New-look Cougars impressive in 31-13 rout of Port Huron Northern

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

ROCHESTER HILLS — Calvin Gross feels that his Rochester Stoney Creek football program might have had better talent this season. Based on his own observations, this year’s Cougars actually have a better work ethic and attitude.

Sometimes intangibles such as work ethic, heart and attitude           trump talent.

Stoney Creek, which sputtered to a 2-7 record last season despite a large senior class, kicked off the 2011 campaign with a 31-13 rout of Port Huron Northern in an OAA-MAC crossover.

The OAA finished 3-1 on the first night of the crossover, with Rochester and Troy Athens both winning for the OAA and Romeo for the MAC.

“I really like the work ethic of this team, the type of commitment they put into the offseason and in the preseason,” said Gross, who is in his 10^th season at the helm of the Cougars program. “They have a great attitude and a lot of heart. I think last year’s team might have had more talent (on paper), but it didn’t show in the season. They didn’t work nearly as hard as this group does.”

Stoney Creek (1-0) built a 17-0 lead by the end of the first quarter and were in complete control by halftime by earning a 24-0 advantage.

“We came out and played hard from the opening kickoff,” praised Gross, who has five sophomores up on varsity this season. “I was very impressed with our intensity.

“I know some of the sophomores were nervous. I had to take some of them aside a couple of hours before the game and talk to them, tell them to relax,” continued Gross. “I think it worked.”

Sophomores David Kerr and Stuart Gadigan were both solid on the lines, Sean Scullen, one of the Cougars’ two quarterbacks, played solid under center and kicker Alex Schnurr even booted a field goal to lead the sophomore debuts.

It was the foot of Schnurr that put the Cougars up for good in the first quarter, as he drilled a 21-yard field goal.

Senior QB Brandon Arduino hit Sean Cobb for a 7-yard touchdown pass and Connor Dean scored on a 4-yard run to put Stoney Creek up 17-0 at the end of the first stanza.

Cobb added an 11-yard scamper for another score in the second quarter, while Paul Ziemba scored on an 11-yard sprint in the third period for Stoney Creek.

Andrew Souphis caught touchdown passes of 21 and 22 yards, both of the arm of quarterback Blake Goulding, for Port Huron Northern, which defeated the Cougars in last year’s opener.

Gross felt the seniors stepped up and took the lead, including the efforts of senior Serge Andreou and Nick Gajdzik, the team’s sole returning starters.

“I thought that Serge played really well and so did Nick Grajdzik. We don’t have a lot of (experience), so those guys have to step up and lead and I feel they have done that so far this season,” said Gross. “Without leadership, you can’t succeed.”

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Tags: high school football, prep football, rochester Stoney Creek Football

Category: High School, High School (M-Z), Prep Wraps, Rochester Stoney Creek