Local Sports: Jefferson grad coaching in state football finals Saturday
Christian Wiley is helping Merrill’s eight-man football team make history this season.
The Jefferson graduate is the football coach and principal at the school, which is 12-0 and will play for a state championship Saturday.
The Vandals will take on Martin (10-2) at Northern Michigan University’s Superior Dome at 11 a.m. Saturday. In the Division 1 championship game.
After graduating from Jefferson in 1992, Wiley played football and ran track in college and played for the Southern Michigan Timberwolves.
“It is an awesome thing to watch boys grow up into young men,” Wiley said. “I have been doing it over my career and over the last six years with these seniors and the rest of the team. They aren’t perfect by no means … but heck … none of us are. Throughout this season they have handled everything that has been thrown at them and responded very admirably.”
PREP HOCKEY
New Boston United tops SMCC
WESTLAND − New Boston United opened its season Tuesday with a 6-4 victory against St. Mary Catholic Central.
SMCC led 4-3 in the second period, but New Boston scored three unanswered goals to win the game. Huron scored twice in the first period, twice in the second, and twice in the third.
Harry Dembowski led New Boston with five goals and an assist, Bazel Wolf had a goal and two assists, Kenny Gribble logged two assists, and Tyler Oliver added an assist. Goaltender Logan Moran made 38 saves to earn the win.
New Boston United is a co-op team with players from New Boston Huron, Airport, and Garden City.
SMCC's Riley DeSarbo had a hat trick with all three of his goals in the second period. Ian Bird also scored for the Falcons.
"Back and forth game," first-year SMCC coach Adam Cousino said. "Promising start to the season."
PREP FOOTBALL
Region players honored
The Monroe County Region had 47 players selected First Team All-Region by the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association.
Whiteford led all local schools with 10 players picked to the Division 8 team: Shane Suchora (OL), Brayden Luse (OL), Kolby Masserant (TE), Hunter Debarr (RB), Shea Ruddy (QB), Seamus Waterford (DL), Owen Knaggs (DL), Jake Iott (LB), Drew Knaggs (LB), and Ryin Ruddy (DB). Summerfield's Mason Hall (OL), Brandon Thompson (RB), and Dakota Kohn (LB) also were honored in Division 8
Flat Rock and Dundee also dominated the Division 5 team. From Flat Rock were Jason Jones (OL), Rocco Breslin (TE), Aaron Salazar (WR), Graham Junge (QB), Mike Beaudrie (DL), Drew Given (LB), Brian Booms (DB) and Corey Lannon; while Braiden Whitaker (WR/TE), Cooper Buhl (DL), Trey Parker (DL), Ethan Layton (DB), and Brayden Ratliff (special teams) were chosen from Dundee.
Monroe's Braden Pearce (OL) was picked in Division 1. In Division 2 were Bedford's Ethan Manger (OL), Tommy Huss (DL), and Trey Brueggemann (LB). In Division 3 were Carlson's Matthew Hall (OL), Evan Bredow (OL), Omari Carter (RB), Ben Przytula (DL), Timmy Simons (LB), and Kyler Ostrowski (special teams). In Division 4 were Colin Nowak (WR) and Jack Mills (DB) of Airport, and Milan's Wayne Flannery (OL).
Ida's Jackson Wertenberger (OL), Zach Lindsay (DL), Nathan Miller (DB), and Max Buschmann (special teams) were selected in Division 6. And Division 7 was Jacob Borer (OL), Riley DeSarbo (DL), and Michael Laboe (DB) of St. Mary Catholic Central, along with Erie Mason's Louden Murbach (LB).
ADULT SOCCER
Crean Team wins
Alexa Scroggie scored her first goal of the season to lead the Crean Team to an 11-6 win over Athletico in the Monroe Adult Indoor Coed Soccer League at LevelUp Training Sunday.
Habeeb Bello scored five goals and Jaeden Vega scored one for Athletico.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Local Sports: Jefferson grad coaching in state football finals Saturday
