DETROIT—How could Forest Park’s football team top what it had done over the last few weeks? How could it top that dramatic upset of Lake Linden in the district title game? Or their dominating wins in the regional finals at home and in the Division 8 semifinals at the dome in Marquette?

How could the Trojans top that at the Division 8 state finals?

They couldn’t. The Trojans’ post-season magic didn‘t follow them to Ford Field in Detroit. Against Beal City, Forest Park struggled for most of the day while the Aggies came out strong and earned a 41-23 win.

The better team won. The Trojans made a pair of costly first half turnovers that led to Aggie scores, didn’t win the battle of the lines and couldn’t control Beal City’s running back tandem, who both averaged over 10 yards per carry.

“I wish I had an answer,” Coach Bill Santilli said right after the game, “but we just don’t play with the intensity that we do in the semifinal game up in Marquette.

“This trip is mentally and physically hard for us, and it’s very disappointing to walk out of here knowing we could play better.

“In the first half, we shot ourselves in the foot” on offense. Also, after the defense’s success during the playoff run, “Today, we just couldn’t get the job done.

“I credit our opponent, Beal City. We knew they were strong and were fast off the ball. They did things we should have been able to stop better than we did today.”

True enough, but let’s keep two things in mind:

--Every other U.P. school can only dream of the Trojans’ success over the last decade, including six straight visits to the state finals.

--The 2009 Trojans went much further than nearly all their fans and onlookers dared hope. As the playoffs started, even their own coaches wondered whether they could get out of their district.

They did a lot more than that, and Beal City’s state title doesn’t diminish another outstanding playoff run for the Red and Black.

The Trojans took the opening kickoff, stayed on the ground and converted two third down plays. But on 2nd and 7 at the Trojan 42, Josh Siler fumbled, and Beal City’s Kegan Rojas recovered.

The Aggies, who never had to punt all day, then showed why they were playing for a state title. Rojas’ 16-yard run spiced a seven-play drive that ended with Rojas scoring from the 2. Jared Theisen’s kick put Beal City ahead 7-0.

They quickly got the ball back after forcing a three-and-out on Forest Park. From their 37, the Aggies moved downfield, helped by Brian Bleise’s 25-yard run to the FP 41 and a personal foul penalty that moved them to the 17 early in the second quarter. Bleise scored from the 5, and the kick made it a 14-0 lead.

The Trojans had to respond, but Beal City’s defense forced 3rd and 8 at the FP 37. QB Christian Valesano passed to Dan Renner on the right side, but Bleise cut in front to make the interception. Three plays later, Bleise swept around the right, cut to the middle and eluded tacklers for a 40-yard TD run, kicking the Aggies’ lead up to 21-0.

Down by three scores, the Trojans knew they couldn’t make any more mistakes. From their 18, they got a drive going, helped by 11-yard runs for first downs by Jake Maki and Siler. Later, on 4th and 2, Maki got the handoff and gained nine to the Aggies 24. Siler took it from there and scored from the 1 with 15 seconds left till halftime. He also ran in the two-pointer, cutting the lead to 21-8 at the break.

But if the Trojans got an emotional boost by scoring just before halftime, Beal City crashed them back to earth as soon as the third quarter started—with a Forest Park-style scoring drive. The Aggies ground downfield, covering 82 yards in 14 plays, using up nine minutes.

When the defense forced 3rd and 9, Theisen completed a 14-yard pass to Rojas at the 8. Several FP stops and a false start penalty led to 4th and goal at the 3. Rojas got the handoff, but lost it. The ball tumbled into the end zone … where Andrew Pohl fell on it for another Beal City score.

Santilli: “When that ball is bouncing across the goal line and they end up with it for a touchdown, that’s the kind of day they were having.”

A two-point run attempt failed, but the Aggies now led 27-8. “Beal City did what Forest Park does so well,” the coach said. “They got the kickoff and ran off 10-plus minutes. We couldn’t touch the ball. We couldn’t get it back. And they scored.

“At some point you have to credit our opponent. Today was one of those days.”

Then Beal City’s defense frustrated FP’s offense with another three-and-out. After the punt and a procedure penalty, Theisen ran for 18 across midfield and then Rojas broke through the left side and sprinted away for a 45-yard score. The kick put Beal City ahead 34-8 early in the fourth quarter.

Facing steep odds, Forest Park fought back, covering 75 yards on seven plays, including Siler’s 45-yard run around the left and Levi Oleksy’s 13 yard gain to the BC 12.

On 3rd and 8, JV quarterback Michael Smithson entered the game at a deep back, got the handoff from Valesano and passed to Josh Aberly for a 10-yard TD. Siler passed to Renner for the two-pointer, cutting the lead to 34-16.

Beal City came right back, covering 65 yards in seven plays, as Rojas scored on a 25-yard run. 41-16.

With many of the first-teamers pulled, the Trojans scored again with 33 seconds left, on Jed Mongar’s four-yard run. Earlier the speedy sophomore had swept left for a 21-yard gain. Blake Joseph’s kick made the final score 41-23.

The Aggies finished with 335 total yards (314 rushing, 21 passing) to Forest Park’s 271 (230 rushing, 41 passing) and a 17-16 edge in first downs. Siler led FP with 26 carries for 128 yards, and Mongar had 5 for 46. Valesano completed 4 of 8 passes for 31 yards, and Renner led receivers with three catches for 24 yards.

“We bogged down a bit,” said Santilli. “We weren’t able to play our style of football—but I credit our opponent. They were a little bit bigger and faster than us today.”

Justin Snell led the Trojan defense with eight solo tackles (10 total), while Renner had six solos (eight total). The team had three tackles for losses but no sacks, fumble recoveries or interceptions.

Rojas and Bleise were Beal City’s thunder and lightning—Rojas ran 12 times for 126 yards, and Bleise had 11 for 125—both averaged over 10 yards per carry. Bleise had three touchdowns, and Rojas had two. There’s your game, right there.

“We broke down defensively,” Siler said, “and we didn’t get started on offense right away. We couldn’t stop things we had practiced all week.”

But Ford Field on Thanksgiving weekend is a long way from that Week 3 game at Hurley in mid-September, the Trojans’ first loss.

“We couldn’t even stop a simple counter play,” Santilli remembered. “I can’t believe the progress we made as a group of young football players.”

Don’t forget that Forest Park is a young team—six sophomores played throughout the state title game. “Those young kids have learned a lot this year. When they show up on the field next year, they’re going to have that mentality, that this is what it takes to get down to Ford Field.”

Santilli wasn’t promising a return trip. “But if we can put the work ethic into what it takes to get back here, we as coaches can’t ask for any more.”

After the official press conference ended, Siler talked about playing in his fourth state title game.

“It’s awesome,” he said. “There’s not words to say for it. Our teams were that successful, and I’m just happy to be part of it.”

To Siler, the highlight of the year was how his team played Lake Linden in the district title game. “It was just amazing how we came together. I wish we would have played that game today—we probably would have come out with a W.”

Santilli talked about how seniors like Siler, Valesano, Aberly, Renner and Levi Oleksy routinely put in extra time after practice to improve their skills.

“They choose to do it on their own, with the desire that we have to get better if they want to accomplish a goal they have. That’s what it takes to get good.”

Then Siler and Santilli walked off together toward the locker room, an arm around each other’s shoulder.

Aggies 7 14 6 14 -- 41

Trojans 0 8 0 15 -- 23