De La Salle’s soccer team wants to play the best.

Just look at the Pilots’ schedule. They opened the year by hosting a tournament that included 2009 Division 1 runner-up Holt, Rochester Stoney Creek, Rockford, Livonia Churchill and Anchor Bay.

On Thursday, DLS will take on Plymouth Salem, a state semifinalist last year.

But in between, the Pilots played one of two Catholic League-mandated crossovers against Orchard Lake St. Mary’s. DLS prevailed 8-0.

Later in the year, De La Salle will take on Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard.

Those crossovers do not fit with Pilots coach Thaier Mukhtar’s mind-set in which he views the non-conference schedule as good preparation for the rigors of the Catholic League Central – featuring heavyweights Brother Rice and Detroit Catholic Central – and the state playoffs.

Mukhtar figures to be the best, the Pilots have to play the best.

The crossovers don’t help him achieve that goal.

Stevenson and Eisenhower have waged one of Macomb County’s fiercest high school football rivalries.

The two teams from Utica Community Schools first met in 1972, and the series really took off in the mid-1980s. The two teams renew their rivalry on Thursday at Swinehart Field in Utica.

This year’s meeting will be different, of course. Longtime Stevenson coach Rick Bye has retired, and this will be the first time since 1974 that Bye has not been on the sidelines for an Ike-Stevenson showdown.

But Eisenhower’s Bob Lantzy, the only coach in the program’s history, remains as the Eagles’ leader, and he hopes his squad can break out of their funk against their arch-rivals.

Eisenhower has lost two straight and four of five against the Titans. But the Eagles opened the 2010 regular season with a 17-7 victory over Ford, and they hope they can continue to roll on Thursday.

"This team doesn't have high emotions and a drop-off when things aren't going well,” Lantzy said. “I think this team is going to improve like mad. It's going to be an interesting year. It's going to be interesting to see how much they grow."

Senior quarterback/safety Bradon Bartneck has emerged as one of the top players for Ike.

"He's a solid, all-around leader,” Lantzy said. “He's a top student in the senior class. He's so level headed. Everybody has confidence in him."

Stevenson, meanwhile, must bounce back from a season-opening 35-0 loss to Howell at Eastern Michigan.

New Titans coach Steve Goralski knows plenty about the rivalry. Not only has he served as a longtime assistant on Bye’s staff, but he was also a player for Stevenson during the 1980s.

Stevenson leads the all-time series 20-18.

The Macomb Daily's high school football rankings have Dakota atop Tier 1 and Lake Shore atop Tier 2. Whom do you think is the best team in the county?
The Macomb Daily's High School Football Rankings

In Macomb County, MAC Red teams Romeo and Warren-Mott lost to OAA opponents on Friday night.

It was a busy night throughout the state, too.

In Oakland County, Canton overwhelmed Walled Lake Central, while Lake Orion routed Oxford in a renewal of an old rivalry.

Mount Pleasant used a late touchdown to edge Midland; Beal City prevails behind do-everything player Jake Hahn; Southgate Anderson needed overtime to nip Melvindale at Eastern Michigan; and star Justice Hayes threw a TD pass to help Grand Blanc defeat Flint Carman-Ainsworth. FCA will play host to De La Salle next week.

What were the games that impressed you this week?

While Dakota outlasted Muskegon and Fitzgerald squeezed by Avondale, there were other great games around the state of Michigan on Thursday night.

Jalen Spicer helped Birmingham Groves defeat Bloomfield Hills Lahser 21-19.

Turnovers proved costly for Chippewa Hills in 28-7 loss to Montrose.

Former Romeo coach Greg Ganfield guided Grand Rapids Forest Hills past Traverse City Central 40-30. "I've been doing this for 39 years and I think I've always approached the first game the same way," Ganfield told the Traverse City Record Eagle.

East Grand Rapids, touted as one of the top teams in the state, rolled past Jenison.

What other games caught your eye? What Macomb County teams surprised you?

Powder-puff football

Regina’s annual powder-puff football game against Marian will take place Sept. 11 at 1:30 p.m. at Stevenson High School.

Who was the best Macomb County high school volleyball player of the 2000s?

Fraser, which won Class A state championships in 2003 and ’04, has plenty of candidates in Angie McGinnis, Kate Price, Peachy Jankowski, Mary McGinnis, Brittany McGinnis and Adrienne Leone.

L’Anse Creuse also has enjoyed success on the state level, and the Lancers have had some outstanding players such as Sarah Redoute, Geri Geml and Stephanie Lamberti.

