Stoney Creek’s loss to Rochester Adams in Week 7 hurt in more than just the most obvious ways.
Junior offensive guard and defensive lineman Will Sisosky, an all-league standout for the Cougars last season as a sophomore, suffered a foot injury in that loss to their rivals that left him watching last Friday’s game at Ferndale in a boot.
In addition, senior starting quarterback Brandon Gergics was also knocked out of the 23-14 defeat to the Highlanders early on.
“I was trying to make a play and I got caught up with some other guys on top of me and ended up getting landed on by two other guys, so it was just an unfortunate outcome,” said Gergics of the shoulder injury. “Emotions were high. It was hard for me to take in that I wouldn’t be with my team for the rest of that game since it was a really important game for all of us.”
That removed a player who had nearly 1,000 total yards and 13 overall touchdowns from the Cougars’ backfield that typically heavily relies on Gergics’ legs, as well as those of fellow senior Brosie Telegadas (594 yards rushing and 11 total TDs entering the Adams game).
Uniquely, it led to a special connection when Stoney traveled to take on the Eagles in the OAA crossover game between winners of the OAA’s White and Gold Divisions. Brosie ended up taking moving to quarterback, where he took snaps from his brother Mikhali, a sophomore and the team’s starting center.
“I know I can count on my brother for a precise snap and a solid block,” Brosie said.
Added Mikhali, “I do what I can because I know my brother will give it his all to go out there and score.”
And score he did.
Telegadas carried it 22 times — four of those found the end zone — for 100 rushing yards in the 36-12 victory.
“It was awesome to see Brosie step up,” Gergics said. “Everyone stepped up today, and (altogether) we’ve got guys that step up and make plays.”
Stoney Creek senior Mason Black (21) signals for a first down in the first half of last Friday’s OAA crossover at Ferndale. In addition to nine tackles and an interception, Black carried nine times for 50 yards in the 36-12 win. (BRYAN EVERSON – MediaNews Group, file)
Brosie confessed that the last time he was under center was all the way back in eighth grade. “I was really nervous at first,” he said of the start. “The first two drives, I was very nervous, but my coaches give me confidence even though things weren’t going good — they scored first — and the first touchdown really set the tone for the game.”
That score he referred to was a 25-yard TD pass to Ricky Schneider that gave the Cougars a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Brosie finished completing seven of his 10 pass attempts for 105 yards.
His move also led to extra opportunities to carry the rock. Mason Black ran it nine times for 50 yards, while both Charlie Jablonski and Ricky Schneider both gained at least 20 yards rushing. That led to the elder Telegadas giving flowers to all the supporting cast.
“All our backs, but especially Mason, he’s one of the most physical backs on our team and probably the best two-way player on our team,” Brosie said of Black. “He’s a great linebacker and a great back, so every time he has the ball we expect big things … and the O-line probably had its best game. Towards the end of the game, (Ferndale) had eight or nine guys in the box and our O-linemen kept their heads up and they were communicating extremely well. When they can do that, our tailbacks and running backs are behind them and they carry (us).”
The Cougars’ defense helped keep it manageable for the offense, too, forcing a handful of turnovers in the second half of Friday’s win. Black had nine tackles, and like Ethan Gendich and Quinn Zezula, he had an interception.
“It sucks, your starting quarterback coming out in the second quarter of a rivalry game (against Adams), but we bounced back,” Zezula said. “But we got our next guy right up (in Brosie), practiced all week with him and we trust our guys. We’ve got a good team bond, work hard together and worked hard all week (for this win).”
The good news for the Cougars (6-2), who finish the regular season at Ann Arbor Huron, is that they’ve already essentially locked up a playoff spot, and that Gergics seems to have avoided a more serious injury and will return for the postseason.
“We’re taking it day by day with him,” Cougars head coach Rick Powell said. “His health is the No. 1 most important thing and our guys have done a great job of rallying around him and keeping him (in high) spirits. We obviously lost Will as well, so we’re just trying to keep those guys as positive as possible and our guys are trying to circle the troops and keep it together.”