MHSAA Playoff Special- Cranbrook to host first home playoff game in 13 years.
Cranbrook '04 Alum Ryan Karolak was named one of the All Time Best Players in Oakland County by the Oakland Press.
(Photo Credit-Miprepzone)
The Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Cranes will host the Madison Heights Lamphere Rams in the opening round of the MHSAA playoffs. This game will be held October 27th, 2017 at 7:00 p.m.
This will be the first Cranbrook home playoff game in 13 years.
Cranbrook last hosted a MHSAA playoff game on October 29th, 2004. The 2004 Cranes completed an undefeated season, going 9-0 and winning the Metro Conference title. The Cranes beat the Clawson Tigers in their final game when Cranbrook alum Matt LaCasse (’06) knocked down a pass at the goal line on the last play, preserving a 13-7 victory.
Cranbrook went on to face Notre Dame Prep in the first round of the playoffs at the Thompson Oval. Notre Dame Prep won the game handily, 42-7, before going on to win the district.
The Cranes were led by head coach Gary Gerson and assistants Tim Yockey and Curtis Williams.
Cranbrook had many standout performers in that 2004 season including 2005 AP All-State Honorable Mention QB Chris Cooley (’06), a stellar offensive line consisting of David Kunz (’05), Tyler Goin (’05), Jimmy McBroom (’06), Peter Ghafari (’06), Bob Manix-Cramer (’06) and Matt Rubin (’07). Running backs Javier Janbieh (’05) and Chris Washington (’06) led the running game and Chris Reed (’06), Matt Iles (’05) and David Leinweber (’05) were solid receivers.
Cranbrook reached the MHSAA playoffs five out of six years from 2000-2005, including four consecutive years from 2002-2005.
Cranes QB Ryan Karolak (’04) went on play football at Williams College and was named one of the top 50 All-Time players in Oakland County by the Oakland Press in 2014.
The current Cranes are building a similar legacy.
Cranbrook has made the MHSAA playoffs consecutively from 2014 through 2017, winning back to back CHSL championships in the process.
Several recent grads are on current college football rosters: Joey Files (’15) at Michigan, Jalen Allen (’17) at Columbia, Tristan Knoer (’17) at Denison, and Daniel Russell, Jr. (’17) at Kenyon.
With several current Cranes holding offers from colleges in the middle of the college football recruiting season, this trend of outstanding football players will continue.
When the team takes the field on Friday, they will renew a rich football history and pass it on to future generations of Cranes.