Lakers set sail for Ford Field

The Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic School CYO 7/8 football team has earned a spot in the division C/D championship game this Saturday at Ford Field. It is the Lakers’ first trip to the CYO championship game since 2014. They earned this right by defeating the Ann Arbor Saints 8 – 6 in a very intense atmosphere at Detroit Catholic Central.

The Saints dominated the time of possession and the Lakers found themselves in a tough field position all game. It was a defensively dominated game with the score 0 – 0 at the end of the 3^rd quarter. An amazing quarter of football followed, featuring highlights and memories. The Saints took the lead 6 – 0 with a TD run to open the 4^th. In a very pivotal moment, their point after kick was blocked. The Lakers answered on the next drive with a 65 yard TD pass from William Burton to Leo Wilson, and then Carter Luptowski split the uprights for a successful point after TD.

The Saints got the ball back and eventually had a first down and goal from the Lakers 3 yard line with 37 seconds left. However the Lakers defense stood tall, stopping the Saints on four straight goal line plays to preserve the victory and begin the celebration! Coach Steve Lancaster commented afterwards: “This was one of the most intense games I’ve ever coached in. I couldn’t be any prouder of these boys. They threw a bizarre offensive formation at us and to hold them to 6 points total is amazing. Robert Hoffman’s interception in the third quarter was a huge play for us.”

Coach Aaron Wilson pointed out how hard the boys fought all game, “They had 53 plays to our 17 on offense. It was hard to get in a rhythm for a while there with our defense on the field so much, but it only took one pass and one kick. Coach Mersino told us all at the beginning of the season: The goal this season is simple: Ford Field. The boys did it.”

The Lakers will face St. Anne’s of Warren this Saturday, October 19 at Ford Field at 9:15 a.m. Please come down and support the boys!

Educating students in grades PreK through 12 for over 60 years, Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic School provides an educational experience grounded in Catholic Tradition, personal discipline and academic excellence. We offer small class sizes and low student-to-teacher ratios in a safe and secure family-oriented community. Weekly Mass complements a fully integrated one-to-one iPad program, championship athletics, K-12 robotics program, before and after school care, and much more!