Twice as Nice. Romeo tight end Kyle Maxwell leaps to haul in his second touchdown catch of the game. Photo: Amiee Distelrath. • more photos
The Romeo Varsity football team opened its MAC Red season and prepped itself for next week's showdown with two-time defending state champs Macomb Dakota by dominating the Utica Ford Falcons, 36-0, Friday, Sept. 5 at SH Stevenson High School stadium.
The Bulldogs were led on offense by senior quarterback Rick Roth's two rushing and two passing touchdowns, senior tight end Kyle Maxwell's two touchdown receptions and a rushing touchdown by junior running back Ben Brown.
Defensively, the Bulldogs kept Utica Ford in check all night. Matt Distelrath led the way with two sacks, four tackles (3 solo, 1 assist) and a fumble recovery, while John Bacci had eight total tackles (5s/3a) and Erin Laurain seven (5s/2a). [full stat sheet]
The closest the Falcons came to putting up points was a second-half punt that appeared to result in a safety for Ford. Officials ruled, however, that the ball went untouched by the Bulldogs into the end zone.
As a result, instead of the Falcons receiving two points, the ball and perhaps a bit of momentum, Romeo took over on downs and never looked back.
In addition to catching a pair of touchdowns, Maxwell subbed for injured junior kicker Robbie Flinn and contributed to the Bulldogs defensive effort by pinning the Falcons deep on kickoffs all night.
Christian Pletta made good on all four of his PAT attempts.
Roth was cited as one of the week's "top performers" by the Detroit News.
Brown rushed for 129 yards, bringing his season total to 281, which includes a 7.8 per-carry average.
The Falcons starting quarterback was ejected late in the game for unsportsmanlike conduct due to comments made in earshot of the referee.
All three MAC Red visiting teams won in week 2: Romeo, Dakota and Stevenson.
Leading up to the game, Detroit News sportwriters made their weekly high school football picks and each of them picked Ford to win. Not surprising, considering the News ranked Romeo eighth among East teams heading into the game, while Ford was ranked fourth.
Asked after the game by a reporter about the challenge of facing Macomb Dakota next week and how he would get the team ready, Romeo coach Curt Rienas said, “It’s kind of hard not to be ready for Dakota.”
Week 3
Bulldogs Blow Out Dakota, 35-7
Quotes of the Week:
“They’ve got a great program here. They came out hungry.” - Dakota coach Mike Giannone, talking about the Bulldogs
“That Roth kid, he's like [Doug] Flutie. Every time you think he can't, he does.” - fan wearing a Dakota jacket, overheard after the game
Romeo's win ended the Cougars' 24-game consecutive win streak that dated back to 2006, for which they should be commended. To put Dakota's accomplishments in perspective:
- Over that period, they are two-time state champs [2006 | 2007] and, including the first two games of this season, had won 29 of 30 games.
- On its official website, the MHSAA identifies 13 schools who have had 30+ consecutive-game win streaks in state history.
- Only three of the streaks occurred post-1990. Most took place prior to the "superconference" era and occurred under less strenuous circumstances than what the Cougars face on a weekly basis in the MAC Red.
Last year, the Cougars went the entire season without throwing an interception. Friday night, the Bulldogs picked off four passes. Robbie Gintner returned one for a touchdown [gintner], Erin Laurain had two [laurain], and Jake Alcini one [alcini].
The Bulldog offensive and defensive lines, despite being outsized by the Cougars, controlled the line of scrimmage all night. [o-line]
Brown's 198 rushing yards give him 480 on the season, with six touchdowns and an average of just over nine yards per carry. [full team stats]
The Bulldogs' 35 points are the most scored against the Cougars since Canton did the same in the final game of 2005. [Dakota yearly results]
The Barnabo sodded playing field held up well, in spite of the wet conditions. Kudos to Mr. Brynaert and the maintenance crew. [Mr. B photo ]
Dakota was playing on grass for the first time in several years. [grass]
In a reversal of last week, this week the home teams won each of the head-to-head MAC Red contests. [MAC results]
The Bulldog football Dawg Pound made its official debut, with a sign provided by the Four Corners Football Club. Fans were in full spirit, including a group of students body painted with the letters B-u-l-l-d-o-g-s. [photo]
WBRW Channel 6, which taped the game, presented a special broadcast at midnight Friday, Sept. 12. Rebroadcasts are planned throughout the weekend. Check the station for schedules. [wbrw]
A moment of silence was held prior to the game for Chelsea Pascoe.
