ADRIAN – Michael Narew didn’t get to play much football this year.
The recent Erie Mason graduate broke his collarbone midway through the third game of the season.
He never got back on the field.
“It was crushing,” he said. “It was a depressing week. I couldn’t function.”
So, Narew jumped at the chance to put on the pads one more time in the Monroe County vs. Lenawee County All-Star Football Game.
“I was so excited,” he said. “I really wanted to play.”
That enthusiasm led to an inspired performance as he led the Monroe team to a 26-9 victory at Adrian College on Friday, June 20.
Narew was named the Most Valuable Player for his team as he caught 4 passes for 70 yards and reached double figures for tackles.
“He was all over the field,” said Kyle Reed of Monroe High, who served as the Monroe County head coach.
That came as no surprise to Reed.
“I said early in the week that he’s pretty special,” he said. “We had plans for him.”
Monroe quarterback Collin Steele completes 14-of-22 passes for 187 yards and 3 touchdowns – Phoenix Stefko of Erie Mason (7 yards), Landon Vida of Gibraltar Carlson (17) and Dean Thomas of Ida (10).
“I love slinging the ball,” he said. “We knew we were going to throw it a lot tonight.”
Narew hauled in passes of 7, 10, 30 and 23 yards.
“He’s a dog,” Steele said of Narew. “We wanted to get him the ball in space. He has a lot of speed.”
Thomas caught 4 passes for 47 yards and Trenton Eitniear of Whiteford ended the game with a 2-yard touchdown run.
“He made some throws,” Reed said of Steele. “It just took some time to knock the rust off.”
Defense dominated the early stages of the game.
Lenawee scored first when Monroe snapped a ball out of the end zone for a safety. That was fitting start for a game that featured four turnovers for each team.
Trenton Eitniear (Whiteford) and Tyler Furman (Airport) recovered fumbles for Monroe and Landon Vida (Gibraltar Carlson) and Dean Thomas (Ida) intercepted passes.
For Lenawee, Daniel Haddix (Tecumseh) and Joe Clark (Addison) recovered fumbles and Beckett McCaskey (Hudson) and Tyler Clement (Tecumseh) picked off passes.
Clinton’s Jake Felts was the MVP for Lenawee.
“The kid has a nose for the ball like nobody I’ve ever coached,” said Randy Hutchison of Onsted, who served as the head coach for the Lenawee County.
Felts’ nose for the ball was so good that it tricked the officials.
“He got called for penalties for blitzing a couple of times, but he wasn’t blitzing,” said Hutchison said. “He reads were so good that when the guard pulled, he just filled the gap.”
Blitzing was not allowed in the game.
“Tonight meant the world to me,” Felts said. “This is the last game of four-year high school career. I poured my blood, sweat and tears into it. It paid off.”
Felt lost his final high school game, but gained a lot of friends.
“It was weird at the beginning, but we had a week of practice and became great friends,” he said of joining forces with players he had competed against for four years. “It was the experience of a lifetime that only comes once.”
Lenawee grabbed a 9-7 lead in the second quarter when Tyler Clement of Tecumseh powered in from two yards out and Onsted’s Talan Hutchinson added the PAT.
But overall, it was a tough night for the Lenawee offense with four turnovers and numerous penalties.
“I liked our defense, Hutchison said. “There was a lot of hard hitting. It was a physical game.”Lenawee only had four practices for the game and one of those was spoiled by weather.
“We were limited,” Hutchison said.
Monroe 0 14 6 6 – 26
Lenawee 2 7 0 0 – 9
First Quarter
L – Safety, ball snapped out of end zone
Second Quarter
M – Phoenix Stefko (Erie Mason) 5 pass from Collin Steele (Monroe). PAT: Wyatt Dirkmaat (Ida)
L – Tyler Clement (Tecumseh) 2 run. PAT: Talan Hutchinson (Onsted)
M – Landon Vida (Gibraltar Carlson) 17 pass from Steele. PAT: Dirkmaat
Third Quarter
M – Dean Thomas (Ida) 10 pass from Steele. PAT: failed
Fourth Quarter
M – Trenton Eitniear (Whiteford) 2 run. PAT: No try.
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Monroe Rushing: Jordan Fields, Airport, 8-24; Dean Thomas, Ida, 4-19; Trenton Eitniear, Whiteford, 4-17; Collin Steele, Monroe, 4-16; Michael Narew, Erie Mason, 1-5; Donovan Howard, Monroe, 1-3; Jax Jones, Monroe, 1-3.
Lenawee Rushing: Kassidy Lanz, Blissfield, 8-16; Tyler Clement, Tecumseh, 6-12; Jake Felts, Clinton, 1-4; Byron Creech, Addison, 4-3; Chase Henline, Onsted, 2-0.
Monroe Passing: Collin Steete, Monroe, 14-22-187.
Lenawee Passing: Luke Manders, Onsted, 12-25-172; Tyler Clement, Tecumseh, 0-3-0.
Monroe Receiving: Michael Narew, Erie Mason, 4-70; Dean Thomas, Ida, 4-47; Brenden Myshock, Summerfield, 8-25; Tyler Furman, Airport, 2-21; Landon Vida, Gibraltar Carlson, 1-17; Phoenix Stefko, Erie Mason 1-7.
Lenawee Receiving: Tyler Clement, Tecumseh, 4-87; Talan Hutchinson, Onsted, 4-47; Chase Henline, Adrian, 2-23; Kassidy Lenz, Blissfield, 1-9; Daniel Haddix, Tecumseh, 1-6.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Michael Narew of Erie Mason named MVP of football all-star game
Reporting by Niles Kruger, The Monroe News / The Monroe News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
