Wyandotte Roosevelt Aims to Retain Control of Downriver League

Wyandotte Roosevelt beat Taylor Truman 24-20 in what was its toughest battle of the season last Friday.

The difficulty level remains high this week for the Bears (5-0) as they head to Woodhaven to take on a Warriors (4-1) team averaging nearly 31 points per game.

To avoid a letdown, Roosevelt head coach Ron Adams said the Bears need to remain just as determined as they've been all season to keep winning games.

“Our (weekly virtue) focus is relentless, and we want to be relentless in the pursuit of our goals, and that’s obviously to be the Downriver League champions,” Adams said.

With a win this week, Roosevelt would grab a stronger hold on first place in league. Winning also secures the team’s seventh consecutive state playoff berth.

A loss leaves the Bears and Warriors in a tie for first place. The combination of a Roosevelt defeat and wins by Truman and Gibraltar Carlson (4-1) would result in all four teams deadlocked at the top. 

With two of the Downriver League’s best teams getting ready to square off, here is a quick breakdown of the matchup:

Wyandotte Offense

Four different players have stood out in the rushing game -- Damon Singleton, D’Aries Davis, Aaron Robinson and Kyle Matejko. Each player has done damage when given the ball, running behind an offensive line that has pushed around defenders all season.

Quarterback Kevin Matejko has nine touchdown passes, seven of which have gone to leading receiver Devan Stewart. The senior signal caller also has shown the ability this year to run for a first down when necessary.

Woodhaven Offense

Quarterback Nick Maher has more than 3,500 rushing yards in his high school career, but has yet to lead the Warriors to a league title. The senior has a solid supporting cast in the backfield this year, as running backs Garrett Weirich and Mickey Sutton have both run for more than 400 yards and have combined for 11 touchdowns.

The Warriors rarely pass, as Maher typically runs the ball or pitches it off. Last week, the Wyandotte defense took advantage of the fact that Truman hadn’t developed a strong passing game in 2012. Time will tell if Woodhaven suffers the same fate.

Wyandotte Defense

Roosevelt has given up only 41 points this season, which is the least amount in the Downriver League. Woodhaven’s offense has been tough to stop, but this week the Warriors have to face the likes of Wyandotte’s Aaron O’Meara at the linebacker position and strong defensive linemen like Kyle Campbell and Hunter Schmittou.

Woodhaven Defense

The Warriors have given up 101 points this season, which is the most among the top five teams in the Downriver League. Woodhaven should have its hands full trying to stop a well-rounded Roosevelt team that seems to have hit its stride after last week’s win against Truman.

Intangibles

With a win, Roosevelt has a chance to prove it can play at a high level against good teams every week. Also, the Bears know a loss means they would probably have to share the league title, even if they win their remaining games, as Truman is likely to win its last four contests, as well.

The Warriors will be out for revenge after least season’s 28-0 shutout in Wyandotte, a game which the Bears roughed up Maher on multiple occasions. Woodhaven also will be playing in front of a home crowd and would certainly love to beat Roosevelt and claim a share of first place while playing on its own turf.

Fan Details

Friday night’s game at Woodhaven High School, 24787 Van Horn Road, begins at 7 p.m. Fans hoping to get a seat in the bleachers should arrive early, as a large crowd is expected at the game.