Bulldog Video Spotlight: The “O” Line
They go unrecognized, but ask any coach and he'll tell you: without a good offensive line, your offense is toast. Case in point: watch in the clip below how the Bulldog offensive line walls off the Dakota defenders and gives running back Ben Brown free entry into the defensive backfield -- a losing proposition if you're an opposing LB or DB standing face-to-face with #34. This play came at a crucial point in the fourth quarter with the Bulldogs pinned deep in their own territory and Dakota on the verge of swinging momentum their way. Note how O-Line member Chris Brock, #70, keeps pace with the “skill players” and ends the play upfield. Nice blocks, too, by honorary O-Line members #21 Jason Schirmer, #14 Brad Rice and another unidentifiable Bulldog receiver (Medley? Gintner? Kern?).
The Bulldog varsity football team continued its winning ways Friday night, Sept. 19, with a 41-7 win over the host Fraser Ramblers on what was a perfect September evening for football.
Adding to the perfection was the Bulldogs' first-half performance.
Romeo scored on each of its three first quarter drives -- three-plus, actually -- with a ground-based attack that took advantage of the Bulldogs' backfield versatility. After receiving the opening kickoff at their 22 yard line, QB Rick Roth led the Bulldogs on a march that resulted in a six-yard Ben Brown touchdown run. Included in the drive was a 25-yard run by Roth himself. Robbie Flinn's extra point made the score 7-0.
After stopping Fraser and taking possession at their own 37, the Bulldogs again drove down field unimpeded. And again Brown scored, this time from the 11 with a run to the right side, same as on his first score. Flinn's PAT -- the second of 11 points for the junior kicker on the night -- made it 14-0 with 7:30 still left in the first quarter.
Fraser's next drive took them from their own 35 to the Romeo 40, where they turned the ball over on punts. Romeo's drive stalled. But the Bulldogs recovered a mishandled punt -- this is the "plus" possession -- and took over at the Fraser 34. Twenty-yard and 14-yard runs by Brown resulted in another touchdown that, with Flinn's PAT, made it 21-0 with a minute still left in the first quarter.
The teams traded exchanges until partway through the second quarter when Robbie "I Do More Than Return Interceptions for Touchdowns" Gintner -- subbing for Brown and proving to be equally untackleable (is that a word?) -- put together 17-yard and 10-yard runs from the Fraser 27 for another Bulldog touchdown, making the score 28-0.
Fraser's next possession resulted in a punt that Romeo took at midfield with a little less than three minutes left in the half. A Bulldog penalty moved the ball back, but then the Bulldogs drove deep into Rambler territory, keyed in part by a 48-yard pass to junior split end Jason Schirmer. Flinn's 24-yard field goal made it 31-0 going into halftime.
Romeo scoring in the second half started with a Flinn 49-yard field goal at 6:40 of the third quarter that just cleared the lower inside of the left upright. That was followed by Fraser's lone score of the night, a four-yard TD run by the quarterback near the end of the third quater.
The game's final scoring came midway through the fourth via a Jake Alcini seven-yard TD run. Alcini's run was set up by a pass play to junior tight end Luke Lavasco. Much like Kyle Maxell did against Ford two weeks prior, Lavasco turned a release pass into a 55-yard gain for which, while he won't get touchdown credit, he should at least get a finder's fee.
Brown suffered an ankle injury at 8:11 of the second quarter and was helped off the field under his own weight, but did not return. Gintner took over at running back, while Roth assumed punting duties.
