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Record breaking performances from Malzone and Perry lead Brother Rice past OLSM
BERKLEY — Birmingham Brother Rice seniors Alex Malzone and Grant Perry led the Warriors to a 28-20 win over Orchard Lake St. Mary’s with carrier games on Friday night.
The quarterback and wide receiver connected twice in the third quarter when Brother Rice scored 21 points to remain undefeated at 6-0.
“We some mistakes and miscues in the first half, but we stuck to our game plan and executed,” Malzone said. “I have great receivers in Grant and John Garry. They both stepped up in the second half and helped us get a win.”
Brother Rice and St. Mary’s (5-1) were tied entering the half at 7-7. The Eaglets received a 5-yard touchdown run by junior Justin Myrick with 6:41 left in the half, and the Warriors answered with an 8-yard touchdown pass from Malzone to senior tight end Brian Fortin that tied the game with 3:43 left in the half.
“From a statics standpoint, we were winning the game,” Brother Rice head coach David Sofran said.
“We had guys thinking too much instead of just playing football. Our defense made some adjustments, and our offense kept it simple so we could establish a rhythm and move the chains.”
St. Mary’s scored on their first play from scrimmage to start the second half. Sophomore running back Ryan Johnson took an off-tackle run 80 yards to the end zone for a 13-7 lead after a missed extra point. Brother Rice answered on the ensuing drive when Malzone hit senior John Garry for a 23-yard touchdown for a 14-13 lead with 9:43 to play.
Malzone and Perry went to work to put the game out of reach with their next offensive possession on a two play drive.
“We’ve been playing together our entire careers here. (Perry) is a great receiver, and we try to get him in space. He has a knack for getting open against whatever the defense tries,” Malzone said.
With the ball on their own 35 yard line, Malzone found Perry over the middle for a 23-yard gain. On the next play, Malzone hit Perry in stride down the sideline on a 37-yard strike for a 21-13 lead with 6:23 to play in the third quarter.
The two would hook again after the Warrior defense recovered a fumble on the Eaglets’ 41 yard line. Malzone dropped a 41-yard bomb over the left shoulder of Perry for a 28-13 lead with 58 seconds left in the third quarter.
St. Mary’s would get a late touchdown in the fourth quarter with a 1:28 to play on a 9-yard touchdown run by junior Pierce Bauer to cut the Warrior lead to 28-20.
Malzone finished the game with a single game record of 29 completions (29-of-42). Both Eric Marcy and Chris Solomon held the previous record with 26 completions. Malzone also set a single game record for passing yards with 419.
“Alex was all disappointed and down on himself at the half, and he had 228 yards at the half,” Sofran said. “I told him that he’d probably break every record we have here. You just need to play the next play, and not worry about trying to score on every play.”
On the other hand, Grant Perry broke his own single game record with 257 receiving yards, and he tied a single game record for receptions with 14. That record is co-owned with his current head coach David Sofran.
Brother Rice will travel to Detroit Country Day in hopes to keep their undefeated streak alive on Friday, while St Mary’s will face Detroit Catholic Central on Saturday.
