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Photos by Burrill Strong
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Seniors Jesse Jayne (left) and Randy Cox head off the field for the last time.
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It was cold. It was rainy. It was one of those bone-chilling, windy, overcast days you'd rather be inside watching football, than outside in the elements competing in a game.
Or in my case, standing on the sidelines on the frozen tundra of Romulus Middle School's Morris Field watching Chelsea (9-3) play Inkster (11-1) in a Division 3 state regional final. For the old-schoolers out there, that's equivalent to the state quarterfinals.
Anyway, I had three pairs of socks on, boots, long johns, jeans, about 14 different shirts and sweaters, a fleece pullover, a heavy winter coat, gloves and a wool cap, and I was still freezing.
Though I might have been cold last Saturday, my heart was warmed, as I'm sure along with most of the Chelsea fans in attendance, by the gallant performance of the Bulldog football team.
Down 16-0 at halftime and facing a rugged, hard-hitting Viking defense that had given up zero points, yes, zero points, in two playoff games, one would've thought Chelsea would've thrown up its hands and conceded defeat.
Nothing could've been further from the truth.
Sadly, for Inkster, who probably wished the Bulldogs would've shriveled up and quietly gone away, the game was only beginning. Chelsea had more heart and more determination and guts than any opponent the Vikings faced all season.
Heck, in two playoff games prior to its contest against Chelsea, Inkster had outscored its foes 102-0. The Vikings, 2006 Division 5 state runners-up, had bullied and dominated every team it played this year. In its only loss of the season (16-14 to Highland Park in Week 2), numerous Inkster starters missed the game.
When healthy and at full strength, as they were last Saturday, the Vikings have practically been untouchable this year.
That is, until facing Chelsea.
The Bulldogs punched back in the second half, outscoring Inkster 13-0. With less than a minute remaining, Chelsea recovered an onside kick after scoring a late touchdown. With the Bulldog crowd cheering wildly and the ball on the Vikings' side of the field, momentum was clearly on Chelsea's side.
Like a heavyweight bout, the Bulldogs had taken Inkster's best shot early, but as the game wore on and the day got colder, Chelsea became stronger. More than likely for the first time all season, Inkster was wobbly. With Division I recruits at quarterback, wide receiver and running back, and a whole host of big, strong defenders, the Vikings were used to opponents giving up. They were used to overwhelming foes with their talent.
That didn't happen last Saturday. Instead, Inkster faced a proud and courageous Chelsea squad that looked the Vikings squarely in the eyes and pushed back.
With the score 16-6 midway through the fourth quarter, the Inkster fans started chanting loudly, over and over again, "Whose house is this? Our house! Whose house is this? Our house!"
A few minutes and one Bulldog touchdown and one Chelsea onside kick recovery later, Viking fans were suddenly quiet.
Instead of smiles and cheers, one could now hear desperate shouts of "Tackle him!" and "Get the ball!" bellowing over from the Inkster sidelines and stands.
Maybe it wasn't the Vikings' house after all.
The Bulldogs weren't going away like so many other Inkster opponents this season. On the contrary, Chelsea was finding its second wind.
With time winding down, Chelsea, after recovering the onside kick, moved the ball deeper into Inkster's territory. The Vikings, however, eventually showed their fortitude by stopping the Bulldogs on four straight downs to earn the regional title and advance to the Division 3 state semifinals.
Chelsea need not bow its head. The Bulldogs won a Southeastern Conference White Division crown and a state district championship this year. For three straight seasons, Chelsea has reached the state regional final.
A lot of teams would love to finish their season with nine wins. A lot of squads would love to have a chance to play for a state regional championship, if only once.
Last week, I wrote a column that included former President Dwight D. Eisenhower's quote, "What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight - it's the size of the fight in the dog."
I equated that quote with Chelsea's upcoming battle against high-powered Inkster. I asked what would be the size of the fight in Chelsea's Dawgs?
I wrote we'd all find out the answer in Saturday's game.
I think anyone who watched the contest would agree, Chelsea's Dawgs showed enough heart to fill all of Morris Field.
If you don't believe me, as Inkster.
Sports Editor Don Richter can be reached at 475-1371 or at drichter@heritage.com.
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