Traverse City Record-Eagle

Archive: Sunday

November 24, 2012

Central's Passinault coach of the year

T.J. Schepperly gets special mention

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EAST LANSING (AP) — All the glory and headlines that follow it usually is reserved for the skilled-position players.

You know, the quarterback who throws for 300 yards and four touchdowns. Or maybe the running back who rushes for 150 yards and two scores or perhaps the wide receiver who reels in the winning touchdown in the corner of the end zone.

In football, those who score the points are those who are usually seen as the heroes; it just works that way.

But when talking Midland High School football in 2012, the fingers pointed toward Steven Elmer, a man-mountain of a lineman who led the Chemics to the Saginaw Valley League title and to a No. 1 ranking in Division 2 in The Associated Press' final poll.

Elmer, who stands in at 6-foot-6 and 305 pounds, also led his team to a district title and into the regional round of postseason play, where they were bounced by Division 2 state finalist Muskegon.

The Notre Dame-bound Elmer had plenty of star-studded players around him this year, but he was the star of the team that shone brightest in mid-Michigan and statewide. For his great body of work in 2012, Elmer has been named the AP's Player of the Year in Division 1-2 in an honor being announced today.

"He really stepped up this year as a senior," said Midland head coach Eric Methner. "He turned into a two-way guy for us and did a great job. Defensively, he could shut down two gaps by himself. Offensively, we were pretty balanced but when we ran we usually ran behind him. He's an outstanding young man, very humble in everything he does."

The other linemen joining Elmer on the Division 1-2 All-State team are Clarkston's Nick Mattich, Lowell's Pierce Watson, Detroit Cass Tech's David Dawson, Canton's Cam Dillard, Utica Eisenhower's David Curle and Muskegon's Antwan Billings and Ronald Jenkins.

Port Huron's Mark Chapman and Grand Blanc's Bart Williams call the signals at quarterback on the 2012 All-State team, while Flint Carman-Ainsworth's Gerald Holmes, Mattawan's Trevor Sweeney, Clarkston's Ian Eriksen and Grand Ledge's Joe Reverman earn honors at running back.

At wide receiver, Asantay Brown of Muskegon Mona Shores, Mycial Allen of Detroit King, Jourdan Lewis of Detroit Cass Tech, Javon Haines of East Lansing and Max Cummings of Swartz Creek earned accolades.

Honors at linebacker go to Detroit Catholic Central's Anthony Darkangelo, Birmingham Brother Rice's Jon Reschke, Rockford's Brett Showers and Fenton's Mike Czarnota.

Walled Lake Western's Josh Jones, Detroit Cody's DeMarco Gulley and Caledonia's Heath Hoogerhyde earned All-State honors at defensive back while Walled Lake Northern's Matt Kosmalski was named the All-State specialist in D1-2.

Walled Lake Western's Kyle Bambard was named All-State at punter with Plymouth's Brent Zuzo getting the honor at placekicker.

Coach of the Year honors were shared between Traverse City Central's Tom Passinault and Macomb L'Anse Creuse North's Anthony Kiner. T.J. Schepperly, of Traverse City Central, got a special mention.

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