Red Storm come together for victory, prepare for MEFA playoffs

PLAYOFF TIME

What: Renaissance City Chargers at Southeast Michigan Red Storm

Where: Navarre Field, 308 Jones Ave, Monroe

When: 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20

Tickets: $7

Taylor Bates was keeping a secret.

The head coach of the Southeast Michigan Red Storm already knew that his team had qualified for the Midwest Elite Football Alliance playoffs. But Bates kept his team on edge heading into the regular-season finale this past weekend.

Most of the team believed the Red Storm still needed to defeat the Grand Rapids Knights to claim its spot.

"We were already in, but the guys didn't know that," Bates said. "I kept it quiet. Wanted them to play better, give them more to play for.

"And it worked."

The Red Storm fought from behind Saturday, erasing a two-score deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat the Knights 37-36 and close out the regular season with back-to-back wins for the first time this season.

The Red Storm now shift their focus to extending their season in the MEFA playoffs. The team hosts the Renaissance City Chargers at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20 at Navarre Field.

"It's exciting," Bates said. "Just the word playoffs. That's exciting to hear."

Saturday's win was everything Bates had been hoping to see out of his team throughout a turbulent summer. The Red Storm came into the game 3-8 overall and 2-5 in the MEFA.

"Every game we improved. Saturday it really improved," Bates said. "They have changed for the better. They started working together, playing together. They realized you have to play as a team to win anything."

Bates and his coaching staff led the way and provided a consistent message all season. Saturday was the result of that persistence.

"We just had to keep showing them," he said. "It starts from the coaches. When the players see the coaches working together they think 'The coaches are working together, why can't we?'"

With the pressure on and tensions high, the Red Storm stayed together as a team.

The Knights took a 36-25 lead with 12:16 remaining in the fourth quarter when a pair of Red Storm players were ejected from the game. Beyond losing two key players, Bates said the team was riled up by the decision.

"They shouldn't have been ejected," the coach said. "I called a timeout and talked to them and calmed them down. I told them to keep their head. ... I think it helped them. They came out wanting to fight for their teammates."

The Red Storm scored twice in the next 5:19 to take the lead.

Quarterback Mike Tucker connected with Mike Reno down the sideline, who broke a tackle to reach the end zone. Logan Monaghan followed with a 31-yard TD strike from Tucker over the middle to go up 37-36.

"Our men didn't give up. They fought to the end," Bates said. "That was the best part. ... They played as a unit. They played as a brotherhood. I'm proud of them."

The Red Storm opened the scoring in the first quarter after veteran Alonzo Nedd returned the opening kickoff 60 yards to the Knights' 35-yard line. Nedd was hurt on the play and did not return but continued to coach and encourage the team from the sideline.

Tucker finished the job, finding Monaghan for a 22-yard touchdown in the back corner of the end zone.

After the Knights tied the game, Edward Tolles snagged an interception after Gene Patterson tipped the pass. Tucker then hit Marlon Martin Jr. with a pass and Martin Jr. made three defenders miss on the 13-yard TD play.

Patterson grabbed an interception in the second quarter and returned it 55 yards to the end zone for a 19-6 lead, but the Knights returned the favor later in the quarter.

The Red Storm led 25-14 at halftime.

But the Knights took over.

A TD pass and another pick-six to start the third quarter put the Knights up 28-25. The Knights then authored a six-play, 58-yard scoring drive to start the fourth with a 36-25 lead.

Tucker's two fourth-quarter touchdown passes not only gave the Red Storm the win but helped the quarterback end a roller coaster night on a high note. He finished 18-for-31 passing for 206 yards, 4 TDs, 3 interceptions and a fumble.

Reno (3 catches for 62 yards), Martin Jr. (5-51), Tyler Hammack (6-44), and Monaghan (2-42) led a diverse passing attack. Olonzo Prescott added 14 carries for 47 yards rushing and a TD.

Patterson, Tolles, Austin Lakatos, Justin Chambless, Courtney Thomas, Nik Durbin, Tyler Lincoln, Jakarris Vereen, and Justin Hall all played strong defensively.

"We just needed to execute better, play harder, and play together," Bates said. "They all stepped up real good. They played as a team."

Bates is happy to see the team rewarded with a chance in the playoffs.

The Red Storm did not qualify for the playoffs last year in their inaugural season. The team also is thrilled to host the contest at Navarre Field.

"Our first playoff game ever as the Red Storm. That's very exciting," Bates said. "It should be a big boost because we have the home field advantage."

The Red Storm already have an edge in the match up after defeating the Renaissance City Chargers 48-2 earlier this season.

"We'll be ready for them," Bates said "... Same thing. We just can't give up. We have to keep pushing and we can't let up on them."

Correction: A previous version of this story that appeared in Friday morning's edition of the Monroe News listed a different opponent for the Red Storm's upcoming playoff game. The team originally was scheduled to host the Flint Fury, but MEFA officials changed the opponent after press deadline to the Renaissance City Chargers. The game will be played at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, August 20 at Navarre Field.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: SE Michigan Red Storm come together for victory, prepare for MEFA playoffs