This year's Bulldog team has scored at least 35 points in each of the first four games -- a first in school history. The 1997 team had three 35+ games along with a 34-point effort among its first four games. [view Bulldog yearly results]
In 10 of their past 14 games, the Bulldogs have scored at least 30 points. Of the four "non-30" games, two resulted in losses: 14-7 at Cousino and 24-21 against Lake Orion, both last year.
Last year's team holds the record for most points scored in a season, 319 in 10 games. So far this year, the Bulldogs have scored 159 points in four games.
Next Up: At home against Chippewa Valley, Sept. 26, 7 pm.
Week 5
Bulldogs Remain Undefeated in MAC Red
A Trio Wrap. John Bacci, Chris Brock and Jeff Walla combine on this sack late in the third quarter. More video
The Romeo varsity football team defeated Chippewa Valley, 37-13, Friday, Sept. 26 at Barnabo Field, to remain undefeated and take sole possession of first place in the MAC Red division.
The Bulldogs extended their 35+ points-per-game streak, which now stands at five.
With the victory, the Bulldogs are one win away from a guaranteed berth in the playoffs.
Rick Roth assumed punting duties for the game, in place of Brown, who suffered an ankle injury last week.
Kyle Maxwell and Robbie Flinn split kickoffs, with Flinn taking over in the second half. Flinn handled PATs, as usual.
The game drew a big crowd, with the stands full for both teams. Maybe the crowd turned out for the debut of the Mascot Races, put on by the FCFC. Sponsoring participants included Tim Horton's, Wendy's, Rio Wrap, and Lisa's Grooming. Wendy's and Rio Wrap mascots tied for first place. Don't forget to use your winning tickets.
As they did for the Dakota contest, WBRW Channel 6 rebroadcast the game at midnight Friday.
Friday was assistant coach John Couch's birthday. Happy belated, John.
In what has become a Bulldog tradition, the freshman football team, along with the Romeo hockey team, spent part of Friday performing volunteer duties for the 3-Day Cancer Walk taking place in Farmington Hills this weekend. Varsity and JV players lent their support on Saturday. Way to go boys!
Next Up
Warren Cousino, Oct. 3, at Barnabo Field.
Week 6 Results
Varsity Win Secures Playoff Berth, Sends Homecomers Home Happy
The Romeo varsity football team defeated Cousino, 39-14, Friday, Oct. 3 on Homecoming Night at Barnabo Field. In doing so, the Bulldogs...
refrained from looking past the task at hand and toward this week's showdown with Eisenhower
retained first place in the MAC Red
maintained their unbeaten streak
sustained their string of scoring 35+ points per game
All six MAC Red teams won their crossover games last week. And each of them put up big points. How big? Romeo's 39 tally was the second lowest among Red winners.
With the win, Romeo automatically qualifies for the state playoffs. The Bulldogs are tied for the highest playoff point total in the state. [the list]
This year's team has already scored more points in a season than any Bulldog team in the past decade, other than last year's squad.
Defensively, this team is on pace to give up the fewest points in a season since 1997.
This is the first time since 1998 that a Romeo varsity football team has started the season 6-0.
• The 1998 team started 7-0.
• The 2005 and 1997 teams each started 5-0 before losing.
• The 1992 team
lost their second game of the season, after which they went on a nine-game win streak. That nine-game streak is a single-season Bulldog mark matched only by the '77 team's perfect 9-0 season.
The Bulldogs' loss creates a three-way tie for first in the MAC Red. Romeo, Dakota and Stevenson are each 3-1, with Romeo having beaten Dakota and Dakota having beaten Stevenson. Next week's Romeo-Stevenson and Dakota-Ike matchups will decide the division title.
From the Detroit Free Press: “Previously unbeaten Romeo losing to Eisenhower, which has three losses, proves that the MAC Red is the toughest division in the state, this side of the O-K Red, that is.”
Eisenhower coach Bob Lantzy: “This is the biggest win since the state semifinals in 2003 against Grandville. We’ve waited five years to have a game of this magnitude.”
