Blackhawks Fall In Regional Championship

Joel Cranmore (12) of Leslie High School throws a pass despite being wrapped up by a Monroe St. Mary player.  Photo by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports.

 By David Rice
JTV Sports

(November 15, 2024 11:55 PM ET)  What started as a close first half turned into a second-half rout by Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central, as they defeated Leslie 55-18 on Friday to win a Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 7 Regional Football Championship.

Both teams traded big plays on the defensive side of the ball to start the game. Leslie forced a turnover on downs on the opening drive, followed by recovering a fumble from Parker Franklin with 5:55 left. St. Mary opened up the scoring at the end of the first quarter, as a 64-yard rushing touchdown from Drew Harris made it a 7-0 SMCC lead after one.

Two catches of 25 and 11 yards by Braydin Johnson helped set up a Blackhawks touchdown from Jayden Colby to make it 7-6 with 7:50 left in the first half. RB Drew Harris and a quarterback keeper made for two late touchdowns from SMCC to make it a 21-6 lead headed into the break.

Leslie opened the second half with fireworks, as Jayden Colby returned the opening kickoff 92 yards to make it a 21-12 game, but that would quickly change in a matter of seconds. SMCC quarterback Ian Foster kept it himself on the next play, scoring a rushing touchdown from 58 yards to make it a 27-12 Falcons lead.

Monroe St. Mary’s defense became the answer the rest of the way. Brady Hines forced a fumble on Leslie’s Jayden Colby to give SMCC possession again just 12 seconds later. 

The Falcons scored two more touchdowns in the next two minutes, a third from Drew Harris and a 54-yard receiving touchdown from Joel Treece. That gave SMCC a 41-12 lead with 10 minutes left in the third.

Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central would go on to win 55-18 on friday night, giving themselves a 12-0 record and their first regional title since winning it all in 2019. SMCC RB Drew Harris scored four touchdowns for the Falcons. Leslie finishes a historic 2024 season at 10-2 overall, with a first ever Cascades Conference football championship, and their first winning record since 2012.

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Leslie High School defensive player Parker Franklin (57) celebrates after recovering a fumble early in the Leslie/Monroe St. Mary Division 7 regional final at Monroe Friday night.