Harper Woods had no assertion wins on its résumé. Till now.
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After dominating unbeaten Clarkston, one among Michigan’s prime Division 1 groups, 28-13, Harper Woods is about to get loads of fanfare.
“After we lose, we’re the worst group in soccer,” Harper Woods coach Rod Oden joked. “However different groups are allowed to be good, too. So us being below the radar, that’s a pat on the again for us. It means we aren’t allowed to lose.”
Judging by how Harper Woods performed, Clarkston by no means stood an opportunity.
Clarkston fumbled on its opening collection and performed catch-up the remainder of the way in which.
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If it wasn’t five-star Dakota Guerrant, the senior receiver dedicated to Oregon, making a play, somebody on protection was recording a sack, breaking apart a cross, blocking a discipline purpose or forcing a turnover on downs.
Guerrant caught a 6-yard TD cross from Austin Mitchell for a 7-0 lead halfway by way of the primary quarter, and Harper Woods by no means seemed again.
Guerrant rushed 12 instances for 146 yards and a TD, caught two passes for 12 yards, threw an 18-yard cross to James Jefferson and wreaked havoc on protection towards Clarkston quarterback Alex Waszczenko.
Waszczenko, a Ferris State commit, completed 16 of 29 passing for 182 yards and an 18-yard TD to Julien Mohr. A lot of that manufacturing got here in rubbish time after Harper Woods went up 28-6 with 5:55 remaining.
Harper Woods dominated each aspect of the sport, holding Clarkston to a punt or turnover on seven of 9 possessions.
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Doing that towards a Clarkston group ranked No. 6 in The Detroit Information’ Tremendous 25 means it’s time to start out speaking about Harper Woods once more.
“I really feel we must always keep there — maintain us there, “ Guerrant mentioned about being neglected due to Harper Woods’s loss to Chelsea. “We’ll simply maintain making performs. Week 1 humbled us and introduced us again to the place we have to be for the season.”
That opening loss additionally might need harm Guerrant’s possibilities of profitable MVP honors or Michigan’s Mr. Soccer award.
Over the summer time, particularly after committing to Oregon, many within the media pegged him as the favourite to complete because the state’s greatest participant.
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That favourite has since grow to be Detroit Catholic Central security Gideon Gash, who has helped maintain the defending state champions undefeated by way of eight weeks.
For now.
Guerrant is making waves, too.
Mere seconds after Gash, a four-star recruit dedicated to Texas Tech, returned his sixth punt for a TD to set an MHSAA single-season document throughout Friday’s 42-0 win over Toledo St. Francis, Guerrant delivered a spotlight of his personal.
On the primary play from scrimmage within the second half, Guerrant took a wildcat snap 76 yards down the close to sideline for a TD that made it 21-6.
“Pound for pound, Dakota is the perfect participant within the Midwest — at the least,” Oden mentioned. “However Gideon is nice, too, and so are a number of the different actually gifted children round right here. However what Dakota has carried out in all three phases, I don’t suppose any child is doing that proper now.”
Possibly extra individuals can be paying consideration if Harper Woods had gained its opener and stood at 8-0.
However after a press release win towards a top-10 group like Clarkston, all eyes needs to be again on Harper Woods, simply as they had been throughout the offseason.
And perhaps that particular apply interval will assist maintain the highlight there.
“Being below the radar proper now feels nice,” Oden mentioned. “The highlight hasn’t been on us, and we all know these instances are coming, and we’ll be ready for after they present up.”
Different video games
Detroit Group 60, Detroit Management Academy 12: RJ Logan had 145 yards speeding and two touchdowns to steer Detroit Group (7-1, 5-0 Constitution Silver). Marcel Smith threw two landing passes within the win, a 35 yarder to Calvin Ward and a 40 yarder to Paul Lewis. De’ante Brown had eight tackles with a choose six, whereas Jalen Gainer and Kaden Mahan mixed for 30 tackles. Detroit Management Academy strikes to 2-6 and 1-4 in convention play.
Farmington 29, North Farmington 6: Christian Gillings threw for 334 yards with 4 passing touchdowns to steer Farmington (2-6, 2-5 Lakes Valley). Brandon Johnson had 159 yards receiving with two scores, whereas Dwayne Haynes and Myles Smith every added a receiving landing within the win. North Farmington is 5-3 and 4-3 this season.
Riverview 40, Grosse Ile 26: Keagan Lavack rushed the ball 18 instances for 222 yards and two touchdowns for Riverview (5-3, 4-3 Huron League). Pierre Robinson additionally had 144 yards on 13 carries with a landing within the win. Grosse Ile falls to 2-6 general and 2-5 within the Huron League.
Warren Woods Tower 49, Eastpointe 36: Evan Hammons had 124 speeding yards, 25 receiving yards, 4 complete touchdowns and a two-point conversion for Warren Woods Tower (2-6). Dharion Liner added 190 yards and two speeding touchdowns, whereas Jack Syrocki ran for 20 yards and a rating within the win. Tesmer Tyburski went 5/5 passing for 78 yards and a landing. Eastpointe falls to 1-7.
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This text initially appeared on The Detroit Information: n