Think OSU-Michigan is 'The Game'? Think again

Are you ready for "The Game" on Saturday? You know, the one that will pit No. 1 against No. 2.

The one that will propel the winner into the championship showdown on the biggest football stage around.

The one that will kick off about two-and-a-half hours before Saturday's other big game between a couple of longtime collegiate border rivals.

That's right, we're talking Canton-Rockford here, not Ohio State-Michigan.

The biggest clash in these parts will involve "The Team That Never Punts" (Canton) vs. "The Team That Rarely Loses Late in the Playoffs" (Rockford).

No. 1 (Canton) against No. 2 (Rockford).

If last year's Division 1 state championship game is any indication -- Rockford won a 31-21 thriller -- Saturday's 1 p.m. semifinal tussle between the Chiefs and Rams at Lansing Everett High School should be a classic rematch along the lines of Rocky Balboa vs. Apollo Creed II.

MUCH TO LIKE

Canton is an easy team to root for with its blue-collar offense, injuries-be-damned resilience and, well, because it's an incredibly positive public relations machine for this area. The amount of feel-good press the Chiefs have generated for the Plymouth and Canton communities the past two years is off the charts.

Thanks to the Chiefs' gridiron success, this area is more than just the home to IKEA and the "Ice Festival" when it comes to name recognition among out-of-towners. I can't tell you how many times I've been Up North, in Lansing (my hometown) or elsewhere, mentioned to somebody I live in Canton, and they've replied, "Oh, they have a pretty good football team, don't they?"

Ten years ago, they may have come back with, "You mean Canton, Ohio?"

Good news travels fast -- just like the Chiefs' offense.

RESPECTED FOES

While it's easy to root against the two-time defending Division 1 champion Rams, it's just as difficult to hate them. Coach Ralph Munger runs a class program and his winning percentage is right up there with Canton coach Tim Baechler's.

While the black-clad Rams will play Darth Vader to the Chiefs' Luke Skywalker on Saturday, there's nothing Darth Vaderish about the way Rockford plays: clean, fast and hard.

Players from both teams came out of last year's battle saying it was the hardest-hitting game they'd ever played in. With everything that's riding on this weekend's game, last year's final may be the second hardest-hitting game they've played in at about 3 p.m. on Saturday.

OVERCOMING ADVERSITY

The most impressive thing about the Chiefs this season isn't necessarily their 12-0 record -- it's how they've reached perfection. How many teams can lose their top two quarterbacks to knee injuries -- one for the season, the other for three games -- and play without arguably their most dynamic running back (who also suffered a knee injury) for most of the year and not miss a beat? Off-hand, I can only think of one, and it wears red-and-white uniforms and red C's on its helmets.

Baechler has had to deal so frequently this season with torn ACL's and stretched MCL's that, at times, he's probably felt more like an orthopedic surgeon than a football coach.

And the one time all year they had their backs against the wall -- when South Lyon drove deep into Canton territory late in the District final game two weeks ago with a chance to take the lead -- the Chiefs came up with a huge turnover.

ONE MAN'S OPINION

Which brings us to Saturday. After poring over mounds of statistics related to Saturday's game, here's my educated guess about what's going to unfold on the field I called home while playing for Lansing Harry Hill in the late-70s.

Like Ali and Frazier, both teams will battle toe-to-toe for the first three quarters. With five minutes to play, Rockford's best player, Callan Sherd, takes a middle screen to the end zone, giving the Rams' a 24-21 lead.

Before the ensuing kickoff, Baechler gathers his troops around him for one final speech.

"This is what we've been working for since our first practice in August!" Baechler reminds his contingent. "Don't let this be our seniors' last game!"

It won't be.

With their adrenaline flowing faster than a Nick Moores' touchdown run, the Chiefs take over at their 30 and methodically drive down the field thanks in large part to their specialty: two fourth-and-short conversions.

With less than a minute left, quarterback Steve Paye forces the Rams' secondary to bite with a perfect play-fake to Deshon McClendon. He then lofts a rainbow pass to tight end Billy Turner in the corner of the end zone.

The Chiefs win, 28-24.

Let's see Michigan and Ohio State top that.

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