On Nov. 1, with the student body in costume joined by the Devils Den, South beat Roseville 28-27 in the first round of the Division 2 state playoffs, earning their spot in the next round and improving to 9-1 on the season with a chance to avenge their only loss in round 2 versus Lakeview at South Stadium on Nov. 8.
South’s varsity football team started strong with a pick-six, a rushing TD and a passing TD to lead 21-0 in the first quarter against Roseville. To start the third quarter, quarterback Andrew Wilson ’27 ran the ball in for a touchdown, giving South a 28-7 lead. That’s when the game became tense, as Roseville responded with three long passing touchdowns over 45 yards. Fortunately for South, who had a couple of missed field goals, Roseville’s kicker missed the extra point following their final touchdown.
Outside linebacker Ben Kocik ’26 has been part of this rivalry since he was a sophomore, when he watched his senior friends walk off the field defeated after Roseville had just beaten them. Kocik expresses that there was a lot of passion from the previous losses, which makes it more exciting that South beat Roseville twice this season.
“They are a big rivalry of ours,” Kocik said. “They took us out of the playoffs our sophomore year; we were very motivated to get them back and take home the win.”
As Kocik acknowledges the high-pressure position, he also recognizes that the simple moments as a senior will soon become memories, so when the game gets tense, he tries to pull himself back in the moment and treasure the time spent with his teammates.
“There’s a lot of pressure, especially when there are so many people hoping you win,” Kocik said. “Sometimes you just have to look out into the crowd, enjoy the moments you have left and realize that you’re just playing a game with your friends, which you only get so many opportunities to do.”
Kocik notes that every single person on the team contributes equally to them winning games, which is why they have gotten so far.
“From us pushing each other at practice, to starters doing everything they can in games,” Kocik said. “There is also always someone picking people up when others feel down.”
Safety Lucas Reynolds ’26 has continuously dislocated his shoulder after his first surgery. He tore his labrum and has a fracture in the back of his shoulder, restricting him from being in high-contact situations.
“It’s changed my perspective on football,” Reynolds said. “I want to fight for this team, but I’ve realized even when I’m not on the field, I am still one of the team’s biggest cheerleaders. I’m always bringing guys up after rough plays and trying to find solutions to problems on the field.”
Reynolds has high expectations for his team, indicating the teams most likely to face South in the state championship are the talented Orchard Lake Saint Mary’s or Brother Rice. Reynolds has faith that if his team goes all the way to Ford Field, they will be victorious.
“It will be difficult, but everyone expects a high standard for Grosse Pointe South and every player on the team wants to meet that standard,” Reynolds said. “We expect to win, go all the way to the end and come back with hardware.”
Starting quarterback Sam Rouleau ’27 suffered a head injury during the Roseville game. Nonetheless, South persevered and utilized its backup quarterback, Andrew Wilson ’27, to achieve victory over Roseville.
“Our quarterback backup really stepped up,” Wilson said. “When Sam went down, Drew stepped up and played an outstanding game.”
As Wilson’s team advances to the next round of playoffs, he and his teammates are ready to bring all of the knowledge and skills they’ve been developing all year to the next level in the hopes of winning the state championship.
“Coaches and captains really enforce the idea that if we just focus on playing our game and put all of our effort in, we are bound to win,” Wilson said.
