The Chelsea Standard
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Chelsea gridders open season
Bulldogs face Novi at EMU Saturday to kickoff year
By Don Richter, Sports Editor
PUBLISHED: August 25, 2005
Chelsea football kicks off the 2005 season 7:30 p.m. Saturday against Novi at Eastern Michigan University's Rynearson Stadium.
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The Bulldog-Wildcat game is the final contest in the inaugural Big Day Prep Showdown. The event is a high school football extravaganza featuring four contests, pitting some of the top programs in the area against each other, and showcasing some of the state's best players.
Saline takes on Northville in the day's opening game at noon. At 2:30 p.m., Allen Park faces Trenton, while at 5 p.m. Lake Orion squares off against Troy.
Advance tickets can be purchased at the Chelsea High School athletic office. Student tickets are $7, while adults pay $9. Tickets the day of the game are available at the gate for $10. Admission is good for all four games.
Free parking for the event is at the stadium lot, located off Hewitt Road, directly across from the Main Gate (West) entrance.
Besides the action on the field, the event will offer a Fan Zone within the stadium. The zone will have entertainment for kids and adults, with games, a football pass-and-kick competition and autograph sessions with Michigan Sports Hall of Fame members.
Chelsea coach Brad Bush said Saturday's event would be good for EMU.
"When I was coaching at Eastern, is when they first brought this idea up," he said. "I thought it was great for Eastern. So many times people would come to our campus when I was there, and they couldn't believe that it (campus) was like this.
"The majority of our guys have never even been on Eastern's campus. So that part is great for Eastern."
Novi coach Tab Kellepourey said Saturday's event has been well publicized.
"All of our student body knows about it," he said. "So there should be a strong following from our people. This is a great event for our kids.
"To be able to get over to Eastern Michigan University to play on that brand-new field turf they have over there will be special. It's going to be a great situation for our team."
Chelsea and Novi have built up quite a rivalry in a short amount of time. In the past three years, the two squads have opened the season against each other. The Bulldogs have a 2-1 advantage during that time span, winning last season's game 28-21.
In 2003, Novi defeated Chelsea 49-20. The Wildcats that year finished 12-1 overall and were a play away from reaching the state final.
In 2002, the Bulldogs beat the Wildcats 14-10.
Last season, Novi ended up 9-3 overall, qualifying for the state playoffs and advancing to the regional final before falling.
The Wildcats have qualified for the state playoffs six consecutive years.
Chelsea also has advanced to the state playoffs for six straight seasons. Last year, the Bulldogs finished 10-1 overall before losing in the district final.
Kellepourey said his squad is ready for the year to begin.
"We're getting tired of hitting each other," he said. "We go to practice and it's the same thing over and over. We played Ann Arbor Pioneer in a scrimmage (last week) and they knocked us around a bit. Hopefully, a learning curve kicked in for our kids before our game against Chelsea."
Bush said he respects Novi's program tremendously.
"They've got to be considered over the last five years as one of the top 10 programs in the state," he said. "Two years ago they almost made the state finals, and last year they were as good as anybody."
With two elite programs clashing heads so early in the season every year, a rivalry will inevitably build.
"Chelsea's got us 2-1 the last three years," Kellepourey said. "So they're in favor of those wins. On the flip side, Chelsea has an outstanding program with Brad Bush and the organization that goes on there, along with the community that follows their football. They're driven to be successful.
"I think it's a great opener for us. It really challenges us. We need to be ready early on. I'm sure they feel the same way. We're both two towns, and we have to cross over a county line, but we know what kind of following they have and what kind of product they'll put on the field. We have to elevate ourselves in many areas to match it."
Bush agreed the Chelsea-Novi game is a tough opener for both squads.
"The Novi-Chelsea game will be a great game," he said. "It will be in a great atmosphere. For our guys, I thought it would be neat to play in that environment.
"I just think it's great for us and it's great for Eastern. I just hope it (Big Day Prep Showdown) keeps on going, because it'll be a lot of fun."
Bulldog senior linebacker Robbie Moffett said he's excited to start the season, especially against Novi at EMU.
"You don't get that chance every day to play on a field like that," he said of Rynearson Stadium. "And to play against good competition, too. It will be a lot of fun. I can't wait."
Chelsea senior lineman C.J. Boyer said he's been waiting a long time for Saturday's contest.
"I'm pumped to finally get going," he said. "I'm pretty excited. It will be fun. It will be something we remember forever."
Moffett said Novi has a strong offense.
"They like to run the option a lot," he said. "We have to contain their option and keep them inside."
Boyer said the Bulldogs have to play together as a team.
"After a few snaps the jitters should be gone," he said. "If we play our game and play hard, we should be fine."
The other local team playing in Saturday's event is Saline.
The Hornets were 5-4 overall last season.
Saline coach Mike Glennie said his team is excited to get started.
"I think the community is going to rally around the kids," he said. "It should be a great start for the fall season."
Glennie said the Big Day Prep Showdown is good for high school football.
"I think to have eight teams come together will make for a great day of high school football," he said. "It's going to be an honor to be a part of it. Hopefully, we can represent the Saline community."
The Hornets lost to Northville in last year's season opener 27-24. The Mustangs ended up 7-3 and made the state playoffs a year ago.
This season, Glennie said his team looks good so far.
"They've worked hard ever since January," he said. "Our numbers are up and the athleticism is there. We should be a talented, skilled team. We should have a lot of heart and enthusiasm. It should be an exciting year.
"Saturday we're going to show up and we're going to play all four quarters of football."
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