Chiefs scalp Harper Woods, 35-0, to move on to district finals

Matt Burgess (left) and Dustin Morgan take down a Harper Woods ball carrier in second-half action of the Chiefs’ 35-0 District win over Harper Woods Friday night. CAPAC — A dominating opening quarter of football, when Capac struck for 23 first-quarter points, propelled the Chiefs to victory Friday in the opening round of the MHSAA playoffs. The Chiefs crushed Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy, 35-0. With the win, the Chiefs (7-3) advance to the district finals where No. 1 seed Madison Heights Madison awaits them this Friday at 7 p.m.

“It’s hard to say you are disappointed with a shutout win in the playoffs,” said Capac Coach Tom Manney. “But, I must say, even though we won the game, and that is a great thing, we still have a lot to work on in the coming week to get ready for our next game. We are going to be playing a very good team.”

Cody Rosseau makes a short gain in Capac’s playoff opener. Playing in near balmy conditions and through brief spurts of persistent rain that made for an extremely muddy field, the Chiefs wasted little time in taking charge of the game, scoring their first touchdown just two minutes into the contest. Capac not only had its offense clicking, but also took advantage of numerous Harper Woods turnovers to coast to the win, their six consecutive victory after beginning the season 1-3.

“Ever since we put ourselves in the hole with a 1- 3 record, it’s been a do-ordie situation for us, and it still is,” Manney said. “Now, it is a one-and-done kind of thing, and I am confident we can keep this going. I honestly feel that if we play our best football, we can beat Madison Heights.”

Capac needed just five plays to go 41 yards for its first touchdown, a fouryard scamper by fullback James Morgan at the 10:03 mark of the opening quarter. Josh Kasier made it a 10-0 game when he booted a 24-yard field goal midway through the first quarter, and then Morgan broke loose and sprinted 14 yards for his second score of the evening ... and the romp was on.

The Chiefs’ defense played an outstanding game, and that was the case late in the first quarter when Capac’s special teams players pounced on a bad snap from center on a fourth-down play by the Eagles, giving the Chiefs first and goal from the 10 yard line. On the first play from scrimmage after the turnover, quarterback David McKee connected with Matt Burgess for a 10- yard scoring toss in the far corner of the end zone to run the score to 23-0.

“After the big first quarter, we hit a little lull there where we could not move the ball,” Coach Manney said. “I think with the quick start, we might have lost our intensity or focus a little.”

Although the Eagles managed to move the ball the length of the field with time running out in the first half, Capac came up with a huge defensive stand when they needed it most. Faced with a fourth- down-and-short play, Harper Woods attempted a pass that was knocked down by McKee from his defensive back position, giving the Chiefs possession of the ball.

Capac added two scores in the third quarter to force a running clock, and although the Chiefs’ defense continued to bend, it did not break, preserving the shutout victory.

Midway through the third period, Burgess scored his second touchdown of the game when he stepped in front of a pass, made the interception and rumbled 48 yards along the far sideline to paydirt to extend his team’s lead.

Brian Kulman capped the Capac scoring when he followed some key blocks and walked into the endzone for six points. Kaiser added two extra-point kicks in the game.

The fourth quarter passed with no scoring, due in part to the running clock and continued stingy play by the Capac defense.

Late in the game, Harper Woods began to loose its composure and was flagged for numerous unsportsmanlike penalties.

“It’s unfortunate it got a little chippy at the end, on their side of things,” said Manney. “We told our guys to not retaliate and to not get caught doing something they should not.

“We could not afford to loose anyone to a suspension due to ejection. I thought our kids played with a lot of character and poise.”

Morgan finished the game with 123 yards on 20 carries for the Chiefs and has now rushed for more than 1,300 yards this season.

Anthony Closurdo added 52 yards on eight carries, and Kulman rushed for 36 yards. As a team, Capac amassed 244 yards on the ground, while McKee was 3-of-3 passing for 39 yards.

Despite being sick most of the past week, like many of the players on the Chiefs squad, linebacker Thomas Bolday stepped up and did his job, finishing with five tackles and two assists to lead the Capac defense.

Burgess and Eddie Niemi added four tackles apiece.