FOOTBALL WINS FIRST STATE TITLE IN SCHOOL HISTORY

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December 1, 2024

For information on admission to Notre Dame Prep, please click here. 

Another relentless performance on both sides of the ball caps an outstanding season for the Irish football team as they defeat Frankenmuth, 42-7, in the MHSAA Division 5 final at Ford Field.

The euphoria of Notre Dame Prep's boys soccer first state championship on Nov. 2 had scarcely dissipated when the Fighting Irish community realized a second state championship last night when Coach Patrick Fox's now 12-1 football team earned the program's first state crown in school history with a 42-7 win over Frankenmuth at Ford Field. 

“We’ve had a great year this year, said Fox, an alum of Frankenmuth High School. "We have great young men. I work with tremendous people, and I’m blessed to tell you that we’re very proud of our accomplishments because we do it the right way."

He also noted at the post-game press conference that the Irish program is from the bottom up.

"We’re a developmental program and a lot of our players, like Drew (Heinbuch) and Sammy (Stowe), have been with the school since junior kindergarten. We have great student-athletes and we have great young men. And we take the time to develop them, and they stay in our program.”

One of those long-timers, quarterback Stowe, a junior, was unstoppable through the air, completing 15 of 21 passes for 293 yards and four TDs. He also had seven rushes for 21 yards against the previously unbeaten Eagles.

Stowe's four passing scores were all in the first half as he distributed two to Billy Collins and one each to Michael Wiebelhaus and Joey DeCasas.

Stowe says that like the rest of his teammates, he works hard and remains humble, which he said is one of the keys to the team's success this year.

CHECK OUT A PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE GAME HERE.

"[The offensive line] did an amazing job, what a great group," he said after the game. "The lights at Ford Field weren't too bright for our offense and I have playmakers like Billy and Drew who make me look good. Couldn't ask for a better offense."

Stowe also acknowledged the quarterback he backed up in years past.

"I got to sit behind Jacob Tuttle (Albion), one of the Notre Dame greats," he said. "He taught me everything I know."

Irish running back Collins certainly benefited Saturday from what Stowe's learned in the passing department. The senior caught four passes for 126 yards and two touchdowns to go with seven carries for 21 yards on the ground.

Collins was asked at the press conference whether the team's quick scoring attack offense can even be called "drives" since they seemingly only last 30 seconds or so.

He said the team is quick, but it all comes down to trust.

"I always trust our offense because we definitely have the ability to make huge plays," he said. "We have some truly fast guys and a fantastic quarterback in Sam who gets the ball down the field. We just trust our offense and our offensive coordinator, coach [Jason] Whalen and our entire team."

The Irish defense also was more than up to task, holding the Eagle offense to just 245 total yards (4.2 per play) and not allowing a score until there was only about nine minutes to play in the game with NDP up 35-0.

Wide receiver and cornerback DeCasas, a senior, talked about his emotions after the game finished.

"It's really exciting, especially when you consider I grew up with all these guys and my coach," he said. "I'm really proud of these guys." 

Emotions also got the best of Fox after the game, who teared up a bit while talking about the alma mater he just beat.

CHECK OUT A PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE GAME HERE.

I played for the greatest head coach in the state, Ralph Munger," Fox said about his former mentor who ran the football program for 12 years at Frankenmuth. "He raised all of us a specific way, and because of that, I have a great life. I owe my life to that program. But now, today, these are my guys, and I was also happy to win big. 

"I love the program I grew up in, and I hope my boys love their program just as much as I did."
 

 

 

For information on admission to Notre Dame Prep, please click here.

Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org

About Notre Dame Preparatory School
"At Notre Dame Prep, we inspire our students to become the best versions of themselves. We challenge them through an experience of academic excellence, focused on active, project-based learning. We invite them to explore a world of opportunities beyond the classroom. We guide them as they grow in spirituality within a community strong in its Catholic and Marist identity."

Notre Dame Preparatory School is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. Notre Dame Preparatory School's upper school enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame Prep's middle and lower schools enroll students in pre-kindergarten through grade eight. All three schools are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDP is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the National Association of Independent Schools. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School, visit the school’s home page at www.ndprep.org.