Two Hundleys better than one in Gabriel Richard backfield, plus Week 5 leaders, notes, rankings

FOOTBALL TOP PERFORMERS, SEPT. 21

Marquis Smith

PASSING YARDS
436 - Marquis Smith, Willow Run (14-of-31, 0 TD, 0 INT)
285 - Josh Jackson, Huron (21-of-31, 2 TD, 0 INT)
112 - Mason Sarosi, Gabriel Richard (8-of-12 0 TD, 0 INT)
111 - Tyler Palka, Saline (9-of-14, 1 TD, 0 INT)
108 - Andy McWilliams, Dexter (8-of-29, 0 TD, 0 INT)

Berkley Edwards

RUSHING YARDS
221 - Arthur Dukes, Milan (34 rushes, 2 TD)
208 - Berkley Edwards, Chelsea (39 rushes, 3 TD)
194 - Marquise Thomas, Pioneer (11 rushes, 4 TD)
164 - Jim Kurasz, Manchester (7 rushes, 3 TD)
137 - Zak Davis, Pioneer (13 rushes, 1 TD)

Devere Pipkins

RECEIVING YARDS
176 - Devere Pipkins, Willow Run (8 receptions, 0 TD)
109 - John Brooks, Willow Run (4 receptions, 0 TD)
106 - EJ Johnson, Huron (6 receptions, 0 TD)
92 - Dan Hugan, Huron (8 receptions, 0 TD)
68 - Gage Hammond, Saline (4 receptions, 1 TD)

*Lincoln and Ypsilanti stats not available.

The two seniors were Gabriel Richard’s top two rushers in their team’s win over Livonia Clarenceville on Friday. Ashton went for 93 yards on 14 carries with a pair of scores, while Austin recorded 22 yards on four carries.

Austin, the Irish’s fullback, is listed as two inches taller and 30 pounds heavier (5-10, 175) than his brother Ashton (5-8, 145), their running back.

Ashton is the area’s second-leading rusher with 565 yards. Austin -- originally a linebacker -- started dabbling at fullback last season and generally carries the ball sparingly. Friday marked one of his best rushing performances and his second career rushing touchdown.

Little man playing big

It took the Skyline High School football team four quarters to get a drive inside the Pioneer red zone on Friday. Once inside the 20-yard-line, it appeared the Eagles had the matchup they needed to finally get on the scoreboard.

Skyline wide receiver Tristan Wilson - who is every bit of the 6-foot-8 he’s listed at - was lined up across from Pioneer cornerback Liam Quigley, who is nowhere near the 5-8 he’s listed at on the Pioneer roster. But when Skyline quarterback Askaree Crawford threw a jump ball to Wilson in one-on-one coverage in the end zone, Quigley won the battle in the air and knocked the ball to the turf.

Skyline ended the drive with a failed field goal attempt. Pioneer went on to win 50-0 making it three straight games since its defense has allowed a touchdown.

“It’s the greatest feeling ever to know that you can bring down a guy, no matter how big he is,” Quigley said. “I was out there playing my best to keep that goose egg up there.”

Pioneer coach Paul Test said height-based play calling is nothing new to Quigley.

“Whenever (Quigley) comes in, be it at 7-on-7 or whatever, as soon as teams see him go in at 5-3, they start throwing deep at him and seldom do they complete it,” Test said. “He’s a tough little sucker.”

Young gun

Willow Run quarterback Marquis Smith accounted for the most passing yards (436) and total yards of offense (562) than any player in Washtenaw County on Friday night. Making this even more incredible is the fact that Smith is just 13 years old.

AnnArbor.com photographer Daniel Brenner visited Smith at practice and at home for a deeper look at the young quarterback, on and off the field.

One-arm wonder

Milan senior defensive lineman Blaine Leclair is fifth on the Big Reds defense with 24 total tackles on the year.

Not bad, considering one of his arms currently resembles a club.

Leclair broke his right hand in the first half of his team’s season-opener against Ypsilanti. After having a cast put on, he returned to play the second half of that game, and hasn’t slowed down since for a defense that has allowed only seven touchdowns through five wins.

"In some games it actually made me a little bit better,” Leclair said. “I had to hit harder, I had to be tougher."

Playoff talk

We just passed the halfway point in the regular season, and it’s already time to start thinking about playoffs.

Milan is the only Washtenaw County team that can reach the six-win plateau this week to earn an automatic playoff berth. The Big Reds play Flat Rock (2-3, 2-2 Huron League) Friday, and moved into the Michigan Associated Press prep football poll, at No. 9 in Division 3 -- the only Washtenaw County team ranked in this week's poll.

“I know people say it all the time, but we really try and prepare and focus one game at a time,” Milan coach Jesse Hoskins said Friday. “But the kids are aware of the goals and the big picture.”

Three other area teams can become playoff-eligible by earning their fifth wins of the season: Saline, Lincoln and Manchester. Saline is currently 42nd out of 192 teams in Class A with 72.4 playoff points and Lincoln is 53rd with 69.6. Manchester is 34th out of 173 teams in Class C with 48.8.

Washtenaw County Power Rankings

There weren’t any changes in the Washtenaw County power rankings at the very top, with Pioneer and Saline both cementing their top spots with big wins on Friday night. Milan moved up one more spot to No. 3 after beating perennial Division 6 power Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central to remain the only undefeated team in the area.

Another noteworthy change, Lincoln moved ahead of Chelsea in the rankings after the Bulldogs needed a fourth quarter comeback and a late interception to squeeze past what has been a struggling Adrian team so far this season.

At the end of the day, the SEC White rivals will determine that ranking on the field when the two play at Lincoln High School on Friday. Until then, let’s subjectively rank them base on inconsistent criteria, shall we?

Rank, School (Record), Latest result (last week’s rank)

1. Pioneer (3-2), def. Skyline, 50-0 (1)
2. Saline (4-1), def. Temperance Bedford, (2)
3. Milan (5-0), def. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central, 35-20 (4)
4. Lincoln (4-1), def. Dexter, 42-3 (5)
5. Chelsea (2-3), def. Adrian, 24-18 (3)
6. Gabriel Richard (4-1), def. Livonia Clarenceville, 35-7 (6)
7. Huron (0-5), lost to Temperance Bedford, 42-14 (8)
8. Skyline (1-4), lost to Pioneer, 50-0 (7)
9. Manchester (4-1), def. Hanover Horton, 49-7 (9)
10. Willow Run (2-3), lost to Detroit Community, 44-7 (10)
11. Ypsilanti (0-5), lost to Tecumseh, 35-13 (12)
12. Dexter (0-5), lost to Lincoln, 42-3 (11)
13. Whitmore Lake (1-4), lost to Sand Creek, 24-12 (13)

Lincoln/Chelsea held a strong lead as of Monday afternoon, but users have until 6 p.m. Tuesday to vote.

AnnArbor.com will give the Game of the Week winner its Super Bowl treatment, which will include two reporters covering the game, a live chat that you can follow from your iPhone or Android device, and a photo gallery as well.

-- Pete Cunningham contributed to this article