By: Jonathan Szczepaniak | Shelby-Utica News | Published September 22, 2023
SHELBY TOWNSHIP — As Utica Eisenhower traveled to Romeo for a Macomb Area Conference Red football showdown, a crowd of thousands also was in attendance for a moving annual tribute.
Playing in their annual Watchdog Game, Romeo (2-2, 2-0 MAC Red)) and its crowd wore purple in honor of cancer research, with Romeo players having the names of loved ones who are battling, have survived, or have fallen to cancer on the backs of their jerseys.
“We play for cancer research, and the names on our backs are either survivors of cancer or people who we’re honoring who have passed away from cancer,” Romeo punter Anthony Morici said. “Overall, we’re just here to raise money for a good cause.”
Along with the cause, Romeo was there to get the job done against a league rival, and the team did just that in a 20-14 win over Eisenhower Sept. 15 at Romeo High School. Eisenhower (3-1, 1-1 MAC-Red) came into the game fresh off a massive win against MAC-Red rival Chippewa Valley, but Romeo was impressive in all facets to notch the win.
As Romeo held a 20-14 lead with just over two minutes left in the fourth quarter, Eisenhower drove toward midfield with one more shot, but an interception by Romeo defensive back Alex Kelley sealed the win for the Bulldogs.
Romeo, who allowed 27 points or more in their first three games this season, was physical defensively all night from the linemen to the secondary, forcing four Eisenhower turnovers.
Romeo coach Curt Rienas said the growing pains at the start of the year helped his defensive unit flourish.
“Quite honestly, we changed some things scheme-wise,” Rienas said. “It just took us a while to get used to the players and the players to the schemes. I think it was more of an adjustment period.”
Cornerback Dereon Foster tallied an interception with 37 seconds left in the second quarter that set up shop for Romeo at the 19-yard line. Quarterback Kaden Burroughs finished the job with a 2-yard touchdown run to give the Bulldogs a 10-0 lead at the half.
Every time Eisenhower seemed to get something going offensively, Romeo would answer on the offensive end.
Eisenhower quarterback Preston Crum connected with wide receiver Bryce Hurley to cut the lead to three, but Burroughs and company countered with a 33-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Brody Meier to extend the lead to 17-7 with 30 seconds left in the third quarter.
Eisenhower running back Kamari Charles added a 3-yard rushing touchdown late for Eisenhower to make it 20-14. Romeo kicker Joseph Celaj knocked in a pair of field goals from 41 and 31 yards, respectively.
Morici was an unsung hero for Romeo in the win, pinning Eisenhower at its own 2-yard line twice and at the 7-yard line once.
Special teams typically don’t get the appreciation they deserve, but Morici’s play affected the Eisenhower offense multiple times throughout the game, pinning Eisenhower at the 2-yard line on its final drive of the game and the first half, which both resulted in Eisenhower turnovers.
“What’s interesting is he was our kicker as a sophomore and got beat out last year as a junior, and he just really focused on punting,” Rienas said. “He did a great job tonight, and he really helped us with field position. Just a good story about a kid who had some adversity, and he worked harder, got better and showed up.”
Eisenhower has taken massive strides since being a one-win team two years ago, so adversity is something to which this group is accustomed. Romeo was able to pressure the Eisenhower offense all night, but Eisenhower head coach Christopher Smith said his guys will be ready for their next game.
“I just really think these seniors have been through a lot,” Smith said. “They’ve seen the bad years, and I really think they want to go out with a good year. They’ve really been great leaders and mature about how they handle practice and how they handle their workouts. The maturity of the seniors has helped us progress each week.”
Romeo will host New Baltimore Anchor Bay on Sept. 22, while Eisenhower is slated to host Sterling Heights Stevenson.
Romeo currently shares first place in the MAC Red with Macomb Dakota, while Eisenhower and Chippewa Valley are on the outside looking in.
It’s a dogfight every week in one of the toughest conferences in the state, and Smith said his guys understand that.
“It’s a marathon,” Smith said. “You’re just hoping you can come out the healthiest of the league. That’s really what it comes down to. You got to stay healthy. The teams that stay healthy do well in the second half of the season because of the brutal schedule.”