Wildcats are eager for state championship - Novi football team moves on after bitter loss
STEVE STEIN
Republished with the of the Detroit News
September 1, 2004


NOVI - Twelve wins, one loss. One foot away from a state championship game.It was a memorable season last fall for the Novi High football team, the best since the Wildcats first raced onto the gridiron in 1966. But the page has turned and the 2004 edition is ready to write a new chapter.

Novi won its first 12 games last year before it faced Birmingham Brother Rice in the Division 2 state semifinals. The Wildcats lost a 31-28 overtime heartbreaker when quarterback Mike Hart was stopped 12 inches short of the end zone on a fourth-down play. After a quick conversation on the first day of practice earlier this month, Novi put the thrills of a dozen victories and the agony of a solitary defeat behind it and set its sights on the tasks at hand: Defending its championship in the tough Kensington Valley Conference and getting back to the state playoffs.

A monstrous conference showdown awaits Sept. 24 against Brighton. It's time now to prepare.

"We talked about last season at our first team meeting," said Novi Coach Tab Kellepourey. "It was a great experience and everyone who's back with us got to play four extra games, but we need to put all that behind us. We must create our own identity and focus on improving our discipline."

Hart, who was stopped on the heartbreaking final play against Brother Rice, is off to Eastern Michigan University, where he'll play baseball.

The 6-foot-3 pitcher was 11-0 with a 1.20 earned-run average last spring and he made All-State. Look for speedy senior quarterback/defensive back Kevin Cislo to run Novi's option attack, spelled occasionally by junior Steve Hart, a drop-back passer like his brother, Mike.

Senior nose tackle-center Ryan Pritchard, who qualified for the Division 1 state boys track meet in discuss last spring, anchors the offensive line. He's also an excellent long-snapper.

Seniors Brendan Buff, Will Deighton, Kevin Hong, Scott Krystoff and Kyle Safford will take care of the offensive line.

Like Pritchard, seniors Jarrell and Josh Woods and Rob Carter are three-year starters. The Woods twins play running back and linebacker and Carter is a tight end who also plays fullback and outside linebacker.

Other key players include senior tight end/defensive end Sean Costello, senior wide receiver/cornerback/safety Chris Dalton, junior running back/defensive back David Carnegie, junior defensive back John Favorite and sophomore wide receiver/cornerback Brandon Carnegie, another option quarterback.

Meet Novi High's 2004 football team

* Seniors: Denis Berry, Brandan Buff, Rob Carter, B.J. Chaklos, Kevin Cislo, Sean Costello, Chris Dalton, Justin Davis, Will Deighton, Richie Fetters, Jeff Freers, Kevin Hong, Scott Krystoff, Derick Leonard, Brandon Nims, Ryan Nussbaum, Ryan Pritchard, Jordan Pustover, Kyle Safford, Brad Spisich, Scott Smith, Richard Vandeveer, Elliott Volkanos, Jarrell Woods and Josh Woods

* Juniors: Alex Bartlett, David Carnegie, Bret Cocke, Bob Duquette, John Favorite, Steve Hart, Jeff Kolb, Craig Lawler, Chris Lilla, Derek McClelland, Tim Min, Mike Misangyi, Sung Mo Son, Ryan Murphy, Guy Meyers, Derek O'Branovic, Peter Papa, Kevin Schmidt, T.J. Schryer, Nick Shafer, Matt Simpson, Brad Sisson, Derek Smith, Dan Sprys, Frank Tafralian, Tim Thomas, Todd Thurman, Carlos Vivero and Eric Zhao

* Sophomores: John Brown, Brandon Carnegie, Patrick Sijan and Tom Spisich

* Head coach: Tab Kellepourey

* Assistant coaches: John Osborne, Dave Hartman, Dave Ray and Gerry Litman

About Coach Kellepourey

* Record: Coach Tab Kellepourey is 34-12 in four seasons at Novi; four state playoff appearances
* Age: 46
* Coaching background: Coach at Hartland High for six years before taking Novi job in 2000; assistant coach at Novi for eight seasons before going to Hartland

Upcoming games

* Sept. 3: Pinckney
* Sept. 10: Howell
* Sept. 17: At Lakeland
* Sept. 24: Brighton
* Oct. 1: At South Lyon
* Oct. 8: Hartland
* Oct. 15: At Milford
* Oct. 22: At Northville

Caption:
Novi High School senior center Ryan Pritchard, left, blocks Josh Jarrell during a drill. Of the team's 12 wins last year, Pritchard says, "Oh, sure, we now have the confidence that we can win big games, but last year is over."
Other three-year starters key to Novi's success are seniors Jarrell and Josh Woods, who play running back and linebacker.
Senior center/nose tackle Ryan Pritchard, likely headed to an Ivy League college, returns as a three-year starter.
Senior tight end Rob Carter, who also plays fullback and outside linebacker, fuels the Woods twins as a dynamic trio on the field.