Anchor Bay produced Nicole Scheltema, Melissa Reneski and Andrea Rich.

Eisenhower’s Stacey Catalano earned First Team All-State honors last year as she led the Eagles to a regional championship.

Or are there other candidates? We would like to know what you think.

Members of The Macomb Daily sports staff pick the division winners. Who do you think will win? We would like to know what you think.
Division Picks

Are you ready for some high school football? Pick up Thursday's edition of The Macomb Daily for a special preview section featuring all the teams in Macomb County.
Here's a look at the cover.
Football Preview

For whatever it’s worth, two Michigan high school football teams are in the rivals.com RivalsHigh 100 national rankings. Muskegon, which opens the season at Dakota on Thursday night, is the top state team at No. 68. East Grand Rapids also is on the list at No. 83.

Members of the Romeo football team put in conditioning work. The Bulldogs open their season Thursday at Troy. (Photo by David Dalton)

The girls golf and boys tennis seasons already are in full swing, and this weekend marks the start of the seasons for several Macomb County volleyball and soccer teams.

In volleyball, Dakota will compete at the Hartland Invitational; Eisenhower and Romeo will play at the West Bloomfield tournament; and L’Anse Creuse North, Lutheran North and Memphis will participate in the Imlay City tourney.

In soccer, several teams will compete in tournaments Saturday, including De La Salle at the Traverse City tournament; East Detroit at the Romeo tournament; and Lutheran North at the Country Day tournament.

Most county soccer teams will be in action on Monday.

Members of the Utica golf team were all smiles after winning the MAC Scramble at Sycamore Hills Golf Club on Thursday. It was the second victory in as many days for the Chieftains, who prevailed Wednesday at the UCS Scramble at Cherry Creek.

Coaches from all sports spend much of the time during the preseason talking about chemistry. They go to team camps, do team-building exercises or whatever they can to help teams bond, hoping it will give them an extra edge when the games begin. Even after the season starts, coaches are looking to enhance chemistry. Dakota girls golf coach Jeff Hollifield said Thursday’s MAC Scramble provided a “team-building atmosphere” for the squads.

But how much does chemistry matter? Are there certain sports – football or basketball - where chemistry is more important? Or is chemistry over-rated?

Who’s the best high school football player from Macomb County in the 2000s?

That’s a straightforward question with a straightforward answer: Jason Fracassa, the quarterback at Stevenson from 2006-09.

Like his grandfather, legendary Brother Rice coach Al Fracassa, Jason’s name is all over the MHSAA record books.

He’s the state leader in career touchdown passes (97), season passing yards (4,433 in 2009), career passing yards (10,615), career passing attempts (1,104), season completions (266 in 2009) and career completions (656).

For good measure, he led Stevenson to a 13-1 overall record and a state championship game appearance in 2009 (though the Titans lost to Detroit Catholic Central in the final).

In addition to Fracassa, here are four other players to remember from the first decade of the 2000s.

John DiGiorgio, Eisenhower linebacker/running back (2000). A player where stats simply don’t matter. He’s the best defensive player I’ve seen, and his game in the 2000 state semifinals against Detroit Catholic Central was phenomenal. He was the heart and soul of the Eisenhower team that advanced to the Division 1 state finals in 1999 and 2000.

Chris Lomasney, Chippewa Valley running back (2000). As a senior in 2000, Lomasney set the MHSAA single-season rushing record by gaining 2,890 yards in 13 games for the Big Reds. His 41 rushing touchdowns in 2000 are the second-most in a season in state history. His performance helped Chippewa Valley reach the state semifinals.

Joe DiGiorgio, Eisenhower quarterback/defensive back (2000-01). John DiGiorgio’s younger brother, Joe passed for 2,132 yards and 25 TDs in 2001 as he guided the Eagles to a third straight trip to the state finals. He was also a tremendous, hard-hitting safety.

Zurlon Tipton, Parkway Christian running back (2005-08). Tipton rushed for 2,243 yards and scored 38 touchdowns as a junior in 2007, and he finished with 94 TDs in his high school career, which puts him tied for sixth in MHSAA history.

What do you think of this list? Does Dakota offensive lineman Kyle Cook deserve to be here? Or a member of one (or both) of the Cougars’ back-to-back state championship teams? What about De La Salle running back James Berezik? Stevenson wide receiver Frank Zombo or quarterback Danny Stiefel? Or somebody else?

We’d like to hear what you think. Please remember to be respectful in the conversation.