Tumultuous Valley Season to End With Bang, or Crash, On Friday
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Despite forfeiting three games for an ineligible player and a litany of legal and ethical questions, Flint Southwestern Academy (FSA) may yet be a big winner in Michigan football this year.
The train of events that has enlivened the state's sports scene all season came to a head last Friday in the Midland High home game against FSA.
Not only did FSA trot out Tyrone Ward, a receiver just released from jail, Ward was the star of the game, overshadowing perhaps the state's top running back, Mark Ingram.
Ingram gained only 75 yards rushing on 25 attempts, a three yard per carry average far below his best, and gave up a key fumble near the end of the game that gave Midland another chance to win.
Ward caught seven passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns and played safety, ending a Midland TD threat with a crucial tackle.
Ward, who had missed four games while serving a sentence for felony home invasion, was released and allowed to play under the Holmes Youthful Offenders Act. The Holmes act is a state law that allow youthful first-time offenders to have their records expunged after serving jail time nights and weekends.
Drama a Hollywood script writer couldn't have dreamed up has made the Saginaw Valley into a Ripley's Believe It Or Not scenario this season.
The tale began to unfold when Mark Ingram, (Right) a transfer from Grand Blanc, led Flint Southwestern Academy (FSA), perennial Valley also ran, to a huge win over Midland Dow in the second game of the season. It was the first FSA win over Dow in 19 attempts, sparked by a school record 319 yards rushing by Ingram.
Ingram did even better against Bay City Western on Sept. 14, racking up an incredible 400 plus yards and five touchdowns even though Western gave the Knights a battle before bowing 39-22.
The Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) ordered a forfeit of three FSA games against Midland, Flint Central and Grand Blanc because an ineligible player had been used, even though that player was only a member of the kickoff squad and was not instrumental to any of the wins. The player has not been identified but reportedly had attended school last year in Colorado.
Earlier in the season Coach Gary Lee had been suspended by the Flint school system, along with Athletic Director Elbert Hicks, for allowing Ward and Reginald Owens to take the field under that same legal provision. The pair were quickly reinstated by Supt. Linda Thompson.
Owens, who had been convicted with Ward on the same charge, did not play against Midland for unknown reasons and his status as a player is not certain.
Sports bloggers and critics have had a field day with claims and counter claims, asserting that influence over the Genesee County justice system has been leveraged by Ward's mother, Lynette Ward, former administrator of the Genesee County Court System and onetime judicial candidate.
Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said there was no plea bargain in the cases of Ward and Owens and dismissed any suggestion that the pair were given preferential treatment in a statement to WJRT-ABC Channel 12 back in September.
Charges also were floated in the blogosphere that FSA has a convicted felon on the coaching staff, as yet not officially identified.
One FSA coach is said to be Mark Ingram Sr., former Michigan State University and NFL star and father of the star running back of the same name.
Last Friday steam rose from the Midland bench and stands when Gary Lee, the embattled FSA coach, in effect "iced" the Midland kicker by engaging the referee in conversation, thus delaying the Midland extra point try. The unfortunate kicker missed the kick leaving the Chemics a point short of a tie and overtime.
The Chemics, however, still had a chance until, Midland star running back Colter Roberson lost the ball on a fumble in potential field goal range to put the nail-biter out of reach for the Chemics. Roberson had gained about 175 yards in the game.
Depending on the outcome of next Friday's monumental clash in Engel Stadium, either Bay City Central or Bay City Western could be in the playoffs.
Central, Western, Midland and Saginaw Arthur Hill all have a chance to share in the Valley title, with Mt. Pleasant assured a share with a 6-2 mark, but it all depends on the legal breaks off the field.
And, if the forfeits against FSA are overturned on appeal to the MHSAA, and FSA beats Saginaw Heritage on Friday, the Knights may become Valley champs with an overall 8-1 record. Coach Lee has declined to confirm or deny that the school is appealing the forfeits.
If FSA wins its final game and achieves a 5-4 record even counting the forfeits, the MHSAA has indicated points gained in wins against Western, Mt. Pleasant and Midland may put them in the playoffs.
And, who knows, the Knights may have a chance to be state champs in Division I as well.
Either way, it will be the team's first winning record since 1981, a remarkable fact no matter how it is achieved.
Doubtless Ingram will be playing on Saturdays as a top university player. Spartan fans hope it will be in East Lansing where his father lit up the gridiron 20 years ago.###
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Dave Rogers |
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