High-scoring Saline next test for Chiefs' 'D'

BY ED WRIGHT
STAFF WRITER

In Canton football coach Tim Baechler's estimation, the most deceiving score of the entire 2006 high school football season so far may be this one: South Lyon 41, Saline 0.

Baechler admitted that by looking only at the above tally, it would be easy to assume that his 11-0 Chiefs, who are coming off a 14-10 victory over South Lyon, will manhandle 9-2 Saline, the team the Chiefs will line up against in Friday night's Division 1 Regional final game at the P-CEP varsity football stadium.

Not so fast, warns Baechler, who has viewed something way more important than the lopsided numbers that came out of the Oct. 20 Southeastern Conference game.

"You can tell by watching the film of Saline's two playoff games that they're a different team -- a much better team -- than they were three weeks ago," he said. "They're playing a lot better now than they did in that one, plus they've won two straight, so they have a little mojo going.

"They have good running backs, a good quarterback and all of their skilled-position players are capable of making big plays. They'll throw the ball, but not quite as much as Livonia Stevenson. Of all the teams we've played this season, they remind me the most of Livonia Franklin."

Even with the shutout they endured against the Lions, the Hornets have still racked up 412 points. The Chiefs have rung up 409.

Saline's most-heralded player is senior fullback/linebacker Vince Helmuth, who is headed to the University of Michigan next fall on a full-ride football scholarship.

"He's definitely impressive," said Baechler, of Helmuth. "I don't know if he's the best player we've played against this season, but he looks very good on film. It's hard to say somebody is the best until you've seen them play in person."

While Helmuth is the engine that moves the Hornets' offense, the engineer is senior quarterback Kyle Brown, who is one of seven returning starters from last year's playoff-qualifying team. Protecting Brown and paving the way for Helmuth will be senior offensive tackle Charlie Moeller, an All-SEC selection.

Saline's defense, which has yielded an average of 20.7 points per contest heading into Friday's clash, is paced by senior linebacker Luke O'Brien.

The Chiefs will counter Saline's potentially potent attack with one of the area's -- if not the state's -- best defenses. Anchored by a brick wall-like defensive line, the Chiefs have given up an average of just 9.9 points per outing.

That number is inflated by the fact that Canton's No. 1 defense usually gave way to the reserves during the third or fourth quarter of most games this season.

"It's not the fastest defense I've coach here, but if you look at the overall defense, it's definitely one of the best," Baechler said. "It's also the biggest."

Baechler stressed that one of the most important lessons his team has learned during the past year is that you never underestimate an opponent -- even ones that were drubbed 41-0 three weeks earlier.

"The kids know how fragile things get when you get to the playoffs," he said. "They've learned how important it is to take things one game at a time and to never look ahead."

ewright@hometownlife.com | (734) 953-2108

Originally published November 10, 2006