By By JEFF FISHER / Niles Daily Star
MISHAWAKA, Ind. – Assembling the Michigan All-Star football team for Sports Fest should be easy, right?
Just throw together 34 of the best players from the area, try to create some team chemistry in a week, then play a game on a neutral field for regional pride.
Okay, maybe not so easy.
The Michigan All-Stars took it on the chin as Indiana Metro came away with an 8-7 victory Saturday night at Marian High School.
"We talked before the game," Cassopolis coach Andy Hubbard said. "We not only talked about the helmets we had on for their school, but also the pride for Michigan. It is a big rivalry. There was a lot of jawing out there tonight. Nobody wants to lose and I think a lot of people were thinking we were going to come in here and get blown out and I think we proved that we have good football in Michigan."
That's what Hubbard was faced with coming across the border to face a Metro team represented by many high school heavyweights.
"Difficult? These kids have so much going on and what we did is call other schools and took recommendations on what kids want to play and all of the coaches gave great suggestions. We have some great kids here," he added.
Michigan's first three possessions resulted in either an interception or the All-Stars turning the ball over on downs.
Michigan received the ball on its own 10-yard line in the second quarter. Dustin Cox (Sturgis) hit Paul Curtis (Cass) with a 26-yard reception, and four plays later, Cox found Anton Lockett (Berrien Springs) with a 16-yard scoring strike.
Seth Coffing added the extra point to put Michigan up 7-0 at halftime.
Both teams found it hard going in the third quarter and in the early going of the fourth quarter.
After a Metro quarterback sack, Indiana took the ball to paydirt from 16-yards out by Joe McClintock (St. Joseph's). Shawn Major-Winston (South Bend Adams) ran in the two-point conversion, which proved to be the game-winner.
"I'll be honest, coming into this game you read in the papers and you see the things about the Metro schools and the legacy of Penn High School and things like that and it definitely concerned us," Hubbard said. "For our kids to play the way they did and that hard, I am proud of them. They have got a great team over there, some great coaches and huge schools. Our kids fought hard, never gave up and I was just real proud of all of them."
Cox finished the game 15-of-32 for 164 yards with four interceptions. Curtis made five receptions for 67 yards, while Dowagiac's Kyle Bailey intercepted a pass in the end zone.
Danny Bauters (South Bend Clay) was named the Most Valuable Player.
Metro 0 0 0 8 – 8
Michigan 0 7 0 0 – 7
MI – Anton Lockett 16-yard pass from Dustin Cox (Seth Coffing kick)
ME – Joe McClintock 16-yard run (Shawn Major-Winston run)