Black Hawk Football Preparations Kick-off This Week

Members of the inaugural Bloomfield Hills High School football program are invited to participate in early team-building experience.

  March Madness won't be relegated to just basketball in the Bloomfield Hills Schools this week. Coaches and staff of the new Bloomfield Hills High School will get a jump on the inaugural season of Black Hawk football with a series of early-morning gatherings for players and those interested in joining the varsity, junior varsity or freshman squads next fall. Students are welcome to meet at Lahser High School at 6 a.m. Tuesday, March 12 for an hour gathering, dubbed 'March Madness.' The events are scheduled to continue between 6-7 a.m. on the following Tuesdays and Thursdays: The program hosted its first official meeting for interested students and parents last month at the Andover Media Center. In addition to bonding, the meetings are in …

• Photos (1)

State Champ Brother Rice to Face Cleveland St. Ignatius at 2013 Prep Kickoff Classic

The Warriors will take on Cleveland St. Ignatius on the last day of the Detroit Sports Commission's Prep Kickoff Classic on Aug. 29 at Wayne State University.

  It's not even baseball season but many are already gearing up for football with the announcement that Division 2 football champions Brother Rice High School will open its 2013 season during the Detroit Sports Commission's Prep Kickoff Classic. Formerly known as the Big Day Prep Showdown, the Prep Kickoff Classic will be held at Tom Adams Field at Wayne State University Aug. 29-31. The Warriors, who won the Division 2 state championship for the second time in a row last fall, will face Cleveland St. Ignatius on the last day of the Kickoff Classic, which opens the high school football season every year. This year's program will feature the most comprehensive grouping of teams in the event's nine-year history, including back-to-back state …

• Photos (3)

Cranbrook Taps Former Country Day Legend as Football Coach

Joe D'Angelo resumes his hall-of-fame career on the gridiron with the Cranes next fall.

Cranbrook-Kingswood schools on Tuesday named legendary former Detroit Country Day coach Joe D'Angelo the varsity head football coach for the fall of 2013. “We are very excited about coach D’Angelo taking over the reins of the Cranbrook varsity football program," said Cranbrook Athletic Director Steve Graf in a news release. D'Angelo began teaching in 1966, and his head-coaching career spanned 24 years. During his 13 seasons at the helm for Country Day, the Yellowjackets posted a 144-53 record, according to the Michigan High School Football Association's website. He was inducted into the MHSFCA Hallf of Fame in 1990. In addition to the impressive record, his coaching accolades include: D'Angelo joined the Cranes coaching staff last fall and…

• Photos (4)

Did You Miss Brother Rice's Win in the State Finals?

Catch up with Patch's coverage of the Warriors' 35-28 win over Muskegon to clinch back-to-back Division 2 football titles.

Feature Photos: Brother Rice Warriors Are Champions Again

Take a closer look at the action on Ford Field as the Brother Rice Warriors went down to the wire to win back-to-back state titles.

Legendary Brother Rice High School football coach Al Fracassa has seen his share of amazing finishes among the 400-plus career victories in his illustrious career. But even he left Ford Field impressed Friday by his team's 35-28 win in stunning fashion over Muskegon. “It was an extremely exciting playoff run and an unbelievable season, but this state championship game takes the cake,” said a beaming Fracassa in the post-game press conference. “I never thought this thing was going to end.” Though the Warriors played solid throughout the game, the team's second straight Division title was in doubt until the very end. And it didn't even seem probable until senior Jason Alessi took a lateral pass on a kickoff return and scampered 91 yards to …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (23)

Alan Stamm

1:20 pm on Saturday, November 24, 2012

When this legendary 80-year-old coach says "he still hasn't decided on coming back next year," that's a polite way of indicating ". . . if the administration will let me." He spoke more frankly to Detroit News columnist Terry Foster after Friday's drama: "Maybe if I tell them I love it so much I would die if I don't coach, maybe they will let me coach. I love to coach." Foster notes that "The …   more ›

Brother Rice Wins Eighth State Football Title in a Thriller

Not one, but two trick plays for touchdowns in the final 3:29 secures the win against Muskegon in Division 2 high school football state final, 35-28.

DETROIT — Legendary Brother Rice High School football coach Al Fracassa proved that he still has a trick or two up his sleeve at age 80 with the Warriors' Division 2 high school football state championship win over Muskegon Friday. After a Muskegon touchdown tied the score at 28 with 2:13 left to play, Brother Rice junior kick returner Jason Alessi received an across-the-field lateral on the ensuing kickoff and ran 91 yards for the game-winning score.  The 35-28 win over Muskegon (12-2) gave Brother Rice (12-2) its first back-to-back state title in Fracassa's 44 years in Bloomfield Hills and the Warriors' eighth title all-time.  "When your back is up against the wall, you try it ... take chances sometimes. I thought the game was never …

•  4 Comments
• Videos (1)

State Semifinal Football Game to be Played at Gibraltar Carlson

The game between Brother Rice and Wyandotte Roosevelt will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday.

The state semifinal football game between defending Division 2 state champion Brother Rice High School and Wyandotte Roosevelt will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday at Carlson High School in Gibraltar. The Michigan High School Athletic Association announced the game time and location on Sunday morning. Once the playoffs reach the semifinal round, MHSAA selects a neutral site to host the games. The winner of Saturday's semifinal game will advance to the Division 2 state championship game, which is set for 1 p.m. Nov. 23 at Ford Field. The Warriors defeated Walled Lake Western 42-12 on Friday night to capture the Division 2 regional title. Wyandotte Roosevelt won a defensive battle, 10-6,  over Oak Park at home on Friday. Get a recap with a …

• Photos (2)

Brother Rice Takes Regional Crown with 42-12 Victory Over WL Western

The Warriors extend their playoff run and hopes for a second-consecutive state title with a convincing win.

  The Brother Rice Warriors hammered Walled Lake Western 42-12 to win the Division 2 regional title on Friday night by scoring early and often in the first half.  Junior running back Brian Walker opened the scoring with a 2 yard run at the 6:16 mark of the first quarter for a 7-0 lead. Walled Lake Western came right back as Kyle Bambard kicked a 52 yard field goal with 1:48 left in the quarter cutting the lead to 7-3.  On the second play of the 2nd quarter, Western blocked a punt but were unable to capitalize. Western picked up a safety at the 10:05 mark after a snap went over the quarterback’s head in a shotgun formation narrowing the lead to 7-5.  Brother Rice exploded for 4 second quarter touchdowns highlighted by a 56 yard touchdown …

• Photos (19)