From Tom Markowski, Detroit News: “This division in the Macomb Area Conference is as good as any in the state. Of the six Red teams, Macomb Dakota, Romeo and Sterling Heights Stevenson are 6-1 and have qualified for the playoffs. Clinton Township Chippewa Valley and Utica Eisenhower are 4-3 and need two victories to secure a playoff spot. Chippewa Valley should get in as the Big Reds are favored to win their last two. For Eisenhower it's a different story. The Eagles started the season 1-3 and upset Romeo 17-14 last Friday for its third straight victory. Now Eisenhower must play at Dakota on Friday and if the Eagles can pull off another upset, they should qualify with New Baltimore Anchor Bay (2-5) scheduled for week nine.”
More from Markowski. “Tom's Top Five: Games that flipped/flopped the state playoff picture” 1. Utica Eisenhower 17, Romeo 14: Eisenhower is now 4-3 and its hopes greatly improved. At 6-1 Romeo is in but wants to gain home field for at least the first round. View complete list
Romeo coach Curt Rienas: “Our destiny is in front of us. We
can still control it.”
Week 8 Results
Bulldogs Fall in Shootout
The Bulldog varsity football team fell to Sterling Heights Stevenson on Friday, Oct. 17, 43-36, in a high-scoring shootout.
The Sterling Heights local access station taped the game and is broadcasting it this and next week. If you know someone who can record it to tape/DVD, send it our way and we'll post some clips. Click here for the broadcast schedule.
“We’re proud to be Bulldogs. We played with a lot of spirit and kept fighting. What else can you ask for out of your kids?” Romeo co-coach Curt Rienas.
The two teams combined for 79 points. But that wasn't even the highest combined total in the MAC Red this week. Chippewa Valley and Utica Ford combined for 93 points!
The Romeo varsity football team kept ownership of the Little Brown Jug -- the prized possession in one of Michigan high school football's longest-running trophy rivalries -- by soundly defeating the Utica Chieftains 45-0 Friday, Oct. 24 at Barnabo Field. The Bulldogs now await the draw of their first-round playoff opponent, to be determined Sunday, Oct. 26. Details to follow.
Meantime, tune in to WBRW Channel 6 for a midnight Friday broadcast of the game and also throughout the weekend.
Notes
Utica turned the ball over nine times -- four time in the first quarter alone. In addition, the Bulldogs had an interception taken away due to a penalty.
Romeo didn't attempt its first punt until the second half.
With 45 points, the 2008 Bulldogs finish the season with 330 points scored, which ranks as the single-season record for RHS football.
Defensively, with 116 points against, this year's Bulldog team gave up the fewest points since 1997.
The Romeo Bulldogs defeated the Clarkston Wolves in an opening round playoff game Saturday, Nov. 1 at Barnabo Field, winning 38-7 and setting up a second-round showdown with the Lake Orion Dragons.
The Romeo Bulldog varsity football team fell to the Lake Orion Dragons in a district championship game, 24-23, Friday, Nov. 7 at Lake Orion High School.
Great season, Bulldogs.
Congratulations, too, to Lake Orion and SH Stevenson, who meet in the regionals next week at SH Stevenson.
The Bulldog varsity football team continued its winning ways Friday night, Sept. 19, with a 41-7 win over the host Fraser Ramblers on what was a perfect September evening for football. 
The Romeo Bulldog varsity football team suffered their first loss of the season Oct. 10 to Utica Eisenhower, 17-14.
The Bulldog varsity football team fell to Sterling Heights Stevenson on Friday, Oct. 17, 43-36, in a high-scoring shootout. 
The Romeo Bulldogs defeated the Clarkston Wolves in an opening round playoff game Saturday, Nov. 1 at Barnabo Field, winning 38-7 and setting up a second-round showdown with the Lake Orion Dragons. 
The Romeo Bulldog varsity football team fell to the Lake Orion Dragons in a district championship game, 24-23, Friday, Nov. 7 at Lake Orion High School. 
