Traverse City Record-Eagle

2008 Crosstown Showdown

October 24, 2008

Sophomore QB provides an unexpected boost

By JAMES COOK

TRAVERSE CITY -- A year ago, Mack Sovereign was taking snaps on the junior varsity team as a freshman.

Friday night, he helped Traverse City Central's football program take another step, maybe even a leap.

"The rivalry has been so one-sided and for our program to be legit, we needed to beat West," Trojans head coach Tom Passinault said. "Their program has excellent tradition. That's where we need to be."

The sophomore signal-caller ran for one touchdown and threw for another, guiding his team to a 21-14 win over crosstown rival TC West. He was 7-of-10 passing for 98 yards. It was the first win against the Titans since 2005 and only the third in 12 meetings since the schools split in 1997.

"Mack has come so far this year," Passinault said. "We didn't throw a lot with the weather and the lead, but the times we threw, he was accurate. He's improved leaps and bounds since the first game."

Now, Central has a mathematical chance of making the playoffs with a 5-4 record, although that won't be known for sure until Sunday's selection show on Fox Sports Detroit.

But just a few months ago, Central wasn't 100 percent sure a sophomore could lead them to a winning record. Sovereign's JV team was 5-4 last year.

"I thought, 'There goes my senior season,'" senior fullback Alex Fancy said. "But as we went along, we all realized he was a great athlete and a good kid. Around us older guys, he's not afraid to be himself."

Trojans junior safety Nick Bruning, who played on the JV team with Sovereign last year, was confident putting the sophomore under center.

"I knew he was capable," Bruning said. "I know it's a big step, but he's done it well.

"He's not afraid to be a leader, even though he's younger than most on the team."

Sovereign is one of three sophomores up on varsity this year, but he's thrown for almost 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns.

Central opened the year with a 28-7 loss at Thirlby Field to Grand Rapids Forest Hills Eastern, but Sovereign was able to shake that memory off a bit after Friday's win over West that gives his senior teammates their first win over the Titans.

"It was something else," Sovereign said. "I can't put it into words. My first game at Thirlby wasn't great, but this is amazing.

"This is an awesome way to end the year. We've got to hope, cross our fingers and hope we get to play next week."

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