UBLY — Ubly is back where it wants to be — at home and in the playoffs for a ninth straight season.
The Bearcats completed their second straight undefeated regular season, ensuring they will be at home for at least three games if they can continue to win. They will host Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest (7-2) at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the opening round of the Division 7 playoffs.
“It’s huge, we’re very tired of going on the road,” said Ubly coach Bill Sweeney, whose team has played five road games this season. “It’s just really nice to be at home, get the home crowd here and play in a playoff-type atmosphere.
“It sure beats going on the road.”
The Crusaders are making their second straight postseason appearance. It’s the first time in school history the program has made the playoffs in consecutive seasons.
Expectations are high for Ubly to make another lengthy playoff run, but Sweeney will not allow himself, his staff, or players get caught up in that.
“We’re glad to be in the playoffs where the games really mean something,” he said. “Now, it’s just prepare week to week. If you’re not good enough — you’re done.
“You get so caught in the moment, you don’t see ahead or behind.
“You’re coaching and playing for the here and now. These kids will have the rest of their lives to think about if they put Ubly football on the map.”
Much like last year’s playoff opener with Genesee, the Bearcats’ secondary will be tested as Rochester features a quarterback duo that is not afraid to go to the air.
In fact, Sweeney compared the Crusaders to the Wolves with the style of offense they prefer to run.
“They throw the ball a lot,” Sweeney said. “They played in a monsoon last Friday, and they threw it at least 20 times. They’ve been very successful throwing the ball. They have two quarterbacks that throw the ball well. They have guys that can catch it.
“We just have to play good, sound defense, cover their guys and put pressure on the quarterback. We’re just going to have to play disciplined.
“If they do catch it, we have to tackle them and leave them there. We can’t let them have a 60- or 70-yard play.”
In a 48-7 victory over Southfield Christian in Week 5, Alex Masell completed 8-of-15 passes for 268 yards and four touchdowns. He hooked up with the Crusaders’ other quarterback, Kyle Novack, on an 89-yard TD.
Rochester also features a defense that has only allowed 110 points (12.2 per game) this season.
The Crusaders have two shutouts to their credit and have held three other opponents to single digits.
“Defensively, they run every defense under the sun,” Sweeney said. “They don’t run the same defense twice it seems.
“We’ll have to be very astute to that.”
The defense will be tested by an Ubly team that features an offense every bit as potent as the record-setting squad of 2008.
In fact, the Bearcats’ 410 points (45.5 ppg) scored during the regular season is just 16 points off the pace from 2008.
Although the points are similar, the way they were scored has looked a little different. This year, Ubly has been able to overwhelm its opponents with an experienced offensive line and a deep backfield.
“We’re just not that flashy of a team,” Sweeney said. “We’re not what you would call an extremely athletic team. We’re tough, and we play good defense.
“Nobody really stands out like last year, but as a collective group, we have team speed and they play really well together. It’s an offensive line’s offense. What we run is all dictated by the offensive line and getting some backs that will run hard.”
“A lot of success has been the kids feel confident and they run our stuff really good. It may be boring or bland to a lot of people, but to us, we love it.”
Ubly’s main trio of runners, Justin Cleary, Bryan Nash and Jordan Terrasi, have combined for 2,483 yards, 36 touchdowns and average 7.73 yards per carry.
Cleary leads the group with 1,112 yards and 10 scores while Nash and Terrasi each have 13 touchdowns.
Quarterback Adam Glaza and Keith Kramer have a combined 655 yards and 13 touchdowns.
The winner of this game will face the winner of the Brown City at Genesee contest.
HOW UBLY GOT HERE
WEEK 1: Ubly 38, USA 12
WEEK 2: Ubly 41, Sandusky 6*
WEEK 3: Ubly 50, Marlette 21
WEEK 4: Ubly 48, Mayville 21
WEEK 5: Ubly 42, Harbor Beach 22
WEEK 6: Ubly 40, Vassar 14*
WEEK 7: Ubly 44, Brown City 8*
WEEK 8: Ubly 56, Deckerville 36*
WEEK 9: Ubly 51, Bad Axe 12
9-0; PF: 410 (45.5); PA 152 (16.7)
RECORD VS. PLAYOFF TEAMS: 4-0
HOW RHLN GOT HERE
WEEK 1: RHLN 6, Detroit Urban Luth. 0
WEEK 2: Royal Oak Shrine 35, RHLN 0
WEEK 3: RHLN 46, AH Oakland Chr. 0
WEEK 4: RHLN 26, Westland Luth. 15
WEEK 5: RHLN 48, Southfield Chr. 7
WEEK 6: RHLN 20, GP-Univ. Liggett 2
WEEK 7: RHLN 30, SH Parkway Chr. 6*
WEEK 8: Detroit Loyola 24, RHLN 6*
WEEK 9: RHLN 41, MC Card. Moon. 21
7-2; PF: 223 (24.7); PA: 110 (12.2)
*RECORD VS. PLAYOFF TEAMS: 1-2
